JPH04357986A - Display device in game hall - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To transmit various information extending over a wide range. CONSTITUTION:A display device 10 is provided with a matrix LED 11 consisting of a matrix-like light emission diode and an LED control microcomputer 12 for controlling the matrix LED 11 concerned in the direction in which pinball machines 20 are provided in a line, and they are provided mutually in a line on the upper part of each pinball machine 20. Also, a display control processing part 32 generates a flow display pattern, based on management information outputted from a game microcomputer 21, and executes control so that a flickering state flows on the upper part of plural pinball machines 20 by flickering the matrix LED 11 in plural devices 10 provided in a line.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a display device that is disposed above a game machine in a game hall and blinks when a prize is won.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a display device for a game hall of this type, one disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 64-37983 is known.

The device disclosed in the above publication includes a plurality of light emitting diodes and switch buttons in a display casing formed to have a width sufficiently narrower than the width of the pachinko machine, and each light emitting diode is activated in response to the operation of the switch button. A control circuit for controlling the blinking of the pachinko machine is installed, and the display casing is installed above each pachinko machine installed in parallel.

In this configuration, when the player presses a switch button provided in the display casing, the control circuit causes each light emitting diode to blink in sequence in the horizontal direction, creating a display of flowing light.

[0005]

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] In the above-mentioned conventional game hall display device, the light only flickers inside a narrow display casing. There was a problem that visibility was not always good.

[0006]Furthermore, such display casings are often made to flash in synchronization with the winning of a pachinko machine, but the display on each display casing alone can only be expected to have the effect of notifying nearby players of the winning status.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a display device for a game hall that is capable of transmitting various types of information over a wider range.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 provides a display for a game hall in which a flickering element is installed above a plurality of game machines arranged in parallel in the game hall. The device includes a display device formed to have approximately the same width as the width of the gaming machine and capable of being arranged in parallel above each gaming machine, and a blinking element in the display device blinking in response to a predetermined control signal. , the configuration includes a control means for performing individual or integrated display on each display.

[0009]

[Operation] In the invention according to claim 1 configured as described above, the control means blinks the blinking elements of the display devices arranged in parallel above each gaming machine in response to a predetermined control signal. At this time, since the display devices are formed to have almost the same width as the width of the gaming machines, when they are placed side by side above each gaming machine, the adjacent displays look like an integrated display device. In addition, the control means displays an individual display on each display as well as an integrated display on each display disposed in parallel.

0010

Effects of the Invention As explained above, in the present invention, when the display devices are arranged side by side, the adjacent display devices look like an integrated display device, and the control means is controlled separately for each display device. Since it is possible to perform integrated display as well as individual display, it is possible to provide a display device for a game hall that is rich in a variety of expressions and can greatly improve visibility.

[0011]

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be explained based on the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a display device for a gaming hall according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, the display 10 includes a matrix LED 11 in which light emitting diodes are arranged in a matrix, and the matrix LED 11 has light emitting diodes 11a1 arranged in 8 columns x 5 columns as shown in FIG. It is constructed by connecting ten display units 11a in the horizontal direction. Further, the width of each display device 10 is slightly larger than the width of the pachinko machine 20, and as shown in FIG. 3, the display devices 10 are installed in a line horizontally in contact with each other above the pachinko machine 20. In this embodiment, the display devices 10 are arranged so as to be in contact with each other, but they do not necessarily need to be in contact with each other, and may be arranged so that they can be seen as one piece.

On the other hand, the display device 10 includes an LE that controls the display of the matrix LED 11 based on display data.
D control microcomputer 12 is provided.
The first mode for controlling D11 and the display bus signal line 14
The matrix LED 11 has a second mode in which the matrix LED 11 is controlled so that the display corresponds to the display pattern data inputted through the display. Note that in this display mode, the second mode display has priority over the first mode display.

The other ends of the signal lead wires 13a to 13c are connected to a gaming microcomputer 21 installed in each pachinko machine 20.
Performs various control processing in 0. Here, in this embodiment, the gaming microcomputer 21 determines whether there is a winning ball, determines whether there is a jackpot at the time of winning a prize, determines whether there is an abnormality in the equipment, etc., and in each case, the LE
Signal lead wire 13a connected to D control microcomputer 12
A high level signal is output to ~13c.

Each gaming microcomputer 21 is connected via a management bus signal line 22 to a hall management computer 30 including a management arithmetic processing section 31 and a display control processing section 32. The ID number of each pachinko machine 20 is sent to the management arithmetic processing unit 31 of the hall management computer 30 via the management bus signal line 22 when a jackpot occurs, when a jackpot occurs, or when an abnormality occurs in the equipment. and management data representing each information.

The management arithmetic processing unit 31 manages the number of balls played in each pachinko machine 20 based on management data inputted via the management bus signal line 22, and issues instructions to stop the game when necessary. are doing. Further, the management arithmetic processing unit 31 outputs the ID number and each information of the management data to the display control processing unit 32.

The display control processing unit 32 is connected to the LED control microcomputer 12 via the display bus signal line 14, and transmits data representing the blinking state of the light emitting diodes in each matrix LED 11 at a predetermined time to the LED control processing unit 32. Output to the microcomputer 12. Here, matrix LED
11 is 8×5×10 (=400) light emitting diodes 1
As shown in FIG. 4, each bit data of 1 byte (8 bits) represents the blinking state of the light emitting diodes 11a1 for one vertical column, and the display pattern data consists of 50
All light emitting diodes 11 arranged horizontally with byte data
Represents the blinking state of a1. In response to this, the present display control processing section 32 stores display pattern data corresponding to various display patterns in the storage device.

Note that, as described above, the display control processing section 32
is based on the management data input via the game microcomputer 21 and the management arithmetic processing unit 31.
11 outputs a flow display display pattern for performing an integrated display, and the display control processing section 32 constitutes a control means for the integrated display on the display 10.

Next, the operation of this embodiment having the above configuration will be explained. Microcomputer 1 for LED control in display 10
2 starts executing a program corresponding to the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 when the power is turned on, and in step 100 executes initial settings to initialize storage areas such as RAM.

When the initial settings are completed, the signal levels of the signal lead wires 13a to 13c are detected in step 110.
Depending on the signal level, it is determined in steps 120 to 140 whether a winning ball has occurred, a jackpot has occurred, or an abnormality has occurred. Normally, there are no players immediately after the power is turned on, so a "NO" decision is made in both cases and the process from step 110 onwards is repeated.

On the other hand, when a player operates the pachinko machine 20 to start a game, the gaming microcomputer 21 determines whether there are winning balls or not, and if there are winning balls, determines whether or not it is a jackpot. Execute normal control processing such as

Now, if a winning ball occurs, the gaming microcomputer 21 detects this and outputs a high level signal to the signal lead wire 13a, and also sends a signal to the pachinko machine 20 via the management bus signal wire 22. assigned ID
The number and information that a winning ball has occurred are transmitted to the management arithmetic processing unit 31 of the hole management computer 30.

Since the signal level of the signal lead wire 13a has become high level, the LED control microcomputer 12 determines that there is a winning ball in step 120, and proceeds to step 1.
At 25, the blinking of the matrix LED 11 is controlled to display information corresponding to winnings. However, as described above, this state is the first mode of display in which each matrix LED 11 performs individual display.

In one management arithmetic processing section 31,
It executes various processes based on the transmitted information and transmits the information to the display control processing section 32.

Here, the display control processing section 32 executes a program corresponding to the flowchart shown in FIG. Information from the processing unit 31 is received, and in steps 220 and 230 it is determined whether there is a jackpot or an abnormality has occurred.

In this case, since the information received from the management arithmetic processing unit 31 is information regarding winnings, the management arithmetic processing unit 31 returns to step 210 without performing any special processing in steps 220 and 230. Execute the following processing.

Therefore, when a winning occurs, the LED control microcomputer 12 independently controls the display of the matrix LED 11, and the pachinko machine 2 where the winning occurs.
Only the display on the display 10 installed above 0 changes.

On the other hand, if a jackpot occurs,
The game microcomputer 21 outputs a high-level signal to the signal lead line 13b, and also transmits information that a jackpot has occurred to the management arithmetic processing section 31 in the hall management computer 30 via the management bus signal line 22.

When the signal level of the signal lead wire 13b becomes high level, the LED control microcomputer 12 performs step 1.
30, it is judged that there was a jackpot, and step 13
At step 5, the blinking of the matrix LED 11 is controlled to display information corresponding to the jackpot.

Furthermore, the management arithmetic processing unit 31 transmits the above information to the display control processing unit 32, and the display control processing unit 32
receives information from the management arithmetic processing section 31 in step 210, and determines in step 220 that a jackpot has occurred. Then, in step 225, the display pattern data described above is transmitted to each LED control microcomputer 12, and a display that flows outward centering on the pachinko machine 20 where the jackpot has occurred is performed.

When performing an outward-flowing display, assuming that there are matrix LEDs 11 (A) and matrix LEDs 11 (B) as shown in FIG. 7, the display of each is changed to (I) to (IV). That's fine.

The display control processing section 32 transmits display pattern data to each LED control microcomputer 12 so that the display corresponds to each pattern shown in FIG. 7 according to the arrangement position of the display 10.

[0033] When such display data is transmitted, each L
The ED control microcomputer 12 executes the interrupt processing shown in FIG. 8 while controlling the matrix LED 11 according to the signal level of the signal lead line 13b. That is, the display data is received in step 300, and the display data is received in step 31.
The above display data is saved in step 0, and if the reception of display data is not completed in step 320, step 300 is performed.
Execute again. When the reception of the display data is completed, the display of the matrix LED 11 is erased in step 330, and the display of the matrix LED 11 is controlled in step 340 based on the received display data.

By doing this, when a jackpot occurs, a plurality of indicators 10 are displayed above the pachinko machines 20 arranged on the left and right sides of the pachinko machine 20 in question.
Together, they display a flowing light, allowing other players to recognize that a jackpot has occurred in any of the pachinko machines 20.

In this embodiment, the display pattern on each display 10 is transmitted from the display control processing unit 32 to the LED control microcomputer 12, but each LED control microcomputer 12 is equipped with a pattern generator, etc. The control processing unit 32 may transmit command data representing the type of pattern to be displayed, the display speed, and the display timing to the LED control microcomputer 12. Further, each LED control microcomputer 12 is made to store several types of flow display patterns, and the display control processing section 32
It is also possible to send command data indicating the designation of the flow pattern and the display timing.

Further, in this embodiment, data is transmitted and received via the display bus signal line 14, but data may be transmitted and received by other methods, such as communication. At this time, an optical cable or the like may be used to prevent noise from being mixed in and to prevent fraud.

When a jackpot occurs, an outward flow display is performed as described above, but when the game microcomputer 21 detects an abnormality in the pachinko machine 20, the display control processing unit 32 performs similar processing. In step 235, a display is made that flows inward, centering on the pachinko machine 20 in which the abnormality has occurred. This allows the employee to easily discover the pachinko machine 20 in which the abnormality has occurred. Moreover, if such an inward display is performed not only in the case of an abnormality but also in the case of a call from an employee, the pachinko machine that has made the call can be easily found.

[0038] In the above-mentioned embodiment, a flow display is performed to show the direction when a jackpot occurs and when an abnormality occurs, but when other prizes are won, the display is displayed within a predetermined range depending on the winning ball. The display method can be arbitrary, such as displaying the flow only on the display. Particularly in the case where a jackpot or abnormality occurs in a plurality of pachinko machines at the same time, a predetermined range may be set in the display control processing section, and a flow display may be performed on the display of the range.

[0039] Also, regardless of the output information from the gaming microcomputer, a predetermined direction can be announced on multiple gaming machines, so it can be used to announce evacuation routes in emergencies or retreat routes in case of cancellation. You can also do that. Furthermore, the display is not limited to displaying directions, and various patterns may be displayed to improve the decorative effect. Further, various information, such as holidays of the game hall, etc., may be displayed.

In the above embodiment, the matrix LED
The display pattern can be set to any desired pattern, but if only a flow display is desired, there is no need for a matrix arrangement, and the arrangement can be as simple as arranging the blinking elements in a line. Good too. Furthermore, a flickering element other than a light emitting diode, such as a liquid crystal element, may be used.

[0041] Regarding the control contents and output information of the gaming microcomputer, only the portions corresponding to this embodiment have been described, but various types of control that are normally performed are performed. In addition, the game microcomputer 21 and the LED control microcomputer 12 are connected by signal lead wires 13a to 13c,
When a prize win, a jackpot, or an abnormality occurs, a signal is output directly from the game microcomputer 21 to the LED control microcomputer 12, but the signal lead wires 13a to 13c are abolished, and only the management data is used for display. This information is displayed on the LED
It may also be transmitted to the control microcomputer 12.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a display device for a game hall according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view of a matrix LED.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the pachinko machine showing a state in which a matrix LED of a display device is installed.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the content of display data and the blinking state of a light emitting diode.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing control details of an LED control microcomputer.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing control details of a display control processing section.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing display states of matrix LEDs.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the contents of interrupt processing by the LED control microcomputer.

[Explanation of symbols]

10...Indicator 11...Matrix LED 11a1...Light emitting diode 12...LED control microcomputer 14...Display bus signal line 21...Game microcomputer 22...Management bus signal line 32...Display control processing section

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A display device for a game hall comprising a flickering element installed above a plurality of game machines arranged side by side in a game hall, wherein the display device is formed to have approximately the same width as the width of the game machines, Displays that can be arranged in parallel with each other above the machine; and a control means that causes blinking elements in the display to blink in response to a predetermined control signal to display an individual or integrated display for each display. A display device for an amusement hall, comprising: