JPH08196705A - Random number generator for game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent alteration of a random number generating program, reduce load of a ROM program, prevent generated random numbers from appearing cyclically, and facilitate program structuring and verification. CONSTITUTION: A control system with a random number function is formed for a game machine by connecting to a central processing unit 10 various units, including a control ROM 14 provided with an upper and lower limit setting area, a prizing timing detector 26, and a random number generator 28 separated from the central processing unit 10 and provided with a counter 30 which counts, based on a value set by an upper limit setting resistor 38 or/and a lower limit setting resistor 34, signals from a signal generator 32, to generate the counted signal as a random number by a control unit.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a random number generator for a gaming machine used for collating random numbers to determine an operating state at the time of winning, or other operating state.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A gaming machine, for example, a pachinko machine or a slot machine, determines a hit or miss by using a random number,
Some are designed to control movement.

In such a conventional game machine, a random number generation program is written in a part of the game operation control program stored in the control unit, and a random number is generated according to the program in the central processing unit as needed. It is generated and the control of the game operation is advanced using this random number.

[0004]

In the conventional game machine as described above, the random number generating program written in the ROM can be rewritten. Therefore, by rewriting the random number generation program, the winning probability can be increased. However, with gaming machines such as pachinko machines,
Since the hit probability is set to be a fixed value or less, it is desirable to prevent illegal acts such as tampering with the random number generation program that increases the hit probability.

Since the capacity of the ROM is less than a certain value, writing the random number generation program portion in the ROM reduces the capacity for writing the remaining game operation programs in the ROM. Therefore, it is not possible to make the game contents complicated and interesting in order to make the program short enough to fit in the small ROM capacity.

Further, if the random number is generated by a simple method in order to shorten the random number generation program, the random number has periodicity due to the processing time by the central processing unit, and the hit probability can be made constant. It may disappear.

Further, when a random number generation program is written in a part of the game program, it takes time and effort because the entire program must be strictly verified in order to verify the random number.

In consideration of the above facts, the present invention prevents the random number generation program from being tampered with, reduces the proportion of the central processing unit program occupied by the random number generation program, and prevents the generated random numbers from having periodicity. It is an object of the present invention to obtain a random number generation device for a game machine, which facilitates the construction and verification of the program.

[0009]

The invention according to claim 1 is
Setting means for setting at least one of an upper limit value and a lower limit value by a control device that controls the operation of the gaming machine at a control cycle based on a clock signal, a signal generating means for generating a pulse signal different from the clock signal, and a setting means A counter that counts the pulse signal with the value set to as a reference and the count value is read as a random number by the control device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the random number generating device of the gaming machine according to the first aspect, the counter randomly counts the pulse signal.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the random number generating device of the gaming machine according to the first aspect, the signal generating means randomly generates the pulse signal.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, at least one of an upper limit value and a lower limit value corresponding to each of a plurality of probabilities predetermined by a control device that controls the operation of the gaming machine in a control cycle based on a clock signal. A plurality of setting means each of which is set, a signal generating means for generating a pulse signal different from the clock signal, and the pulse signals are counted with the value set in each of the setting means as a reference, and the count value is the probability. A plurality of counters read by the control device as corresponding random numbers.

[0013]

According to the invention of claim 1, the control device sets at least one of the upper limit value and the lower limit value in the setting means. The pulse signal generated by the signal generating means is counted by the counter with the value set in the setting means as a reference, and the count value is read by the control device as a random number.

According to the invention of claim 2, when the counter in the random number generator of the game machine according to claim 1 counts, the counter randomly counts the pulse signals and the count value is read by the controller as a random number.

In the invention of claim 3, the signal generating means in the random number generator of the game machine of claim 1 randomly generates a pulse signal, the counter counts it, and the count value is read by the controller as a random number. .

In the invention of claim 4, the control device sets, in the plurality of setting means, at least one of the upper limit value and the lower limit value according to each of the plurality of predetermined probabilities. With reference to each value set in each of the plurality of setting means, the pulse signal generated by the signal generating means is counted by each of the plurality of counters corresponding to the plurality of probabilities, and each count value corresponds to each of the plurality of probabilities. It is read by the control device as a random number.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment of the Random Number Generator for the Gaming Machine of the Present Invention
An embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

The random number generator of this embodiment can be used in a pachinko machine 60 as shown in FIG. This pachinko machine 60 has two display devices, a special symbol display device 64 and a normal symbol display device 66, and a winning opening 72 on the game board 62.
Is provided.

This special symbol display device 64 has a starting opening 68.
When winning the prize, the random number generated by the random number generating device of the present embodiment is collated, and a winning or a deviation symbol is displayed.

The random number generator of this embodiment is constructed as shown in FIG. 2, and a probability setting device 12 is connected to a central processing unit (CPU) 10 via a bus 11. The probability setting device 12 is used by the manager to set the winning probability before starting the game.

The central processing unit 10 also includes a control ROM.
14 and the RAM 15 are connected.

In the control ROM 14, as shown in FIG.
A random number setting area 16 storing a lower limit value 3 and an upper limit value 222, a lower limit value 3 and an upper limit value 122, etc. according to the probability, a data area 18, and a game execution control program area storing a game execution control program. 20, an unused area 22, and a vector area 24 are provided. Then, according to the probability information such as the high probability or the low probability set by the probability setting device 12, the random number setting area 1 in the control ROM 14
The upper and lower limit values stored in advance in 6 are selected and used.

A random number fetch timing generator 26 is connected to the central processing unit 10. The random number fetch timing generation device 26 is for determining the timing for referring to the random number, and is set to fetch the random number that determines whether the hit or miss occurs when a pachinko ball wins the start opening of the pachinko machine, for example. It

Further, the central processing unit 10 is connected to a prize detecting section 27 for detecting that a prize has been won at the starting port of the pachinko machine.

Further, a random number generator 28 is connected to the central processing unit 10. The random number generator 28 is configured using a free running counter 30 as illustrated in FIG. The free running counter 30 is connected to a clock generator (provided independently of the clock generator of the central processing unit 10) 32 that outputs a clock signal (clock pulse) as a pulse signal, and a coefficient circuit is configured.

Further, a lower limit value setting register 34 is connected to the free running counter 30. The central processing unit 10 is connected to the lower limit value setting register 34,
The lower limit value set by the central processing unit 10 is input to the free running counter 30, and the lower limit value of the sequence counted by the free running counter 30 is determined.

The output of the free running counter 30 is
The one input terminal of the digital comparator 36 is connected, and the other input terminal of the digital comparator 36 is connected to the upper limit setting register 38. The digital comparator 36 has a trade name of TC74HC688.
Etc. can be used. The central processing unit 10 is connected to the upper limit setting register 38, and the central processing unit 1
The upper limit value set by 0 is the digital comparator 36
Is input to The output terminal of the digital comparator 36 is connected to the reset terminal of the free running counter 30. According to the random number generation unit 28, the output signal counted up by the free running counter 30 is sent to one input terminal of the digital comparator 36, where it is set by the upper limit value setting register 38 and input from the other terminal. When the output signal of the digital comparator 36 is sent to the reset terminal of the free running counter 30 and the count of the free running counter 30 is reset to the lower limit value, The counting operation is restarted.

Thus, the free running counter 30
The signal obtained by repeatedly counting the number sequence from the lower limit value to the upper limit value is read by the central processing unit 10 at the fetch timing of the random number fetch timing generation device 26.

The central processing unit 10 reads the upper and lower limit values input to the upper and lower limit value setting registers 38 and 34 to check whether the written upper and lower limit values are correct or not. Is also good.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment constructed as described above will be described with reference to FIG. First, the process up to the stage before the game process of the game machine is executed by the random number generator of the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, when the random number generator is started,
Next, in step 42, it is determined whether or not the power supply has been started. If it is not at power-on, step 52
Shifts to the game processing of. When the power is turned on, the initialization processing in step 44
A predetermined area of RAM in the control device is set to an initial value.

Next, at step 46, the probability setting device 12
Take in the probability information set in. Next, the upper limit value and the lower limit value corresponding to the probability information fetched in step 48 are read from the random number setting area 16 of the control ROM 14.

Next, the upper limit value read in step 50 is set in the upper limit value setting register 38, and the lower limit value is set in the lower limit value setting register 34. Next, at step 52, a random number is generated based on the upper and lower limit values set as described above, and the game proceeds. When the game ends,
In step 54, it is determined whether or not the power is off. If not, the process returns to step 42. If the power is turned off, the operation ends.

In the above embodiment, the case where both the upper limit value setting register 38 and the lower limit value setting register are used has been described, but it is also possible to use only one of them. For example, free running counter 3
When 0 starts counting from 0, the free running counter 30 may repeatedly count the sequence between the upper limit value set in the upper limit value setting register 38 and 0. As shown, the lower limit value setting register can be omitted. In addition, free running counter 30
If the upper limit for counting up is fixed,
Since the free running counter 30 may repeatedly count the sequence between the lower limit value set in the lower limit value setting register 30 and the upper limit value, the upper limit value setting register 38 can be omitted. The free-running counter 30 not only counts up as described above,
You may make it count down.

Further, the central processing unit 10 and the random number generator 28
Since they are configured as separate units and are operated by different clock generators 32, a VCO (voltage controlled oscillator) is used as the clock generator 32 of the random number generation unit 28 to vary the voltage to vary the cycle of the pulse signal. That is, the generation state of the numerical value counted by the free running counter 30 may be changed by randomly generating the pulse signal in accordance with the changing period of the pulse signal. Further, a function generator may be connected to the free-running counter 30, and each pulse signal periodically generated from the clock generator 32 may be configured to count in correspondence with the function.

Further, the above-mentioned means for varying the period of the pulse signal may be combined with a function generator to generate a numerical value that varies more randomly. By configuring as described above, the random number generator 2
It is possible to make the numerical value generated at 8 random so as not to generate periodicity.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to 1. In the second embodiment, two kinds of random numbers are used to control the game machine. That is, the second embodiment is used for the pachinko machine 60 shown in FIG. 1, and the special symbol display device 64 has the starting opening 6
When the player wins the eighth prize, the random number value fetched in step 96 is stored in step 110 as shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 10 and 11, which will be described later, and in step 128, the random number value is collated with the hit value set on the program to win. Or, display the off pattern. Further, when the normal symbol display device 66 wins the normal symbol display device operation gate 70, step 96 as shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 10 and 11 described later.
The random number value fetched in step 122 is stored in step 122, and in step 130, the controller is controlled so as to collate with the hit value set on the program and display a hit or a deviation symbol.

The control device having these two kinds of random number functions is
It is configured as illustrated in FIG. 7. That is, the central processing unit 10 is connected with two random number generators 28A and 28B. The one random number generation unit 28A includes an upper limit value setting register 38A, a free running counter 30A, a comparator 36A, a lower limit value setting register 34A, and a clock generator 32. Further, the other random number generation unit 28B includes an upper limit setting register 38B, a free running counter 30B, a comparator 36B, a lower limit setting register B, and a clock generator 31 provided separately from the clock generator 32. The configurations of the random number generators 28A and 28B are the same as those shown in FIG. 3, so detailed description thereof will be omitted. Further, the control processor 14, the probability setting device 12 in which the high probability and the low probability are set, the winning timing detecting unit 26, the winning detecting unit 27, and the RAM 74 are connected to the central processing unit via the bus 72. .

In the random number setting area 16 of the control ROM 14 as shown in FIG. 8, the lower limit value 3 and the upper limit value 222 for determining a normal symbol (low probability), and the determination for a special symbol (high probability) are set. The lower limit value 3 and the upper limit value 12 are written.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment constructed as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the main routine in the control operation of the two random number generators of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

When the power is turned on, based on the probability set in the probability setting device 12 in step 82, the upper limit value 12 of the random number for special symbol determination written in the ROM 14 is set.
And the lower limit value 3 are read. Then, the upper limit value 12 and the lower limit value 3 of the read random number for special symbol determination are set to the upper limit value setting register 38A and the lower limit value setting register 34 for determining the special symbol. Along with this, the upper limit value 222 and the lower limit value 3 of the random number for normal symbol determination are read, and the upper limit value setting register 38B for normal symbol determination is determined.
And the lower limit value setting register 34B.

Next, at step 84, it is repeatedly judged whether the power is off or not. If the power is off, the control operation is ended.

Next, the interrupt processing during the above control operation will be described with reference to FIGS. This interrupt process 88 is repeatedly executed at predetermined time intervals, for example, every 4 msec. First, at step 90, it is judged whether or not it is the first operation after the power is turned on. If it is the first operation, the routine proceeds to step 92, and the RAM 74 and the like are set to initial values.

After the first predetermined time has elapsed, the interrupt process is executed again. Next, when it is determined in step 90 that it is not the first operation, the process proceeds to step 96. Step 9
In 6, the random number for special symbol determination which is specified by the special symbol per-determination random number generation unit 28A is read from the free-running counter 30A and written in the RAM 74. Along with this, the random number generation unit 28 for determination per normal symbol
From B, 1 for determining the normal symbol specified at that time
One random number is read from the free running counter 30B and written in the RAM 74.

Next, at step 98, an output process for causing each electric device on the game board 62 to perform a predetermined operation, and a timer process are executed.

Next, at step 100, it is judged whether the electric device on the game board 62 is operating normally, and if it is not operating normally due to a ball clogging or the like, the operation proceeds to step 102 to display an error. As a result, the control operation is suspended until the cause of the error is eliminated. If it is determined that the special symbol is operating normally, the process proceeds to step 104, and the winning check to the starting opening for determining the special symbol is executed, and step 10
When it is determined in 6 that the winning detection unit 27 has detected that the winning opening 68 has been won, the process proceeds to step 108. In step 108, it is determined whether or not the starting memory for storing the number of balls won in the starting opening 68 is 4 or less. If it is 4 or less, the process proceeds to step 110.

At step 110, the time when the pachinko ball wins the starting opening 68 is detected by the winning timing detection section 26, and at the time of winning, the central processing unit 10 makes one random number from the free running counter 30A as the winning random number at step 96. The random value read and written in the RAM 74 is stored in the area of the RAM 74 corresponding to the starting memory.

Next, at step 112, 1 is added to the starting memory and the routine proceeds to step 116. Also, step 106
If it is determined that the winning opening has not been won, the process proceeds to step 132.

If the starting memory is 4 or more in step 108, the process proceeds to the next step 114, the starting memory is set to 4, and the process proceeds to step 116.

Next, in step 116, it is checked whether or not the working gate for the ordinary symbol is won, and step 11
8, it is determined whether or not the winning detection unit 27 has detected that the operation gate 70 has been won. If it is determined that the operation gate 70 has been won, the process proceeds to step 120. In step 120, it is determined whether or not the starting memory in which the number of balls won in the operation gate 70 is 4 or less is stored.
If 4 or less, the process proceeds to step 122.

At step 122, the time when the pachinko ball wins the operation gate 70 is detected by the winning timing detection unit 26, and at the time of winning, the central processing unit 10 makes one random number from the free running counter 30B as the winning random number at step 96. The random number value read and written in the RAM 74 is stored in the area of the RAM 74 corresponding to the winning memory.

Next, at step 124, 1 is added to the starting memory, and the routine proceeds to step 128. If the starting memory is 4 or more in step 120, the process proceeds to the next step 126, the starting memory is set to 4, and the process proceeds to step 128.

At step 128, special symbol control processing is performed. That is, first, the special symbol winning determination random number fetched in step 96 is stored in the winning memory of the RAM 74 in step 110, the value is compared with the winning value on the program, and when both match, it is determined to be a winning. However, if they do not match, it is determined to be out. Then, in the case of winning, after rotating the symbol of the special symbol display device 64, the rotation is stopped so that the winning symbol is displayed, and a predetermined hit operation of opening the winning opening 72 is executed. Further, in the case of detachment, after rotating the symbol of the special symbol display device 64, the rotation is stopped so that the detached symbol is displayed, and step 130 is performed.
Proceed to.

At step 130, normal symbol control processing is performed. That is, first, the random number for determining the normal symbol winning taken in step 96 is stored in the winning memory of the RAM 74 in step 122, and the value is compared with the winning value on the program. If they match, it is determined to be a winning. , If they do not match, it is determined to be out. Then, in the case of a hit, after rotating the symbol of the normal symbol display device 66, the rotation is stopped so that the hit symbol is displayed, and a predetermined hit operation for opening the winning opening 72 is executed. In the case of disengagement, after rotating the symbol of the normal symbol display device 66, the rotation is stopped so that the detached symbol is displayed, and the process proceeds to step 132.

Also, when it is determined in step 118 that the operation gate 70 has not been won, the process proceeds to step 132.

Next, at step 132, various operation processes are performed. That is, the display processing of the lamp of each part of the pachinko machine, the dynamic display processing by the LED, the external information processing, the liquid crystal display processing, the prize ball payout, and the sound processing are executed, and the process returns to the main routine.

The structure, operation, and effect of the second embodiment other than those described above are the same as those of the first embodiment described above, and therefore the description thereof is omitted.

The random number generator and the upper and lower limit values may be set to 3 or more. One-time ROM is built in the upper limit value register and the lower limit value register, the regular data is written there at the time of factory shipment, and the actual data is adopted as the upper limit value and the lower limit value. You may make it compare with. This way,
The central processing unit only needs to read the upper and lower limit value data from the upper and lower limit setting registers 38 and 34 by the central processing unit 10.
Since it cannot be written from, the program cannot be tampered with.

[0059]

Since the present invention has the above-described structure, in the invention of claim 1, the count range of the counter is desired based on at least one of the upper limit value and the lower limit value set by the setting means of the control device. Random numbers can be generated by setting the range.

Further, since the random number generator uses an independent counter which cannot be tampered with from the outside, it is possible to prevent the hit probability from being illegally changed. At the same time, since the program of the control device is not used for random number generation, this program can be fully used for play motion control, and there is no need to incorporate a process for random number generation in the program. You can easily. Also, when verifying the probability of winning, it is only necessary to look at the upper limit value and the lower limit value information of the setting means, so the verification work can be facilitated.

According to the second and third aspects of the invention, it is possible to prevent the generated random numbers from having more periodicity.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to generate a plurality of random numbers corresponding to a plurality of predetermined probabilities.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of essential parts illustrating a pachinko machine that can utilize a control device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration explanatory diagram showing a control device portion according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration explanatory diagram showing the internal configuration of the random number generator of FIG.

4 is a schematic configuration explanatory diagram showing an internal configuration in which a lower limit value setting register is omitted from the random number generator of FIG.

5 is an explanatory diagram showing a storage area of a control ROM of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a main part of a control operation according to the control device of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration explanatory diagram showing a control device portion according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a storage area of the control ROM of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart for explaining the control operation of the control device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart for explaining the control operation of the control device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart for explaining the control operation of the control device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Central Processing Unit 12 Probability Setting Unit 14 Control ROM 26 Winning Timing Detection Unit 28 Random Number Generation Unit 30 Free Running Counter 32 Clock Generator (Signal Generation Means) 34 Lower Limit Value Setting Register (Setting Means) 36 Digital Comparator 38 Upper Limit Value Setting Register ( Setting method)

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Naoto Kaburagi 8-304-1 Hirosawa-cho, Kiryu-shi Gunma 8 Heiwai Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Katsuhiro Ikeda 8-304-1 Hirosawa-cho, Kiryu-shi Gunma Heiwanai Co., Ltd. (72) One inventor, Iwasaki, 8 Heiwanai Co., Ltd., 2, 3014 Hirosawa-cho, Kiryu-shi, Gunma

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. Setting means for setting at least one of an upper limit value and a lower limit value by a control device for controlling the operation of a gaming machine at a control cycle based on a clock signal, and a signal for generating a pulse signal different from the clock signal. A random number generation device for a gaming machine, comprising: a generation unit; and a counter that counts the pulse signal with the value set in the setting unit as a reference and the count value is read as a random number by the control device. 2. The random number generator for a gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the counter randomly counts the pulse signals. 3. The random number generating device for a gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the signal generating means randomly generates the pulse signal. 4. At least one of an upper limit value and a lower limit value corresponding to each of a plurality of predetermined probabilities is set by a control device that controls the operation of the gaming machine at a control cycle based on a clock signal. Setting means, signal generating means for generating a pulse signal different from the clock signal, each of the pulse signals is counted with the value set in the setting means as a reference, and the count value is a random number according to the probability. A random number generation device for a gaming machine including a plurality of counters read by a control device.