JP4353525B2 - Bullet ball machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball game machine, and in particular, when the main power is turned off during transmission of a control command from the main control means to the sub-control means, the command data that has not been sent due to the main power being turned down, It is transmitted after the main power supply is restored, so that no inconvenience occurs in game control.

  Conventionally, in a ball game machine such as a pachinko machine, game ball launch control by operating a launch handle, control of gaming objects such as symbol starting means and openable winning means (large winning means) provided on the game board, winning Detection control for detecting winnings in the means, symbol display control for changing the symbols in the plurality of symbol display portions of the symbol display means provided in the symbol display, payout control of the game ball accompanying winning in the winning means, winning There is provided a control device that performs various controls for the ball game, such as sound control and lamp control in the time and big hit state.

  In this control device, the main control unit mainly responsible for game control on the game board side directly outputs a series of control signals (control data) for the symbol display control to display the symbol variation on each symbol display unit to the symbol control unit. The symbol display is controlled. The main control unit controls the payout of the winning ball by outputting a payout control signal for driving the payout motor to the payout control unit when winning the game ball to the normal winning means or the open / close winning means. Further, the main control unit outputs an open / close control signal for the open / close plate drive solenoid of the open / close winning means to the special game control unit when the stop symbol after the change in the symbol display unit is a big hit symbol, and the open / close plate is predetermined. Open control is performed until the condition is satisfied.

  For example, since the main control unit sends a detailed control signal for each operation to the symbol control unit one by one to control the variation of the symbol, even if one control signal becomes invalid due to noise or static electricity, Based on the subsequent control signal, the variation control can be continued. The main control unit performs not only the symbol display control but also various controls such as payout control, sound output control, lamp lighting control and the like linked to this, so that the control load is very large and the operation process becomes slow. Control delay is likely to occur in the operation control.

  Therefore, each sub-control unit such as the payout control unit and symbol control unit is configured on a separate control board having a microcomputer independent of the main control unit, and control commands are sent from the main control unit to each sub-control unit. A command transmission method for one-way communication is being adopted (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Thus, for example, the main control unit sequentially transmits a symbol variation start command (including a variation pattern designation number) and a symbol designation command for designating a stop symbol of each symbol display unit to the symbol control unit upon symbol variation. Therefore, the symbol variation control can be simplified, the load on the main control unit can be remarkably reduced, and the sound control, the ramp control, and the payout control can be executed in synchronization with the symbol variation.

Further, at the time of payout, it is only necessary to send a payout control command for instructing the number of payouts of prize balls from the main control unit to the payout control unit, and the payout control can be simplified. This payout control command is often composed of command data of a plurality of bytes (for example, 2 to 3 bytes). When sending out the payout control command, command data for 1 byte is transmitted via an 8-bit parallel data bus. Will be transmitted continuously several times.
JP 11-76571 A

  In this way, when the main control unit and the sub control unit are configured on independent control boards and the number of control commands transmitted from the main control unit to the symbol control unit is significantly reduced, the control load of the main control unit is reduced. Although it can be reduced, for example, if a power failure occurs due to a lightning strike, etc., even if a jackpot game is being executed, the control device will not operate and information indicating that it is in a jackpot state, winning ball information and payout All of the game information such as the information on the number of balls to be paid out is erased. Therefore, when the game is resumed after the main power supply is restored, the jackpot game cannot be executed in a state immediately before the power failure, and trouble may occur between the player and the hall side.

  Therefore, when game information during a game is always stored and retained by a backup power supply, even if a power failure occurs, game information up to the power failure is retained and retained even during the power failure. The interrupted jackpot game, etc. can be resumed without any trouble following the state immediately before the power failure. However, for example, when a power failure occurs during transmission of command data of the second byte of the payout control command from the main control unit to the payout control unit, the command data after the second byte is not transmitted, and these second byte The subsequent command data cannot be stored in the memory of the payout control unit.

As a result, the payout control command that could not be sent in the event of a power outage becomes invalid, and the payout of the prize ball is not performed accurately, causing troubles between the player and the hall side, and the profitability also deteriorates for the hall side. There is a problem of doing.
The purpose of the present invention is that even when the main power is turned off, when the main power is restored, the game power control can be resumed without any trouble from the middle of the game control interrupted by the main power being turned off. It is possible to prevent the disadvantage of the player without any influence, and to prevent the occurrence of trouble.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a variable game apparatus which is arranged on a game board and can be changed between an advantageous state and an unfavorable state for a player, main control means for controlling the variable winning apparatus, In a ball game machine having a separate board configuration from the main control means and having a sub-control means for receiving a control command transmitted from the main control means by one-way communication, the control command is command data for a plurality of bytes. The main control means comprises a backup storage means capable of storing unsent command data when the main power is turned off while there is command data while transmitting a control command to the sub control means, and restoration of the main power supply. after and a data restoration means for reading the command data unsent stored in the backup storage means, the command data not yet transmitted from the main control means while sending control commands to the sub-control means If the main power in that state fell, the main control unit transmits read the unsent command data stored in the backup storage means after return of the mains by the data restoration unit, the sub control means, at least Has data storage means that can store command data when the main power is turned off, and controls by combining unreceived command data additionally transmitted from the main control means with the received command data after the main power supply is restored A command is created, and if the control command created by the sub-control means does not correspond to any of a plurality of preset control commands, the received command data is erased .

  The variable winning device is arranged on the game board, and the main control means performs a winning lottery in relation to the winning of the game ball to the symbol starting means, and is advantageous to the player based on the lottery result. The state is determined alternatively from the disadvantageous state, and the variable winning device is controlled to be variable according to the disadvantageous state or the advantageous state, and a control command corresponding to the disadvantageous state or the advantageous state is provided. Send to sub-control means. The sub-control means receives a control command transmitted from the main control means by one-way communication, and performs various game controls according to the control command.

  By the way, while a control command consisting of a plurality of bytes related to game control is being transmitted for each byte from the main control means to the sub-control means, the main power supply is turned off due to a power failure or the like despite the state of untransmitted command data. In the case of power failure, the main control means transmits untransmitted command data after the main power supply is restored. Therefore, even if unsent command data occurs when the main power is unexpectedly turned off during transmission, the unsent command data can be reliably transmitted to the sub-control means without being lost, and the main power can be restored. The game control can be resumed without any trouble from the middle of the game control that was interrupted because the main power supply was later turned off, and the disadvantage on the player or hall side can be surely prevented, and the occurrence of trouble can be prevented.

Here, the main control means includes a backup storage means capable of storing and holding at least unsent command data even when the main power is turned off, and an unsent command stored in the backup storage means after the main power is restored. and have a data recovery means for reading the data. Therefore, Oite to the sub control means, also can be reliably stored and held in a state where the main power is lost by backup storage means commands unsent data that occurred since the main power is lost, moreover after return of the mains power data Since the untransmitted command data is read by the return means, the untransmitted command data can be transmitted reliably.

  Further, when the main control means has a plurality of bytes of untransmitted command data, when the command data is sequentially transmitted, the plurality of bytes of untransmitted command data are sequentially and efficiently transmitted. be able to.

The sub-control means has data storage means capable of storing and holding command data at least when the main power is turned off, and receives unreceived command data additionally transmitted from the main control means after the main power is restored. Create a control command in combination with the received command data . At this time, if the created control command does not correspond to any of a plurality of previously set and stored control commands, the received command data is deleted.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the main power supply includes a variable winning device, a main control means, and a sub-control means, and there is untransmitted command data while a control command is being transmitted from the main control means to the sub-control means. In this case, the main control means transmits unsent command data after the main power supply is restored, so even if unsent command data occurs when the main power is unexpectedly dropped during transmission, Command data for transmission can be transmitted without fail to the sub-control means, and it can be resumed without any trouble from the middle of the game control that was interrupted because the main power supply was turned off after the main power supply was restored. It is possible to reliably prevent disadvantages and prevent troubles.

The main control means includes backup storage means capable of storing and holding at least unsent command data even when the main power is turned off, and unsent command data stored in the backup storage means after the main power is restored. because and a data restoration means for reading, in the sub-control means can also be securely stored and held in a state where the main power is lost by backup storage means commands unsent data that occurred since the main power is lost, moreover mains After the return, the unsent command data is read by the data return means, so that the unsent command data can be reliably transmitted.

  If there are a plurality of bytes of untransmitted command data, the main control means can sequentially transmit the command data and transmit the plurality of bytes of untransmitted command data sequentially and efficiently. it can.

Further, the sub-control means has data storage means capable of storing and holding command data at least when the main power is turned off, and receives unreceived command data additionally transmitted from the main control means after the main power is restored. Since a control command is created in combination with received command data, it is possible to efficiently create a control command only by additionally receiving only unreceived command data without re-receiving the received data. it can. At this time, if the created control command does not correspond to any of a plurality of control commands set and stored in advance, the received command data is deleted.

  The bullet ball game machine of the present invention includes a variable winning device that is arranged on a game board and can be changed between an advantageous state and a disadvantageous state for a player, a main control means for controlling the variable winning device, And a sub-control unit configured to receive a control command transmitted from the main control unit by one-way communication. The control command includes command data for a plurality of bytes. When the main power is turned off while there is untransmitted command data while transmitting a control command to the sub-control means, the main control means transmits untransmitted command data after the main power is restored.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
This embodiment is an example in which the present invention is applied to a first type pachinko machine called a so-called card-type ball game machine installed in an island structure of a pachinko hall, and the island structure provided in the pachinko hall In the length direction, a plurality of card-type ball lending machines 1 and a plurality of pachinko machines 2 are alternately arranged, and the card-type ball lending machine 1 is electrically connected to the pachinko machine 2.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a pachinko machine 2 that is a card-type ball game machine has a rectangular frame-shaped outer frame 3 and a front frame 4 pivotally attached to the outer frame 3 so as to be openable and closable. The outer frame 3 is detachably attached to an island structure (not shown) in a state where the ball lending machine 1 is sandwiched. A game board 5 is detachably attached to the front frame 4 from the back side, and a glass door 6 having a window portion 6a and a front plate 7 are pivotally attached to the front side of the game board 5 so as to be freely opened and closed. Yes. The front plate 7 is provided with an upper plate 8 for storing game balls for launching, and a lower plate 9 for storing game balls overflowing or extracted from the upper plate 8 and launching means 10 at the lower part of the front frame 4. And a firing handle 11 are provided.

  The launching means 10 includes a launching handle 11 that can be rotated, and a launching motor M (see FIG. 5) that launches a game ball by the striking rod 12 with a striking force corresponding to the pivoting angle of the launching handle 11. ing. On the right side of the upper plate 8, there is provided an operation panel 13 for a ball lending operation for the card-type ball lending machine 1, and on this operation panel 13, a card remaining amount display portion 13a for displaying the remaining amount of the card with a three-digit number. And a ball lending switch 13b for instructing lending of game balls for a predetermined amount, and a return switch 13c for instructing to return the card at the end of the game.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the game board 5 is provided with a guide rail 15 formed of a metal outer rail and an inner rail in a substantially annular shape, and a color liquid crystal is provided in the game area 5 a inside the guide rail 15. Display 16, symbol starting means (symbol starting and winning means) 17, open / close-type winning means (large winning means) 18, a plurality of normal winning means 19 (in this case, in addition to the upper normal winning means 19, the open / close-type winning means 18 For example, six normal winning means 19), two gates 20 (passage openings), and the like are arranged at predetermined positions on both the left and right side portions, respectively.

  The liquid crystal display 16 functions as a symbol display means 22 for displaying a changing symbol and displaying a background image, moving images of various characters, and the like. The symbol display means 22 displays background images and characters in an animated manner, and has, for example, three (left, middle, and right) symbol display portions 22a to 22c arranged in the left-right direction. The symbols displayed on the symbol display units 22a to 22c are variably displayed (scrolled) for a predetermined time on the condition that the player wins a prize, and is determined based on the lottery result corresponding to the winning timing of the game ball to the symbol starting means 17. Stop at the stop symbol pattern.

  A normal winning means 19 and a second symbol display means 23 are provided immediately above the liquid crystal display 16. The second symbol display means 23 has a normal symbol display unit for displaying one normal symbol. When a game ball that has passed through the gate 20 is detected, the display symbol of the normal symbol display unit fluctuates for a predetermined time, A stop symbol determined by a lottery value lottery when the game ball passes through the gate 20 is displayed and stopped. The symbol starting means 17 is an electric tulip having a pair of left and right opening and closing claws 17a that can be opened and closed. When the stop symbol after the change of the second symbol display means 23 hits and the symbol is displayed, the opening and closing claws 17a It is easy to win a prize by opening for a predetermined time.

  The open / close-type winning means 18 includes an opening / closing plate 18a that can be opened forward, and when the stop symbol after the change of the symbol display means 22 is a winning symbol such as “777”, a special game called “big hit” is started, The opening / closing plate 18a is opened to the front side. There is a specific area 18b inside the openable winning means 18, and when the winning ball passes through the specific area 18b, the special game is continued. Here, the special game state corresponds to a state advantageous to the player, and the normal state other than the special game state corresponds to a state disadvantageous to the player.

  Here, the open / close winning means 18 can be changed between an advantageous state and an unfavorable state for the player by a main control means 50 described later. After the opening / closing plate 18a of the open / close winning means 18 is opened, when a predetermined time elapses, or when a predetermined number (for example, 10) of gaming balls wins and the opening / closing plate 18a is closed, The special game ends when it does not pass 18b, but if it passes the specific area 18b, the special game is continued up to a predetermined number of times (for example, 16 times) and controlled to a state advantageous to the player. .

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, on the back side of the front frame 4, a back mechanism plate 30 for holding the game board 5 from the back side is detachably attached, and an opening 30 a is formed in the back mechanism plate 30. On the upper side, a prize ball tank 33 and a tank rail 34 extending therefrom are provided. Dispensing means 35 connected to the tank rail 34 is provided on the side of the back mechanism plate 30, and below the back mechanism plate 30. A passage unit 36 connected to the dispensing means 35 is provided. The game balls paid out from the payout means 35 are paid out to the upper plate 8 from the upper plate discharge port 8a via the passage unit 36.

  The opening 30a of the back mechanism plate 30 is fitted with a back cover 37 mounted on the back side of the game board 5 and a winning ball discharge basket (not shown) for discharging the winning game balls to the winning means 17-19. Are combined. A main control board 39 is arranged inside a case 38 attached to the back cover 37, and a symbol control board 40 is arranged on the front side thereof. Below the main control board 39, a lamp control board 42 is provided in a case 41a attached to the back cover 37, and a sound control board 43 is provided in a case 41b adjacent to the case 41a.

  A power supply board 45 and a payout control board 46 are provided inside the case 44 mounted on the back mechanism plate 30 below the cases 41a and 41b. Further, a launch control board 48 is provided inside the case 47 attached to the rear side of the launching means 10. That is, these control boards 39 to 40, 42 to 43, 45 to 46, and 48 are independent boards, and the control boards 39, 40, 42, 43, and 46 excluding the power supply board 45 and the launch control board 48 include Microcomputers comprising one-chip integrated circuits 39a, 40a, 42a, 43a, 46a each having a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc. are provided (see FIG. 6).

  The main control board 39 and the other control boards 40, 42, 43, 46 are electrically connected via a connector with a plurality of signal lines, and each control board 40, 42, 43, 46 is connected from the main control board 39. In addition, various control commands for executing a predetermined game operation can be transmitted by one-way communication. By adopting the one-way communication of this control command, it is possible to reliably prevent fraud related to symbol stop, remarkably reduce the control load of the main control means 50, and simplify transmission control. Next, various functions achieved through a plurality of control programs stored in advance in the control device of the pachinko machine 2 will be described with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG. However, these various functions are achieved by the microcomputer described above.

  The main control means 50 configured on the main control board 39 mainly controls game control related to input / output of signals to various game parts and game ball detection switches provided on the game board 5, and also performs symbol control to be described later. A control command is transmitted and output to the means 60, the payout control means 70, the lamp control means 71, the sound control means 72, etc. as necessary. In the ROM of the integrated circuit 39a provided on the main control board 39, a game control program (see FIG. 8) for mainly controlling the game operation of the game board 5 is stored. The game information stored in the RAM of the integrated circuit 39a is always backed up so that it can be stored.

  Here, the game control program will be briefly described. As shown in FIG. 8, main game control that is repeatedly executed every predetermined time (for example, about 2 msec) in order to execute actual game control. When the routine 39c, when this game control is finished within a predetermined time from the start of control, a processing time adjustment subroutine 39d for adjusting the processing time until the predetermined time is reached, and game information is stored when the main power source including a power failure is turned off A backup processing subroutine 39e for holding and a game return subroutine 39f (which corresponds to data return means) for restarting game control based on the game information stored and held when power supply is resumed are provided. ing.

  This game return subroutine 39f is executed only when the power is turned on. The symbol control unit 60 configured on the symbol control board 40 executes display control for displaying various moving images and background images on the liquid crystal display 16 based on the symbol control command transmitted from the main control unit 50. The symbols on the symbol display units 22a to 22c are controlled to be varied, and the variation is stopped and controlled by the designated stop symbol. On the payout control board 46, payout control means 70 is configured. The ROM of the integrated circuit 46a provided on the payout control board 46 mainly stores payout control programs (see FIG. 9) for controlling payout of game balls and data of the control command table CT shown in FIG. .

  As shown in FIG. 9, the payout control program includes a main payout control routine 46c for paying out game balls via the payout means 35 based on a payout control command received from the main control means 50, and a main power outage including a power failure. A backup processing subroutine 46d for storing payout information when the power is turned off and a game return subroutine 46e for restarting payout control based on the payout information stored when the power supply is resumed are provided. ing. Here, the game return subroutine 46e is executed only when the power is turned on.

  The control command table CT will be described. Each payout control command has a 2-byte structure including command data (upper byte data) of the first byte and command data (lower byte data) of the second byte. The command data is command data “40H” for instructing payout of prize balls, command data “60H” for instructing payout operation, and the like. The command data of the second byte is prize ball payout number data “01H”, “02H”, “03H”..., Data “15H”, “17H”. The payout information stored in the RAM of the integrated circuit 46a is always backed up so that it can be stored.

  The lamp control means 71 configured on the lamp control board 42 receives a lamp control command from the main control means 50 and controls lighting of the lamp group LP including a number of display lamps provided on the game board 5 and the like. The sound control means 72 configured on the sound control board 43 receives a sound control command from the main control means 50 and controls sound output for various sound effect sounds to the speaker SP (which corresponds to a sound generator). To manage. The launch control means 73 configured on the launch control board 48 controls the launch of the game ball by driving the launch motor M. Here, each of the payout control means 70, the symbol control means 60, the sound control means 72, and the lamp control means 71 corresponds to a sub-control means.

  The main control means 50 includes a lottery means 51, a determination means 52, a special game generation means 53, a probability variation means 54, a command transmission means 55, and the like. The lottery means 51 updates the numerical value within a predetermined range (for example, 0 to 299) with a minute update cycle (for example, about 2 msec cycle) using the lottery counter, and when the game ball wins the symbol starting means 17 A lottery for winning or losing is performed by extracting the numerical value of. Whether the determination means 52 is “big hit” or “out (including outreach)” based on the lottery value supplied from the lottery means 51 when a game ball wins the symbol starting means 17. Determine.

  For example, when the lottery value is a predetermined specific value “71”, it is determined as “big hit”, and when it is a large number of other values, it is determined as “out”. The special game generating means 53 receives a special determination result such as jackpot from the determination means 52, or when the stop symbol after the change of the symbol display means 22 becomes a specific display such as a jackpot symbol or the like, the game control routine 39c The open / close plate 18a of the open / close winning means 18 is operated as described above by a predetermined special game generation routine included to execute a special game that gives a profit state to the player.

  When the probability variation means 54 receives a special determination result of “big hit” from the decision means 52, the probability variation mode sets the probability variation mode when the “big hit” is a probability variation type big hit, or until the next or the next big hit, or Until the number of symbols changes a predetermined number of times, the lottery means 51 increases the number of specific numerical values to be a big hit as compared with the normal case, thereby increasing the big hit probability. The command transmission unit 55 receives the determination result from the determination unit 52, and transmits a symbol control command (2-byte configuration) having the hit data shown in FIG. 11 to the symbol control unit 60 when the symbol changes, Sends a payout control command (2-byte configuration) shown in FIG.

  Here, the “hit / hit data” of the 1st byte consisting of 1 byte of the symbol control command is data of “stochastic fluctuation type big hit”, “non-stochastic fluctuation type big hit”, or “out”. “Variation time data” of the second byte consisting of 1 byte is data of a time (for example, 40 seconds, 60 seconds) for which the symbol fluctuation is continued. The payout control command includes “payout command data” in the first byte and “payout number data” in the second byte. Further, although not shown, the command transmission means 55 transmits a lamp control command (2-byte configuration) to the lamp control means 71 when the lamp group LP is lit, and a sound control command (2-byte configuration) when a sound effect is output from the speaker SP. ) Is transmitted to the sound control means 72.

  The symbol control means 60 has a stop symbol determination means 61, receives the symbol control command transmitted from the command transmission means 55, analyzes the received symbol control command, and based on the control command obtained by the analysis. The symbol variation in each symbol display part 22a-22c of the symbol display means 22 is controlled. The stop symbol determination means 61 will be briefly described. A plurality of pattern data is stored in the variation pattern table for each of “probability variation type jackpot”, “non-probability variation type jackpot”, “outreach reach”, and “outside normal”. Based on the “hit / hit data” included in the symbol control command, one of the corresponding jackpot patterns or miss patterns is determined by lottery.

  Next, the power supply board 45 will be described with reference to FIG. A plurality of transformers 79 are provided for each island structure installed in the pachinko hall, and a low-voltage AC voltage (for example, 24 VAC) is supplied from each transformer transformer 79 to a plurality of (for example, five) pachinko machines 2. Has been. In this power supply board 45, DC 32V is generated from AC 24V by the DC 32V generation circuit 80, and DC 12V generation circuit 81 for generating DC 12V used for sound output and lamp lighting from DC 32V by DC inverter, and control means 50, 60, 70, 71. A DC5V generation circuit 82 for generating DC5V to be supplied to the + 5V line of the microcomputer controlling game control such as .about.72 from a DC32V by a DC inverter is provided.

  Incidentally, the smoothing circuit of the DC32V generating circuit 80 is provided with a large-capacity smoothing capacitor (not shown), and as shown in FIG. About 120 msec can be secured from when the voltage is detected to the lower limit setting voltage V0 (for example, about 6 to 7 V), which is the minimum setting voltage that can maintain the generation of DC5V by the DC5V generation circuit 82. ing. That is, the backup process is surely performed in the main control unit 50 and the payout control unit 70 during this about 120 msec.

  The power supply board 45 has a power supply circuit 83 for supplying the generated DC voltage (DC12V, DC5V, etc.) to the control boards 39, 40, 42, 43 and 46, a power supply monitoring means 84 including a microcomputer, and a reset. A signal output means 85 and the like are provided. The power monitoring means 84 directly reads the AC 24V supplied from the transformer transformer 79 to the power board 45 and constantly monitors the supply voltage. When the main power is shut off or the voltage supply is stopped due to a power failure, the voltage abnormality signal VS is output. The signals are simultaneously output to the integrated circuits 39a and 46a of the main control board 39 and the payout control board 46, and interrupt processing is performed as the highest priority interrupt (NMI).

  As a result, in these integrated circuits 39a and 46a, a backup process for storing and holding game information and payout information related to the game state to be stored and held necessary for restarting the game control when the main power is restored in the information memory of the RAM. Executed. The reset signal output means 85 delays by about 120 msec, which is a predetermined minute time required for the backup process, from the time when the voltage abnormality signal VS is received from the power supply monitoring means 84, and then the system reset signal SR switched to the “L” level. Is output. This "L" level system reset signal SR is simultaneously supplied to the delay means 39b, 46b, 40b, 43b, 42b provided on the control boards 39, 40, 42 to 43, 46, respectively. ~ 72 are reset.

  Here, the delay means 39b, 46b, 40b, 43b, and 42b are similarly configured by using, for example, an RC circuit using a resistor and a capacitor or a delay timer. Delay times 39t, 46t, 40t, 43t, and 42t by the delay means 39b, 46b, 40b, 43b, and 42b are set to 39t (= 0) <46t = 40t = 43t = 42t. That is, the main control means 50 provided with the delay means 39b set to the shortest (approximately 0 seconds) delay time 39t is reset early by the reset signal R1 ("L" level) from the delay means 39b. At the time, the operation of the CPU is stopped, the game control is forcibly stopped, and all the outputs are cleared.

  Then, after a predetermined time delay from the reset timing of the main control means 50, the payout control means 70, the symbol control means 60, and the sound control means by the reset signals R2 to R5 from the delay means 46b, 40b, 43b, 42b. 72 and the lamp control means 71 are reset substantially simultaneously, and the operation of each CPU is stopped at this reset time. For this reason, the payout control, the symbol display control, the sound output control, and the lamp lighting control are forcibly stopped, and all the outputs are cleared.

  The power supply board 45 is further provided with a backup power supply 86 which is composed of a capacitor and outputs DC5V charged in the capacitor as a backup, and the backup 5V is provided with the RAM of the integrated circuit 39a of the main control board 39 and the payout. Each is supplied to the RAM of the integrated circuit 46a of the control board 46. That is, since 5V for backup is always supplied to these RAMs, even if the main power is turned off and the + 5V supply from the power supply circuit 83 is stopped, the game information and payout information stored in the information memory are not stored. It is securely stored and held by the backup 5V. Here, an information memory or the like provided in the RAM of the integrated circuit 39a corresponds to backup storage means.

  However, the backup operation by the backup power source 86 can be continued for a long time. The power supply board 45 is further provided with a clear switch 87. When the main power is turned on at the time of starting business, the clear switch 87 is manually operated simultaneously with the clear signal CL output from the clear switch 87. Unnecessary data stored in the RAM of the control board 39 and the RAM of the payout control board 49 can be erased all at once.

  Next, command transmission control included in the game control routine 39c and executed by the command transmission means 55 will be described with reference to FIG. However, symbol Si (i = 10, 11, 12,...) In the figure is each step. When this control is started, since the transmission deficiency flag TF is not set (S10: No), when the control command is normally transmitted (S14: Yes), the control command stored in the transmission command memory is stored. Is read, and the command data of the first byte of the control command is transmitted (S15). When the main power is not turned off within a minute predetermined time after transmission and the transmission is completed, the command of the transmitted first byte is transmitted. Data is erased from the transmission command memory (S16).

  Next, the command data of the second byte of the control command is transmitted (S17), and when the transmission is completed, the command data of the transmitted second byte is erased from the transmission command memory (S18). In this way, the transmission complete control command is erased. However, as will be described later, when there is untransmitted command data and the main power is turned off due to a power failure or the like, the transmission control is interrupted. The command data is securely stored in the transmission command memory without being erased.

  Next, the payout control executed by the payout control means 70 and the interrupt reception processing control for receiving the payout control command transmitted from the command transmission means 55 by an interrupt will be described. First, the payout control of FIG. 14 will be described. When the pachinko machine 2 is turned on, the CPU is activated by a reset signal generated in response to the “H” level system reset signal SR from the reset signal output means 85, and after a game return process described later is performed. Various initial settings such as clearing the memory and registers are executed (S20). Next, various setting processes for the CPU necessary for payout control are executed (S21). Next, drive signal output processing for outputting a drive signal to the payout drive motor of the payout means 35 is executed (S22).

  Next, a control command analysis process for analyzing a payout control command received by an interrupt process to be described later is executed (S23). As a result of the analysis process, the ball lending is performed by operating the ball lending switch 13b of the card-type ball lending machine 1. The ball lending process for paying out game balls is executed according to the number of ball lending balls obtained by multiplying the number of operations by 25 (S24). However, in the case of payout by winning, it is determined whether or not payout can be made in units of, for example, 25 payouts based on the received payout control command. If possible, the number of drive pulses for 25 payouts is determined. When it is not possible or when it is not possible, arithmetic processing such as calculating the number of driving pulses for the number of payout balls of less than 25 is executed (S25), and payout control is executed by repeating S21 and thereafter.

  Next, the interrupt reception process control of FIG. 15 will be described. During the payout control, the payout control described above is forcibly interrupted every time a payout control command is sent from the command transmission means 55 for each 1-byte command data. This interrupt processing control is started. First, the received command data is stored in a predetermined memory (S30). Next, when the received command data is the first byte (S31: No), this control is terminated.

  However, when the second byte of command data is received (S31: Yes), the second byte additionally received later is added to the received first byte of command data based on the control command table CT of FIG. When the control command combining the command data of the above is established (S32: Yes), the command data of the second byte is combined with the command data of the first byte and recognized as the control command (S33), and this control is finished. .

  However, when any command data in the first byte or the second byte is invalidated due to noise or the like (S32: No), these received command data are deleted (S34). By the way, when a power failure occurs during the game or when the main power is turned off at the time of closing the store, the AC 24V voltage supply is stopped and, as shown in FIGS. ) Is output to the integrated circuits 39a and 46a, so that the main control means 50 executes backup processing control (backup processing subroutine 39e) and payout control means. At 70, the backup process control (backup process subroutine 46d) is executed.

  First, backup processing control (see FIG. 16) executed by the main control means 50 by interruption will be described. When the opening / closing plate 18a of the openable winning means 18 is open, it is immediately closed, but the number of remaining balls remaining in the openable winning means 18 is detected and stored in the information memory (S40). The payout motor is immediately stopped at the time of payout of the winning ball, but the number of remaining balls that have not passed the detection switch is detected and stored in the information memory (S41), and the payout control to the payout control means 70 is further performed. When a command is being transmitted byte by byte and there is an untransmitted command data and the main power supply is turned off and the transmission is incomplete (S42: Yes), the untransmitted command data that is incompletely transmitted is information. It is stored in the memory (S43).

  Finally, the transmission defect flag TF is set (flag data is “1”) (S44), and this interrupt processing control is terminated. Of course, this backup process control is completed in a time shorter than about 120 msec when the “L” level system reset signal SR is output by the reset signal output means 85. Next, backup processing control (see FIG. 17) executed by the payout control means 70 by interruption will be described.

  At the time of paying out the winning ball due to winning, the payout motor is immediately stopped, but the remaining game balls are detected without passing through the detection switch, and the number of the balls is stored and held in the information memory (S45). At the time of paying out a game ball by a ball lending command from the machine 1, the payout motor is immediately stopped, but the remaining game balls are detected without passing through the detection switch, and the number of the balls is stored in the information memory ( S46). Next, when reception failure occurs during reception of the payout control command transmitted from the main control means 50, the unreceived command data that has been reception failure is stored and held in the information memory (S47), and this interrupt processing control is performed. Exit.

  Of course, this backup process control is completed in a time shorter than about 120 msec when the “L” level system reset signal SR is output by the reset signal output means 85. By the way, the reset signal output means 85 that has received the voltage abnormality signal VS outputs a system reset signal SR that has been switched to the “L” level with a delay of about 120 msec after receiving the voltage abnormality signal VS. At this point, the backup process is definitely completed. As a result, as described above, based on the delay times 39t, 46t, 40t, 43t, and 42t, first, the integrated circuit 39a is reset early by the reset signal R1, the operation of the CPU is stopped, and all the outputs are cleared. The

  The integrated circuits 46a, 40a, 42a, 43a are reset almost simultaneously by the reset signals R2 to R5 after a predetermined time from the reset timing, and the operation of each CPU is stopped and all the outputs are cleared. By the way, when the power supply from the main power supply is resumed, the reset signal output means 85 outputs the “H” level system reset signal SR to the integrated circuits 39a, 46a, 40a, 42a, 43a all at once. However, by means of activation delay means (not shown) provided separately on each control board 39, 40, 42, 43, 46, the payout control means 70 and the symbol control means 60 are first arranged in the reverse order to that at the time of power-off. The sound control means 72 and the lamp control means 71 are simultaneously activated first, and then the main control means 50 is activated.

  Here, when the main control means 50 is activated by the restoration of the main power source, the backup data restoration process is executed based on the game restoration subroutine 39f. The game return process will be described. The game information and untransmitted command data stored and held in the information memory of the integrated circuit 39a are read out, expanded and rearranged in a predetermined storage area. Thereafter, the command transmission control described above is executed. In this case, when the transmission failure flag TF is set (S10: Yes), untransmitted command data stored in the transmission command memory is read.

  When the untransmitted command data is a plurality of bytes, the command data is sequentially transmitted (S11), and the transmitted command data is deleted (S12). For example, when the main power is turned off during transmission of the second byte command data of the control command for paying out five prize balls, only the untransmitted second byte command data stored in the transmission command memory is transmitted. The However, when the main power is turned off during transmission of the command data of the first byte, the untransmitted command data of the first byte and the second byte stored in the transmission command memory are sequentially transmitted.

  Similarly, when the payout control means 70 is activated, the backup data restoration process is executed by the game restoration subroutine 46e. The game return process will be described. The game information and unreceived command data stored and held in the information memory of the integrated circuit 46a are read out and expanded and rearranged in a predetermined storage area. Thereafter, the above-described payout control and interrupt reception processing are executed. As a result, even if only the command data of the first byte of the payout control command has been received, the command data of the second byte following this command data is additionally transmitted from the command transmission means 55. A 2-byte control command is established.

  In this way, the information memory of the integrated circuit 39a provided on the main control board 39 and the information memory of the integrated circuit 46a provided on the payout control board 46 can be stored and retained by the backup power supply 86 even when the main power is turned off. When the main power is turned off while there is untransmitted command data while the payout control command is being transmitted from the control means 50 to the payout control means 70, the main control means 50 does not send to the payout control means 70 after the main power is restored. The command data is additionally transmitted to the payout control means 70 without losing the untransmitted command data even if untransmitted command data is generated when the main power supply is unexpectedly dropped during transmission. It can be transmitted reliably, the game ball can be paid out accurately without shortage, and the disadvantage of the player can be surely prevented.

A modified form in which the embodiment is partially modified will be described.
1] Various control commands such as a payout control command are not limited to a 2-byte configuration, and may include command data of 3 bytes or more.
2) When the memory of the integrated circuit 40a is backed up by the backup power source 86, and the main power is turned off while there is untransmitted command data while the symbol control command is being transmitted from the main control means 50 to the symbol control means 60. In addition, the main control means 50 may additionally transmit untransmitted command data to the symbol control means 60 after the main power supply is restored. In this case, the symbol variation control performed after the main power supply is restored can be continued from the middle when the main power supply is turned off and interrupted, and the player's disadvantages and dissatisfaction can be reliably prevented.

3) When the memory of the integrated circuit 43a is backed up by the backup power supply 86, and the main power is turned off while there is untransmitted command data while the sound control command is being transmitted from the main control means 50 to the sound control means 72. In addition, the main control means 50 may transmit untransmitted command data to the sound control means 72 after the main power supply is restored. In this case, sound control performed after the main power supply is restored can be continued from the middle when the main power supply is turned off and the sound effect for the player can be sufficiently exerted.

4) When the memory of the integrated circuit 42a is backed up by the backup power source 86, and the main power is turned off while there is untransmitted command data while the lamp control command is being transmitted from the main control unit 50 to the lamp control unit 71. In addition, the main control means 50 may transmit untransmitted command data to the lamp control means 71 after the main power supply is restored. In this case, the lamp control performed after the main power supply is restored can be continued from the middle when the main power supply is turned off and the game performance for the player can be fully exhibited.

5] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to a pachinko machine, but an arrangement ball machine, a sparrow ball machine, and the like. The present invention can be applied to various ball game machines.

1 is a perspective view of a pachinko machine (ball game machine) according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view of the game board of a pachinko machine. It is a rear view of a pachinko machine. It is a side view of a pachinko machine. It is a functional block diagram of the control system of a pachinko machine. It is a power supply circuit diagram and various control signal circuit diagrams. It is a time chart of the supply voltage at the time of electric power supply interruption | blocking, and a control signal. It is a figure which shows the subroutine contained in a game control program. It is a figure which shows the subroutine contained in the payout control program. It is a chart explaining the data structure of a control command table. It is a chart explaining the data structure of a symbol control command. It is a chart explaining the data structure of a payout control command. It is a flowchart of command transmission control. It is a schematic flowchart of payout control. It is a flowchart of interrupt reception processing control. It is a flowchart of the backup process control of the main control means. It is a flowchart of backup processing control of the payout control means.

Explanation of symbols

2 Pachinko machines (ball game machines)
5 Game board 18 Opening and closing type winning means (variable winning device)
22 design display means 35 payout means 39a 1 chip integrated circuit 39e backup processing subroutine 39f game return subroutine 46a 1 chip integrated circuit 39d backup processing subroutine 39e game return subroutine 45 power supply board 50 main control means 60 design control means 70 payout control means 71 lamp Control means 72 Sound control means LP Lamp group SP Speaker

Claims (1)

A variable winning device (18) disposed on the game board (5) and capable of changing between a state advantageous to a player and a disadvantageous state, and a main control means (50) for controlling the variable winning device (18). Sub-control means (60, 70 to 72) which is configured as a separate board from the main control means (50) and receives a control command transmitted from the main control means (50) by one-way communication. In the ball and ball machine (2)
The control command comprises command data for a plurality of bytes,
The main control means (50) is a backup capable of storing and storing untransmitted command data when the main power is turned off while command data is being transmitted to the sub control means (60, 70 to 72). Storage means (39a) and data return means (39f) for reading untransmitted command data stored in the backup storage means (39a) after the main power supply is restored,
When the main power is lost in the presence of command data unsent while sending a control command from said main control means (50) to the sub-control means (60,70～72), the main control unit (50) After the main power is restored, the unsent command data stored in the backup storage means (39a) is read out by the data restoration means (39f) and transmitted .
The sub-control means (60, 70 to 72) has a data storage means (46a) capable of storing and holding command data at least when the main power is turned off, and is added from the main control means (50) after the main power is restored. A control command is created by combining unreceived command data that is transmitted automatically with received command data,
If the control command created by the sub-control means (60, 70 to 72) does not correspond to any of a plurality of preset control commands, the received command data is deleted.
A ball game machine characterized by that.

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