JP7076405B2 - Static electricity test device and static electricity test method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electrostatic test apparatus and an electrostatic test method.

Conventionally, a game called a pachislot machine equipped with a plurality of reels having a plurality of symbols on each surface, a start switch, a stop switch, a stepping motor provided corresponding to each reel, and a control unit. The machine is known. The start switch detects that the start lever is operated by the player (hereinafter, also referred to as "start operation") after the game medium such as a medal or coin is inserted into the game machine, and the rotation of all reels is rotated. Outputs a signal requesting a start. The stop switch detects that the stop button provided corresponding to each reel is pressed by the player (hereinafter, also referred to as "stop operation"), and outputs a signal requesting the stop of rotation of the corresponding reel. do. The stepping motor transfers its driving force to the corresponding reel. Further, the control unit controls the operation of the stepping motor based on the signals output by the start switch and the stop switch, and performs the rotation operation and the stop operation of each reel.

In such a gaming machine, when a start operation is detected, a lottery process using random numbers (hereinafter referred to as "internal lottery process") is performed on the program, and the result of the lottery (hereinafter referred to as "internal winning combination") is performed. The rotation of the reel is stopped based on the timing of the stop operation. Then, when the rotation of all the reels is stopped and the combination of symbols (display combination) related to the establishment of the winning is displayed, the player is given a privilege corresponding to the combination of the symbols. As an example of the privilege given to the player, the payout of the game medium (medals, etc.) and the operation of the re-game (hereinafter, also referred to as "replay") in which the internal lottery process is performed again without consuming the game medium. , The operation of a bonus game that increases the chances of paying out game media can be mentioned.

Further, conventionally, in a gaming machine having the above configuration, a function of navigating the establishment of a specific small winning combination (a winning combination related to paying out a gaming medium) with a lamp or the like (hereinafter, also abbreviated as "navigation"), that is, an assist. A gaming machine having a time (hereinafter referred to as "AT") function has been developed. In addition, we have also developed a gaming machine that has a function to operate a gaming state in which the winning probability of replay is higher than normal when a specific symbol combination is displayed, that is, a function of replay time (hereinafter referred to as "RT"). Has been done. Further, conventionally, a pachi-slot machine having an assist replay time (hereinafter referred to as "ART") function in which AT and RT operate at the same time has been developed.

The above-mentioned gaming machine is usually a main control equipped with a circuit (main control circuit) for controlling the main gaming operation of the gaming machine such as determination of an internal winning combination, rotation and stop of each reel, and determination of presence / absence of winning. It includes a board and a sub-control board on which a circuit (sub-control circuit) for controlling an effect operation by displaying an image or the like is mounted. The game operation is controlled by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) mounted on the main control circuit. At this time, under the control of the CPU, the program stored in the ROM (Read Only Memory) of the main control circuit, various table data, etc. are expanded in the RAM (Random Access Memory) of the main control circuit, and processing related to various game operations is executed. Will be done.

By the way, although it is a field of in-vehicle equipment that has nothing to do with such a gaming machine, static electricity is applied to a harness connected to an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) that has been activated, and the operation and durability of the ECU due to this are confirmed. Electrostatic tests are known to do.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-185830

However, it is difficult to apply the static electricity test in the field of in-vehicle equipment described above to a gaming machine as it is.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electrostatic test apparatus and an electrostatic test method suitable for a gaming machine.

The present invention is grasped by the following configurations in order to achieve the above object.

(1) The electrostatic test apparatus of the present invention is
An electrostatic test device (for example, an electrostatic test device 400) for a gaming machine (for example, pachislot machine 1).
A discharge energy application unit (for example, a discharge energy application unit 403) arranged outside the housing (for example, the exterior body 2) of the gaming machine, and a discharge energy application unit 403.
A discharge gun (for example, a discharge gun 404) capable of discharging toward the discharge energy application portion, and
A wiring unit (for example, wiring unit 406) whose one end is electrically connected to the discharge energy application unit,
An electrostatic discharge generator (which can be arranged outside the housing or inside the housing, is electrically connected to the other end of the wiring portion, and causes an electrostatic discharge by discharging from the discharge gun toward the discharge energy application portion. For example, it is characterized by including an electrostatic discharge generating unit 408).

According to the configuration of (1) above, by providing the discharge energy application unit, the discharge gun, the wiring unit, and the electrostatic discharge generation unit as described above, it is possible to realize an electrostatic test apparatus suitable for a gaming machine.

(2) In the configuration of (1) above,
The gaming machine has a box body (for example, a hopper device 51) capable of storing a gaming medium in the housing.
The electrostatic discharge generating portion is characterized in that it can be arranged at an upper position of the box body.

(3) In the configuration of (1) or (2) above,
The gaming machine has an opening on the back surface or the bottom surface of the housing that allows the game medium to move into the housing or the game medium to move out of the housing.
The wiring portion is characterized in that it can pass through the opening.

(4) In any of the configurations (1) to (3) above,
The electrostatic discharge generating portion includes a first electrode portion to be grounded (for example, the first electrode portion 481) and a second electrode portion electrically connected to the wiring portion (for example, the second electrode portion 482).
The distance between the first electrode portion and the second electrode portion is adjustable.

(5) The static electricity test method of the present invention is
This is an electrostatic test method for gaming machines (for example, pachislot machine 1).
A discharge energy application unit (for example, a discharge energy application unit 403) outside the housing of the game machine (for example, the exterior body 2) and an electrostatic discharge generation unit (for example, an electrostatic discharge generation unit 408) arranged outside the housing or inside the housing. And form a connection state that is electrically connected via the wiring unit (for example, wiring unit 406).
It includes causing the electrostatic discharge generating portion to generate electrostatic discharge by discharging from a discharging gun (for example, the discharging gun 404) toward the discharging energy applying portion in the connected state and the power of the gaming machine is turned on. It is characterized by.

According to the configuration of (5) above, it is possible to realize an electrostatic test method suitable for a gaming machine by utilizing the discharge energy application unit, the discharge gun, the wiring unit, and the electrostatic discharge generation unit as described above.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electrostatic test apparatus and an electrostatic test method suitable for a gaming machine.

It is a figure for demonstrating the functional flow of the gaming machine in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the appearance structure of the gaming machine in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the internal structure of the gaming machine in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the internal structure of the gaming machine in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the display device in the gaming machine of one Embodiment of this invention. It is an exploded perspective view of the projection block in the gaming machine of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a vertical sectional view of the projection block in the gaming machine of one Embodiment of this invention. It is an exploded perspective view of the projected block in the gaming machine of one Embodiment of this invention. It is an exploded perspective view of the projected member moving mechanism in the gaming machine of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a vertical cross-sectional view of the projected block when the trapezoidal member is the projection target of the image light in the gaming machine of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the state of the projected block when the pseudo reel member is the projection target of the image light in the gaming machine of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a vertical sectional view of the projected block when the pseudo reel member is the projection target of the image light in the gaming machine of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the state of the projected block when the plane screen member is the projection target of the image light in the gaming machine of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a vertical sectional view of the projected block when the plane screen member is the projection target of the image light in the gaming machine of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the circuit provided in the gaming machine of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the main control circuit in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the microprocessor in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the auxiliary control circuit in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the processing procedure of the effect registration task executed by the sub CPU in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the outline of the method of making the image data (PJ correspondence image data) of the image light projected on the various projected members in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the outline of the PJ correspondence image data generation method by the virtual projection photography method in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the virtual projection image data generated by the virtual projection operation in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the outline of the process at the time of generating the PJ correspondence image data from the virtual photograph image data in one Embodiment of this invention. In one embodiment of the present invention, it is a figure for demonstrating the outline of generation of PJ-corresponding image data in the case where a movable projected member is included in the projected member to be projected. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the image data generation processing which is executed in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the outline of the PJ correspondence image data generation method in the modification 1 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the outline of the PJ correspondence image data generation method in the modification 2 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the projection matrix and the offset matrix used in the generation processing of the PJ correspondence image data in the modification 2 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the outline of the PJ correspondence image data generation method by the texture mapping method in the modification 3 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the image data generation processing executed in the modification 3 of this invention. It is a schematic top view which shows the whole structure example of the static electricity test apparatus suitable for pachislot. It is a schematic front view of the static electricity test apparatus. It is a top view of the electrostatic discharge generation part. It is an enlarged view of the Q1 part of FIG. 33. It is a perspective view of a hopper device. It is a schematic flowchart explaining the flow of the static electricity test method by the static electricity test apparatus.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the electrostatic test apparatus and the game machine to which the electrostatic test method of the present invention can be applied, and a modified example thereof will be described above with a pachislot as an example, and a basic overall configuration will be provided with reference to the drawings. And the operation and the like will be described, and then the static electricity test apparatus and the static electricity test method of the present invention will also be described. In this embodiment, a pachi-slot machine having a bonus operation function and an ART function will be described.

<Functional flow>
First, the functional flow of the pachi-slot machine will be described with reference to FIG. In the pachislot machine of the present embodiment, a medal is used as a game medium for playing a game. In addition to medals, coins, game balls, game point data, tokens, and the like can also be applied as the game medium.

When a medal is inserted into a pachislot machine by a player and the start lever is operated, one value (hereinafter referred to as a random number value) is extracted from a random number in a predetermined numerical range (for example, 0 to 65535).

The internal lottery means draws lots based on the extracted random number values, and determines the internal winning combination. This internal lottery means is one of various processing means (processing functions) included in the main control circuit described later. By determining the internal winning combination, the combination of symbols that are permitted to be displayed along the valid line (winning determination line) described later is determined. The types of symbol combinations are those related to "winning" where benefits such as medal payout, replay operation, bonus operation, etc. are given to the player, and other so-called "missing". Such things are provided.

Further, when the start lever is operated, a plurality of reels are rotated. After that, when the stop button corresponding to the predetermined reel is pressed by the player, the reel stop control means controls to stop the rotation of the corresponding reel based on the internal winning combination and the timing when the stop button is pressed. conduct. This reel stop control means is one of various processing means (processing functions) included in the main control circuit described later.

In pachislot, basically, control is performed to stop the rotation of the corresponding reel within a specified time (190 msec) from the time when the stop button is pressed. In the present embodiment, the number of symbols that move with the rotation of the reel within this specified time is referred to as "the number of sliding pieces". Then, in the present embodiment, when the specified period is 190 msec, the maximum number of sliding pieces (maximum number of sliding pieces) is set for four symbols.

When the internal winning combination that permits the combination display of the symbols related to the winning is determined, the reel stop control means usually sets the combination of the symbols to the effective line within the specified time of 190 msec (for 4 symbols). Stop the rotation of the reel so that it is displayed as much as possible along the line. Further, the reel stop control means uses a specified time to stop the rotation of the reel so that the combination of symbols whose display is not permitted by the internal winning combination is not displayed along the valid line.

In this way, when all the rotations of the plurality of reels are stopped, the winning determination means determines whether or not the combination of symbols displayed along the valid line is related to the winning. This winning determination means is also one of various processing means (processing functions) included in the main control circuit described later. Then, when it is determined by the winning determination means that the combination of the displayed symbols is related to the winning, a privilege such as a medal payout is given to the player. In pachislot, the above series of flows is performed as one game (unit game).

In addition, in pachislot, in the flow of the above-mentioned series of game operations, various effects are produced by displaying images by a display device, outputting light by various lamps, outputting sounds by speakers, or a combination of these. Is done.

Specifically, when the start lever is operated, a random value for staging is extracted in addition to the random value used for determining the internal winning combination described above. When the random value for the effect is extracted, the effect content determining means determines the effect to be executed this time from a plurality of types of effect contents associated with the internal winning combination by lottery. This effect content determining means is one of various processing means (processing functions) provided in the sub-control circuit described later.

Next, when the effect content is determined by the effect content determination means, the effect execution means responds in conjunction with each opportunity such as when the reel rotation starts, when the rotation of each reel stops, and when it is determined whether or not there is a prize. To execute. In this way, in pachislot, for example, by executing the production content associated with the internal winning combination, the opportunity to know or anticipate the determined internal winning combination (in other words, the combination of symbols to be aimed at) is a game. It is provided to the player and can improve the interest of the player.

<Structure of pachislot>
Next, the structure of the pachi-slot machine according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

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

As shown in FIG. 2, the pachi-slot machine 1 includes an exterior body 2 (game machine main body). The exterior body 2 has a cabinet 2a for accommodating a reel, a circuit board, and the like, and a front door 2b to which an opening of the cabinet 2a can be opened and closed.

Inside the cabinet 2a, three reels 3L, 3C, 3R (variable display means, display row) are provided side by side in a horizontal row. Hereinafter, each reel 3L, 3C, 3R (main reel) is also referred to as a left reel 3L, a middle reel 3C, and a right reel 3R, respectively. Each reel 3L, 3C, 3R has a reel body formed in a cylindrical shape and a translucent sheet material mounted on the peripheral surface of the reel body. A plurality of (for example, 20) symbols are drawn on the surface of the sheet material at predetermined intervals along the circumferential direction (rotational direction of the reel).

The front door 2b includes a door main body 9, a front panel 10, a waist panel 12, and a pedestal portion 13. The door body 9 is attached to the cabinet 2a so as to be openable and closable by using a hinge (not shown). The hinge is provided at the left side end of the door body 9 when viewed from the front side (player side) of the pachi-slot machine 1.

The front panel 10 is provided on the upper part of the door body 9. The front panel 10 is composed of a frame-shaped member having an opening 10a. The opening 10a of the front panel 10 is closed by the display device cover 30, and the display device cover 30 is arranged to face the display device 11 described later arranged inside the cabinet 2a.

The display device cover 30 is formed of a black translucent synthetic resin. Therefore, the player can visually recognize the image (image) displayed by the display device 11 described later through the display device cover 30. Further, in the present embodiment, the display device cover 30 is made of a black translucent synthetic resin to suppress the entry of external light into the cabinet 2a, and the image (image) displayed by the display device 11 is suppressed. Is clearly visible.

The lamp group 21 is provided on the front panel 10. The lamp group 21 includes, for example, the lamps 21a and 21b provided on the upper part of the front panel 10 when viewed from the player side. Each lamp constituting the lamp group 21 is composed of an LED (Light Emitting Diode) or the like (see the LED group 85 in FIG. 15 described later), and turns on and off the light in a pattern corresponding to the effect content.

The waist panel 12 is provided at a substantially central portion of the door body 9. The waist panel 12 has a decorative panel on which an arbitrary image is drawn, and a light source (LED included in the LED group 85 described later) that emits light for illuminating the decorative panel from the back surface side.

The pedestal portion 13 is provided between the front panel 10 and the waist panel 12. The pedestal portion 13 has a symbol display area 4, various devices to be operated by the player (medal insertion slot 14, MAX bet button 15a, 1 bet button 15b, start lever 16, 3 stop buttons 17L, 17C, etc.). 17R, checkout button (not shown), etc.) are provided.

The symbol display area 4 is an area superposed on the three reels 3L, 3C, 3R when viewed from the front, and is arranged at a position on the player side of the three reels 3L, 3C, 3R, and the three reels. It has a size that makes 3L, 3C, and 3R visible. The symbol display area 4 functions as a display window, and has a configuration in which the reels 3L, 3C, and 3R provided behind the symbol display area 4 can be visually recognized. Hereinafter, the symbol display area 4 is referred to as a reel display window 4.

The reel display window 4 is continuously arranged among a plurality of symbols provided on the peripheral surface of each reel when the rotation of the three reels 3L, 3C, 3R provided behind the reel display window 4 is stopped. Two symbols are configured to be displayed within the frame. That is, when the rotation of the three reels 3L, 3C, and 3R is stopped, one symbol is provided in each of the upper, middle, and lower regions for each reel in the frame of the reel display window 4 (three in total). ) Is displayed (in the frame of the reel display window 4, the design is displayed in the form of 3 rows × 3 columns). Then, in the present embodiment, in the frame of the reel display window 4, a pseudo line (center line) connecting the middle stage region of the left reel 3L, the middle stage region of the middle reel 3C, and the middle stage region of the right reel 3R is provided. It is defined as a valid line that determines whether or not a prize has been won.

The reel display window 4 is formed by an opening of a frame member 31 provided in the pedestal portion 13. Further, a pedestal region having a substantially horizontal plane is provided below the frame member 31 that defines the reel display window 4. When viewed from the player side, the medal insertion slot 14 is provided on the right side of the pedestal area, and the MAX bet button 15a and the 1-bet button 15b are provided on the left side.

The medal slot 14 is provided to receive medals dropped from the outside into the pachi-slot machine 1 by the player. The medals received from the medal slot 14 are used for one game up to a preset predetermined number (for example, 3), and the number of medals exceeding the predetermined number is deposited inside the pachislot machine 1. (So-called credit function (game medium storage means)).

The MAX bet button 15a and the 1-bet button 15b are provided to determine the number of medals deposited in the cabinet 2a to be used for one game. Inside the MAX bet button 15a, a bet button LED (not shown) that lights up when a medal can be inserted is provided. Further, the settlement button is provided to pull out (discharge) the medals deposited inside the pachi-slot machine 1 to the outside.

When the player presses the MAX bet button 15a, medals for the number of bets (3) in the unit game are inserted and the effective line is activated. On the other hand, one medal is inserted each time the 1-bet button 15b is pressed once. When the 1-bet button 15b is operated three times, medals for the number of bets (3) in the unit game are inserted and the effective line is activated. Hereinafter, the operation of the MAX bet button 15a, the operation of the 1-bet button 15b, and the operation of inserting medals into the medal insertion slot 14 (operations of inserting medals to perform a game) are all referred to as "insertion operations".

The start lever 16 is provided to start the rotation of all reels (3L, 3C, 3R). The stop buttons 17L, 17C, and 17R are provided corresponding to the left reel 3L, the middle reel 3C, and the right reel 3R, respectively, and each stop button is provided to stop the rotation of the corresponding reel. Hereinafter, the stop buttons 17L, 17C, and 17R are also referred to as a left stop button 17L, a middle stop button 17C, and a right stop button 17R, respectively.

Further, an information display 6 is provided at substantially the center of the pedestal area of the substantially horizontal plane below the reel display window 4. The information display 6 is covered with a transparent window cover (not shown).

The information display 6 is a two-digit 7-segment LED for digitally displaying (notifying) the information of the number of medals to be paid out to the player (hereinafter referred to as "the number of payouts") as a privilege to the player. To digitally display (notify) information such as (hereinafter referred to as "7-segment LED") and the number of medals deposited inside the pachislot 1 (hereinafter referred to as "credit number") to the player. A 2-digit 7-segment LED is provided. In the present embodiment, the 2-digit 7-segment LED for displaying the number of medals to be paid out is a 2-digit 7-segment LED for digitally displaying (notifying) information on the occurrence of an error and the error type to the player. Is also used. Therefore, when an error occurs, the display mode of the 2-digit 7-segment LED for displaying the number of medals to be paid out is switched from the display mode of the number of payouts to the display mode of the information of the error type.

Further, the information display 6 is provided with an instruction monitor (not shown) for notifying information on the stop operation necessary for displaying the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination determined as the internal winning combination along the effective line. ing. The instruction monitor (instruction display) is composed of, for example, a two-digit 7-segment LED. Then, in the instruction monitor, the information of the necessary stop operation is notified to the player by turning on, blinking, or turning off the two-digit 7-segment LED in a manner uniquely corresponding to the information of the stop operation to be notified. do.

The mode that uniquely corresponds to the information of the stop operation to be notified here is, for example, when the push order "1st (the first stop operation is performed on the left reel 3L)" is notified. When the numerical value "1" is displayed on the instruction monitor and the push order "2nd (perform the first stop operation on the middle reel 3C)" is displayed, the numerical value "2" is displayed on the instruction monitor and the push order is displayed. When notifying "3rd (performing the first stop operation on the right reel 3R)", the numerical value "3" is displayed on the instruction monitor.

As shown in FIG. 15 described later, the information display 6 is electrically connected to the main control board 71 via the door relay terminal board 68 and the game operation display board 81, and the display operation of the information display 6 is mainly performed. It is controlled by the main control circuit 90 described later in the control board 71. Further, the control method of the various 7-segment LEDs described above is dynamic lighting control.

In the pachi-slot machine 1 of the present embodiment, in addition to the instruction monitor controlled by the main control board 71, another means controlled by the sub-control board 72 is used to notify the information of the stop operation. Specifically, the stop operation is performed by the display device 11 described later, which is composed of the projection block 201 including the projector 213 described later and the projected block 202 including various projected members (see FIGS. 3 and 5 to 8 described later). Information of.

When such a configuration is applied, the mode of notification in the instruction monitor and the mode of notification in other means controlled by the sub-control board 72 may be different from each other. That is, in the instruction monitor, the information of the stop operation to be notified may be notified in a manner uniquely corresponding to the information of the stop operation, and it is not always necessary to directly notify the information of the stop operation (for example, the numerical value "1" in the instruction monitor. Even if is displayed, it may not be possible to specify the content of the notification depending on the player, so it cannot be said to be a direct notification). On the other hand, in the notification on the sub side (sub control board side) by other means such as the display device 11 described later, the information of the stop operation may be directly notified. For example, when notifying the push order "1st", the instruction monitor displays a numerical value "1" uniquely corresponding to the push order to be notified, but other means (for example, display device 11 or the like) display the left reel 3L. The instruction information for performing the first stop operation may be directly notified to the user.

In the pachi-slot machine 1 having such a configuration, it is possible to notify the information of the necessary stop operation according to the internal winning combination not only by the control of the sub control board 72 but also by the control of the main control board 71. Further, the presence / absence of notification of such stop operation information may be controlled according to the gaming state. For example, in a general gaming state in which navigation does not occur (for example, a non-ART gaming state, etc.), information on a stop operation is not notified, but in a notification game state in which navigation occurs (for example, an ART gaming state, etc.), information on a stop operation is notified. You may do so.

Further, a sub display device 18 is provided on the left side of the reel display window 4 when viewed from the player side. As shown in FIG. 2, the sub-display device 18 is provided so as to stand substantially perpendicular to the pedestal region of the substantially horizontal plane of the pedestal portion 13 in the front portion of the door body 9. The sub-display device 18 is composed of a liquid crystal display and an organic EL (Electro-Luminence) display, and displays various information.

Further, a touch sensor 19 is provided on the display surface of the sub display device 18 (see FIG. 15 described later). The touch sensor 19 operates according to a predetermined operating principle such as a capacitance method, and when it receives an operation of a player, it outputs a signal corresponding to the operation as touch input information. The pachi-slot machine 1 of the present embodiment has a function of enabling the display of the sub-display device 18 to be switched according to the player's operation (touch input information output from the touch sensor 19) received via the touch sensor 19. Has. The sub display device 18 is controlled by the sub control board 72 (see FIG. 15 described later) based on the touch input information output from the touch sensor 19.

At the lower part of the door body 9, a medal payout outlet 24, a medal tray 25, two speaker holes 20L, 20R, and the like are provided. The medal payout outlet 24 guides the medals discharged by driving the medal payout device 51, which will be described later, to the outside. The medal tray 25 stores medals discharged from the medal payout outlet 24. Further, sound effects such as sound effects and music corresponding to the content of the production are output from the two speaker holes 20L and 20R.

[Internal structure]
Next, the internal structure of the pachi-slot machine 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the internal structure of the cabinet 2a, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the internal structure of the front door 2b on the back surface side.

As shown in FIG. 3, the cabinet 2a has a top plate 27a, a bottom plate 27b, left and right side plates 27c and 27d, and a back plate 27e. A display device 11 is arranged in the upper part of the cabinet 2a.

The display device 11 has a projection block 201 including the projector 213 described later, and a projected block 202 including a plurality of types of projected members described later on which the image light emitted from the projector 213 described later is projected. Further, in the projected block 202, a function for switching the projected member according to the gaming state (projected member moving mechanism 305 described later) is also provided.

In the display device 11, the image light corresponding to the image data (PJ-compatible image data described later) generated by the image composition process on the virtual space described later is projected onto the predetermined projected member, and the image display effect or the like is performed. Will be. Specifically, the display device 11 generates video light based on the shape of the projected member (object) to be projected and the positional relationship (projection distance, angle, etc.) between the projector 213 and the projected member, which will be described later. Then, the image light is projected onto the surface of the projected member from the projector 213 described later. By providing such an effect function, it is possible to perform an advanced and powerful effect. The specific configuration and operation of the display device 11 will be described in detail later with reference to the drawings.

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

The hopper device 51 is attached to the central portion of the bottom plate 27b in the cabinet 2a. The hopper device 51 has a structure capable of accommodating a large number of medals and ejecting them one by one. The hopper device 51 pays out medals when, for example, the number of stored medals exceeds 50, or when the settlement button is pressed and the settlement of medals is executed. Then, the medals paid out by the hopper device 51 are discharged from the medal payout outlet 24 (see FIG. 2).

The medal auxiliary storage 52 stores medals overflowing from the hopper device 51. The medal auxiliary storage 52 is arranged on the right side of the hopper device 51 when the inside of the cabinet 2a is viewed from the front. Further, the medal auxiliary storage 52 is detachably attached to the bottom plate 27b of the cabinet 2a.

The power supply device 53 includes a power supply switch 53a and a power supply board 53b (power supply means) (see FIG. 15 described later). The power supply device 53 is arranged on the left side of the hopper device 51 when the inside of the cabinet 2a is viewed from the front, and is attached to the left side plate 27c. The power supply device 53 converts the AC voltage 100V power supplied from the sub power supply device (not shown) into the DC voltage power required in each part, and supplies the converted power to each part.

Further, above the power supply device 53 in the cabinet 2a, a sub-control board case 57 for accommodating the sub-control board 72 (see FIG. 15 described later) is arranged. A sub-control circuit 150 (see FIG. 18 described later) described later is mounted on the sub-control board 72 housed in the sub-control board case 57. The sub-control circuit 150 is a circuit that controls the execution of an effect by displaying an image or the like. The sub-control board 72 shows a specific example of the control unit according to the present invention. The specific configuration of the sub-control circuit 150 will be described later.

The sub-relay board 61 is arranged above the sub-control board case 57 in the cabinet 2a. The sub-relay board 61 is a relay board on which wiring for connecting the sub-control board 72 and the main control board 71, which will be described later, is mounted. Further, the sub-relay board 61 is a relay board on which wiring for connecting the sub-control board 72 and a board arranged around the sub-control board 72, various device units (units), and the like is mounted.

Further, although not shown in FIG. 3, a cabinet-side relay board 44 (see FIG. 15 described later) is arranged in the cabinet 2a. The cabinet-side relay board 44 connects the main control board 71 (see FIG. 15 described later), the ca, the medal auxiliary storage switch 75 (see FIG. 15 described later), and the medal payout count switch (not shown). It is a relay board on which the wiring to be used is mounted.

As shown in FIG. 4, a middle door 41 is arranged at the center of the front door 2b on the back surface side, and a reel display window 4 (see FIG. 2) is attached so as to be openable and closable from the back side. Although not shown in FIG. 4, three reels 3L, 3C, and 3R are attached to the reel display window 4 side of the middle door 41, and the main control is on the side opposite to the reel display window 4 side of the middle door 41. A main control board case 55 in which the board 71 (see FIG. 15 described later) is housed is attached. A stepping motor (not shown) is connected to the three reels 3L, 3C, and 3R via a gear having a predetermined reduction ratio.

The main control board 71 housed in the main control board case 55 has a main control circuit 90 (see FIG. 16 described later) described later. The main control circuit 90 (main control means) is a circuit that controls the main flow of the game in the pachi-slot machine 1, such as determination of the internal winning combination, rotation and stop of each reel 3L, 3C, 3R, and determination of presence / absence of winning. .. Further, in the present embodiment, for example, the main control circuit 90 also controls the lottery processing of whether or not the notification game (ART or the like) is determined, the display processing of the navigation information on the instruction monitor, and the transmission processing of various test signals. .. The specific configuration of the main control circuit 90 will be described later.

Speakers 65L and 65R are arranged below the middle door 41 on the back surface side of the front door 2b. The speakers 65L and 65R are arranged at positions facing the speaker holes 20L and 20R (see FIG. 2), respectively.

Further, above the speaker 65R, a selector 66 and a door open / close monitoring switch 67 are arranged. The selector 66 is a device for selecting whether or not the material and shape of the medal are appropriate, and guides the appropriate medal inserted into the medal insertion slot 14 to the hopper device 51. A medal sensor (game medium detecting means: not shown) for detecting that an appropriate medal has passed is provided on the path through which the medal passes in the selector 66.

The door open / close monitoring switch 67 is arranged diagonally to the lower left of the selector 66 when the front door 2b is viewed from the back surface side. The door open / close monitoring switch 67 outputs a security signal for notifying the open / close of the front door 2b to the outside of the pachi-slot machine 1.

Further, although not shown in FIG. 4, a door relay terminal plate 68 is arranged on the back surface of the front door 2b, which is a region opened and closed by the middle door 41 and below the reel display window 4 (see the figure below). See 15). The door relay terminal board 68 includes a main control board 71 in the main control board case 55, various buttons and switches, a sub relay board 61, a selector 66, a game operation display board 81, a first interface board 401 for a testing machine, and the like. This is a relay board on which wiring for connecting to each of the second interface boards 402 for a testing machine is mounted. Examples of the various buttons and switches include the MAX bet button 15a, the 1-bet button 15b, the door open / close monitoring switch 67, the BET switch 77 described later, the start switch 79, and the like.
<Display device configuration>
Next, the configuration of the display device 11 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of the display device 11.

As shown in FIG. 5, the display device 11 includes a projection block 201 and a projected block 202 arranged below the projection block 201. The display device 11 generates image light by a projector 213 installed in the projection block 201, which will be described later, and emits the image light to a projection surface of a projected member (trapezoidal member 302, etc. described later) provided in the projected block 202. Project to.

[Projection block]
Next, the configuration of the projection block 201 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the projection block 201. FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of the projection block 201. The projection block 201 including the projector 213 described later shows a specific example of the projection unit according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 6, the projection block 201 has a base member 211, a reflection member 212, and a projector 213. The base member 211 is composed of a hollow substantially box-shaped member having an open lower surface, and includes an upper plate portion 221, a front plate portion 222, a rear plate portion 223, a left plate portion 224, and a right plate portion 225. Have.

A projector 213 is attached to the back surface of the upper plate portion 221 (the surface on the projected block 202 side). Further, the front plate portion 222 is provided with a reflective member mounting portion 227, and the reflective member mounting portion 227 is composed of a protruding member protruding forward (on the player side) from the front plate portion 222.

The front piece 234 of the reflective member mounting portion 227 is composed of a plate-shaped member, and the surface direction of the front surface of the front piece 234 (the protruding surface of the reflective member mounting portion 227) is diagonally upward and the surface direction of the back surface is diagonally downward. It is tilted so that it becomes. A reflective member 212 is attached to the back surface of the front piece 234 (the surface on the side of the projector 213 and the projected block 202).

As shown in FIG. 7, the reflective member 212 is fixed to the mirror holder 236 and the mirror holder 236, which are formed of a plate-shaped member having substantially the same size (size) as the front piece 234 and having a rectangular surface. It has a reflection mirror 237 and the like. The mirror holder 236 is fixed to the back surface of the front piece 234 by using a fixing member such as a screw.

The reflection mirror 237 is fixed to the surface of the mirror holder 236 on the projector 213 side and the projected block 202 side. The reflection mirror 237 is tilted so that the surface direction of the reflection surface is diagonally downward, and the image light emitted from the projector 213 is directed toward the projected member (trapezoidal member 302 or the like described later) of the projected block 202. reflect.

As shown in FIG. 7, the projector 213 has a projector main body 241 and a mounting bracket 242. The mounting bracket 242 is composed of a plate-shaped member having a substantially rectangular surface, and the projector main body 241 is mounted on the back surface (the surface on the projected block 202 side) of the mounting bracket 242. The mounting bracket 242 is fixed to the back surface of the upper plate portion 221 of the base member 211 by using a fixing member such as a screw.

The projector main body 241 has a case 251 (see FIG. 6), a lighting unit 252, a liquid crystal prism unit 253, a projection lens 254, a plurality of heat sinks 255, and a plurality of fans 256. Note that FIG. 7 shows only one heat sink 255 and one fan 256.

The case 251 is composed of a hollow housing. A lighting unit 252, a liquid crystal prism unit 253, a projection lens 254, a heat sink 255, and a fan 256 are housed inside the case 251. Further, an opening closed by the projection lens 254 is provided on the front surface (reflection member 212 side) of the case 251.

Inside the case 251 the liquid crystal prism unit 253 is arranged behind the projection lens 254 (in the direction opposite to the mirror holder 236 side), and the lighting unit 252 is arranged behind the liquid crystal prism unit 253. A plurality of heat sinks 255 are arranged around the lighting unit 252, and the plurality of fans 256 are arranged adjacent to the plurality of heat sinks 255.

The lighting unit 252 has, for example, a plurality of light sources. The plurality of light sources are composed of a light source R (not shown) that emits red light, a light source G (not shown) that emits green light, and a light source B (not shown) that emits blue light. .. Therefore, light of three colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) is incident on the liquid crystal prism unit 253, respectively.

The present invention is not limited to this, and for example, one high-intensity discharge lamp may be used as the light source. In this case, a color separation mirror (dichroic mirror) is used to separate the light emitted from the high-intensity discharge lamp into three colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B).

The liquid crystal prism unit 253 has, for example, three liquid crystal panels and a cross prism (dichroic prism) for color synthesis. The three liquid crystal panels include a liquid crystal panel R (not shown) to which red light is incident, a liquid crystal panel G (not shown) to which green light is incident, and a liquid crystal panel B (not shown) to which blue light is incident. Consists of. The cross prism synthesizes three image lights generated by each liquid crystal panel as one image light.

The projection lens 254 is arranged so as to face the reflection mirror 237 of the reflection member 212. Therefore, the image light emitted from the liquid crystal prism unit 253 passes through the projection lens 254 and is incident on the reflection mirror 237. The plurality of heat sinks 255 dissipate heat generated by the lighting unit 252. Further, the plurality of fans 256 blow air to the plurality of heat sinks 255 to cool the plurality of heat sinks 255.

[Projected block]
Next, the configuration of the projected block 202 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the projected block 202. FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the moving mechanism of the projected member provided on the projected block 202.

As shown in FIG. 8, the projected block 202 includes a storage case 301, a trapezoidal member 302, a pseudo reel member 303, a flat screen member 304, and a projected member moving mechanism 305. Each of the trapezoidal member 302, the pseudo reel member 303, and the flat screen member 304 shows a specific example of the display unit according to the present invention. Further, the trapezoidal member 302 shows a specific example of the first display unit according to the present invention, and each of the pseudo reel member 303 and the flat screen member 304 is one of the second display units according to the present invention. A concrete example is shown. Further, the projected member moving mechanism 305 shows a specific example of the movable control means according to the present invention.

(1) Storage case The storage case 301 is a hollow housing having an open front surface and an upper surface, and has a pedestal portion 311, a back wall 312, a left side wall 313, and a right side wall 314. Each wall is composed of a plate-shaped member having a substantially rectangular surface, the pedestal portion 311 and the back surface wall 312 form the bottom portion and the back surface portion of the storage case 301, respectively, and the left side wall 313 and the right side wall 314, respectively. The left side surface portion and the right side surface portion of the storage case 301 are formed.

(2) Trapezoidal member The trapezoidal member 302 is composed of a floor plate portion 321 having a trapezoidal surface and three wall plate portions 322,323,324, and has a fixing member such as a screw on the pedestal portion 311 of the storage case 301. It is fixed.

The floor plate portion 321 is mounted on the mounting surface 311a of the pedestal portion 311. At this time, the floor plate portion 321 is placed on the pedestal portion 311 so that the lower side (long side) portion of the floor plate portion 321 is located on the front surface (player side). The surface 321a (flat surface) opposite to the surface of the floor plate portion 321 that is in contact with the mounting surface 311a of the pedestal portion 311 is a projection surface. The image light emitted from the projector 213 and then reflected by the reflecting member 212 is projected onto the projection surface 321a of the floor plate portion 321.

The wall plate portion 322 is composed of a plate-shaped member having a substantially rectangular surface, and is continuously formed on the upper side portion of the floor plate portion 321. At this time, the wall plate portion 322 is continuously formed on the upper side portion of the floor plate portion 321 so that the angle between the surface of the wall plate portion 322 and the surface of the floor plate portion 321 is substantially vertical. Then, the plane of the wall plate portion 322 on the front door 2b side (player side) becomes the projection surface 322a. Similar to the projection surface 321a of the floor plate portion 321, the image light emitted from the projector 213 and then reflected by the reflection member 212 is projected onto the projection surface 322a of the wall plate portion 322.

The wall plate portion 323 is composed of a plate-shaped member, and is continuously formed on the left side portion of the floor plate portion 321 and the left side portion of the wall plate portion 322. At this time, the wall plate portion 323 is continuous with the left side portion of the floor plate portion 321 and the left side portion of the wall plate portion 322 so that the angle between the surface of the wall plate portion 323 and the surface of the floor plate portion 321 is substantially vertical. Is formed. Then, the plane of the wall plate portion 323 on the wall plate portion 324 side becomes the projection surface 323a. Since the angle between the projection surface 323a of the wall plate portion 323 and the projection surface 322a of the wall plate portion 322 is an obtuse angle (an angle larger than 90 degrees), the projection surface 323a has an opening 10a of the front door 2b. It becomes visible to the player through. Similar to the projection surface 321a of the floor plate portion 321, the image light emitted from the projector 213 and then reflected by the reflection member 212 is projected onto the projection surface 323a of the wall plate portion 323.

The wall plate portion 324 is composed of a plate-shaped member, and is continuously formed on the right side portion of the floor plate portion 321 and the right side portion of the wall plate portion 322. At this time, the wall plate portion 324 is continuous with the right side portion of the floor plate portion 321 and the right side portion of the wall plate portion 322 so that the angle between the surface of the wall plate portion 324 and the surface of the floor plate portion 321 is substantially vertical. Is formed. Then, the plane of the wall plate portion 324 on the wall plate portion 323 side becomes the projection surface 324a. Since the angle between the projection surface 324a of the wall plate portion 324 and the projection surface 322a of the wall plate portion 322 is an obtuse angle (an angle larger than 90 degrees), the projection surface 324a has an opening 10a of the front door 2b. It becomes visible to the player through. Similar to the projection surface 321a of the floor plate portion 321, the image light emitted from the projector 213 and then reflected by the reflection member 212 is projected onto the projection surface 324a of the wall plate portion 324.

In the present embodiment, the image light is projected onto a part of the projection surface 321a, 322a, 323a, 324a of the trapezoidal member 302. The projection planes 321a, 322a, 323a, and 324a have a projection area on which the image light is projected and a non-projection area on which the image light is not projected. A silver (gray) paint is applied to the projection areas of the projection surfaces 321a, 322a, 323a, and 324a. On the other hand, black paint is applied to the non-projection regions of the projection surfaces 321a, 322a, 323a, and 324a.

By applying the black paint to the non-projection regions of the projection surfaces 321a, 322a, 323a, and 324a in this way, it is possible to suppress the reflection of light in the non-projection region and suppress the diffuse reflection of light in the cabinet 2a. can do. Further, by applying the black paint to the non-projected area, vibration, rotation, collapse, shape change, coloring change, partial emphasis expression, etc. of the projected member become possible.

(3) Pseudo-reel member As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the pseudo-reel member 303 includes an arc plate portion 331 and a pair of rotating arms 332A and 332B (for the rotating arm 332B, see FIG. 11 described later). To prepare for.

The arc plate portion 331 is composed of a plate body extending in an arc shape (a plate body having an arc shape extending on the side surface). Therefore, the inner peripheral surface 331a and the outer peripheral surface 331b are formed on the arc plate portion 331. The inner peripheral surface 331a of the arc plate portion 331 is provided with decorations related to the model of the pachi-slot machine 1. On the other hand, the outer peripheral surface 331b is formed of a smooth curved surface, and is a projection surface on which the image light emitted from the projector 213 is projected (see FIG. 11 described later). Further, silver (or gray) paint is applied to the inner peripheral surface 331a and the outer peripheral surface 331b of the arc plate portion 331.

The pair of rotating arms 332A and 332B are continuously formed on the pair of arcuate side surface portions of the arcuate plate portion 331, and the surface thereof is composed of a substantially fan-shaped plate body. The pair of rotating arms 332A and 332B are rotatably supported by the support plates 351A and 351B described later of the projected member moving mechanism 305, respectively. The pseudo reel member 303 rotates between a standby position in which the inner peripheral surface 331a faces forward (player side) and an exposed position in which the outer peripheral surface 331b faces forward. The operation of the pseudo reel member 303 will be described later with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12 described later.

(4) Flat screen member As shown in FIG. 8, the flat screen member 304 is composed of a plate-shaped member having a substantially rectangular surface, and has a first flat surface 304a (lower surface in FIG. 8) and a second flat surface 304b (FIG. 8). 8 has an upper surface). A silver (or gray) paint is applied to the first flat surface 304a of the flat screen member 304. On the other hand, a white paint is applied to the second plane 304b, and the second plane 304b becomes a projection surface of image light projected from the projector 213 via the reflection member 212.

The flat screen member 304 rotates between a standby position in which the plane direction of the first plane 304a is diagonally downward and an exposed position in which the plane direction of the second plane (projection plane) 304b is forward (player side). do. Then, when the flat screen member 304 is arranged at the exposed position, the image light is projected on the second flat surface (projection surface) 304b.

The flat screen member 304 is supported by a pair of crank arms 378A and 378B described later of the projected member moving mechanism 305, and the flat screen member 304 is rotated by the rotation of the pair of crank arms 378A and 378B. The crank arms 378A and 378B are rotatably supported by the support plates 351A and 351B, respectively.

(5) Projected member moving mechanism As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the projected member moving mechanism 305 includes support plates 351A and 351B, a pseudo reel member moving mechanism 352, and a flat screen member moving mechanism 353. ..

Both the support plates 351A and 351B are formed of a substantially rectangular plate-shaped member whose surface is vertically long, and the support plates 351A and 351B are located at appropriate distances (trapezoidal) in the left-right direction (long side direction of the pseudo reel member 303). They are arranged so as to face each other with a space larger than the width of the members 302). Further, the support plates 351A and 351B are fixed to the mounting surface 311a of the pedestal portion 311 of the storage case 301 by using a fixing member such as a screw. A pseudo reel member 303 is arranged between the support plate 351A and the support plate 351B.

Further, the support plates 351A and 351B rotatably support the rotating arms 332A and 332B of the pseudo reel member 303, respectively. The support plates 351A and 351B have a through hole through which the shaft 374 described later of the flat screen member moving mechanism 353 penetrates and a through hole through which the rotation shaft 335 of the rotation arms 332A and 332B in the pseudo reel member 303 penetrates. It is provided.

Further, the support plate 351B is provided with a stopper 355, a first sensor 356, and a second sensor 357. The stopper 355 is a member for limiting the rotation range of the drive gear 362 described later of the pseudo reel member moving mechanism 352. The first sensor 356 detects the crank arm 378B described later of the flat screen member moving mechanism 353 when the flat screen member 304 is moved to the standby position. The second sensor 357 detects the crank arm 378B described later of the flat screen member moving mechanism 353 when the flat screen member 304 is moved to the exposed position.

The pseudo reel member moving mechanism 352 has a drive motor 361 and a drive gear 362. The drive motor 361 is fixed to the motor fixing portion 314b of the right side wall 314 of the storage case 301 by using a fixing member such as a screw. At this time, the drive motor 361 is attached to the right side wall 314 so that the rotation shaft (not shown) of the drive motor 361 meshes with the drive gear 362.

The drive gear 362 is composed of a gear member having a substantially semicircular surface, and is rotatably supported by a support plate 351B. The drive gear 362 is arranged on the surface of the support plate 351B facing the right side wall 314 of the storage case 301. Further, a rotation shaft 335 of the rotation arm 332B (see FIG. 11 described later) of the pseudo reel member 303 is connected to the central portion of the drive gear 362.

The flat screen member moving mechanism 353 has a drive motor 371, intermediate gears 372 and 373, a shaft 374, crank gears 375 and 376, and crank arms 378A and 378B. The drive motor 371 is fixed to the support plate 351B by using a fixing member such as a screw. At this time, the drive motor 371 is attached to the support plate 351B so that the rotary shaft 371a of the drive motor 371 meshes with the intermediate gear 372.

The intermediate gear 372 is arranged between the support plate 351B and the right side wall 314 of the storage case 301. One end of the shaft 374 protruding through the through hole 314a (see FIG. 8) provided in the right side wall 314 of the storage case 301 is connected to the central portion of the intermediate gear 372.

The intermediate gear 373 is arranged between the support plate 351A and the left side wall 313 of the storage case 301. The other end of the shaft 374 protruding through the through hole 313a (see FIG. 8) provided in the left wall 313 of the storage case 301 is connected to the central portion of the intermediate gear 373.

The shaft 374 is provided so as to penetrate the support plates 351A and 351B, and rotatably supports the support plates 351A and 351B. Since the intermediate gear 373 is connected to the intermediate gear 372 via the shaft 374 as described above, the intermediate gear 373 rotates together with the intermediate gear 372.

The crank gear 375 is arranged between the support plate 351B and the right side wall 314 of the storage case 301, and is rotatably supported by the right side wall 314. At this time, the crank gear 375 is arranged so as to mesh with the intermediate gear 372. Further, a crankpin 375a is formed on the surface of the intermediate gear 372 facing the support plate 351B.

The crank gear 376 is arranged between the support plate 351A and the left side wall 313 of the storage case 301, and is rotatably supported by the left side wall 313. At this time, the crank gear 376 is arranged so as to mesh with the intermediate gear 373. Further, a crankpin 376a is formed on the surface of the intermediate gear 373 facing the support plate 351A.

The crank arm 378A is arranged between the support plate 351A and the left side wall 313 of the storage case 301, and is rotatably supported by the support plate 351A. The crank arm 378A has an arm portion 381 composed of a plate-shaped member extending in a substantially L-shape, and a connecting portion 382 provided at one end of the arm portion 381.

The arm portion 381 is provided with a rotation shaft 384 that rotatably engages with the support plate 351A and an engagement groove 385 extending linearly. The engaging groove 385 is provided on the surface of the arm portion 381 facing the left side wall 313 of the storage case 301. The crankpin 376a of the crank gear 376 is slidably engaged with the engagement groove 385.

The connecting portion 382 is composed of a plate-shaped member having a rectangular surface. One surface of the connecting portion 382 is continuous with the arm portion 381, and the other surface (flat surface) is in contact with the first flat surface 304a of the flat screen member 304 (see FIG. 8). The connecting portion 382 is fixed to the first flat surface 304a of the flat screen member 304 by using a fixing member such as a screw.

The crank arm 378B is arranged between the support plate 351B and the right side wall 314 of the storage case 301, and is rotatably supported by the support plate 351B. The crank arm 378B has an arm portion 391 formed of a plate-shaped member extending in a substantially L-shape, and a connecting portion 392 provided at one end of the arm portion 391.

The arm portion 391 includes a rotation shaft (not shown) that rotatably engages with the support plate 351A, a linearly extending engagement groove 395, a first detection piece 396, and a second detection piece 397. Is provided. The engaging groove 395 is provided on the surface of the arm portion 391 facing the right side wall 314 of the storage case 301. The crankpin 375a of the crank gear 375 is slidably engaged with the engagement groove 395.

The first detection piece 396 is provided at a position between the connection portion 392 and the engagement groove 395, and protrudes outward from the side portion of one of the arm portions 391 (the back surface side in FIG. 9). When the flat screen member moving mechanism 353 moves the flat screen member 304 to the standby position, the first detection piece 396 is detected by the first sensor 356 provided on the support plate 351B.

The second detection piece 397 is provided below the first detection piece 396, and projects outward from one side of the arm portion 391. When the flat screen member moving mechanism 353 moves the flat screen member 304 to the exposed position, the second detection piece 397 is detected by the second sensor 357 provided on the support plate 351B.

The connecting portion 392 is composed of a plate-shaped member having a rectangular surface. One surface of the connecting portion 392 is continuous with the arm portion 391, and the other surface (flat surface) is in contact with the first flat surface 304a of the flat screen member 304 (see FIG. 8). The connecting portion 392 is fixed to the first flat surface 304a of the flat screen member 304 by using a fixing member such as a screw.

[Condition when using trapezoidal member]
Next, a state when the trapezoidal member 302 is a projection target of video light will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the projected block 202 when the trapezoidal member 302 is a projection target of video light. Note that FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the projected block 202 when the trapezoidal member 302 is the projection target of the image light.

In a state where the trapezoidal member 302 is a projection target of video light, the pseudo reel member 303 and the flat screen member 304 are arranged at their respective standby positions as shown in FIG.

When the pseudo reel member 303 is arranged in the standby position, the pseudo reel member 303 is located behind the trapezoidal member 302, and the inner peripheral surface 331a of the arc plate portion 331 faces forward. At this time, one radial portion (one radial side portion) of the drive gear 362 comes into contact with the stopper 355 (see FIG. 9). Therefore, when the projected block 202 is viewed from the right side (right side wall 314 side), the rotation of the drive gear 362 clockwise (clockwise) is locked by the stopper 355.

Further, when the flat screen member 304 is arranged at the standby position, the flat screen member 304 is located above the trapezoidal member 302, and the first flat surface 304a faces downward. At this time, the first sensor 356 detects the first detection piece 396 provided on the crank arm 378B of the flat screen member moving mechanism 353. As a result, the sub-control circuit 150 detects that the flat screen member 304 is arranged at the standby position.

The pseudo reel member 303 and the flat screen member 304 (projected member) arranged at the standby position do not intervene between the trapezoidal member 302 and the opening 10a (see FIG. 2) of the front panel 10. Therefore, in this state, the trapezoidal member 302 is exposed to the opening 10a of the front panel 10 when viewed from the player side, and is a projection target of the image light.

Image light incident from the projector 213 of the projection block 201 via the reflection mirror 237 is projected onto the projection surfaces 321a, 322a, 323a, 324a (see FIG. 8 for the projection surface 324a) of the trapezoidal member 302 to be projected. Will be done. As a result, the image used for the effect is displayed on each projection surface of the trapezoidal member 302 to be projected, and can be visually recognized by the player.

In the present embodiment, video light is projected onto the projection surfaces 321a, 322a, 323a, 324a of the floor plate portion 321 of the trapezoidal member 302 and the three wall plate portions 322,323,324 (see FIG. 8 for the wall plate portion 324). , Display the image used for the production. As a result, it is possible to perform a novel effect that gives a three-dimensional effect and depth to the image with a simple configuration without increasing the cost. As a result, it is possible to enhance the interest of the player in the video display effect.

In the present embodiment, the trapezoidal member 302 applied as the projected member has four projection planes that intersect the optical axis of the projected image light at different angles. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as the projected member according to the present invention, for example, a projected member having two or three projection planes intersecting the optical axis of the image light at different angles is used. Alternatively, a projected member having five or more projection planes intersecting the optical axis of the image light at different angles may be used.

Further, in the present embodiment, a configuration example in which the trapezoidal member 302 is fixed at a predetermined position is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. As the trapezoidal member according to the present invention, for example, a trapezoidal member that can move between a standby position where the image light emitted from the projector is not projected and an exposed position where the image light emitted from the projector is projected may be used. good. Further, in this case, the movement mode of the trapezoidal member may be, for example, a mode of rotating around an appropriate axis or a mode of linear movement.

[Operation of pseudo reel member]
Next, the operation of the pseudo reel member 303 will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state of the projected block 202 when the pseudo reel member 303 is a projection target of video light. FIG. 12 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the projected block 202 when the pseudo reel member 303 is a projection target of video light.

When the pseudo reel member 303 is targeted for projection of image light, the pseudo reel member 303 is moved from the standby position (state shown in FIG. 10) to the exposed position (state shown in FIGS. 11 and 12). At this time, the flat screen member 304 is maintained in a state of being arranged in the standby position.

In order to move the pseudo reel member 303 to the exposed position, the drive motor 361 of the pseudo reel member moving mechanism 352 is driven, and the projected block 202 is viewed from the right side (right side wall 314 side) on the drawing, and the drive gear 362 is used. Is rotated counterclockwise (counterclockwise) (see the thick arrow in FIG. 11).

Since the rotation shaft 335 provided on the rotation arm 332B of the pseudo reel member 303 is connected to the drive gear 362, when the drive gear 362 is rotated counterclockwise, the pseudo reel member 303 moves to the left from the standby position. Rotate around. Then, when the other radial portion of the drive gear 362 comes into contact with the stopper 355, the counterclockwise rotation of the drive gear 362 is locked by the stopper 355. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the pseudo reel member 303 is arranged at the exposed position.

When the pseudo reel member 303 is arranged at the exposed position, the front surface of the trapezoidal member 302 is covered by the pseudo reel member 303. Further, at this time, the flat screen member 304 arranged at the standby position does not intervene between the pseudo reel member 303 and the opening 10a (see FIG. 2) of the front panel 10. Therefore, in this state, the pseudo reel member 303 is exposed to the opening 10a of the front panel 10 when viewed from the player side, and is a projection target of the image light.

The image light incident from the projector 213 of the projection block 201 via the reflection mirror 237 is projected onto the outer peripheral surface 331b (hereinafter referred to as “projection surface 331b”) of the pseudo reel member 303 that is the projection target. As a result, the image used for the effect is displayed on the pseudo reel member 303, which is the projection target, and can be visually recognized by the player.

In order to move the pseudo reel member 303 from the exposed position to the standby position, the drive motor 361 of the pseudo reel member moving mechanism 352 is driven, and the projected block 202 is viewed from the right side on the drawing, and the drive gear 362 is used. Rotates clockwise (clockwise).

When the drive gear 362 rotates clockwise, the pseudo reel member 303 rotates clockwise from the exposed position. Then, when one of the radial portions of the drive gear 362 comes into contact with the stopper 355 (state in FIG. 9), the clockwise rotation of the drive gear 362 is locked by the stopper 355. As a result, as shown in FIG. 10, the pseudo reel member 303 is arranged at the standby position.

In the present embodiment, the image light representing the reel is projected on the curved projection surface 331b of the pseudo reel member 303. This makes it appear that the reel is physically present in the cabinet 2a facing the opening 10a of the front panel 10 (front door 2b). As a result, it is possible to perform a novel effect of giving a three-dimensional effect and depth to the image with a simple configuration without increasing the cost, and it is possible to enhance the interest of the effect of displaying the image.

[Operation of flat screen member]
Next, the operation of the flat screen member 304 will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a state of the projected block 202 when the flat screen member 304 is a projection target of video light. FIG. 14 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the projected block 202 when the flat screen member 304 is the projection target of the image light.

When the flat screen member 304 is targeted for projection of image light, the flat screen member 304 is moved from the standby position (state shown in FIG. 10) to the exposed position (state shown in FIGS. 13 and 14). At this time, the pseudo reel member 303 is maintained in a state of being arranged in the standby position.

To move the flat screen member 304 to the exposed position, drive the drive motor 371 of the flat screen member moving mechanism 353, and see the projected block 202 from the right side (right side wall 314 side) on the drawing, and the intermediate gear 372. Rotates clockwise (clockwise) (see the thick arrow in FIG. 13).

One end of the shaft 374 is connected to the intermediate gear 372, and the intermediate gear 373 (see FIG. 9) is connected to the other end of the shaft 374. Therefore, when the projected block 202 is viewed from the right side on the drawing and the intermediate gear 372 rotates clockwise, the intermediate gear 373 also rotates clockwise.

When the intermediate gears 372 and 373 rotate clockwise, the crank gears 375 and 376 (see FIG. 9) rotate counterclockwise (counterclockwise) when the projected block 202 is viewed from the right side on the drawing. Further, the crank pin 375a of the crank gear 375 is engaged with the engagement groove 395 of the crank arm 378B, and the crank pin 376a of the crank gear 376 is engaged with the engagement groove 385 of the crank arm 378A.

Therefore, when the crank gears 375 and 376 (see FIG. 9) rotate counterclockwise, the crank pins 375a and 376 press the crank arms 378A and 378B to rotate counterclockwise (counterclockwise), respectively. As a result, when the projected block 202 is viewed from the right side on the drawing, the flat screen member 304 connected to the crank arms 378A and 378B rotates counterclockwise from the standby position.

Then, when the second sensor 357 detects the second detection piece 397 of the crank arm 378B, the drive of the drive motor 371 is stopped and the rotation of the flat screen member 304 is stopped. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the flat screen member 304 is arranged at the exposed position.

When the flat screen member 304 is arranged at the exposed position, the front surface of the trapezoidal member 302 is covered by the flat screen member 304. Further, at this time, the pseudo reel member 303 arranged at the standby position does not intervene between the flat screen member 304 and the opening 10a (see FIG. 2) of the front panel 10. Therefore, in this state, the flat screen member 304 is exposed to the opening 10a of the front panel 10 when viewed from the player side, and is a projection target.

The image light incident from the projector 213 of the projection block 201 via the reflection mirror 237 is projected onto the projection surface 304b of the flat screen member 304 that is the projection target. As a result, the image used for the effect is displayed on the flat screen member 304 which is the projection target, and can be visually recognized by the player. For example, by projecting an image light representing a two-dimensional image on a projection surface 304b which is a plane of a flat screen member 304, the same as when displaying an image on a display device using a flat panel such as a liquid crystal display device. The image can be shown to the player.

In order to move the flat screen member 304 from the exposed position to the standby position, the drive motor 371 of the flat screen member moving mechanism 353 is driven, and the projected block 202 is viewed from the right side on the drawing, and the intermediate gear 372. Rotate the 373 counterclockwise (counterclockwise).

When the intermediate gears 372 and 373 rotate counterclockwise, the crank gears 375 and 376 (see FIG. 9) rotate clockwise when the projected block 202 is viewed from the right side on the drawing. Then, when the crank gears 375 and 376 rotate clockwise, the crank pins 375a and 376 press the crank arms 378A and 378B to rotate clockwise, respectively. As a result, when the projected block 202 is viewed from the right side on the drawing, the flat screen member 304 connected to the crank arms 378A and 378B rotates clockwise from the exposed position.

After that, when the first sensor 356 detects the first detection piece 396 of the crank arm 378B, the drive of the drive motor 371 is stopped and the rotation of the flat screen member 304 is stopped. As a result, as shown in FIG. 10, the flat screen member 304 is arranged in the standby position.

In this embodiment, as described above, the white paint is applied to the projection surface 304b of the flat screen member 304. Then, an image light representing a two-dimensional image is projected on the projection surface 304b of the flat screen member 304. White and silver (gray) have at least a constant reflectance of visible light, and white has a higher reflectance of light than silver. Therefore, the two-dimensional image projected on the white projection surface 304b can be made easier to see than, for example, the two-dimensional image projected on the projection surface 304b coated with the silver paint.

On the other hand, the projection surface 321a, 322a, 323a, 324a of the trapezoidal member 302 and the projection surface 331b of the pseudo reel member 303 are coated with silver (gray) paint. Therefore, on the projection surfaces 321a, 322a, 323a, 324a of the trapezoidal member 302 and the projection surface 331b of the pseudo reel member 303, a three-dimensional image can be obtained more than when white paint is applied to these projection surfaces. It can be made to look three-dimensional.

<Control system provided by pachislot>
Next, the control system included in the pachi-slot machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 15 is a circuit block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the pachi-slot machine 1.

The pachi-slot machine 1 has a main control board 71 provided on the middle door 41 and a sub control board 72 provided on the front door 2b. Further, the pachi-slot machine 1 has a reel relay terminal board 74, a setting key type switch 54 (setting switch), and a cabinet-side relay board 44 connected to the main control board 71. Further, the pachi-slot machine 1 has an external centralized terminal board 47, a hopper device 51, a medal auxiliary storage switch 75, a reset switch 76, and a power supply device 53 connected to the main control board 71 via a cabinet-side relay board 44. Since the configuration of the hopper device 51 has been described above, the description thereof will be omitted here.

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

The setting key type switch 54 is provided on the main control board case 55. The setting key type switch 54 is used when changing the settings of the pachi-slot machine 1 (settings 1 to 6) or when confirming the settings of the pachi-slot machine 1.

The cabinet-side relay board 44 is a relay board on which wiring for connecting the main control board 71 and the external centralized terminal board 47, the hopper device 51, the medal auxiliary storage switch 75, the reset switch 76, and the power supply device 53 is mounted. Is. The external centralized terminal board 47 is provided to output signals such as a medal insertion signal, a medal payout signal, and a security signal to the outside of the pachi-slot machine 1. The medal auxiliary storage switch 75 is provided in the medal auxiliary storage 52, and detects whether or not the medal auxiliary storage 52 is full of medals. The reset switch 76 is used, for example, when changing the setting of the pachi-slot machine 1.

The power supply device 53 includes a power supply board 53b and a power supply switch 53a connected to the power supply board 53b. The power switch 53a is pressed when supplying the necessary power to the pachi-slot machine 1. The power supply board 53b is connected to the main control board 71 via the cabinet side relay board 44, and is also connected to the sub control board 72 via the sub relay board 61.

Further, the pachislot 1 has a selector 66, a door open / close monitoring switch 67, a BET switch 77, and a settlement switch 78, which are connected to the main control board 71 via the door relay terminal plate 68 and the door relay terminal plate 68. It has a start switch 79, a stop switch board 80, a game operation display board 81, an auxiliary relay board 61, a first interface board 401 for a testing machine, and a second interface board 402 for a testing machine. Since the selector 66, the door open / close monitoring switch 67, and the sub-relay board 61 have been described above, their description will be omitted here.

The BET switch 77 (throwing operation detecting means) detects that the MAX bet button 15a or the 1-bet button 15b is pressed by the player. The settlement switch 78 detects that the settlement button (not shown) is pressed by the player. The start switch 79 (start operation detecting means) detects that the start lever 16 has been operated by the player (start operation).

The stop switch board 80 (stop operation detecting means) includes a circuit for stopping the rotating main reel and a circuit for displaying the stoptable main reel by an LED or the like. Further, the stop switch board 80 is provided with a stop switch (not shown). The stop switch detects that each stop button 17L, 17C, 17R is pressed by the player (stop operation).

The game operation display board 81 is connected to the information display 6 (7-segment display) and the LED 82. The LED 82 has, for example, three LEDs (hereinafter, “first LED” to “1st LED” to display the number of medals inserted, which are lit corresponding to the number of medals inserted in this game (hereinafter referred to as “the number of inserted medals”). An LED that lights a mark indicating that a medal can be inserted, a mark indicating the start of a game, a mark for replaying a game, etc., based on a signal input from the game operation display board 81 (referred to as "third LED"). Etc. are included. In the first LED to the third LED (display means), when one medal is inserted, the first LED lights up, and when two medals are inserted, the first and second LEDs light up, and three medals (game). (Number of startable sheets) When it is turned on, the first LED to the third LED are turned on. Since the information display 6 has been described above, the description thereof will be omitted here.

Both the first interface board 401 for the testing machine and the second interface board 402 for the testing machine are relay boards used when outputting various signals related to the game to the testing machine in the certification test (test firing test) of the pachislot 1 (testing test). Since these relay boards are not mounted on the Pachislot 1 as a release product for sale, the main control circuit 90 of the main control board 71 for sale includes the first interface board 401 for the tester and the tester. The various electronic components required to connect to the second interface board 402 are also not mounted). For example, a test signal for controlling a main operation related to a game (for example, internal lottery, reel stop control, etc.) is output via a first interface board 401 for a testing machine, and is determined by, for example, a main control board 71. The test signal and the like related to the pushed order navigation are output via the second interface board 402 for the testing machine.

The sub-control board 72 is connected to the main control board 71 via the door relay terminal board 68 and the sub-relay board 61. Further, the pachi-slot machine 1 has a speaker group 84, an LED group 85, a 24h door open / close monitoring unit 63, a touch sensor 19, and a projected member moving mechanism 305 (display unit) connected to the sub-control board 72 via the sub-relay board 61. ). Since the touch sensor 19 and the projected member moving mechanism 305 have been described above, the description thereof will be omitted here.

The speaker group 84 includes speakers 65L and 65R and various speakers (not shown). The LED group 85 includes a lamp group 21 provided on the front panel 10, a light source that emits light for illuminating the decorative panel of the waist panel 12 from the back side, and the like. The 24h door open / close monitoring unit 63 stores the open / close history information of the middle door 41. Further, the 24h door open / close monitoring unit 63 outputs a signal for displaying an error by the display device 11 to the sub control board 72 (sub control circuit 150) when the middle door 41 is opened.

Further, the pachi-slot machine 1 has a ROM cartridge board 86 and a display device relay board 87 connected to the sub-control board 72. The ROM cartridge board 86 and the display device relay board 87 are housed in the sub-control board case 57 together with the sub-control board 72.

The ROM cartridge board 86 is a board for managing various control programs executed by the sub CPU 151, image (video) for directing, audio (speaker group 84), light (LED group 85), and communication data. .. The ROM cartridge substrate 86 shows a specific example of the non-volatile storage unit (storage unit) according to the present invention.

The display device relay board 87 is a board that relays the connection wiring between the sub-control board 72, the projector 213 included in the display device 11, and the sub-display device 18. Since the projector 213 and the sub-display device 18 have been described above, the description thereof will be omitted here.

<Main control circuit>
Next, the configuration of the main control circuit 90 mounted on the main control board 71 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the main control circuit 90 of the pachi-slot machine 1.

The main control circuit 90 includes a microprocessor 91, a clock pulse generation circuit 92, a power management circuit 93, and a switching regulator 94 (power supply means).

The microprocessor 91 is a microprocessor with a security function for a gaming machine. The microprocessor 91 of the present embodiment is provided with various instruction codes (instruction codes dedicated to the main CPU 101) specific to the microprocessor 91 that can be specified on the source program. In the present embodiment, the instruction code dedicated to the main CPU 101 is used to improve the processing efficiency and reduce the program capacity. The internal configuration of the microprocessor 91 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 17 described later.

The clock pulse generation circuit 92 generates a clock pulse signal for operating the main CPU, and outputs the generated clock pulse signal to the microprocessor 91. The microprocessor 91 executes a control program based on the input clock pulse signal.

The power supply management circuit 93 manages fluctuations in the DC 12V power supply voltage supplied from the power supply board 53b (see FIG. 15). Then, the power supply management circuit 93 outputs a reset signal to the "XSRST" terminal of the microprocessor 91, for example, when the power is turned on (when the power supply voltage exceeds the starting voltage value (10V) from 0V). When a power failure occurs (when the power supply voltage falls below the failure voltage value (10.5V) from 12V), the power failure detection signal is output to the "XINT" terminal of the microprocessor 91. That is, the power management circuit 93 is a means (starting means) for outputting a reset signal (starting signal) to the microprocessor 91 when the power is turned on, and a power failure detection signal (power failure signal) to the microprocessor 91 when a power failure occurs. Also serves as a means for outputting (power outage means).

The switching regulator 94 is a DC / DC conversion circuit, generates a DC drive voltage (power supply voltage of DC 5 V) of the microprocessor 91, and outputs the generated DC drive voltage to the “VCC” terminal of the microprocessor 91.

<Microprocessor>
Next, the internal configuration of the microprocessor 91 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the microprocessor 91.

The microprocessor 91 includes a main CPU 101, a main ROM 102 (first storage means), a main RAM 103 (second storage means), an external bus interface 104, a clock circuit 105, a reset controller 106, an arithmetic circuit 107, and the like. It has a random number circuit 110, a parallel port 111, an interrupt controller 112, a timer circuit 113, a first serial communication circuit 114, and a second serial communication circuit 115. Each of these parts constituting the microprocessor 91 is connected to each other via a signal bus 116.

The main CPU 101 executes various control programs based on the clock pulse generated by the clock circuit 105 to control the game operation in general. Here, reel stop control will be described as an example of the control operation of the main CPU 101.

The main CPU 101 counts the number of times a pulse is output to the stepping motors of each reel 3L, 3C, 3L (main reel) after detecting the reel index. As a result, the main CPU 101 manages the rotation angle of each reel (mainly, how many symbols the reel has rotated). The reel index is information indicating that the reel has made one revolution. This reel index is, for example, an optical sensor having a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion, and a detection piece provided at a predetermined position on each reel and interposed between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion due to the rotation of each main reel. It is detected by the provided reel position detection unit (not shown).

Here, the management of the rotation angle of each reel 3L, 3C, 3L (main reel) will be specifically described. The number of pulses output to the stepping motor is counted by a pulse counter provided in the main RAM 103. Then, each time the output of a predetermined number of pulses required for rotation of one symbol is counted by the pulse counter, the symbol counter provided in the main RAM 103 is added one by one. The symbol counter is provided according to each reel. The value of the symbol counter is cleared when the reel index is detected by the reel position detection unit (not shown).

That is, in the present embodiment, by managing the symbol counter, it is possible to manage how many symbols have been rotated since the reel index was detected. Therefore, the position of each symbol of each reel is detected with reference to the position where the reel index is detected.

The main ROM 102 stores various control programs executed by the main CPU 101, various data tables, data for transmitting various control commands (commands) to the sub-control circuit 150, and the like. The main RAM 103 is provided with a storage area for storing various data such as an internal winning combination determined by executing a control program.

The external bus interface 104 is for electrically connecting the microprocessor 91 to the external signal bus (not shown) to which various components (for example, reels and the like) provided outside the microprocessor 91 are connected. It is an interface circuit. The clock circuit 105 is configured to include, for example, a frequency divider (not shown), and a clock pulse signal for CPU operation input from the clock pulse generation circuit 92 is transmitted by another component (for example, a timer circuit 113). Convert to a clock pulse signal of the frequency used. The clock pulse signal generated by the clock circuit 105 is also output to the reset controller 106.

The reset controller 106 resets the IAT (Illegal Addless Trap) and the WDT (watchdog timer) based on the reset signal input from the power supply management circuit 93. The arithmetic circuit 107 includes a multiplication circuit and a division circuit. For example, when a multiplication instruction (“MUL” instruction) is executed on a source program, the arithmetic circuit 107 executes a multiplication process based on this instruction.

The random number circuit 110 generates a random number in a predetermined range (for example, 0 to 65535 or 0 to 255). Although not shown, the random number circuit 110 has a random number register 0 for obtaining a 2-byte hard-latch random number, random number registers 1 to 3 for obtaining a 2-byte soft-latch random number, and a 1-byte soft-latch random number. It is composed of random number registers 4 to 7 for obtaining. The main CPU 101 extracts one value from the random numbers in a predetermined range generated by the random number circuit 110, for example, as a random number value for internal lottery. The parallel port 111 is a port (memory map I / O) of signals input / output between the microprocessor 91 and various circuits (for example, power supply management circuit 93, etc.) provided outside the microprocessor 91. .. The parallel port 111 is also connected to the random number circuit 110 and the interrupt controller 112. The start switch 79 is connected to any input port of PI0 to PI4 of the parallel port 111, and at the timing (on-edge) when the start switch 79 is turned on, a latch signal is transmitted from the parallel port 111 to the random number register 0 of the random number circuit 110. Is output. Then, in the random number circuit 110, the random number register 0 is latched by the input of the latch signal, and a 2-byte hard latch random number is acquired.

The interrupt controller 112 interrupts processing by the main CPU 101 based on a power failure detection signal input from the power supply management circuit 93 via the parallel port 111 or a timeout signal input from the timer circuit 113 at a cycle of 1.1172 ms. Controls the execution timing of. When a power failure detection signal is input from the power management circuit 93, or when a timeout signal is input from the timer circuit 113, the interrupt controller 112 issues an interrupt request signal indicating an interrupt processing start command to the main CPU 101. Output to. The main CPU 101 has an input port check process, a reel control process, a communication data transmission process, a 7-segment LED drive process, and a timer based on an interrupt request signal input from the interrupt controller 112 in response to a timeout signal from the timer circuit 113. Performs various interrupt processing such as update processing.

The timer circuit 113 (PTC) operates with a clock pulse signal generated by the clock circuit 105 (a clock pulse signal having a frequency obtained by dividing the clock pulse signal for operating the main CPU by a divider (not shown)) ( Count the elapsed time). Then, the timer circuit 113 outputs a timeout signal (trigger signal) to the interrupt controller 112 at a cycle of 1.1172 msec.

The first serial communication circuit 114 is a circuit that controls a serial transmission operation when data (various control commands (commands)) are transmitted from the main control board 71 to the sub control board 72. The second serial communication circuit 115 is a circuit that controls the serial transmission operation when data is transmitted from the main control board 71 to the second interface board 402 for the testing machine.

<Secondary control circuit>

[Configuration of sub-control circuit]
Next, with reference to FIG. 18, the configuration of the sub-control circuit 150 (sub-control means) mounted on the sub-control board 72 will be described. FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the sub-control circuit 150 of the pachi-slot machine 1.

The sub control circuit 150 is electrically connected to the main control circuit 90, and performs processing such as determination and execution of the effect content based on the command transmitted from the main control circuit 90. The sub control circuit 150 is basically configured to include a sub CPU 151, a sub RAM 152, a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) 153, a VRAM (Video RAM) 154, and a driver 155. The VRAM 154 (drawing RAM) includes a frame buffer and a screen buffer described later. The sub CPU 151 shows a specific example of the control processing unit according to the present invention, the GPU 153 shows a specific example of the image processing unit according to the present invention, and the VRAM 154 is a volatile storage unit. It shows one concrete example.

The sub CPU 151 is connected to the ROM cartridge board 86. Further, the driver 155 is connected to the display device relay board 87. That is, the driver 155 is connected to the projector 213 and the sub-display device 18 via the display device relay board 87.

The sub CPU 151 controls the output of video, sound, and light according to the control program stored in the ROM cartridge board 86 in response to the command transmitted from the main control circuit 90. The ROM cartridge board 86 is basically composed of a program storage area and a data storage area.

The control program executed by the sub CPU 151 is stored in the program storage area. For example, in the control program, the main board communication task for controlling the communication with the main control circuit 90 and the effect registration for extracting the random value for the effect and determining and registering the effect content (effect data). Contains various programs for executing tasks. Further, the control program includes a drawing control task that controls the display of an image by the display device 11 based on the determined effect content, a lamp control task that controls the output of light by a light source such as the LED group 85, and a sound by the speaker group 84. It also includes various programs for executing voice control tasks that control the output of the LED.

The data storage area stores a storage area for storing various data tables, a storage area for storing production data constituting each production content, and animation data (including image data and virtual object data described later) related to video creation. Contains storage area. Further, the data storage area includes a storage area for storing sound data related to BGM and sound effects, a storage area for storing lamp data related to a pattern of turning on and off light, and the like.

The sub RAM 152 is provided with a storage area for registering the determined effect content and effect data, and a storage area for storing various data such as a sub flag (internal winning combination) transmitted from the main control circuit 90.

The sub CPU 151, GPU 153 (rendering processor), VRAM 154, and driver 155 create an image according to the animation data specified by the effect content, and display the created image on the display device 11 (projector 213) and / or the sub display device 18. .. The display device 11 (projector 213) and the sub-display device 18 are individually controlled by the sub-control board 72.

Further, the sub CPU 151 causes the speaker group 84 to output a sound such as BGM according to the sound data specified by the effect content. Further, the sub CPU 151 controls lighting and extinguishing of the LED group 85 according to the lamp data designated by the effect content.

[Direction registration task]
In the pachislot 1 of the present embodiment, when the command data transmitted from the main control circuit 90 is received by the sub control circuit 150, the sub control circuit 150 corresponds to the type of the command data based on the received command data. The effect to be produced is determined, and the display device 11 (projector 213), the sub-display device 18, the speaker group 84, and the LED group 85 are driven to control the effect.

Here, with reference to FIG. 19, the effect determination task (effect registration task) corresponding to the type of command data, which is executed by the sub control circuit 150 (sub CPU 151), will be described. Note that FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the effect registration task in the present embodiment.

First, the sub CPU 151 fetches a message from the message queue (S1). Next, the sub CPU 151 determines whether or not there is a message in the message queue (S2). In S2, when the sub CPU 151 determines that there is no message in the message queue (when the determination in S2 is NO), the sub CPU 151 performs the process of S5 described later.

On the other hand, in S2, when the sub CPU 151 determines that there is a message in the message queue (when the determination in S2 is YES), the sub CPU 151 copies the game information from the message (S3). In this process, for example, various data such as information on the internal winning combination (main lottery flag, etc.) specified by the parameter, the type of reel for which rotation has stopped, the display combination, the game status flag, and the like are stored in the sub RAM 152. It is copied to the area (not shown).

Next, the sub CPU 151 performs an effect content determination process (S4). In this process, the sub CPU 151 determines the effect content, registers the effect data, and the like according to the type of the received command.

After the processing of S4 or when the determination of S2 is NO, the sub CPU 151 performs the animation data generation and registration processing (S5). The animation data generation and registration process is performed based on the effect data (effect content) registered in the effect content determination process of S4. In the present embodiment, in this process, image data of image light projected on various projected members is created. The process of creating image data of video light projected on various projected members (PJ-compatible image data described later) will be described in detail later. Further, in the present embodiment, an example of generating image data (video signal corresponding to the video light emitted from the projector 213) of the video light projected on various projected members during the processing of S5 will be described. The invention is not limited to this, and for example, it may be executed in the effect content determination process of S4, or the animation data generation process and the registration process may be performed separately.

Next, the sub CPU 151 performs a sound data registration process (S6). Next, the sub CPU 151 registers the lamp data (S7). It should be noted that these registration processes are performed based on the effect data (effect content) registered in the effect content determination process of S4. Then, after the processing of S7, the sub CPU 151 returns the processing to S1 and repeats the processing after S1.

<Image data creation method>
Next, in various effects performed by the pachislot 1 of the present embodiment, image data (projector) of video light projected on the projection surface of various projected members (trapezoidal member 302, pseudo reel member 303, and flat screen member 304). A method for creating a video signal corresponding to the video light emitted from the 213) will be described.

[Overview of image data creation method]
With reference to FIGS. 20A and 20B, an outline of a method for creating image data of image light projected on various projected members will be described. Note that FIG. 20A is a diagram showing an image data conversion process in the image data creation process, and FIG. 20B is a diagram showing a main processing flow executed in the image data conversion process.

In the method for creating image data of video light projected on various projected members (PJ-compatible image data described later) in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 20B, resource image / object composition processing and viewpoint change image data acquisition. -The setting process and the SB image data setting process are executed in this order. The contents of each process will be described below.

(1) Resource image / object composition processing In the resource image / object composition processing, first, the projected member (trapezoidal member 302, pseudo reel member 303, flat screen member 304) to be projected stored in the rom cartridge substrate 86 is Virtual object data (three-dimensional data) is selected (acquired). The virtual object data is, for example, data generated (converted) from the three-dimensional CAD data of the projected member, and is data showing the three-dimensional structure (coordinates) of the projected member. The virtual object data shows a specific example of information for displaying an image on the display unit according to the present invention.

Further, in the resource image / object composition process, the resource image data (two-dimensional data) of the image data projected on the projected member is selected (acquired) from the ROM cartridge board 86. The resource image data shows a specific example of the original image data according to the present invention.

The selection process of virtual object data and resource image data is controlled by the sub CPU 151, and the sub CPU 151 is determined from a plurality of types of image data and a plurality of types of virtual object data stored in the rom cartridge board 86. Select the resource image data and virtual object data corresponding to the effect content. Further, the selected resource image data and virtual object data are expanded in a buffer area (virtual buffer) other than the frame buffer (FB) and the screen buffer (SB) described later in the VRAM 154. The virtual buffer shows a specific example of the first buffer according to the present invention, and the frame buffer shows a specific example of the second buffer (predetermined buffer) according to the present invention. , The screen buffer shows a specific example of the third buffer (specific buffer) according to the present invention.

Next, the selected virtual object is placed in the virtual space (VRAM 154) on the sub-side arithmetic processing. Specifically, the selected virtual object data is expanded on the VRAM 154. Next, in the virtual space, the direction from the player side toward the virtual object (hereinafter referred to as "player's line of sight direction": in an actual game machine, the display device cover 30 and the display device 11 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). ) And the direction from the position on the player side), the projection of the virtual object when the video light of the selected resource image data is virtually (pseudo) illuminated (projected) on the projection surface of the virtual object. Image data (hereinafter referred to as "virtual projection image data") of an image projected (projected) on a surface is calculated (generated) by arithmetic processing. This virtual projection image data is generated by the GPU 153 performing 3D CG processing (including 3D coordinate calculation and the like) on the virtual object data and the resource image data and synthesizing both data. This composition calculation process can be executed by using an algorithm used in conventional three-dimensional image programming or the like. The virtual projection image data shows a specific example of the data of the first viewpoint image (predetermined viewpoint image) according to the present invention, and the line-of-sight direction of the player is the first direction according to the present invention. It shows a specific example of (predetermined direction).

The series of processes from the acquisition (expansion) process of the virtual object data and the resource image data described above to the composition process of both data (generation process of the virtual projection image data) is the resource image / object composition process shown in FIG. 20B. This process is performed by the GPU 153 based on the command of the sub CPU 151. Further, this resource image / object composition process is performed on the VRAM 154.

When the virtual object data having the three-dimensional space coordinates and the resource image data having the two-dimensional space coordinates are combined by the GPU 153, the two-dimensional coordinates of the resource image data are converted into the three-dimensional coordinates. Coordinate conversion processing may be sequentially performed on all the coordinates of the resource image data, or the coordinates are coordinated with respect to the coordinates of a predetermined reference number (for example, half of the total number of coordinates) among the total number of coordinates. The conversion process may be performed. When the latter method is adopted, for example, the coordinate conversion process is performed on the coordinates arranged at predetermined intervals sandwiching one or more coordinates. Then, the values of the coordinates located between the coordinates subjected to the coordinate conversion processing are calculated by processing such as linear interpolation. Further, when the latter method is adopted, it is desirable to set the reference number (number of coordinates) of conversion to a number (conversion amount) according to the processing performance of GPU 153. The processing performance of the GPU 153 is determined according to the processing speed of the GPU 153 and the number of cores included in the GPU 153 (the number of cores of a general GPU is about 64 to 2048), and the processing performance of the GPU 153 is low. In that case, the reference number of conversions (number of coordinates) is reduced, and when the processing performance of the GPU 153 is sufficiently high and low, the reference number of conversions (number of coordinates) is increased.

As described above, in the virtual projection image data generation process (synthesis process of resource image data and virtual object data) of the present embodiment, a predetermined number (total number of coordinates or a predetermined reference number) in the resource image is two-dimensional. Since the coordinates are directly converted into 3D coordinates by 3D CG processing, for example, the boundary portion between the four projection planes 321p, 322p, 323p, and 324p of the virtual object 302p (for example, the lower side portion of the projection plane 322p). And the distortion of the image at the boundary portion between the projection surface 321p and the upper side portion, etc.) can be minimized.

In the present embodiment, an example of selecting and acquiring virtual object data and resource image data from the ROM cartridge board 86 and synthesizing both acquired data on the VRAM 154 has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. .. For example, first, a plurality of types of virtual object data and a plurality of types of resource image data are loaded (read) from the ROM cartridge board 86 into an area other than the virtual buffer, frame buffer, and screen buffer described above on the VRAM 154. Then, a predetermined virtual object data and a predetermined resource image data are selected from the loaded virtual object data and a plurality of types of resource image data, and then both of the selected data are used as the present embodiment. Similarly, it may be expanded and synthesized in a virtual buffer, a frame buffer, and a screen buffer. Further, in this case, among the plurality of types of resource image data stored in the ROM cartridge board 86, only a plurality of resource image data belonging to the corresponding effect group are loaded based on, for example, a game state or an effect state. You may.

(2) Viewpoint change image data acquisition / setting process In the viewpoint change image data acquisition / setting process, first, the image light (projected light) of resource image data is viewed from the player's line of sight with respect to the projection surface of the virtual object in the virtual space. ) Is virtually projected (a state in which virtual projected image data is generated), the incident direction of the image light actually incident on the projection surface of the projected member (hereinafter referred to as "the incident direction of the actual image light"). The image data (hereinafter referred to as "virtually captured image data") when the virtual projected image projected on the projection surface of the virtual object is virtually (pseudo) photographed is generated from (referred to as) by arithmetic processing. That is, in a state where the video light of the resource image data is virtually projected onto the projection surface of the virtual object from the direction of the player's line of sight, the viewpoint is changed and the data of the image virtually projected on the projection surface of the virtual object is displayed. calculate. The virtual photographed image data shows a specific example of the data of the second viewpoint image according to the present invention, and the actual incident direction of the video light is a specific example of the second direction according to the present invention. Is shown.

In this virtual shooting process, first, the incident direction of the actual video light with respect to the virtual object is set (set) in the virtual space. In the present embodiment, the actual incident direction of the image light is the incident direction of the image light incident on the projection surface of the projected member from the projector 213 via the reflection mirror 237, that is, the projection of the projected member from the reflection mirror 237. The direction toward the surface is set.

Next, the virtual projected image projected on the projection surface of the virtual object by the three-dimensional CG processing of GPU153 (including the coordinate calculation from the incident direction (position of the virtual camera) of the actual video light) is converted into the actual video light. It is converted into a virtual captured image obtained when a virtual image is taken from the incident direction side of the above (converts the virtual projected image data developed on the VRAM 154 into virtual captured image data). The virtual captured image data generation process (conversion process from virtual projected image data to virtual captured image data) can be executed by using an algorithm used in conventional three-dimensional image programming or the like.

In this embodiment, the viewpoint change process and the virtual photographed image data generation process at the time of generating the virtual captured image data described above are performed by the viewpoint change image data acquisition / setting process shown in FIG. 20B, and this process is a sub. It is executed by GPU 153 based on the command of CPU 151. Further, this viewpoint change image data acquisition / setting process is performed on the VRAM 154.

Here, FIG. 21 shows a state in which the video light of the resource image is virtually projected from the player's line of sight onto the projection surface of the virtual object of the projected member in the virtual space, and the actual video light. The state when the virtual projection image projected on the projection surface of the virtual object is virtually taken from the incident direction is shown. Further, FIG. 22 shows a specific example of a virtual projection image generated by the virtual projection operation of the resource image in the virtual space. 21 and 22 show an example in which the projected member to be projected with the image light is the trapezoidal member 302.

When the video light of the resource image data is virtually projected from the player's line of sight direction (arrow A2 direction in FIG. 21) onto the virtual object 302p of the trapezoidal member 302 arranged in the virtual space, as shown in FIG. A resource image is virtually projected on each of the four projection planes 321p, 322p, 323p, and 324p of the virtual object 302p, and a virtual projection image is generated. As a result, as shown in FIG. 22, the resource image is converted into a three-dimensional image (virtual projection image) having a depth that reflects the shape of the projection surface of the trapezoidal member 302. This virtual projection image is an image similar to the actual image visually recognized when the projection surface of the trapezoidal member 302 is viewed from the player side in the real space. At this time, when the projection target of the image light is the trapezoidal member 302 or the pseudo reel member 303, the shape of the projection surface is a three-dimensional shape, so that a three-dimensional virtual projection image with depth can be obtained. However, when the projection target of the image light is the planar screen member 304, a planar virtual projection image can be obtained.

Then, in a state where the resource image is virtually projected on each of the four projection surfaces 321p, 322p, 323p, and 324p of the virtual object 302p of the trapezoidal member 302, the actual incident direction of the image light (arrow A1 in FIG. 21). When the virtual projection image projected on the projection surface of the virtual object is virtually captured from the direction), the virtual projection image is converted into a virtual capture image from the direction of arrow A1.

When the image light (projected light) corresponding to the virtual captured image generated as described above is actually projected from the projector 213 onto the projection surface of the projected member via the reflection mirror 237, the actual incident image light is incident. When the projection surface of the projected member is viewed from the direction (reflection mirror 237 side), the image projected on the projection surface becomes an image similar to the virtual captured image generated on the virtual space. Then, in this situation, the actual image seen when the projection surface of the trapezoidal member 302 is viewed from the player side becomes an image similar to the virtual projection image generated on the virtual space. That is, when the image light (projected light) corresponding to the virtual captured image data is actually projected from the projector 213 onto the projection surface of the projected member via the reflection mirror 237, the projected surface of the projected member is viewed from the player side. You can see a projection image (three-dimensional image with depth) similar to the virtual projection image that reflects the shape of.

In the present embodiment, in the series of image data conversion processes from the above-mentioned resource image data to the virtual captured image data, the projected member is not the image data corresponding to the size (screen size) of the projected surface of the projected member. Image data having a size twice the size of the projection surface of the above is used as the image data to be processed.

Specifically, as the image data to be processed, an image in which dummy image data having the same size as the projection surface is added to the upper end of the image data of the image projected on the projection surface of the projected member (projection target image). Data (image data in which the size in the height (upper and lower) direction of the image in the virtual space is twice that of the image to be projected) is used. That is, the image data to be processed in the series of image data conversion processing from the resource image data to the virtual shot image data described above is when the projected angle of view (viewing angle) in the height direction of the video light is doubled. It is size image data (hereinafter, also referred to as "double angle of view data"). Therefore, for example, when the size of the screen (projection surface) (projected image size) is 1280 pixels (horizontal) x 800 pixels (vertical), the image data to be processed (double angle of view data) The size is 1280 pixels (horizontal) x 1600 pixels (vertical).

Further, in the present embodiment, the resource image data stored in the ROM cartridge board 86 is preliminarily configured with double angle of view data. Therefore, at the time of reading the resource image data in the resource image / object composition process, the aspect of the image data to be processed is double angle of view data. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the resource image data stored in the rom cartridge board 86 is set as image data (image data of screen (projection surface) size) including only the image to be projected, and resource image / object composition is performed. In the process, dummy image data may be added to the read resource image data to generate double angle of view data.

In the present embodiment, the reason for using the double angle of view data having the above-mentioned configuration as the image data to be processed is as follows. Normally, when the light emitted from the projector 213 is projected onto the projection surface of the projected member, the image is distorted at the center of the upper end or the lower end of the image projected on the projection surface due to the optical characteristics of the projector 213. This is because a general projector is designed with a projection lens on the premise that the image light is projected onto the screen at an irregular angle (a trapezoidal angle of view with short and long sides). Is. The position where the distortion of the image occurs (the center of the upper end or the lower end of the image) is, for example, the mounting mode of the projector 213 inside the housing (the upper (ceiling) surface of the projector 213 is facing upward or lower). It changes depending on whether it is mounted toward (upside down) or the area where the projection lens is used (upper half or lower half). In the pachi-slot machine 1 of the present embodiment, an example in which the projection block 201 is configured so that the distortion of the image occurs at the center of the upper end portion of the image projected on the projection surface will be described.

Further, the resource image data is generally generated as data for a liquid crystal display device, and the resource image data is also generated as data for a liquid crystal display device in this embodiment as well. Since the distortion of the image is generated at the center position on the screen in the liquid crystal display device, the GPU 153 (or VDP) performs a process of suppressing (correcting) the distortion of the center of the image with respect to the resource image data.

Therefore, as in the present embodiment, when the double angle of view data in which a dummy image is provided on the upper part of the image (projection target image) to be virtual projection and virtual shooting is used as the processing target data of the GPU 153. , GPU153 performs a process for suppressing (correcting) image distortion at the center of the image of double angle of view data. In this case, since the center of the image of the double angle of view data is the center on the boundary line between the dummy image and the projection target image, the distortion of the image at the center position of the upper end portion of the projection target image is suppressed (corrected). .. As a result, the image at the position where the distortion of the image occurs when the image is actually projected on the projection surface of the projected member by the projector 213 is corrected. In the present embodiment, the image distortion correction processing is performed on the double angle of view data expanded (stored) in the frame buffer, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is not limited to this, for example, in a virtual buffer. Image distortion correction processing may be performed on the expanded double angle of view data.

That is, in the present embodiment, by using the double angle of view data having the above-described configuration as the processing target data of the GPU 153, the distortion of the image in the resource image data (double angle of view data) generated for the liquid crystal display device is distorted. (Center of double angle of view data) and the position of distortion (center of the upper end of the image to be projected) that actually occurs in the image actually projected by the projector 213 are adjusted to match. As a result, at the stage of generating PJ-compatible image data, it becomes possible to suppress (correct) the distortion of the image that occurs when the image is actually projected on the projection surface of the projected member by the projector 213. , It is possible to provide a player with a high-quality production image.

When, for example, data for a projector (image data in which distortion occurs at the center of the upper end or lower end of the image) is prepared in advance as the resource image data, a series of data from the resource image data to the virtual shot image data. In the image data conversion process of the above, the same size image angle data without providing a dummy image may be used as the processing target data. In this case, the GPU 153 performs a process for suppressing (correcting) the distortion of the image at the center of the upper end portion or the lower end portion of the image of the same-magnification angle of view data.

Further, the virtual captured image data generated in the viewpoint change image data acquisition / setting process shown in FIG. 20B is set in the frame buffer (FB) provided in the VRAM 154 (drawing RAM), and this set process is performed by the GPU 153 (). It is controlled by the rendering processor). As described above, since the image data set in the frame buffer (FB) is double image angle data (virtual shooting image data + dummy image data), the frame buffer (FB) set in the VRAM 154 can be used. The size (the size of the storage area of the virtual captured image data) is also twice the size of the projection surface (screen size) of the projected member.

(3) SB image data setting process In the SB image data setting process, the image data of the image to be projected out of the double angle of view data (virtual shooting image data + dummy image data) set in the frame buffer (FB) of the VRAM 154. That is, only the virtual captured image data is transferred to the screen buffer (SB) provided in the VRAM 154. Specifically, the image data in the area where the virtual shot image data is stored in the storage area of the frame buffer is copied to the screen buffer (dummy image data is not transferred to the screen buffer).

As a result, image data of the image light actually projected on the projection surface of the projected member (hereinafter referred to as “PJ-compatible image data”) is generated, and the PJ-compatible image data is stored in the screen buffer of the VRAM 154. The process for generating the PJ-compatible image data (the process of transferring the virtual captured image data to the screen buffer) is controlled by the GPU 153. Further, since the PJ-compatible image data is half the size of the image data to be processed, the size of the screen buffer of the VRAM 154 in which the PJ-compatible image data is set can be set to 1/2 the size of the frame buffer. can.

Here, FIG. 23 shows an outline of the SB image data setting process. In the viewpoint change image data acquisition / setting process shown in FIG. 20B, when the virtual captured image data is set in the frame buffer (FB) of the VRAM 154, a dummy is formed in the upper half area of the frame buffer (FB) on the 23rd surface. Image data is stored, and virtual shooting image data is stored in the lower half area. Next, when the SB image data setting process in FIG. 20B is performed, only the data in the area where the virtual captured image data in the frame buffer is stored is transferred (copied) to the screen buffer (SB) of the VRAM 154, and the data is transferred to the screen buffer (SB) of the VRAM 154. The transferred image data is set as PJ-compatible image data.

After that, the PJ-compatible image data set in the screen buffer is a video signal (for example, "V-by-one (registered trademark)", "DisplayPort (registered trademark)", "LVDS", "Clockless Link (registered trademark)". ) ”, A video signal with interface specifications such as an analog RGB component video signal), and the video signal is output to the projector 213. Then, the projector 213 emits the video light corresponding to the PJ-compatible image data based on the input video signal. In the present embodiment, as described above, image data (PJ-compatible image data) of the image light actually projected on the projection surface of the projected member is generated. In the following, the method for generating PJ-compatible image data (and its video signal) according to the above-described embodiment will be referred to as a "virtual projection imaging method".

[Outline of generation of PJ-compatible image data when the projected member is movable]
In FIGS. 21 to 23, as an example of generating PJ-compatible image data, an example in which the projected member to be projected by the image light is only the trapezoidal member 302 (single and movable projected member) has been described. The present invention is not limited to this. For example, the method for generating PJ-compatible image data by the virtual projection imaging method described above can be applied, for example, to project video light in the production of a process in which a projected member to be projected is switched.

Here, with reference to FIGS. 24A to 24E, an outline of generation of PJ-compatible image data in the process of switching the projected member to be projected from the trapezoidal member 302 to the pseudo reel member 303 will be described. 24A to 24E show the virtual object 302p of the trapezoidal member 302 and the virtual object 303p of the pseudo reel member 303 arranged in the virtual space in the process of switching the projected member to be projected from the trapezoidal member 302 to the pseudo reel member 303. It is a figure which shows the time change (time series change) of the positional relationship with.

In FIGS. 24A to 24E, the virtual object 303p of the pseudo reel member 303 is simplified and shown in order to clarify the positional relationship between the virtual object 302p of the trapezoidal member 302 and the virtual object 303p of the pseudo reel member 303. Specifically, the size of the virtual object 303p of the pseudo reel member 303 is shown to be smaller than the actual size (see FIGS. 11 and 12).

FIG. 24A shows a position where the pseudo reel member 303 starts to be seen above the trapezoidal member 302 when viewed from the player side after the start of switching from the trapezoidal member 302 to the pseudo reel member 303 (after the start of driving the pseudo reel member 303). It is a figure which shows the positional relationship between the virtual object 302p of a trapezoidal member 302 and the virtual object 303p of a pseudo reel member 303 when moving to. FIG. 24B is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the virtual object 302p of the trapezoidal member 302 and the virtual object 303p of the pseudo reel member 303 when the pseudo reel member 303 moves to the upper part of the trapezoidal member 302. FIG. 24C is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the virtual object 302p of the trapezoidal member 302 and the virtual object 303p of the trapezoidal member 303 when the pseudo reel member 303 moves to the vicinity of the upper front surface portion of the trapezoidal member 302. FIG. 24D is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the virtual object 302p of the trapezoidal member 302 and the virtual object 303p of the pseudo reel member 303 when the pseudo reel member 303 starts moving to the front surface of the trapezoidal member 302. Then, FIG. 24E shows when the pseudo reel member 303 moves to a position so as to cover the front surface (projection surface) of the trapezoidal member 302, and the operation of switching the projected member from the trapezoidal member 302 to the pseudo reel member 303 is completed. It is a figure which shows the positional relationship between the virtual object 302p of a trapezoidal member 302 and the virtual object 303p of a pseudo reel member 303.

In this way, when the pseudo reel member 303 (movable projected member) moves to the front surface of the trapezoidal member 302, first, the pseudo reel member moved to the corresponding position at each timing (time series) at predetermined intervals. The virtual object data (hereinafter referred to as "synthetic virtual object data") of the virtual object (hereinafter referred to as "synthetic virtual object") obtained by synthesizing the virtual object 303p of 303 and the virtual object 302p of the trapezoidal member 302 is acquired. For example, in each of FIGS. 24A to 24E, the composite virtual object data of the virtual object 303p of the operating pseudo reel member 303 moved to the corresponding position and the virtual object 302p of the trapezoidal member 302 is acquired.

The control method for moving the virtual object 303p to the corresponding position on the virtual space is as follows. First, a frame generated based on pulse output data (not shown) of the drive motor 361 driven when the pseudo reel member 303 is moved from the state of FIG. 24A to the state of FIG. 24E, and for displaying an image. The time series data (hereinafter, "moving angle data") of the moving angle of the pseudo reel member 303 corresponding to the rate (30 fps in this embodiment) is acquired. Next, using the acquired movement angle data, the virtual object 303p is moved to the corresponding position at each timing (for example, every frame) at predetermined intervals by 3D CG processing (including 3D coordinate calculation, etc.) of GPU153. Then, the data (virtual object data) of the moved virtual object 303p is generated.

In the present embodiment, the movement angle data for each timing (for example, for each frame) of predetermined intervals acquired when the movable projected member is in operation is prepared in advance and stored in the ROM cartridge substrate 86. In the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the data (virtual object data) of the virtual object 303p that has moved to the corresponding position at each timing of a predetermined interval is generated in advance and stored in the ROM cartridge board 86. The virtual object 303p of the pseudo-reel member 303 that has moved to the corresponding position and the virtual object 302p of the trapezoidal member 302 may be combined at each timing of predetermined intervals to generate synthetic virtual object data. Further, for example, synthetic virtual object data for each timing of predetermined intervals may be generated in advance and stored in the ROM cartridge board 86, and the corresponding synthetic virtual object data may be read out and used at each timing of predetermined intervals. Further, the predetermined interval at which the synthetic virtual object data is acquired can be arbitrarily set according to, for example, the frame rate of the video (moving image), the content of the video display effect, and the like.

Next, the video light of the resource image data (double angle of view data including the dummy image) is virtually projected from the player's line-of-sight direction (direction of arrow A2 in FIG. 21) to the synthetic virtual object arranged in the virtual space. , Generate a virtual projection image that combines the resource image and the composite virtual object. Then, in a state where the resource image is virtually projected on the projection surface of the synthetic virtual object, the virtual image projected on the projection surface of the synthetic virtual object from the incident direction of the actual video light (direction of arrow A1 in FIG. 21). The projected image is virtually photographed, and the virtual photographed image data (double angle data including the dummy image) is acquired.

That is, in the present embodiment, when the projected member to be projected is switched from the trapezoidal member 302 to the pseudo reel member 303, the virtual object 303p of the pseudo reel member 303 (movable projected member) and the virtual object 302p of the trapezoidal member 302p. In the processing other than generating the virtual object data at predetermined intervals, the projected member to be projected by the video light described with reference to FIGS. 21 to 23 is a trapezoidal member 302 (single and movable). The process is the same as when only the projected member) is used.

Here, an example of applying a PJ-compatible image data generation method by a virtual projection imaging method when the projected member to be projected is switched from the trapezoidal member 302 to the pseudo reel member 303 has been described. Not limited to. For example, even when the projected member to be projected is switched from the trapezoidal member 302 to the flat screen member 304, the composite virtual object data of the flat screen member 304 and the trapezoidal member 302 generated at predetermined timing intervals is used. , The method for generating PJ-compatible image data by the virtual projection imaging method described above can be applied as it is. Further, for example, even when the movable image display effect is executed by using the movable projected member and the non-movable projection member, the movable projected member and the non-movable projection member generated at predetermined timing intervals are used. By using the synthetic virtual object data, the PJ-compatible image data generation method by the virtual projection imaging method described above can be applied as it is. Further, for example, even in a gaming machine having a function of executing a linked image display effect using three or more projected members, by using synthetic virtual object data of three or more projected members, it is possible to use the composite virtual object data. The method for generating PJ-compatible image data by the virtual projection imaging method described above can be applied as it is.

[Procedure for generating PJ-compatible image data]
Next, with reference to FIG. 25, a PJ-compatible image data generation process (a series of processes from resource image / object composition process to video signal output process) performed by the virtual projection imaging method, which is performed in the sub-control circuit 150. A specific processing procedure will be described. Note that FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing a procedure for generating PJ-compatible image data and a corresponding video signal by the virtual projection imaging method.

First, the sub CPU 151 selects the resource image data to be displayed as a video this time from the various resource image data stored in the ROM cartridge board 86 (S11). The image data selected in the process of S11 is double angle of view data in which a dummy image having the same size as the resource image is added to the upper end of the resource image. Further, in this process, the GPU 153 (rendering processor 153) expands the selected resource image data (double angle of view data) into the VRAM 154 (drawing RAM) based on the command of the sub CPU 151.

Next, the sub CPU 151 selects the virtual object data of the projected member to be projected this time from the various virtual object data stored in the ROM cartridge board 86 (S12). In this process, when the projected member to be projected is one projected member, only the virtual object data of the projected member is selected. Further, in this process, when there are a plurality of projected members to be projected, the synthetic virtual object data corresponding to the current timing is selected. Then, in this process, the GPU 153 expands the selected virtual object data to the VRAM 154 based on the command of the sub CPU 151.

The resource image data and virtual object data selected in the processes of S11 and S12 are expanded in the buffer area (virtual buffer) other than the frame buffer (FB) and the screen buffer (SB) in the VRAM 154. Further, the processing order of S11 and S12 is arbitrary, and the processing of S11 may be performed after the processing of S12.

Next, the GPU 153 arranges the selected virtual object on the virtual space (VRAM154), and in the direction from the player side toward the virtual object (direction of the player's line of sight) with respect to the projection surface of the virtual object. The video light of the selected resource image data is virtually projected (irradiated), and the image data (virtual projected image data) of the virtual projected image projected on the projection surface of the virtual object is generated (calculated) (S13). In this process, the resource image data (double angle data including dummy image data) expanded on the VRAM 154 in S11 by the 3D CG process (including 3D coordinate calculation) of the GPU 153 is on the VRAM 154 in S12. Virtual projection image data (double angle of view data including dummy image data) is generated (calculated) by being combined with the virtual object data expanded in.

Next, the GPU 153 is the projection surface of the virtual object from the incident direction of the projected light (the incident direction of the actual image light) incident on the projection surface of the projected member from the projector 213 via the reflection mirror 237 on the virtual space. Generates (calculates) virtual captured image data (double angle of view data including dummy image data) when the virtual projected image projected on the image is virtually captured (S14). In this process, the viewpoint change process is performed by the three-dimensional CG process (including coordinate calculation) of the GPU 153, and virtual captured image data (double angle of view data including dummy image data) is generated (calculated).

Next, the GPU 153 expands (sets) the virtual captured image data (double angle of view data including the dummy image data) generated in S14 into the frame buffer (FB) of the VRAM 154 (S15). Next, the GPU 153 uses the image data of the area (in FIG. 23, the lower half of the frame buffer) in which the virtual captured image data is stored among the double angle data expanded in the frame buffer (FB). As PJ-compatible image data, it is copied (transferred) to the screen buffer (SB) of the VRAM 154 (S16).

Then, the GPU 153 converts the PJ-compatible image data copied to the screen buffer (SB) in S16 into a video signal, and outputs the video signal to the projector 213 (S17). In the present embodiment, the PJ-compatible image data (video signal) to be output to the projector 213 is generated as described above.

[Various effects]
As described above, in the present embodiment, image data (virtual projection image) of an image projected on the projection surface of the virtual object when the video light is virtually projected onto the virtual object of the projected member arranged on the virtual space (virtual projection image). Using the data and the virtual captured image data), the image data (PJ-compatible image data) of the image light actually projected on the projected member is generated. Therefore, when the image light is actually projected onto the projected member by the projector 213, it is not necessary to perform the correction process for associating the projected image data with the shape of the projection surface (screen) of the projected member. As a result, in the present embodiment, it is possible to execute a variety of high-quality video display effects by making full use of the three-dimensional CG technique while suppressing an increase in the cost related to CG creation.

Further, as described above, in the present embodiment, the image data to be processed in the image data conversion process from the resource image data to the generation of the virtual captured image data is the size (screen size) of the projection surface of the projected member. It is not the image data corresponding to the above, but the image data (double angle of view data) in which a dummy image having the same size as the image is added to the upper part of the image to be projected. In this case, distortion occurs at the center of the upper end of the projection target image, but as described above, in the present embodiment, distortion at the center of the upper end of the projection target image is suppressed in advance at the stage of generating PJ-compatible image data ( It has been corrected). Therefore, in the present embodiment, it is possible to suppress distortion of the image actually projected on the projection surface (screen) of the projected member, and it is possible to provide the player with a high-quality directed image.

Further, in the present embodiment, even if there are a plurality of projected members to be irradiated with the video light, the above-mentioned virtual projection photographing method (virtual projection processing and virtual of the video light) described above for the synthetic virtual object of the plurality of projected members. By applying the PJ-compatible image data generation method (shooting process), it is possible to actually generate image data of the image light to be projected on the projected member. Therefore, in the present embodiment, even when an image is projected onto an object such as a three-dimensional object (three-dimensional screen) using a projector, it is possible to minimize the deviation of the projected image with respect to the object.

Further, in the present embodiment, even if the plurality of projected members include a movable projected member (pseudo-reel member 303, etc.) and the movable projected member is in operation, synthesis is performed at predetermined intervals. By applying the PJ-compatible image data generation method by the virtual projection imaging method described above to the virtual object, it is possible to actually generate the image data to be projected on the projected member. Therefore, in the present embodiment, for example, even if the configuration (number, shape, arrangement relationship) of the projected members and the interlocking are complicated, it is possible to easily perform a variety of high-quality image display effects. ..

<Various deformation examples>
The configuration and operation of the gaming machine of the embodiment according to the present invention have been described above, including their actions and effects. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and includes various other embodiments and modifications as long as they do not deviate from the gist of the present invention described in the claims.

[Modification 1]
In the above embodiment, when there are a plurality of projected members to be projected (see, for example, FIG. 24), the above-mentioned virtual projection photographing method (video) is applied to a synthetic virtual object of the plurality of projected members in the virtual space. Although an example of applying a method for generating PJ-compatible image data by virtual projection processing and virtual shooting processing of light) has been described, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, PJ-compatible image data may be generated by the following procedure.

First, the synthetic virtual object is decomposed into the virtual object of each projected member. Next, virtual projection processing of the video light of the resource image is executed for each decomposed virtual object in the same manner as in the above embodiment to create virtual projection image data. The synthetic virtual object shows a specific example of the first virtual object according to the present invention, and the virtual object of each projected member shows a specific example of the second virtual object according to the present invention. It is a thing. Further, the virtual photographed image data of each projected member shows a specific example of the data of the first viewpoint image according to the present invention.

Next, the virtual projection image data of each virtual object is combined. Next, virtual shooting image data (viewpoint change processing) is executed on the synthesized virtual projection image data in the same manner as in the above embodiment to create virtual shooting image data, and the virtual shooting image data is used as a frame of VRAM 154. Store in the buffer. Then, the virtual captured image data stored in the frame buffer is subjected to image transfer (copy) processing in the same manner as in the above embodiment to generate PJ-compatible image data. The synthesized virtual projection image data shows a specific example of the data of the composite image according to the present invention.

Here, an example of the method of this example will be described with reference to FIG. 26. Note that FIG. 26 is a diagram for explaining an outline of the method for generating PJ-compatible image data in the modified example 1.

In the example shown in FIG. 26, as a plurality of projected members to be projected, the trapezoidal member 302 described in the above embodiment and a pair of columnar projected members 501 and 502 (hereinafter, “a pair of columnar members 501”). , 502 ”) and an ellipsoidal spherical projected member 503 (hereinafter referred to as“ ellipsoidal sphere member 503 ”) will be described (see the projection object in FIG. 26). Further, in this example, a pair of columnar members 501 and 502 are arranged on the front surface (player side) of the trapezoidal member 302, and an ellipsoidal ball member 503 is arranged on the front surface (player side) of the pair of columnar members 501 and 502. An example of placement will be described. Further, each of the pair of columnar members 501 and 502 is a movable projected member that can be rotationally driven with the central axis in the extending direction of each columnar member as a rotation axis. Each of the columnar members 501 and 502 and the ellipsoidal sphere member 503 also shows a specific example of the display unit according to the present invention.

In the PJ-compatible image data generation method of this example, first, in the virtual space, the virtual object (synthetic virtual object) of the projection object is the virtual object A of the trapezoidal member 302 and the pair of columnar projected members 5011. It is decomposed into a virtual object B of 502 and a virtual object C of an elliptical spherical projected member 503. Next, the video light of the resource image is virtually projected onto each decomposed virtual object from the player's line of sight, and the virtual object data and the resource image data are combined to form a virtual projection of each virtual object. Generate image data.

Next, the virtual projection image data of each generated virtual object is synthesized. At this time, the virtual projection image data of a plurality of virtual objects are combined in consideration of the arrangement relationship of each virtual object. Specifically, in the area where a plurality of virtual objects overlap in the virtual space, a plurality of virtual projections are displayed so that the image projected on the projection surface of the virtual object located in the foreground (most player side) is displayed. Image data is combined. As a result, the combined virtual projection image data (hereinafter referred to as “composite virtual projection image data”) shown at the bottom of FIG. 26 is generated. Then, in the same manner as in the above embodiment, the synthetic virtual projection image data is converted into virtual captured image data, and PJ-compatible image data is generated based on the virtual captured image data.

When the PJ-compatible image data generation method of this example described above is used, even if there are a plurality of projected members to be projected and a three-dimensional screen is composed of the plurality of projected members, the projected member Virtually captured image data can be generated for each virtual object, and the generated virtual projection image data can be combined to generate synthetic virtual projection image data of a stereoscopic screen composed of a plurality of projected members. Therefore, when the PJ-compatible image data is created by the method of this example, the deviation of the projected position of the image from the ideal position when the actual image light is projected on the stereoscopic screen composed of a plurality of projected members is minimized. It can be suppressed to the limit. That is, in the method of this example, it is possible to minimize the deviation of the projected image with respect to the stereoscopic screen (object) composed of a plurality of projected members.

Further, also in this example, as in the above embodiment, when the image light is actually projected onto the projected member by the projector 213, the projected image data is associated with the shape of the projection surface (screen) of the projected member. Since the correction process is not required, it is possible to execute a variety of high-quality image display effects by making full use of the three-dimensional CG technology while suppressing an increase in the cost related to CG creation.

[Modification 2]
In the above embodiment, in the virtual projection processing and virtual shooting processing of an image in a virtual space, the image to be processed (calculated) is double angle of view data in which a dummy image of the same size as the image is added to the upper part of the image to be projected. Used as data. Then, when the PJ-compatible image data is generated, the image data in the area where the virtual captured image data is stored among the double angle data expanded in the frame buffer (FB) of the VRAM 154 is used as the PJ-compatible image data. The method of copying to the screen buffer (SB) of the VRAM 154 was used. However, the method of converting the double angle of view data into the PJ-compatible image data (the method of extracting the PJ-compatible image data from the double angle of view data) is not limited to the example of the above embodiment.

For example, a process of extracting virtual shot image data from the double angle of view data before expanding the double angle of view data including the virtual shot image data generated by the virtual shooting process on the virtual space into the frame buffer (FB). May be provided. In the second modification, as an example thereof, an example of performing a projective conversion process on the double angle of view data including the virtual shot image data and extracting the virtual shot image data from the double angle of view data will be described.

In the three-dimensional CG technique, the projective transformation process is usually an arithmetic process used when projecting a virtual three-dimensional object arranged in a virtual space onto a screen. First, a general projective transformation process will be described with reference to FIGS. 27A and 27B.

In FIG. 27A, a rectangular object arranged at a predetermined position (“near” in FIG. 27A) on the projector side (light source side) is enlarged and projected to the arrangement position of the screen (“far” in FIG. 27A). It is a figure which shows the state at the time of this. Further, FIG. 27B converts the coordinates of the rectangular object arranged in “near” in FIG. 27A into the coordinates of the rectangular object when projected on the screen (“far” in FIG. 27A). It is a figure which shows the projection matrix P (projection transformation matrix) used for this.

The projection matrix P is a square matrix with 4 rows and 4 columns. In the projection matrix P, the value of the [1 (row), 1 (column)] component is "x", the value of the [2,2] component is "y", and the value of the [3,1] component is. It is "a", the value of the [3,2] component is "b", the value of the [3,3] component is "c", and the value of the [3,4] component is "-1". Yes, the value of the [4,3] component is "d". The values of the other components are "0".

Further, as shown in FIGS. 27A and 27B, the values (x, y, a, b, c, d) of each component in the projection matrix P are the position “near” of the rectangular object and the position “far” of the screen. , Parameters "top" and "bottom" that define the coordinates in the height (vertical) direction of the rectangular object before projection (before projection conversion), coordinates in the width (horizontal) direction of the rectangular object before projection. Parameters "left" and "right", the length (height) "height" in the height direction and the length (width) "wise" in the width direction of the rectangular object after projection (after projection conversion). , Calculated based on the viewing angle "favy" (projected angle of view) of the light (projected light) emitted from the projector (light source) and the aspect ratio "rectangle" of the screen.

Then, when the coordinates of the rectangular object at the position "near" in FIG. 27A are multiplied by the projection matrix P in FIG. 27B (when the coordinates are transformed by the projection matrix P), the position "far" in FIG. 27A is displayed. The coordinates of the rectangular object projected (enlarged and displayed) on) are calculated.

In this example, the projection matrix P of FIG. 27B is modified and used, and the virtual captured image data is extracted from the double angle of view data including the virtual captured image data. That is, in this example, image data having a size twice the screen size (double angle of view data) is converted into image data having a screen size (equal size angle of view data). As for the double angle of view data used in this example, a dummy image having the same size as the image is added to the upper end of the image (projection target image) projected on the projection surface of the projected member, as in the above embodiment. Image data is used (see FIG. 23).

FIG. 28 shows the projection matrix Pe used when extracting the virtual captured image data (PJ-compatible image data) from the double angle of view data including the virtual captured image data in this example. In this example, as the projection matrix Pe, as shown in FIG. 28, a matrix obtained by multiplying the projection matrix P'and the offset matrix O is used. The projection matrix Pe shows a specific example of a specific conversion parameter according to the present invention.

The projection matrix P'is a square matrix with 4 rows and 4 columns, and is a projection transformation matrix in which the viewing angle (favy) is set to 1/2 (predetermined angle) in the general projection matrix P shown in FIG. 27B. .. In this example, as described above, the 2x angle of view data is converted into the 1x angle of view data, so the viewing angle (projection angle of view) is set to half the value of the general projection matrix P. The angle of view. Further, in the offset matrix O, the values of the [1 (row), 1 (column)] component, the [2,2] component, the [3,3] component, the [4,4] component, and the [4,2] component are used. It is composed of a 4-by-4 square matrix having "1" and the values of other components being "0". The projection matrix P'shows a specific example of a predetermined projective transformation parameter according to the present invention, and the offset matrix O shows a specific example of a predetermined offset parameter according to the present invention.

Then, in this example, the projection matrix Pe is multiplied by the coordinates of the double angle data before expanding the double angle of view data including the virtual captured image data into the frame buffer (FB). As a result, only the virtual captured image data is extracted from the double angle of view data including the virtual captured image data. Although a specific example of this extraction result is not shown in the present specification, in the verification experiment of the inventor, the double angle data of the configuration to be processed in this example is multiplied by the projection matrix Pe shown in FIG. 28 (projection conversion). ), It is confirmed that the virtual captured image data is extracted from the double angled image data including the virtual captured image data.

By the method of this example, the extracted virtual photographed image data is expanded into the frame buffer (FB) of the VRAM 154 as in the above embodiment. Then, the virtual captured image data expanded in the frame buffer (FB) of the VRAM 154 is copied to the screen buffer (SB) of the VRAM 154 as PJ-compatible image data.

As described above, in this example, the size of the image data expanded in the frame buffer (FB) is half that of the above embodiment, so that the size of the frame buffer (FB) is also half that of the above embodiment. Can be. Therefore, in this example, the frame buffer (FB) having the same size as the screen size can be used to perform the same three-dimensional CG processing as in the above embodiment, so that the usage status of the VRAM 154 is not wasted. , The processing efficiency of GPU 153 can be improved.

Further, also in this example, as in the above embodiment, when the image light is actually projected onto the projected member by the projector 213, the projected image data is associated with the shape of the projection surface (screen) of the projected member. Since the correction process is not required, it is possible to execute a variety of high-quality image display effects by making full use of the three-dimensional CG technology while suppressing an increase in the cost related to CG creation.

In the image data conversion process of this example, a determinant (matrix operator) is used as a specific example of the specific conversion parameter, the predetermined projection conversion parameter, and the predetermined offset parameter according to the present invention, and the calculation is performed by the determinant. Although an example of converting image data has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, image data (pre-conversion data and post-conversion data) before and after the conversion process may be prepared in advance, and the pre-conversion data may be directly replaced with the post-conversion data by a predetermined conversion command or the like. In this case, a predetermined conversion command or the like is a specific example of a specific conversion parameter, a predetermined projective conversion parameter, and a predetermined offset parameter.

[Modification 3]
In the above embodiment, an example in which a virtual projection imaging method is actually used as a method for creating PJ-compatible image data of video light projected from a projector 213 onto a projected member has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, as a method for creating PJ-compatible image data, a method called a texture mapping (projection mapping) method may be adopted.

In the third modification, a method of creating PJ-compatible image data by the texture mapping method will be described. The texture mapping method is a method of generating a three-dimensional image by virtually pasting a two-dimensional image on a three-dimensional object (model).

(1) Outline of Texture Mapping Method FIG. 29 is a diagram showing an outline of a method for creating PJ-compatible image data by the texture mapping method. In the example shown in FIG. 29, an example is shown in which the projected member to be projected is a trapezoidal member 302 (see FIG. 8), but in the technique described below, the projected member to be projected is a pseudo reel member. The same applies to the case of 303 or the flat screen member 304.

In FIG. 29, the image data of the area A in the resource image data is mapped to the projection surface 322a (see FIG. 8) of the trapezoidal member 302, and the image data of the area B is mapped to the projection surface 321a of the trapezoidal member 302. An example is shown in which the image data of C is mapped to the projection surface 323a of the trapezoidal member 302, and the image data of the region D is mapped to the projection surface 324a of the trapezoidal member 302.

The resource image data used in this example can be configured in the same manner as that of the above embodiment. Further, in this example, the image data to be processed in the process of creating PJ-compatible image data by the texture mapping method is a dummy having the same size as the image at the upper end of the image to be projected, as in the above embodiment. It is double angle of view data to which an image is added.

Then, in the texture mapping method, each pixel data of the resource image data in the double angle data is used as the texture data of the trapezoidal member 302 corresponding to the coordinates of each pixel (coordinates of the resource image and coordinates related to the structure of the trapezoidal member 302). Image data (two-dimensional image data) after texture mapping is created by performing an operation of pasting to texture coordinates (UV coordinates) using data). In FIG. 29, for simplification of the explanation, only the pixel data of the coordinates of the vertices of the regions A to D in the resource image data is pasted on the coordinates (texture coordinates) of the vertices of the corresponding projection surface of the trapezoidal member 302. Shows how it is attached. The texture data shows a specific example of the texture information according to the present invention or the information for displaying an image on the display unit, and the image data after the texture mapping is the pseudo three-dimensional image data according to the present invention. It shows one concrete example.

The texture coordinates of the texture data are data generated (converted) from the three-dimensional CAD data of the trapezoidal member 302. Specifically, the texture data corresponds to the data (x1, y1) to (x8, y8) of each vertex coordinate of the area A to the area D of the resource image, and each vertex coordinate of the area A to the area D. Vertex coordinates (x1', y1') to (x8', y8') in the virtual object data of the trapezoidal member 302 are set. Then, in the mapping process, the GPU 153 corresponds to each pixel data of each vertex coordinate ((x1, y1) to (x8, y8)) of the area A to the area D of the resource image in the virtual object data of the trapezoidal member 302. Map to the coordinates of the vertices ((x1', y1') to (x8', y8')). Further, in this mapping process, the GPU 153 calculates the coordinates between the vertex coordinates in the virtual object data by linear interpolation based on the coordinate data (vertical coordinates) of the texture data, and each of the coordinates other than the vertex coordinates of the resource image data. Each pixel data is mapped to the corresponding coordinates in the virtual object data.

Next, when the image data after texture mapping is generated, the double angle of view data including the image data is expanded in the frame buffer (FB) of the VRAM 154. After that, of the double angle data expanded in the frame buffer (FB), the image data in the area where the image data after texture mapping to be projected is stored is used as the PJ-compatible image data in the screen buffer of the VRAM 154 ( It is copied (transferred) to SB).

The method of creating PJ-compatible image data by the texture mapping method can be applied to, for example, the case where the projected member to be projected is switched from the trapezoidal member 302 to the pseudo reel member 303 as described with reference to FIG. 24. In this case, the resource image data is mapped (pasted) to the composite texture data of the texture data of the pseudo reel member 303 (movable projected member) in operation and the texture data of the trapezoidal member 302 generated at each timing of predetermined intervals. By attaching), PJ-compatible image data can be generated.

Further, the method for creating PJ-compatible image data in this example can also be applied to a case where the projected member to be projected is a three-dimensional screen composed of a plurality of projected members, as shown in FIG. 26, for example. In this case, PJ-compatible image data is generated by acquiring synthetic texture data (texture data of a three-dimensional screen) of a plurality of projected members and mapping (pasting) resource image data to the synthetic texture data. be able to. Further, in this case, as in the first modification, the synthetic texture data of the plurality of projected members is decomposed into the texture data of each projected member, and the resource image corresponding to the texture data of each of the decomposed projected members is generated. PJ-compatible image data may be generated by mapping and synthesizing the image data after mapping of each projected member.

(2) Procedure for creating PJ-compatible image data by the texture mapping method Next, with reference to FIG. 30, a specific processing procedure for generating PJ-compatible image data by the texture mapping method, which is performed in the sub-control circuit 150, is described. explain. Note that FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing a procedure for generating PJ-compatible image data and a corresponding video signal by the texture mapping method.

First, the sub CPU 151 selects the resource image data to be displayed as a video this time from the various resource image data stored in the ROM cartridge board 86 (S21). The image data selected in the process of S21 is double angle of view data in which a dummy image having the same size as the resource image is added to the upper end of the resource image. Further, in this process, the GPU 153 (rendering processor 153) expands the selected resource image data into the VRAM 154 (drawing RAM) based on the command of the sub CPU 151.

Next, the sub CPU 151 selects the texture data of the projected member to be projected this time from the texture data of various projected members (three-dimensional data regarding the structure of the projected member) stored in the ROM cartridge substrate 86. (S22). In this process, when the projected member to be projected is one projected member, only the texture data of the projected member is selected. Further, in this process, when there are a plurality of projected members to be projected, the synthetic texture data corresponding to the current timing is selected. Then, in this process, the GPU 153 expands the selected texture data to the VRAM 154 based on the command of the sub CPU 151.

The resource image data and texture data selected in the processes of S21 and S22 are expanded in the buffer area (virtual buffer) other than the frame buffer and the screen buffer in the VRAM 154. Further, the processing order of S21 and S22 is arbitrary, and the processing of S21 may be performed after the processing of S22.

Next, the GPU 153 performs a texture mapping process (S23). In this process, using the resource image data selected in the process of S21 and the texture data of the projected member selected in the process of S22, each pixel data of the resource image is transferred to the projection surface of the corresponding projected member. Performs the process (mapping) of pasting to the position.

Next, the GPU 153 expands (sets) the double angle of view data including the image data after the mapping process generated in S23 into the frame buffer (FB) of the VRAM 154 (S24). Next, the GPU 153 is an area (in FIG. 23, the lower half of the frame buffer) in which the image data after the mapping processing to be projected is stored in the double angle data expanded in the frame buffer (FB). The image data in the area) is copied (transferred) to the screen buffer (SB) of the VRAM 154 as PJ-compatible image data (S25).

Then, the GPU 153 converts the PJ-compatible image data copied to the screen buffer (SB) in S25 into a video signal, and outputs the video signal to the projector 213 (S26). In this example, the PJ-compatible image data (video signal) to be output to the projector 213 is generated as described above.

(3) Various effects When the texture mapping method is adopted as the method for creating PJ-compatible image data as in this example, PJ-compatible image data can be created with simpler processing, so the cost of creating CG is reduced. It is possible to perform various effects with high image quality by making full use of 3D CG while suppressing the increase. Further, in this example, since a movie after projecting video light on the projected member can be prepared, the movie can be played back without any problem even if the processing performance of the GPU (VDP (Video Display Processor)) is low. And texture mapping (projection mapping) can be used for general purposes.

Further, also in this example, the image data to be processed in the process of creating the PJ-compatible image data is image data (double angle of view data) in which a dummy image of the same size as the image is added to the upper part of the projection target image. .. Therefore, also in this example, as in the above embodiment, it is possible to suppress distortion of the image actually projected on the projection surface (screen) of the projected member at the stage of creating the image data, and it is possible to produce a high image quality. The image can be provided to the player.

In the method of creating PJ-compatible image data by the texture mapping method, each pixel data of the resource image data is simply pasted to the coordinates of the texture data of the projected member corresponding to the coordinates of each pixel. This is a simpler method than the method using the virtual projection imaging method described in the embodiment. However, in the method using texture mapping, image distortion is more likely to occur near the boundary between the projection planes of the trapezoidal member 302 shown in FIG. 29, for example, as compared with the method using the virtual projection imaging method. From the viewpoint of image quality, the method using the virtual projection imaging method described in the above embodiment is superior.

Further, in the examples described with reference to FIGS. 29 and 30, an example in which texture mapping processing is performed in real time using GPU 153 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the following method is used. May be good. First, image data in which a resource image is mapped to a projected member in advance with a three-dimensional CG tool or the like is created, and the image data after the mapping is stored in the ROM cartridge board 86. Next, at the time of image display, the sub CPU 151 selects predetermined image data from various mapped image data stored in the ROM cartridge substrate 86, and outputs the image data to the projector 213 as PJ-compatible image data.

Further, in the example described with reference to FIGS. 29 and 30, when the PJ-compatible image data is generated, the double angle data expanded in the frame buffer (FB) of the VRAM 154 is subjected to the mapping processing to be the projection target. Although the example of copying the image data in the area where the image data of the above is stored as the PJ-compatible image data to the screen buffer (SB) of the VRAM 154 has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, similar to the method described in the above modification 2, the double angle of view data including the image data after the mapping process of the projection target is multiplied by the projection matrix Pe shown in FIG. 28 (projection conversion). The image data (equal magnification angle of view data) after the mapping processing to be projected may be extracted from the 2x angle of view data. In this case, the extracted image data (equal-magnification angle-of-view data) after the mapping process of the projection target is expanded in the frame buffer (FB) of the VRAM 154, and the expanded equal-magnification angle-of-view data is used as PJ-compatible image data. , Is copied (transferred) to the screen buffer (SB) of the VRAM 154.

[Other various variants]
In the above embodiment, an example in which the projection surface 304b of the flat screen member 304 is formed of a flat surface and a white paint is applied to the projection surface has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the print sheet may be attached to the projection surface 304b (second plane) of the flat screen member 304. Further, in this case, for example, the print sheet may be divided into a plurality of areas, and different paintings or symbols may be formed in each area. Then, an image (image) that illuminates different paintings or symbols in a predetermined order by the image light emitted from the projector 213 may be displayed. In this case, a so-called roulette effect in which any painting (symbol) is selected can be performed.

Further, in the above embodiment, a configuration example for moving the pseudo reel member 303 and the flat screen member 304 has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The projected member according to the present invention is not limited to the one in which the entire projected member moves, and for example, the projected member is provided with a movable portion so that a part (movable portion) of the projected member moves. May be good. In this case, by projecting the image light according to the movement of the movable portion, it is possible to display a dynamic image, and it is possible to enhance the interest of the production using the image.

Further, in the above embodiment, an example in which the display device 11 having the projector 213 is arranged at a position facing the opening 10a of the front panel 10 inside the cabinet 2a has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In the gaming machine according to the present invention, for example, an opening may be provided in the lumbar panel 12, and a display device having a projector may be arranged at a position facing the opening of the lumbar panel 12 inside the cabinet 2a. Further, in the above embodiment, an example in which the display device 11 is arranged inside the cabinet 2a has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In the gaming machine according to the present invention, for example, a display device having a projector may be arranged on the front door 2b.

Further, in the gaming machine according to the present invention, as an image projected on the projection surface 331b of the pseudo reel member 303, an image in which the symbol changes according to the operation (start operation) of the start lever 16 may be adopted. Then, in this case, on the projection surface 331b of the pseudo reel member 303, an image of stopping the fluctuating symbol may be displayed in accordance with the pressing operation (stop operation) of the stop buttons 17L, 17C, 17R.

Further, in the above embodiment, an example of adopting a method (front projection) in which the light of the projector is projected from the surface side of the projection surface (screen) of the projected member to display an image has been described. The invention is not limited to this. For example, a method (rear projection) in which the light of the projector is projected onto the screen from the back surface (rear surface) side to display the image may be adopted, and the optimum effect can be obtained even in this case. Further, in the gaming machine according to the present invention, as the display device, for example, a liquid crystal display device or a display device such as an organic / inorganic EL can be used instead of the projector.

Further, in the above embodiment, the pachislot gaming machine has been described as an example of the gaming machine according to the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the gaming machine according to the present invention is, for example, a pachinko gaming machine. There may be.

[Other expandability of gaming machines according to the present embodiment]
In the pachislot 1 of the present embodiment, the player's medal insertion operation (that is, the operation of inserting a hand-held medal into the medal insertion slot 14 or the credited medal is inserted into the MAX bet button 15a or the 1-bet button 15b. If the game is started by (operation of inserting) and the medal is paid out when the game is finished, the hopper device 51 is driven to pay out the medal from the medal payout exit 24, or the credit is given. The form to be used has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this.

For example, the present invention is applied to all forms in which a game medium necessary for a game is input by a player, a game is performed based on the game, and a privilege is given (for example, a medal is paid out) based on the result of the game. be able to. That is, not only the game medium is thrown in (hanged) by the physical movement of the player and the game medium is paid out, but also the main control circuit 90 (main control board 71) itself is the game medium owned by the player. It may be possible to play a game without a medal by electromagnetically managing the above. Further, it may be a game medium management device that is mounted (connected) to the main control circuit 90 (main control board 71) and manages the game medium to electromagnetically manage the game medium owned by the player. ..

In this case, the gaming medium management device is a device having a ROM and an RWM (or RAM) and provided in the gaming machine, and bidirectionally communicates with an external gaming medium handling device (not shown) via a predetermined interface. It is possible to connect and win a prize (that is, an operation of providing a game medium necessary for a player to perform a game medium lending operation (that is, an operation of providing a game medium necessary for a player to perform a game medium loading operation) or a role related to a game medium payout operation (that is, an operation of providing a game medium). When the winning combination is established), the operation of paying out the game medium (that is, the operation of acquiring the game medium necessary for paying out the game medium to the player) or the game medium used for the game is used. It suffices that the operation of recording electromagnetically can be performed. Further, the game medium management device not only manages the actual number of game media, but also displays the number of possessed game media on the front surface of the pachi-slot machine 1, for example, based on the management result of the number of game media. A number display device (not shown) may be provided to manage the number of game media displayed on the possessed game medium number display device. That is, the game medium management device may be capable of recording and displaying the total number of game media that the player can use for the game by an electromagnetic method.

Further, in this case, the game medium management device has a performance that allows the player to freely transmit a signal indicating the number of recorded game media to an external game medium handling device, and also has a game. In addition to the case where a person directly operates the game medium, the number of recorded game media cannot be reduced, and an external connection terminal board (not shown) is provided between the device and an external game medium handling device. It is desirable that the player has the ability to transmit a signal indicating the number of recorded game media only through the external connection terminal board.

In addition to the above, the gaming machine is provided with a lending operating means, a return (clearing) operating means, and an external connection terminal board that can be operated by the player, and the gaming medium handling device is provided with a slot for valuable value such as banknotes and a recording medium. (For example, IC card) insertion slot, non-contact communication antenna for depositing electronic money from mobile terminals, other operation means such as lending operation means, return operation means, external connection terminal board on the gaming medium handling device side It may be provided (neither is shown).

As a flow of the game at that time, for example, the player deposits valuable value into the game medium handling device by any method, and subtracts a predetermined number of valuable values based on the operation of any of the above lending operation means. Then, the number of game media corresponding to the valuable value subtracted from the game medium handling device to the game medium management device is increased. Then, the player plays a game, and if a game medium is required, the above operation is repeated. After that, a predetermined number of game media are acquired as a result of the game, and when the game is finished, the number of game media is transmitted from the game medium management device to the game medium handling device by operating one of the return operation means, and the game is played. The medium handling device discharges a recording medium recording the number of game media. The game medium management device clears the number of game media that the self-confidence remembers when the number of game media is transmitted. The player takes the discharged recording medium to a prize counter or the like for exchanging prizes, or moves the game table to play a game based on the game medium recorded on another table.

In the above example, all the gaming media are transmitted to the gaming media handling device, but only the number of gaming media desired by the player is transmitted on the gaming machine or the gaming media handling device side, and the gaming medium possessed by the player is transmitted. It may be divided and processed. Further, the recording medium is not limited to being discharged, and cash or a cash equivalent may be discharged, or may be stored in a mobile terminal or the like. Further, the game medium handling device may be capable of inserting a member recording medium of the game hall, storing it in the member recording medium, and making it possible to replay the game at a later date.

Further, in the game machine or the game medium handling device, a lock operation for locking the game medium or valuable data communication to the game medium handling device or the game medium management device can be executed by operating a predetermined operating means (not shown). May be good. In that case, information such as a one-time password that only the player can know may be set, or the player may be stored by an imaging means provided in the game machine or the game medium handling device.

As described above, the game medium management device may be capable of playing games only without a medal, or the game medium is inserted (hanged) by the physical movement of the player, and the game medium is played. It may be a form in which the game is paid out, a form in which the game is possible without a medal, or a form in which the game is possible in both forms. In this case, the game medium management device may adopt a method of directly controlling the selector 66 and the hopper device 51 described above, or these are controlled by the main control circuit 90 (main control board 71). Based on the transmission of the control result, a method is adopted that enables control in which the total number of game media that the player can use for the game is recorded by an electromagnetic method and displayed. You can also do it.

Further, in the above, the case where the game medium management device is applied to the pachi-slot machine 1 has been described. However, in the above-mentioned pachinko machines and enclosed game machines that use the game balls, the game medium management device is also provided and the player can use the game medium management device. It is also possible to manage the game medium.

As described above, by providing the above-mentioned game medium management device, it is possible to reduce the number of selectors 66, hopper devices 51, etc. inside the game machine as compared with the case where the game medium is physically used for the game. Not only can the cost and manufacturing costs be reduced, but also the player can be prevented from coming into direct contact with the gaming medium, the gaming environment can be improved, noise can be reduced, and the number of devices can be reduced. It also reduces the power consumption of. In addition, it is possible to prevent fraudulent acts through the game medium and the slot and payout port of the game medium. That is, it is possible to provide a gaming machine that can improve various environments surrounding the gaming machine.

<Static electricity test device>
31 and 32 are schematic views showing an overall configuration example of the static electricity test device 400 suitable for the pachi-slot machine 1, FIG. 31 is a top view seen from above, and FIG. 32 is a front view seen from the front. Is. 31 and 32 also show the pachi-slot machine 1 to be tested. In the following, the front-back direction is the direction based on the pachi-slot machine 1 to be tested. Further, in FIGS. 31 and 32, the Y direction is shown as a direction corresponding to the lateral direction of the pachi-slot machine 1.

The static electricity test device 400 is a device for performing a static electricity test on the pachi-slot machine 1 to be tested, and is installed in, for example, a specific test room. The static electricity test is a test for evaluating the noise resistance of the pachi-slot machine 1, and here, the noise resistance of the main control board 71 and the sub control board 72 (see FIG. 15) (that is, malfunction due to static electricity, etc.) It is a test for evaluating whether or not undesired behavior occurs or whether or not a failure due to static electricity occurs). The unfavorable behavior corresponds to runaway (so-called CPU malfunction) or reboot (reset operation that occurs during operation) of the microprocessor 91 (see FIG. 16) or the sub CPU 151 (see FIG. 18).

As described above, the main control board 71 and the sub control board 72 are housed in the main control board case 55 (not shown) and the sub control board case 57 (see FIG. 15). Therefore, it is shielded by the main control board case 55 (not shown) and the sub control board case 57, and noise countermeasures are basically taken. However, in the case of a consumer substrate rather than an industrial substrate, the noise resistance may be slightly inferior. Therefore, the main control board case 55 (not shown) and the sub control board case 57 may be chrome-plated or the like in order to enhance the shielding property.

The pachi-slot machine 1 to be tested may be, for example, one before mass production, for example, one under development. Alternatively, the pachi-slot machine 1 to be tested may be one after mass production. In this case, the pachi-slot machine 1 to be tested may be a part of a large number of mass-produced pachi-slot machines 1. Hereinafter, the pachi-slot machine 1 to be tested is also simply referred to as a pachi-slot machine 1.

As shown in FIGS. 31 and 32, the pachi-slot machine 1 has a power cord 490 and a ground wire 492. The pachi-slot machine 1 is electrically connected to a power source (commercial power source) via a power cord 490, for example, via an outlet 550 on the ceiling of a test room, and is grounded at a ground terminal 551 of the outlet 550 via a ground wire 492. Will be done.

As shown in FIGS. 31 and 32, the static electricity test apparatus 400 includes a discharge energy application unit 403, a discharge gun 404, a wiring unit 406, and an electrostatic discharge generation unit 408.

It should be noted that FIGS. 31 and 32 schematically show the state of the static electricity test device 400 when performing the static electricity test. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, each component is described in the state in which the electrostatic test is performed.

The discharge energy application unit 403 is arranged outside the exterior body 2 (see FIG. 2) (an example of the housing) of the pachi-slot machine 1 (hereinafter, simply referred to as “the outside of the pachi-slot machine 1”). In the example shown in FIGS. 31 and 32, the pachi-slot machine 1 is arranged on the carriage 451 and the discharge energy application unit 403 is arranged on another carriage 452. The dolly 451 and the dolly 452 are arranged on the floor surface of the test room. The dolly 451 and the dolly 452 may be realized by one common dolly. Further, as shown in FIG. 32, the dolly 451 and the dolly 452 have mounting surfaces at the same height, but the heights of the mounting surfaces may be different.

In the present embodiment, the discharge energy application unit 403 and the pachi-slot machine 1 are installed on the trolley, because workability is taken into consideration. For example, when a plurality of pachi-slot machines 1 are continuously tested, FIG. It is needless to say that if a plurality of pachi-slot machines 1 are mounted on a plurality of carriages as described above, the pachi-slot machines 1 to be tested can be easily replaced. Further, the pachi-slot machine 1 may be installed on a workbench as in the electrostatic tester main body 440, not limited to the trolley.

The discharge energy application unit 403 is formed of a conductor and is in the form of an electrode, for example. The discharge energy application unit 403 may be realized by, for example, aluminum tape. The discharge energy application unit 403 may be arranged directly on the carriage 452, or may be arranged via another member.

In this embodiment, the reason why the aluminum tape is used for the discharge energy application unit 403 is that the discharge gun 404 discharges at a voltage within the range of ± 5 kV to ± 30 kV, so even if a metal plate is used. Damage occurs to the discharge energy application unit 403. Therefore, by using an aluminum tape for the discharge energy application unit 403, it can be easily replaced (replaced) at low cost.

As shown in FIG. 31, the discharge energy application unit 403 may be arranged behind the pachi-slot machine 1 and offset laterally with respect to the pachi-slot machine 1. That is, as shown in FIG. 31, the discharge energy application unit 403 is arranged diagonally behind the pachi-slot machine 1. Here, as shown in FIG. 31, a line segment L1 connecting the discharge energy application unit 403 and the electrostatic tester main body 440 and a line segment connecting the discharge energy application unit 403 and the back surface portion of the pachislot 1 are viewed from above. The relationship between L2 and the line segment L3 (direction parallel to the Y direction) connecting the back surface portion of the pachislot 1 and the electrostatic tester main body 440 can be expressed by, for example, an angle α and an angle β. That is, the line segment L1 forms an angle α with respect to the line segment L3, and the line segment L2 forms an angle β with respect to the line segment L3. As shown in FIG. 31, when the discharge energy application unit 403 is arranged diagonally to the rear side with respect to the pachi-slot machine 1 and diagonally to the rear side with respect to the discharge gun 404, both the angle α and the angle β are arranged. Become positive. For example, the angle α and the angle β may both be about 45 degrees. According to such a positional relationship, the degree of influence of the radiation noise from the discharge gun 404 (the degree of direct influence on the pachi-slot machine 1) can be minimized. It is desirable that such a positional relationship (the positional relationship between the discharge energy application unit 403 and the pachi-slot machine 1 and the associated angles α and β) is constant even when the pachi-slot machine 1 to be tested is different. In this case, it is possible to effectively reduce the variation in the test results of the individual pachi-slot machines 1, which may occur due to the variation in the positional relationship.

The discharge gun 404 is a device that discharges toward the discharge energy application unit 403. The discharge gun 404 may be a suitable commercially available discharge gun. As shown in FIGS. 31 and 32, the discharge gun 404 is electrically connected to the electrostatic tester main body 440 via the wiring 4041 and is also electrically connected to the ground terminal 554 of the power outlet 553 via the ground wire 4042. Is connected. The electrostatic tester main body 440 is electrically connected to the power outlet 553 via the power line 441. The discharge gun 404 may be integrated with the electrostatic tester main body 440, and may constitute an electrostatic tester including a power supply line 441, wiring 4041, ground wire 4042, and the like.

One end of the wiring unit 406 is electrically connected to the discharge energy application unit 403, and the other end is electrically connected to the electrostatic discharge generation unit 408. In this case, the wiring unit 406 is electrically connected to the discharge energy application unit 403 outside the pachi-slot machine 1, and is electrically connected to the electrostatic discharge generation unit 408 inside the pachi-slot machine 1.

The wiring portion 406 is preferably an opening different from the opening closed by the front door 2b so that the electrostatic test by the electrostatic test device 400 can be performed with the front door 2b (see FIG. 2) of the pachi-slot machine closed. It is routed to the inside of the pachislot machine 1 through the part. In this case, the wiring portion 406 preferably enters the inside of the pachi-slot machine 1 through an existing opening (that is, an opening provided for other uses rather than an opening specially provided for electrostatic testing). Is routed. Examples of such an existing opening include an opening (not shown) for supplying medals to the hopper device 51 from the outside of the pachi-slot machine 1 and a pachi-slot machine 1 from the medal auxiliary storage 52 (see FIG. 3). There is an opening (not shown) for ejecting medals to the outside. It should be noted that such a replenishment opening is generally provided on the back surface of the cabinet 2a, and the discharge opening is generally provided on the bottom surface of the cabinet 2a. In the example shown in FIGS. 31 and 32, the wiring portion 406 is routed to the inside of the pachi-slot machine 1 by using the opening on the back surface of the cabinet 2a (see FIG. 2).

The electrostatic discharge generation unit 408 is arranged inside the pachi-slot machine 1. As described above, the electrostatic discharge generation unit 408 is electrically connected to the discharge energy application unit 403 via the wiring unit 406. Further, the electrostatic discharge generation unit 408 is electrically connected to the ground terminal 556 of the outlet 555 via the ground wire 4081. The electrostatic discharge generation unit 408 generates a discharge by discharging from the discharge gun 404 toward the discharge energy application unit 403.

33 and 34 are explanatory views of the electrostatic discharge generating section 408, FIG. 33 is a top view of the electrostatic discharge generating section 408, and FIG. 34 is an enlarged view of the Q1 section of FIG. 33. Also in the description of FIGS. 33 and 34, the above-mentioned Y direction is appropriately used. FIG. 35 is a perspective view of the hopper device 51.

As shown in FIG. 33, the electrostatic discharge generation unit 408 is supported on the support base 408A. The support base 408A is made of any material having high insulating properties. The support base 408A preferably has a relatively high rigidity that does not bend due to its own weight or the like. As shown in FIG. 33, the support base 408A may include a clamp 4081A for holding the wiring portion 406 and the ground wire 4081.

For example, the support base 408A has a certain thickness (5 mm to 10 mm) or more, and may be realized by a synthetic resin material such as plastic, wood such as cork board, ceramic, or the like.

The electrostatic discharge generation unit 408 includes a first electrode unit 481 and a second electrode unit 482.

The first electrode portion 481 is grounded via the ground wire 4081 (see FIGS. 31 and 32). The first electrode portion 481 has, for example, a cylindrical shape and extends in the Y direction. The tip of the first electrode portion 481 (the end on the side of the second electrode portion 482) faces the tip of the second electrode portion 482 in the Y direction.

The second electrode portion 482 is electrically connected to the discharge energy application portion 403 via the wiring portion 406. The second electrode portion 482 has, for example, a conical shape and extends in the Y direction. The tip of the second electrode portion 482 (the end on the side of the first electrode portion 481) faces the tip of the first electrode portion 481 in the Y direction.

The electrostatic discharge generation unit 408 generates an electrostatic discharge between the first electrode unit 481 and the second electrode unit 482. Specifically, when the discharge from the discharge gun 404 toward the discharge energy application unit 403 is performed, the second electrode unit 482 electrically connected to the discharge energy application unit 403 via the wiring unit 406 has a potential. Rise sharply. As a result, an electrostatic discharge is generated between the first electrode portion 481 and the second electrode portion 482 due to the potential difference between the first electrode portion 481 and the second electrode portion 482. The electrostatic discharge generated between the first electrode portion 481 and the second electrode portion 482 is a so-called ESD (Electrostatic Discharge / Surge), and is a peripheral electronic component (for example, a main control board 71 or a sub control board). 72 etc.) may cause malfunction. That is, the high voltage pulse related to the discharge can penetrate into the surrounding electronic components (for example, the main control board 71, the sub control board 72, etc.), and for example, the IC circuit of the main control board 71 and the sub control board 72 may malfunction. Can cause destruction.

By the way, as described above, the pachi-slot machine 1 has a hopper device 51 as shown in FIG. 35, and medals are stored in the hopper device 51. In the example shown in FIG. 35, the hopper device 51 includes a bucket 1381 for storing a large number of medals, a base member 1382 to which the bucket 1381 is attached, and a payout unit (not shown) housed inside the base member 1382. ing. The bucket 1381 has an upper end opening 1384 formed from a wall surface substantially perpendicular to the horizontal plane, and an inclined side wall portion 1385 that is continuously inclined at a predetermined angle to the upper end opening 1384. The upper end opening 1384 has a substantially rectangular planar shape. At one corner of the upper end opening 1384, a medal collision portion 1386 with which medals guided from the selector 66 collide and a discharge guide 1387 continuous with the medal collision portion 1386 are provided.

The medal that collides with the medal collision portion 1386 bounces toward the inclined side wall portion 1385 of the bucket 1381.

Here, the medals are easily charged, and in the bucket 1381 of the hopper device 51, the medals move due to payout or the like, and electrostatic discharge is likely to occur in a minute gap between the charged medals. Due to such electrostatic discharge, malfunction of the main control board 71 and the sub control board 72 may occur.

As a cause of charging the medals in the bucket 1381 of the hopper device 51, the payout unit has a coin disc (not shown) that sequentially pays out the medals accumulated in the bucket 1381 while rotating the coin disc. When the medals rotate, the medals stored in the bucket 1381 are agitated and the medals rub against each other to charge the medals.

Even if the amount of charge of one medal is small, if there are many medals stored in the bucket 1381 (for example, several hundred), the total amount of charged static electricity is a voltage that can cause the main control board 71 and the sub control board 72 to malfunction. Will have.

Therefore, at the design stage, it is useful to evaluate the noise resistance of the main control board 71, the sub control board 72, etc. so that malfunction does not occur due to such electrostatic discharge from the medal. .. That is, an unnecessary radiation test related to electrostatic discharge from a medal is useful.

However, it is difficult to actually reproduce the electrostatic discharge generated in the minute gap between the charged medals, and even if it can be reproduced, it takes a relatively large number of man-hours. The inventor of the present application simply applied a discharge gun of an electrostatic tester to the inside of the pachi-slot machine to generate electrostatic discharge in a minute gap, but kept the minute gap stable. It was not possible to achieve a significant reproduction.

On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, by arranging the above-mentioned electrostatic discharge generating portion 408 inside the pachi-slot machine 1, the minute gap between the first electrode portion 481 and the second electrode portion 482 is stably set. Can be kept in. This makes it easy to actually reproduce the electrostatic discharge generated in the minute gap between the charged medals, and the noise resistance of the main control board 71, the sub control board 72, etc. can be evaluated in a highly reliable manner.

Here, in the present embodiment, the electrostatic discharge generation unit 408 is preferably arranged at an upper position of the hopper device 51 (an example of a box body capable of storing a game medium). For example, the support base 408A provided with the electrostatic discharge generation unit 408 is arranged at the upper position of the hopper device 51 with the bucket 1381 (see FIG. 35) removed. In this case, the electrostatic discharge generated in the minute gap between the charged medals in the bucket 1381 of the hopper device 51 can be appropriately reproduced. Alternatively, the electrostatic discharge generation unit 408 may be arranged in such a manner that the support base 408A covers the upper end opening 1384 of the bucket 1381. Further, in another modification, the electrostatic test may be performed with the hopper device 51 retracted to the outside of the pachi-slot machine 1 and the support base 408A supported at an appropriate height.

In the present embodiment, the minute gap Δ1 (see FIG. 34) between the first electrode portion 481 and the second electrode portion 482 is preferably such that the conditions of the electrostatic test by the electrostatic test apparatus 400 can be easily changed. In addition, it is variable. That is, the minute gap Δ1 (for example, an appropriate distance within the range of 0.1 mm to 1.5 mm) between the first electrode portion 481 and the second electrode portion 482 is preferably the distance (distance in the Y direction). ) Can be easily adjusted manually.

The mechanism that makes it possible to adjust the distance of such a minute gap Δ1 is arbitrary, but in the present embodiment, it is realized by a simple screw mechanism.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 34, the first electrode portion 481 is in the form of a screw, extends in the Y direction through a hole in the bracket 488 (not visible in FIG. 34), and is fixed by a nut 489. Will be done. The bracket 488 is a conductor to which the ground wire 4081 is electrically connected, and is fixed to the support base 408A by a screw 408B.

Further, as shown in FIG. 34, the second electrode portion 482 is in the form of a screw and extends in the Y direction through the hole 4091 of the bracket 409. The second electrode portion 482 may be fixed to the bracket 409. The bracket 409 is a conductor to which the wiring portion 406 is electrically connected, and is fixed to the support base 408A by a screw 408C.

According to such a configuration, the end face of the shaft portion of the first electrode portion 481 in the form of a screw and the tip of the shaft portion of the second electrode portion 482 in the form of a screw face each other in the Y direction and are minute. A gap Δ1 is formed. Then, by adjusting the screwing amount (degree of screwing) of the first electrode portion 481 which is a screw form, the distance of the minute gap Δ1 (distance in the Y direction) can be adjusted.

In the examples shown in FIGS. 33 and 34, the shape of the screw of the first electrode portion 481 is not limited to the circular shape of the shaft portion having a constant diameter. The form of the screw of the first electrode portion 481 may be such that the shaft portion becomes thinner toward the tip like the second electrode portion 482. Alternatively, conversely, the shape of the screw of the second electrode portion 482 may be a circular shape in which the cross-sectional shape of the shaft portion has a constant diameter.

Further, in the present embodiment, screws are used for the first electrode portion 481 and the second electrode portion 482, but the screw is not limited as long as the minute gap Δ1 can be adjusted and the conductor is a conductor. Further, the mechanism that makes it possible to adjust the distance of the minute gap Δ1 is not limited to the screw mechanism, and may be realized by, for example, a slide mechanism using a slide rail.
<Static electricity test method>
Next, the static electricity test method by the above-mentioned static electricity test device 400 will be described.

FIG. 36 is a schematic flowchart illustrating the flow of the static electricity test method by the static electricity test apparatus 400. Although the electrostatic test method shown in FIG. 36 is realized by human hands, a robot may be partially used.

In step S350, the operator installs the pachi-slot machine 1 to be tested on the trolley 451.

In step S352, the operator opens the front door 2b of the pachi-slot machine 1 and installs the electrostatic discharge generation unit 408 inside the pachi-slot machine 1.

In step S354, the operator arranges the wiring portion 406 between the electrostatic discharge generation unit 408 and the discharge energy application unit 403. At this time, as described above, the wiring portion 406 is routed through the existing opening of the pachi-slot machine 1 (for example, the opening for supplying medals to the hopper device 51 from the outside of the pachi-slot machine 1). The operator closes the front door 2b when the wiring of the wiring portion 406 is completed. As a result, the electrostatic discharge generation unit 408 is housed in the closed space inside the pachi-slot machine 1.

In step S356, the operator turns on the power of the pachi-slot machine 1. That is, the operator electrically connects the power cord 490 and the ground wire 492 of the pachi-slot machine 1 to the outlet 550 and the ground terminal 551, respectively. After that, the operator may make various settings of the pachi-slot machine 1 for the static electricity test, if necessary. Note that step S356 may be executed before step S352 or step S354.

In step S358, the operator operates the electrostatic tester main body 440 to make various settings, then grips the discharge gun 404 and discharges the discharge energy to the discharge energy application unit 403 by the discharge gun 404. At this time, the discharge gun 404 and the discharge energy application unit 403 are in contact with each other, and contact discharge is realized. By realizing contact discharge, inconvenience (effect of unnecessary radiation noise) in the case of air discharge can be reduced. The discharge interval is, for example, 0.1 seconds, and the test voltage (discharge voltage) may be set within the range of ± 5 kV to ± 30 kV with respect to various settings in the electrostatic tester main body 440. The output waveform is, for example, a waveform based on IEC61000-4-2 of the IEC standard (an international standard established by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)).

When the discharge by the discharge gun 404 is realized toward the discharge energy application unit 403, the electrostatic discharge generation unit 408 generates an electrostatic discharge as described above. That is, when the discharge from the discharge gun 404 toward the discharge energy application unit 403 is performed, the second electrode unit 482 electrically connected to the discharge energy application unit 403 via the wiring unit 406 and the ground wire 4081 are connected. Due to the potential difference between the first electrode portion 481 grounded via the ground, an electrostatic discharge is generated between the first electrode portion 481 and the second electrode portion 482.

In step S360, the operator evaluates the influence of the pachi-slot 1 due to the electrostatic discharge by observing the change in the behavior of the pachi-slot 1 caused by the occurrence of the electrostatic discharge in the step S358. For example, the operator determines whether or not the main control board 71 or the sub control board 72 of the pachi-slot machine 1 has been reset. When the main control board 71 is reset, the communication between the main control board 71 and the sub control board 72 is cut off, so that the sub control board 72 detects an abnormality, and the display device 11 (see FIG. 3) and the sub display device 18 (FIG. 3). 2) displays an error screen, and when the sub-control board 72 is reset, the outputs of the display device 11 (see FIG. 3) and the sub-display device 18 (see FIG. 2) shift to the reset state, and the initial screen is displayed. Therefore, the operator can easily determine whether or not the main control board 71 or the sub control board 72 has been reset based on the screens of the display device 11 and the sub display device 18. If the main control board 71 or the sub control board 72 is reset, the process proceeds to step S362, and if the main control board 71 or the sub control board 72 is not reset, the process proceeds to step S364.

In step S362, the operator associates the test result of "reset at the time of electrostatic discharge" with respect to the pachi-slot machine 1 to be tested this time. In this case, the test result is fed back to, for example, the design department, and the design department takes measures to improve the noise resistance of the pachislot machine 1 (or a pachislot machine 1 of the same type) to be tested this time. become.

In step S364, the operator determines whether or not the pachi-slot machine 1 to be tested this time has been discharged a specified number of times N1. If the specified number of times N1 has been discharged, the process proceeds to step S366, and if the specified number of times N1 has not been discharged, the process proceeds to step S368 to further discharge.

In step S366, the operator associates the test result of "no reset at the time of electrostatic discharge" with respect to the pachi-slot machine 1 to be tested this time. In this case, the test result is fed back to the design department, for example, but in contrast to step S362 described above, the design department takes measures to improve the noise resistance of the pachi-slot machine 1 to be tested this time. There is basically no feedback.

In step S368, the operator appropriately changes the test conditions and the like. The change in the test conditions may be, for example, a change in the distance of the gap Δ1, a change in the test voltage, or the like. When step S368 is completed, the process returns to step S358, and the same discharge and evaluation are performed again (step S358 and the like). If the test conditions are not changed, step S368 may be omitted.

In this way, according to the electrostatic test method shown in FIG. 36, since it is realized by using the above-mentioned electrostatic test device 400, the electrostatic discharge generated in the minute gap between the charged medals that may occur during the operation of the pachi-slot machine 1. The noise resistance of the main control board 71 and the sub control board 72 of the pachi-slot machine 1 can be evaluated with high accuracy.

In the static electricity test apparatus 400 and the static electricity test method described above with reference to FIGS. 31 to 36, the electrostatic discharge generation unit 408 is provided inside the pachi-slot machine 1, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the electrostatic discharge generation unit 408 may be provided outside the pachi-slot machine 1. In this case, for example, the electrostatic discharge generation unit 408 may be arranged at a position about 40 cm to 60 cm away from the center of the back surface of the pachi-slot machine 1.

Further, although the static electricity test device 400 and the static electricity test method described above with reference to FIGS. 31 to 36 relate to the pachi-slot machine 1, they can also be similarly applied to the above-mentioned pachinko machine using a gaming ball and an enclosed gaming machine. Is. In this case, the electrostatic discharge generation unit 408 may be arranged inside the pachinko gaming machine or may be arranged outside the gaming machine. For example, when arranged inside the gaming machine, the electrostatic discharge generating unit 408 may be arranged in the ball tank above the gaming machine in which the gaming balls are stored. When arranged outside the gaming machine, the electrostatic discharge generating unit 408 may be arranged at a position about 20 cm to 40 cm away from the front surface of the outer frame of the gaming machine.

1 ... Pachislot, 3L, 3C, 3R ... Reel, 4 ... Reel display window, 6 ... Information display, 11 ... Display device, 17L, 17C, 17R ... Stop button, 71 ... Main control board, 72 ... Sub control board, 86 ... Rom cartridge board, 90 ... Main control circuit, 91 ... Microprocessor, 101 ... Main CPU, 102 ... Main ROM, 103 ... Main RAM, 150 ... Sub control circuit, 151 ... Sub CPU, 152 ... Sub RAM, 152, 153 ... GPU, 154 ... VRAM, 201 ... Projection block, 202 ... Projected block, 213 ... Projector, 237 ... Reflection mirror, 302 ... Trapezoidal member, 303 ... Pseudo reel member, 304 ... Flat screen member, 305 ... Projected member Moving mechanism, 400 ... Electrostatic test device, 403 ... Discharge energy application unit, 404 ... Discharge gun, 406 ... Wiring unit, 408 ... Electrostatic discharge generator, 481 ... First electrode unit, 482 ... Second electrode unit

Claims (5)

It is an electrostatic test device for gaming machines.
A discharge energy application unit arranged outside the housing of the gaming machine,
A discharge gun that can discharge toward the discharge energy application part,
A wiring part whose one end is electrically connected to the discharge energy application part,
An electrostatic discharge generator that can be arranged outside the housing or inside the housing, is electrically connected to the other end of the wiring portion, and causes electrostatic discharge by discharging from the discharge gun toward the discharge energy application portion. An electrostatic discharge test device characterized by containing. The gaming machine has a box body capable of storing a gaming medium in the housing.
The electrostatic discharge test apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electrostatic discharge generating portion can be arranged at an upper position of the box body. The gaming machine has an opening on the back surface or the bottom surface of the housing that allows the game medium to move into the housing or the game medium to move out of the housing.
The electrostatic test apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the wiring portion can pass through the opening. The electrostatic discharge generating portion includes a first electrode portion to be grounded and a second electrode portion electrically connected to the wiring portion.
The electrostatic test apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the distance between the first electrode portion and the second electrode portion is adjustable. It is an electrostatic test method for gaming machines.
A connection state is formed in which the discharge energy application portion outside the housing of the gaming machine and the electrostatic discharge generation portion arranged outside the housing or inside the housing are electrically connected via the wiring portion.
An electrostatic test comprising causing the electrostatic discharge generating portion to generate an electrostatic discharge by discharging from a discharge gun toward the discharging energy applying portion in the connected state and the power of the gaming machine is turned on. Method.

Images