JP5043139B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic gaming machine having a built-in computer device, and is particularly preferably applied to a spinning game machine or a ball game machine that uses medals or game balls as game media.

  In a spinning machine such as a slot machine, when a player inserts a medal into a medal slot and operates a start lever, the rotation of the rotating reel is started accordingly. When the player presses the stop button to stop the rotating reel, when the symbols on the stop line are aligned, a payout medal corresponding to the symbol is paid out. However, the success / failure state of each game is actually determined in advance by the lottery process inside the device at the start of each game, and the player wins the dividend medal by aligning the symbols won by this lottery process on the stop line. Is paid out.

  By the way, the winning probability of whether or not to win the lottery process is divided into, for example, six stages, and it is configured so that it can be manually set by using a setting switch. Usually, a clerk at a gaming hall operates a setting switch prior to the start of business to appropriately sort out gaming machines with high expected medals and other gaming machines.

  For this reason, for example, there is a concern that the gaming machine may be opened using a key or the like to illegally change the setting value of the setting switch. More directly, there is a concern about illegality of stealing a large number of medals stored inside the gaming machine.

  Therefore, in order to prevent such illegal acts, each gaming machine is provided with various sensors and is configured to sound an alarm sound when the occurrence of an abnormal situation is detected.

  However, if an illegal person breaks the speaker diaphragm (cone paper) or disconnects the speaker circuit, the alarm sound disappears, and there is a possibility that the illegal action cannot be eliminated. In addition, since the inside and outside of the gaming machine communicate with each other at the location where the speaker is disposed, there is a concern about illegal acts that abuse this communication path.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine that can prevent destruction of a speaker and illegal actions related thereto.

Both order to achieve the above object, the present invention is, when a predetermined switch signal is turned ON, by performing the lottery processing based on the random number and determines whether or not to generate the advantageous gaming state to the player or protective member is disposed in the sound pressure output path from the speaker, the monitoring path in the diaphragm of the speaker obtained by densely forming a single conductive path, and a power supply unit for flowing an inspection current to the monitoring path, A detection unit that monitors the flow of the inspection current, and a gaming machine that determines that an abnormal situation has occurred when the detection unit detects that the inspection current has stopped , and (a) the monitoring path Is formed in series with the voice coil of the speaker, and the voice current flowing through the voice coil also serves as the inspection current, or (b) a first switch unit provided in series with the voice coil of the speaker And a series circuit of a second switch part and a current detection part provided in parallel with the voice coil of the speaker, and when the speaker is driven by a gaming machine, the first switch is controlled to be in the ON state, and the second switch part is It is configured to be controlled to the OFF state . In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the detection unit is configured by the buffer G1, but it is needless to say that the detection unit may be configured by the one-chip microcomputer 70 or the like. In the embodiment of FIG. 7, since the abnormal signal ER is supplied to the one-chip microcomputer 70, the one-chip microcomputer 70 determines that an abnormal situation has occurred.

  The protective member is preferably a sheet material in which a large number of openings are arranged in a dotted pattern, and the conduction path is formed in the vicinity of the openings. Here, the sheet material is preferably formed of a material that is easily damaged. Moreover, it is preferable that a notch extending in the radial direction is formed on the outer periphery of the opening.

  It is simple that the conductive path is formed on the diaphragm of the speaker by applying a conductive paint.

  In addition, a first switch unit is provided in series with the voice coil of the speaker, and a series circuit of a second switch unit and a current detection unit is provided in parallel with the voice coil of the speaker. It is also effective that the switch is controlled to the ON state and the second switch unit is controlled to the OFF state. In this case, after the speaker driving operation by the gaming machine is completed, it is more preferable that the first switch is controlled to be in the OFF state and the second switch unit is controlled to be in the ON state.

  In addition, the present invention includes a main control unit that centrally controls game operations including the lottery process, and a sub-control unit that operates subordinately based on a control command output from the main control unit. And it is preferable that the said electric power feeding part and the said detection part are provided in a sub control part.

  According to the above-described present invention, it is possible to realize a gaming machine that can detect destruction of a speaker and illegal activities related thereto and prevent further illegal activities.

It is a front view of the slot machine which concerns on an Example. FIG. 2 is a right side view (a) and a plan view (b) of the slot machine of FIG. 1. It is the figure which illustrated the front panel of the slot machine from the back. It is an internal front view of the main body case of the slot machine. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the slot machine of FIG. 1. It is a block diagram showing a connection relationship between the effect control board and the effect interface board. It is drawing explaining the abnormality detection circuit and the protection member of a speaker. It is drawing explaining another abnormality detection circuit. It is drawing explaining another abnormality detection circuit.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail based on examples.

  1 to 4 illustrate a slot machine SL according to an embodiment. 1 is a front view of the front panel 2, FIG. 2 is a right side view (a) and a plan view (b) of the slot machine SL, FIG. 3 is a rear view of the front panel 2, and FIG. Is shown.

  In this slot machine SL, a rectangular box-shaped main body case 1 and a front panel 2 fitted with various game members are connected via a hinge 3 so that the front panel 2 can be opened and closed with respect to the main body case 1. (FIG. 2). The opening of the front panel 2 is configured to be detectable by the door sensor DR (FIG. 5).

  As shown in FIG. 4, a symbol rotating unit 4 including three rotating reels 4 a to 4 c is disposed in the approximate center of the main body case 1, and a medal payout device 5 is disposed below the symbol rotating unit 4. On each of the rotating reels 4a to 4c, a BB symbol, an RB symbol, various fruit symbols, a replay symbol, and the like are drawn. The medal payout device 5 is provided with a medal hopper 5a for storing medals, a payout motor MO, a medal payout control board 55, a payout relay board 63, a medal detection sensor SE (FIG. 5), and the like. Here, the medal is derived from the payout opening 5b toward the front of the drawing based on the rotation of the payout motor MO. Note that medals stored exceeding the limit amount are configured to fall into the auxiliary tank 6 through the overflow portion 5c.

  A power supply board 62 is arranged adjacent to the medal payout device 5, a main control board 50 is arranged above the symbol rotation unit 4, and a rotating drum setting board 54 is arranged adjacent to the main control board 50. ing. In addition, inside the symbol rotating unit 4, a rotating LED relay substrate 58 and a rotating relay substrate 57 are provided, and an external concentrated terminal plate 56 is disposed adjacent to the symbol rotating unit 4.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a liquid crystal display unit 7 is disposed on the upper portion of the front panel 2, and three display windows 8a to 8c corresponding to the rotating reels 4a to 4c are disposed on the lower portion thereof. Through the display windows 8a to 8c, about 3 symbols can be seen in the rotational direction of each of the rotating reels 4a to 4c, and a total of 9 symbols in the horizontal direction and 2 in the diagonal direction. Becomes a virtual stop line. On the left side of the display window 8a, an LED group 9 indicating a gaming state is provided. Below that, a payout display unit 10 for displaying the number of medals to be paid out as a gaming result, and the number of medals in a credit state are displayed. The storage number display part 11 to display is provided.

  In the center of the front panel 2 in the vertical direction, a medal insertion slot 12 for inserting medals is provided, and adjacent thereto, a return button 13 for returning medals filled in the medal insertion slot 12 is provided. Also, a credit check button 14 for paying out a credit medal, an insertion button 15 for artificially inserting one credit medal in place of inserting a medal into the medal slot 12, and a credit medal in a pseudo manner A maximum loading button 16 for loading three sheets is provided.

  Below these game members, a start lever 17 for starting the rotation of the rotating reels 4a to 4c and stop buttons 18a to 18c for stopping the rotating reels 4a to 4c are provided. In addition, below the front panel 2, a horizontally long tray 19 for storing medals and a medal outlet 20 communicating with the payout port 5b of the payout device 5 are provided. Speakers SP are arranged on the left and right sides of the medal outlet 20.

  As shown in FIG. 3, on the back side of the front panel 3, a medal sorting device 21 that sorts medals inserted into the medal slot 12, and medals that are determined to be inappropriate by the medal sorting device 21 A return passage 22 that guides the vehicle 20 is provided. A substrate case 23 that houses the effect control board 51, the effect interface board 52, the liquid crystal control board 61, and the like is disposed on the upper back side of the front panel 3. A game relay board 53 that relays signals between the various game members shown in FIG. 1 and the main control board 50 is provided on the medal sorting device 21.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of the slot machine SL according to the embodiment. As shown in the figure, this slot machine SL realizes an effect operation based on a main control board 50 that controls the operation of various game members including the rotating reels 4a to 4c and a control command received from the main control board 50. The control board 51 and a power supply board 62 that converts an alternating voltage (24V) into a direct voltage (5V, 12V, 24V) and supplies them to each part of the apparatus are mainly configured.

  The main control board 50 outputs, to the effect control board 51, control commands for realizing the sound effect by the speaker SP, the lamp effect by the LED lamp or the cold cathode ray tube discharge tube, and the symbol effect by the liquid crystal display unit 7. doing. The effect control board 51 is connected to the liquid crystal control board 61 through the effect interface board 52, and the liquid crystal control board 61 realizes a design effect in the liquid crystal display (LCD) unit 7.

  The control command output from the main control board 50 also includes an abnormality notification command indicating the occurrence of an abnormal situation. The presentation control board 51 that has received such a control command generates an alarm sound from the speaker SP. It is designed to output.

  The effect control board 51 realizes lamp effects in various LEDs and cold cathode ray tube discharge tubes via the LED board 59, the inverter board 60, and the rotary LED drive board 58 together with the effect interface board 52. In addition, the effect control board 51 drives the speaker SP through the effect interface board 52 to realize an audio effect. Further, as described above, an alarm sound may be output from the speaker SP.

  The main control board 50 is connected to various game members of the slot machine through the game relay board 53. Specifically, the start switch of the start lever 17, the stop switch of the stop buttons 18a to 18c, the input switch of the input buttons 15 and 16, the liquidation switch of the checkout button 14, and the photointerrupters PH1 and PH2 constituting the input number determination unit 21d The blocker solenoid 31 constituting the inserted medal return unit 21c and the various LED elements 9 to 11 are connected.

  Further, the main control board 50 is connected to the three stepping motors for rotating the rotating reels 4a to 4c and the index sensor for detecting the reference position of the rotating reels 4a to 4c via the rotating relay board 57. Has been. Then, by rotating or stopping the stepping motor, the rotating operation of the rotating reels 4a to 4c and the stopping operation at the target position are realized.

  The main control board 50 is also connected to the medal payout device 5 through the payout relay board 63. The medal payout device 5 is provided with a medal payout control board 55, a medal detection sensor SE, and a payout motor MO. The medal payout control board 55 is based on a medal payout signal PAY from the main control board 50. The payout motor MO is rotated to pay out a predetermined amount of medals. The payout motor MO is a DC motor such as a brush motor, and continues to rotate as long as it receives DC 24V.

  In addition, the main control board 50 is also connected to the external concentration terminal board 56 and the rotary setting board 54. The external concentrated terminal board 56 is connected to, for example, the hall computer HC, and the main control board 50 outputs the number of inserted medals and the number of paid out medals through the external concentrated terminal board 56. Further, the rotating setting board 54 outputs a setting key signal indicating the rank setting value of the probabilistic medal payout number set by the staff.

  The rank setting value is divided into, for example, six stages, and the winning probability of whether to start a big bonus game (BB) or a regular bonus game (RB) for which a large amount of medals are expected to be paid It is defined by the set value. Therefore, for example, an illegal person may open the front panel 2 using a joint key and intentionally change the set value to the highest rank.

  Therefore, in order to deal with such illegality, in this embodiment, various crime prevention circuits (door sensor DR and the like) are provided, and when an abnormality is detected, an alarm sound is generated from the speaker SP.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing internal circuits of the effect control board 51 and the effect interface board 52. As shown, the effect control board 51 includes a one-chip microcomputer 70 that controls various game operations based on control commands received from the main control board 50, an EPROM 71 that stores a control program for the one-chip microcomputer 70, and a one-chip. An audio reproduction output circuit 72 that outputs an audio signal AO based on an instruction from the microcomputer 70 and an audio memory 73 that stores compressed audio data are provided.

  The one-chip microcomputer 70 is provided with input ports 70a and 70b and an output port 70c. An abnormal signal ER indicating the occurrence of an abnormal situation is supplied to the input port 70a. Here, the abnormal situation means that some destructive action has been recognized at the location where the speaker SP is disposed.

  Further, the control command CMD output from the main control board 50 is supplied to the input port 70b together with the strobe signal STB. The strobe signal STB is supplied to the interrupt terminal of the CPU core of the one-chip microcomputer 70, and the control command CMD is acquired by the reception interrupt process activated by the strobe signal STB.

  On the other hand, a control command CMD that is a control command received from the main control board 50 and should be transferred to the liquid crystal control board 61 and a control command CMD newly generated by the effect control board 51 are output from the output port 70c. . Further, a reset signal RST is output from the output port 70c to the abnormality detection circuit 75 when the gaming machine is turned on or is reset by an attendant.

  Corresponding to the circuit configuration of the effect control board 51, the effect interface board 52 includes a digital amplifier 74 that amplifies the audio signal AO, an abnormality detection circuit 75 that detects the destruction of the speaker SP, and an output port. A buffer 76 for receiving a control command CMD and a strobe signal STB output from 70c is provided.

  In this embodiment, a circular protective sheet PRT is disposed in front of the speaker SP, and the front surface of the protective sheet PRT communicates with the outside via a circular punching metal PM. The punching metal PM is configured by providing a large number of opening holes in a flat plate such as a steel plate, a stainless steel plate, or an aluminum plate.

  FIG. 7A illustrates the planar shape of the protective sheet PRT. The protective sheet PRT of the embodiment is composed of a flexible printed board provided with a large number of opening holes HO. Each of the opening holes HO has a diameter of about 1 to 3 mm, and is configured to be able to transmit air vibration from the speaker SP to the outside.

  In addition, a large number of radial cuts CUT are formed on the outer periphery of the opening hole HO, and each opening hole HO is configured so that its arrangement position does not coincide with the opening hole of the punching metal PM. Therefore, it is very difficult to insert an illegal instrument into the opening hole HO. If the illegal instrument passes through the opening hole HO, the action results in the cutting CUT expanding in the radial direction.

  The flexible printed circuit board is formed by forming one conductive path on the upper layer of the base film, and has a thickness of about several tens of μm as a whole. As shown in FIG. 7A, the conduction path RD is formed in a spiral shape, for example, in one path from the start end T1 to the end T2 in the vicinity of the opening holes HO... HO. Therefore, when the cut CUT of the opening hole HO widens, the conduction of the conduction path RD is immediately interrupted. Since the spiral conductive path RD functions as an inductor and may be electromagnetically coupled to the boil coil of the speaker SP, a sufficient separation distance is secured between the conductive path RD and the voice coil. .

  FIG. 7B illustrates the circuit configuration of the abnormality detection circuit 75. The abnormality detection circuit 75 includes a series circuit of a pull-up resistor R1 and a conduction path RD, a buffer circuit G1 that outputs an abnormality signal ER, and a buzzer circuit. The buffer circuit G1 can be omitted. The buzzer circuit includes a base resistor R2, a buzzer BZ that emits an alarm sound corresponding to the buzzer current, a collector resistor R3 that defines the buzzer current, and a switching transistor Q1.

  In a normal state, since the input terminal of the buffer circuit G1 is short-circuited to the ground by the conduction path RD, the input and output of the buffer circuit G1 are at the L level. However, at the time of an illegal action to destroy the speaker SP, a part of the conduction path RD is destroyed, so that the input of the buffer circuit G1 changes from L level to H level, and an H level abnormal signal ER is output. The Then, an alarm sound is output from the buzzer BZ by turning on the transistor Q1. The abnormal signal ER is supplied to the input port 70a of the one-chip microcomputer 70 (see FIG. 6), and the one-chip microcomputer 70 grasps the occurrence of an abnormal situation by periodically checking the data of the input port 70a. be able to. Of course, the abnormal signal ER may be supplied to the one-chip microcomputer 70 as an interrupt signal.

  In FIG. 7A, the protective sheet PRT made of a flexible printed circuit board is disposed on the front surface of the speaker SP. For example, a plurality of opening holes HO... One conductive path RD may be formed by applying a conductive paint or the like. The conduction path RD is not limited in any way as long as it can be drawn with a single stroke, and is formed in a petal pattern, for example.

  Further, a single conduction path RD may be provided on the diaphragm (cone paper) itself of the speaker SP. In this case, the conduction path RD may be formed by a wiring cable, or may be formed by applying a conductive paint or the like. FIG. 7C shows an embodiment in which a spiral conduction path RD is formed on the diaphragm of the speaker SP. In this case as well, the conduction path RD can be changed to an appropriate pattern that can be drawn with a single stroke.

  The circuit configuration of the abnormality detection circuit 75 (FIG. 7 (d)) is simply the same as that of FIG. 7 (b), and the conduction path RD is destroyed during an illegal act of destroying the speaker SP. As a result, the input of the buffer circuit G1 changes from the L level to the H level, and the abnormal signal ER at the H level is output. Of course, the buffer circuit G1 can be omitted.

  As described above, the embodiment has been described in which the speaker SP itself is provided with a conduction path that is easily damaged, or is provided with a conduction path RD that is easily damaged near the speaker SP to detect an illegal action. Not.

  For example, FIG. 8 shows an embodiment in which a dynamic speaker SP is used as a sound collecting microphone. When the speaker is broken, a pulsed audio signal is output from the speaker SP based on the physical force applied to the diaphragm of the speaker SP. In this embodiment, the abnormal signal ER is determined by determining the level of the audio signal. Output. Even when the circuit configuration of FIG. 8 is adopted, it is preferable to adopt the device configuration of FIG. 7A or FIG. 7B in addition to this.

  In any case, the main part of the abnormality detection circuit 75 is configured to be connected in parallel to the speaker SP. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, when the control signal CTL from the one-chip microcomputer 70 is received, the transistor Q2 that is turned ON / OFF, the relay coil L1 that is energized by the collector current of the transistor Q2, and when the relay coil L1 is energized It comprises a normally closed contact S1 that operates OFF, a normally open contact S2 that operates ON when the relay coil L1 is energized, an amplifier circuit 81 that amplifies the voltage across the shunt resistor Rs, a smoothing circuit 82, and a buzzer circuit 84. ing.

  In this embodiment, the amplifier circuit 81 uses INA139 (CURRENT SHUNT MONITOR) manufactured by Texas Instrument. This IC has an amplifier and an output transistor Q, and is configured to output from the output transistor Q a current I (= a * Rs * i) proportional to the voltage across the shunt resistor Rs (= Rs * i). ing. Further, the smoothing circuit (envelope detection circuit) 82 is configured by connecting the load resistor RL of the amplifier circuit 81 and the smoothing capacitor C1 in parallel.

  In this embodiment, since the normally closed contact S1 is arranged in the audio current path of the speaker SP, the voltage across the shunt resistor Rs (= Rs * i) is zero during audio production where the speaker SP is functioning. The abnormality detection circuit 75 does not substantially function. On the other hand, at the timing when the audio effect is not executed, the one-chip microcomputer 70 outputs the control signal CTL of H level, so that the normally closed contact S1 is turned off while the normally open contact S2 is turned on.

  Assume that in such an abnormal monitoring state, an unauthorized player attempts to destroy the speaker SP. In this case, an excessive force is applied to the diaphragm of the speaker SP, and (at least instantaneously) normally, a repetitively pulsed voltage is generated in the voice coil of the speaker SP. Then, a significant abnormal voltage (= Rs * i) is generated at both ends of the shunt resistor Rs, and a current I (= a * Rs * i) proportional to this is output from the output transistor Q.

  Since the load resistance RL of the amplifier circuit 81 is set to a sufficiently large resistance value, the voltage across the load resistance RL exceeds the TTL threshold level, and an H level output is obtained from the buffer circuit G3. As a result, the abnormal signal ER is output and a buzzer sound is generated as in the other embodiments. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, there is an advantage that an abnormal situation can be found at the initial timing of the illegal action regardless of whether or not the conduction path RD is disconnected. In order to continue the alarm sound, as shown by a broken line, a latch circuit is provided on the input side of the buzzer circuit 84, or a buzzer circuit 84 ′ having a memory holding function by the relay coil L2 is used. preferable. Note that the latch circuit and the buzzer circuit 84 ′ are configured to be reset to an initial state when an attendant operates a release switch.

  In any case, in this embodiment, the abnormal signal ER is supplied as an interrupt signal to the one-chip microcomputer 70 of the effect control board 51, so that appropriate processing corresponding to the breakdown abnormality can be performed. For example, on the liquid crystal control board (image control unit) 61, a screen display such as “A speaker abnormality has been detected” is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 7. In addition, it is also preferable to perform notification to the hall computer when abnormality is detected, and to perform light emission control of the LED in addition to this. In this case, there is an advantage that it is easy for surrounding personnel to find an abnormal state by causing the LED provided at a conspicuous position on the front surface of the gaming machine to emit light.

  As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was described concretely, the specific description content is not the meaning which limits this invention in particular. In particular, in the previous embodiment, the slot machine has been described. However, the present invention suitably functions also in a ball game machine and other game machines.

  In the above-described embodiment, the conduction path RD is provided separately from the audio effect circuit. However, the conduction path RD may be provided in series with the boil coil of the speaker SP (see the speaker unit in FIG. 9). In the case of adopting such a configuration, it is also preferable to combine with the circuit configuration of FIG. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, a conduction path RD may be provided in series with the boil coil of the speaker SP, and a shunt resistor Rs ′ may be arranged in series with the conduction path RD. The conduction path RD may be provided on the diaphragm of the speaker SP as shown in FIG. 7B, but in view of the magnitude of the audio current, it is formed on the protective sheet PRT as shown in FIG. Is preferred.

  In the abnormality detection circuit 75 shown in FIG. 9, at the time of audio production, the audio current flowing through the voice coil flows through the shunt resistor Rs ′ via the conduction path RD of the protective sheet PRT. Therefore, the output of the amplifier circuit AP is smoothed by the relatively large capacitor C2 and maintained at the H level. However, when the speaker SP is destroyed, the conduction path RD is interrupted, so that the output of the amplifier circuit AP becomes L level, and the L level abnormal signal ER2 is output.

  On the other hand, since the operation similar to the circuit of FIG. 8 is performed at the timing when the audio effect is not executed, the output of the amplification circuit 81 becomes H level and the abnormal signal ER2 of H level is output when the speaker SP is destroyed. The

  As described above, according to the circuit configuration as shown in FIG. 9, an illegal act can be detected regardless of whether or not the gaming machine is in the sound effect state.

SP Speaker PRT Protection member RD Conducting path Vcc Feeding part G1 Detection part

Claims (6)

When a predetermined switch signal is turned ON, by performing the lottery processing based on the random number and determines whether or not to generate the advantageous gaming state to the player together,
A protective member disposed in the sound pressure output path from the speaker, or a monitoring path formed by densely forming a single conduction path on the diaphragm of the speaker;
A power feeding unit for passing an inspection current through the monitoring path;
A detection unit that monitors the flow of the inspection current, and a gaming machine that determines that an abnormal situation has occurred when the detection unit detects that the inspection current has stopped ,
(a) The monitoring path is formed in series with a voice coil of a speaker, and a voice current flowing through the voice coil is configured to serve as the inspection current, or
(b) a first switch unit provided in series with the voice coil of the speaker, and a series circuit of a second switch unit and a current detection unit provided in parallel with the voice coil of the speaker; Sometimes, the gaming machine is configured such that the first switch is controlled to be in an ON state and the second switch unit is controlled to be in an OFF state .   The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the protection member is a sheet material in which a large number of openings are arranged in a dotted pattern, and the conduction path is formed in the vicinity of the openings.   The gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein the sheet material is formed of a material that is easily damaged.   The gaming machine according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a notch extending in a radial direction is formed on an outer periphery of the opening.   The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein a conductive paint is applied to the diaphragm of the speaker to form the conduction path. A main control unit that centrally controls game operations including the lottery process, and a sub-control unit that operates subordinately based on a control command output from the main control unit;
The feeding unit, and the detection unit, a game machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5 provided to the sub-controller.

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