JPH10126242A - Detection and management device for playing balls in game spot - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the detector and the management device for plying balls, which have a faster detection response speed with less detection errors and are hardly restricted of the mount space. SOLUTION: The device is provided with a coil 1, placed at a prescribed position in the vicinity of a path of a playing ball 8 made of a magnetic material, a circuit 3 that excites the coil 1, a circuit that generates a signal representing it that each playing ball passes in the vicinity of the coil 1, based on the measurement of a phase lag of an output signal produced proximity of the ball 8 with respect to the coil l, and also with a means that counts number of playing balls passing the proximity of the coil 1. Or the passing direction of the playing ball is detected in the order of proximity of balls to two coils.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an indoor game facility (for example, a pachinko facility) using a game ball made of a magnetic material.
In particular, a device for detecting and managing a game ball in which a magnetic coil is used as an element for detecting the game ball to detect the passage of the game ball and manage the passage and counting of the game ball based on the detection About.

2. Description of the Related Art At present, in a pachinko machine, automation is progressing in an individual pachinko machine and a surrounding ball supply system, and ball detecting devices are provided at predetermined locations in a pachinko ball path. As such kind of ball detection device,
A proximity switch type, which uses a magnetic coil as a detection element and detects the proximity of a pachinko ball made of a magnetic material, is widely used. A conventional proximity switch of this type is a proximity switch of a type in which a detection coil is incorporated in an LC oscillation circuit.

[0002]

In a conventional proximity switch of this type, the oscillation condition is established / unestablished depending on the presence or absence of a magnetic body, and the start / stop of oscillation is controlled. The approach / pass of the pachinko ball is detected by detecting the presence or absence of oscillation via a smoothing circuit or the like. For this reason, the detection response speed becomes relatively slow, and when the movement of the pachinko ball to be detected is fast and a plurality of balls continuously pass, the pachinko ball cannot follow, and a detection error occurs. there were. In addition, in order to properly set the oscillation conditions, the detection coil cannot be arranged so as to be separated from the oscillation circuit main body and routed by a wiring cable, and it is necessary to incorporate the detection coil in the oscillation circuit main body. Was. Therefore, it has been required to secure a sufficient circuit arrangement space near the detection end, and there has been a problem that it cannot be mounted in a place where there is only a narrow space. The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides a game ball detection device which has a high detection response speed, has few detection errors, and is hardly restricted by a mounting space, and uses this detection device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a game ball management device.

[0003]

According to the present invention, there is provided a detecting device comprising a coil disposed at a predetermined position near a path of a game ball made of a magnetic material, a circuit for exciting the coil, and an output signal of the coil. By measuring the phase lag of
A circuit for generating a signal indicating that each game ball has passed near the coil based on a measurement of a phase delay of the output signal generated in response to the proximity of the ball to the coil. It is assumed that. When a game ball (for example, a pachinko ball) made of a magnetic material comes close to the coil, the inductance of the coil changes, which causes a phase delay in the output signal of the coil. By measuring the phase delay, the proximity of the game ball can be detected. According to the present invention, since the configuration is such that the phase delay of the coil output signal is measured, the detection responsiveness can be improved, and even if the movement of the game ball made of a magnetic material to be detected is fast, Can be reliably detected. In addition, since this type measures the phase delay, even if the detection coil arrangement is slightly away from the measurement circuit main body, it does not adversely affect the measurement accuracy. It can be arranged so as to be separated from the main body a little (for example, several meters) and routed with a wiring cable,
It is not required to secure a sufficient circuit layout space near the detection end, and it is very easy to use in various environments.
Therefore, the detection response speed is fast and the detection error is small,
In addition, it is possible to provide a game ball detection device that is hardly limited by a mounting space, and to provide a game ball management device using the detection device.

[0004]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In FIG. 1, an LR series circuit is formed by a detection coil 1 and an appropriate resistor 2, and an oscillation circuit 3 generates an excitation signal A composed of, for example, a rectangular wave having an appropriate duty ratio.
Applied to the R series circuit. The output signal B of the coil 1 is taken out from the connection point between the coil 1 and the resistor 2 and is inputted to one input (−) of the analog comparator 4. The other input (+) of the comparator 4 receives a voltage indicating a predetermined reference level Vr generated from the circuit 5. Comparator 4
Produces a high-level ("1") output signal C when the level of the output signal B of the coil 1 is lower than the reference level Vr, and a low level when the level of the output signal B of the coil 1 is higher than the reference level Vr. An output signal C of ("0") is generated. The output signal C of the comparator 4 is input to the data input (D) of the flip-flop 6. A signal D obtained by delaying the rectangular wave signal A from the oscillation circuit 3 by the delay circuit 7 for a predetermined time is input to the control input of the flip-flop 6. This predetermined delay time amount is set as described later. The signal E appearing at the output (Q) of the flip-flop 6 is output as a signal indicating the result of determining the presence or absence of the magnetic body 8. The signal E may be fed back to the reference level generation circuit 5 according to a request in circuit design.

The detection coil 1 is disposed at a predetermined position where a game ball 8 (for example, a pachinko ball) made of a magnetic material to be detected passes. The other measurement circuit main body 9 is disposed at a position (for example, several meters) away from the predetermined position where the coil 1 is disposed, and the coil 1 and the circuit main body 9 are disposed.
The wiring cable between them may be slightly routed. In this case, the coil 1 may be wound around the outer circumference of the passage of the game ball 8 so that the game ball 8 passes through the ring of the coil 1. When applied to a pachinko machine, the detection device according to the present invention can be used for detecting a fired ball or a supply ball. In that case, flip-flop 6
By counting the number of output pulses by the counter, the cumulative number of fired balls and supply balls passing through the passage can be counted. Further, the detection device according to the present invention can be used in a ball lending machine, a ball counter for prize exchange, and the like.

An example of a signal waveform of each part in FIG. 1 in a state where the magnetic material, that is, the game ball 8 is not close to the coil 1, is as shown in "Case 1" in FIG. Magnetic body 8 is coil 1
2, there is little phase delay of the output signal B of the coil 1 as shown in B of “Case 1” of FIG. With this state as a reference, the delay circuit 7 is delayed somewhat from the time when the level of the output signal B becomes higher than the reference level Vr of the comparator 4, that is, the time when the output signal C of the comparator 4 falls to a low level. Of the delay circuit 7 so that the output signal D of
Delay time is set. Thus, when the signal D applied to the control input of the flip-flop 6 rises to the high level, the output signal C of the comparator 4 input to the data input (D) is at the low level. The signal E is taken in and the signal E appearing at the output (Q) is at a low level ("0"). The low level (“0”) of the output signal E of the flip-flop 6 indicates that the magnetic body 8 is not close.

On the other hand, as shown by a broken line 8 ', a signal waveform example of each part in FIG. 1 in a state where the magnetic body 8 is close to the coil 1 is as shown in "Case 2" in FIG. In a state where the magnetic body 8 is close to the coil 1, the inductance of the coil 1 relatively increases, so that the phase delay of the output signal B of the coil 1 increases as shown in "Case 2" of FIG. . Therefore, when the rising of the output signal B of the coil 1 is delayed, the level of the output signal B becomes higher than the reference level Vr of the comparator 4;
That is, the time when the output signal C of the comparator 4 falls to the low level is later than the time when the output signal D of the delay circuit 7 rises to the high level. Thus, when the signal D applied to the control input of the flip-flop 6 rises to the high level, the output signal C of the comparator 4 input to the data input (D) is at the high level. The signal is fetched, and the signal E appearing at its output (Q) goes high ("1"). The high level (“1”) of the output signal E of the flip-flop 6 indicates that the magnetic body 8 has approached.

As described above, the proximity of the magnetic body 8 can be detected by measuring the phase lag of the output signal B of the coil 1 caused by the proximity of the magnetic body 8 to the coil 1. The specific configuration of the circuit for measuring the phase delay of the output signal B of the coil 1 caused by the proximity of the magnetic body 8 is not limited to that shown in the illustrated embodiment, but may be changed as appropriate. For example, in the circuit of FIG. 1, a signal delayed from a predetermined time based on the phase of the excitation signal A of the coil 1, that is, a signal D obtained by delaying the signal A by a predetermined time is used as a control input of the flip-flop 6. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and appropriate design changes are possible. For example, another series of the same circuit as the coil 1 and the comparator 4 is provided for a control signal, and an output signal corresponding to a predetermined phase when a magnetic substance is not close is generated from the control signal comparator. May be input to the control input of the flip-flop 6 with a small delay as appropriate.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the present invention. Instead of the delay circuit 7 of FIG. 1, an LR series circuit comprising an additional coil 11 and a resistor 12, a comparator 14 and a reference level generating circuit 15 are provided. In this case, the additional coil 11 is provided adjacent to the detection coil 1 (position slightly shifted), and an output taken from a connection point between the coil 11 and the resistor 12 is input to the analog comparator 14, and a reference level generation circuit 15 is provided. Compare with the reference level from. The output of the comparator 14 is provided to the control input of the flip-flop 6. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the operation example of FIG. 3, and the timing chart of signals C and D is shown in FIG.
It corresponds to. (A) shows that the magnetic body 8 is composed of the coils 1 and 1
In this case, a short time after the output C of the comparator 4 falls, the comparator 1
4 is set in advance so that the output D rises. Such a setting can be set by the amount of feedback hysteresis from the flip-flop 6, or the characteristics of the coils 1 and 11 are slightly shifted, or the reference level from the reference level generating circuit 15 is set appropriately. It can be set depending on things. FIG. 4A is the same as Case 1 in FIG.

FIG. 4B shows a state in which the magnetic body 8 has come closer to the detection coil 1. In this case, since the inductance of the coil 1 increases, the delay of the signal B increases, the rising of the output C of the comparator 4 lags behind the rising of the output D of the comparator 14, and the output E of the flip-flop 6 becomes "1". stand up. FIG. 4B shows FIG.
The case 2 is the same as the case 2, and the closest of the magnetic body 8 to the detection coil 1 can be detected. FIG. 4C shows a state where the magnetic body 8 is closer to the auxiliary coil 11 than to the detection coil 1. In this case, since the inductance of the coil 11 increases, the delay of the signal F increases, and the output D of the comparator 14 rises after the output C of the comparator 4 rises, so that the output E of the flip-flop 6 becomes “0”. Fall. In the example of FIG. 1, when the impedance of the coil 1 changes due to a temperature change, the delay time of the delay circuit 7 does not change, so that a detection error may occur. On the other hand, in the example of FIG.
And 11 both have a temperature characteristic, so that there is an advantage that the error is canceled and there is no possibility of causing a detection error. In FIG. 3, the auxiliary coil 11 may be provided at a position where the magnetic body 8 does not approach.

In each of the above embodiments, the excitation signal A
Is not limited to the rectangular wave signal as described above, and may be an AC signal such as a sine wave. When an AC signal such as a sine wave is used, the comparator 4 uses a zero-cross detection comparator, and the subsequent circuit can be an appropriate circuit for measuring a phase delay of zero phase. For example, a circuit including a flip-flop as shown in FIG. 1 may be used, or an appropriate circuit including a digital phase counting circuit and a digital comparator may be used.
Further, a pulse signal having a small duty ratio may be used as the excitation signal A. In that case, since the coil output signal is generated in a state where the pulse width is modulated according to the inductance change of the coil 1, the measurement of the phase lag may be equivalently replaced by the pulse width measurement.

FIG. 5 shows a circuit configuration for counting the number of game balls 8 that have passed by counting the number of pulses of the signal E output from the flip-flop 6 of the measurement circuit main body 9 with the counter 20. The count value of the counter 20 may be displayed on the display 21 or may be output as data and used as appropriate. Also,
The signal E output from the flip-flop 6 of the measurement circuit body 9 may be input to an appropriate control circuit 22 and used as a control signal such as a trigger signal.

FIG. 6 shows an example in which two detection coils 1A and 1B are provided at predetermined intervals smaller than the diameter of the game ball 8. Measuring circuits 9A and 9B may be provided corresponding to the coils 1A and 1B, respectively. In this case, the moving direction of the game ball 8 can be determined from the time difference between the game balls 8 passing through the coils 1A and 1B. That is, the game ball detection pulses Ea and Eb output from each of the measurement circuits 9A and 9B are input to the direction determination circuit 23, and the game ball is determined by the logic shown in the following table based on the elapsed time of the combination of the values of the pulses Ea and Eb. 8 is determined.

[Table 1]

FIG. 7 shows the measurement circuits 9A and 9B of FIG. 6 combined into one measurement circuit 9 and the auxiliary coil 11 of FIG.
And an example in which circuits related thereto are provided. FIG. 1 or FIG.
2A, 4A, 5A, and 6 similar to the resistor 2, the comparator 4, the reference level generation circuit 5, and the flip-flop 6.
A is provided corresponding to the coil 1A, and similar circuits 2B, 4B, 5B, 6B are provided corresponding to the coil 1B. The auxiliary coil 11 is, for example, the coil 1
It is good to provide in the middle of A and 1B. The auxiliary coil 11 and the circuits 12, 14, and 15 associated therewith are the same as those shown in FIG. FIG. 8 shows an operation example in the circuit of FIG. The timing charts of the signals Ca, Cb, and D correspond to FIGS. FIG. 8A shows that the magnetic game balls 8 include the coils 1A, 1B and 1
1 indicates a state where it is not close to. FIG. 8B shows the game ball 8.
Indicates a state close to the coil 1A. (C) is a game ball 8
Indicates a state close to the coils 1A, 1B and 11.
(D) shows a state in which the game ball 8 approaches the coil 1B.

[0015]

As described above, according to the present invention, the inductance of the coil changes in accordance with the proximity of the magnetic substance to the coil, and accordingly, a phase delay occurs in the output signal of the coil. The proximity of the magnetic material can be detected by measuring the delay. Therefore, since the configuration is such that the phase delay of the coil output signal is measured, the detection responsiveness can be enhanced, and even if the magnetic body to be detected moves fast, this can be reliably detected. , Which is an excellent effect. In addition, since the phase delay is measured, even if the detection coil arrangement is slightly away from the measurement circuit body, the measurement accuracy is not adversely affected. It can be arranged so as to be separated from the main body as appropriate and routed with a wiring cable, so that it is not required to secure sufficient circuit arrangement space near the detection end, and it is very easy to use in various environments. , Which is an excellent effect. In addition, since it is not of a type that controls oscillation conditions, there is no problem that malfunctions are likely to occur due to the influence of disturbance radio waves emitted from nearby mobile phones and transceivers. Therefore, it is possible to provide a game ball detection device that has a fast detection response speed, has few detection errors, and is not easily limited by the mounting space, and also provides a game ball management device using this detection device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a signal waveform diagram showing an operation example of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a signal waveform diagram showing an operation example of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a circuit combined with the embodiment of FIG. 1 or FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a modification of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a signal waveform diagram showing an operation example of FIG. 7;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 1A, 1B, 11 Coil 2, 12 Resistance 3 Oscillation circuit 4, 14 Comparator 5, 15 Reference level generation circuit 6 Flip-flop 7 Delay circuit 8 Game ball made of magnetic material

Claims (3)

[Claims] A coil disposed at a predetermined position close to a path of a game ball made of a magnetic material; a circuit for exciting the coil; and measuring a phase lag of an output signal of the coil to the coil. A circuit for generating a signal indicating that each game ball has passed the vicinity of the coil, based on a measurement of a phase delay of the output signal generated in response to the proximity of the ball. 2. The detection device according to claim 1, wherein the number of the game balls passed is determined based on a signal generated from the detection device and indicating that each of the game balls has passed near the coil. A game ball management device comprising a counting means. 3. A coil which is disposed at a predetermined position close to a path of a game ball made of a magnetic material and has a distance smaller than a diameter of the ball, a circuit for exciting each of the coils, and an output signal of each of the coils. By measuring the phase delay of the output signal generated in accordance with the proximity of the ball to each of the coils, based on the measurement of the phase delay of the output signal, a signal indicating that a game ball has passed in the vicinity of each of the coils, An apparatus for detecting a game ball, comprising: a circuit generated corresponding to a coil; and means for determining a moving direction of the game ball from a time difference between the signals indicating the passage corresponding to each of the coils.