JP3207314B2 - Slot machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a slot machine in which a plurality of reels are started and then each reel is individually stopped to determine a winning or losing of a game in accordance with a combination of pictures arranged on a stop line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional slot machine uses a system in which a plurality of reels are rotated by independent stepping motors, and a control unit associates a pattern provided on each reel with a rotation angle of the reel. By detecting the rotation angle of the reel, it is possible to detect which pattern is located on the stop line, to determine the stop pattern and to control the stop of the specific pattern.

The detection of the rotation angle is specifically performed by sequentially counting the drive pulses for driving each stepping motor. Since this count value needs to be reset each time the reel makes one rotation, a detection piece or the like is provided at a specific angular position of each reel, and when this detection piece passes a sensor mounting position such as a photoelectric switch, the reel is reset. One rotation is detected.

In recent years, a slot machine is provided with a random number generator for randomly determining a pattern to be stopped on a stop line, and when a start operation is performed by a start lever after a medal is inserted, the random number generator generates a random number. Read the number,
The stop operation of each reel is controlled so that the pattern based on the read random number value stops on the stop line (Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-20629).

[0005]

[0006]

However, in a slot machine of a type in which a stop pattern is set at random, a random number value is read based on a start operation by a start lever, so that the same random number is set to be repeatedly output. By using the random number generator, the skilled player can always generate the same random number value by keeping the interval at which the start lever is operated constant,
You can aim and shoot a desired pattern. To prevent this, it is necessary to completely randomize the output of the random number generator, but this complicates the circuit configuration and program and increases the cost.

[0007]

The present invention has been made in view of the above problem, and all the reels are set to a reference angle after starting each reel.
The object of the present invention is to provide a slot machine in which a pattern to be stopped can be reliably set at random by using a random number generator having periodicity in the generated random number value by reading a random number value when rotated to I do.

[0009]

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, in a slot machine having a plurality of reels driven by a stepping motor, a reel starting means for starting each reel, and a rotation angle of each reel being a reference angle. Detecting means for detecting that the reel, random number generating means for generating a random number value, after the reel start by the reel start means,
When the detection unit detects that the rotation angle has reached the reference angle for all reels, a random number reading unit that reads a random number value by the random number generation unit, based on the random number value read by the random number reading unit, Reel stopping means for stopping each reel at a predetermined timing.

[0011]

[0012]

In the slot machine according to the present invention, when it is detected that the rotation angles of all the reels have reached the reference angle after starting the reels, the random number value is read, and the stop timing of each reel is controlled based on the random number value. I do. Since the time from the start of each reel to the rotation angle of all reels reaching the reference angle differs for each game, even if a random number generator with periodicity is used for the random number generated, the random number value read Is different each time, and the pattern to be stopped can be set at random by these different random numbers.

[0013]

[0014]

FIG. 1 shows an appearance of a slot machine 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention. This slot machine 2 has three reels 1a, each of which has a plurality of pictures displayed on its peripheral surface.
1b and 1c, a reel display window 3, a medal deposit number display 4, a payout number display 5,
Medal slot 6, start lever 7, stop switch 8a, 8
b, 8c, a game switch 9, a changeover switch 10, a settlement switch 11, a medal outlet 12, a medal tray 13, and the like.

The reel display window 3 has three reels 1 each.
When the reels 1a, 1b, 1c are stopped and the reels 1a, 1b, 1c are stopped, three reels of the reels 1a, 1b, 1c can be seen through the reel display window 3. Each of the above, middle, lower and diagonal stop lines L
So that the arrayed in a line on ₁ ~L _5.

The stop lines L _{1 to} L ₅ are sequentially activated according to the number of inserted medals. When one medal is inserted, the central stop line L ₁ is changed to two medals. stop line L ₁ ~L under upper, middle when but thrown
_3, stops the line L ₁ ~L ₅ of diagonally below the upper, middle when three medal is inserted, is enabled respectively. If a combination of symbols stopped on any of the activated stop lines is a winning combination, a predetermined number of medals are paid out.

The starting lever 7 has three reels 1a, 1
The three stop switches 8a, 8b, and 8c are used to simultaneously start the reels 1a, 1b, and 1c, respectively.

The medal slot 6 is a place where a large number of medals are inserted or one or a plurality of medals are inserted for each game prior to the start of the game. The medals released from the medal outlet 12 at the time of payout or settlement are accommodated.

This slot machine employs a so-called credit system in which a player can deposit and store a large number of medals in a machine and execute a game using the stored medals. The remaining number of stored medals is digitally displayed on the box 4 . The game switch 9 instructs the use of the stored medals when executing the game, and when pressed once, one medal is pressed twice, and when pressed twice, two medals are pressed three times. And three medals are automatically inserted.

The settlement switch 11 adjusts the stored medals and discharges the medals to be returned to the medal tray 13. The changeover switch 10 is a switch for switching whether to play a game by inserting medals from the medal slot 6 for each game or to play a game by consuming stored medals.
The payout number display 5 digitally displays the number of medals paid out.

As shown in FIG. 2, the reels 1a, 1b and 1c have a structure in which a belt-like sheet 15 on which a plurality of patterns (not shown) are drawn is fixed to the outer periphery of a reel frame 14 made of synthetic resin. It is. The reel frame 14 is located at the center boss 1
6, a peripheral frame 17, and a plurality of support rods 18. A connection hole 19 is provided at the center of the boss portion 16, and one of the support rods 18 is a reel. A detection piece 20 for detection is provided.

Connection holes 19 of the reels 1a, 1b, 1c
As shown in FIG. 3, a stepping motor 23 is connected to the reels 1a, 1
The rotations of b and 1c are independently controlled . Photoelectric switches 24a, 24b, and 24c are provided above the stepping motors 23 and at positions where the detection pieces 20 pass. Each photoelectric switch 24a, 24b, 24c
Outputs a detection signal each time the reels 1a, 1b, 1c make one revolution. The detection piece 20 is not limited to the above-described position, and may be provided at an appropriate position on the outer peripheral frame 17, for example. As means for detecting one rotation of the reel instead of the detection piece 20, a detection hole, a special marker, or the like may be provided at an appropriate position on the reel to detect the rotation.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a main circuit configuration of the slot machine 2. In the figure, 29 is a control unit,
CPU 30, ROM 31, RAM 32, random number generator 33
And the CPU 30 has an I / O
O ports 34 and 35, a display interface 36, and the like are connected.

The CPU 30 is a subject of control and calculation,
RAM 3 according to the program and data of ROM 31
2 to read and write data, and control the operation of each input / output unit in a series.

The ROM 31 stores the program memory 3
9, picture conversion table 40, picture combination table 41,
The program memory 39 stores a program indicating a procedure of a machine operation.

The picture conversion table 40 includes the reels 1a,
It has three areas corresponding to 1b and 1c, and in each area, a count value of a counter unit 44 of the CPU 30 to be described later and data relating to a picture arranged on each reel are stored in association with each other. Picture combination table 41
Is used to determine a combination of pictures to be stopped on any of the activated stop lines,
The random number value generated by the random number generator 33 and the combination of the picture on each reel are stored in association with each other. Winning dividend table 4
In 2, a combination relating to a winning and data such as the number of medals to be paid out as a payout are stored in association with each other.

The random number generator 33 is set so as to repeatedly output a plurality of random numbers at regular intervals.
The PU 30 samples this random number value and reads out data corresponding to the random number value in the picture combination table 41 by a procedure described later.

The reel 28 is connected to the bus 28 via an I / O port 35 and a display circuit 38 via a display interface 36. The reel drive unit 37 controls the operation of the stepping motor 23 for driving each reel in response to a command from the CPU 30.
The display circuit 38 operates the display of the number-of-paid display 4 and the number-of-payout display 5.

The photoelectric switches 24a to 24c, the starting lever 7, and the stop switches 8a to 8 of each of the reels 1a, 1b, 1c.
c is connected to the second I / O port 34, respectively, and a detection signal and an electric signal due to the operation are transmitted to the I / O port 34.
And the CPU 30 via the bus 28.

FIG. 5 also shows an example of the circuit configuration of the reel drive unit 37 and the function of the CPU 30. FIG. 2 shows only the circuit configuration of the reel 1a (the same applies to other reels).

In the figure, a reel drive unit 37 receives a clock signal, generates a drive pulse p, and supplies the drive pulse p to the stepping motor 23 to drive the reel. The reel drive unit 37 includes a reel control unit 43 of the CPU 30.
Then, a start command and a stop command are given.

When medals are inserted and the start lever 7 is operated, a start signal is input to the reel control unit 43, and the reel control unit 43 issues a start command to operate the reel drive unit 37. When the stop switch 8a is operated, a stop signal is input to the reel control unit 43 in response to the operation. Upon receiving the stop signal, the reel control unit 43 issues a stop command to the reel drive unit 37 at a predetermined timing to stop the operation of the stepping motor 23.

The driving pulse p is given to the counter section 44 of the CPU 30 and counted. This counter section 44
Is reset by a detection signal for detecting that the reel has made one rotation by the photoelectric switch 24a. Thus, the picture detecting section 45 detects which picture on the reel is located on the effective line by referring to the picture conversion table 40 of the ROM 31 from the count value of the counter section 44, and outputs the detection result. .

In the slot machine 2, the control unit 29
After the reels 1a, 1b, 1c are rotated by the starting lever 7, in response to the detection of the detection pieces 20 of all the reels by the photoelectric switches 24a to 24c,
While enabling the operation of the stop switches 8a to 8c,
The random number value is read from the random number generator 33, the pattern combination table 41 is referred to, and the combination of the patterns based on the read random number value is set to be stopped.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show the control procedure by the control unit 29 in steps 1 (indicated by "ST1" in the figure) to step 20. First, the CPU 30 performs an initial reset of each part of the body in step 1 and then determines in step 2 whether a medal is to be inserted. When a medal is inserted from the medal slot 6 or a stored medal is consumed by the game switch 9, the determination in step 2 becomes “YES”, and the CPU 30 waits for the operation of the starting lever 7 in step 3. I do.

When the starting lever 7 is operated, step 3
Is "YES", and the CPU 30 simultaneously starts all the reels 1a, 1b, 1c in the next step 4.
Next, with respect to any of the reels 1a, 1b, and 1c that have been started, the detection piece 20 is connected to the photoelectric switches 24a to 24c.
When detected by c, a detection signal is output from the corresponding photoelectric switch. Upon receiving this detection signal, the CPU 30 stores flags F1, F2, F3 in a predetermined area of the RAM 35.
Is set (steps 5 to 10).

The flags F1, F2, and F3 are used to store that the detection pieces 20 have been detected for the reels 1a, 1b, and 1c, ie, that the rotation angle has reached the reference angle. Flags F1, F2, F3
Are set, step 11 is "YES".
Next, activate the three stop switch 8a~8c in step 12 of CPU30 Hatsugi captures the random number from the random number generator 33 in step 13 to further. The pattern combination table 41 in the ROM 31 is referred to by the random number value, and the combination of the patterns to be stopped on the effective line of each reel 1a, 1b, 1c is determined .

Next, one of the stop switches 8a to 8c
Is pressed, step 14 becomes “YES”, and
In the next step 15, the CPU 30 checks whether or not the picture determined in step 13 exists within a predetermined number of frames (for example, 4 frames) from the active line for the reel corresponding to the operated stop switch. This judgment is "YE
If "S", the CPU 30 outputs a stop signal to the reel drive unit 37 at the timing when the picture determined on the active line stops (step 16). If the determined pattern does not exist within the predetermined number of frames, step 1
No. 5 becomes "NO" and proceeds to step 17, where the reels stop at the operation timing of the stop switch.

Next, the CPU 30 determines whether or not all the reels have stopped at step 18, and if this determination is "NO", the CPU 30 waits for the operation of the other stop switches 8a to 8c.

When all the reels 1a, 1b, 1c are stopped, the determination in step 18 becomes "YES" and the CP
U30 refers to the winning payout table 42 and determines whether or not a combination of pictures related to winning is established on the pay line (step 19). This judgment is "YE
S ”, the CPU 30 proceeds to the next step 20
Then, a predetermined medal is paid out to end the game.

FIG. 8 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
The slot machine 2 shown in FIG. 3 is provided with confirmation lamps 50a, 50b, 50c corresponding to the respective stop switches 8a, 8b, 8c, in addition to the same configuration as in the first embodiment.

The confirmation lamps 50a, 50b, 50c
Is for notifying the player by a lighting operation that the corresponding stop switches 8a, 8b, 8c are operable, and the photoelectric switches 24a, 24b, 24c of the reels 1a, 1b, 1c generate detection signals. Output and the operation of each stop switch is enabled (step 1 in FIG. 6).
(At time 2). When one of the stop switches is pressed after lighting, the corresponding confirmation lamp 50 is pressed.
a to 50c are turned off.

In this embodiment, the confirmation lamps 50a, 50
The b and 50c are provided independently above the stop switches 8a to 8c. However, if back-lit push button switches are used as the stop switches 8a to 8c, both can be integrated.

[0044]

According to the present invention, a random number is read and each reel is stopped at a predetermined timing when it is detected that the rotation angles of all the reels have reached the reference angle after the start of the reels. Even if a random number generator having periodicity is used for the random number to be read, the read random number value can be different each time. Therefore, the pattern to be stopped can be reliably set at random without being influenced by the start operation of the player, and it is possible to prevent the player from aiming at a specific symbol.

[0045]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an appearance of a slot machine according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration example of a reel.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing an installation state of a reel.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration example of the slot machine.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of a reel driving unit and functions of a CPU.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure performed by a control unit.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure performed by a control unit.

FIG. 8 is a front view showing an appearance of a slot machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1a, 1b, 1c Reel 2 Slot machine 8a, 8b, 8c Stop switch 20 Detecting piece 24a, 24b, 24c Photoelectric switch 30 CPU 33 Random number generator 37 Reel drive unit 43 Reel control unit

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A slot machine having a plurality of reels driven by a stepping motor, a reel starting means for starting each reel, and a detecting means for detecting that a rotation angle of each reel has reached a reference angle. A random number generating means for generating a random number value; and after starting the reels by the reel starting means, when the detecting means detects that the rotation angle has reached the reference angle for all the reels, the random number generating means generates a random number. A random number reading means for reading a numerical value, based on the random number value read by the random number reading means,
A slot machine comprising: reel stopping means for stopping each reel at a predetermined timing.