JP7790691B2 - Pachinko machines - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a pachinko gaming machine that facilitates replacement of the performance board that controls performance operations while minimizing damage during such replacement.

As gaming machines become more diverse, more innovative ones are being developed frequently, and the replacement cycles of gaming machines at halls are becoming shorter. Due to social demands for environmental conservation, these replacement machines are being required to be designed with reuse and recycling in mind. It has been proposed to make it easier to recycle the presentation devices that strongly reflect the unique characteristics of individual gaming machines.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses that, in order to enable the reuse of the effect control sub-board that performs effect processing in a gaming machine, an interface unit is provided so that a drive unit for driving a display device that displays the results of the effect processing can be detachably connected to the effect control sub-board. This allows the effect control sub-board to be reused in gaming machines equipped with different types of display devices.

JP 2011-067428 A

In a typical pachinko gaming machine, a main board, which processes the lottery and controls the gameplay, is connected to a performance board ('sub-board') that performs the performance operations to notify the player of the results of this lottery. After transmitting game signals, control signals are sent from the performance board to each performance device directly or via sub-sub-boards. If the work required to remove the performance board from the gaming machine is complicated, recycling costs will increase and the progress of recycling will be hindered. Furthermore, if damage is caused to the performance board during the removal process, recycling may become difficult.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above situation, and its purpose is to provide a pachinko gaming machine that makes it easy to replace the performance board that controls the performance operation while minimizing damage during such replacement.

The gaming machine of the present invention is a pachinko gaming machine equipped with a main board that performs lottery processing and controls game operations, and a performance board that controls performance operations to notify players of the results of the lottery processing. It also includes a first relay port that receives a game signal containing information about the lottery processing from the main board, and a second relay port that sends the game signal to the performance board, and is provided with signal transmission means that transmits the game signal contactlessly between the first relay port and the second relay port.

This feature allows the first relay port on the main board to be easily separated from the second relay port on the performance board, making it easier to replace the performance board and minimizing damage during replacement.

In the above invention, the signal transmission means may be a means for optically transmitting the gaming signal. This feature enables high-speed transmission of gaming signals even between the first relay port and the second relay port, which are separable from each other.

In the above invention, the gaming signal may be encrypted and transmitted at the first relay port, and decrypted at the second relay port. The signal transmission means may also include an image display device that displays an image of the encrypted gaming signal, and captures the image displayed on the image display device and decodes the gaming signal. This feature enables faster and more stable transmission of gaming signals even between the first and second relay ports, which are separable from each other.

1 is a front view of a pachinko gaming machine in one embodiment according to the present invention. 1 is a top view of a pachinko gaming machine in one embodiment according to the present invention. 1 is a side view of a pachinko gaming machine in one embodiment according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the main parts of a pachinko gaming machine.

A pachinko gaming machine as one embodiment of the present invention will be described using Figures 1 to 4.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, gaming machine 1, which is a pachinko gaming machine, is attached inside outer frame 2, which is a framework installed in an island facility within an amusement parlor (not shown). Gaming machine 1 has a main frame 5 attached to outer frame 2 so as to be able to open and close, and a door frame 3 with an opening 3a attached to main frame 5 so as to be able to open and close. Door frame 3 is further equipped with a transparent plate 6 that closes opening 3a, a handle 7 that is operated to launch gaming balls, and an upper tray 8 and a lower tray 9 that store gaming balls. Note that when directions are indicated hereinafter, they will be those seen from the perspective of a player facing gaming machine 1, as shown in the figure.

The main frame 5 is a frame body with a roughly rectangular cross section that fits along the outer frame 2. A game board 10 is fixed inside the main frame 5, forming a play area 19 between it and a transparent plate 6 fitted into the door frame 3, along whose surface game balls roll. Approximately in the center of the game board 10 is a first presentation unit 12 that displays the results of the jackpot lottery process along with presentation to notify the player. The first presentation unit 12 may be, for example, an LCD panel display device, but may also be an LED dot matrix or a rotating belt display device. The game board 10 is further provided with prize openings such as a start chucker 13 and an attacker 14, as well as other prize openings, pegs, and other devices (not shown), which can redirect the paths of the game balls that roll and fall within the play area 19.

The door frame 3 is separate from the second presentation unit 4 located at the top, and can be opened and closed by rotating around the rotation axis between the middle hinge 11b and the lower hinge 11c. The upper hinge 11a, together with the lower hinge 11c, is used to obtain the rotation axis for rotating the main frame 5 relative to the outer frame 2. The second presentation unit 4 is arranged to protrude forward from the periphery of the transparent plate 6 when the door frame 3 is closed, and can provide presentations in accordance with the progress of the game using the built-in lighting and speakers. The second presentation unit 4 is a so-called decorative element made of LEDs, and together with the first presentation unit 12, its presentation operation is controlled by the presentation board 30.

Referring also to Figure 3, the gaming machine 1 is provided with a main board 20 that performs lottery processing and controls game operations, located at the back of the gaming board 10 and below the first presentation unit 12. The main board 20 is enclosed in a board case (not shown) and attached to the back of the gaming board 10. Furthermore, provided at the back of the first presentation unit 12 is a presentation board 30 that mainly controls presentation operations for notifying the results of the lottery processing.

As shown in FIG. 4, the main board 20 is equipped with a CPU 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, and an input/output port 24. On the main board 20, the CPU 21 executes processing related to game operations in accordance with a program recorded in the ROM 22. The CPU 21 also proceeds with processing while rewritably recording data generated during processing in the RAM 23 as necessary. Through these operations, the main board 20 primarily controls game operations.

The main board 20 receives, for example, via the input/output port 24, a signal detecting the entry of a game ball from a sensor provided in a prize opening such as the start chucker 13, and performs lottery processing for winning jackpots and the like. The main board 20 also sends a signal to the payout control board 60 (described below) to pay out prize balls in response to a win. Furthermore, the main board 20 sends signals to operate solenoids such as the electric devices involved in the progression of the game and the attacker 14. In this way, the main board 20 can control game operations such as winning detection, lottery processing, and payouts. Furthermore, the main board 20 sends a game signal to the performance board 30 that includes information about the lottery processing, such as the results of the lottery processing. The game signal includes, for example, information such as whether the jackpot was won or not, and the time required for the performance to display the lottery results.

A payout control board 60 is connected to the main board 20 and includes a CPU 61, ROM 62, RAM 63, and an input/output port 64. The payout control board 60 can control the gaming operations performed by the main board 20, primarily those related to payouts, based on signals from the main board 20. It can also control the payout of prize balls and payouts in response to requests to borrow game balls.

Like the payout control board described above, performance boards that receive signals from the main board are generally electrically connected directly to the main board via wiring. In contrast, in this embodiment, game signals from the main board 20 can be transmitted to the performance board 30 non-contactly via two relay ports.

In detail, the first relay port 40 connected to the main board 20 is capable of receiving game signals transmitted unidirectionally from the main board 20. Furthermore, the second relay port 50 is connected to the performance board 30, allowing game signals or corresponding signals to be transmitted unidirectionally from the second relay port 50 to the performance board 30. A signal transmission means for non-contact transmission of game signals is provided between the first relay port 40 and the second relay port 50, allowing game signals to be transmitted unidirectionally from the first relay port 40 to the second relay port 50. The signal transmission means includes an emitter 41 that emits game signals to the first relay port 40, and a reader 51 that reads game signals emitted from the emitter 41 is provided in the second relay port 50.

For example, an image display device capable of displaying two-dimensional codes is used as the emitter 41, and a camera capable of recognizing two-dimensional codes through image processing is used as the reader 51. This converts the game signal into a two-dimensional code, allowing the game signal to be transmitted contactlessly. Alternatively, by appropriately using optical signal transmission means, game signals can be transmitted at high speed and with high stability. Instead of optical means, other means capable of transmitting game signals contactlessly, such as sound waves or magnetic waves, can also be used as signal transmission means.

In this way, the performance board 30 can receive game signals from the second relay port 50. The performance board 30 is equipped with a CPU 31, ROM 32, RAM 33, input port 34, and output port 35. On the performance board 30, the CPU 31 executes processing related to performance operations in accordance with the program recorded in ROM 32. The CPU 31 also proceeds with processing while rewritably recording data generated during processing in RAM 33 as necessary. These operations allow the performance board 30 to control performance operations.

The presentation board 30 extracts the result of the jackpot lottery and the time required for the presentation to display the lottery results from the game signal received via the input port 34, and controls presentation operations to notify the player of the results of the lottery process accordingly. For example, presentation operations involve varying a multi-digit number on the first presentation unit 12, and stopping the multi-digit number at a repeating number if the result of the lottery process is a jackpot, or at a different number (number) if the result is a loss. This series of operations from the number variation to the number stopping is performed in accordance with the time required for the presentation described above. Furthermore, presentation operations can involve using light and sound from the lighting and speakers mounted on the second presentation unit 4 to perform presentations in accordance with the progress of the game.

In detail, the performance board 30 can select one pattern corresponding to the game signal from multiple predetermined performance patterns and send a signal indicating this pattern via the output port 35. This signal is input to the respective sub-sub-boards (not shown) for image performance, LED performance, and audio performance. Each sub-sub-board operates the lighting and speakers of the first performance unit 12 and second performance unit 4 in a pattern corresponding to the input signal, thereby producing the performance pattern selected by the performance board 30.

As described above, game signals are transmitted from the main board 20 to the performance board 30 without contact between the first relay port 40 on the main board 20 side and the second relay port 50 on the performance board 30 side. This allows the first relay port 40 on the main board 20 side and the second relay board port 50 on the performance board 30 side to be easily separated. As a result, replacement of the performance board 30 is made easier and damage during replacement can be reduced.

In the above example, the game signal is transmitted from the issuing device 41 to the reading device 51 using a two-dimensional code, but this can also be done using a code. For example, the game signal is encrypted at the first relay port 40, an image corresponding to the code is displayed on the image display device used as the issuing device 41, this image is captured by the reading device 51, and the image is decrypted at the second relay port 50 to obtain the game signal.

Predetermined codes can also be used as game signals. A correspondence table that defines codes corresponding to each set of information, such as whether a jackpot has been won or not, and the time required for the effects to display the lottery results, is stored in the main board 20, and this code is extracted when the main board 20 creates a game signal. The extracted code is then transmitted as a game signal to the effect board 30, which stores the same correspondence table, and the effect corresponding to the code can be selected on the effect board 30 to perform the effect. A second correspondence table that defines effect patterns corresponding to the codes can also be stored in the effect board 30, and the effects can be performed based on this table.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to examples and variations thereof, the present invention is not necessarily limited to these examples. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will be able to identify various alternative embodiments and modifications without departing from the spirit of the present invention or the scope of the appended claims.

1 Gaming machine 10 Gaming board 20 Main board 30 Performance board 40 First relay port 41 Emitting device 50 Second relay port 51 Reading device

Claims (2)

a main board that performs lottery processing and controls game operations;
A pachinko game machine that is replaceable with a performance board that controls a performance operation for notifying a player of the result of the lottery process,
a first relay port that receives a game signal including information about the lottery process from the main board and extracts a code corresponding to each combination of information included in the game signal according to a correspondence table that is provided in advance, and a second relay port that sends the code to the performance board, and is provided with a signal transmission means that optically transmits the code from the first relay port to the second relay port in a non-contact manner;
The signal transmission means
an image display device of the first relay port that displays an image corresponding to the code;
an image reader at the second relay port that captures the image displayed on the image display device and extracts the code corresponding to the image,
The performance board performs the performance operations based on the correspondence table given in advance and a second correspondence table that defines performance patterns corresponding to the codes. A pachinko gaming machine as described in claim 1, characterized in that the signal transmission means has a means for displaying the image in which the code is encrypted on the image display device, capturing the image displayed on the image display device, and decrypting the code .