JPH10234988A - Game stand system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve operability in a game stand system for electrically connecting a game stand and a game medium supply unit through a cable. SOLUTION: The game medium supply unit 1 is provided with a connection state detection means 1a and the connection state of specified signal lines L01 , L02 and L03 of the cable 3 is detected. Then, only when the connection of the signal lines L01 , L02 and L03 is confirmed, a game medium supply side operation control means 1b makes the operation of the game medium supply unit 1 possible. In the meantime, the game stand 2 is also provided with a connection state detection means 2a similarly and the connection state of the specified signal lines L01 , L02 and L03 of the cable 3 is detected. In this case, they are not required to be the same signal lines L01 , L02 and L03 as the side of the game medium supply unit 1 and they can be the other signal lines. Only when the connection of the signal lines L01 , L02 and L03 is confirmed, a game stand side operation control means 2b makes a game operation in the game stand 2 possible.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game console system in which a game console such as a pachinko machine, a slot machine and the like and a game medium supply unit are installed in a pair. The present invention relates to a game console system electrically connected.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a game console system in which a game console (for example, a pachinko machine, a slot machine, etc.) and a game medium supply unit (for example, a card reader / writer unit) are installed in a pair, a lending ball supply command signal and a response signal are provided. Transmission and reception of various signals are performed between the two. These signals are performed via connectors and cables.

[0003]

By the way, in order to make the electrical connection between the gaming table and the game medium supply unit normal, it is important that the connector is securely connected. If the connector is connected halfway, some of the pins will not be connected, and the signals of those pins will not be exchanged. If the unconnected pins are of the aforementioned AC power supply, at least the game medium supply unit does not operate, so that it can be confirmed immediately.

[0004] However, if the pins of the AC power supply are connected, but the other pins are disconnected and the user is not aware of the disconnection, the game medium supply unit operates in an incomplete state, which may cause a malfunction or the like. was there.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming table system capable of improving operability.

[0006]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in a game console system in which a game console and a game medium supply unit are electrically connected via a cable, a signal line of the cable is provided. A connection state detecting means for detecting a connection state of a specific signal line, and a game medium supply-side operation control means for stopping the operation of the game medium supply unit when the specific signal line is not properly connected. And a game console system characterized by having:

In such a game console system, the connection state detection means detects the connection state of a specific signal line among the signal lines of the cable. When the connection of the specific signal line is poor, the game medium supply-side operation control means stops the operation of the game medium supply unit.

Therefore, it is possible to prevent the game medium supply unit from operating in an incomplete state.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of the function of the present embodiment.
The game medium supply unit 1 and the game table 2 are electrically connected via a cable 3. Game media supply unit 1
Is provided with connection state detecting means 1a, which detects connection states of specific signal lines _L01 , _L02 , _L03 of the cable 3. Then, the game medium supply-side operation control means 1b enables the operation of the game medium supply unit 1 only when the connection of the signal lines _L01 , _L02 , _L03 is confirmed.

On the other hand, the game console 2 is also provided with a connection state detecting means 2a for detecting the connection state of specific signal lines L ₀₁ , L ₀₂ , L ₀₃ of the cable 3. However, in this case, the signal lines L ₀₁ , L ₀₂ , and L ₀₃ need not necessarily be the same as those on the game medium supply unit 1 side, and may be other signal lines. The game console-side operation control means 2b includes signal lines L ₀₁ ,
Only when the connection between L ₀₂ and L ₀₃ is confirmed, the gaming operation on the gaming table 2 is enabled.

Next, a specific configuration of the game console system of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a front view showing the external appearance of the game console system of the present embodiment. The gaming table system of the present embodiment,
It comprises a card reader / writer unit 10 as a game medium supply unit and a pachinko machine 20 as a game console. The card reader / writer unit 10 and the pachinko machine 20 are provided as a pair on the island of the game arcade. Further, the card reader / writer unit 10 can be inserted and removed back and forth by inserting a key into the key insertion slot 15.

On a front panel 11 of the card reader / writer unit 10, a lendable lamp 12, an operation panel 13,
A card insertion slot 14, a key insertion slot 15, and the like are provided.
A magnetic card or the like in which the amount data of the loaned ball supply of the individual player is stored is inserted into the card insertion slot 14. The operation panel 13 is a panel for setting a withdrawal amount per one time when the amount is withdrawn from the card inserted into the card insertion slot 14.

[0013] Inside the gaming surface 21 of the pachinko machine 20,
A lending ball supply device (not shown) is provided, and the lending ball is released according to a command from the card reader / writer unit 10. A lending ball discharged from the lending ball supply device is supplied to a ball receiving tray 22 below the gaming surface 21 by a supply port 22a.
Is supplied via The ball tray 22 is provided with a supply command button 23 and a card return button 24.
Each time the supply command button 23 is pressed once, the number of lending balls according to the set withdrawal amount set on the operation panel 13 is supplied to the ball tray 22. The supply command button 23 has LE
D23a is provided, and supply of a lending ball is possible only when this LED 23a is lit. When the card return button 24 is pressed at the end of the game, the card is returned from the card insertion slot 14.

The display section 25 is composed of a liquid crystal or an LED, and displays a withdrawal amount set on the operation panel 13 of the card reader / writer unit 10, a fractional amount of money in the card inserted into the card insertion slot 14, and the like. Is displayed.
Under the ball tray 22, a handle 26 for playing a game is provided.
Is provided.

FIG. 3 is a side view schematically showing a mounting structure of the card reader / writer unit 10. As shown in FIG. The card reader / writer unit 10 is mounted on a holder 30 fixed on the island side of the game arcade. A circuit board unit 16 is mounted in the card reader / writer unit 10. The circuit board unit 16 is provided with a unit-side connector 17.

On the other hand, a cable 4 to be described later is
A holder-side connector 31 for exchanging data with the pachinko machine 20 through the pin 0 and a locking / unlocking mechanism 32 are provided. The unit-side connector 17 provided on the circuit board unit 16 is directly connected to the holder-side connector 31.

When the card reader / writer unit 10 is mounted on the holder 30, the locking / unlocking mechanism 32 locks a lock member (not shown) with a hole (not shown) of the card reader / writer unit 10, and the card reader / writer unit The writer unit 10 is locked to the holder 30. The locking / unlocking mechanism 32 unlocks the card reader / writer unit 10 with respect to the holder 30 when a specific key is inserted into the key insertion slot 15 shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the internal functions of the card reader / writer unit 10 and the pachinko machine 20. A card reader / writer 51, a main power supply circuit 52, a ball lending control unit 53, and a signal power supply circuit 54 are provided inside the card reader / writer unit 10. The card reader / writer 51 reads or withdraws money amount data from the card 51a inserted into the card insertion slot 14 shown in FIG. 2 according to a command from the ball lending control unit 53. When the card return button 24 is pressed, the card 51a is returned.

The card reader / writer 51 operates with a DC power supplied from a main power supply circuit 52.
The main power supply circuit 52 rectifies and decompresses (for example, 18 V) an externally supplied AC power of 100 V and supplies the AC power to the card reader / writer 51 and the ball lending control unit 53. The negative side of the main power supply circuit 52 is connected to the substrate ground U
Connected to G.

The ball lending control unit 53 has a processor-centered configuration or a logic circuit, and performs ball lending control to the pachinko machine 20. The ball lending control unit 53 includes a main control circuit 531 and a signal transfer circuit (STC) 532 having a drive circuit 55 and the like to be described later. The main control circuit 531 is operated by a DC power supplied from the main power supply circuit 52, and performs an operation command, a display command, a lending ball supply command, and the like of the card reader / writer 51. On the other hand, the signal transfer circuit 532 operates with a DC power supplied from the signal power supply circuit 54. The signal power supply circuit 54 is connected to the cable 40 from the pachinko machine 20 side.
Rectifies and decompresses the 24V AC power supplied via the, and supplies it to the ball lending control unit 53. The negative side of the signal power supply circuit 54 is connected to a substrate ground LG different from the substrate ground UG.

In the pachinko machine 20, a game control unit 61,
A game power supply circuit 62 and a lending ball supply device 63 are provided. The game control unit 61 is configured by a processor or a logic circuit, and controls all operations related to the game on the pachinko machine 20.
The game control unit 61 includes a main control circuit 611 and a response control circuit (RC) 64 described later. The main control circuit 611 is operated by a DC power supply supplied from the game power supply circuit 62, while the response control circuit 64, the display unit 25, and the like are supplied from the card reader / writer unit 10 via the cable 40. It is operated by a DC power supply from the signal power supply circuit 54.

The game power supply circuit 62 rectifies and decompresses the 24 V AC power supplied from the power supply unit on the island (not shown), and supplies it to the game control unit 61. The negative side of the gaming power supply circuit 62 is connected to the ground PG.

The rental ball supply device 63 includes a main control circuit 6
Each time a command is issued from 11, the number of lending balls sent from a lending ball supply path (not shown) is counted by a predetermined amount.
The lending ball is supplied to the ball receiving tray 22 through the supply port 22a indicated by.

Such a card reader / writer unit 1
0 and the pachinko machine 20 are electrically connected via a cable 40. The cable 40 is connected to the holder-side connector 31 shown in FIG. This cable 4
0, for example, the supply command button 23, the LED 23a, and the card return button 24 on the pachinko machine 20 side
The ball lending control unit 53 of the card reader / writer unit 10 is connected.

The game control unit 61 and the ball lending control unit 53 are connected by a cable 40. Although only one line is shown in this figure, a plurality of signal lines are actually connected between the game control unit 61 and the ball lending control unit 53. The specific connection relationship will be described later.

Further, two lines L ₁ and L _{2 of} a 24 V AC power supply are connected to a signal power supply circuit 54 of the card reader / writer unit 10 by a cable 40.
The lines L ₁ and L ₂ are
The pins are located at the farthest pin positions from each other.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the pin arrangement of the unit-side connector 17. Unit side connector 17
It is composed of five pins P ₁ to P ₂₅ of the. These pins P _{1 to} P ₂₅ have a two-row configuration. For example, 13 pins P _{1 to} P ₁₃ are provided in the upper row of the drawing, and 12 pins are provided in the lower row.
Pin P ₁₄ to P ₂₅ of the present are arranged respectively. Holder side connector 31, cable 40, and pachinko machine 20
The connector on the side also has a pin arrangement corresponding to the unit-side connector 17 as a matter of course.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a specific connection relationship between the card reader / writer unit 10 and the pachinko machine 20 by the cable 40. As shown in FIG. The signal power supply circuit 54 of the card reader / writer unit 10 is connected to the unit-side connector 1.
7 are connected to input lines L ₁ and L ₂ via pins P ₁ and P ₂₅ . The DC voltage VL output from the signal power supply circuit 54 is also sent to the pachinko machine 20 via the pins P ₁₇ and P ₁₈ . The pins P ₁₇ and P ₁₈ are pins in an intermediate portion of the pin array of the unit-side connector 17 as shown in FIG.

Returning to FIG. 6, the display unit 25 of the pachinko machine 20
From the drive circuit 55 on the card reader / writer unit 10 side, the cable 40 and the pachinko machine side connector 2
It is driven by a drive signal input via the line 0a. The drive circuit 55 includes the ball lending control unit 5 shown in FIG.
3 and is operated by the DC voltage VL from the signal power supply circuit 54. Note that the specific pin arrangement of each signal line of the drive circuit 55 is not particularly specified here.

The response control circuit 56 of the card reader / writer unit 10 is a part of the signal transfer circuit 532 of the ball lending control unit 53 shown in FIG. Various response signals such as a READY signal for confirming an operable state are exchanged with the control circuit 64. This signal also includes a drive signal for turning on the LED 23a of the supply command button 23 shown in FIG. The response control circuit 56 and the response control circuit 64 operate with the DC voltage VL from the signal power supply circuit 54. The specific pin arrangement of each signal line of the response control circuit 56 and the response control circuit 64 is not particularly specified here.

[0031] The chassis ground FG of the card reader-writer unit 10 side, pachinko machine via a pin P ₂₄ 20
And the chassis ground FG. The command receiving circuit 57 is a part of the signal transfer circuit 532 of the ball lending control unit 53 shown in FIG. 4, and detects that the supply command button 23 or the card return button 24 of the pachinko machine 20 has been pressed. . The command receiving circuit 57 includes a signal power supply circuit 54.
It operates with the DC voltage VL from The specific pin arrangement of each signal line of the command receiving circuit 57 is not particularly specified here.

The substrate ground LG of the signal power supply circuit 54 is
Via pins P ₈ and P ₉ , it is connected to the substrate ground of the response control circuit 64 on the pachinko machine 20 side. Pin P ₈ ,
P _9, as shown in FIG. 5, the unit side connector 17
In the middle of the pin arrangement. The board ground LG is a ground independent of the main circuit portions of the ball lending control unit 53 of the card reader / writer unit 10 and the game control unit 61 of the pachinko machine 20.

FIG. 7 shows the drive circuit 55 and the display unit 25.
It is a figure which shows the concrete connection structure between them. Pachinko machine 20
The display unit 25 on the side includes a display 251 and a matrix wiring unit 252. The display 251 includes three light emitting units 251a, 251b, and 251c. Each of the light emitting units 251a, 251b, and 251c is a seven-segment type device, and expresses a number or a character by turning on seven LEDs. Light emitting units 251a, 25
The drive circuit 55 is connected to each of the anodes 1b and 251c.
Drive current is supplied from the side. On the other hand, the light emitting unit 251
From the cathode side of a, 251b, and 251c, seven terminals corresponding to the respective seven LEDs come out, and are connected to the matrix wiring part 252.

The drive circuit 55 of the card reader / writer unit 10 is provided with two switch circuits 551 and 552. One switch circuit 551 includes an optical switch section 551a and a transistor circuit section 551b. The optical switch unit 551a is provided with three optical couplers, each of which is turned on and off by a command signal from the main control circuit 531.

The transistor circuit section 551b is provided with three transistor circuits corresponding to each optical coupler of the optical switch section 551a. These transistor circuits supply the output voltage VL of the signal power supply circuit to the corresponding light emitting units 251a, 251b, 251c on the pachinko machine 20 side when the corresponding optical coupler is turned on. Thereby, each of the light emitting units 251a, 251b, 2
The drive selection of 51c is made.

On the other hand, the switch circuit 552 is composed of seven optical couplers connected to each of the seven lines of the matrix wiring section 252. Each optical coupler of the switch circuit 552 is on / off controlled by a command signal from the main control circuit 531. Thereby, the light emitting units 251a, 251
Of the light emitting units of which the drive is selected by the switch circuit 551, the switch circuit 55
The segment selected in 2 emits light.

In the connection configuration of the display unit 25 configured as described above, the main control circuit 531 displays a connection failure via the display unit 25 when connection of a signal line described later is not detected.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a specific connection structure between the response control circuits 56 and 64 of the card reader / writer unit 10 and the pachinko machine 20. The response control circuit 56 of the card reader / writer unit 10 is provided with a plurality of switch circuits 561 to 564 composed of optical couplers.
The switch circuit 561, by the line L ₃ is connected, a circuit which is turned by receiving a connection signal PS. By the switch circuit 561 is turned on, the main control circuit 531 detects that the line L ₃ of the cable 40 is connected. On the other hand, when the switch circuit 561 is OFF, the main control circuit 531 determines that the line L ₃ is a connection failure to stop any ball lending operation of the card reader-writer unit 10. At the same time, the display unit 25 displays that fact.

The switch circuit 562 is composed of two optical couplers and is connected via lines L ₄ and L ₅ to a switch circuit 641 which is a part of the response control circuit 64 of the pachinko machine 20 shown in FIG. ing. The switch circuit 641 also includes two optical couplers, and the card reader / writer unit 10
The device receives a READY signal (BRDY) and a ball-out request signal (BRQ) from the reader side.

Here, the READY signal on the reader side is
This signal indicates that the card reader / writer unit 10 is in a state in which ball lending control is possible. On the other hand, the ball feed request signal is a signal for requesting a return of a confirmation signal indicating that lending ball supply is possible on the pachinko machine 20 side.
These signals are sent to the main control circuit 611 of the pachinko machine 20 via the optical coupler. Main control circuit 61
When the READY signal and the ball-out request signal on the reader side are not detected, 1 judges that the lines L ₄ and L ₅ and the VL lines L ₁₇ and L ₁₈ shown in FIG. 6 are connection failures. . At this time, the main control circuit 611
Stops the game operation on the pachinko machine 20 side at all.

The switching circuit 563 via a line L _6, a circuit for supplying the ball out signal (TDS) to LED23a the supply command button 23 shown in pachinko machine 20 side of FIG. 2 and the like. In response to the ball throw-out signal, the LED 23a lights up, thereby informing the player that lending balls can be supplied.

The switch circuit 564 is composed of two optical couplers, and is connected via lines L ₇ and L ₈ to a switch circuit 642 which is a part of the response control circuit 64 of the pachinko machine 20 shown in FIG. ing. The switch circuit 642 also includes two optical couplers, and the card reader / writer unit 10
, A READY signal (PRDY) and a ball-out response signal (EXS) on the pachinko machine side are supplied to the side. Here, the pachinko machine-side READY signal is a signal indicating that the pachinko machine 20 is in a playable state. On the other hand, the balling response signal is a response signal to the balling request signal described above. These signals are sent to the main control circuit 53 of the card reader / writer unit 10 via an optical coupler.
Sent to 1.

When the READY signal and the ball-out response signal on the pachinko machine side are not detected, the main control circuit 531 determines whether the lines L ₇ and L ₈ are defective or the lines L ₄ , L ₅ and L _17. , it is determined that L ₁₈ is not made the response from the pachinko machine 20 side by the connection failure.
At this time, the main control circuit 531 stops the ball lending operation of the card reader / writer unit 10 at all. At the same time, the display unit 25 displays that fact.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when a specific line among the lines of the cable 40 has a poor connection, the ball lending operation of the card reader / writer unit 10 is stopped. The operation of the card reader / writer unit 10 can be prevented. Therefore, malfunction and the like can be prevented.

Further, when the connection of a specific line is defective, the game operation of the pachinko machine 20 is stopped, so that a malfunction or the like can be more reliably prevented.

[0046]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a specific signal line among the signal lines of the cable is poorly connected,
Since the operation of the game medium supply unit is stopped, the operation of the game medium supply unit in an incomplete state can be prevented. Therefore, malfunction and the like can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of the function of the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the external appearance of the game console system of the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a side view schematically showing a mounting structure of a card reader / writer unit.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of internal functions of a card reader / writer unit and a pachinko machine.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a pin arrangement of a unit-side connector.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a specific connection relationship by a cable between the card reader / writer unit and the pachinko machine.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a specific connection configuration between a drive circuit and a display unit.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a specific connection configuration between the card reader / writer unit and each response control circuit of the pachinko machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Game medium supply unit 1a Connection state detection means 1b Game medium supply side operation control means 2 Game table 2a Connection state detection means 2b Game table side operation control means 3 Cable 10 Card reader / writer unit 11 Front panel 14 Card insertion port 20 Pachinko table 22 Ball receiving tray 22a Supply port 23 Supply command button 23a LED 24 Card return button 25 Display unit 17 Unit side connector 31 Holder side connector 40 Cable 51 Card reader / writer 52 Main power supply circuit 53 Ball lending control unit 54 Signal power supply circuit 55 Drive circuit 61 game control unit 62 game power supply circuit 63 lending ball supply device 531 main control circuit 532 signal transfer circuit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A game console system in which a game console and a game medium supply unit are electrically connected via a cable, wherein a connection state detection for detecting a connection state of a specific signal line among signal lines of the cable. And a game medium supply-side operation control means for stopping the operation of the game medium supply unit when the specific signal line is not properly connected. 2. A game console system according to claim 1, further comprising: a game console operation control means for stopping a game operation of said game console when said specific signal line is not connected properly. . 3. The gaming table system according to claim 1, further comprising an error display unit for displaying an error when the specific signal line is in a defective connection.