JPH0824750B2 - Display devices for pachinko machines - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a display device for a pachinko machine.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, when a specific winning hole is won in a pachinko machine, the design (numbers, letters, patterns, etc.) of the display device fluctuates, and when a specific combination is obtained at the time of stopping, it is a big hit or a small hit. There is a type of so-called fever type that becomes a hit. In the display device used for these types, a display panel is built into the inside,
The symbols described above are variably displayed on this screen.

In such a display panel, low power consumption, structural compactness, etc. are particularly desired. From these points, the liquid crystal display panel is excellent and is widely used in general display panels.

However, since the liquid crystal display panel itself does not emit light, there is a problem that the display is difficult to see due to a dark screen and insufficient contrast. Therefore, if it is applied to a pachinko machine as it is, the displayed pattern lacks sharpness and the expressiveness of the pattern is impaired. Since the display device is an important element for increasing the fun of the game, some measures need to be taken. Therefore, as a countermeasure against this, a backlight source such as a fluorescent lamp may be set on the back side of the liquid crystal display panel.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As a specific example thereof, there is a configuration in which a fluorescent lamp is set as a backlight light source and the fluorescent lamp is arranged on the back side of the liquid crystal display panel. However, in such a configuration, since the fluorescent lamp itself is a component that requires an assembling space in the depth direction, the entire display device has a considerable thickness. For this reason, it is inconvenient to handle the display device alone, and when it is incorporated into a pachinko machine, the amount of protrusion to the rear becomes large, which may cause a collision during transportation.

Further, since the fluorescent lamp is a linear light source, it is difficult to arrange the fluorescent lamp so that the entire surface of the liquid crystal display panel is uniformly illuminated, and as a result, uneven brightness occurs.

Further, since the color emitted by the fluorescent lamp does not provide a vivid color display, it cannot be said to be sufficient to make the displayed pattern colorally distinct, and it is difficult to satisfy the point of increasing the fun of the game.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a display device having a compact structure and rich in the expressiveness of symbols.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The configuration of the present invention for achieving the above object is a transmissive liquid crystal display panel in a display device mounted on a game board of a pachinko machine, and a liquid crystal display panel of the liquid crystal display panel. An EL panel arranged on the back side is incorporated, and this EL panel has a backlight function for the liquid crystal display panel,
It has a self-luminous display function of performing a predetermined display through the liquid crystal display panel.

(Operation) According to the above configuration, when the EL panel functions as a backlight, it uniformly and clearly illuminates the display on the liquid crystal display panel as a surface emission source. Further, when the EL panel functions as a display panel, the display of the EL panel is shown through the liquid crystal display panel.

(Examples) Hereinafter, examples in which the present invention is embodied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, a pachinko machine equipped with a display device will be described with reference to FIG. Various winning openings are arranged on the game board 1. Of these, 2 to 5 are normal winning openings, but 6 to
Reference numeral 8 is a starting opening for starting a variation of the pattern for the display device 9 described below. Then, the symbols variably displayed on the display device 9 (three-digit numbers variably displayed by the EL panel ELP described later) on the display device 9 in association with the winning in any of the starting openings 6 to 8 have stopped after a certain period of time. If a specific combination has been obtained, the display device 9 is in a “hit state”.
The V winning opening 10 arranged below is set to open for a certain period of time.

The display device 9 arranged substantially in the center of the game board 1 is
The display device 9 has a case body 12 as shown in the figure.
The housing 14 of the case body 12 is fitted into the mounting hole 13 opening in the game board 1 to complete the mounting. The housing 14 is formed in a rectangular tube shape that opens in both front and rear directions, and a transparent cover plate 15 is provided in the front opening.
Is fitted from the inside.

Inside the housing 14, a liquid crystal display panel LCP and an EL panel ELP, which will be described later, are arranged substantially coaxially in the front-rear direction. Both of these panels are mounted together on the mounting substrate 16 and constitute a display unit as a whole. The mounting substrate 16 is sandwiched between the housing 14 and the cover member 17 that covers the rear of the housing 14, and is fixed by screws or the like.

 Incidentally, 11 to 11 are windmills.

The liquid crystal display panel LCP of this example is, as shown in FIG.
The liquid crystal 18 is sandwiched between the transparent substrates 19 and 20 from the front and rear sides to form a liquid crystal cell, and polarizing plates 21 and 2 are provided on both sides of the liquid crystal cell.
It has a structure of TN mode in which 2 is pasted. In addition, the liquid crystal display panel LCP is used so that sufficient transmitted light can be obtained when no voltage is applied to the liquid crystal. In this state, the display on the EL panel ELP described later is
You can see through.

Although not shown in detail, the transparent electrodes are arranged in a matrix on the inner surfaces of the transparent substrates 19 and 20, and the substrates are printed on the mounting substrate 16 via the conductive connector 23 as shown in FIG. It is connected to wiring. The mounting substrate 16 is connected to a control device 28 (see FIG. 5, which will be described later) composed of a microcomputer, whereby the liquid crystal display panel LCP follows a command from the control device 28 and forms a dot matrix. Depending on the method, a predetermined character or an appropriate design can be variably displayed.

The specific display mode of the liquid crystal display panel LCP in this example is always in a non-display state, and the LE described below is used.
The three-digit number that is variably displayed on the panel ELP is transparently displayed. When the "hit state" as described above is reached, for example, "big hit," on the liquid crystal display panel LCP side.
A message such as "Congratulations!" Is displayed while scrolling horizontally.

On the other hand, regarding the concrete structure of the EL panel ELP,
As shown in the figure, a phosphor 24 having an insulating film 25 laminated on the back surface thereof is provided with transparent electrodes (segment electrodes) 26, 2 from both sides thereof.
It is sandwiched between 7. That is, the EL panel ELP can display 3-digit numbers side by side by the 7-segment method. Also, these electrodes 2
6, 27 are connected to the printed wiring on the mounting substrate 16 and further connected to the above-mentioned control device 28 to control lighting.

However, in the case of this example, the positive display is always set such that the three-digit number part is left and the other part (background) other than this is turned on as one segment. At this time, the lighting state is switched so that it is in a non-display state, that is, in a full lighting state in which all segments are lit. However, EL light is emitted except for the part that displays 3-digit numbers (in this example, yellow-orange monochromatic light emission is used, but it is also possible to set the light emission color only for the number segments. Therefore, you can always enjoy a vivid color digital display, and when it hits, it will act as a backlight for the display on the liquid crystal display panel ECP.

As shown in FIG. 5, the control device 28 is composed of a CPU 29 that performs digital arithmetic processing, a ROM 30 that stores programs and fixed data, and a microcomputer mainly including a RAM 31 that stores the results of arithmetic processing. ing. Then, according to the program stored in the ROM 30, the signal from the prize detection switch 33 via the waveform shaping circuit 32 is taken into the CPU 29 as input information, and the lighting control of both the EL display panel and the liquid crystal display panel or the V winning opening 10 is performed. Opening and closing solenoid
Performs operation control of 34.

The display device of this example is configured as described above. Therefore, the display device 9 always displays the display on the EL panel ELP (positive display) through the liquid crystal panel ECP. When there is a winning ball in the starting ports 6 to 8, the display on the EL panel ELP starts to change in accordance with the command from the control device 28. As a result, if the combination of "hit state" is obtained when the display is stopped, the entire surface of the EL panel ELP lights up, and the above-mentioned message is displayed on the liquid crystal display panel LCP while receiving the back irradiation from here. To be done.

To enumerate the effects of this example, the numbers on the EL panel ELP can be displayed in color in the display device with a bright luminescent color (yellow orange in this example) as a background, resulting in a dynamic display for the player. Increase interest. Also, since the display of the "winning state" is performed by the liquid crystal display panel LCP by dot matrix display, in addition to the message like this example, various displays such as various symbols or combinations with these can be set. Is easy. Moreover, since the backlight is illuminated by the EL panel ELP when these displays are performed, a bright color display and an appropriate contrast can be obtained as in the above.
The display is extremely easy to see. In addition, we have set up two types of panels, EL panels and liquid crystal display panels, which have different symbol expressive powers. One of them is a segment display and the other is a matrix display. The effect is that it can be enlarged and the player can enjoy various displays.

It should be noted that the liquid crystal display panel LCP may be a segment display, and in this case, the expressiveness is slightly inferior to the matrix display, and there is an advantage that the display control is simple. Also EL
The panel ELP may be displayed by a dot matrix method. In this case, the display control is complicated, but the expressive power is increased.

Further, by using the EL panel, the functions of both the display and the backlight can be shared, so that the number of parts is small, the configuration is simple, and the overall thickness of the display device can be reduced. Further, by using a surface light emitting body called an EL panel, it is possible to reduce uneven brightness. In this example, since the EL panel ELP having the same size as the liquid crystal display panel LCP is used, it is easy to make the brightness uniform.

Furthermore, since both panels are assembled on the mounting substrate 16 to form a unit, they are convenient for handling or assembling. In addition, the EL panel ELP has the advantage that it does not easily break like in the case of a fluorescent lamp and does not require much attention during assembly work.

In addition, if a light diffusion plate is interposed between the EL panel ELP and the liquid crystal display panel LCP, the EL panel ELP can be downsized.

Further, in this example, the liquid crystal display panel LCP is always set to non-display, but an appropriate symbol display may be performed in an area that does not interfere with the transmissive display area of the EL panel ELP. Contrary to this example, the EL panel ELP may have a negative display type, but a positive display is preferable for long-term display. Furthermore, when the "hit state" is displayed, for example, the EL panel ELP alternately repeats positive display and negative display.
The display may be made to blink so as to add more dynamicness to the display.

The EL panel ELP alone may be used instead of the liquid crystal display panel LCP and used in place of the conventional 7-segment LED.

(Effects of the Invention) The effects of the present invention are as follows.

Since the EL panel is used for transmissive display, the vivid color emission adds dynamic to the display, and the display on the liquid crystal panel is also illuminated by this vivid backlight. A distinctive display can be obtained and the player's interest can be greatly increased. In addition, by using two types of displays, an EL panel and a liquid crystal display panel, and switching or combining and displaying them, it is possible to enjoy a variety of display patterns.

Furthermore, since the EL panel is used as both the display and the backlight, the structure of the display device can be simplified, and at the same time the overall thickness of the device can be reduced. As a result, the display device can be easily handled, and the amount of rearward projection when incorporated into a pachinko machine can be reduced, and damage can be avoided in advance.

Further, since the EL panel is a surface emission source, it can contribute to the realization of uniform brightness.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a display device, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a liquid crystal display panel, FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an EL panel, FIG. 4 is a front view of a pachinko machine, and FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine of this example. 1 …… Game board 9 …… Display device LCP …… Liquid crystal display panel ELP …… EL panel

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A display device mounted on a game board of a pachinko machine, wherein a transmissive liquid crystal display panel and an EL panel arranged on the back side of the liquid crystal display panel are incorporated, and the EL panel is A display device for a pachinko machine having a backlight function for a liquid crystal display panel and a self-luminous display function for performing a predetermined display through the liquid crystal display panel.