JPH10127942A - Error content display device for game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily specify the error contents when an error is generated in a game machine by specifying a place where the error is generated in the appearance image of the game machine, displaying it at an image display means and displaying an error item selected in an error item selection means at the image display means. SOLUTION: The error display part 30 of the game machine is provided with a CPU 31 for discriminating the error contents and performing control so as to display the contents at a monitor 13, etc., a ROM 32 for storing information relating to the error such as the list of the errors or the like and a RAM 33 for tentatively storing the information at the time of error display. Also, an error list part 32b stores the list of the error contents whose generation is predicted and an error position information part 32c stores the information relating to the generation position of the error. Also, an error discrimination part 31b in the CPU 31 selects the error contents and position information from the error list part 32b and the error position information part 32c and a monitor control part 31a controls the display of the error contents to the monitor 13.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an error display device for a game machine, which displays an error message as an image when an error occurs in the game machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when hardware such as a sensor and a motor provided in a game machine breaks down, it is detected as an error. This is to quickly identify the location where the error has occurred and perform the recovery work efficiently. An error detection device is provided in the game machine. When an error is detected by the error detection device, an error name and an error code are displayed on a display device such as a CRT. Then, the maintenance person sees the displayed error name or error code and refers to the maintenance manual or performs a recovery operation based on his or her experience.

[0003]

However, in the above-described conventional technology, error names and error codes have been increased due to the recent diversification of game machines and the sophistication and complexity of mechanisms and structures provided in the devices. Only from this, it was difficult to identify the content of the error. In addition, the amount of maintenance manuals has increased, and search contents have increased. Therefore, when an error occurs in the game machine, there is a problem that it is difficult to quickly identify the content of the error.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to make it easy to identify the content of an error when an error occurs in the game machine.

[0005]

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image display means for displaying a progress of a game and other game contents to a player, and an image display means for displaying the progress of the game and the game machine. External appearance image information storage means for storing information of an external appearance image of the game machine, and an error item expected to occur in the game machine. Error item storage means to be executed and a position associated with the error item stored in the error item storage means for specifying an error occurrence position in the appearance image of the game machine stored in the appearance image information storage means Error position information storage means for storing information, and the error information stored in the error item storage means based on the error detected by the error detection means. An error item selecting means for selecting a corresponding error item among the items, and, based on the error detected by the error detecting means, the corresponding position information in the position information stored in the error position information storage means. Error position information selecting means to be selected, appearance image control means for displaying the appearance image of the game machine stored in the appearance image information storage means on the image display means, and the error position information selected by the error position information selection means. An error location control means for identifying a location where an error has occurred in the external appearance image of the game machine displayed by the external appearance image control means based on the position information, and displaying the location on the image display means; And an error item control means for displaying the error item selected by the selection means on the image display means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the error content display device for a game machine according to the first aspect, the error item storage means determines that there is a communication failure between specific CPUs provided in the game machine. A communication error item, a sensor error item indicating that a specific sensor provided in the game machine is defective, and a motor indicating that a specific motor provided in the game machine is defective. At least one of the error items is stored.

[0007] The third aspect of the present invention is the first or second aspect.
In the error content display device of the game machine according to the above, the error occurrence location control means, a specific color indicates the location where the error occurred in the appearance image of the game machine displayed by the appearance image control means It is characterized by doing.

[0008]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing one embodiment of a game machine to which the present invention is applied.
The game machine 10 is a derby game machine, and a running model simulating a racehorse is arranged on a play field 11. The running model races based on predetermined control. The player operation section 12 is a section for identifying a racehorse and inserting coins, and a plurality of the player operation sections 12 are provided so as to surround the play field 11. A monitor 13 is provided in the center of the game machine 10, and is a part for displaying a running state of a racehorse during a race, an order, and the like.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of hardware provided in the game machine 10. As shown in FIG. The game machine section 20 includes a CPU 21 for controlling the above-described monitor 13 and other game machines, such as the content of a game race, and a ROM 22 for storing a game development program.
A RAM 23 is provided for temporarily storing a race order, the number of bets of a player, and the like. In addition, a motor 24 and a sensor 25 for driving and controlling a mechanism and the like are provided.
And the CPU 21, the motor 24, and the sensor 2 described above.
5 and the like, and an error detection unit 26 for detecting these errors.

The error display unit 30 of the game machine 10 according to the present invention determines the content of the error, and controls the monitor 13 of the game machine 10 to display the content on the monitor 13.
U31, a ROM 32 in which a list of errors and other information on errors are stored, and a RAM 33 for temporarily storing information when an error is displayed. The game machine image information section 32a in the ROM 32 stores the game machine 10 shown in FIG.
This part stores information on the entire appearance image.

The error list section 32b stores a list of error contents expected to occur in the game machine 10. This list is composed of error names and error codes. The error content includes, for example, a communication error such as a case where communication between PC boards is interrupted, a main emergency error such as a case where data cannot be read / written from / to the RAM 23, a motor 24 provided in a mechanism unit, or the like. Examples include a motor error and a sensor error when the sensor 25 cannot operate normally, an operation error of the CCD camera provided in the game machine 10, and a running model error when the running model deviates from a predetermined position.

The error position information section 32c is provided in the game machine 10
This is a part that stores information on the error occurrence position. The error determining unit 31b in the CPU 31 is a unit that selects the corresponding error content and position information from the error list unit 32b and the error position information unit 32c. The monitor control unit 31a controls the monitor 13
This is a part that controls the display of error details to

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing an embodiment of an error checking process of the motor 24 performed by the error detecting section 26 and a schematic diagram showing the motor 24.
This process is a process of operating the motor 24 and stopping the motor 24 when there is an input to the sensor (motor stop sensor) 25 (25a and 25b).

First, at step 1, it is determined whether or not the motor 24 to be error-checked is operating. If the motor 24 is not operating, the process proceeds to step 8 to end the motor check process. If the motor 24 is operating, the process proceeds to step 2 where the sensor 25
It is determined whether or not there is an input. If there is an input, it is determined that the motor is normal, and the routine proceeds to step 3 where the motor 24
Is stopped, and the process proceeds to step 8 to end the process.

If there is no input to the sensor 25 in step 2, the process proceeds to step 4 where a timer for motor check is added. Then, in a step 5, it is determined whether or not the timer has exceeded a predetermined time. If there is an input to the sensor 25 within a certain period of time, the motor check process is terminated. If there is no input to the sensor 25 within a certain period of time, the process proceeds to step 6 where the motor 24 is stopped. Perform error handling with.

FIG. 4 shows a sensor (motor stop sensor) 25 (25a and 25a) provided on the motor 24.
FIG. 4B is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of an error check process of FIG. This process is a process of checking whether the two sensors 25a and 25b are in the input state at the same time. First, in step 11, it is determined whether or not there is an input to the sensor 25a. If there is no input, the process proceeds to step 12, the check timer is cleared, and the check process ends in step 13.

If there is an input to the sensor 25a in step 11, the process proceeds to step 14, where the other sensor 25b
It is determined whether or not there is an input. If there is no input to the sensor 25b, the timer is cleared in step 12, and the process ends in step 13, as described above. In step 14, when there is also an input to the sensor 25b, the process proceeds to step 15, and a sensor check timer is added. Then, in a step 16, it is determined whether or not the timer has exceeded a predetermined time. If the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step 17 where error processing is performed.

As described above, the error check of the motor 24 and the sensor 25 is performed. If there is an error, the error detection unit 26 detects this and transmits it to the CPU 31 of the error display unit 30.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing one embodiment of the error display processing of the error display section 30. First, when an error is detected in step 21 as described above, the game is interrupted, and in the next step 22, C
The error determination unit 31b of the PU 31 determines the content of the error, and selects a corresponding error from the error list unit 32b of the ROM 32. Further, in the next step 23,
The error determination unit 31b selects information on the position of the game machine 10 in which the error has occurred from the error position information unit 32c of the ROM 32.

Next, the process proceeds to step 24, where the monitor control section 31a of the CPU 31 extracts the information of the appearance image of the game machine 10 from the game machine image information section 32a of the ROM 32, and displays the information on the monitor 13 of the game machine 10 on the monitor 13. The appearance image of is displayed. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the state of the monitor 13 at this time. In the next step 25, information on the error position selected from the error position information section 32c is displayed on the monitor 13. In this embodiment, the game machine 10
The position where an error has occurred in the appearance of is blinking in red. Then, in step 26, the error list section 3
The error name and error code selected from 2b are displayed on the monitor 13 together.

With the above display, as shown in FIG. 6, the location where the error has occurred is specified and displayed in the appearance image of the game machine 10, and the error name and error code are displayed. In this way, when an error occurs in the game machine 10, the maintenance staff can see the monitor 13 and accurately grasp the error content at a glance.
In addition, when an error occurs, the fact that the error has occurred is greatly reflected on the monitor 13 of the game machine 10, so even if the maintenance person is away from the game machine 10,
The occurrence of an error can be easily known.

The error display on the monitor 13 is maintained until the error is released and the power of the game machine 10 is turned on again. When the power is turned on again, the image on the monitor 13 returns to the normal game screen. If an error occurs during the game, all the game contents and data played up to that point are backed up. And
When the game returns, the game is restarted from the content immediately before the interruption.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within an equivalent range. For example,
In the ROM 32, an error list information section 32b and an error position information section 32c are provided. The error list information section 32b stores error position information in association with each error. Is also good. Further, the number of images stored in the game machine image information section 32a is not limited to one.
If a plurality of images are provided and an appropriate image is selected and displayed from the plurality of appearance images according to the content of the error, the position where the error has occurred can be notified more accurately.

[0024]

According to the present invention, when an error occurs in a game machine, the content of the error can be grasped accurately at a glance.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an embodiment of a game machine to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of hardware provided in the game machine 10.

FIG. 3 shows a motor 24 performed by an error detector 26.
5 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the error check process.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart and the like showing an embodiment of an error checking process of a sensor 25 provided in the motor 24.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of an error display process of the error display unit 30.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state of a monitor 13 on which an error content is displayed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 game machine 20 game machine section 30 error display section 31 CPU 31a monitor control section 31b error determination section 32 ROM 32a game machine image information section 32b error list section 32c error position information section 33 RAM

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A game machine, comprising: an image display means for displaying a progress of a game and other game contents to a player; and an error detection means for detecting an error occurring in the game machine. An external appearance image information storage unit that stores information of an external appearance image, an error item storage unit that stores an error item that is expected to occur in the game machine, and an error item that is stored in the error item storage unit. An error position information storage unit for storing position information for identifying an error occurrence position in the appearance image of the game machine stored in the appearance image information storage unit, and an error detected by the error detection unit Error item selecting means for selecting a corresponding error item among the error items stored in the error item storage means based on An error position information selecting unit that selects corresponding position information in the position information stored in the error position information storage unit based on the error detected by the error detection unit; External appearance image control means for displaying the stored external appearance image of the game machine on the image display means; and displaying the external appearance image of the game machine displayed by the external appearance image control means based on the position information selected by the error position information selection means. An error occurrence location control unit that identifies a location where an error has occurred in the external appearance image of the game machine and displays the location on the image display unit; and the error item selected by the error item selection unit is displayed on the image display unit. An error content display device for a game machine, comprising: an error item control means for displaying. 2. The error content display device for a game machine according to claim 1, wherein said error item storage means includes a communication error item indicating that communication failure between specific CPUs provided in said game machine. An item of a sensor error indicating that a specific sensor provided in the game machine has an output failure, and an item of a motor error indicating that a specific motor provided in the game machine has a drive failure. An error content display device for a game machine, wherein at least one of them is stored. 3. The error content display device for a game machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the error occurrence location control means includes an external appearance image of the game machine displayed by the external appearance image control means. An error content display device for a game machine, wherein a location where an error has occurred is displayed in a specific color.