JP4139037B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention, control information definitive the game control equipment when power shutdown, relates to a gaming machine provided with an abnormality monitoring information enables memory retention storage holding means.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a gaming machine (pachinko gaming machine) is provided with a game control device that controls the progress of the game in accordance with the execution of a control program. In addition, when a game ball wins a game area winning opening, the storage ball side game ball is required from the discharge device to the player side (the upper plate on the front side of the gaming machine, etc.) based on information from the game control device. A discharge control device that controls the number of discharges is provided.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In such a gaming machine, if the power supply to the gaming machine is interrupted due to a power outage or the like while the game is being played, what is the gaming state of the gaming machine? Even if the information about the game state of the game disappears and the power supply is resumed, the game cannot be resumed from the game state that was being executed when the power failure occurred, and the player cannot be compensated for the occurrence of the power failure The inconvenience arises.
[0004]
Therefore, memory holding means is provided to hold information related to the gaming state of the gaming machine when the power supply is cut off, and the information related to the gaming state of the gaming machine is held until the power failure is restored. A gaming machine has been proposed.
[0005]
However, in this case, the following problems are concerned. That is, a game controller or the like monitors the abnormality by a particular sensor, these sensors states, specifically for human during a power failure, by physical factors, is likely to change in state, power failure before the power failure It does not necessarily match at the time of return.
[0006]
Therefore, if the information before the power failure of these sensors is stored and held, an erroneous determination may be made when the sensor recovers from the power failure. For example, if there is an abnormality before the power failure, even if the abnormality is resolved during the power failure, there is a risk that it will be determined as an abnormality when the power is restored from the power failure.
[0008]
An object of the present invention is to solve such problems and improve the reliability of gaming machines.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
1st invention is equipped with the game control apparatus which manages progress of a game, and the said game control apparatus monitors various abnormality, and when the abnormality is detected, the flag which shows the detected abnormality is said game control When set in the device RAM and the gaming machine is powered off, In a gaming machine that backs up RAM data by supplying backup power to the RAM of the game control device, the game control device turns on a flag indicating an abnormality to be backed up in the RAM when the power is cut off. Anomaly monitoring information invalidating means for invalidating or initializing before the progress of the subsequent game is started is provided.
[0010]
In a second aspect based on the first aspect, the abnormality monitoring information invalidating means invalidates or initializes a flag indicating an abnormality backed up in the RAM when a power failure occurs.
[0011]
In a second aspect based on the first aspect, the abnormality monitoring information invalidating means invalidates or initializes a flag indicating an abnormality backed up in the RAM when a power failure is restored.
[0012]
According to a third invention, in the first or second invention, the flag indicating an abnormality set in the RAM includes a flag indicating an abnormality in which a front glass frame covering the game board is opened for a predetermined time.
[0015]
In the first to third aspects of the invention, the state of the sensor used for abnormality monitoring is prevented from being erroneously determined when there is a change between before and after the power failure due to an artificial or physical factor during the power failure. it can.
[0016]
In this case, if the abnormality monitoring information is invalidated or initialized when a power failure occurs, the processing load at the time of power failure recovery can be reduced, and abnormality determination can be performed promptly after the power failure recovery. Further, if the abnormality monitoring information is invalidated or initialized when the power failure is restored, the state before the power failure can be confirmed and notified when the power failure is restored, and the abnormal state before the power failure can be quickly dealt with.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0020]
FIG. 1 shows the back side of a gaming machine (pachinko gaming machine) 1, and on the back side of a gaming board (not shown) mounted in the frame 2 of the machine front frame, each of the gaming boards provided in the gaming area is shown. A winning ball collective cover (not shown) for guiding the winning balls of the winning device, a display control device 4 for controlling the variable display device 3 (see FIG. 2), a decoration for controlling a game board, a decorative lamp on the front frame of the machine, and the like. A control device 5, a sound control device 6, a board external connection terminal board (for signal output from a game board side, etc.) 7 and the like are attached.
[0021]
On the back side of the machine front frame, on the upper part of the back mechanism board 8 attached to the back side of the frame 2, a terminal board 10 for receiving power from outside, a frame external connection terminal board (for signal output from each control device and game 11 for receiving signals from the store management device), a ball storage tank 12 for storing game balls, and a chute 13 for guiding the balls of the ball storage tank 12 to be aligned.
[0022]
On the right side of the back mechanism panel 8 is a payout unit (discharge device) 14 that discharges the ball guided by the chute 13 to the upper and lower plates on the front of the machine. A power supply device 15 to be supplied is attached.
[0023]
A discharge control device 16 that controls the payout unit 14, a game control device 17 that manages the progress of the game, and a launch control device 18 that controls the hitting ball launching device are attached to the lower part of the back mechanism board 8.
[0024]
In addition, 20 is a card ball lending unit and 21 is a card ball lending unit connection board.
[0025]
FIG. 2 shows a block configuration of the control system. The game control device (main board) 17, the discharge control device (payout control board) 16, the display control device (display control board) 4, and the decoration control device (lamp control board). 5, a sound control device (sound control board) 6, a launch control device (launch control board) 18, a power supply device (power supply board) 15, and the like.
[0026]
The game control device 17 includes various sensors (for example, a variable display game start sensor 22, winning sensors 23 </ b> A to 23 </ b> N, a grand prize, etc.) provided in each winning device in the control program and game area of the game board. Mouth count sensor 24, continuation sensor 25, etc.), overflow sensor 26 for detecting the overflow state of the discharge channel overflow channel (the channel connecting the upper plate and the lower plate) for guiding the discharge ball of the dispensing unit 14 (FIG. 1), a chute ball break sensor 27 (see FIG. 1) for detecting a ball break (no ball) of the chute 13 for guiding the balls of the ball storage tank 12 to the payout unit 14; A glass frame opening sensor 28 for detecting the opening of the glass frame, and a prize ball detection sensor for detecting the discharged balls discharged by the payout unit 14 as prize balls. Based on the detection signal of the control 30, for example, a lottery drawing of a variable display game in the variable display device 3, determination of various abnormalities, and the like, and various control devices (discharge control device 16, display control device 4, decoration control device 5) are performed. , The sound control device 6, the launch control device 18), and various information devices (for example, the big prize opening solenoid 31) provided on the game board, the game is centrally controlled.
[0027]
As for the winning ball, when the gaming ball wins each winning device in the gaming area, predetermined winning ball control information in which the number of winning balls is set based on the winning device is transmitted to the discharge control device 16.
[0028]
Further, based on the detection signal of the prize ball detection sensor 30, whether or not a required number of prize balls have been discharged from the payout unit 14 within a predetermined time (during the prize ball), based on the detection signal of the overflow sensor 26, Based on the detection signal of the chute ball break sensor 27, whether the overflow state has continued for a predetermined time, whether the chute 13 has been blown for a predetermined time, and based on the detection signal of the glass frame opening sensor 28, the glass frame is opened for a predetermined time. Abnormality monitoring is performed, such as whether or not it has continued, and if abnormal, abnormal monitoring information is transmitted to the discharge control device 16, the display control device 4, and the like.
[0029]
FIG. 3 shows an example of the work area of the abnormality monitoring information set in the RAM of the game control device 17. When a prize ball, overflow sensor 26 is turned on, chute ball break sensor 27 is turned on, glass frame opening sensor 28 is turned on, the corresponding monitoring timer is started, and when the monitoring timer expires in an abnormal state, It is determined that there is an abnormality, and an illegal flag indicating the abnormality is set. Even when the number of prize balls discharged from the payout unit 14 is excessive, it is determined as abnormal and the fraud flag is set. In the case of an abnormality, an illegal command such as illegal flag information, a display unit, a lamp, and voice is transmitted from the abnormality monitoring information.
[0030]
The display control device 4 controls display on the variable display device 3 based on the display control information from the game control device 17. For example, in the case of a variable display game, a plurality of pieces of identification information (symbols) are displayed in a variable manner in a plurality of variable display areas of the variable display device 3 and control is performed to stop the variable display after a predetermined time. When a big hit occurs, an image corresponding to the progress of the big hit game is displayed. In addition, a predetermined image is displayed at the time of abnormality.
[0031]
The discharge control device 16 controls the operation of the payout unit 14 (discharge pulse motor) based on the award ball control information from the game control device 17 or the lending request from the card ball lending unit 20, and the required number of awards. Let the ball or rental ball be discharged.
[0032]
Further, based on the abnormality monitoring information from the game control device 17, when the number of winning prize balls from the payout unit 14 is insufficient, excessive, when the overflow channel is in an overflow state, or when the chute 13 is out of balls, payout Stop discharging the balls of the unit 14.
[0033]
Whether the card ball lending unit 20 and the operation panel board 32 are connected to the discharge control device 16 or not, based on the detection signal of the ball lending detection sensor 33 for detecting the discharged ball discharged as the ball lending by the payout unit 14. Then, abnormality monitoring is performed such as whether or not a required number of balls has been discharged from the payout unit 14 within a predetermined time at the time of lending the ball.
[0034]
FIG. 4 shows an example of the work area of the abnormality monitoring information set in the RAM of the discharge control device 16. When the card lending unit 20 is not connected to the discharge control device 16, it is determined to be abnormal and the fraud flag is set. At the time of lending a ball, the monitoring timer is started, and when the monitoring timer expires in an abnormal state (abnormality of the number of discharged balls), it is determined that there is an abnormality and an illegal flag is set. In addition, in the case of abnormality, you may make it alert | report by 7 segment LED (it is provided in the discharge control apparatus 16).
[0035]
The decoration control device 5 controls the decoration light emitting devices such as the decoration lamps and LEDs, and also controls the display of the start memory display 34 of the variable display game in the variable display device 4, for example. The sound control device 6 controls the sound effect output from the sound output device. The launch control device 18 controls the hit ball launch device.
[0036]
The power supply device 15 is a device that converts an external AC power source into a DC power source and supplies it to various devices, and includes a backup circuit 35 and a power failure detection circuit 36.
[0037]
The power failure detection circuit 36 outputs a power failure detection signal and a reset signal to the game control device 17, the discharge control device 16, etc. in order when the power supply device 15 detects a predetermined voltage drop during a power failure. When the game control device 17 and the discharge control device 16 receive a power failure detection signal, the game control device 17 and the discharge control device 16 perform a predetermined power failure process, and upon receiving a reset signal, stop the operation of the CPU.
[0038]
The backup circuit 35 supplies backup power to the RAM of the game control device 17 and the discharge control device 16 to back up the RAM data (game data, prize ball data, abnormality monitoring data). That is, at the time of a power failure, the game control device 17 controls the game control information (for example, variable display game information, jackpot game information, information on various control devices, etc.), control information about prize balls (number of prize balls, etc.), abnormal Monitor information (information shown in FIG. 3) is stored and held. Further, at the time of a power failure, the discharge control device 16 stores and holds control information related to award balls (number of unprocessed prize balls, etc.) and abnormality monitoring information (abnormality monitoring information from the game control device 17 and information of FIG. 4).
[0039]
Then, the game control device 17 and the discharge control device 16 perform control so that the abnormality monitoring information among the information stored and held in this manner is invalidated or initialized before the progress of the game after the recovery from the power failure is started. To do.
[0040]
FIG. 5 shows an example of a flow for initializing the abnormality monitoring information stored and retained when the game control device 17 recovers from a power failure.
[0041]
When the power is turned on and the operation is started, interrupts are prohibited in steps 1 to 3, all outputs are turned off, and the process waits until the power is stabilized (until the power failure detection signal is turned off).
[0042]
In steps 4 and 5, the CPU is initialized and access to the RAM is permitted.
[0043]
In step 6, it is determined whether the power is restored or the power is turned on normally. In this case, when the check data in the predetermined backup area of the RAM is a normal value, it is determined that the power is restored, and when the check data is an abnormal value, the normal power-on is determined.
[0044]
In the case of a power failure recovery, the process proceeds to Steps 7 to 13. In Steps 7 and 8, the RAM area data (abnormality monitoring information) to be initialized at the time of power failure recovery is cleared (invalidated), and an initial value is set.
[0045]
In step 9, a command at the time of power failure recovery is transmitted to various control devices. By transmitting this command, various control devices can grasp the control start of the game control device 17. In addition, the notification screen described later of the variable display device 3 rises quickly.
[0046]
In step 10, all registers are restored, and in step 11, the stack pointer is restored. In step 12, interrupt is permitted, and in step 13, the process returns to the interrupt address when a power failure occurs.
[0047]
In this way, the abnormality monitoring information is initialized, and control is started based on the control information stored and held.
[0048]
On the other hand, in the case of normal power-on, the process proceeds to steps 14 to 19. In steps 14 and 15, the data (control information and abnormality monitoring information) in all RAM areas are cleared (invalidated) and initial values are set.
[0049]
In step 16, a normal power-on command is transmitted to various control devices.
[0050]
In step 17, the stack pointer is set, and in step 18, the interrupt is permitted and the process proceeds to normal processing.
[0051]
In this way, the abnormality monitoring information (see FIGS. 3 and 4) stored and retained at the time of a power failure is initialized when the power failure is restored (after the power failure is restored and until the game starts), so It is possible to prevent erroneous determination of an abnormality when the state changes between before and after a power failure due to human or physical factors.
[0052]
For example, when a power failure occurs when an overflow abnormality is confirmed in the overflow channel, in the case of a conventional power failure, even if the overflow condition is resolved by an operation of a game shop employee or a player during the power failure, the power supply recovers from the power failure. In this example, when the overflow state is resolved during a power failure, the game can be played in a normal state when the power is restored from the power failure.
[0053]
In addition, when a power failure occurs when the ball breakage of the shoot 13 is confirmed, in the case of a power failure, in the conventional case, the ball breaks naturally by an operation of a game shop employee or a player hitting the game table during the power failure. Even if is resolved, it will be judged as abnormal when it recovers from a power failure (enters abnormal processing), but in this example, if the ball break is resolved during a power failure, it is normal when it recovers from the power failure You will be able to play games.
[0054]
Since the overflow state of the overflow channel and the presence or absence of the ball of the chute 13 are also discharge conditions, it is necessary to make an accurate state determination when performing normal discharge processing in the discharge control device 16. Thus, the discharge process can be resumed accurately and promptly.
[0055]
Also, if there is a power failure while the prize balls are being discharged, the remaining prize balls will be discharged when the power is restored from the power failure. In addition, a shortage of prize balls is discharged based on the prize ball number data of the unprocessed part (the quantity not detected by the prize ball detection sensor 30).
[0056]
In addition, since the abnormality monitoring information is initialized when the power failure is restored, the state before the power failure can be confirmed and notified when the power failure is restored. In fact, there is a high possibility that the state before the power failure continues even after the power failure is restored, so if the notification is made, the abnormal state before the power failure can be dealt with promptly.
[0057]
FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. This is because the game control device 17 and the discharge control device 16 initialize the abnormality monitoring information stored and retained when a power failure occurs, and is performed by a power failure process executed when a power failure detection signal from the power failure detection circuit 36 is received. .
[0058]
When power failure processing is started, all outputs are turned off at step 21.
[0059]
In steps 22 and 23, the RAM area data (abnormality monitoring information) to be initialized at the time of a power failure is cleared (invalidated), and an initial value is set.
[0060]
In steps 24 to 26, the stack pointer, the interruption address when a power failure occurs, and all registers are saved (control information is stored).
[0061]
In step 27, access to the RAM is prohibited.
[0062]
That is, the initialized abnormality monitoring information is stored and held.
[0063]
In this way, the processing burden at the time of power failure recovery can be reduced, and abnormality determination can be made promptly after power failure recovery.
[0064]
In each embodiment, it may be simply cleared (invalidated) instead of initializing the abnormality monitoring information.
[0065]
7 and 8 show a third embodiment of the present invention. This is based on the abnormality monitoring information at the time of the occurrence of a power failure, and when the power failure is restored, the monitoring time of the corresponding monitoring timer (which may be an approximate value) and the variable display device 3 are notified of the abnormality from the restoration. .
[0066]
In the case of FIG. 7, for example, when a power failure occurs immediately before or when a ball break abnormality of the chute 13 is confirmed, when the power is restored from the power failure, the monitoring time of the shot ball break monitoring timer is notified from the restoration. . Then, during this abnormality notification, when an abnormality of the ball of the chute 13 is newly determined based on the monitoring of the ball of the chute 13, or when a new shortage of prize balls is discharged based on each monitoring, an overflow, or the glass frame is opened When an abnormality such as the above is confirmed, the abnormality notification is performed following the first abnormality notification. In this case, first, as shown in FIG. 9, a notification is made that an abnormality has occurred when the power failure is restored and the power failure occurs. When a new abnormality is confirmed, a power failure is restored as shown in FIG. In addition, you may make it alert | report the content of abnormality in FIG.
[0067]
Therefore, if a power failure occurs immediately before an abnormality such as a shortage of balls on the chute 13, insufficient number of prize balls discharged, overflow, glass frame opening, etc. is established, when the power recovers from the power failure, It is possible to prevent problems such as changing to
[0068]
FIG. 8 shows a case in which, for example, the abnormality of the ball out of the chute 13 is resolved during a power failure. During the initial abnormality notification, the ball out of the chute 13 is monitored based on the ball outage monitoring of the chute 13. When there is no abnormality and no abnormalities such as insufficient number of prize balls discharged, overflow, glass frame open, etc. are confirmed based on each monitoring, the notification (FIG. 9) ends when the confirmation is made, that is, when the monitoring time of the shooting ball breakage monitoring timer elapses To do.
[0069]
Since there is a high possibility that the state before the power failure continues at the time of power failure recovery, by notifying the abnormality in this way, after returning to the normal state once, the abnormality state is immediately notified and the player is confused. Can be avoided. In addition, when the power is restored in a normal state upon power failure recovery, the abnormality notification becomes a power failure recovery notification and the game is entered in the normal state, so that the player does not feel uncomfortable.
[0070]
The first abnormality notification is performed by a monitoring timer (such as a prize ball payout shortage monitoring timer, an overflow monitoring timer, a chute ball breakage monitoring timer, or a glass frame opening monitoring timer). It is also possible to perform a monitoring time of a ball breakage monitoring timer). In addition, abnormality notification may be performed using voice, lamp, or the like together.
[0071]
In the embodiment, an example is shown in which the present invention is applied to a pachinko gaming machine as a gaming machine, but the present invention can also be applied to other gaming machines such as a pachislot machine and an arrangement ball.
[0072]
Moreover, it should be thought that embodiment disclosed this time is an illustration and restrictive at no points. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a back view of a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control system.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing control contents.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the control content of the second embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a table showing an example of a work area of abnormality monitoring information in the game control device.
FIG. 6 is a table showing an example of a work area of abnormality monitoring information in the discharge control device.
FIG. 7 is a control timing chart according to the third embodiment.
FIG. 8 is also a control timing chart.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of abnormality notification.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of abnormality notification.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 gaming machine 3 variable display device 4 display control device 5 decoration control device 6 sound control device 12 ball storage tank 13 chute 14 payout unit 15 power supply device 16 discharge control device 17 game control device 18 launch control device 20 card ball lending unit 22 start Sensors 23A to 23N Prize sensor 24 Count sensor 25 Continuation sensor 26 Overflow sensor 27 Shooting ball break sensor 28 Glass frame opening sensor 30 Prize ball detection sensor 31 Big prize opening solenoid 33 Wage lending detection sensor 35 Backup circuit 36 Power failure detection circuit

Claims (3)

It has a game control device that manages the progress of the game,
The game control device monitors various abnormalities, and when an abnormality is detected, sets a flag indicating the detected abnormality in the RAM of the game control device,
In a gaming machine that backs up data in the RAM by supplying a backup power to the RAM of the gaming control device when the power of the gaming machine is cut off,
The game control device invalidates or initializes an abnormality monitoring information invalidating flag that indicates an abnormality backed up in the RAM before the game progresses after the power is turned on when the power is cut off. A gaming machine comprising:   The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the game control device invalidates or initializes a flag indicating an abnormality backed up in the RAM when a power failure is restored.   The gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flag indicating abnormality set in the RAM includes a flag indicating abnormality in which a front glass frame covering the game board is opened for a predetermined time.

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