JP2010142526A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine which stops the progress of a game when a periphery board is not normally operated. <P>SOLUTION: When the power of a slot machine is turned on, a main CPU monitors whether a sub CPU and a door opening monitoring CPU, in other word, a door opening monitoring board and a sub board, are operating normally. If the door opening monitoring board and the sub board are operating normally, the monitoring is continuously carried out. However, if the door opening monitoring board and the sub board are not operating normally, the main CPU stops the procedures concerning the game and stops the operation of the main board. When the operation of the main board is stopped, it is not possible to continue the game. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine used in a game hall such as a pachinko parlor.

  Slot machines, which are gaming machines used in pachinko parlors, are called pachislot machines. In the pachislot machine, when the start lever is pressed after the medal is inserted, the reel rotates and the game starts. When the rotation of the reel starts, the operation of the stop button is validated. When the stop button is pressed, the rotating reel stops and the game ends. When the reels are stopped, so-called pull-in / kick-out control is performed, and whether or not a prize has been won is displayed according to the result of the winning combination lottery.

  In recent pachislot machines, in order to prevent the game from becoming monotonous, various effects that inform or suggest the result of the winning combination lottery are executed. The production is performed by displaying an image on a liquid crystal display, emitting light from an LED, outputting sound from a speaker, and the like. In general, basic control related to games such as winning combination lottery and reel stop control is performed by a main board, and control related to performance is performed by a sub-board electrically connected to the main board. The sub board operates by receiving a control signal indicating the result of the winning combination lottery from the main board. The sub-board performs an effect by inputting a control signal to the liquid crystal control board, the LED control board, etc. and causing each board to perform image display control of the liquid crystal display, LED lighting control, and the like. As a result, the processing of the main board can be reduced and the processing related to the production can be performed smoothly, and the model can be changed by changing the program and data of the sub board without changing the program and data of the main board. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost of the slot machine.

By the way, in recent years, there is a problem that there is a player who gains profits by performing an illegal act such as attaching a board for intruding a foreign object or malfunctioning a gaming machine. If there is such a player, a sense of fairness is lost with the player who regularly plays the game, and the interest of the player who normally plays the game is reduced. For this reason, recent gaming machines are provided with a fraud detection board for detecting that such an action has been performed in order to prevent an act of obtaining an illegal profit by a player. The cheating detection board is monitored by the main board and the sub board, and when cheating is detected, the cheating action can be prevented by notifying that effect.
JP 2000-298762 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-251281 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 08-011955 Japanese Patent No. 3507386

  However, in the slot machine as described above, even if the sub board, the liquid crystal board, the LED board, etc. break down, the main board continues to operate, so the game can proceed but the performance is not normally performed. Occasionally, players could lose the profit they would get. And this has caused troubles between players and employees of pachinko parlors. In addition, in the slot machine having the fraud detection board as described above, even if the fraud detection board is removed or destroyed, the main board will continue to operate, so that the game can proceed. As a result, even if the substrate is provided, illegal acts cannot be completely prevented.

  In order to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine that can stop the progress of a game when a peripheral board is not operating normally.

  In order to achieve the above object, a gaming machine of the present invention includes a master board that outputs a control signal and a peripheral board that is electrically connected to the master board, and receives the control signal from the master board. In the gaming machine in which the peripheral board is operated, operation monitoring means for monitoring whether or not the peripheral board is performing a normal operation based on the control signal, and when the peripheral board is not performing the normal operation Comprises operation control means for stopping the operation of the master substrate.

  According to the present invention, it becomes possible to control the operation of the master substrate according to the operation status of the peripheral substrate, and the progress of the game can be stopped when the peripheral substrate is not operating normally.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a slot machine 11 used in a pachinko parlor includes a slot machine main body 12 and a front door 13. The slot machine body 12 includes a storage box 12a. The storage box 12a stores various devices such as a reel and a control board for executing a game. The front door 13 is vertically divided into two and includes an upper door 13a and a lower door 13b. The inside of the slot machine body 12 is opened and closed by an upper door 13a and a lower door 13b. The lower door 13b can be opened by releasing the lock, and the upper door 13a can be opened by pushing the internal hook downward while the lower door 13b is opened.

  A display window 14 is provided on the upper door 13a. A first reel 15a, a second reel 15b, and a third reel 15c are provided in the back of the display window 14. A plurality of types of symbols are arranged on the outer peripheral surfaces of the first to third reels 15a to 15c, and three symbols per reel are displayed through the display window 14 when the reels stop. In the slot machine 11, a total of five winning effective lines 16, consisting of three laterally and two diagonally, are set. Then, it is displayed whether or not the winning combination has won a prize depending on whether or not the combination of symbols stopped on the winning effective line 16 when the first to third reels 15a to 15c are stopped matches the preset combination. Is done. Note that winning means that the combination of symbols stopped on the winning effective line 16 matches a predetermined combination, or the predetermined symbol is stopped on the winning effective line 16 with a predetermined reel. Indicates the state.

  The lower door 13b has a medal slot 17 for inserting medals prior to the start of the game, a start lever 18 for rotating the first to third reels 15a to 15c, and stop buttons 19a to 19c for stopping the rotating reels. A payout port 21 for paying out medals to the medal tray 20 is provided.

  When the start lever 18 is pressed after three medals have been inserted, a winning combination lottery for determining one of a plurality of types of winning combinations or losing is performed, and the first to third reels 15a to 15c rotate.

  The winning combination determined in the winning combination lottery is roughly divided into BB (Big Bonus), multiple types of small combinations, and replay. When Replay wins, the next game can be played without inserting medals. When a small role wins, a prescribed number of medals are paid out. When BB wins, the mode changes from the normal mode to the BB mode. In the BB mode, the number of inserted medals is two, and the winning combination probability of the small role is higher than in the normal mode. For this reason, the BB mode is more advantageous than the normal mode in increasing the number of acquired medals. The BB mode ends when the number of medals paid out exceeds 365.

  A liquid crystal display 22 is provided on the side of the display window 14. From the liquid crystal display 22, if an effect execution lottery performed when the start lever 18 is pressed is won, an effect image showing the result of the winning combination lottery is displayed before the operation of the stop buttons 19a to 19c is validated. The Thus, when the player wins any winning combination in the winning combination lottery, the player can press the stop buttons 19a to 19c at a timing so that the winning combination wins. A lamp cover 23 is attached above the display window 14, and a plurality of LEDs 24 are provided inside the lamp cover 23. The LED 24 is simply lit in the normal mode, but blinks in a preset manner when the above-described effect execution lottery is won. Thereby, the player can perceive that he has won the production execution lottery. In addition, the LED blinks in a unique manner different from the normal mode in the game in the BB mode at the time of transition to the BB mode, at the end of the BB mode.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the basic operation of the slot machine 11 is controlled by a main board (master board) 60. The main board 60 includes a main CPU 61 and a main memory 62. The ROM area of the main memory 62 stores game execution programs and game execution data used in the game execution process. The main CPU 61 executes a game by reading out a game execution program, game execution data, and the like from the main memory 62. The RAM area of the main memory 62 is used for temporary storage or rewriting of a flag indicating the result of the winning combination lottery or data indicating the type of the stopped symbol stopped on the winning effective line 16 after the game is performed. .

  The medal sensor 63 detects a medal inserted from the medal slot 19 and inputs a medal detection signal to the main CPU 61.

  The start signal sensor 64 detects that the start lever 18 has been pressed. When pressing of the start lever 18 is detected, a game start signal is input from the start signal sensor 64 to the main CPU 61. When three medals are inserted, the CPU 61 receives a game start signal and rotates the first to third reels 15a to 15c.

  The main CPU 61 validates the operation of the stop buttons 19a to 19c when the rotational speed of the first to third reels 15a to 15c reaches a steady speed. When the stop buttons 19 a to 19 c are pressed after the operation is validated, the stop signal sensor 65 inputs a stop signal to the main CPU 61. In response to this, the main CPU 61 operates to perform stop control of the first to third reels 15a to 15c. Specifically, symbol pull-in control is performed as stop control of the first to third reels 15a to 15c. The main CPU 61 writes, in the RAM area of the main memory 62, the type of symbol that stops on the winning winning line 16 each time the stop buttons 19a to 19c are pressed. Then, the symbols written in the RAM area of the main memory 62 when all the stop buttons are pressed are identified, and it is determined whether or not the winning combination has won. When the winning combination has won, processing corresponding to the winning winning combination is performed as a winning process.

  Further, the main CPU 61 operates the winning combination determining unit 66 in response to the game start signal. The winning combination determination unit 66 determines any of BB, small combination, replay, or loss by a winning combination lottery using random numbers. When one of the winning combinations is won in the winning combination lottery, a winning flag indicating the type is written in the RAM area of the main memory 62, and when lost, a lost flag is written.

  A door opening monitoring board 67 for detecting that the lower door 13b is opened is electrically connected to the main board 60 by a harness. In response to the power supply of the slot machine 11 being turned on, the main CPU 60 inputs a control signal for performing the operation to the door opening monitoring board 67 and operates the door opening monitoring board 67. The operation of the door opening monitoring board 67 is controlled by the door opening monitoring CPU 67a. Connected to the door opening monitoring board 67 is a door opening switch 68 that switches on / off according to the open / closed state of the lower door 13b. The door opening monitoring CPU 67a feeds back the on / off state of the door opening switch 68 to the main CPU 61. The main CPU 61 detects that the lower door 13b is opened when the door opening switch 68 is turned off, and detects that the lower door 13b is closed when the door opening switch 68 is turned on. When the main CPU 61 detects that the lower door 13b is opened during the execution of the game, the main CPU 61 identifies that the lower door 13b has been opened illegally. The operation of the door opening monitoring board 67 is monitored by the main board 60.

  A sub board (peripheral board) 69 is electrically connected to the main board 60 by a harness. The sub board 69 includes a sub CPU 70. The sub CPU 70 executes the effect using the liquid crystal display 22 and the LED 24 by reading the execution program and execution data of the effect stored in the sub memory 71. Image display control of the liquid crystal display 22 is performed by the liquid crystal control board 72, and lighting control of the LEDs 24 is performed by the LED control board 73. The operation of the sub board 69 is monitored by the main board 60.

  A control signal including the result of the winning combination lottery is input from the main CPU 61 to the sub CPU 70. The control signal is input from the main CPU 61 to the sub CPU 70 after the winning combination lottery is completed and before the operation of the stop buttons 19a to 19c is validated. The sub CPU 70 operates the effect execution lottery unit 74 in response to the control signal from the main CPU 61. The effect execution lottery unit 74 performs an effect execution lottery using an electronic random number, and determines whether or not to execute the effect. When the effect execution lottery is won, the sub CPU 70 inputs a control signal including an aspect of the effect to be executed to the liquid crystal control board 72 and the LED control board 73. The liquid crystal control board 72 generates an effect image based on the control signal from the sub CPU 70 and displays the generated effect image from the liquid crystal display 22. The LED control board 73 identifies the blinking mode of the LED 24 based on the control signal from the sub CPU 70 and causes the LED 24 to blink. When the lower door 13b is opened during the game, the main CPU 60 inputs a control signal for displaying a warning image to the sub CPU 70. In response to this, the sub CPU 70 displays a warning image from the liquid crystal display 22.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the operation of the door opening monitoring board 67 and the sub board 69 by the main board 60 can be monitored by various methods.

  In the method shown in FIG. 3A, when a control signal is input from the main CPU 61 to the sub CPU 71 and the door opening monitoring CPU 67a, a response signal in response thereto is input from the sub CPU 71 and the door opening monitoring CPU 67a to the main CPU 61. . When the main CPU 61 receives a response signal, the main CPU 61 identifies that the door opening monitoring board 67 and the sub board 69 are operating normally along with the operation of the main board 60, and if the response signal is not received, It is identified that the door opening monitoring board 67 and the sub board 69 are operating abnormally along with the operation of the main board 60.

  In the method shown in FIG. 3B, the main CPU 61 monitors whether the power supply voltages of the sub CPU 71 and the door opening monitoring CPU 67a satisfy a reference value. The main CPU 61 identifies that the door opening monitoring board 67 and the sub board 69 are operating normally along with the operation of the main board 60 when the power supply voltages of the sub CPU 71 and the door opening monitoring CPU 67a satisfy the reference value. When the power supply voltage of the sub CPU 71 and the door opening monitoring CPU 67a falls below the reference value, it is identified that the door opening monitoring board 67 and the sub board 69 are operating abnormally without the operation of the main board 60.

  In the method shown in FIG. 4A, when a control signal is input from the main CPU 61 to the sub CPU 71 and the door opening monitoring CPU 67a, transmission data included in the control signal is sent from the sub CPU 71 and the door opening monitoring CPU 67a to the main as response data. Input to the CPU 61. When the main CPU 61 receives the response data, the main CPU 61 determines whether or not the content of the response data matches the content of the transmission data. If both match, the door opening monitoring board 67 and the sub board 69 When the main board 60 is identified as operating normally and the two do not match, the door opening monitoring board 67 and the sub board 69 are operating abnormally without the main board 60 being operated. Identify

  In the method shown in FIG. 4B, when a control signal is input from the main CPU 61 to the sub CPU 71 and the door opening monitoring CPU 67a, the sub CPU 71 and the door opening monitoring CPU 67a perform processing in response to the control signal. Is input to the main CPU 61. When the main CPU 61 receives the operation result signal, the main CPU 61 determines whether or not the result of processing by the sub CPU 71 and the door opening monitoring CPU 67a is normal. If this is normal, the main CPU 61 determines whether the door opening monitoring board 67 and the sub board 69 are normal. Identifies that the main board 60 is operating normally, and if it is not normal, identifies that the door opening monitoring board 67 and the sub board 69 are operating abnormally without the main board 60 operating. .

  By the method exemplified above, it is monitored whether the door opening monitoring board 67 and the sub board 69 are operating normally. As a result, the door opening monitoring board 67 and the sub board 69 are not operating normally. When identified, the main CPU 61 stops the process related to the game and stops the operation of the main board 60. When the operation of the main board 60 stops, it becomes impossible to play a game.

  Next, the flow of the operation monitoring process for the door opening monitoring board 67 and the sub board 69 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the power of the slot machine 11 is turned on, the main CPU 61 monitors whether the sub CPU 71 and the door opening monitoring CPU 67a, that is, the door opening monitoring board 67 and the sub board 69 are operating normally. To do. When the door opening monitoring board 67 and the sub board 69 are operating normally, monitoring is continued. On the other hand, when the door opening monitoring board 67 and the sub board 69 are not operating normally, the main CPU 61 stops the processing relating to the game and stops the operation of the main board 60. When the operation of the main board 60 stops, the game cannot be continued. When the operation of the main board 60 is stopped, the operation of the main board 60 can be resumed by opening the lower door 13b and operating a return switch provided in the housing.

  As described above, since the operation of the main board 60 stops when the door opening monitoring board 67 is not operating normally, for example, the door opening monitoring board 67 is removed to open the door illegally during the game, When an illegal act such as taking out a medal in 11a is performed, the game cannot be continued. Thereby, it is possible to prevent an unauthorized act from being continued. In addition, since the slot machine 11 is not operating, employees of the pachinko parlor can identify at a glance that an illegal act has been performed. Furthermore, since the operation of the main board 60 is stopped even when the sub board 69 is not operating normally, for example, when the sub board 69 breaks down, the game cannot be continued. Since the slot machine 11 is not in operation, employees of the pachinko parlor can identify at a glance that the sub board 69 has failed. Thereby, it becomes possible to continue the game even if the liquid crystal display 22 and the LED 24 are not operating normally due to the failure of the sub board 69, and it is possible to prevent the player from being disadvantaged. And troubles between employees and employees.

  In the above embodiment, the main board 60 is used as the master board, and the door opening monitoring board 67 and the sub board 69 are used as the peripheral boards. However, the peripheral board may be only one of them. The master substrate and the peripheral substrate may be appropriate substrates such as the substrate 69 and the peripheral substrate as the liquid crystal control substrate 72, the LED control substrate 73, and the door opening monitoring substrate 67.

  In the above embodiment, the operation of the master substrate is simply stopped, but it may be notified that the operation of the master substrate has stopped.

  In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to a slot machine that uses medals. However, the present invention may be applied to an appropriate gaming machine such as a slot machine that uses a game ball as a game medium or a pachinko machine that uses a game ball. .

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of a slot machine. It is a block diagram showing an outline of an electrical configuration of the slot machine. It is explanatory drawing which shows the specific example of the monitoring method of the operation | movement of a door open monitoring board | substrate and a sub board | substrate. It is explanatory drawing which shows the specific example of the monitoring method of the operation | movement of a door open monitoring board | substrate and a sub board | substrate. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the operation | movement monitoring process of a door open monitoring board | substrate and a sub board | substrate.

Explanation of symbols

11 Slot machine 22 Liquid crystal display 24 LED
60 Main board (master board)
67 Door opening monitoring board (peripheral board)
69 Sub-board (peripheral board)

Claims (1)

In a gaming machine that includes a master board that outputs a control signal, and a peripheral board that is electrically connected to the master board, and the peripheral board operates in response to the control signal from the master board.
Operation monitoring means for monitoring whether or not the peripheral board is performing a normal operation based on the control signal;
An operation control means for stopping operation of the master substrate when the peripheral substrate is not performing the normal operation.

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