JP2001353327A - Game machine, controller thereof and judging method for propriety of command signal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To check for a proper command signal being fed to a sub control board without returning a feedback signal to a main control board. SOLUTION: A command signal being fed from a main control board 150 is received by a management control board 200 while the management control board 200 receives a command signal from each of sub control boards 151 to compare them (direct signals and through signals). This achieves the quickest recognition of errors attributed to noises or the like of the command signals thereby enabling quicker adaptation thereto.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game machine in which a game is played by a player, a control device for the game machine for controlling electronic components provided in each section of the game machine according to a predetermined program, and a game machine. The present invention relates to a command signal quality determination method for determining the quality of a command signal output from a control device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a gaming machine, particularly a pachinko machine, has a main control board for collectively controlling a game as a pachinko machine on a back surface thereof. Is sent to a plurality of sub (sub) control boards assigned to different roles, and the electric components are controlled by the control of the sub control boards. As each part control board, a lamp control board for controlling lighting of an illuminated member such as a lamp installed in the game board,
There are a payout control board that controls the payout of the pachinko ball, a sound control board that controls the output of sound effects and music output from a speaker, and a sound, a launch control board that controls the launch of the launch device, and the like.

A control program is stored in the main control board in advance, and a command signal is transmitted to a predetermined sub-board according to the control program. In the sub control board,
By receiving this command signal, the operation of each of the electronic components assigned to the roles is controlled. Here, it is usually preferable to monitor a series of operation control on the main control board. For this reason, it is preferable to exchange signals between each other such as feeding back a predetermined signal from the sub control board to the main control board. General.

However, in a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine, transmission of a feedback signal from a sub control board to a main control board is restricted to prevent fraud.

[0005] For this reason, since the main control board transmits a command signal, that is, is a one-way street, it is not possible to know (recognize) whether or not each of the sub-control boards is operating properly. In other words, even if the sub-control board malfunctions, it is not possible for the player to point out or deal with this malfunction except during maintenance work, and the game content and the effect indicating the game state are different. Can occur.

In view of the above facts, the present invention controls a game machine and a game machine capable of checking that an appropriate command signal is being sent to a sub-control board without sending a feedback signal back to the main control board. It is an object to obtain an apparatus and a method for determining whether a command signal is good or bad.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a main control board for outputting a command signal according to a predetermined program based on a detection signal input thereto according to a predetermined program, and the game An output unit that is provided for each function of an electronic component installed in the machine, receives an instruction signal from the main control board, controls the operation of the electronic component, and outputs a command signal from the main control board. A sub-control board, a direct-command receiving means for receiving all command signals output from the main control board, the output of the plurality of sub-control boards, Through command receiving means for receiving each command signal output from the unit, the command signal received by the direct command receiving means, Serial comparison means for comparing the command signal received by the through command receiving means, the comparison result in said comparison means has judging means for judging acceptability of the command signal.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, all command signals output from the main control board are directly received by the direct command receiving means. on the other hand,
The through command receiving means receives respective command signals output from the output units of the plurality of sub-control boards.
At this time, it is preferable that the command signal from the output unit is not read as software in the sub-control board, and the signal line at the input terminal is branched in hardware.

Next, the comparing means compares the command signal received by the direct command receiving means with the command signal received by the through command receiving means. Although there are a plurality of command signals, it is easy to recognize the comparison target by synchronizing. That is, it is possible to determine that the command signals that have been synchronized and received at substantially the same time are normal if they match, and that the command signals have changed due to some noise if they do not match. By judging this by the judging means, it is possible to judge the quality of the command signal without sending a feedback signal from the sub control board to the main control board.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, there is further provided a notifying means for notifying the determination result of the determining means.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the notifying means notifies the judgment result by the judging means. This makes it possible to recognize whether the command signal is good or not, and to respond quickly when the game content and the effect indicating the game state are different.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a game machine in which a game is played by a player, wherein the control device controls the electronic components provided in each section according to a predetermined program. A main control board that stores a program for outputting a command signal according to the program based on an input detection signal, and a main control board that is provided for each function of electronic components installed in the gaming machine. And a sub-control board having an output unit for controlling the operation of the electronic component and outputting a command signal from the main control board, and all commands output from the main control board. Direct command receiving means for receiving a signal; a through-command for receiving each command signal output from an output section of the plurality of sub-control boards Command receiving means, a comparing means for comparing a command signal received by the direct command receiving means with a command signal received by the through command receiving means, a comparison result by the comparing means, and a judging means for judging the quality of the command signal. A management control board with
have.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, a management control board is provided to obtain the same operation and effect as the first aspect of the present invention. By receiving command signals from both the main control board and the sub control board on the management control board, it is possible to prevent fraud on the main control board.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, the management control board further includes an informing means for informing a result of the determination by the determining means.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the management control board includes the notifying unit, and the notifying unit notifies the judgment result by the judging unit. This makes it possible to recognize whether the command signal is good or not, and to respond quickly when the game content and the effect indicating the game state are different.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gaming machine in which a game is played by a player, wherein the electronic component provided in each section is controlled according to a predetermined program. Remembered,
A command signal is directly received from a main control board that outputs a command signal in accordance with the program based on the input detection signal, and is provided for each function in an electronic component installed in the gaming machine. Receiving a command signal, receiving a command signal from the main control board from a sub-control board that controls the operation of the electronic component, a command signal received from the main control board, and a command received from the sub-control board The command signal is compared with the signal, and the result of the judgment of the command signal is reported.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the command signal is directly received from the main control board, and the command signal received from the main control board is received from the sub-control board in an electrically through state. For example, this through state refers to both sending out the command signal received from the main control board without alteration, and sending out the command signal received from the main control board after performing predetermined processing. Including.

This means that one command signal is received through another route, and if there is no influence by noise or the like, it is natural that the two coincide. Therefore, by comparing the command signals received from each of these two routes,
The quality of the command signal can be determined.

The judgment result is notified to, for example, a management system of a game arcade or the like, and is directly notified to a store clerk by a visual means such as a lamp or an auditory means such as a speaker, so that prompt response is possible. .

[0020]

FIG. 1 shows a game board 111 of a pachinko machine 110 according to the present embodiment. The area surrounded by the arc-shaped rail 112 on the game board 111 is a gauge section 114 which is a game area.

A plurality of nails 116 are driven into the gauge portion 114 over the entire surface (only the main portion is shown in FIG. 1).
The pachinko ball hit through the rail 112 hits the nail 116 and jumps or falls while being guided by the guide path formed by the nail 116. In addition to the nail 116, a windmill 118 is attached at a position symmetrical to the gauge portion 114 so as to turn the pachinko ball in an unexpected direction.

Further, winning holes 120 are provided at a plurality of positions in the gauge section 114, and when a pachinko ball enters the winning opening 120, a predetermined number of pachinko balls are paid out to the player.

The gauge portion 114 is substantially symmetrical with respect to the left and right.
22 are arranged, and the display section 124 is exposed.
Below the display unit 124, a special symbol start winning port 126 for starting the electric accessory unit 122 is provided.

A special winning opening 128 is arranged further below the special symbol starting winning opening 126, and is opened for a predetermined time in a so-called hit display state in the electric accessory unit 122,
A large number of pachinko balls can be awarded.

The gauge section 114 is provided with an ordinary symbol start winning port 130 and an ordinary symbol display section 132 capable of displaying a single digit number from 0 to 9. When the pachinko ball wins, the display of the ordinary symbol display section 132 fluctuates, and when a predetermined winning number is reached,
An electric tulip 134 provided in the special symbol start winning opening 126 is opened for a predetermined time. By opening the electric tulip 134, the probability of winning in the special symbol starting winning opening 126 is physically increased.

Below the gauge section 114, there is provided a panel 140 provided with a handle 136 as a firing device and a receiving tray 138 for receiving a pachinko ball on the front side. The handle 136 is attached to a rotation shaft protruding from the inside of the panel 140, and is rotatable about this rotation shaft. That is, when the player grips and rotates the handle 136, the firing device is activated, and the firing intensity is set based on the rotation angle. Note that a return urging force is applied to this rotation, and the player automatically returns to the original rotation position when the player releases his / her hand.

The game board 111 composed of the gauge section 114 and the panel 140 is supported in a frame of a main body frame (not shown). The main body frame is a reference for mounting the game board 111 in the hall. First, a required number of main body frames are constructed in the side-by-side multi-row hall.
1 is attached to each body frame back to back. The back-to-back two-row group is referred to as an island, and a hole is formed by the plurality of islands.
In addition, the state of the game (such as pitching) is managed by the hall computer 206 (see FIG. 2).

FIG. 2 schematically shows a control system for controlling the pachinko machine 110. The control system mainly includes the main control board 150, the payout control board 152, the voice control board 154, the lamp control board 156, and the emission control board 15.
8, the display control board 160 and the like are classified according to their functions (hereinafter, when these are collectively referred to as a sub control board 151).

The main control board 150 stores a basic program relating to a game.
0 based on the command signal from other sub-control boards 15
1 executes independently. That is, the main control board 150 basically outputs a command, and does not receive feedback on the result or the like.

The payout control board 152 controls the number of pachinko balls to be paid out, and the voice control board 154 controls output of sound effects and the like from a speaker 162 provided in the pachinko machine 110. Also, the lamp control board 158
Controls lighting and extinguishing of an electric decoration member (game board side indicator light) 164 attached to the pachinko machine 110, and the firing control board 158 controls firing of the pachinko ball by the player.

The display control board 160 includes the display section 124.
Are connected via a display driver 166, and execute a display that provides a predetermined effect based on a command signal from the main control board 150. Also, the display control board 160
Also controls the normal symbol display section 132.

On the main control board 150, a special symbol winning sensor 168 provided in the special symbol starting winning port 126, a normal symbol winning sensor 170 provided in the normal symbol winning port 130, and each winning port 12 are provided. Winning sensor 172 is connected. Also, the main control board 150
Is connected to a solenoid 174 for opening and closing the electric tulip 134.

On the main control board 150, a special symbol or a normal symbol is selected by lottery, the display content on the display unit 124 is selected based on the result of the lottery, and an instruction signal is output to the display control unit 160. That is, the display control unit 160 stores data of different display contents based on a plurality of types of command signals in advance, and selects and starts data based on the command signals.

Here, in the present embodiment, a management control board 200 is provided in addition to the control boards (main control board 150 and each sub-control board 151) for controlling the above-mentioned pachinko machine.

The management control board 200 includes the sub-control boards 15
1 is connected to the signal line 202. This signal line 2
From 02, the command signal from the main control board 150 input to each sub-control board 151 is output as a through signal. The through signal is a signal that is output without any alteration (software reading or the like) of the command signal.

All command signals are directly input to the management control board 200 from the main control board 150 via the signal line 204 (direct signal). As a result, each command signal is input to the management control board 200 through two routes (through signal and direct signal). The management control board 200 is a hall computer 2 installed in a game arcade.
06 is connected by a signal line 208.

As shown in FIG. 3, the management control board 200
Is a through signal receiving unit 21 for receiving a through signal.
0, and a direct signal receiving unit 202 for receiving a direct signal. The through signal and the direct signal received by these units are sent to a comparing unit 214. Note that the command signals input to the comparison unit 214 are synchronized by the synchronization control unit 216, and the through signal and the direct signal received one after another are the same as those whose transmission timing from the main control board 150 matches. Has become.

The comparing section 214 compares the synchronized through signal with the direct signal, and sends the comparison result to the judging section 218. Judgment unit 218
In this configuration, it is determined whether or not the two signals match, and the result of the determination is sent to the hall computer 206 via the signal line 208.

The hall computer 206 is provided with a notifying unit 220 (see FIG. 2) such as a lamp, a display unit, or a speaker as a notifying unit, and can notify the clerk of the determination result. I have. Further, if necessary, in the hall computer 206, when it is determined that the through signal does not match the direct signal, control is performed to stop the operation of the corresponding pachinko machine or to limit the game.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In step 250, it is determined whether or not a command signal (direct signal) SD has been received from the main control board 150. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 252, where the command signal (through signal) is transmitted from the sub control board 151. )
It is determined whether or not the SS has been received. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 254.

At step 254, synchronization control of the direct signal SD and the through signal SS is performed. That is, from the main control board 150, each successive sub-control board 15
The command signal is sent to the sub control board 151, and the reception timing of the through signal from the sub-control board 151 needs to be matched. A time lag does not occur if all functions of the management control board 200 are executed in a hardware configuration. However, when the functions are executed in a software manner, the respective signals are received in time series. To delay
A function such as sample and hold is required. For this reason, synchronization control is required.

The synchronized direct signal SD and through signal SS are compared in step 256. If it is determined that they match, as a result of the comparison, step 2
58 and reports to the hall computer 206 that the direct signal SD and the through signal SS match,
Return to step 250. After returning to step 250,
The determination of the next command signal is continuously executed.

If it is determined in step 256 that they do not match, the process proceeds to step 260 to report to the hall computer 206 that the direct signal SD and the through signal SS do not match, and the process returns to step 250. After returning to step 250, the next command signal is determined continuously.

The hall computer 206 does not need to perform any control in the case of coincidence. On the other hand, if a mismatch report is received, the prepared notification means 220 (a lamp, a display unit, or a speaker) is operated, and the contents of the game and the state of the game are notified to the clerk together with the designation of the corresponding pachinko machine. Notify that the effect shown is different. In addition, the game of the corresponding pachinko machine is stopped or restricted as necessary. As a result, a quick response to a malfunction of the pachinko machine is possible.

In the present embodiment, the result of the determination is processed by the hall computer 206, but may be processed by the management control board 200. In this case, each pachinko machine may be provided with a notifying means for notifying that the commands do not match.

In the above embodiment, the management control board 200 is configured to simply receive a command signal. However, the management control board 200 stores a game program of the main control board 150, The appropriateness of the command signal may be determined by simulation.

As described above, in this embodiment, the command signal transmitted from the main control board 150 is
0, and the management control board 200 also receives command signals from each of the sub-control boards 151 and compares these (direct signal and through signal) to quickly detect errors due to command signal noise and the like. Recognized and enabled quick response.

[0049]

As described above, a gaming machine according to the present invention,
The gaming machine control device and the command signal quality determination method have an excellent effect that it is possible to check that an appropriate command signal is being sent to the sub-control board without sending back a feedback signal to the main control board. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a pachinko gaming machine according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system of the pachinko machine.

FIG. 3 is a control block diagram illustrating a configuration of a management control board.

FIG. 4 is a control flowchart in a management control board.

[Explanation of symbols]

 110 Pachinko machine (gaming machine) 114 Gauge section 150 Main control board 151 Sub-control board 152 Payout control board (Sub-control board) 154 Voice control board (Sub-control board) 156 Lamp control board (Sub-control board) 158 Launch control board ( Sub-control board) 160 Display control board (sub-control board) 200 Management control board 210 Through signal receiving section 212 Direct signal receiving section 214 Comparison section 216 Synchronization control section 218 Judgment section 220 Hall computer

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A main control board for outputting a command signal according to a predetermined program based on a detection signal input thereto in accordance with a predetermined program, and a main control board provided for each function in electronic components installed in the gaming machine, A sub-control board having an output unit that receives a command signal from the main control board and controls the operation of the electronic component, and outputs a command signal from the main control board. A gaming machine to be played, wherein: a direct command receiving unit that receives all command signals output from the main control board; and a through-through that receives respective command signals output from output units of the plurality of sub-control boards. Command receiving means, a command signal received by the direct command receiving means, and a command signal received by the through command receiving means. A gaming machine comprising: a comparing unit that compares a command signal; and a determining unit that determines whether a command signal is good or bad as a result of the comparison by the comparing unit. 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising a notifying means for notifying a result of the judgment by said judging means. 3. A controller for a gaming machine in which a game is played by a player, wherein the controller controls electronic components provided in each section according to a predetermined program, wherein the program for the game is stored. A main control board that outputs a command signal according to the program based on an input detection signal; and a main control board that is provided for each function of an electronic component installed in the gaming machine and receives a command signal from the main control board. A sub-control board having an output unit for controlling the operation of the electronic component and outputting a command signal from the main control board; and receiving a direct command for receiving all command signals output from the main control board. Means, through command receiving means for receiving respective command signals output from the output units of the plurality of sub-control boards, Management control comprising a comparing means for comparing a command signal received by an erase command receiving means with a command signal received by the through command receiving means, and a comparison result by the comparing means; A control device for a gaming machine having a substrate. 4. The control device for a gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein said management control board further comprises a notifying means for notifying a judgment result of said judging means. 5. In a gaming machine in which a game is played by a player, in a gaming machine for controlling electronic components provided in each section according to a predetermined program, the program for the game is stored and inputted. A command signal is directly received from a main control board that outputs a command signal according to the program based on the signal. The command signal is provided for each function in an electronic component installed in the gaming machine, and receives a command signal from the main control board. Receiving a command signal from the main control board from a sub-control board that controls the operation of the electronic component, and comparing the command signal received from the main control board with the command signal received from the sub-control board. And determining whether the command signal is good or bad by notifying the command signal of the gaming machine.