JP4377210B2 - Amusement stand - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a game machine represented by a slot machine (pachislot).

  Conventionally, in a slot machine, all-phase excitation braking by a stepping motor is used as a stopping method for instantaneously stopping the rotation of the reel (here, “all-phase excitation braking” means all steps of the stepping motor). This is a stopping method in which braking is performed by simultaneously applying signals to the phases). According to this method, for example, when the reel rotation speed in a steady state is 80 rpm, about 17 msec after the reel stop control is performed (in the case of a stepping motor that rotates once in 400 pulses, about 9 pulses). ) The reel can be stopped (that is, braking time = 17 msec, braking distance = 9 pulse rotation distance).

  On the other hand, when controlling the reel stop position, the stop control possible time (the time from when the player performs the reel stop operation until when the reel machine actually completes the reel stop control) should be 190 msec or less. It is prescribed. For this reason, in order to stop the reel at a desired stop position, it is necessary to set the reel stop control timing within the specified time range in consideration of the braking distance.

  Therefore, as described above, when the reel rotation speed is 80 rpm and there are 21 images per reel rotation, if the reel stop control is performed within the stop control possible time, a maximum of 5 images ahead. (Pull-in is to prevent a combination of winning symbols from being displayed even though the player has not won the game internally. The slot machine side controls the reel stop position so that the pattern combination is easily displayed).

  Furthermore, recently, various reel stopping methods have been proposed in addition to the above-described all-phase excitation. For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-159626, after all-phase excitation braking of a stepping motor is performed, a braking pulse applied to the reverse phase of one phase corresponding to the reel stop position is interrupted, and then braking is performed. A stopping method for interrupting all pulses is disclosed. According to such a stopping method, it is possible to reliably stop at the target stop position.

Furthermore, Japanese Patent No. 3333385 discloses a circuit configuration capable of stopping a reel by simultaneously dropping both ends of each phase coil of a stepping motor to a reference voltage.
JP 2002-159626 A Japanese Patent No. 3333385

  However, in the case of the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, although it can be surely stopped at the target stop position, the stop mode of the reel is uniform, and the number of patterns that can be pulled in (actually stops after pressing the stop button) The number of patterns that have passed on the winning line) is the same as before, so there was a problem that the player lacked interest.

  On the other hand, in the case of Patent Document 2, although it can be expected to suppress the heat generation of the stepping motor at the time of stopping, there is a problem that a cost is required because a special circuit is required.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine capable of controlling the reel stop position and increasing the number of patterns that can be pulled in and improving the interesting aspect of the stop mode.

In order to achieve the above object, a game machine according to the present invention has the following configuration. That is,
Multiple types of patterns are applied to a plurality of rotatable reels, the rotation of each reel is stopped based on a stop command from a stop button, and the medium corresponding to the winning combination is discharged based on the pattern at the stop position. A game machine that
First rotation stopping means for stopping rotation by exciting all phases of a stepping motor for rotating the reel;
Second rotation stopping means for stopping rotation by exciting and releasing the stepping motor;
First information on the braking distance of the reel when the rotation of the reel is stopped by the first rotation stopping means, and braking of the reel when the rotation of the reel is stopped by the second rotation stopping means Holding means for holding second information about the distance;
A determination means for determining whether or not the internal winning of the predetermined winning combination is successful by lottery;
Storage means for storing stop position information that is set according to a lottery result by the determination means and determines a stop position of the pattern that moves by rotation of the reel;
The number of drawn images calculated in accordance with the difference between the stop position defined in the stop position information and the rotation position of the reel when the stop button is pressed is the number of drawn images after the stop button is pressed. It is determined whether or not the number of images that can be drawn is calculated based on a specified time that is allowed as a time until stop control for stopping rotation of the image and the first information is exceeded. Judgment means,
When it is determined that the number of drawn patterns exceeds the number of drawable patterns, the second rotation stopping means is switched to stop the rotation of the reel, and the number of drawn patterns is And switching means for switching to the first rotation stopping means and stopping the rotation of the reel when it is determined that the number is less than or equal to the number of patterns that can be drawn .

Here, in the gaming machine according to the present invention, the switching means is a case where it is determined that the number of drawn pictures is equal to or less than the number of drawable pictures, and the judging means is a winning combination. When it is determined that an internal winning has been made, the rotation is switched to the second rotation stop means to stop the rotation of the reel .

Further, in the gaming machine according to the present invention, the switching means determines that the first rotation stopping means and the second rotation stop means when the number of the drawn-in pictures is equal to or less than the number of the drawn-in pictures. The rotation stop means is irregularly switched to stop the rotation of the reel .

  According to the gaming machine of the present invention, it is possible to provide a gaming machine capable of controlling the reel stop position, in which the number of drawable patterns is increased and the interesting aspect of the stopping mode is improved.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view showing an appearance of a slot machine 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[First embodiment]
<Overall configuration>
As shown in FIG. 1, in the center of the slot machine 100, there are three cylindrical reels (left reel 110, middle reel 111, right reel 112) in which a plurality of types of patterns (not shown) are arranged on the outer peripheral surface. It is housed and configured to be driven to rotate inside the main body 101. The front door 102 is provided with a reel display window 113, and when the reels 110 to 112 are viewed from the front, three patterns applied thereto can be seen in the vertical direction from the reel display window. That is, when all the reels 110 to 112 are stopped, the player can see a total of nine patterns of 3 × 3. When these reels 110 to 112 rotate and each reel 110 to 112 stops at an appropriate timing, various combinations of patterns are displayed. In the present embodiment, three reels are provided, but the number of reels and the installation position of the reels are not limited to this. On the back side of each reel 110 to 112, a backlight (not shown) for illuminating each picture displayed on the reel display window is arranged. The backlight is capable of emitting light of, for example, seven colors (three primary colors of red, green, and bluish purple and a mixed color such as white) and includes an LED corresponding to each primary color. Is done.

  The winning line display lamp 120 is a lamp indicating a winning line 114 that is valid for each game. The effective pay line 114 changes depending on the number of game media (in this embodiment, medals are assumed) inserted into the slot machine 100. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, in the case of having five winning lines 114, when one medal is inserted, the middle horizontal winning line, when two medals are inserted, the upper horizontal winning line and the lower horizontal winning line are shown. When three winning lines are added, three lines are added, and an oblique winning line is added, and the winning is determined by the combination of the patterns arranged on the effective winning line. Of course, the number of winning lines is not limited to five. The start lamp 121 is a lamp that informs the player that the reels 110 to 112 are in a state of being able to rotate. The re-game lamp 122 is a lamp for notifying the player that the next game is a re-game when winning a re-game as a winning combination. In the case of a re-game, the medal that is a game medium is exempted in the next game. The notification lamp 123 is a lamp for notifying the player that a big bonus (BB) or a regular bonus (RB) described later is internally won. The medal insertion lamp 124 is a lamp that informs the player that a medal can be inserted.

  The payout number display unit 125 is a display unit that displays the number of medals to be paid out to the player when winning a winning combination with a medal payout. The game number display 126 is a display for displaying the number of general games in the big bonus game. The stored number display 127 is a display that displays the number of medals stored electronically (credited). The effect lamp 128 is a lamp used for the effect to enhance the interest of the game. The medal insertion buttons 130 and 131 are insertion buttons for electronically inserting the stored medals into the slot machine 100, and are called so-called bet buttons. In the present embodiment, a maximum medal insertion button 130 (a so-called “max bet button”) and a single medal insertion button 131 are provided. By pressing any of these buttons, 1 to 3 medals required for the game can be obtained. It is electronically inserted into the slot machine 100. When inserting two medals, the one-medal insertion button 131 is pressed twice. The number of inserted medals is subtracted from the current stored number, and the remaining number is displayed on the stored number display 127.

  The medal slot 134 has an opening through which a player directly inserts medals when starting a game. The start lever 135 is a lever-type switch that starts the rotation of the reels 110 to 112 as a game start operation. The stop button unit 136 is provided with stop buttons 137, 138, and 139 corresponding to the reels 110 to 112, respectively. The stop buttons 137 to 139 are button type switches that stop the corresponding reels 110 to 112 when pressed. Each stop button 137 to 139 is provided with a lamp (not shown). After the start lever 135 is operated, all the lamps are turned on when the reels 110 to 112 can be stopped. Each time the stop buttons 137 to 139 are pressed, the light is turned off. The settlement button 132 is a button that is pressed when performing a settlement process in which the medals acquired by the player are settled and discharged. The checkout button 132 is used to switch whether or not to store up to a predetermined number (for example, three) of medals inserted by the player from the medal slot block 134 or up to 50 medals acquired by winning. For example, when the settlement button 132 is pressed, the settlement process is performed to set the non-reservation mode, and when the settlement button 132 is pressed again, the storage mode is set. Here, storing medals means temporarily storing the number of medals temporarily in a control unit (to be described later) without directly paying out medals.

  The key hole 140 is a hole into which a door opening / closing key is inserted. When the key is inserted and turned clockwise, the lock is released and the front door 102 of the slot machine 100 can be opened. The medal discharge port 156 is an opening for discharging medals, and medals paid out at the time of winning a prize are discharged from here. The discharged medals are accumulated in the tray 157. The upper lamp 150, the side lamp 151, the center lamp 152, the waist lamp 153, the lower lamp 154, and the saucer lamp (a saucer) 157 are effects lamps for exciting the game, and are turned on / off / flashing according to the game state. To do. The liquid crystal display device (LCD) 170 can display various information related to the game (effect information that excites the game, error information that displays an error content when an abnormality occurs in the slot machine, and the like). Of course, instead of the liquid crystal display device 170, other display means such as a dot matrix display device in which a plurality of LEDs are two-dimensionally arranged may be used. The sound hole 160 of the upper speaker and the sound hole 161 of the central speaker are equipped with a decorated speaker cover, from which game sound effects are output.

<Reel configuration>
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a structure of a reel rotating device for rotating the reels 110 to 112 arranged on the back side of the reel display window 113. The reel rotating device is roughly provided with three reel units each equipped with the reels 110 to 112 in a square frame-like frame 200. Each reel unit itself has the same structure except for the reel band used for the reels 110 to 112. In the reel unit, a backlight module 202 for illuminating each picture displayed through the reel display window 113 is disposed on the back side of each of the reels 110 to 112. In the backlight module 202, a substrate on which LEDs are mounted is arranged on the back of a frame body divided into three sections so that each of the three pictures displayed on the reel display window 113 can be illuminated. . The LED emits light of, for example, seven colors (a mixed color including three primary colors of red, green, and bluish purple and white) and illuminates a picture that is stopped and displayed from the back. FIG. 3 shows an example when the reel band used for each of the reels 110 to 112 is developed in a plane. As shown in the figure, each reel 110 to 112 has a plurality of types of patterns arranged in a predetermined number of frames (21 frames in this case). Numbers 1 to 21 shown at the left end of the figure are numbers indicating the arrangement positions of the patterns on the reels 110 to 112. In the vicinity of each of the reels 110 to 112 in the slot machine 100, an optical sensor including a light projecting unit and a light receiving unit is provided, and each reel 110 is provided between the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit of the optical sensor. The light-shielding piece of a fixed length provided in -112 passes. Based on the detection result of the light shielding piece by the optical sensor, the position of the pattern on the reels 110 to 112 is determined in the rotation direction, and the reels 110 to 112 are displayed so that the target pattern is displayed on the winning line 114. Can be stopped.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the structure of the reel unit. The reel unit includes a base 201, a stepping motor 401, a reel frame 402, a reference sensor 403, a reel band (not shown), and the like. The base 201 is provided with a bracket 201b on a substrate 201a having a U-shaped cross section. A reference sensor 403 is fixed to the end of the bracket 201b. A stepping motor 401 is fixed to the substrate 201a. The reel band of FIG. 3 is fixed toward the stepping motor 401 side of the rim portion 402a.

  In this embodiment, the stepping motor 401 is a four-phase motor that rotates once in 200 steps, and the excitation method is a 1-2 phase excitation method. It is assumed that the stepping motor 401 is rotated one step with two drive pulses. . That is, it can be rotated once by 400 drive pulses. In this embodiment, since the total number of reel patterns is 21, 19 drive pulses per pattern are allocated to 20 pulses, and 20 pulses are allocated to the remaining one pattern.

  A reel frame 402 is fixed to the drive shaft of the stepping motor 401, and rotates with the rotation of the drive shaft of the stepping motor 401. The reel frame 402 has a ring-shaped rim portion 402a, a boss portion 402c fixed to the drive shaft of the stepping motor 401, and four arm portions for connecting the rim portion 402a and the boss portion 402c for the purpose of weight reduction. 402b.

  One of the arm portions 402b is provided with a passage piece 402d that crosses the detection portion of the reference sensor 403. In the case of this embodiment, a photo sensor is used as the reference sensor 403, and when the passage piece 402d passes, the reference sensor 403 detects this, and the passage piece 402d is attached to the reference sensor 403 every time the reel makes one revolution. Detected. The control unit of the slot machine 100 detects this detection signal, and recognizes that each reel has rotated and passed the reference position. Therefore, the amount of rotation of each reel 110 to 112 and the position of each picture can be known from the number of drive pulses supplied to the stepping motor 401 after passing the reference position.

  In the present embodiment, the above-described configuration is adopted as the rotation device for each of the reels 110 to 112. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a pulse motor (servo motor) incorporating an absolute encoder capable of detecting the rotation angle may be used. . In the case of this configuration, the reference position can be arbitrarily set.

<Control unit (main control unit)>
The control unit of the slot machine 100 is a “main control unit” that controls the whole, a “sub control unit” that performs control related to effects for exciting games, and an “LCD” that controls a liquid crystal display (LCD) 170. The main control unit according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  A central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as a CPU) 510 is a control center in the slot machine 100, and exchanges control signals and data with peripheral units via a bus 570. The random number generator 511 generates a random number and includes a plurality of counters, a clock oscillator, a frequency divider, a latch circuit, and the like. The random number value generated by the random number generator 511 is stored in the random number storage area of the RAM 513 via the bus 570 and sent to the CPU 510 as necessary. There are a plurality of types of random number values, and each is used according to the processing content. The CPU 510 includes a medal acceptance sensor 520 that detects a medal inserted from the medal slot through the input interface 560 and the bus 570, a start lever sensor 521 that detects an operation of the start lever 135, and stop buttons 137 to 139. When the button is pressed, the stop button sensor 522 that detects which stop button is pressed, and when one of the medal insertion buttons 130 and 131 is pressed, it detects which medal insertion button is pressed. The medal insertion button sensor 523 and a settlement / saving button switch 524 that operates when the settlement button 132 is pressed are connected.

  A ROM (read only memory) 512 is one of storage means for storing programs for performing various controls and various table data (not shown) to be described later. It is characterized by maintaining a braking distance. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 513 has a work area for programs processed by the CPU 510 and is one of storage means for storing variable data and the like. In the present embodiment, the ROM and the RAM are employed as described above, but it goes without saying that other storage means can be employed. Further, a reel motor drive control unit / reel motor stop control unit (including an excitation release control unit) 531 for controlling a stepping motor (not shown) for rotating and stopping the reels 110 to 112, and a medal payout device (so-called hopper) (Not shown) is connected to the CPU 510 via the input / output interface 560 and the bus 570. The lamp / display 533 includes lamps such as the winning line display lamp 120, the start lamp 121, and the re-playing lamp 122 shown in FIG. 1, and various displays such as the payout number display 125 and the game number display 126. These are collectively shown, and are connected to the CPU 510 via the output interface 540 and the bus 570. The output interface 550 transmits various commands to an input interface of a sub-control unit (not shown) based on instructions from the CPU 510.

<Prizes and game types>
Next, a detailed description will be given of an example of the composition of the winning combination and the number of payouts in each gaming state of the slot machine 100 with reference to FIG. The type of winning combination is set differently depending on the type of game of the slot machine 100. In the present embodiment, three types of games, that is, a normal game, a specific game, and an accessory game are set, and the type of winning combination and the number of payouts differ depending on the type of game.

  In a normal game, a winning combination (special role and special role) that can be played from the next time with a high probability of internal winning for at least some winning roles by winning, and a winning role (small role) where medals are paid out by winning. 1 to 3 and a winning combination (re-playing combination) that does not require the insertion of medals in the next game are set.

  Shift to a specific game by winning a specific role. The specific game includes a winning combination (special role) in which an award winning game with a high probability of winning an internal bonus by winning a prize can be performed from the next time, and a winning combination (small role 1 to small role 3) in which a medal is paid out by winning. , Is set. By winning a special role, the game shifts to an accessory game. In the bonus game, a winning combination (combination) in which medals are paid out by winning is set.

(1) Winners in regular games:
・ Specific role (big bonus)
When the pattern combination of red 7-red 7-red 7, white 7-white 7-white 7 and BAR-BAR-white 7 is aligned with any one of the winning lines 114 of the reel display window 113, a medal with 15 dividends is obtained. It is paid out and wins a specific role. When a specific combination is won, the game shifts to a specific game, and a general game of a specific game is started for a predetermined number of games (30 games in this embodiment) from the next game. In this general game, the small roles 1 to 3 in the specific game of FIG. 6 are games in which internal winning is performed with high probability. When winning a specific combination, a small combination and an item win with a high probability, so that the player can obtain a large number of medals.

  Further, during a specific game, a Rep-Rep-Rep pattern combination that is a re-playing role during a normal game is set as a special role. If this special combination set only during a specific game is won, there will be 6 payouts, and the next game will be shifted to a bonus game described later. When the accessory game ends, the game returns to the general game again. The specific game end condition ends when the 30 games of the general game are ended or when the special game is finished twice and the bonus game is ended.

・ Special role (regular bonus)
When the BAR-BAR-BAR pattern combination is aligned with any one of the winning lines 114 of the reel display window 113, 15 medals are paid out, and a game for a feature is started from the next game. The prize game is a prize-winning prize that is paid out for 15 (called a combination of one of Rep-Rep-Rep and Watermelon-Rep-Rep) for a predetermined number of games (12 games in this embodiment). Is a game with a high probability of winning. In the present embodiment, the accessory game is ended when the player wins the accessory eight times during 12 games. If you win a special role once, you can get about 115 medals.

・ Small 1 to 3
Small role 1: 15 watermelon-watermelon-watermelon pattern combinations, Small role 2: 7 bell-bell-bell pattern combinations, Small role 3: 2 cherry-ANY-ANY pattern combinations, reel When the winning line 114 is aligned with the display window 113, medals corresponding to the number of payouts are paid out, and the next game remains a normal game.

-Re-gamer When Rep-Rep-Rep is aligned with any of the winning lines 114 of the reel display window 113, a re-gamer wins, and the next game can be performed without inserting medals.

(2) Winners in specific games:
-Special combination When the pattern combination of Rep-Rep-Rep is aligned with any of the winning lines 114 of the reel display window 113, a medal with a payout number of 6 is paid out, and the game of the object is started from the next game. The bonus game is the same as the bonus game in the special role.

・ Small 1 to 3
The number of payouts for the small roles 1 to 3 in the specific game is as follows: Small portion 1: 5 watermelon-watermelon-watermelon, Small portion 2: 9 bell-bell-bell, Small portion 3: Cherry-ANY-ANY is 8 Is set. In specific games, the number of payouts is set to be different for some small combinations. In a specific game, the small role is won internally with a higher probability than in a normal game.

(3) Winners in the game
-Bonus 15 medals are paid out when the pattern combination of watermelon-Rep-Rep, Rep-Rep-Rep is aligned with any of the winning lines 114 of the reel display window 113.

  The winning combination and game type of the slot machine 100 have been described above. However, the slot machine according to the present invention is not limited to this, and it is needless to say that various winning combinations and game types can be set. .

  Next, the occurrence probability of each winning combination will be described. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the probability of occurrence for each winning combination setting. In the table of FIG. 7, the value described in the upper row is a numerical value representing the random value width assigned to each winning combination with respect to the total random value (16384), and the numerical value in the lower bracket is the total random value. The ratio of the random value range of each winning combination with respect to is shown, so-called occurrence probability. The probability of occurrence of each winning combination is generally set to be within a predetermined payout range, and can be set in six stages from setting 1 to setting 6 in accordance with the business of the amusement store. . In the present embodiment, only one arbitrary stage is illustrated in FIG. 7, and other settings are omitted.

<Reel stop control>
Next, an outline of reel stop control of the slot machine 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the stop control of the left reel 110 of the slot machine 100. Here, the stop control of the left reel 110 will be described as an example, but the same applies to the middle reel 111 and the right reel 112.

  As described above, the reels 110 to 112 of the slot machine 100 are individually driven by the stepping motor 401, and the number of drive pulses per reel rotation is 400 drive pulses, and 0.9 drive drive pulse is 0.9. Can be rotated.

  In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the reference sensor 403 is disposed at the middle position of the reel display window 113, and the passage piece 402d is disposed at a portion corresponding to the top of the cherry pattern at the pattern layout position 1. is doing. In FIG. 8, picture arrangement positions 1 to 21 are numbers indicating the arrangement of the pictures on the reel 110, and are assigned to each picture. In the example of FIG. 8, the pattern arrangement position 1 corresponds to the “cherry” pattern, and the pattern arrangement position 21 corresponds to the “7” pattern.

  The number of pulses is information indicating the position of each picture according to the number of pulses sent after the reference sensor 403 detects the passage of the passage piece 402d. For example, the range of the number of pulses from 1 to 19 The “cherry” picture at position 1 is assigned, and the range of pulse numbers 209 to 228 is assigned to the “7” picture at picture arrangement position 12. Therefore, for example, when the number of pulses is 10, the “cherry” pattern is positioned at the middle position, and when the number of pulses is 219, the “7” pattern is positioned at the middle position.

  The reel rotation angle indicates the rotation amount of the reel 110 corresponding to the number of pulses as an angle, with 0 when the reference sensor 403 detects the passage piece 402d. It can be seen that the number of pulses is 400 and one rotation.

  By using such information, the main control unit 500 first detects that the passage piece 402d has passed through the reference sensor 403, and counts the number of pulses sent to the stepping motor 401 using this as a starting point. The reel 110 can be controlled to stop so that an arbitrary picture is displayed on the reel display window 113.

  Next, the control for stopping the reel will be described. The stop control of the reel 110 is determined based on the stop position information shown in FIG. The stop position information is information that determines the stop position of the pattern on the reel 110 that moves cyclically by the rotation of the reel 110, and is set according to the result of the internal lottery of each winning combination. Moreover, in this embodiment, in addition to the internal lottery result, it is further set according to the gaming state, and is further subdivided. But you may set only corresponding to an internal lottery result.

  In the case of this embodiment, the type of game state includes the type of internal winning state of a predetermined winning combination in addition to the type of game. In the case of this embodiment, in particular, the specific role and the special role are classified according to whether or not they are currently being elected. Internal winning means a so-called flag carry-over state, and if you do not win them in that game, even if you have won a specific or special role, Refers to processing that is treated as an internal winner.

  In FIG. 8, the stop position information is conceptually composed of a bit string corresponding to the number of pictures on the reel, and can be expressed as data with bits set only at the stopable picture positions. In the figure, “●” is attached and the pattern represents a pattern permitted to be stopped (hereinafter also referred to as a stop permitted position). In the case of the present embodiment, since the middle position is used as a reference, the pattern with “●” indicates that the stop at the middle position is permitted.

  On the other hand, the symbol with “↑” indicates that the stop at the middle position is not permitted, and even if it is stopped by the player when passing through the middle position, it stops. It means that the pattern is passed without. For example, even if the stop button 137 is operated when the “BAR” pattern at the pattern arrangement position 16 comes to the middle position of the reel display window 113, it is not the position where the stop is permitted. The picture will advance to 20 watermelon picture positions and stop.

  From the viewpoint of the player, as a result of the operation aiming at the “BAR” pattern, the player feels that the “watermelon” pattern is drawn and stopped. In the figure, the stop position information includes five stop permission positions, and the stop display picture of the left reel 110 that is finally stopped and displayed on the reel display window 113 is shown on the rightmost side of FIG. There are 5 types.

  Such reel stop control is generally called sliding piece control or pull-in control, and it is prevented that a combination of symbols corresponding to a winning combination is displayed even though the internal winning is not performed or the internal winning is performed. The reel is controlled so that the pattern combination corresponding to the winning combination is easily displayed (details will be described later).

<Processing flow of slot machine 100>
Next, an overall flow of processing at the time of gaming in the slot machine 100 will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a game execution process of the slot machine 100. The game execution process is a process for controlling the game flow of the slot machine 100 and is repeatedly executed for each game.

  In step S901, medal acceptance processing is performed. In the medal acceptance process, whether or not a medal is inserted into the medal insertion slot 134 is determined based on a detection signal from the medal acceptance sensor 520. When the insertion of medals is detected, the winning line display lamp 120 on the left side of the reel display window 113 is lit / flashed corresponding to the number of medals inserted.

  For example, when medals are electronically stored in the slot machine 100, the medals can be inserted by pressing one of the medal insertion buttons 130 and 131. In the case of this embodiment, the maximum number of sheets that can be thrown into a single game is three. At this time, the main control unit transmits a medal insertion command to the sub control unit to cause the sub control unit to recognize the medal insertion. The sub-control unit performs an effect of generating a medal insertion sound based on the medal insertion command.

  In step S902, whether or not the start lever 135 is operated by the player is determined based on a detection signal from the start lever sensor 521. If the operation of the start lever 135 is not detected, the operation waits until the start lever 135 is operated. When the operation of the start lever 135 is detected by the start lever sensor 521, a start lever reception command is transmitted to the sub-control unit. The sub-control unit performs an effect of generating a start sound or the like based on the start lever reception command.

  When the start lever 135 is operated, the process proceeds to step S903, where the CPU 510 obtains a random number from the random number generator 511, and performs random drawing of the design in step S904. This random number lottery of the picture is an internal lottery that determines whether or not the internal winning of each winning combination is successful. In the present embodiment, the types of internal lottery results are broadly classified into loses and internal winnings for winning combinations, and further classified into internal winnings for each winning combination.

  In step S <b> 905, as a pull-in control preparation process, a braking distance due to excitation release is read from the ROM 512.

  In step S906, the reels 110 to 112 are rotated. As described above, in the slot machine 100, the stepping motors 401 are individually provided on the reels 110 to 112, and are driven to rotate. In general, the rotation speed of a stepping motor is controlled by the frequency of a driving pulse. In the reel rotation process, a driving pulse having a predetermined pattern is supplied to the stepping motor 401 of each reel 110 to 112 to rotate each reel 110 to 112. When the reel rotation process is executed, all the reels 110 to 112 start to rotate simultaneously or randomly. The rotation start of all the reels 110 to 112 is transmitted to the sub-control unit as a reel rotation start command, and the sub-control unit starts executing various effects set based on the reel rotation start command.

  Next, when all the reels 110 to 112 are rotated at a constant speed, the process proceeds to step S907 to start accepting operation of the stop buttons 137 to 139 by the player. In step S907, the stop button sensor 522 detects which stop button 137 to 139 operated by the player is, and when it is detected, a stop button reception command is sent to indicate that the stop button has been operated. The sub-control unit recognizes which stop button has been operated.

  In step S908, a reel stop process is performed. The reel stop process is a process of individually stopping the rotation of each reel in response to a stop button operated by the player, and stops the rotation of each reel based on the selected stop position information. If the player does not detect the operation of the stop buttons 137 to 139 after a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds), all the reels 110 to 112 are automatically stopped.

  In step S909, it is determined whether all the reels 110 to 112 have stopped. In step S910, on the activated winning line 114 on the reel display window 113, a combination of predetermined patterns corresponding to the winning combination won in the random number lottery of the pattern in step S904 is stopped. Whether or not there is a winning combination is determined according to whether or not there is a winning combination. The winning determination result is transmitted to the sub-control unit as a winning effect command.

  If it is determined that there is a winning as a result of the winning determination, the process proceeds to step S911, a predetermined number of payouts corresponding to the winning winning combination is set in the work area of the RAM 513, and a predetermined number based on the data of this work area is set. A process of paying out a number of medals from the medal payout opening 156 to the tray 157 is performed.

  In step S912, while the prize control effect is executed by the sub-control unit based on the effect command received in step S910, a prize effect such as displaying the number of payouts on the payout number display 125 as the prize effect of the main control unit is performed. Is called.

  In step S913, the game type is updated based on the winning determination result. As a result of the winning determination, if a specific combination is won, a specific game is set, and the specific game is set and executed from the next game. When a special combination is won and when a combination game is won during a specific game, a combination game is set and executed from the next game. As described above, one game is completed, and thereafter the same procedure is repeated.

<Reel stop processing>
Next, details of the reel stop process shown in step S908 of FIG. 9 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, in step S1001, the type of the stop button received in step S907 is determined. If it is the stop button 137, the process proceeds to step S1002, and the reel 110 is stopped. On the other hand, if the stop button received in step S907 is the stop button 138, the process advances to step S1003 to stop the reel 111. Furthermore, when the stop button received in step S907 is the stop button 138, the process proceeds to step S1004, and the reel 112 is stopped. When the processes in steps S1002 to S1004 are completed, the process returns to the process in FIG. 9 (details of the stop process for the reels 110 to 112 will be further described later).

<Description of reel stop method and stop position control method>
Next, excitation release that is a reel stopping method in the slot machine 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a signal of each phase when the reel 110 is rotating at a constant speed by the reel motor drive control unit 531 and a signal of each phase when excitation is released by the reel motor stop control unit 531. .

  In the figure, the horizontal axis represents the time axis, the vertical axis represents the ON / OFF of the signal of each phase, and the time interval of one scale on the horizontal axis (interval between dotted lines) is 1.877 msec. As shown in the figure, in the case of the present embodiment, a pulse signal shifted by ¼ phase between adjacent phases is applied to each phase with 15.016 msec as one cycle. When receiving an “excitation release command” (command for starting stop control due to excitation release), the excitation release control unit 531 turns off all pulse signals to each phase of the stepping motor 401 (1101 to 1104).

  Next, the operation of the reel 110 when the excitation release command is received and all the pulse signals to each phase of the stepping motor 401 are turned off will be described with reference to FIG.

  The braking distance from when all the pulse signals to each phase are turned off (excitation is released) to when the reel 110 actually stops is the holding torque (static torque) and inertia (moment of inertia) of the stepping motor 401. It depends on the relationship. In the case of the slot machine according to the present embodiment, it is experimentally required to converge to a range of 39 ± 2 pulses.

  FIG. 12 shows the braking distance when the horizontal axis represents the number of pulses of the stepping motor, the pattern of the reel 110 corresponding to the number of pulses is superimposed, and the excitation is released (here, the pulse is shown). The number is used synonymously with the rotation angle of the reel). As shown in the figure, since the reel 110 rotates 19 pulses while one pattern passes, if the Nth pattern passes through the middle position and is excited and released at the same time, it is rotated 39 ± 2 pulses (that is, The reel 110 stops (when the N + 2 pattern comes to the middle position).

  In this way, when the excitation is released, the braking distance from when the reel motor stop control unit 513 performs the reel stop control (after turning off the pulse signal of each phase) to the actual stop of the reel is the all-phase excitation. (That is, the deceleration angle gradient is gentle).

  Next, based on the operation characteristics shown in FIG. 12, a method for controlling the reel stop position will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an operation from when the player presses the stop button 137 to start the stop control and to actually stop the reel when performing the sliding piece control and the pull-in control. As described above, it is specified that the time from when the player presses the stop button 137 until stop control is performed should be within 190 msec at the maximum. On the other hand, the braking distance from the stop control as described above to the actual stop of the reel is 39 ± 2 pulses.

  Therefore, the reel motor stop control unit 513 obtains information about the braking distance that is experimentally obtained for each game machine and is stored in advance in the ROM 512 from the ROM 512 when performing stop control, and performs stop control based on the braking distance. It is possible to stop the reel at a desired reel stop position (that is, store the braking distance obtained experimentally even in the case of excitation release). By doing so, it is possible to perform pull-in control and sliding piece control according to whether there is an internal winning as usual).

  This will be briefly described with reference to FIG. In the case of FIG. 13, it is assumed that the stop button 137 is pressed at the moment when the 20th pattern comes to the middle position of the reel display window and advances two pulses. Therefore, there are 17 pulses until the next pattern (No. 19 pattern) and 19 pulses until the next pattern (No. 18 pattern). Therefore, when the stop button 137 is pressed, stop control is performed and excitation is released. Because the reel stops at a braking distance of 39 ± 2 pulses, the reel can be stopped in the middle of the 18th pattern (the braking distance is longer than that of all-phase excitation, so the reel can be stopped at the 20th pattern) Can not).

  Similarly, if the excitation is released in consideration of the braking distance of 39 ± 2 pulses, the 17th pattern, the 16th pattern, etc. can be stopped. Furthermore, as described above, the stop controllable time from when the stop button 137 is pressed until the excitation release (stop control) is started can be set between 0 msec and 190 msec, so the stop button 137 is pressed. The position advanced by 39 ± 2 pulses from the position (in the middle of the 18th pattern) is the minimum stoppable position, rotated 190 msec (101 pulses), and further advanced by 39 ± 2 pulses (in the middle of the 13th pattern) This is the maximum possible stop position. Here, since the stop position at the time of the game is controlled (excitation release timing is adjusted) so as not to be in the middle of the picture, in effect, the object to be pulled in is from the 17th picture to the 14th picture. (In other words, the 15th and 14th patterns that could not be pulled in by the conventional all-phase excitation in which the braking distance is 9 pulses can be pulled in). In the case of excitation release shown in FIG. 13, since a total of 4 patterns from 17th pattern to 14th pattern are the patterns to be pulled in, the number of patterns to be pulled in is the same as in the case of conventional all-phase excitation. It is equivalent.

  As is clear from the above description, according to the present embodiment, the deceleration speed gradient when stopping is gentler than in the case of the conventional all-phase excitation, so the player considers the speed gradient. It is necessary to press the stop button (that is, the player needs to press the stop button a little earlier than in the case of the conventional all-phase excitation while considering the braking distance), which has the effect of increasing the game performance.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the number of patterns to be pulled in is the same as in the case of the conventional all-phase excitation, but the reel stop position control such as the sliding piece and the pull-in control can be performed as in the conventional case. In addition to being possible, up to the subject that could not be pulled in by the conventional stop control (7 pictures ahead of the stop button was pressed (including the picture when the stop button was pressed)) It can be pulled in. In other words, even for those who are not good at holding eyes, increasing the number of patterns that can be pulled in makes it easier to win a prize (less loss due to missing), and the effect of improving the appearance due to the difference in appearance that has not existed before. is there.

[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, only the excitation release is performed as the reel stopping method. However, all-phase excitation braking and excitation release may coexist and be switched and used. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a slot machine having two reel stop methods of all-phase excitation braking and excitation release will be described.

<Main control unit>
FIG. 14 shows the configuration of the main control unit 500 of the slot machine according to the present embodiment. The difference from the first embodiment is that the ROM 1401 holds the braking distance in the case of all-phase excitation, and a new all-phase excitation control unit is added to the reel motor stop control unit 1402.

<Stop by all-phase excitation>
Here, the operation from when the stop button 137 is pressed until the reel 110 is actually stopped when the reel 110 is stopped by all-phase excitation will be described.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a signal of each phase when the reel 110 is rotating at a constant speed by the reel motor drive control unit 1402 and a signal of each phase when the excitation is released by the reel motor stop control 1402.

  In the figure, the horizontal axis represents the time axis, the vertical axis represents the ON / OFF of the signal of each phase, and the time interval of one scale on the horizontal axis (interval between dotted lines) is 1.877 msec. As shown in the figure, also in the case of this embodiment, a pulse signal shifted by ¼ phase between adjacent phases is applied to each phase with 15.016 msec as one cycle. When the “all-phase excitation command” (stop-control start command by all-phase excitation) is received, the all-phase excitation control unit 1402 turns on all the pulse signals to each phase of the stepping motor 401 (1501 to 1504). ).

  Next, the operation of the reel 110 when the excitation release command is received and all the pulse signals to each phase of the stepping motor 401 are turned on will be described with reference to FIG.

  The braking distance from when all the pulse signals to each phase are turned on (after all phases are excited) to when the reel 110 actually stops is the holding torque (static torque) and inertia (moment of inertia) of the stepping motor 401. ). In the case of the stepping motor 401 of the slot machine 100 according to the present embodiment, it stops at 9 pulses.

  FIG. 16 shows the braking distance when the number of pulses of the stepping motor 401 is plotted on the horizontal axis, the pattern of the reel 110 corresponding to the number of pulses is superimposed, and furthermore, all-phase excitation is performed. As shown in the figure, since the reel 110 rotates 19 pulses while one pattern passes, assuming that the N-th pattern passes through the middle position and all phases are excited simultaneously, the reel 110 rotates at nine pulses (that is, N The reel 110 stops when the clock pattern comes to the middle position.

  Thus, in the case of all-phase excitation, the braking distance until the reel actually stops after the reel motor stop control unit 1401 performs the reel stop control (after turning on the pulse signal of each phase) is the excitation release. It is smaller than the case.

  Next, based on the operation characteristics shown in FIG. 16, a reel stop position control method (known control method) will be briefly described with reference to FIG. FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an operation from when the player presses the stop button 137 to start the stop control and to actually stop the reel when performing the sliding piece control and the pull-in control. As described above, it is specified that the time from when the player presses the stop button 137 until stop control is performed should be within 190 msec at the maximum. On the other hand, the braking distance from the stop control as described above to the actual stop of the reel is 9 pulses. Therefore, in the case of FIG. 17, the shortest stop position is in the middle of the 20th symbol, and the longest stop position is in the middle of the 15th symbol. Here, since there is no stop in the middle of the pattern during the game, the pattern to be drawn is practically from the 19th pattern to the 16th pattern (that is, the number of patterns to be drawn is 4 However, the content of the target picture is different from the case of excitation release).

  Next, the pull-in target when all-phase excitation and excitation release coexist will be described with reference to FIG. As described above, the number of drawn pattern objects is 4 for both full-phase excitation and unreleased excitation, but the contents of the patterns to be drawn are different due to the difference in braking distance (see 1801 and 1802). . That is, as shown in FIG. 18, in the case of all-phase excitation, the 19th pattern to the 16th pattern is a target of drawing, but in the case of the excitation release, the 17th pattern to the 14th pattern is a target of drawing. .

  As a result, when all-phase excitation and excitation release are used in combination, it is possible to target 19th to 14th patterns (see 1803). In other words, the number of pictures to be drawn in apparently increases to 6.

  Also, in the case of all-phase excitation, the reel rotates at a constant speed until all-phase excitation is performed, and the reel stops during 9 pulses after all-phase excitation, so the speed gradient during deceleration is steep. In the case of opening, it is the same that the reel rotates at a constant speed until the excitation is released. However, since the reel stops after 39 ± 2 pulses after the excitation is released, the speed gradient at the time of deceleration is gentle. Therefore, in the case of including the reel stop method by all-phase excitation and the reel stop method by excitation release, the stop mode is such that the stop is performed with a steep deceleration speed gradient in some cases, and the stop is performed with a gentle deceleration speed gradient in some cases. Because of the diversification, there is an effect that the playability is increased for the player.

<Details of reel stop processing>
Next, details of the reel stop process in the slot machine according to the present embodiment in which all-phase excitation and excitation release coexist will be described.

  Details of the reel stop processing in steps S1002 to S1004 in FIG. 10 will be described with reference to FIG. When the process is started, first, in step S1901, the reel control status address is stored. Next, in step S1902, stop data address setting processing is performed, and the address of the stop position is set.

  In step S1903, the number of patterns to be drawn is acquired from the stop position information of the reel stop processing pattern. In step S1904, it is determined whether or not the acquired number of drawn pictures is larger than 3. If the number of drawn pictures is larger than three, the process proceeds to step S1905, and the fixed number of pull-in after the excitation is released (braking distance) from the number of drawn pictures. The number of pull-in up to the position where the number of pull-in (min) is subtracted is acquired. The reason why the processing is switched based on the criterion “number of drawn images = 3” is that the drawing target images are different between all-phase excitation and excitation release. For example, in the case where the stop button 137 is pressed at the moment when the 20th symbol comes to the middle position of the reel display window and advances two pulses as shown in FIG. It can be stopped with a watch pattern. On the other hand, the excitation release can be stopped only at the 17th pattern at the shortest. That is, in the case of excitation release, it cannot be stopped with a pattern having a drawing pattern number of 3 or less. Thus, when all-phase excitation and excitation release coexist and are used by switching, it is necessary to set the determination criterion based on the braking distance of each stopping method.

  Returning to FIG. In step S1906, a pattern drawing process is performed, and in step S1907, reel stop control by excitation release is performed.

  On the other hand, if the number of drawn pictures is 3 or less in step S1404, the reel cannot be stopped at a desired picture by excitation release with a long braking distance. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S1909 to perform a picture drawing process, and step S1910. To start reel stop control by all-phase excitation.

  As is clear from the above description, according to the present embodiment, the braking distance by all-phase excitation and the braking distance by excitation release are stored in the ROM 1401, the braking distance is read, and the reel stopping method is switched. By using the configuration, the reel stop mode is not uniform (the case of a steep deceleration gradient and the case of a gentle deceleration gradient are mixed), and the player's fun is improved.

  Also, by providing two types of stopping methods with different braking distances, it is possible to increase the number of pictures to be pulled in after the stop button is pressed until the reels actually stop. As a result, the slot machine Even if a beginner who is unfamiliar with the operation has been elected internally, he / she can be relieved even if the stop button cannot be pressed within the range of the number of pictures to be drawn in conventionally. It becomes like this.

[Third embodiment]
In the second embodiment, all-phase excitation and excitation release are provided, and the beginner is relieved by switching and using the number of patterns up to the stop position (number of drawn patterns). Application is not limited to this.

  For example, if the stop method by always releasing the excitation is adopted when the internal winning is made, when the player presses the stop button, the reel is stopped with a gentle speed gradient, and the internal winning is made. Can know. In other words, it is possible to improve the amusement by using it to clearly indicate the internal winning.

  In addition, by adopting a configuration in which all-phase excitation and excitation release are switched irregularly, entertainment is increased as one of the unprecedented effects.

1 is an external view of a slot machine 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a reel rotating device of the slot machine 100. FIG. It is a figure which shows a mode that the reel belt | band | zone was expand | deployed planarly. 3 is a perspective view of a reel unit of a reel rotating device of the slot machine 100. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main control unit of the slot machine 100. FIG. FIG. 4 shows an example of the types of winning combinations and the number of payouts in the slot machine 100. FIG. 4 shows an example of a winning probability of each winning combination of the slot machine 100. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of stop control of the left reel 110 of the slot machine 100. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a game execution process of the slot machine 100. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of a reel stop process (step S908). FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a signal of each phase when the reel 110 is rotating at a constant speed by the reel motor drive control unit 531 and a signal of each phase when the reel motor stop control unit 531 is excited and released. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the reel 110 when all the pulse signals to each phase of the stepping motor 401 become OFF. It is a figure which shows operation | movement from a player pressing stop button 137 until stop control is started, and a reel actually stopping. It is a figure which shows the structure of the main control part of the slot machine concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a signal of each phase when the reel 110 is rotating at a constant speed by the reel motor drive control unit 1402 and a signal of each phase when the reel motor stop control unit 1402 is excited and released. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the reel 110 when the pulse signals to each phase of the stepping motor 401 are all turned on. It is a figure for demonstrating the control method (control method in the case of the conventional all-phase excitation) of a reel stop position. It is a figure which shows the pattern used as the drawing object in the case of providing the reel stop method by all-phase excitation and excitation release. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of each reel stop process.

Claims (3)

Multiple types of patterns are applied to a plurality of rotatable reels, the rotation of each reel is stopped based on a stop command from a stop button, and the medium corresponding to the winning combination is discharged based on the pattern at the stop position. A game machine that
First rotation stopping means for stopping rotation by exciting all phases of a stepping motor for rotating the reel;
Second rotation stopping means for stopping rotation by exciting and releasing the stepping motor;
First information on the braking distance of the reel when the rotation of the reel is stopped by the first rotation stopping means, and braking of the reel when the rotation of the reel is stopped by the second rotation stopping means Holding means for holding second information about the distance;
A determination means for determining whether or not the internal winning of the predetermined winning combination is successful by lottery;
Storage means for storing stop position information that is set according to a lottery result by the determination means and determines a stop position of the pattern that moves by rotation of the reel;
The number of drawn images calculated in accordance with the difference between the stop position defined in the stop position information and the rotation position of the reel when the stop button is pressed is the number of drawn images after the stop button is pressed. It is determined whether or not the number of images that can be drawn is calculated based on a specified time that is allowed as a time until stop control for stopping rotation of the image and the first information is exceeded. Judgment means,
When it is determined that the number of drawn patterns exceeds the number of drawable patterns, the second rotation stop means is switched to stop rotation of the reel, and the number of drawn patterns is A gaming table comprising switching means for switching to the first rotation stopping means and stopping the rotation of the reel when it is determined that the number is less than the number of patterns that can be drawn . The switching means is
When it is determined that the number of the drawing-in patterns is equal to or less than the number of the drawing-in patterns, and when it is determined by the determination means that there is an internal winning of the winning combination, the second 2. The game table according to claim 1 , wherein the game table is switched to a rotation stop means to stop the rotation of the reel . The switching means is
When it is determined that the number of the drawing patterns is equal to or less than the number of the pullable patterns, the first rotation stopping means and the second rotation stopping means are switched irregularly, The game table according to claim 1 , wherein rotation is stopped .

Images