JPH04347190A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce a load on a game machine control program and control the display of a variable indicator with a simple circuit. CONSTITUTION:Address signals A0-A3 for specifying a specified row of LEDs of a pattern indicator 2 are received from a basic circuit 37, decoded and converted to signals of 16 bits to provide a LED digit circuit 70 given to a LED drive circuit 30B. Data outputted from the LED digital circuit 70 is switched by the LED drive circuit 30B to activate LEDs in a selected LED row of the pattern indicator 2. A game machine control program in the basic circuit 37 will do only by controlling the address signals A0-A3 specifying the LED row to be activated without needing a process for activating the specified LED row. A commercially available IC for address code can be utilized for the LED digit circuit 70. Only increase of the number of bits in the address signal on the soft ware can cope with even the increase of the number of LEDs in the pattern indicator 2.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to gaming machines typified by pachinko gaming machines, coin gaming machines, slot machines, and the like. Specifically, it has a variable display device that can variably display multiple types of identification information, and gives a predetermined gaming value when the display result when the variable display device is stopped becomes predetermined specific identification information. This relates to a gaming machine that is in a possible state.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally known gaming machines of this type include, for example, a variable display device that displays a variable display based on the establishment of a predetermined variable start condition, and when the variable display device stops. When the display result becomes predetermined specific identification information (for example, "777"), for example, the variable winning ball device is put into a first state advantageous to the player, and a predetermined game value can be awarded. There was something to do. Information regarding the game, such as the number of winning balls hit into the variable winning ball device which is in the first state, is displayed on a predetermined display.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of main parts of a conventional basic circuit for control, a variable display device, and peripheral circuits used in a pachinko game machine. Referring to FIG. 11, a conventional pachinko game machine is equipped with a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a "microcomputer") that operates as a game state detection means and a game information collection means according to programs for controlling various devices.
Basic circuit 37A including basic circuit 37A (abbreviated as
LED drive circuits 30A, 30B as display means controlled by LED drive circuit 30A,
A symbol display device 2 driven by a basic circuit 37A via a line 30B to display a plurality of symbols, and a decoration LE.
D10 and a memory display LED9.

Referring to FIG. 11, the symbol display 2 includes symbol displays 2a, 2b, and 2c arranged in order from the left side of the board (from the right side in FIG. 11). The symbol display 2a includes LED displays 50a and 50b, each including LEDs arranged in a matrix of 5 columns and 7 rows. Similarly, the symbol display 2b includes LED indicators 51a and 51b, and the symbol display 2c includes LED indicators 52a and 52b, respectively. The LED displays 50a and 50b, 51a and 51b, and 52a and 52b included in each of these symbol displays 2a to 2c are combined with each other to form three symbol displays of 7 columns x 10 rows. The LED indicators 50a to 52b are connected so that the LEDs are arranged in a matrix of 14 rows and 15 columns, as shown in FIG. 11 in terms of circuitry.

[0005] A matrix of 14 rows by 15 columns of LEDs (
(hereinafter referred to as "LED matrix"), all the LEDs included in the same row are connected so that the same data can be given from the LED drive circuit 30A. Similarly, all the LEDs in each column are connected so that they can receive the same data from the LED drive circuit 30B.

The basic circuit 37A includes ports A60 to D63, each having an 8-bit output. The LED drive circuit 30A includes a transistor 64 whose input is connected to seven of the outputs of the port A60 and whose output is connected to the first to seventh rows of the matrix of LEDs included in the symbol display 2, respectively. includes a transistor 65 whose inputs are connected to seven of the outputs of port B and whose outputs are connected to the 8th to 14th rows of the matrix of LEDs of the symbol display 2. The input of the LED drive circuit 30B is port C62.
Transistors 66 whose outputs are connected to the first to eighth columns of the LED matrix of the symbol display 2, respectively, and transistors 66 whose inputs are connected to the eight outputs of the port D63 and whose outputs are connected to the first to eighth columns of the LED matrix of the symbol display 2, respectively. The 9th to 15th columns of the LED matrix, the decorative LED 10 and the memory display LED 9
and a transistor 67 connected to each.

The basic circuit 37A displays symbols on the symbol display 2 in the following manner. When displaying, for example, the third row of LEDs in the matrix of LEDs of the symbol display 2, the basic circuit 37A connects the third column of the port C62.
Set only the output of bit 1 to high level, and set the output of other port C6 to high level.
2 and all outputs of port D63 are set to low level. The transistors 66 and 67 supply the voltage necessary for lighting only the third column of the LED matrix of the symbol display 2. The LEDs in the other columns are not supplied with sufficient voltage to light up. The basic circuit 37A further sends a signal from port A60 and port B61 to the LED drive circuit 30A, which takes a high level/low level value depending on whether the displayed pattern is black or white, according to the pattern prepared in advance to be displayed in the third column. give. LED drive circuit 30A
The signal switched by L on the symbol display 2
supplied to each row of the ED matrix. Since only the third row of LEDs in the LED matrix can be lit, by the above-described operation, only those LEDs in the third row that should be lit according to the pattern are lit, and the others are not lit.

The basic circuit 37A sequentially performs the above operations for all columns of the LED matrix of the symbol display 2. In this way, by sequentially displaying each row of LEDs according to the pattern, the pattern display 2
At the top, symbols are displayed according to symbol data prepared in advance. The display of the ninth and subsequent columns of the LED matrix of the symbol display 2 can be controlled by setting the corresponding output of the port D63 to a high level and setting all other outputs to a low level.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a portion of a program executed in the MPU of the basic circuit 37A to control the display of the circuit shown in FIG. Figure 1
2, in step SA1, the contents of a counter for display control called a common counter is incremented by one. This common counter is a 4-bit counter that indicates which column of the LED matrix of FIG. 11 should be activated for display. Control proceeds to step SA2.

[0010] In step SA2, it is determined whether the content of the common counter is between 0 and 7. If the answer to the determination is YES, control proceeds to step SA3; otherwise, control proceeds to step SA6.

At step SA3, all data output to port D is cleared. As a result, of the LED matrix of the symbol display 2 (FIG. 11), the 9th to 15th columns, the decorative LED 10 and the memory display LE
D9 means that the display is not driven. Control proceeds to step SA4.

In step SA4, based on the value of the common counter, only the corresponding one bit of the 8-bit signal output from port C62 becomes "1" and all other bits become "0". The data is converted as follows. Control proceeds to step SA5.

[0013] In step SA5, step SA
The data obtained by conversion in step 4 is output to port C62. Control proceeds to step SA9.

If the control proceeds to step SA6 as a result of the determination in step SA2, the L shown in FIG.
Any LED in the column of the ED matrix driven by port D63 is displayed. therefore,
In step SA6, the contents of port C62 are cleared. Control proceeds to step SA7.

[0015] In step SA7, step SA
4, in order to drive the display of the column corresponding to the value of the common counter, only one specific bit among the 8 bits output from port D63 is set to "1", and all other bits are set to "1". The data is converted so that it becomes 0''. Control proceeds to step SA8.

[0016] In step SA8, step SA
7, the data obtained by the conversion is output to port D63. Control proceeds to step SA9.

In step SA9, port A60
, data for turning on/off all the LEDs in the selected column is output to port B61. After completing the processing in step SA9, this subroutine ends.

The subroutine shown in FIG. 12 above is as follows:
It is called and executed once every predetermined time. Since the contents of the common counter are incremented by 1 in step SA1, each column of the LED matrix shown in FIG. 11 is controlled to light up one by one each time this subroutine is executed.

[0019]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above-mentioned conventional gaming machines, all controls of the gaming machine, including the control of the variable display device, were performed by the MPU included in the basic circuit using a gaming control program. . Therefore, there was a problem that the burden on the gaming machine control program was large and the number of steps thereof was also large. On the other hand, if control is attempted to be performed using hardware in order to reduce the burden on the gaming machine control program, there is a problem in that the circuitry for this becomes complicated and the cost increases.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine that can reduce the burden of a gaming machine control program and can be controlled with a simple circuit.

[0021]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A gaming machine according to the present invention is divided into a plurality of display groups each including one or more display devices, and has a variable display capable of variably displaying a plurality of types of identification information. a gaming machine that is capable of imparting a predetermined gaming value when the display result of the variable display device becomes predetermined specific identification information, the gaming machine having a display control device that controls the display of the variable display device; the display control means outputs display group specifying information for specifying the display group in order to sequentially display and drive each of the plurality of display groups. display device group identification information output means; and an integrated circuit for decoding the display device group identification information and activating one of the display device groups specified by the display device group identification information. 1. A gaming machine, comprising: device group activation means.

[0022]

[Operation] In the gaming machine according to the present invention, when the display group specifying information output means sequentially selects each of the display groups to be driven for display and outputs the display group specifying information, the display group consisting of integrated circuits is activated. Means receives the display group identification information and decodes it with hardware to enable the identified display group.

[0023]

Embodiments Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a pachinko game machine will be described as an example of a game machine, but the type of game machine is not limited to a pachinko game machine. For example, the present invention can be applied to coin gaming machines, slot machines, and the like. Also, a gaming machine equipped with a variable display device (symbol display means) for displaying identification information (symbols) consisting of numbers, letters, figures, symbols, or a combination thereof to allow the player to visually recognize predetermined information. It can be anything.

FIG. 1 is a front view of the game board surface of a pachinko game machine, which is an example of the game machine according to the present invention.

In the game area of the game board, there is a symbol display device 2 as a variable display device that can variably display a plurality of types of symbols, and a first display device where it is easy to hit a prize by opening and closing movable members 3a and 3b. A central device 1 is provided in which a variable winning ball device that changes between the above state and a second state in which it is difficult for balls to win or does not hit a winning ball is integrally attached. Below the central device 1, there is a first type starting opening 6a as a starting prize opening,
6b and 6c are provided. The gaming area further includes normal winning holes 5a to 5g, which are normal winning holes, and windmills 7a to 7.
h etc. are also provided. At the bottom of the game board, there is an out hole 8 where out balls that do not win are collected.
is installed. At the center of the central device 1, an internal device 20 in the form of a robot is provided. Internal device 20
Three winning holes are provided at the bottom of the machine, and the central winning hole is a continuous prize-winning device 4 consisting of a specific winning hole (V pocket). Above the internal device 20, when a game ball enters the first type starting slot 6a to 6c while the symbol display 2 is in variable display or the gaming state is in a jackpot state, the winning ball will be displayed. Memory display LED (LIGHT EMIT) to memorize and display the number of items up to 4.
Four TING DIODEs are provided. The symbol display 2 is an LE that is arranged in a matrix.
It includes symbol displays 2a, 2b, 2c having D. Side lamps 14a and 14b are provided around the gaming area.

Referring to FIG. 2, on the back side of the central device 1,
A solenoid 23 for driving the movable members 3a, 3b, a support shaft 24 for rotating the movable members 3a, 3b by the operation of the solenoid 23, and a solenoid 25 for driving the arm 21 of the internal device 20. It is provided. Above the accessory continuous operation device 4 and in front of the internal device 20,
A ball rolling plate 32 is provided for rolling the game balls that have entered the central device 1. The arm 21 of the internal device 20 rotates at a relatively long interval when the movable member 3a is in the open state. That is, the arm 21 of the internal device 20 is
Rotation is repeated between the state shown in FIG. 3 and the state shown in FIG. As a result, the game ball 2 that has entered the central device 1 and rolled from the rolling plate 32 to the internal device 20
A change is given to the movement of 2. Specifically, in the state shown in FIG. 2, the game balls 22 can be temporarily stopped on the arm 21. When the game ball 22 is temporarily stopped on the arm 21, when the state changes to the state shown in FIG. It is configured to win a prize in the object continuous operation device 4. The arm 21 also repeats rotation at a shorter period when the movable members 3a, 3b are in the closed state than in the open state. As a result, the internal device visually changes even during the interval period in the jackpot state, making it possible to increase the player's interest.

Referring to FIG. 4, a winning ball collection cover body 26 is provided on the back side of the gaming area of this pachinko game machine for collecting winning balls that have won into the variable winning ball device of the central device 1 in one place. It is being A 10 count switch 27 for counting up to 10 winning balls in the variable winning ball device is provided at a place where the winning balls are collected by the winning ball collection cover body 26. On the back side of the accessory continuous actuator 4 (FIG. 1) in the center of the board, there is an accessory continuous actuator switch 28 as a specific winning ball detection switch for detecting that a game ball has entered the accessory continuous actuator 4. is provided. On the back side of the first type starting ports 6a, 6b, and 6c, a first type starting port switch 29a as a starting winning ball detection switch for detecting game balls that have entered each starting port,
29b and 29c are provided, respectively.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, an outline of the operation of this pachinko game machine is as follows. Pachinko balls fired by a player are driven into the gaming area shown in FIG. When a pachinko ball enters the normal winning slots 5a to 5g, a predetermined number of pachinko balls are paid out. When a pachinko ball enters any of the first type starting ports 6a, 6b, and 6c, the first type starting port switches 29a, 29
It is detected by the corresponding type 1 starter switch of b and 29c, and based on the detection output, the symbol display 2 starts variable display and a predetermined number of pachinko balls are paid out.

That is, the symbol display 2 of the pachinko game machine according to this embodiment displays ``000'' when the power is turned on, but when a pachinko ball enters the first type starting opening, the number 15 is displayed. A variable display in which various types of symbols are continuously scrolled and rotated is started. After the symbols are displayed in rotation for a predetermined period of time (for example, 5 to 6 seconds), the symbols on the leftmost symbol display 2a are stopped. After a predetermined period of time (for example, 1 to 2 seconds) has elapsed from that point, the central symbol is stopped, and then a predetermined period of time (for example, 1 to 2 seconds) has elapsed, and then
~2 seconds), the right symbol will stop. That is, the three symbols on the symbol displays 2a to 2c start rotating at once, and the symbols are stopped in the order of left, center, and right. Immediately before each symbol stops, the symbol display is controlled so that the rotating speed of the symbol to be stopped becomes slow, further increasing the player's interest.

[0030] The display result when the symbol display device 2 is stopped is a combination of predetermined specific identification information (for example, "777").
), a jackpot condition occurs. When a jackpot state occurs, the movable members 3a and 3b of the variable winning ball device are opened by the solenoid 23 and the spindle 24, and the ball enters a first state where it is easy to win a jackpot. The jackpot control for opening the movable members 3a and 3b is performed when a predetermined period of time (for example, 22 seconds) has passed or a predetermined number of pachinko balls (for example, 10).
This will continue until the earlier condition for winning a prize in the variable winning ball device is satisfied.

[0031] A jackpot condition occurs, and the movable members 3a, 3b
If a pachinko ball enters the inside of the variable winning ball device (referred to as the "big winning hole") when the ball is opened, the pachinko ball rolls on the ball rolling plate 32 and then passes through the internal device 20.
flowing down to the side. As mentioned above, the arm 21 of the internal device 20 is rotated by the solenoid 25 at a relatively long period. Therefore, the pachinko balls 22 flowing down from the rolling plate 32 are changed by the arm 21 and enter the accessory continuous actuation device 4 or the winning openings on the left and right sides thereof.

[0032] When a pachinko ball enters a prize in the accessory continuous operating device 4, the winning ball is detected by the accessory continuous operating device switch 28 and used for game control. The pachinko balls that have entered the accessory continuous operation device 4 or its left and right winning openings are moved to the 10 count switch 2 by the winning ball collection cover body 26.
7 will be collected. The number of winning balls is counted by a 10 count switch 27 and used for game control.

[0033] When a pachinko ball enters the first type starting port 6a, 6b, 6c while the variable winning ball device of the central device 1 is in the open state, the winning ball enters the corresponding first type starting port switch 29a. , 29b, and 29c, and the number thereof is stored up to four. The stored number of winning balls is displayed by the memory display LED 9. That is,
The memory display LED 9 displays the number of winning balls won in the first type starting openings 6a, 6b, 6c during the jackpot state by the number of LEDs lit from the left side thereof. In the case of the pachinko game machine of this embodiment, if more than four pachinko balls enter the first type starting slot, the memory of the oldest winning is discarded and the latest winning is stored instead. .

[0034] After displaying the symbol that results in a jackpot, the symbol display 2 displays the following. If the pachinko ball has not yet won in the accessory continuous operation device 4, the leftmost symbol display 2a displays the number of openings of the grand prize opening. The rightmost symbol display 2c displays the number of pachinko balls that have entered the grand prize opening. During this time, the central symbol display 2b
"-" is displayed. When a pachinko ball wins a prize in the accessory continuous operation device 4, the leftmost symbol display 2a lights up and moves a number indicating the number of openings in a predetermined format and at a predetermined period. Similarly, the rightmost symbol display 2c lights up and moves numbers indicating the number of winnings in a predetermined format and at a predetermined cycle. At this time, the central symbol display 2b lights up and moves the "V" display so that when viewed by the player, the display appears to expand and contract at the same cycle as the symbol displays 2a and 2c. When the grand prize opening is opened for the final time, the symbol displays 2a and 2c at both ends light up and move numbers indicating the number of openings in a predetermined format and at a predetermined period. During this time, the central symbol display 2b displays "-".

After the opening of the big prize opening is completed, the symbol display 2 displays symbols in the format shown below. That is, the symbol display 2 lights up and moves the symbol that has become a jackpot at a predetermined cycle when there is an opening next time. When there is no opening next time, the symbol that has become a jackpot is simply lit. 1
When the 0th opening is completed, the symbol that has become a jackpot is illuminated and moved at a predetermined cycle for the first two seconds, and thereafter the symbol that has been a jackpot is simply illuminated.

[0036] Furthermore, if there is an abnormality in this pachinko game machine, the symbol display 2 displays as shown below. The leftmost symbol display 2a displays "E" indicating that an abnormality has occurred. The central symbol display 2b is “
-" is displayed. The symbol display 2c on the right side is 1, 2, 4.
, 5, or 6 is displayed. Among the displays on the symbol display 2c, "1" is displayed when the 10 count switch 27 is short-circuited or the balls are jammed. "2" is displayed when no pachinko ball enters the jackpot during the jackpot. The display of "4" is made when the winning ball in the accessory continuous actuation device 4 is not detected by the 10 count switch 27 within a predetermined time (for example, 2.9 seconds). "5" display is different from "1" display and "4" display.
” is performed when a complex display condition occurs. A "6" display is performed when a combined condition of a "2" display and a "4" display occurs.

As described above, by using the symbol display 2, in addition to the combination of specific identification information indicating a jackpot, the number of openings of the big winning hole, the number of prizes won in the big winning hole, and the information to the accessory continuous operation device 4 are displayed. By displaying winnings, etc., the player can immediately know the status of the game without moving his/her line of sight from the central device 1. Therefore, it is possible to concentrate on the ball hitting operation, and it is possible to further increase the player's interest in the jackpot state.

[0038] In the above-mentioned embodiment, the symbol display 2 was shown to display three symbols, the left symbol, the middle symbol, and the right symbol. You can. Furthermore, although the symbols were stopped in the order of left, center, and right, they may be stopped in a different order. Furthermore, this symbol display device 2 may display symbols in a variable manner all the time, and may start variable display anew upon winning in the first type starting opening. In that case, it is desirable to configure the system so that the brightness and speed of the symbol display are changed in response to winning in the starting opening to notify the variable start. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the internal device 20 is shaped like a robot, but the shape of the internal device 20 is not limited to a robot. It may be of any shape as long as it can change the movement of pachinko balls that enter the grand prize opening and flow down from the ball rolling plate 32.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the control circuit and peripheral circuits used in the pachinko game machine. Referring to FIG. 5, the control circuit of the pachinko game machine includes a basic circuit 37 including a microcomputer that operates as a display group specific information output means according to a program for controlling various devices, and a basic circuit 37 when the power is turned on. an initial reset circuit 41 for giving a reset pulse to 37;
a periodic reset circuit 42 consisting of a pulse frequency divider circuit for dividing the clock signal given from the basic circuit 37 and periodically (for example every 1 msec) to give a reset pulse to the basic circuit 37; and a 10 count switch. 27, as well as a switch circuit 31 which is connected to the accessory continuous operation device switch 28 and the first type starting port switches 29a, 29b, and 29c, and which supplies a signal from the switch selected by the applied address signal to the basic circuit 37. , basic circuit 37 and switch circuit 31
an address decode circuit 40 connected to the basic circuit 37 for decoding the address signal given from the basic circuit 37 and giving it to the switch circuit 31; and an LED drive circuit 30 as a display group activation means controlled by the basic circuit 37.
A, the LED digit circuit 70, the solenoid circuit 38, the lamp circuit 39, the LED drive circuit 30B which is switched based on the signal output from the LED digit circuit 70, receives the jackpot signal from the basic circuit 37, and outputs the jackpot information. a jackpot information output circuit 43 for
It includes a sound circuit 44 for receiving sound signals from the basic circuit 37 and driving a speaker (not shown) to generate sound effects. The pachinko game machine is further connected to an AC 24V AC power supply 46, and DC 5V, 12V, 21V, 30V,
A power supply circuit 45 that generates a voltage of V is included.

The solenoid circuit 38 includes a solenoid 25 for operating the arm of the internal device 20 shown in FIG. 2, and a solenoid 2 for operating the movable members 3a and 3b.
3 is connected. The lamp circuit 39 includes a game effect lamp 11, a rail decoration lamp 12, a windmill lamp 13,
A side lamp 14, an accessory lamp 15, a shoulder lamp 16, a sleeve lamp 17, a chuck lamp 18, etc. are connected. These various lamps are arranged on the game board surface shown in FIG. 1, but are not particularly shown in FIG. 1 except for the side lamps.

[0041] The LED drive circuits 30A and 30B include:
Symbol display 2, decoration LED 10, memory display LED 9
are connected.

Referring to FIG. 6, the symbol display 2 includes symbol displays 2a, 2b, and 2c arranged in order from the left side of the board. The symbol display 2a includes LED displays 50a and 50b each including LEDs arranged in a matrix of 5 columns x 7 rows.
including. Similarly, the symbol display 2b is an LED display 51a.
, 51b, and the symbol display 2c is the LED display 52a, 5
2b, respectively. LED indicators 50a, 50b, 51a, 51b included in each of these symbol displays 2a to 2c
, 52a, 52b are combined with each other to form three 7 columns x 1
Configure the 0th line symbol display. Then, the LED drive circuit 30B decodes a signal output from the basic circuit 37 that designates a specific column for display control and activates the LEDs in that column.
By applying a signal in accordance with the LED output data output from 0A, each LED arranged in that column is brought into a predetermined lighting state. Then, by moving the selected columns one by one by the basic circuit 37, a predetermined symbol is displayed on each symbol display device 2a, 2b, 2c of the symbol display device 2. As described above, the LED digit circuit 70 receives information from the basic circuit 37 for specifying which column of LEDs in the vertical columns of the symbol display 2 in FIG. 6 is to be driven for display, and uses this information. It decodes and outputs a signal for activating the specified column of the symbol display 2.

Referring to FIG. 6, the basic circuit 37 includes LEDs arranged in a matrix of 14 rows and 15 columns.
A port A60 outputs a signal for driving each LED in the first to seventh rows, and a port A60 that outputs a signal to drive each LED in the first to seventh rows,
A port B61 outputs a signal for driving the LEDs in the 14th row. The LED drive circuit 30A is switched based on a signal outputted from port A60, and includes a transistor 64 for giving a lighting signal to each LED in the first to seventh rows of the symbol display 2, and a signal outputted from port B61. It includes a transistor 65 which is switched based on a signal and is supplied as a lighting signal to each of the 8th to 14th row LEDs of the symbol display 2. The LED digit circuit (port C) 70 connects the 1st to 15th LEDs of the LED matrix in FIG. 6 from the basic circuit 37 (see FIG. 5).
4-bit address signal A0 for specifying the column and one of the decorative LED 10 and the memory display LED 9
~ Receive A3 and set "1" only to the selected LED column,
This is for converting (decoding) into a 16-bit signal that gives "0" to the other LED columns and then giving it to the LED drive circuit 30B. The LED drive circuit 30B is an LED
A transistor 6 that is switched based on the 0th to 7th bit signals given from the D digit circuit 70 and supplies signals to the LEDs in the first to eighth columns of the symbol display 2.
6 and the signals of the 8th bit to 16th bit of the signal given from the LED digit circuit 70, and the 9th to 15th columns of the LED matrix of the symbol display 2, the decorative LED 10, and the memory display are switched. and a transistor 67 for supplying power to the LED 9.

[0044] The decorative LED 10 includes decorative LEDs 10a, 1
Contains 0b. The memory display LED 9 includes LEDs 9a, 9b, 9c, and 9d for displaying the number of balls won in the first type starting slot, with an upper limit of four, during a jackpot state or the like.

As mentioned above, the basic circuit 37 is made up of, for example, several chips of LSI (Large Scale Integrated).
The microcomputer includes an MPU (Micro Processor) that can execute control operations according to predetermined procedures.
sing Unit) and ROM (Read-Only) for storing MPU operation program data.
Memory) and RAM (Random AccessMemory) that can dynamically write and read the necessary data.
Mory). Further, the basic circuit 37 includes an I/O port, a sound generator, and a clock generation circuit. The operating program of the MPU will be described later.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the control circuit of this pachinko gaming machine operates as follows. The initial reset circuit 41 resets the basic circuit 37 when the pachinko game machine is powered on.
Give a reset pulse to. The basic circuit 37 starts operating in response to this reset pulse. The reset pulse is also given to the periodic reset circuit 42. The periodic reset circuit 42 divides the clock signal generated by the basic circuit 37 by a predetermined frequency division value, and provides a periodic reset pulse to the basic circuit 37, for example, every 1 msec as described above. The basic circuit 37 repeatedly executes a predetermined program from the beginning every time a reset pulse is applied from the periodic reset circuit 42.

The address decode circuit 40 includes the basic circuit 3
The address data given from 7 is decoded and the ROM, RAM,
Give chip select signals to the I/O port and sound generator, respectively. MPU included in basic circuit 37
provides control signals for various devices in response to the output of each control signal described below. When a pachinko ball enters the first type starting slots 6a to 6c shown in FIG.
One of the first type starting port switches 29a to 29c is turned on. In response to this, a starting winning ball detection signal is given from the switch circuit 31 to the basic circuit 37. In a state of jackpot,
When a pachinko ball enters a prize in the accessory continuous actuator 4, the accessory continuous actuator switch 28 is turned on, and a winning ball detection signal is given to the basic circuit 37. When pachinko balls enter the big winning hole of the variable winning ball device and are collected in one place by the winning ball collection cover 26 shown in FIG. 4, the 10 count switch 27 is turned on and the switch circuit 31
A winning number detection signal is given to the basic circuit 37 from the winning number detection signal.

The basic circuit 37 provides control signals to the following circuits and devices. The basic circuit 37 first provides a solenoid drive control signal to the solenoids 23 and 25 via the solenoid circuit 38. As a result, the movable members 3a and 3b (see Fig. 1) of the variable winning ball device operate, and the state changes between a first state in which pachinko balls are likely to win, and a second state in which pachinko balls are difficult to win or do not win. At the same time, the internal device 20 changes. The basic circuit 37 provides the LED digit circuit (port C) 70 with address signals A0 to A3 that take 16 values from 0 to 15. LED digit circuit 7
0 is an LED drive circuit that decodes the input address signal and sets only one specific output specified by the address signal among the 16-bit outputs to "1" and all other outputs to "0". Give to 30B. The LED drive circuit 30B is switched based on this signal to provide a signal to the LEDs in each column of the LED matrix of the symbol display 2. As a result, only the LEDs connected to the LED rows to which "1" has been given can be lit. on the other hand,
The basic circuit 37 provides the LED drive circuit 30A with a signal representing the data to be displayed by turning on/off the LEDs via the port A60 and the port B61. The LED drive circuit 30A is switched based on this signal and provides a lighting signal to the symbol display 2. Therefore, among the LEDs activated by the LED digit circuit 70 in the symbol display 2, port A60 and port B6
Only those to which a signal indicating "lighting" is given from 1 will light up. Further, this control is repeated and sequentially performed on the LEDs in each column of the symbol display 2 at predetermined intervals (for example, 1 msec). As a result, symbol display 2
, symbols corresponding to the state of the game are displayed. As mentioned above, these symbols include a symbol that changes in response to pachinko balls hitting the first type starting openings 6a to 6c, a symbol that indicates the occurrence of a jackpot state, and a symbol that indicates the number of openings and the number of winning balls in a jackpot state. Including the graphics to be displayed.

The basic circuit 37 further includes a decorative LED 10a.
, 10b. Memory display LE
D9 has the first type starting ports 6a to 6c during jackpot state etc.
The number of pachinko balls that have won a prize is displayed up to four. The jackpot information output circuit 43 is supplied with a jackpot signal in response to the occurrence of a jackpot, and the sound circuit 44 is supplied with a sound signal for generating a sound effect according to the state of the game. Similarly, the game effect lamp 11, the rail decoration lamp 12, the windmill lamp 13, the side lamp 14, the accessory lamp 15, the shoulder lamp 16, the sleeve lamp 17, and the chucker lamp 18 are connected to the game effect lamp 11, the rail decoration lamp 12, the windmill lamp 13, the side lamp 14, the accessory lamp 15, the shoulder lamp 16, the sleeve lamp 17, and the chucker lamp 18. A lamp drive signal is provided. Note that a predetermined DC voltage is supplied from the power supply circuit 45 to various devices and control circuits.

FIGS. 7 to 10 are flowcharts of a program for controlling the pachinko gaming machine according to the present invention, which is executed in the MPU of the basic circuit 37 shown in FIG. 7 and 8 show the main routine of this program. This main routine is executed once from the beginning every time a periodic reset pulse is applied to the MPU. In this example, the periodic reset pulse is 1
Generated once every msec. That is, this main routine is executed once every 1 msec. In step (hereinafter simply referred to as S) 7801, an address to be used as a stack pointer is specified. In addition,
In the following explanation, the number given to each step is
This corresponds to the address of the source program of the embodiment. Subsequently, in S7804, it is determined whether a RAM error has occurred. This judgment can be made, for example, by R.A.
Data at a predetermined address of M is read out, and a determination is made based on whether the read data is equal to a predetermined value. If there is no RAM error, control proceeds to S780F. However, when the program runs out of control or when the power is turned on,
Since the contents stored in the RAM are undefined, a RAM error occurs and control proceeds to S780B.

In S780B, system initial processing such as setting initial data in the RAM is performed, and then waiting processing begins. During the rendezvous process, a periodic reset pulse is given to the MPU, which resets the system and restarts the main routine from the beginning.

[0052] When the control proceeds from S7804 to S780F, in S780F, the LE of the symbol display 2, etc.
Output processing to D is performed. S780F is always executed once in the main routine. That is, LED
The output is performed every 1 msec. The reason why the LED output is performed in such a short period is that if the LED output is performed in a longer period, there is a possibility that the LED display may flicker. Control is S781
Proceed to step 2.

In S7812, it is determined whether the number of resets since the power was turned on is an even number by referring to the stacked data. This determination is made by adding 1 to the 2-bit storage area every time it is reset, and checking whether the value is 0 or 2. If the answer to the determination is YES, control proceeds to S7832, otherwise control proceeds to S781B.

In S781B, input processing of information from the first type starting port switches 29a to 29c, the 10 count switch 27, the accessory continuous actuation device switch 28, etc.
SW input processing), Checking the time from when the accessory continuous operation device switch 28 detects a winning ball until the 10 count switch 27 detects a winning ball (V-10 passage timer check), Is there an abnormality in the device? A warning process to check and notify the staff if there is an abnormality, an update of the random counter to determine whether or not it is a jackpot, which is referred to when there is a prize in the first type starting slot, Sound data output processing for generating sound effects, right symbol LED data setting processing for setting data representing the symbol on the rightmost symbol display 2c of the symbol display 2, and right symbol LED data setting processing for the first type starting port. A winning storage area storage process is performed to store the number of winnings when there is a winning. The control is then shown in Figure 8.
Proceed to S7857.

[0055] When the control proceeds from S7812 to S7832, the count of the display timer reaches 1 in S7832.
It is incremented by 1 every 6ms. Control is S783
Proceed to step 9.

In S7839, the number of resets is 2.
It is determined whether or not this is the second reset (the cumulative number of resets since the initial reset is an odd number multiple of 2). This determination is made, for example, by adding 1 to a 2-bit storage area at each reset and checking whether the value is 2 or not. If the answer to the determination is YES, control proceeds to S784E; otherwise, control proceeds to S783D.

In S784E, jackpot information setting processing for setting jackpot information output from the basic circuit 37, left symbol LED data setting processing for setting data for the left symbol display, and previously prepared In accordance with the value of the process flag that changes depending on the process state, a process execution process is performed in which various processes corresponding to the game state are performed, and then control is performed by S in FIG.
Proceed to 7857.

When the control proceeds from S7839 to S783D, in S783D, a decorative LED data setting process is performed to set data for driving the decorative LED 10, and a pachinko ball that has entered the first type starting slot during a jackpot state, etc. Memory display LED data setting processing for setting data for displaying the number using the memory display LED 9;
Medium symbol LED data setting processing for setting data to be displayed on the central symbol display 2b; symbol LED display switching control processing for changing the outer shape of the symbol displayed on the symbol display according to predetermined time conditions; , processing for setting and outputting data for driving various lamps, etc. The control then goes to S7 in Figure 8.
Proceed to 857.

After S7857 of the main routine, out of the three random numbers 1 to 3 that are referenced when a pachinko ball enters the first type starting slot, 3 is used to determine the symbol display other than the jackpot. Addition processing of a hexadecimal random number 3 is performed. In S7857,
11 is added to the first digit of the random number 3. S785B
In , it is determined whether or not the first digit of the random number 3 has carried over as a result of the addition in S7857. If the answer to the determination is NO, control proceeds to S785F, otherwise control proceeds to S7863. In S785F,
The result of the addition is directly set to the first digit of the random number 3. Control then returns to S7857.

In S7863, carry processing is performed. That is, 15 is subtracted from the first digit of the random number 3, and 1 is added to the second digit. Control proceeds to S786A. In S786A, it is determined whether the second digit of random number 3 has caused a carry. If the answer to the determination is YES, control proceeds to S7872, otherwise control proceeds to S786E. In S786E, the second digit of random number 3 does not carry over, so the result of addition is the 2nd digit of random number 3.
It is set in the column. Control then returns to S7857.

When the control proceeds to S7872, carry processing for the second digit of the random number 3 is performed. That is, 15 is subtracted from the second digit of random number 3, and 1 is added to the third digit of random number 3. Control proceeds to S7879.

[0062] In S7879, the random number 3
It is determined whether or not the digit has caused a carry. If the answer to the determination is NO, control proceeds to S787F, otherwise control proceeds to S787D. In S787F, since the third digit of random number 3 has not carried over, the result of addition is set as is in the third digit of random number 3. Control returns to S7857. S7
When the control proceeds from 879 to S787D, the third digit of the random number 3 is carried forward. In this case, since the random number 3 is prepared as a 3-digit hexadecimal number, 15 is only subtracted from the third digit. Control then proceeds to S787F and then returns to S7857.

The process shown in FIG. 8 is repeated until a periodic reset pulse is applied to the MPU. therefore,
The random number 3 is sequentially set to 0 during the waiting time until reset.
It will continue to be updated between ~EEE (hexadecimal). Each digit of the random number 3 is displayed on the symbol display 2a, 2, respectively.
This is a value for defining the symbols displayed on c and 2d. As described above, each digit of the random number 3 takes on 15 values from 0 to 14. By assigning one of the 15 symbols to each value, one of the 15 symbols will be displayed on each of the symbol displays 2a to 2c. Actually, a value corresponding to the previously stopped symbol is further added to each digit of the random number 3, and the displayed symbol is determined based on the result. By doing this, the randomness of the symbols displayed when the player misses is improved. If the value of random number 3 obtained as a result of the above operation is the value that should be a jackpot, that is, if all three numbers of random number 3 are equal, then 100 of random number 3 1 is further added to the value assigned to the digit, and the symbol is forcibly removed from the jackpot and displayed.

FIG. 9 shows S780 of the main routine in FIG.
3 is a flowchart of a subroutine for LED output performed in F. In S7D26, LED
Output data is cleared. In S7D41, data for the decorative LED is set. At S7D49, data for the storage indicator LED is set. In S7D51, data for the left symbol LED is set. In S7D84, the center pattern LE
D data is set. In S7DA2, data for the LED of the right symbol is set. S7DCB
Then, the LED data is output, and this subroutine ends.

FIG. 10 is a more detailed flowchart of the LED data output processing performed in S7DCB of FIG. Referring to FIG. 10, at SB1, the value of a common counter indicating the LED row to be driven for display is incremented by one. Control proceeds to SB2.

In SB2, the LED digit circuit 7
The value of the common counter is added to the address (200H) of 0 (port C). Control proceeds to SB3.

In SB3, the LED digit circuit 7
The address of 0 (port C) is output. Through this processing, the LED digit circuit 70 receives address signals A0 to
The same value as the common counter is given as A3,
decoded. Decoding result symbol display 2 LED
As described above, only the LEDs connected to the column indicated by the value of the common counter in the matrix are activated. Control proceeds to SB4.

At SB4, a signal indicating data to be displayed on each LED of the selected LED column is output to port A60 and port B61. Through this process, port A of the LEDs connected to the selected column
, B. Only the LEDs that have received data indicating "lighting" are lit, and the other LEDs are not lit.

The control shown in FIG.
It is performed once every sec. Therefore, for example n
After 1 msec has elapsed after the LEDs in the th column are displayed, the LEDs in the n+1th column are displayed. During this time, the data output from ports A and B is read out one after another from consecutive addresses in the storage area and provided to the symbol display 2 so that the data represents the content to be displayed in each column.

[0070] When a pachinko ball enters the first type starting slot, a value is extracted from the random 1 counter, and if the value is 3, it is determined to be a jackpot, otherwise it is determined to be a miss. Furthermore, when it is determined that the jackpot has been won, the contents of the random 2 counter are extracted at the start of symbol variation, and the displayed symbol is determined based on that value.

Referring again to FIG. 7, if the result of the determination in S7812 is that the number of resets is an even number, S781B
processing is performed. Furthermore, if the result of the determination in S7839 is that the number of resets is the second time, S784
If the process of E is the fourth time, the process of S783D is performed. In other words, the processing of S781B is performed once every 2ms.
The processes of S784E and S783D are each performed once every 4 ms. Furthermore, the LED output processing of S780F is performed once every 1 ms.

The reason why the execution frequencies of each process are made different in this way is that the time intervals required to properly execute each process are different. In other words, the processing of S780F is 1
If this is done at intervals larger than ms, undesirable effects such as flickering will appear on the LED display. On the other hand, the setting of symbol display data, the setting of decorative LED data, or the processing according to each gaming state does not need to be performed at such short intervals. Therefore, those processes are performed in S78.
In 4E, S783D, etc., this is performed once every 4ms. On the other hand, it is considered that checking the winning status and updating random numbers for determining jackpots should be performed with moderate frequency. Therefore, S781B is configured to perform once every 2 ms.

As described above, the main routine of this program is divided into three main branches, and the routine to be executed differs depending on the number of resets. It seems that such processing can be easily realized by making the main routine into one routine without branching it out and driving it with a higher frequency clock. However, in the case of gaming machines, especially in the gaming halls where the gaming machines are installed,
Considering that noise is likely to occur, NMOS (N-
type Metal-Oxide Semicond
It must be remembered that uctor) is mainly used. NMOS circuits are resistant to noise, but have slow operating speeds. Therefore, if the main routine is made into one main routine without branching, the above-mentioned processing cannot be easily realized.

As described above, in the gaming machine according to the present invention, the content of the common counter is incremented by 1,
By simply providing that value to the LED digit circuit 70, the LED digit circuit 70 decodes the applied data and activates the LEDs connected to the LED string to be display-controlled. All other LEDs are not activated. Conventionally, such decoding processing has been performed by a program executed on the basic circuit 37. Therefore,
As shown in Figure 12, it was not only necessary to use software to manage which port to output data from, but also to control what value the data output from port C or port D should be. I had to manage it with clothing. That is, the contents of the common counter had to be converted by software as shown by SA4 and SA7 in FIG. 12 and output to the corresponding ports. Therefore, the program executed by the MPU of the conventional device has a large number of steps for controlling the LED, and the larger the number of output stages of the LED, the larger the amount of program required.

On the other hand, in the gaming machine according to the present invention, the data to be managed by the basic circuit is only the value of the common counter, and the LED digit circuit decodes the value of the common counter to control the desired LED row. can only be activated. Therefore, the amount of programming can be relatively small compared to the conventional method. Furthermore, even if the number of LED output stages were to double, the selection of the LED array would be possible by simply increasing the number of bits of the common counter in the program. Therefore, there is no increase in the amount of programs as seen in conventional devices, and the amount of programs can be increased by a relatively small amount.

Furthermore, as mentioned above, the LED digit circuit 7
0, an integrated circuit commonly used as an address decoder can be used. Therefore, there is an advantage that the hardware can be made very simple.

Although the present invention has been explained above using a pachinko game machine as an example, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned example.
It can be applied to gaming machines in general that use a symbol display device that can display various symbols.

[0078]

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, since the display group activation means consisting of an integrated circuit is used, the software only needs to prepare information for specifying the display group, and No special processing is required to activate the display group. Therefore, the burden on the software is lighter than in the past, and even if the number of LEDs increases, the burden on the software does not increase significantly. Further, the display group activation means can use the integrated circuit used as the address decoder as is, and the hardware for display control can be easily realized.

As a result, it is possible to reduce the burden on the gaming machine control program and provide a gaming machine that can be controlled with a simple circuit.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a game board surface of a pachinko game machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows the central device of the pachinko game machine according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway perspective view.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the mode of operation of the central device.

FIG. 4 is a back view of the game board surface of the pachinko game machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a control circuit of a pachinko gaming machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged block diagram of main parts of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the first half of a main routine of a program executed by the MPU of the pachinko game machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the second half of the main routine.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of LED output processing.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of LED data output processing.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a conventional LED drive circuit and LED.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of LED data output processing in a conventional device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Central device 2, 2a-2c Pattern display 3a, 3b Movable member 4 Accessory continuous operating device 6a-6c First type starting port 20 Internal device 27 10 count switch 28 Accessory continuous operating device switch 29a-29c First type Starting port switch 30A, 30
B LED drive circuit 37 Basic circuit 41 Initial reset circuit 42 Regular reset circuit 70 LED digit circuit

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: A variable display device that is divided into a plurality of display groups each including one or more display devices and that can variably display a plurality of types of identification information, wherein the display results of the variable display device are A gaming machine that becomes capable of imparting a predetermined gaming value when predetermined specific identification information is obtained,
The display control means includes a display control means for controlling the display of the variable display device, and the display control means controls a display device for specifying the display device group in order to sequentially display and drive each of the plurality of display device groups. Display group specifying information output means for outputting group specifying information, and decoding the display group specifying information to activate one of the display groups specified by the display group specifying information. 1. A gaming machine, comprising display group activation means comprising an integrated circuit.