JP6803270B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a gaming machine that determines by lottery whether or not to give a gaming benefit to a player.

Generally, in a game machine (pachinko machine), a game ball is launched toward a game area in the game board by a player's handle operation, and the game ball that has flowed down the game area enters the start port. A lottery related to the symbol is executed. Then, the special symbol is displayed in a variable manner on the special symbol display, and the special symbol determined by the lottery is stopped and displayed, so that the player is notified of the lottery result. At this time, when a specific special symbol indicating that the special symbol is a big hit is stopped and displayed on the special symbol display, a large role game that is more advantageous to the player than the normal game is started. In this big role game, the attacker device opens and closes a predetermined number of times, and the game ball can be entered into the big prize opening, so that the player can receive a large number of prize balls to be paid out.

In such a game machine, in order to give the player the expectation that the fluctuation display on the special symbol display is a big hit, the effect of driving the accessory provided in the game machine according to the fluctuation display. May be done. However, if the accessory is driven in perfect synchronization with the fluctuation display, the frequency of driving the accessory increases depending on the frequency of appearance of the variation display, and the temperature of the motor or solenoid that is the drive source rises too much. May be damaged. Therefore, there is known a technique for limiting the drive signal output to the drive source based on the time value of the input period of the drive signal to the drive source and the time value of the monitoring period (for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-139366

However, as in the above-mentioned technique, if the drive is uniformly restricted according to the temperature rise of the drive source, the subsequent drive is restricted by the operation of the accessory with a low expectation of being a big hit, and the player You will fall into a situation where you can not perform the movement of the character that should be appealed to, and the expectation of being a big hit is high. Then, the balance of the production by the character became unbalanced, and the player did not know which movement of the character to expect a big hit, resulting in a feeling of distrust.

Further, if the drive is uniformly restricted according to the temperature rise of the drive source, the accessory may stop at the restricted position, which may hinder the movement of other accessories or the display range of the display unit. However, the fact that the accessory is subject to drive restriction means that the drive source has already reached the upper limit temperature and further drive of the accessory is not allowed, so the accessory is immediately returned from the drive limit and evacuated. Cannot be returned to position.

In view of such a problem, an object of the present invention is to provide a game machine capable of maintaining a balance of production by a character.

In order to solve the above problems, the gaming machine of the present invention includes a movable or rotatable directing accessory device.
An effect determining means for determining an effect as the game progresses, and a temperature state value indicating the temperature of the effect accessory device while driving the effect accessory device based on the determined effect. It is provided with an effect executing means for limiting the drive of the effect accessory device when the temperature state value reaches a predetermined individual drive threshold value, and the individual drive threshold values are plurality of according to the priority of the effect. The effect executing means limits the drive of the effect accessory device by using an individual drive threshold value corresponding to the determined priority of the effect.

As the priority of the effect, the effect having a high expectation to which the game profit is given may have more time to reach the individual drive threshold than the effect having a low expectation to give the game profit.

When the effect execution means limits the drive of the effect accessory device when the temperature state value reaches an arbitrary individual drive threshold value, the individual drive threshold value has a margin before reaching the arbitrary individual drive threshold value. You may switch to and return the effecting accessory device.

In order to solve the above problems, the other gaming machine of the present invention is based on a movable or rotatable effect device, an effect determining means for determining an effect as the game progresses, and the determined effect. While driving the effect accessory device, a temperature state value indicating the temperature of the effect accessory device is derived based on the drive, and when the temperature state value reaches a predetermined individual drive threshold value, the effect accessory device The effect executing means is provided with a plurality of individual drive thresholds for limiting the drive, and the effect execution means of the effect accessory device when the temperature state value reaches an arbitrary individual drive threshold. When the drive is limited, the effect device device is restored by switching from the arbitrary individual drive threshold value to the individual drive threshold value having a margin before reaching.

The effect executing means determines whether or not the effect accessory device is being driven at predetermined time intervals, and brings a predetermined drive counter value closer to the individual drive threshold value by a first predetermined value according to the determination result. Alternatively, the temperature state value may be derived by moving the individual drive threshold value away from the individual drive threshold value by a second predetermined value.

According to the present invention, it is possible to maintain the balance of the production by the accessory.

It is a perspective view of the game machine which shows the state which the door is opened. It is a front view of a game machine. It is a block diagram of a game machine. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the control mode of the effect display unit, the effect accessory device, the effect lighting device, and the music output device in the sub-control board. It is a flowchart which shows the control mode in the sub control board. It is a figure for demonstrating the drive limitation of a production accessory device. It is a figure for demonstrating the drive limitation of a production accessory device. It is a figure for demonstrating the transition of the drive counter value of a production accessory apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which showed the relationship between the priority and the individual drive upper limit value. It is a figure for demonstrating the transition of the drive counter value of a production accessory apparatus. It is an external view for demonstrating the schematic mechanical structure of a slot machine. It is an external view in the state which the front door is opened for demonstrating the schematic mechanical structure of a slot machine. It is a figure which shows the symbol arrangement of a reel. It is a block diagram which showed the schematic electrical structure of a slot machine.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The dimensions, materials, other specific numerical values, etc. shown in the embodiment are merely examples for facilitating the understanding of the invention, and do not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified. In the present specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same function and configuration are designated by the same reference numerals to omit duplicate description, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not shown. To do.

In order to facilitate understanding of the embodiments of the present invention, first, the mechanical configuration and the electrical configuration of the game machine will be briefly described, and then specific processing on each substrate will be described.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the game machine 100 of the present embodiment, showing a state in which the door is opened. As shown in the figure, the game machine 100 includes an outer frame 102 in which a surrounding space is formed by four sides assembled in a substantially rectangular shape, an inner frame 104 that is openably and closably attached to the outer frame 102 by a hinge mechanism, and the like. The middle frame 104 is provided with a front frame 106 that is openably and closably attached by a hinge mechanism.

Similar to the outer frame 102, the middle frame 104 has a surrounding space formed by four sides assembled in a substantially rectangular shape, and the game board 108 is held in the surrounding space. Further, the front frame 106 holds a transparent plate 110 made of glass or resin. When the middle frame 104 and the front frame 106 are closed with respect to the outer frame 102, the game board 108 and the transmission plate 110 face each other substantially in parallel while maintaining a predetermined interval, and from the front side of the game machine 100. , The game board 108 becomes visible through the transparent plate 110.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the game machine 100. As shown in this figure, an operation handle 112 projecting to the front side of the game machine 100 is provided at the lower part of the front frame 106. The operation handle 112 is provided so that the player can rotate the operation handle 112. When the player rotates the operation handle 112 to perform a firing operation, the strength corresponding to the rotation angle of the operation handle 112 is not shown. A game ball is launched by the launch mechanism. The game ball launched in this way rises between the rails 114a and 114b provided on the game board 108 and is guided to the game area 116.

The game area 116 is a space formed at a distance between the game board 108 and the transmission plate 110, and is an area in which the game ball can flow down or roll. A large number of nails and windmills are provided on the game board 108, and the game ball guided to the game area 116 collides with the nails and the windmill so as to flow down and roll in an irregular direction.

The game area 116 includes a first game area 116a and a second game area 116b in which the degree of entry of the game ball differs from each other according to the firing intensity of the firing mechanism. The first game area 116a is located on the left side of the game area 116 as seen from the player facing the game machine 100, and the second game area 116b is the game area 116 as seen from the player facing the game machine 100. It is located on the right side of. Since the rails 114a and 114b are on the left side of the game area 116, the game ball launched by the launch mechanism with a firing intensity lower than the predetermined intensity enters the first game area 116a and is launched with a firing intensity equal to or higher than the predetermined intensity. The resulting game ball enters the second game area 116b.

Further, the game area 116 is provided with a general winning opening 118, a first starting port 120, and a second starting port 122 into which a game ball can enter, and these general winning openings 118, the first starting port 120, and the second starting port 122 are provided. 2 When a game ball enters the starting port 122, a predetermined prize ball is paid out to the player. The number of prize balls may be any number as long as it is one or more, and the number of prize balls to be paid out at each of the general winning opening 118, the first starting port 120, and the second starting port 122 may be different. , The same number of prize balls may be set. At this time, it is possible to set the number of prize balls that the game ball enters the first starting port 120 and pays out less than the number of prize balls that the game ball enters and pays out at the second starting port 122. is there.

A first starting area is provided in the first starting port 120, and a second starting area is provided in the second starting port 122. Then, when the game ball enters the first start port 120 or the second start port 122 and the game ball enters the first start area or the second start area, any one of a plurality of special symbols provided in advance is used. A lottery is held to determine the special symbol of 1. Each special symbol is associated with various game benefits such as whether or not a player can execute a major role game that is advantageous to the player, and what kind of game state the subsequent game state should be. Therefore, when the game ball enters the first start port 120 or the second start port 122, the player obtains a predetermined prize ball and at the same time obtains an opportunity to acquire the right to receive various game benefits. It becomes.

Further, the second starting port 122 is provided with a movable piece 122b that can be opened and closed, so that the ease of entry of the game ball into the second starting port 122 changes according to the state of the movable piece 122b. It has become. Specifically, when the movable piece 122b is in the closed state, it is impossible for the game ball to enter the second starting port 122. On the other hand, when the game ball passes through the approach area in the gate 124 provided in the game area 116, a lottery of ordinary symbols is performed, and when the winning is won by this lottery, the movable piece 122b is in an open state for a predetermined time. Is controlled by. In this way, when the movable piece 122b is opened, the movable piece 122b functions as a saucer for guiding the game ball to the second starting port 122, and the game ball can easily enter the second starting port 122. Here, it is determined that when the second starting port 122 is in the closed state, it is impossible for the game ball to enter the second starting port 122, but the second starting port 122 is in the closed state. Even in a certain case, the game ball may be configured to be able to enter the ball at a constant frequency.

Further, the game area 116 is provided with a large winning opening 128 into which a game ball can enter. An opening / closing door 128b is provided in the large winning opening 128 so that the opening / closing door 128b can be opened / closed. Normally, the opening / closing door 128b closes the large winning opening 128, making it impossible for a game ball to enter the large winning opening 128. It has become. On the other hand, when the above-mentioned big role game is executed, the opening / closing door 128b is opened, and the game ball can enter the big winning opening 128. Then, when a game ball enters the large prize opening 128, a predetermined prize ball is paid out to the player.

At the bottom of the game area 116, a game ball that did not enter any of the general winning opening 118, the first starting opening 120, the second starting opening 122, and the large winning opening 128 is played from the game area 116. A discharge port 130 for discharging is provided on the back side of the board 108.

The game machine 100 is controlled by an effect display device 200 composed of a liquid crystal display device, an effect accessory device 202 composed of a drive device, and various lighting modes and emission colors as the effect device for producing the effect while the game is in progress. An effect lighting device 204 composed of a lamp, a music output device 206 composed of a speaker, and an effect operation device 208 that receives an operation of a player are provided.

The effect display device 200 includes an effect display unit 200a including an image display unit for displaying an image, and the effect display unit 200a can be visually recognized from the front side of the game machine 100 at a substantially central portion of the game board 108. It is arranged. As shown in the drawing, the effect symbols 210a, 210b, and 210c are variablely displayed on the effect display unit 200a, and the player is notified of the result of the large winning combination lottery depending on the stop display mode of each of the effect symbols 210a, 210b, 210c. Will be executed.

The effect accessory device 202 is arranged in front of the effect display unit 200a, and moves or rotates in a region that the player can see, thereby giving the player a sense of expectation of a big hit. For example, the rotating accessory 202a as the effect accessory device 202 in FIG. 2 is interlocked with the rotation of the motor (pulse motor or geared motor) that is the drive source during the fluctuation display of the effect symbols 210a, 210b, 210c. Then, it rotates around the axis in the front-back direction. Further, the moving accessory 202b as the effect accessory device 202 in FIG. 2 is normally retracted to the back side of the game board 108, but during the variable display of the above effect symbols 210a, 210b, 210c, etc. It moves to the front of the effect display unit 200a.

The effect lighting device 204 is, for example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode), which is provided on the effect accessory device 202, the game board 108, or the like, and various lighting controls are provided according to the image or the like displayed on the effect display unit 200a. Will be done.

The music output device 206 is provided at an upper position of the front frame 106 and a lowermost position of the outer frame 102, and various music is directed toward the front side of the game machine 100 according to an image or the like displayed on the effect display unit 200a. Is output.

The effect operation device 208 is composed of a button that accepts a player's pressing operation and a rotation operation unit (for example, a jog dial) that accepts a player's rotation operation, and is located at a substantially central position in the width direction of the game machine 100. It is provided at a position below the transmission plate 110. The effect operation device 208 is activated according to an image or the like displayed on the effect display unit 200a, and when the player's operation is received within the operation valid period, various effects are executed according to the operation. ..

Further, behind the production operation device 208, there is a prize ball paid out from the game machine 100 and an upper plate 132 on which the game ball rented from the game ball lending device is guided, and when the upper plate 132 is filled with the game balls. , The game ball will be guided to the lower plate 134. Further, on the bottom surface of the lower plate 134, a ball extraction hole (not shown) for discharging the game ball from the lower plate 134 is formed. This ball pulling hole is normally closed by an opening / closing plate (not shown), but by sliding the ball pulling knob 134a in the left-right direction in the figure, the opening / closing plate slides integrally with the ball pulling knob 134a. However, it is possible to discharge the game ball below the lower plate 134 through the ball extraction hole.

Further, on the game board 108, the first special symbol display 160, the second special symbol display 162, and the first special symbol are held at a position outside the game area 116 and visible to the player. A display 164, a second special symbol hold display 166, a normal symbol display 168, a normal symbol hold display 170, and a right-handed notification display 172 are provided. Each of these indicators 160 to 172 is a device for displaying various situations related to the game.

(Internal configuration of control means)
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a control means for controlling the progress of the game. The main control board 300 controls the basic operation of the game. The main control board 300 includes a main CPU 300a, a main ROM 300b, and a main RAM 300c. Based on the input signals from each detection switch and timer, the main CPU 300a reads the program stored in the main ROM 300b and performs arithmetic processing, directly controls each device and display, or produces the result of arithmetic processing. Send commands to other boards accordingly. The main RAM 300c functions as a data work area during arithmetic processing of the main CPU 300a.

The main control board 300 has a general winning opening detection switch 118s for detecting that a game ball has entered the general winning opening 118, and a first starting port for detecting that a game ball has entered the first starting port 120. The detection switch 120s, the second start port detection switch 122s for detecting that the game ball has entered the second start port 122, the gate detection switch 124s for detecting that the game ball has passed through the gate 124, and the large winning opening 128 A large winning opening detection switch 128s for detecting that a game ball has entered is connected, and a detection signal is input to the main control board 300 from each of these detection switches.

Further, on the main control board 300, a normal electric accessory solenoid 122c that operates the movable piece 122b of the second starting port 122 and a large winning opening solenoid 128c that operates the opening / closing door 128b that opens and closes the large winning opening 128 are provided. It is connected, and the main control board 300 controls the opening and closing of the second starting port 122 and the large winning opening 128.

Further, the main control board 300 includes a first special symbol display 160, a second special symbol display 162, a first special symbol hold indicator 164, a second special symbol hold indicator 166, a normal symbol display 168, and a normal symbol display. The symbol hold indicator 170 and the right-handed notification indicator 172 are connected to each other, and the display control of each of these indicators is performed by the main control board 300.

Further, the game machine 100 of the present embodiment is started mainly by a special game started by entering the game ball into the first starting port 120 or the second starting port 122 and by passing the game ball through the gate 124. It is roughly divided into ordinary games that are played. The main ROM 300b of the main control board 300 stores various programs for advancing special games and normal games, as well as data and tables required for various games.

Further, the payout control board 310 and the sub control board 330 are connected to the main control board 300.

The payout control board 310 controls for launching the game ball and controls for paying out the prize ball. The payout control board 310 also includes a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM, and is connected to the main control board 300 so as to be able to communicate in both directions. A game information output terminal board 312 is connected to the payout control board 310, and various information on the game progress output from the main control board 300 is transmitted via the payout control board 310 and the game information output terminal board 312. , Will be output to the hall computer of the amusement store.

Further, the payout control board 310 is connected to a payout motor 314 for paying out the game balls stored in the storage unit to the player as prize balls. The payout control board 310 controls the payout motor 314 based on the payout number designation command transmitted from the main control board 300 to control the player to pay out a predetermined prize ball. At this time, the number of game balls paid out is detected by the payout ball counting switch 316s, and it is possible to grasp whether the prize balls to be paid out have been paid out to the player.

Further, a plate full tank detection switch 318s for detecting the full tank state of the lower plate 134 is connected to the payout control board 310. The plate full tank detection switch 318s is provided in a passage for guiding the game ball to be paid out as a prize ball to the lower plate 134, and each time the game ball passes through the passage, a game ball detection signal is sent to the payout control board 310. It is supposed to be entered.

Then, when a predetermined amount or more of the game balls are stored in the lower plate 134 and the tank is full, the game balls stay in the passage toward the lower plate 134, and the plate full tank detection switch 318s is directed toward the payout control board 310. , The game ball detection signal is continuously input. When the game ball detection signal is continuously input for a predetermined time, the payout control board 310 determines that the lower plate 134 is in a full tank state, and transmits a plate full tank command to the main control board 300. On the other hand, if the continuous input of the game ball detection signal is interrupted after the dish full tank command is transmitted, it is determined that the full tank state has been released, and the dish full tank release command is transmitted to the main control board 300.

Further, the payout control board 310 is provided with a launch control circuit 320 that controls launch of the game ball. The payout control board 310 is provided with an operation handle 112, and a touch sensor 112s for detecting that the player touches the operation handle 112 and an operation volume 112a for detecting the operation angle of the operation handle 112 are connected to each other. ing. Then, when a signal is input from the touch sensor 112s and the operation volume 112a, the launch control circuit 320 controls to energize the launch solenoid 112c provided in the game ball launcher to launch the game ball.

The sub-control board 330 mainly controls each effect such as during a game or during standby. The sub control board 330 includes a sub CPU 330a, a sub ROM 330b, and a sub RAM 330c, and communicates with the main control board 300 in one direction from the main control board 300 to the sub control board 330 from the viewpoint of fraud prevention. Can be connected. The sub CPU 330a reads the program stored in the sub ROM 330b, performs arithmetic processing, and executes and controls the effect based on the command transmitted from the main control board 300, the input signal from the timer, and the like. At this time, the sub RAM 330c functions as a data work area during the arithmetic processing of the sub CPU 330a.

Specifically, the sub-control board 330 performs image display control for displaying an image on the effect display unit 200a. The sub ROM 330b stores a large amount of image data such as a design and a background displayed on the effect display unit 200a. The sub CPU 330a reads the image data from the sub ROM 330b into a VRAM (not shown), and the effect display unit 200a Control the image display. Further, the sub-control board 330 performs drive control of the effect accessory device 202, lighting control of the effect lighting device 204, and music output control for outputting music from the music output device 206.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining the control modes of the effect display unit 200a, the effect accessory device 202, the effect lighting device 204, and the music output device 206 on the sub-control board 330, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram common to them. It is a flowchart which shows the control mode to perform. The sub CPU (CPU) 330a provided on the sub control board 330 functions as the effect determining means 332 and the effect executing means 334 in cooperation with the program and the sub RAM 330c stored in the sub ROM 330b. The effect determining means 332 decodes a command transmitted from the main control board 300, and determines an effect pattern (content indicating a series of effects) corresponding to the command. The effect executing means 334 transmits a command to each device such as the image IC 340a, the accessory controller 342, the lighting controller 344, and the music IC 346a based on the determined effect pattern to execute the effect. Both the effect determining means 332 and the effect executing means 334 are processes corresponding to interrupts (interrupt processes), and are executed at interrupt timings associated with each device.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the effect determining means 332 waits for the arrival of a predetermined interrupt cycle (for example, 33.3 msec) (NO in S10), and when the predetermined interrupt cycle arrives (YES in S10), Image data based on the effect pattern (data corresponding to the image displayed on the effect display unit 200a among the effects indicated by the effect pattern) is determined (S11). Then, the effect executing means 334 transmits an image command capable of specifying the image data to the image IC 340a (S12), and repeats the process from step S10. The image IC 340a is also called a VDP (Video Display Processor), reads image data specified by an image command from the image ROM 340b to the image RAM (VRAM) 340c, and sequentially outputs the image data to the effect display unit 200a. An image of some kind is always displayed on the effect display unit 200a. Therefore, the effect determining means 332 always determines the image data for each interrupt cycle. The image RAM 340c has different layers, and each layer can hold different image data. Then, the image IC 340a superimposes the image data held on the plurality of layers, and the superposed image data is output to the effect display unit 200a.

Further, when a predetermined interrupt period (for example, 2 msec) arrives with the determination of the effect pattern in parallel with the control for the image IC 340a, the effect determination means 332 has a combination based on the effect pattern (YES in S10). An object pattern (a content indicating a series of operations of the effect accessory device 202 among the effects indicated by the effect pattern) is determined (S11). Then, the effect executing means 334 indicates at least one of the traveling direction (rotation direction), the traveling amount (rotation amount), and the traveling speed (rotation speed) to the accessory controller 342 at predetermined time intervals according to the accessory pattern. A command is transmitted (S12), and the process from step S10 is repeated. The accessory controller 342 drives the effect accessory device 202 according to such a command. Here, the effect accessory device 202 operates only when the accessory pattern is determined. Since the effect device 202 is a temporary effect accompanied by a physical movement that raises the player's expectation of a big hit, the effect is compared with the image data, the lighting pattern described later, and the music data. The frequency with which the object pattern is determined is low.

Further, the effect determining means 332 produces an effect when a predetermined interrupt cycle (for example, 100 msec) arrives with the determination of the effect pattern in parallel with the control of the image IC 340a and the accessory controller 342 (YES in S10). A lighting pattern based on the pattern (a content indicating a series of lighting modes of the effect lighting device 204 among the effects indicated by the effect pattern) is determined (S11). Then, the effect executing means 334 transmits a 1 (ON) or 0 (OFF) command to the lighting controller (LED controller) 344 at predetermined time intervals according to the lighting pattern (S12), and repeats the process from step S10. .. The lighting controller 344 turns on or off the FET that drives the effect lighting device 204 according to such a command. In this way, the lighting of the lamp of the effect lighting device 204 is controlled. The effect lighting device 204 is constantly turned on and off. Therefore, the effect determining means 332 always determines the effect pattern for each interrupt cycle.

Further, when the effect determination means 332 reaches a predetermined interrupt cycle (for example, 50 msec) with the determination of the effect pattern in parallel with the control of the image IC 340a, the accessory controller 342, and the lighting controller 344 (in S10). YES), the music data based on the production pattern (data corresponding to the music output to the music output device 206 among the effects indicated by the production pattern) is determined (S11). Then, the effect executing means 334 transmits a music command capable of specifying the music data to the music IC 346a (S12), and repeats the process from step S10. The music IC 346a reads the music data specified by the music command from the music ROM 346b to the music IC 346a, and sequentially outputs the music data to the speaker which is the music output device 206. Note that some kind of music is always output to the music output device 206. Therefore, the effect determining means 332 always determines the music data for each interrupt cycle. The music IC 346a has a plurality of music buffers (buffers), and each music buffer can hold different music data. Then, the music IC 346a superimposes the music data held in the plurality of music buffers, and the superposed music data is output to the music output device 206.

Here, a series of functional units such as a sub CPU 330a, a sub RAM 330c, an image IC 340a, an image ROM 340b, an image RAM 340c, an accessory controller 342, a lighting controller 344, a music IC 346a, a music ROM 346b, etc. It is integrated in one integrated circuit. However, which functional unit is to be integrated in the SoC can be arbitrarily set. Further, each functional unit such as sub CPU 330a, sub RAM 330c, image IC 340a, image ROM 340b, image RAM 340c, accessory controller 342, lighting controller 344, music IC 346a, music ROM 346b, etc. are integrated as different integrated circuits and electrically connected. It may be.

Further, the sub-control board 330 has detection signals from the pressing detection switch 208s for detecting that the effect operating device 208 has been pressed and the rotation detection switch 209s for detecting that the effect operating device 208 has been rotated. Is entered. When a detection signal is input from the press detection switch 208s or the rotation detection switch 209s, various effects such as displaying an image on the effect display unit 200a are executed.

A power supply board (not shown) is connected to each board, and power is supplied from a commercial power source to each board via the power supply board.

(Drive control of production accessory device 202)
As described above, in the sub-control board 330, the effect determining means 332 determines the accessory pattern based on the effect pattern, and the effect executing means 334 transmits a command to the accessory controller 342 according to the accessory pattern. .. The accessory controller 342 drives the effect accessory device 202, specifically, the motor or solenoid that is the drive source of each effect accessory device 202 in accordance with such a command. As a result, the effect accessory device 202 is driven in synchronization with the effect pattern.

However, under the specification that the effect accessory device 202 is driven in constant synchronization with the effect pattern, for example, if the effect pattern for driving the effect accessory device 202 happens to be continuous, the drive source (motor or motor) of the effect accessory device 202 The solenoid) is also continuously driven, and the excessive temperature rise of the effecting accessory device 202 causes deterioration of the insulating material and damage to the effecting accessory device 202 itself and the resin in the vicinity thereof.

Here, it is conceivable to strictly limit the drive of the effect accessory device 202 based on the continuous drive continuity of the effect accessory device 202 and the measured value of the temperature, but the processing load is correspondingly due to complicated calculation processing. Will increase. Further, if the determination criteria such as the state of the effect accessory device 202 for which the drive should be restricted is strictly calculated, the processing load will be further increased. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the drive of the effect accessory device 202 is comprehensively restricted by a simple process.

6 and 7 are diagrams for explaining the drive limitation of the effect accessory device 202. Here, among the plurality of effect accessory devices 202, the temperature transition due to driving or stopping of an arbitrary effect accessory device 202 (for example, the rotating accessory 202a) is examined. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, when the effecting accessory device 202 is continuously driven from the time point t0, the temperature of the drive source (motor) rises and reaches the upper limit temperature at the time point t1. The upper limit temperature has a predetermined margin at the limit temperature based on the specifications of the drive source constituting the effect accessory device 202, the heat resistance characteristics of the effect accessory device 202 itself and the resin in the vicinity thereof, or the limit temperature. The temperature is lower than the limit temperature. Then, when the upper limit temperature is reached, the drive is stopped by the drive limit, here, the excitation release. Then, by heat exchange with the outside air, the temperature returns to the temperature of the effecting accessory device 202 at the time point t0 at the time point t2. That is, in the effecting accessory device 202, it takes time at time point t1-time point t0 to reach the upper limit temperature by continuous driving, and time at time point t2-point time t1 until the temperature rises due to the stop. become.

Here, in FIG. 6, it is assumed that the time ratio between (time point t1-time point t0) and (time point t2-time point t1) is 1: 4. Then, it can be understood that the effecting accessory device 202 must be stopped for four times the driving time in order to lower the temperature by the amount raised by driving the effecting accessory device 202. In other words, the absolute value of the temperature rise rate per unit time when the effect accessory device 202 is driven is the absolute value of the temperature decrease rate per unit time when the effect accessory device 202 is stopped. It will be quadrupled.

Under such conditions, the following calculation is performed in order to easily grasp the temperature rise mode of the effect accessory device 202. That is, when it is determined whether the effecting accessory device 202 is driven or stopped at a predetermined time interval (for example, 16.67 msec which is the sampling cycle), and the effecting accessory device 202 is driven. , "4" is added as the first predetermined value to the predetermined drive counter value, and when the effecting accessory device 202 is stopped, the process of subtracting "1" as the second predetermined value from the drive counter value is repeated. .. Here, the drive counter is a counter indicating the continuity of driving of the effect accessory device 202, in other words, the temperature of the effect accessory device 202, and when the drive counter value (temperature state value) is large, the effect accessory It will indicate that the temperature of the device 202 is rising. Therefore, when the effect accessory device 202 is continuously driven, the drive counter value is updated as “0” → “4” → “8” → “12” at predetermined time intervals, and the effect accessory device 202 In the case of continuous stop, the drive counter value is updated as "12"-> "11"-> "10"-> "9" at predetermined time intervals.

For example, in FIG. 7A, it is determined that the effect executing means 334 is driving the effect accessory device 202 (indicated by a black filled triangle in the figure) at the first sampling after a predetermined time interval has elapsed. Then, "4" is added to the drive counter value, and the drive counter value is updated to "4". Subsequently, when the effect executing means 334 determines that the effect accessory device 202 is stopped at the second sampling, "1" is subtracted from the drive counter value, and the drive counter value is updated to "3". Similarly, when the effect executing means 334 determines that the effect accessory device 202 is stopped at the third, fourth, and fifth samplings, "1" is subtracted from the drive counter value each time, and the effect device device 202 is finally driven. Update the counter value to "0". In this way, even if "4" is added to the drive counter value in the sampling of 1, the drive counter value returns to "0" if it is subtracted by "1" in the subsequent sampling of 4.

In FIG. 7A, although the determination is made for each sampling, the number of times it is determined that the effect accessory device 202 is driven and the number of times that the effect accessory device 202 is determined to be stopped. Is 1: 4, and since the effect device 202 is stopped for four times the driving time, the temperature is lowered by the amount of increase. Here, it can be seen that the fact that the drive counter value is "0" and that the temperature has not risen match.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7B, the effect executing means 334 determines that the effect accessory device 202 is being driven at the first sampling, adds "4" to the drive counter value, and adds the drive counter value. Is updated to "4", and then, at the second, third, and fourth samplings, it is determined that the effect accessory device 202 is stopped, and "1" is subtracted from the drive counter value each time, and the drive counter is used. Even if the value is updated to "1", if it is determined that the effect accessory device 202 is being driven in the next 5th sampling, the drive counter value does not become "0" and the drive counter value is set to "4". Will be added, and the drive counter value will gradually increase.

In FIG. 7B, the number of times that the effecting accessory device 202 is determined to be driven and the number of times that the effecting accessory device 202 is determined to be stopped are 1: 3. The 202 has stopped for only three times the drive time, the temperature of the effect device 202 has not sufficiently decreased, and the drive counter value has gradually increased. Here, it can be seen that the rise in the drive counter value and the rise in temperature match.

As shown in FIG. 7C, the effect executing means 334 determines that the effect accessory device 202 is being driven at the first sampling, adds "4" to the drive counter value, and adds the drive counter value. Is updated to "4", and after that, at the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th samplings, it is determined that the production accessory device 202 is stopped, and each time, "1" is obtained from the drive counter value. When subtracting, the drive counter value shall not be less than a predetermined lower limit value (reference value: for example, "0"). Specifically, when the result of subtracting "1" from the drive counter value is less than a predetermined lower limit value, the effect executing means 334 does not further subtract "1" (second predetermined value). Therefore, at the 5th, 6th, and 7th samplings, it is determined that the effect accessory device 202 is stopped, but the drive counter value is not updated. This is because the increased temperature decreases due to the stoppage of the effect accessory device 202, but the temperature does not decrease from the atmosphere of the outside air, and the temperature increase needs to be strictly determined, but the temperature decreases. This is because there is no problem even if it is not judged strictly. The lower limit is not limited to "0", and any integer can be set.

In this way, a numerical value (“4”) to be added when it is determined that the effect accessory device 202 is being driven, and a numerical value (“1”) to be subtracted when it is determined that the effect accessory device 202 is stopped. The ratio with ") is referred to as a drive ratio here. The drive ratio is calculated as follows. First, as shown in FIG. 6, the time until the upper limit temperature when the effecting accessory device 202 continues to be driven (time at time point t1-time point t0) is derived. Next, the drive of the effect accessory device 202 is stopped, and the time from reaching the upper limit temperature to returning to the temperature before driving the effect accessory device 202 (time point t2-time point t1) is derived. Then, the ratio of (time at time point t2-time point t1) to (time at time point t1-time point t0) is derived. For example, in the example of FIG. 6, the ratio is "4". If a value after the decimal point is generated as a result of deriving the ratio, the value after the decimal point is rounded up. This is at least to give a margin to the safe side by increasing the value on the side where the temperature rises rather than on the side where the temperature falls. The ratio derived in this way (here, "4") is set as a numerical value (first predetermined value) to be added when it is determined that the effect accessory device 202 is being driven, and the effect accessory device 202 is stopped. The drive ratio (4: 1) is determined by setting the numerical value (second predetermined value) to be subtracted when it is determined to be "1". Therefore, if the ratio of the time to reach the upper limit temperature when driving is continued and the time to return to the temperature before stopping and driving is an integer n, the driving ratio is n: 1. ..

Then, when the effect executing means 334 determines that the effect accessory device 202 is being driven, it adds "n" located to the left of the drive ratio (n: 1) to the drive counter value, and the effect accessory device 202. If it is determined that is stopped, the process of subtracting "1" located to the right of the drive ratio from the drive counter value is repeated, and when the drive counter value reaches a predetermined drive upper limit value (drive threshold value), the drive is started. In order to limit the effect, the effect device 202 is stopped. Therefore, the effect accessory device 202 stops at the position when the drive counter value reaches the drive upper limit value. Here, the drive upper limit value is the time until the upper limit temperature is reached by continuously driving (continuously driving) the effect accessory device 202 (the time from the time point t0 to the time point t1 in FIG. 6) as described above. It is a value divided by an interval and multiplied by "n" located to the left of the drive ratio. For example, when the time at the time point t1-time point t0 is 10 seconds, the time interval is 16.67 msec, and the drive ratio is 4: 1, 10 / 0.01667 × 4 = 2400. By setting in this way, when the effecting accessory device 202 is continuously driven and 4 is added to the drive counter value every 16.67 msec, the drive counter value becomes 2400 after 10 seconds. Therefore, it can be understood that it is synonymous with reaching the upper limit temperature after 10 seconds and requiring a drive limit. If a numerical value after the decimal point is generated in the drive upper limit value by the above calculation, the numerical value is rounded off.

With such a configuration, it is possible to comprehensively limit the drive of the effect accessory device 202 by a simple process.

By the way, depending on the effecting accessory device 202, there is a case where the stop is not a mere excitation release but a stop holding by excitation (excitation holding). In that case, the temperature rise is higher than at least the excitation release, and the temperature rise may be higher than when the effecting accessory device 202 is driven (when rotating or moving). Therefore, when the excitation holding is performed even when the effect accessory device 202 is stopped, the update mode of the drive counter value is changed. Specifically, if the stop of the effect accessory device 202 is due to excitation release, "1" is subtracted from the drive counter value, and if the stop of the effect accessory device 202 is due to excitation holding, the drive counter value. The third predetermined value is added to. Here, the third predetermined value is a value obtained by converting heat generation due to excitation holding into a drive ratio. For example, in the case of excitation holding by one-phase excitation, it is set to "8", which is twice that at the time of driving, and 1-2. In the case of holding excitation by phase excitation, it is set to "10", which is 2.5 times that in driving, and in the case of holding excitation by two-phase excitation, it is set to "12", which is three times that during driving.

Therefore, when the drive ratio (two-phase excitation) of the effect accessory device 202 is 4: 1 and the excitation is once held by the one-phase excitation when stopped, the effect execution means 334 is driven by the effect accessory device 202. If it is determined that the effect is present, "4" located to the left of the drive ratio is added to the drive counter value, and if it is determined that the effecting accessory device 202 is stopped, if it is the excitation holding, the drive counter value is "4". 8 ”is added, and if the excitation is open,“ 1 ”is subtracted from the drive counter value. Then, when the drive counter value reaches the drive upper limit value, the effect accessory device 202 is stopped due to the drive limitation.

In this way, although it is a simple process, it is determined whether the stop of the effect accessory device 202 is the excitation holding or the excitation release, and the drive limit that accurately reflects the temperature rise of the effect accessory device 202. Is possible.

Further, here, three states of drive, stop by excitation holding, and stop by excitation release are targeted for determination. For example, the transition time from stop by excitation holding to stop by excitation release is predetermined. Even if the excitation holding is performed at the time of stopping, if the temperature rise can be predicted, the driving ratio may be set in a state reflecting the temperature rise, and only driving and stopping may be determined. Specifically, when the effect accessory device 202 is stopped by the excitation holding, the effect execution means 334 sets the drive counter value to the first predetermined value "4" while determining that the effect accessory device 202 is being driven. ] Is added, and a predetermined correction value is also added. That is, the temperature rise of the excitation holding is replaced with the temperature rise of the drive for calculation. Here, the correction value is a value obtained by converting the heat generated by the excitation holding into a drive ratio. For example, it is set to "1" for the excitation holding by the one-phase excitation and "2" for the excitation holding by the 1-2 phase excitation. , And if the excitation is held by two-phase excitation, it is set to "3". Therefore, when a stop process such as driving by two-phase excitation, holding the excitation by one-phase excitation and stopping, and then releasing the excitation and stopping is performed, the drive ratio is changed from 4: 1 to the correction value by holding the excitation. Change to 5: 1 etc. with "1" added. Then, when the effect executing means 334 determines that the effect accessory device 202 is being driven, it adds "5" located to the left of the drive ratio to the drive counter value, regardless of whether the excitation is held or released. When it is determined that the effect accessory device 202 is stopped, "1" is subtracted from the drive counter value.

With such a configuration, it is possible to comprehensively limit the drive of the effect accessory device 202 by a simple process after reflecting the stoppage due to the excitation holding.

Here, due to the calculation efficiency of the sub CPU 330a, the drive ratio, the drive upper limit value, the first predetermined value, the second predetermined value, the third predetermined value, and the correction value are all represented by integers, but other than integers. It does not exclude real numbers. Further, in order to increase the resolution, all the values may be bit-shifted and the values of 0.5 and 0.25 may be calculated as integers.

(Drive limit of production accessory device 202)
In the above, an example has been described in which a drive upper limit value is provided and the drive of the effect accessory device 202 is restricted when the drive counter value reaches the drive upper limit value. However, if the drive of the effect accessory device 202 is uniformly restricted, the following problems may occur.

For example, even with the same effect accessory device 202, a plurality of operation modes (displacement modes) are prepared according to the degree of expectation of a big hit. For example, in a production where the expectation that the lottery result is a big hit is low, the operation of the production accessory device 202 is small, and in a production where the expectation that the lottery result is a big hit is high, the production accessory device 202 The operation is set large. As described above, the higher the degree of expectation of being a big hit, the larger the displacement of the effect accessory device 202, and the higher the temperature rise of the effect accessory device 202.

Originally, the effect accessory device 202 should be driven in a well-balanced manner according to the appearance mode of a plurality of effects having different expectations of being a big hit. However, in the actual game, the production is randomly determined regardless of whether or not it is a big hit, so that the production accompanied by the drive of the production accessory device 202 continues unintentionally even though it is not a big hit. In some cases. Here, after a series of productions with a low expectation of being a big hit (for example, a production in which the production accessory device 202 vibrates small), a production with a high expectation of being a big hit (for example, the production accessory device 202) The drive of the effect accessory device 202 may be restricted when the effect (moving to the front of the effect display device 200) is executed. The reason for such a situation will be explained below.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the transition of the drive counter value of the effect accessory device 202. In FIG. 8, it is assumed that the effect A having a low expectation of being a big hit is executed three times in a row, and then the effect B having a high expectation of being a big hit is executed. However, the drive counter value is accumulated by executing the effect A, and the drive counter value reaches the drive upper limit value during the execution of the third effect A, and the effect accessory device 202 is subject to drive limitation. It will be. Therefore, the effect accessory device 202 is stopped in the middle of the third effect A. Then, even if the execution of the effect B is decided, the drive counter value immediately reaches the drive upper limit value as shown by the solid line in FIG. 8, and the effect B is all as shown by the broken line in FIG. It will not be executed and the drive will be limited.

In this way, the continuous production A with a low expectation of being a big hit causes the drive counter value to reach the drive upper limit value, and as a result, the production accessory device 202 is temporarily unable to be driven. After that, the result is that the production B, which is highly expected to be a big hit, cannot be performed. Then, even if the lottery result is a big hit, it is possible to appeal to the player that the expectation of being a big hit is high by the production B, which has a high expectation of being a big hit due to the drive limitation. It cannot be done, and the production effect cannot be improved. In addition, by performing a production with a low priority (importance, necessity), a production with a high priority cannot be performed, the balance of the production becomes unbalanced, and the player hits any operation of the production accessory device 202. I don't know if I should expect it, and I may feel distrust.

Therefore, the balance of the effect is maintained by associating the priority with each operation mode of the effect accessory device 202 so that the effect B having a high priority can be executed in case of emergency. In this method, the drive upper limit value is made different according to the priority of the effect, the drive upper limit value of the effect A having a lower priority is reduced, and a surplus power is left for driving the effect accessory device 202, so that the effect B having a higher priority By increasing the drive upper limit value, it is realized by preferentially driving the effect accessory device 202 by utilizing the remaining power.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the priority and the individual drive upper limit value. First, the operation mode of the arbitrary effect accessory device 202 is divided into a plurality of (here, 3) groups according to the priority of the effect. Here, the priority is matched based on the expectation that the game profit is given, for example, the expectation of the jackpot and the magnitude of the operation of the effect accessory device 202, and the larger the expectation and the operation, the higher the priority. Set to be. For example, a production with a low priority has a low expectation of being a big hit, or a production with a small operation of the production accessory device 202, and a production with an intermediate expectation has a high expectation of being a big hit. An intermediate effect or the operation of the effect accessory device 202 is an intermediate effect, and a high-priority effect is a production with a high expectation of being a big hit or a large operation of the effect accessory device 202. Become. In this section, an example of dividing the priority of the production into three groups has been described, but it goes without saying that the production may be subdivided into two or four or more groups.

Then, an individual drive upper limit value (individual drive threshold value), which is a value at which the drive of the effect accessory device 202 is restricted, is set for each of the priority of the effect. As the individual drive upper limit value, an arbitrary value equal to or less than the original drive upper limit value is set. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the individual drive upper limit value of the effect group having a low priority is set to 40% of the drive upper limit value, and the individual drive upper limit value of the effect group having an intermediate priority is set to 70% of the drive upper limit value. Is set to, and the individual drive upper limit value of the effect group having a high priority is set to 100% of the drive upper limit value (that is, individual drive upper limit value = drive upper limit value). Therefore, if the drive upper limit value is 2400 as described above, the individual drive upper limit value of the effect having a low priority is 960, and the individual drive upper limit value of the effect having an intermediate priority is 1680, which is a high priority effect. The individual drive upper limit value of is 2400. If the result of multiplying by a percentage has a number after the decimal point, the number is rounded off.

Then, the effect executing means 334 refers to the individual drive upper limit value corresponding to the priority of the effect for each effect to be executed, and when the value of the drive counter value reaches the referenced individual drive upper limit value, the effect accessory device. Limit the drive of 202.

By setting such an individual drive upper limit value, the effect accessory device 202 operates as follows. That is, in the case of an effect having a low priority, when the frequency of appearance increases, the drive counter value reaches the individual drive upper limit value (drive upper limit value × 40%) immediately, and the drive is restricted relatively early. However, since the production has a low priority in the first place, the player is not so impressed with the presence or absence of the production, and even if the driving is restricted, the player does not feel uncomfortable.

Further, in the case of an effect in which the priority is intermediate, the drive is restricted when the drive counter value reaches the individual drive upper limit value (drive upper limit value × 70%). Since the individual drive upper limit value is higher than that of the low-priority effect, it is permissible to drive the effect accessory device 202 more frequently than the low-priority effect. Further, even when the drive is restricted due to the high frequency of execution of the low-priority effect, when the effect with the intermediate priority is executed, the corresponding individual drive upper limit value (drive upper limit) is used. Since a value (value x 70%) is allowed, it is possible to give priority to an effect having an intermediate priority.

Further, in the case of an effect having a high priority, the drive is not restricted until the drive counter value reaches the individual drive upper limit value (drive upper limit value × 100%). Since such an individual drive upper limit value has a lower priority effect or a higher priority than an intermediate effect, it is permissible to drive the effect accessory device 202 at a higher frequency than those. In addition, even if the drive is restricted due to the high frequency of execution of a low-priority effect or an intermediate-priority effect, when the high-priority effect is executed, the corresponding individual effect is provided. Since the driving upper limit value (driving upper limit value × 100%) is allowed, it is possible to prioritize the execution of the effect having a high priority, and it is possible to appeal to the player. Hereinafter, the transition of the drive counter value of the effect accessory device 202 when such a drive limit is adopted will be described.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the transition of the drive counter value of the effect accessory device 202. Also in FIG. 10, as in FIG. 8, the effect A (low priority effect) with low expectation of being a big hit is repeated three times, and then the effect B (high priority) with high expectation of being a big hit is made. (Direction) is executed. Here, the drive counter value is added by executing the effect A, and the drive counter value reaches the individual drive upper limit value (drive upper limit value × 40%) while the second effect A is executed. , The effect accessory device 202 will be stopped due to the drive limitation. Similarly, even during the execution of the third effect A, the drive counter value reaches the individual drive upper limit value (drive upper limit value × 40%), and the effect accessory device 202 is subject to drive restrictions. Will stop. However, after that, when the execution of the effect B is determined, the individual drive upper limit value equal to the drive upper limit value associated with the effect B is referred to, and the drive counter is not limited by the individual drive upper limit value of the effect A. The value does not reach the individual drive upper limit value, and the effect B is appropriately executed as shown by the solid line in FIG.

With such a drive limit configuration, the drive upper limit value of the low-priority effect is reduced to leave a surplus power for driving the effect accessory device 202, and the drive upper limit value of the high-priority effect is increased to increase the drive limit value. It is possible to preferentially drive the effect accessory device 202 by using it.

(Return from the drive limitation of the effect device 202)
By the way, when the effect accessory device 202 is subject to the drive restriction, the effect accessory device 202 will stop at that position. Then, for example, the moving accessory 202b as the effect accessory device 202 may stop on the front surface of the effect display device 200, which may hinder the visibility of the effect display device 200, resulting in an unfavorable state. .. However, the fact that the effect accessory device 202 is subject to drive restriction means that the effect accessory device 202 has reached the upper limit temperature and further drive is not allowed, so that the effect accessory device 202 is immediately restricted in drive. It cannot be returned to the evacuation position.

Therefore, the return from the drive limit is set at the highest priority in the above effect, and the return operation is enabled even when the drive limit occurs. Specifically, even if the drive counter value reaches an arbitrary individual drive upper limit value to limit the drive of the effect accessory device 202, the effect execution means 334 has an individual drive upper limit larger than an arbitrary individual drive upper limit value. The value is switched to restore the effect accessory device 202. Therefore, at least any individual drive upper limit value is not the maximum individual drive upper limit value. For example, the individual drive upper limit value of a low-priority effect is set to 40% of the drive upper limit value, the individual drive upper limit value of an effect having an intermediate priority is set to 60% of the drive upper limit value, and the individual drive of a high-priority effect is set. The upper limit value is 80% of the drive upper limit value, and the individual drive upper limit value for returning from the drive limit is 100% of the drive upper limit value. By doing so, regardless of the priority, even if the drive is restricted in the middle of the production with a high priority, by switching to the high individual drive upper limit value, the effect accessory device 202 can be moved to its position. Therefore, for example, it is possible to return to the retracted position.

Here, on the premise that different individual drive upper limit values are used according to the high and low priority of the effect, an example in which the individual drive upper limit value for returning from the drive limit is further different from those individual drive upper limit values. As described above, in this way, the drive limit is not used, that is, a fixed individual drive upper limit value (for example, 70% of the drive upper limit value) is used without using different individual drive upper limit values depending on the priority of the effect. When returning from, the individual drive upper limit value can be set to 100% of the drive upper limit value.

Further, here, an example in which the individual drive upper limit value of the return is set to 100% of the drive upper limit value has been described, but not only in such a case, the drive counter value is subtracted after the drive limit, and the drive counter value is obtained. When is lowered to a predetermined value (for example, a value corresponding to 20% of the drive upper limit value) (when cooled by a predetermined temperature), the effecting accessory device 202 may be automatically restored.

Further, here, an example of setting an individual drive upper limit value according to the priority of the production itself has been described regardless of whether or not the lottery result is a big hit, but the lottery result is not limited to such a case. In the case of a big hit, the individual drive upper limit value may be set in accordance with the game state and the game profit, such as setting the individual drive upper limit value to 100% of the drive upper limit value.

Further, here, as a temperature state value indicating the temperature of the effect accessory device 202, a first predetermined value is added based on the drive ratio according to the determination result of whether or not the effect accessory device 202 is driven. Or, the drive counter value such as whether to subtract the second predetermined value has been described as an example, but not limited to such a case, as long as the state in which the drive is continuous can be grasped without using the drive ratio, the effect is produced. It is also possible to adopt a direct or indirect value of the drive continuity of the accessory device 202 and the temperature of the effect accessory device 202, or a predicted value thereof.

Further, here, the drive upper limit value is given as the drive threshold value, the individual drive upper limit value is given as the individual drive threshold value, the lower limit value is given as the reference value, and the value of the drive counter value is increased by adding the first predetermined value. When the drive upper limit value or the individual drive upper limit value is reached, the drive of the effect accessory device 202 is restricted, and the drive counter value becomes smaller by subtracting the second predetermined value and becomes less than the lower limit value. The explanation was given with an example of not subtracting any more. However, not only in such a case, the direction of addition and subtraction can be set in the opposite direction. For example, when the effect accessory device 202 is being driven with the reference value set to 2400 and the drive threshold value or the individual drive threshold value set to 0, "4" is subtracted from the drive counter value as the first predetermined value to produce the effect accessory device. When 202 is stopped, "1" is added as the second predetermined value to the drive counter value, and when the drive threshold value of 0 is reached, the drive of the effect accessory device 202 is restricted to 2400 or more, which is the reference value. When it becomes, maintain 2400. Needless to say, the drive threshold value, the individual drive threshold value, and the reference value can be arbitrarily set. In any case, when the drive counter value is brought closer to the drive threshold value by the first predetermined value or is moved away from the drive threshold value by the second predetermined value and the drive counter value reaches the drive threshold value, the drive of the effect accessory device 202 is restricted. However, when a predetermined reference value is reached as a result of moving away from the drive threshold value by a second predetermined value, it is sufficient not to move the drive counter value away from the reference value. Further, here, the case where there is a margin (remaining) before reaching the individual drive threshold value is expressed as, for example, a high individual drive upper limit value, but as described above, the case where the addition / subtraction directions are reversed. , It can be expressed that the value is low.

Further, here, as the drive limitation of the effect accessory device 202, the stop of the effect accessory device 202 has been described. However, the rotation speed and the moving speed are restricted so as to suppress the temperature rise within a predetermined range. Various restrictions can be applied.

Further, although the motor has been described as the drive source of the effect accessory device 202, the present invention is not limited to this case, and various devices such as solenoids whose temperature rises due to drive (energization) can be applied. In this way, even when the solenoid is used as the drive source, it is determined whether the effector device 202 is driven or stopped at a predetermined time interval (for example, 16.67 msec which is the sampling cycle). For example, when the production accessory device 202 is being driven, "4" is added as the first predetermined value to the predetermined drive counter value, and when the production accessory device 202 is stopped, the drive counter value is changed to the second value. 2 The process of subtracting "1" as a predetermined value is repeated. Then, the effect executing means 334 refers to the individual drive upper limit value corresponding to the priority of the effect for each effect to be executed, and when the value of the drive counter value reaches the referenced individual drive upper limit value, the effect accessory device. Limit the drive of 202.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. It is clear that a person skilled in the art can come up with various modifications or modifications within the scope of the claims, and it is understood that these also naturally belong to the technical scope of the present invention. Will be done.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, as a gaming machine, a symbol determining means for determining one of a plurality of types of symbols including a jackpot symbol, and a symbol display when a predetermined fluctuation time elapses after the symbol is determined. Of the symbol display means for displaying a symbol on the unit, the major role game execution means for executing a major role game composed of a plurality of round games when the jackpot symbol is displayed on the symbol display unit, and the round game in the major role game. During a preset specific round game, when a game ball that has entered the big winning opening enters a specific area, a game profit giving means that gives a predetermined game profit and a production executing means that executes a production during a big role game. The pachinko machine equipped with the above is illustrated, but not limited to such a case, the winning combination lottery means for determining one of a plurality of types of winning combinations by the winning combination lottery based on the operation of the start switch, and the operation of the start switch Correspondingly, a plurality of rotary reels in which a plurality of types of symbols are arranged are rotationally controlled, and are operated based on the lottery result of the winning combination lottery means according to the operation of the stop switch corresponding to the rotating rotary reel. It can also be applied to a slot machine provided with a reel control means for stopping and controlling each of the rotary reels corresponding to the stop switch, and an effect control means for executing one of a plurality of types of effects. Hereinafter, the slot machine 600 will be described in detail.

(Mechanical configuration of slot machine 600)
As shown in the external views of FIGS. 11 and 12, the slot machine 600 can be opened and closed by a housing 602 which is a substantially rectangular box body and a connecting member which is rotatable with respect to the front opening of the housing 602. The front lower door 604, which is located below the front upper door 604 and the front upper door 604, and is attached to the front opening of the housing 602 so as to be openable and closable, like the front upper door 604, and the front lower door 606. It is located at the lower part of the door 606 and is provided with a saucer portion 608 for storing medals paid out from the medal discharge port 608a.

An operation unit installation table 622 is formed on the upper part of the front lower door 606, and a medal insertion unit 624, a bet switch 626, a start switch 628, a stop switch 630, an effect switch 632, etc. are arranged on the operation unit installation table 622. ing.

The medal insertion unit 624 located on the right side of the operation unit installation table 622 accepts the insertion of medals as a game medium through the medal insertion port 624a, and medals are inserted into the medal selector (not shown) provided on the back of the front lower door 606. To send. The medal selector includes a blocker (not shown) that guides medals inserted outside the insertion period or non-standard medals to the medal outlet 608a, and medals within the standard inserted during the insertion period. A insertion medal detection unit 624b for detecting the passage of the above is provided. Here, the medal guided to the medal discharge port 608a is discharged to the saucer portion 608. When a player inserts medals in excess of the specified number of medals inserted to start one game, a predetermined number of medals (for example, 50) exceeding the specified number of medals are inserted. ) Is electrically stored inside the slot machine 600 (hereinafter, simply referred to as a credit). The above 1 game will be described in detail later.

Further, here, the specified number of inputs is set to "3" or "2". When the number of medals required to execute one game can be arbitrarily selected from a plurality of specified number of medals, the maximum number among the plurality of specified number of medals is called the maximum specified number of medals, and the minimum number. Is called the minimum specified number of inputs. If the specified input number can be selected from 1 to 3, the maximum specified input number is "3" and the minimum specified input number is "1".

The bet switch 626 is a push-type button switch that inserts (bets) a specified number of credited medals. If the bet switch 626 is pressed while more than the specified number of medals are credited, one game can be started and the number of credited medals is reduced by the specified number of inserted medals.

The start switch 628 located on the left side of the operation unit installation table 622 is composed of a lever capable of detecting the tilting operation, and detects the start operation of one game by the player. Further, the start switch 628 can also be configured by a button switch capable of detecting a pressing operation.

A colorless and transparent design display window 636 made of a glass plate, a transparent resin plate, or the like is provided in the lower center of the front upper door 604, and a reel is provided at a position corresponding to the design display window 636 in the housing 602. A unit 634 is provided. As shown in the reel symbol arrangement of FIG. 13, the reel unit 634 has three rotary reels (left reel 634a, middle reel 634b, right) in which a plurality of types of symbols are arranged in each region equally divided into 21. Reels 634c) are provided independently and rotatably, and the player can visually recognize the left reel 634a, the middle reel 634b, and the right reel 634c through the symbol display window 636. The reel unit 634 starts rotating the left reel 634a, the middle reel 634b, and the right reel 634c, triggered by the operation of the start switch 628.

The stop switch 630 located at the center of the operation unit installation base 622 is a button switch provided corresponding to each of the left reel 634a, the middle reel 634b, and the right reel 634c, and can detect the pressing operation of the player. The stop operation of the player who tries to stop each of the reel 634a, the middle reel 634b, and the right reel 634c is detected. The three button switches related to the stop switch 630 are particularly called stop button switches, and are referred to as a stop button switch 630a, a stop button switch 630b, and a stop button switch 630c in order from the left according to their positions.

The effect switch 632 is composed of a pressing type button switch and a jog dial switch rotatably arranged around the pressing button switch, and detects a pressing operation or a rotation operation of the player. The effect switch 632 is mainly used during the effect, and the effect mode can be changed by the operation of the player.

A liquid crystal display unit 638 for displaying various images accompanying the production is provided at substantially the center of the upper part of the front upper door 604. Further, on the upper portion and the left and right of the front upper door 604, for example, an effect lamp 642 composed of a high-luminance light emitting diode (LED) is provided. Further, between the symbol display window 636 and the operation unit installation table 622, a production accessory device 660 composed of a drive device is provided.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12, at the left and right positions of the liquid crystal display unit 638 on the back surface of the front upper door 604 and on the inner surface left and right positions on the back surface of the front lower door 606, a speaker that produces an auditory effect by sound effects or musical sounds. 640 is provided. Further, below the reel unit 634 in the housing 602, a medal payout device (medal hopper) 764 for paying out medals from the medal discharge port 608a is provided. The medal payout device 764 includes a medal storage unit 764a for storing medals, a payout control unit 764b for discharging medals stored in the medal storage unit 764a from the medal discharge port 608a, and medals discharged from the medal discharge port 608a. It is provided with a payout medal detection unit 764c for detecting. Specifically, the payout control unit 764b is rotatably supported by the exterior of the main body of the payout control unit 764b, and has a plurality of medal insertion holes in the circumferential direction into which medals dropped from the medal storage unit 764a are inserted one by one from above. A disc (not shown) and a disc motor (not shown) for rotating the disc are provided, and the disc is rotated to insert medals into the medal fitting holes one by one through an extrusion mechanism. The medals are continuously ejected one by one by ejecting the medals to the outside and sequentially inserting the next medals into the medal fitting holes vacated by the ejection.

Further, although not shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, inside each of the rotating reels 634a, 634b, and 634c, among the symbols applied to the left reel 634a, the middle reel 634b, and the right reel 634c, a symbol display window Reel backlight 644 that illuminates the upper, middle, and lower symbols of each rotating reel 634a, 634b, 634c corresponding to 636 (which can be the target of the effective line that is the line to be paid out) independently from the back surface. (See FIG. 14) is provided. Further, a reel upper light 646 that directly illuminates the front of all the left reel 634a, the middle reel 634b, and the right reel 634c is also provided on the upper part of the back surface of the symbol display window 636.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11, in the operation unit installation table 622, the main credit display unit 652 and the main payout display unit are on the substantially horizontal plane of the step portion 622a provided between the symbol display window 636 and the stop switch 630. 654 is provided. Further, a sub-credit display unit 656 and a sub-payout display unit 658 are provided between the symbol display window 636 and the operation unit installation table 622. The number of credits is displayed on the main credit display unit 652 and the sub credit display unit 656, and the number of medals paid out is displayed on the main payout display unit 654 and the sub payout display unit 658. The sub-credit display unit 656 and the sub-payout display unit 658 can also display various numerical values associated with the effect.

Further, a power switch 648 is provided at an arbitrary position in the housing 602. The power switch 648 is composed of a switch such as a rocker switch that can detect a pressing operation, and is operated by an administrator who manages the slot machine 600 to switch between two states, a power off state and a power on state. Used.

In the above embodiment, in the above one game, a medal insertion through the medal insertion unit 624, a credited medal insertion through the operation of the bet switch 626, or a replay combination is displayed on the valid line. After any of the automatic insertion of medals based on the above is performed, a plurality of rotating reels 634a, 634b, 634c are rotationally controlled and a winning combination lottery is executed according to the operation of the start switch 628 by the player to win the prize. The rotary reels 634a, 634b, 634c corresponding to the operated stop button switches 630a, 630b, 630c are stopped and controlled according to the lottery result of the winning combination lottery and the operation of the plurality of stop button switches 630a, 630b, 630c by the player. If a winner wins a medal payout, the game is played until the medal is paid out. In addition, if the winning combination that can receive the medal payout is not won, or if the winning combination is won but the prize is not won, one game ends when all the rotating reels 634a, 634b, and 634c are stopped. However, the start of one game may be read as the operation of the start switch 628 by the player instead of inserting the above medal or winning the replay combination. Further, the number of times such one game is repeated is defined as the number of games.

(Electrical configuration of slot machine 600)
FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a schematic electrical configuration of the slot machine 600. As shown in FIG. 14, the slot machine 600 is mainly controlled by a control board. Here, as an example of the control board, the main control board 700 and the sub control board 702, which share the functions of the control board, will be described. For example, among the programs related to the progress of the game, particularly important processing such as lottery of the winning combination to be used for the game and its winning is executed on the main control board 700, and other processing related to the production, for example, is performed on the sub control board 702. Is running on. Further, as shown in FIG. 14, the transmission of electrical signals between the main control board 700 and the sub control board 702 is one from the main control board 700 to the sub control board 702 from the viewpoint of fraud prevention and the like. Limited to direction only. However, without such restrictions, bidirectional communication is technically possible.

(Main control board 700)
The main control board 700 has various semiconductor integrated circuits including a main CPU 700a which is a central processing unit, a main ROM 700b in which programs and the like are stored, and a main RAM 700c which functions as a work area, and controls the entire slot machine 600 in an integrated manner. To do. However, a backup power supply (not shown) is connected to the main RAM 700c, and even if the power is turned off, the data will not be erased unless the settings are changed and the initialization process of the main RAM 700c is executed. Be retained.

Further, the main control board 700 functions by the main CPU 700a cooperating with the main RAM 700c based on the program stored in the main ROM 700b, the initialization means 800, the betting means 802, the winning combination lottery means 804, and the reel control means. It has functional units such as 806, determination means 808, payout control means 810, state transition means 812, command determination means 814, and command transmission means 816.

The initialization means 800 executes the initialization process on the main control board 700. The betting means 802 bets medals for use in the game. Here, the bet is based on the case where the credited medal is inserted through the operation of the bet switch 626, the case where the medal is inserted through the medal insertion unit 624, and the case where the replay combination is displayed on the valid line. Includes any case of automatic input. The winning combination lottery means 804 determines one of a plurality of types of winning combination including a small combination, a replay combination, a bonus combination, and a loss by the winning combination lottery based on the bet of the medal and the operation of the start switch 628. To do.

The reel control means 806 rotates and controls a plurality of rotary reels 634a, 634b, and 634c according to the operation of the start switch 628, and a plurality of stop button switches 630a corresponding to the rotating rotary reels 634a, 634b, and 634c, respectively. , 630b, 630c, the rotary reels 634a, 634b, 634c corresponding to the operated stop button switches 630a, 630b, 630c are stopped and controlled, respectively. Further, the reel control means 806 enables the operation of the stop switch 630 in the previous game in response to the operation of the start switch 628, and then displays the lottery result of the winning combination lottery of the stop switch 630 by the player. The time until the operation is activated (disabled by the completion of the operation of the stop switch 630 in the previous game) is extended from the specified time, and the rotary reels 634a, 634b, and 634c are rotated in various modes during that time. Reel production (freeze production) may be performed. In the reel effect, any switch that should be originally enabled is not enabled for a predetermined time, processing that should be originally executed is held for a predetermined time, or a signal of an arbitrary switch that should be originally transmitted / received is transmitted or received for a predetermined time. It can be realized by not having it.

The determination means 808 determines whether or not the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination determined in the winning combination lottery is displayed on the valid line. Here, the display of the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination determined in the winning combination lottery on the valid line may be simply referred to as winning. The payout control means 810 pays out the number of medals corresponding to the winning combination based on the fact that the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination determined in the winning combination lottery is displayed on the valid line (winning). .. The state transition means 812 transitions the gaming state based on the winning or winning of the bonus combination.

The command determining means 814 sequentially determines commands related to the game associated with the operations of the betting means 802, the winning combination lottery means 804, the reel control means 806, the determination means 808, the payout control means 810, the state transition means 812, and the like. The command transmitting means 816 sequentially transmits the commands determined by the command determining means 814 to the sub-control board 702.

The main control board 700 receives various detection signals from the input medal detection unit 624b, the bet switch 626, the start switch 628, and the stop switch 630, and based on the received detection signals, the betting means 802 and the winning combination lottery means. The 804, the reel control means 806, and the determination means 808 execute the various processes described above. Further, a main credit display unit 652 and a main payout display unit 654 are connected to the main control board 700, and the payout control means 810 displays the number of medals credits and the number of payouts to both display units 652 and 654. Control.

Further, a reel drive control unit 758 is connected to the main control board 700. The reel drive control unit 758 drives and stops the stepping motor 762 based on the rotation start signals of the rotary reels 634a, 634b, and 634c transmitted from the reel control means 806 in response to the operation signal of the start switch 628. Drive of the stepping motor 762 based on the stop signals of the left reel 634a, the middle reel 634b, and the right reel 634c and the detection signals of the rotation position detection circuit 760 transmitted from the reel control means 806 in response to the operation signal of the switch 630. To stop.

Further, a medal payout device 764 is connected to the main control board 700. A detection signal of the payout medal detection unit 764c is input to the main control board 700, and the payout control means 810 counts the number of medals to be paid out according to the detection signal from the payout control unit 764b. Control the ejection of medals.

Further, the main control board 700 is provided with a random number generator 700d. The random number generator 700d sequentially increments the count value, loops within a predetermined total number (for example, 65536) (0 to 65535), and generates (acquires) a random number by extracting the count value at a predetermined time point. The random numbers generated by the random number generator 700d of the main control board 700 (hereinafter referred to as the winning combination lottery random numbers) are used for the game profit given to the player, for example, the winning combination lottery means 804 for executing the winning combination lottery. Be done.

(Sub-control board 702)
Further, the sub-control board 702 has various semiconductor integrated circuits including a sub CPU 702a which is a central processing device, a sub ROM 702b in which programs and the like are stored, a sub RAM 702c which functions as a work area, and the like, similarly to the main control board 700. , In particular, the effect is controlled based on the command from the main control board 700. Further, like the main RAM 700c, a backup power supply (not shown) is connected to the sub RAM 702c, and even when the power supply is turned off, the data is retained without being erased. Like the main control board 700, the sub-control board 702 is also provided with a random number generator 702d, and the random numbers generated by the random number generator 702d (hereinafter referred to as the effect lottery random numbers) mainly represent the mode of the effect. Used to determine.

Further, the sub-control board 702 functions by the sub CPU 702a working in cooperation with the sub RAM 702c based on the program stored in the sub ROM 702b, such as the initialization determination means 830, the command receiving means 832, and the effect control means 834. It has a functional part.

The initialization determination means 830 executes the initialization process on the sub-control board 702. The command receiving means 832 receives a command from another control board such as the main control board 700, and processes the command. The effect control means 834 receives the detection signal from the effect switch 632, and determines the effect of the game performed by each device of the liquid crystal display unit 638, the speaker 640, and the effect lamp 642 based on the winning combination command. Specifically, the effect control means 834 includes image data displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 638, an effect lamp 642, a reel backlight 644, a reel upper light 646, a sub credit display unit 656, a sub payout display unit 658, and the like. The lighting data for the production through the lighting device is determined, and the audio data constituting the sound to be output from the speaker 640 is determined. Then, the effect control means 834 executes the effect of the determined game.

The effect includes an effect executed by the main control board 700 such as the reel effect described above, and an effect executed by the sub control board 702. The effect executed by the sub control board 702 is a liquid crystal display unit 638, a speaker 640, an effect lamp 642, a reel backlight 644, a reel upper light 646, a sub credit display unit 656, and a sub payout display unit as the game progresses. It is a visual and auditory means of expression provided through 658 and the like, and can give a story to the game and suggest the result of the winning combination lottery with a more dynamic image. In such an effect, for example, an effect suggesting the winning of a bonus game can be performed over a plurality of games to raise the expectation of the player. In addition, even if none of the winning roles have been won, it is possible to give the player a sense of expectation of a high payout through the production as if he had won, so that the player does not get bored. It will be possible.

In the slot machine 600, the effect control means 834 functions as the effect execution means 334 described above, and the effect accessory device 660 functions as the effect accessory device 202 described above.

202, 660 Production accessory device 330, 702 Sub-control board 330a, 702a Sub CPU (CPU)
330b, 702b sub ROM
330c, 702c sub RAM
334 Production execution means (Production control means)

Claims (5)

With a movable or rotatable production accessory device,
A production decision means that determines the production as the game progresses,
The effect accessory device is driven based on the determined effect, and a temperature state value indicating the temperature of the effect accessory device is derived based on the drive, and the temperature state value becomes a predetermined individual drive threshold value. When it arrives, the effect execution means that limits the drive of the effect accessory device and
With
A plurality of individual drive threshold values are provided according to the priority of the effect.
The effect executing means is a gaming machine that limits the drive of the effect accessory device by using an individual drive threshold value corresponding to the determined priority of the effect. As the priority of the effect, claim 1 is that the effect having a high expectation of being given a game profit has more time to reach the individual drive threshold than the effect having a low expectation of being given a game profit. The game machine described. When the effect execution means limits the drive of the effect accessory device when the temperature state value reaches an arbitrary individual drive threshold value, the individual drive threshold value has a margin before reaching the arbitrary individual drive threshold value. The gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the effect device device is restored by switching to. With a movable or rotatable production accessory device,
A production decision means that determines the production as the game progresses,
The effect accessory device is driven based on the determined effect, and a temperature state value indicating the temperature of the effect accessory device is derived based on the drive, and the temperature state value becomes a predetermined individual drive threshold value. When it arrives, the effect execution means that limits the drive of the effect accessory device and
With
A plurality of individual drive threshold values are provided, and the individual drive threshold values are provided.
When the effect execution means limits the drive of the effect accessory device when the temperature state value reaches an arbitrary individual drive threshold value, the individual drive threshold value has a margin before reaching the arbitrary individual drive threshold value. A game machine that switches to and returns the effect device. The effect executing means determines whether or not the effect accessory device is being driven at predetermined time intervals, and brings a predetermined drive counter value closer to the individual drive threshold value by a first predetermined value according to the determination result. The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the temperature state value is derived by moving the temperature state value away from the individual drive threshold value by a second predetermined value.

Images