JP7559459B2 - Gaming Machines - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an amusement machine.

Press button devices with variable display functions are known in the art. For example, in Patent Document 1, an operation button device with a built-in numeric display element is installed as a stop button for gaming machines such as slot machines.

There is also a known mechanism in which a display image is displayed by transmitting light from at least one of a plurality of light sources through a display section, and the display image is switched by switching which of the plurality of light sources is used. One example of such a mechanism is the technology disclosed in Patent Document 2. Patent Document 2 discloses a backlight display device for automatic viewing of a lenticular image card, which changes the position of the light focused by a lenticular lens by switching the light source, thereby selectively illuminating an image on an image layer (display section).

JP 2005-137668 A JP 2003-195216 A

The technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 requires a numeric display element and its drive system, which makes it expensive and difficult to make it thin.

By applying a mechanism such as that described in Patent Document 2 to a push button device, it is possible to reduce the cost and thickness of the push button device. However, in this case, the following problems arise. That is, light from the light source is diffusely reflected by the spring member that provides elastic force to the button body, and the diffusely reflected light unintentionally illuminates another display image, thereby degrading the quality of the display.

One aspect of the present invention aims to improve display quality.

In order to solve the above problems, a gaming machine according to one aspect of the present invention is a gaming machine equipped with a stop button unit, the stop button unit having a plurality of push button devices for stopping the rotation of a plurality of reels, each of the plurality of push button devices being structured such that the button body is pressed against a case, the gaming machine having a plurality of light sources, a display unit that displays a display image by transmitting light from at least one of the plurality of light sources and switches the display image by switching which of the plurality of light sources is used, a light blocking member provided on the side of the path along which the light from the plurality of light sources reaches the display unit so as to surround the path, and a spring member that applies elastic force between the button body and the case, the spring member being installed outside the light blocking member with respect to the path.

According to the above configuration, a light-shielding member can be provided between the multiple light sources and the spring member. This allows the light-shielding member to suppress diffuse reflection of light caused by the spring member. As a result, deterioration of the display quality can be suppressed, thereby improving the display quality.

The display unit may also include a lens array in which a plurality of lenses are arranged two-dimensionally, a plurality of pixel regions arranged including an area through which light emitted from the plurality of light sources passes and is focused by each of the lenses of the lens array, and pixel surrounding regions having a constant transmittance arranged around each of the pixel regions.

According to the above configuration, by switching which of the multiple light sources is used, it is possible to change the pixel area through which the light emitted from the light source passes. In other words, by switching which of the multiple light sources is used, it is possible to switch the display image displayed on the display unit by the light passing through the pixel area.

The light blocking member may be a part of the case and may be formed to extend from the multiple light sources toward the display unit. With the above configuration, the case that houses the spring member can suppress diffuse reflection of light caused by the spring member. In other words, the push button device does not need to have a new member to suppress diffuse reflection of light.

Furthermore, each of the multiple push button devices may include a sliding part that causes the button body to slide relative to the case in response to pressing of the button body, and the light blocking member may be part of the sliding part and be formed to extend from the display unit side toward the multiple light sources side. With the above configuration, the sliding part that causes the button body to slide can suppress diffuse reflection of light caused by a spring member. In other words, the push button device does not need to have a new member to suppress diffuse reflection of light.

The display unit may also display to the player of the gaming machine at least the order in which the multiple push button devices are pressed. With the above configuration, the gaming machine is equipped with multiple push button devices that can improve display quality, making it possible to accurately display to the player the order in which the multiple push button devices are pressed.

According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to achieve improved display quality.

1 is a schematic perspective view of a slot machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. A block diagram showing the control system configuration of the above-mentioned slot machine. FIG. 2 is a top view of the stop button unit of the slot machine. FIG. 4 is a front view of the stop button unit. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the stop button unit. 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of a correspondence relationship between a plurality of light sources and a display image in the stop button unit. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a push button device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a schematic diagram of a display unit in the push button device. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a corresponding relationship between a display unit and a plurality of light sources in the push button device. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of the slot machine. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a push button device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Embodiment 1]
§1 Application Example (General Configuration of Slot Machine 1)
First, the schematic configuration of a slot machine (reel type gaming machine) 1, which is an example of an application target of a push button device 100 (see FIGS. 3 to 5) according to this embodiment, will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the slot machine 1 according to this embodiment. Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control system for the slot machine 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the slot machine 1 is composed of a front door 1a facing the player, etc., and a box-shaped housing 1b to which the front door 1a is attached so that it can be opened and closed. The slot machine 1 also has a reel unit 2, bet buttons 3, a medal insertion slot 4, a start lever 5, a stop button unit 6, and a medal payout outlet 7. In the following description, the side of the slot machine 1 where the front door 1a is located will be referred to as the front, the opposite side as the rear, the left side facing the front as the left side, and the right side as the right side.

The reel unit 2 is located inside the cabinet 1b at the position of a display window provided in the vertical center of the front door 1a. The reel unit 2 has three cylindrical reels 21 to 23 (left reel 21, center reel 22, right reel 23) arranged in the left-right direction. The reels 21 to 23 spin and stop based on the player's operation. The player can receive a prize according to the combination determined by the arrangement of pictures when all the reels 21 to 23 have stopped.

The bet button 3 is provided at approximately the center of the horizontal surface of the operation table formed below the display window at the front door 1a. The medal insertion slot 4 is provided at the right side of the horizontal surface of the operation table at the front door 1a. The bet button 3 is a button switch for indicating the number of medals (number of bets) that the player will bet on one game of the slot machine 1 from the medals inserted through the medal insertion slot 4. The player indicates the number of bets by pressing the bet button 3, for example.

The start lever 5 is located on the left side of the front of the operation console, at the front door 1a. Operating the start lever 5 starts the rotation of the reels 21 to 23.

The stop button unit 6 is provided inside the front door 1a, at approximately the center of the front of the operation console. The stop button unit 6 is fixed to the front of the operation console by a decorative panel (front panel) 60. The stop button unit 6 also includes three stop buttons 61 to 63 (left reel stop button 61, center reel stop button 62, right reel stop button 63) arranged in the left-right direction. Pressing any of the stop buttons 61 to 63 stops the rotation of the corresponding reels 21 to 23. The detailed configuration of the stop button unit 6 will be described later with reference to Figures 3 to 5.

The medal payout outlet 7 is provided at the bottom of the front door 1a. The slot machine 1 dispenses medals from the medal payout outlet 7.

As shown in FIG. 2, the slot machine 1 includes a control unit 10, which is a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 14 that controls the overall operation of the slot machine 1, and reel drive control units 11 to 13 (left reel drive control unit 11, center reel drive control unit 12, and right reel drive control unit 13). The CPU 14 has a reel rotation control unit 14a and a lighting control unit 14b.

The stop buttons 61 to 63 are also equipped with photo micro switches 61b to 63b (left photo micro switch 61b, middle photo micro switch 62b, right photo micro switch 63b), respectively. The stop buttons 61 to 63 are also equipped with multiple light sources 61a to 63a (multiple left light sources 61a, multiple middle light sources 62a, multiple right light sources 63a), respectively.

When the start lever 5 is operated, a command to start the rotation of the reels 21-23 is input to the reel rotation control unit 14a. At this time, the reel rotation control unit 14a outputs drive pulses to the reel drive control units 11-13 so that the reels 21-23 rotate at a predetermined rotation speed. The reel drive control units 11-13 rotate the reels 21-23 based on the drive pulses input thereto.

The reel rotation control unit 14a also receives a signal from the photomicroswitches 61b to 63b of the stop buttons 61 to 63 indicating that the stop buttons 61 to 63 have been pressed. At this time, the reel rotation control unit 14a outputs a drive pulse to the reel drive control units 11 to 13 to stop the reels 21 to 23. The reel drive control units 11 to 13 stop the reels 21 to 23 based on the drive pulse input thereto.

Furthermore, the lighting control unit 14b controls which of the multiple light sources 61a to 63a of the stop buttons 61 to 63 are turned on and which are turned off. The detailed configurations of the photo microswitches 61b to 63b and the multiple light sources 61a to 63a will be described later with reference to FIG. 7 as the photo microswitch 108 and the multiple light sources 109, respectively. A specific example of the operation of the slot machine 1 by the control unit 10 will be described later with reference to FIG. 10.

(Schematic configuration of stop button unit 6)
Next, a general configuration of the stop button unit 6 mounted on the slot machine 1 will be described. Fig. 3 is a general top view of the stop button unit 6. Fig. 4 is a general front view of the stop button unit 6. Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the stop button unit 6.

As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the stop button unit 6 includes a decorative panel 60 and three push button devices 100 serving as stop buttons 61 to 63. That is, the stop buttons 61 to 63 are configured such that the three push button devices 100 are respectively provided on the stop button unit 6. The following description of the push button device 100 can be applied to all of the stop buttons 61 to 63. The detailed configuration of each component of the push button device 100 will be described later with reference to Figures 7 and 8.

As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the decorative panel 60 has holes at the positions where the three push button devices 100 are provided. The push button device 100 has a button body (button top) 101 whose surface is pressed by the finger of a player or the like. The push button device 100 also has a display section (display switching sheet) 102 on the back surface of the button body 101 that can display a predetermined display image.

Reference symbol 3A in FIG. 3 indicates a state in which the display unit 102 is not displaying a display image. Reference symbol 3B in FIG. 3 indicates a state in which the display unit 102 is displaying the order in which to press the stop buttons 61 to 63 as an example of a display image. In this way, the display unit 102 can display a predetermined display image to the player through the hole in the decorative panel 60.

As shown in FIG. 4, when viewed from the front, part of the surface of the button body 101 is exposed through a hole in the decorative panel 60. Therefore, the button body 101 can be easily pressed by the finger of a player, etc.

As shown in FIG. 5, the stop button unit 6 includes a decorative panel 60 and three push button devices 100. The push button devices 100 include a button body 101, a display unit 102, a sliding part 103, a spring member 104, a case 105, a substrate 106, a stop member 107, and a photomicroswitch (sensor) 108. A plurality of light sources 109 are provided on the substrate 106. In the stop button unit 6, the cases 105 of the push button devices 100 are integrally formed. In the stop button unit 6, the substrates 106 of the push button devices 100 are integrally formed. In the stop button unit 6, the stop members 107 of the push button devices 100 are integrally formed.

Figure 6 is a diagram showing an example of the correspondence between the multiple light sources 109 and the display images in the stop button unit 6. As shown in Figure 6, the stop button unit 6 includes, for example, four light sources 109a to 109d on a substrate 106. The light source 109a displays a first display image P1 (the number "1" in the example) on the display unit 102. Similarly, the light source 109b, the light source 109c, and the light source 109d display a second display image P2 (the number "2" in the example), a third display image P3 (the number "3" in the example), and a fourth display image P4 (a fully illuminated image in the example) on the display unit 102, respectively.

Reference symbol 6A in FIG. 6 indicates a state in which the left reel stop button 61, the center reel stop button 62, and the right reel stop button 63 display the numbers "3," "1," and "2," respectively, as the order in which the stop buttons 61 to 63 should be pressed. That is, in reference symbol 6A in FIG. 6, the stop button unit 6 displays the following: It indicates that the order in which the stop buttons 61 to 63 should be pressed in order to win the press order assist role described below and receive the prize from that press order assist role is the center reel stop button 62, the right reel stop button 63, and the left reel stop button 61.

Reference symbol 6B in FIG. 6 indicates a state in which the left reel stop button 61, the center reel stop button 62, and the right reel stop button 63 display the numbers "2," "3," and "1," respectively, as the order in which the stop buttons 61 to 63 should be pressed. That is, in reference symbol 6B in FIG. 6, the stop button unit 6 displays the following: It indicates that the order in which the stop buttons 61 to 63 should be pressed in order to win the push order assist role described below and receive the prize from that push order assist role is the right reel stop button 63, the left reel stop button 61, and the center reel stop button 62.

Reference numeral 6C in FIG. 6 indicates a state in which all stop buttons 61 to 63 are displaying a fully illuminated image. In other words, in reference numeral 6C in FIG. 6, the stop button unit 6 is displaying to the player that the push order assist role, which will be described later, has been lost.

The push button device 100, which will be described later, is equipped with a light blocking member, thereby reducing diffuse reflection of light caused by the spring member. In other words, when the push button device 100 is applied to the slot machine 1 and the stop button unit 6, it is possible to accurately display a predetermined display image to the player. Furthermore, the display unit 102 of the push button device 100 displays at least the order in which the stop buttons 61 to 63 should be pressed to the player of the slot machine 1. Therefore, when the push button device 100 is applied to the slot machine 1 and the stop button unit 6, it is possible to accurately display the order in which the stop buttons 61 to 63 should be pressed to the player.

§2 Configuration Example (Configuration of push button device 100)
Next, the configuration of the push button device 100 according to this embodiment will be described. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the push button device 100 according to this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 7, the push button device 100 includes a button body 101, a display unit 102, a sliding part 103, a spring member 104, a case 105, a substrate 106, a stop member 107, and a photomicroswitch 108. The push button device 100 has a structure in which the button body 101 is pressed against the case 105. In the following description, the side of the push button device 100 on which the button body 101 is located is referred to as the upper side, and the side on which the substrate 106 is located is referred to as the lower side.

The button body 101 is a generally cylindrical member with a lid. The button body 101 has an operating portion (lid) 101a that is pressed by the finger of a player, a tube portion 101b formed below the periphery of the operating portion 101a, and a pair of engagement portions 101c (see FIG. 5) formed below and at opposing positions on the tube portion 101b. The button body 101 is made of a material that transmits light (e.g., plastic).

The display unit 102 is disposed in the hollow portion of the tube portion 101b of the button body 101 on the back surface of the button body 101. The display unit 102 abuts against the operation portion 101a of the button body 101. The detailed configuration of the display unit 102 will be described later with reference to FIG. 7.

The sliding part 103 is a part with a substantially cylindrical shape that slides the button body 101 in response to pressing the button body 101. The sliding part 103 has a holding part 103a, a guided part 103b formed on the outer periphery of the holding part 103a and extending downward, and a pair of engagement claws 103c (see FIG. 5) formed at opposing positions of the holding part 103a. The holding part 103a abuts on the inner periphery of the tube part 101b of the button body 101 at its upper part, and supports the display part 102 from below. The pair of engagement claws 103c are formed at positions corresponding to the engagement part 101c of the button body 101, and engage with the engagement part 101c. As a result, the button body 101 and the sliding part 103 are integrated while holding the display part 102 therebetween. In addition, a light blocking piece 103d is formed at a predetermined position on the guided portion 103b, extending downward from the guided portion 103b.

The spring member 104 is a coil spring that applies elastic force between the button body 101 and the case 105. The spring member 104 is disposed inside the guided portion 103b of the sliding part 103. One end of the spring member 104 abuts against the holding portion 103a of the sliding part 103, and the other end abuts against the bottom portion 105c of the case 105, which will be described later. In the state shown in FIG. 7, the spring member 104 is compressed from its natural length due to the weight of the button body 101 and the sliding part 103. Therefore, the spring member 104 urges the button body 101 and the sliding part 103 upward when not operated.

The case 105 is a member that houses at least the spring member 104. The case 105 has a guide portion 105a that abuts against the outer periphery of the guided portion 103b of the sliding part 103, and a light shielding member 105b formed inside the guide portion 105a. The guide portion 105a and the light shielding member 105b are connected to the bottom portion 105c of the case 105 and are integrated. That is, the light shielding member 105b is a part of the case 105 and is formed in a shape that extends from the side of the multiple light sources 109 toward the side of the display unit 102. The guide portion 105a has a shape on its inner periphery that corresponds to the shape of the outer periphery of the guided portion 103b of the sliding part 103. Therefore, the sliding part 103 can slide in the vertical direction while abutting against the case 105. In addition, a guide groove portion 105d that penetrates the bottom portion 105c is formed at a position corresponding to the light shielding piece 103d.

The light shielding member 105b is disposed inside the spring member 104. That is, the light shielding member 105b is provided on the side of the path through which light from the multiple light sources 109 described later reaches the display unit 102, so as to surround the path. The spring member 104 is also disposed outside the light shielding member 105b, based on the path. This allows the light shielding member 105b to reduce diffuse reflection of light by the spring member 104. Preferably, the light shielding member 105b is disposed so as to cover the entire spring member 104. The light shielding member 105b is made of a material having a predetermined transmittance or less. That is, the light shielding member 105b does not have to completely block light from the multiple light sources 109. The light shielding member 105b may have a transmittance sufficient to suppress diffuse reflection from the spring member 104. An example of the material for the light shielding member 105b is resin.

Figure 7 illustrates three paths (paths L1 to L3) that light from a specific light source 109-1 takes to reach a specific location 102-1 on the display unit 102. Path L2 is the path of straight light that travels straight from the light source 109-1 to the location 102-1. Paths L1 and L3 are paths of reflected light that travels to the location 102-1 after a portion of the light incident from the light source 109-1 is reflected by the light shielding member 105b. Here, the reflected light from the light shielding member 105b is much weaker than the incident light. In other words, the light that travels to the location 102-1 via paths L1 and L3 is much weaker than the light that travels to the location 102-1 via path L2. Therefore, the light shielding member 105b defines the path of light from the light source 109-1 to the location 102-1 as path L2.

The substrate 106 has a plurality of light sources 109 on one surface. The substrate 106 is installed so that the surface on which the plurality of light sources 109 are provided faces the display unit 102. The substrate 106 also has a connector on the other surface. The connector is connected to a control unit (for example, the control unit 10 in FIG. 2) that controls the light emission of the light sources 109. The plurality of light sources 109 are, for example, light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

The stopper member 107 is a box-shaped member for supporting the case 105. The stopper member 107 is fixed to the case 105 with a screw or the like. A board 106 is provided inside the stopper member 107. The board 106 is fixed to the stopper member 107 with a screw or the like. The stopper member 107 has a photomicroswitch hole 107a at a position corresponding to the guide groove 105d of the case 105. This allows the light blocking piece 103d of the sliding part 103 to slide along the guide groove 105d and enter the photomicroswitch hole 107a in response to the depression of the button body 101.

The photo microswitch 108 is fixed to the photo microswitch hole 107a of the stopper member 107 with a screw or the like. The photo microswitch 108 is a photointerrupter that has a light emitting part and a light receiving part, and detects the entry and exit of an object into the object detection space formed between the light emitting part and the light receiving part. That is, the photo microswitch 108 detects the entry and exit of the light blocking piece 103d into the photo microswitch hole 107a. When the light blocking piece 103d is not inserted into the photo microswitch hole 107a, the photo microswitch 108 transmits an OFF signal to the control unit (control unit 10 in FIG. 2 as an example) of the device that includes the push button device 100, and when the light blocking piece 103d is inserted into the photo microswitch hole 107a, the photo microswitch 108 transmits an ON signal. This allows the photo microswitch 108 to detect the pressing of the button body 101.

(Configuration of display unit 102)
Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of the display unit 102 in the push button device 100. As shown in Fig. 8, the display unit 102 includes an image layer 121, a matrix layer 122 provided below the image layer 121, and a microlens array (lens array) 123 provided below the matrix layer 122. The matrix layer 122 includes, for example, a pixel region 122a (aperture) and a pixel surrounding region 122b (mask) which is a region other than the pixel region 122a. The lens array 123 is configured by arranging a plurality of lenses two-dimensionally.

The lens array 123 collects light emitted from a plurality of light sources 109 attached to the substrate 106. The pixel region 122a is arranged to include an area through which the light collected by each lens of the lens array 123 passes. That is, the light emitted from the plurality of light sources 109 displays an image on the image layer 121 through the pixel region 122a. The transmittance of each pixel region 122a is set corresponding to the display image to be displayed on the image layer 121. The pixel surrounding region 122b blocks light from the light source 109 side, i.e., light from the side where the lens array 123 is arranged. The transmittance of the pixel surrounding region 122b is constant in that region.

Figure 9 is a schematic diagram showing the correspondence between the display unit 102 and the multiple light sources 109 in the push button device 100. In Figure 9, the paths of light emitted from specific light sources 109-2 and 109-3 are paths L4 and L5, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 9, of the light emitted from light source 109-2, the light focused on lens 123-1 is irradiated onto image layer 121 via pixel region 122a-1. On the other hand, of the light emitted from light source 109-3, the light focused on lens 123-1 is irradiated onto image layer 121 via pixel region 122a-2. In this way, light emitted from different light sources and focused on the same lens is irradiated onto image layer 121 via different pixel regions. That is, push button device 100 can switch the display image by switching which of the multiple light sources 109 is used. Note that the switching between turning on and off the multiple light sources 109 is performed by control unit 10 in FIG. 2.

§3 Operation Example (Operation Example of Slot Machine 1)
10 is a flow chart showing the operation of the slot machine 1. An example of the operation of the slot machine 1 will be described below with reference to FIG.

First, a player can store medals inside the slot machine 1 by inserting medals into the medal insertion slot 4 or by winning medals in a game. After at least the number of medals needed to play one game has been stored, a game on the slot machine begins.

Next, the player presses the bet button 3 and indicates the number of medals to be bet on the game. After that, when the player operates the start lever 5, the reel rotation control unit 14a of the control unit 10 spins the reels 21 to 23 (step S1).

Next, the control unit 10 performs a role selection process internally known as an internal lottery (step S2). More specifically, it samples one value from the 16-bit random number, and selects the winning role corresponding to the sampled value as the internal winning role based on a comparison table in which the winning roles in the game are previously associated with numerical values. If there is no winning role corresponding to the sampled value by referring to the comparison table, the internal lottery has been lost.

The winning roles set by the internal lottery include a special increased winning role, which, if won, allows the player to play consecutive games under favorable conditions for a certain period of time, and is expected to generate high profits, and a push order assist role, in which the order of operation of the stop buttons is assigned in advance and there is a high probability of winning if the player operates the stop buttons in that order. If the control unit 10 determines that the push order assist role has been won, it proceeds to step S4 (Y in step S3). If the control unit 10 determines that the push order assist role has not been won, it proceeds to step S6 (N in step S3).

When the internal lottery is performed (regardless of whether the push order assist role is won or not), the reel rotation control unit 14a of the control unit 10 waits until it becomes possible to stop the reels using the stop buttons 61 to 63 (steps S4 and S6). When each reel reaches a predetermined number of rotations, the control unit 10 transitions from step S4 to step S5, or from step S6 to step S7.

After step S4, the lighting control unit 14b of the control unit 10 causes the push order of the stop buttons 61 to 63 assigned to the internally won push order assist role to be displayed as numbers on each of the stop buttons 61 to 63 (step S5). The specific method of displaying the stop buttons 61 to 63 is as described above with reference to the symbols 6A and 6B in FIG. 6.

After step S6, the lighting control unit 14b of the control unit 10 illuminates the entire surface of the stop buttons 61 to 63 (step S7). The specific method of displaying the stop buttons 61 to 63 is as described above with reference to reference symbol 6C in FIG. 6.

For simplicity, the following describes an example of the operation of steps S8 to S13 when each display image is displayed when the stop buttons 61 to 63 are in the state of the symbol 6A. After step S5, the player presses the center reel stop button 62 that first displays the number "1" (first stop display) (Y in step S8). The reel rotation control unit 14a of the control unit 10 receives a signal that the center reel stop button 62 has been pressed. After that, the reel rotation control unit 14a of the control unit 10 applies "pull-in control" to the center reel 22 that corresponds to the center reel stop button 62 (first stop indicated) to stop it (step S9). Note that if the player does not press the center reel stop button 62 that is the first stop display (N in step S8), the reel rotation control unit 14a of the control unit 10 waits until the center reel stop button 62 is pressed by the player.

Here, "pull-in control" refers to braking control that stops the reels so that the image of the internal winning combination is displayed on the winning line, even if the timing of the push is slightly off, as long as it is within a specified range. For this reason, when pull-in control is applied, the probability of lining up the images and confirming the winning combination is higher than in the case of only timing braking without pull-in control.

The player then presses the right reel stop button 63 which displays the number "2" (second stop display) (Y in step S10). The reel rotation control unit 14a of the control unit 10 receives a signal indicating that the right reel stop button 63 has been pressed. The reel rotation control unit 14a of the control unit 10 then applies "pull-in control" to the right reel 23 which corresponds to the right reel stop button 63 (second stop indicated) to stop it (step S11). Note that if the player does not press the right reel stop button 63 which displays the second stop (N in step S10), the reel rotation control unit 14a of the control unit 10 waits until the right reel stop button 63 is pressed by the player.

The player finally presses the left reel stop button 61 which displays the number "3" (third stop display) (Y in step S12). The reel rotation control unit 14a of the control unit 10 receives a signal indicating that the left reel stop button 61 has been pressed. The reel rotation control unit 14a of the control unit 10 then applies "pull-in control" to the left reel 21 which corresponds to the left reel stop button 61 (third stop indicated) to stop it (step S13). Note that if the player does not press the left reel stop button 61 which displays the third stop (N in step S12), the reel rotation control unit 14a of the control unit 10 waits until the left reel stop button 61 is pressed by the player.

When the images associated with the winning combination selected in the internal lottery are aligned along an active line and a win is confirmed, the control unit 10 pays out a number of medals corresponding to the win from the medal payout outlet 7 (step S14).

[Embodiment 2]
Other embodiments of the present invention will be described below. For ease of explanation, the same reference numerals are given to members having the same functions as those described in the above embodiment, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

(Configuration of push button device 200)
11 is a cross-sectional view of a push button device 200 according to another embodiment of the present invention. Push button device 200 differs from push button device 100 in that push button device 200 includes sliding element 203 and case 205 instead of sliding element 103 and case 105.

Case 205 differs from case 105 in that it does not have a light-shielding member 105b. That is, case 205 is composed of a guide portion 105a and a bottom portion 105c.

The sliding part 203 differs from the sliding part 103 in that it further has a light blocking member 203e formed inside the guided part 103b. The guided part 103b and the light blocking member 203e are connected above the spring member 104, and are integrated together. In other words, the light blocking member 203e is part of the sliding part 203, and is formed in a shape that extends from the display unit 102 side toward the multiple light sources 109 side.

The light blocking member 203e is disposed inside the spring member 104. In other words, the light blocking member 203e defines the path along which light from the multiple light sources 109 reaches the display unit 102. The spring member 104 is also disposed outside the light blocking member 105b, based on this path. As a result, the push button device 200 including the light blocking member 203e achieves the same effect as the push button device 100.

[Software implementation example]
The control block (particularly the control unit 10) of the slot machine 1 may be realized by a logic circuit (hardware) formed on an integrated circuit (IC chip) or the like, or may be realized by software.

In the latter case, the slot machine 1 is provided with a computer that executes the instructions of a program, which is software that realizes each function. This computer is provided with, for example, one or more processors, and a computer-readable recording medium that stores the program. The object of the present invention is achieved by the processor reading the program from the recording medium and executing it in the computer. The processor can be, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The recording medium can be a "non-transient tangible medium", such as a ROM (Read Only Memory), as well as a tape, a disk, a card, a semiconductor memory, a programmable logic circuit, etc. The slot machine 1 may further include a RAM (Random Access Memory) that expands the program. The program may be supplied to the computer via any transmission medium (such as a communication network or a broadcast wave) that can transmit the program. One aspect of the present invention may also be realized in the form of a data signal embedded in a carrier wave, in which the program is embodied by electronic transmission.

(Additional Notes)
In the present embodiment, the push button devices 100, 200 of the present invention are applied to the stop button unit 6 of the slot machine 1, but the application of the present invention is not limited to this.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. The technical scope of the present invention also includes embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments.

1. Slot machine (amusement machine)
6 Stop button unit 100 Push button device 101 Button body 102 Display unit 103 Sliding part 104 Spring member 105 Case 105b Light blocking member 106 Substrate 107 Stop member 108 Photo micro switch 109 Multiple light sources 122a Pixel region 122b Pixel surrounding region 123 Microlens array (lens array)

Claims (4)

A gaming machine equipped with a stop button unit,
the stop button unit includes a plurality of push button devices for stopping the rotation of the plurality of reels;
Each of the plurality of push button devices is a push button device having a structure in which a button body is pressed against a case,
A plurality of light sources;
a display unit that displays a display image by transmitting light from at least one of the plurality of light sources and switches the display image by switching which of the plurality of light sources is used;
a light blocking member provided on a side of a path through which light from the plurality of light sources reaches the display unit so as to surround the path;
a spring member that applies elastic force between the button body and the case,
the spring member is disposed on the outer side of the light blocking member with respect to the path ;
The display unit is
a lens array in which a plurality of lenses are arranged two-dimensionally;
a plurality of pixel regions arranged including an area through which light emitted from the plurality of light sources passes and is collected by each of the lenses of the lens array;
A gaming machine comprising a pixel surrounding area having a constant transmittance and arranged around each of the pixel areas . A gaming machine equipped with a stop button unit,
the stop button unit includes a plurality of push button devices for stopping the rotation of the plurality of reels;
Each of the plurality of push button devices is a push button device having a structure in which a button body is pressed against a case,
A plurality of light sources;
a display unit that displays a display image by transmitting light from at least one of the plurality of light sources and switches the display image by switching which of the plurality of light sources is used;
a light blocking member provided on a side of a path through which light from the plurality of light sources reaches the display unit so as to surround the path;
a spring member that applies elastic force between the button body and the case,
the spring member is disposed on the outer side of the light blocking member with respect to the path ;
The light-shielding member is part of the case and is formed so as to extend from the multiple light sources toward the display unit . each of the plurality of push button devices includes a sliding component that slides the button body relative to the case in response to pressing of the button body;
The gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein the light blocking member is a part of the sliding part and is formed so as to extend from the display unit side toward the plurality of light sources side. 4. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays to a player of the gaming machine at least an order in which to press the plurality of push-button devices.

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