JPH0625964U - Coin counter with communication function and pay device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] The purpose of this invention is to collect the amount of money easily and accurately. According to the present invention, a paying device counts a count signal generated in response to the insertion of money to calculate the amount of money to be inserted, and a count value of the counting means 1 according to an external request. The communication means 2 for transmitting is provided.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a coin counter with a communication function and a pay device used for a pay device such as a game machine in a game arcade.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 Generally, pay devices such as game consoles in game arcades can be used when a certain amount of coins are inserted. A coin counter is attached to the pay device, and the coin counter counts the number of coins inserted into the pay device. For example, in a game arcade equipped with a large number of game machines, as shown in FIG. 6, coin counters 11, 12 ... 1n are attached to the game machines 1, 2, ... ..N generates a count signal each time a fixed amount of coins is inserted and outputs the count signal to the coin counters 11, 12 ... 1n. The coin counters 11, 12 ... 1n are operated by being supplied with electric power from the respective power sources, counting the count signals from the game machines 1, 2 ... n and displaying the count values. To display. The staff of the amusement hall, etc. should take out the coins from the coin counters 11, 12 ... 1n after the business hours of the amusement hall are closed and visually read the displayed values on the display units 21, 22, ... , The total amount of coins is totaled and the coin counters 11, 12 ... 1n are reset.

[0003]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 The coin counters 11, 12 ... 1n only count the count signals from the game machines 1, 2 ... N and display the count values on the display units 21, 22 ... 2n. A person such as a staff member at the amusement arcade must visually read the displayed values on the display units 21, 22 ... 2 n and add up the total amount of all coins. It's easy to make a mistake. Moreover, even if a staff member of the game hall intentionally operates the counter values of the coin counters 11, 12 ... 1n and the number of inserted coins in the game machines 1, 2 ... It was not possible for the person in charge of the field to distinguish it, and the amount of coins could not be calculated accurately.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a coin counter with a communication function and a pay device that can improve the above-mentioned drawbacks and can easily and accurately count the amount of money.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is to provide a counting device 1 for calculating the amount of money to be inserted by counting a count signal generated in response to the insertion of money in a pay device as shown in FIG. A coin counter with a communication function according to claim 1, which is a coin counter with a communication function, comprising: a communication means 2 for transmitting the count value of the counting means 1 in response to an external request. It is a pay device that has a counter and can be used for a fee with this coin counter.

[0006]

[Action]

 The counting unit 1 counts the amount of coins inserted by counting the count signal generated in response to the insertion of money in the pay device, and the communication unit 2 transmits the count value of the counting unit 1 in response to an external request. .

[0007]

【Example】

 FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the present invention. The game machines 31, 32 ... 3n are provided in a game arcade (game center), and the coin counters 41, 42 ... 4n with communication function are connected to the game machines 31, 32 ... 3n, respectively. Has been done. 4n are mounted outside the game machines 31, 32 ... 3n, but may be provided inside the game machines 31, 32 ... 3n. .. 4n are connected to a power source, game machines 31, 32 ... 3n and an external personal computer (personal computer) 5.

The personal computer 5 is installed in a center in which only staff members who collect coins in a game hall enter and a player does not enter, and is connected to the coin counters 41, 42, ... 4n by a communication line 6. Each of the coin counters 41, 42 ... 4n is provided with a unique address 71, 72 ... 7n consisting of, for example, a 4-digit number. The coin counters 41, 42 ... 4n may be provided with respective display units for displaying the count value of coins as in the conventional case.

FIG. 3 shows a circuit configuration of the coin counters 41, 42, ... 4n. The coin counters 41, 42 ... 4n are respectively a microcomputer (CPU) 9 having a ROM and a RAM, an address switch 100 for setting the above addresses 71, 72 ... 7n, a backup power source 101, a game machine. 3, 32 ... 3n, respectively, to which the count signal is input, an input terminal 102, a resistor 103, a photocoupler 104, a power supply terminal 105 connected to a power supply of DC10 to 28V, a regulator 106, a noise filter 107. , A communication terminal 108 connected to the communication line 6, a communication interface 109, and a communication operation display light emitting diode 110.

The power supply voltage applied from the power supply of DC 10 to 28V to the power supply terminal 105 is converted to 5V by the regulator 106 and supplied to each part of each coin counter 41, 42, ... 4n through the noise filter 107. . The count signal input from the game machines 31, 32 ... 3n to the input terminal 102 is input to the CPU 9 via the resistor 103 and the photo coupler 104, and the address signal from the address switch 100 is input to the CPU 9. Further, the CPU 9 communicates with the personal computer 5 through the communication interface 109, the communication terminal 108 and the communication line 6, and is backed up by the backup power supply 101 at the time of power failure.

As shown in FIG. 4, the CPU 9 checks the count signal input from the game machine 31, 32, ... 3n via the input terminal 102, the resistor 103 and the photocoupler 104 to input the count signal. The counter is incremented from 0 each time the game machine 31, 32, ... 3n counts the number of inserted coins. Here, in the game machines 31, 32, ... 3n, only the same coin, for example, a 100-yen coin is inserted by the player, and the coin can be used by the player by inserting a fixed amount of coin.

Further, when the CPU 9 receives a data transmission request for itself (data transmission request of the address set by the address switch 100) from the personal computer 5 through the communication line 6, the communication terminal 108, and the communication interface 109, the CPU 9 of FIG. As shown in, the contents of the counter are transmitted to the personal computer 5 through the communication interface 109, the communication terminal 108 and the communication line 6.

The personal computer 5 sequentially transmits data transmission requests to the coin counters 41, 42, ... 4n through the communication line 6 at predetermined appropriate timings, and the coin lines 41, 42, ... The total amount of coins inserted into the game machines 31, 32, ... 3n is totaled by receiving the contents of each counter through 6 and totaling them.

In this embodiment, the coin counters 41, 42, ... 4n transmit the contents of the counters to the personal computer 5 in response to a data transmission request from the external personal computer 5, so that the staff at the amusement hall can use the coin counters 41, 42.・ ・ ・ No need to visually read the contents of the 4n counter, which not only reduces the number of man-hours required to count the amount of coins, but also eliminates mistakes in counting. Moreover, even if an attendant of the game hall intentionally operates the coin counters 41, 42, ... 4n to reduce the contents of the counter and the number of coins inserted into the game machines 31, 32, ... It becomes possible for the person in charge, etc. to make a distinction, and the amount of coins can be accurately counted. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and the coin counter may be similarly used in a pay device that can be used by inserting coins other than a game machine, for example.

[0015]

[Effect of device]

 As described above, according to the present invention, the counting device for calculating the amount of coins inserted by counting the count signal generated in response to the coin insertion in the pay device, and the count value of this counting device from the outside. Since the coin counter is equipped with a communication means for transmitting in response to the request, it becomes possible to collect the amount of money easily and accurately.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is a block diagram showing a device according to claim 1. FIG.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a coin counter of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a part of a processing flow of a CPU in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing another part of the processing flow of the CPU.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a conventional game machine and coin counter.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 counting means 2 communication means

Claims (2)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A counting means for calculating the amount of money to be inserted by counting a count signal generated by a pay device in response to the insertion of money, and a communication means for transmitting the count value of the counting means in response to an external request. A coin counter with a communication function, which is provided with. 2. A pay device comprising the coin counter with a communication function according to claim 1, wherein the coin counter enables use for a fee.