JP5756986B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a slot machine, and more particularly to control of a device such as a light emitting element for performing an effect.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a gaming machine (rotational gaming machine, slot machine) having a plurality of reels having symbols arranged on an outer peripheral surface is known. This type of gaming machine gives a certain game value to a game medium (medal) and performs a game for acquiring such a game medium. Also, this type of gaming machine performs an internal lottery triggered by the player's rotation start operation and starts rotation of a plurality of reels in a mode according to the result of the internal lottery as a player's stop operation trigger. Control is performed to stop a plurality of reels. The game result is determined by the symbol combination displayed on the winning determination line in a state where the plurality of reels are stopped, and medals are paid out according to the game result.

  In the gaming machine, various effects are made to improve the interest of the game. For example, a decorative member, a monitor, a speaker, and an LED lamp are attached, and an effect by appearance, an effect by video, an effect by sound, an effect by light, and the like are performed. Furthermore, a movable body for production has been attached, and production by the movement has been made. The movable body is a movable decorative member, and is intended to improve the interest of the game by moving according to the game situation.

The sub board CPU reads out the effect data stored in the ROM based on the information sent from the main board side, and displays the read effect data as a display control board and a sound effect control board. And output to the effect light control board. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-102658 describes that a common module is used to control generation or transmission of control data indicating output sound and control data indicating a light emitter display state to prevent an increase in program capacity.

  Patent Document 2 points out that the capacity of a control command transmission control program increases in a gaming machine. In order to solve this problem, a predetermined subroutine is started based on an output signal of a port that transmits a control command.

However, the method of Patent Document 2 has the following problems.
(1) Although it is described that an increase in the capacity of the program can be prevented, it is not known whether the capacity of the entire program can be reduced. It is doubtful whether the content described in Patent Document 2 can be reduced.
(2) Since it depends on the output signal of the port, it is not versatile and cannot be applied to any gaming machine. For example, it cannot be applied to a gaming machine that performs control using a sequence table.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and has an object to provide a gaming machine that is highly versatile and capable of reducing the capacity of the entire program.

The present invention includes a device substrate for controlling a device related to an effect, and a control substrate for controlling the device substrate, and each of the first sequence and the second sequence includes a plurality of instructions for controlling the device substrate. In a gaming machine that executes a sequence,
In the plurality of instructions included in the first sequence and the plurality of instructions included in the second sequence, one or a plurality of instructions common to both (hereinafter referred to as “common instructions”) and one or a plurality different from each other And the following instructions (hereinafter referred to as “specific instructions”)
A common sequence table for storing the common instruction in advance;
A first sequence table that stores in advance the unique instruction of the first sequence and an instruction for executing the common instruction (hereinafter referred to as a “common sequence call instruction”);
A second sequence table for storing in advance the unique instruction and the common sequence call instruction of the second sequence;
A sequence controller that controls the device substrate with reference to the common sequence table, the first sequence table, and the second sequence table;
The sequence controller is
A first step of selecting either the first sequence table or the second sequence table and reading an instruction contained therein;
When the read instruction is not the common sequence call instruction, a second step of executing the instruction to control the device substrate;
When the read instruction is the common sequence call instruction, a third step of saving information related to execution of the plurality of instructions related to the sequence table being executed;
A step of reading and executing an instruction included in the common sequence table based on the read common sequence call instruction, and controlling the device substrate;
A fifth step of returning information related to execution of the plurality of instructions related to the saved sequence table when execution of the instructions of the common sequence table is completed;
And a sixth step of controlling the device substrate by executing the restored instruction.

The sequence control unit reads out an instruction based on a control pointer variable indicating a place to be referred to when executing the control instruction and a control queue storing information on the instruction to be executed, and performs a predetermined next time control. It is determined whether or not it is necessary to restore the saved data with reference to the next control counter which is a counter indicating whether or not there is an instruction temporarily saved in the area or information indicating it.
The next-time control counter is set to a predetermined initial value at the start of control by either the first sequence table or the second sequence table,
In the third step, the execution of the plurality of instructions is saved in the next control area, and the next control counter is changed,
In the fifth step, the value of the next control counter is examined, and when the value is not the initial value, the contents of the next control area may be set in the control pointer variable and the control queue.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the capacity of a program in a gaming machine that performs control using a sequence table by collecting instructions common to a plurality of sequences into a common sequence.

It is a front view of the slot machine which shows the state which closed the front door. It is a front view of the slot machine which shows the state which opened the front door 180 degree | times. It is a block diagram of a slot machine. It is a flowchart of the gaming process of the slot machine. It is a block diagram of a sub board (control board) concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is explanatory drawing of the sequence (instruction group) which should be performed. It is explanatory drawing of the sequence (command group) which the sub board | substrate concerning embodiment of invention has memorize | stored. It is explanatory drawing of the common sequence (command group) which the sub board | substrate concerning embodiment of invention has memorize | stored. It is a command read control flowchart in the sub-board according to the embodiment of the invention. 3 is a conceptual flowchart of instruction read control according to an embodiment of the invention.

  FIG. 1 is a front view of the slot machine with the front door closed, and FIG. 2 is a front view of the slot machine with the front door opened 180 degrees.

  1 and 2, reference numeral 100 denotes a slot machine. As shown in FIG. 1, the slot machine 100 can be opened and closed by a hinge or the like on the slot machine main body 120 and one side of the front surface of the slot machine main body 120. And a front door 130 attached thereto. As shown in FIG. 1, a game display unit 131 is provided substantially in the center of the front door 130, and a medal insertion slot 132 for a player to insert medals is provided at the lower right corner of the game display unit 131. Provided below the medal insertion slot 132 is a reject button 133 for forcibly discharging a clogged medal inserted from the medal insertion slot 132 to the outside of the slot machine 100.

  In addition, a start switch 134 for starting a game is provided at the lower left of the game display unit 131, and three stop switches 140 are provided corresponding to the three reels. A medal payout port 135 is provided at the center of the lower end of the front door. A liquid crystal display device LCD is provided above the game display unit 131.

  A movable body 50 is provided at the position of the liquid crystal display device LCD. The movable body 50 includes two shutters (movable body elements) 51L and 51R. The two shutters 51L and 51R move to the left and right according to the effect, and hide the liquid crystal display device LCD. In the figure, the two shutters 51L and 51R are fully opened to the left and right, and the liquid crystal display device LCD is exposed (the player can see the screen).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the slot machine main body 120 is fixed to the inner bottom surface, stores a plurality of medals therein, and stores the stored medals at a payout port 135 provided on the front surface of the front door 130. A hopper device 121 for paying out the sheets one by one is installed. An upper portion of the hopper device 121 is provided with a hopper tank 122 that opens upward and stores a plurality of medals therein. Inside the slot machine main body 120, a reel unit 203 including three reels is installed at a position where the game display unit 131 comes when the front door 130 is closed. The reel unit 203 includes three reels (first reel to third reel) in which a plurality of types of symbols are arranged on the outer peripheral surface. The game display unit 131 is provided with an opening through which a player can see the symbols of each rotating reel of the reel unit 203. A power supply unit 205 is provided between the upper hopper unit 121 and the reel unit 203.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the medal (coin) selector 1 is attached to the back side of the front door 130 on the back side of the medal slot 132 provided on the front surface of the front door 130. This medal selector 1 rolls the medal toward the hopper device 121 while detecting the passage of the medal inserted from the medal insertion slot 132, and has a different diameter medal or iron or iron whose outer diameter is different from the predetermined dimension. This is an apparatus for selecting and removing illegal medals made of an alloy and selecting and eliminating a predetermined number or more of medals that can be inserted per game.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a lead-out path 136 that covers the lower side and communicates with the payout port 135 of the front door 130 is provided below the medal selector 1. The medals distributed by the medal selector 1 are returned to the player from the payout port 135 via the derivation path 136.

FIG. 3 shows a functional block diagram of the slot machine 100 according to the embodiment of the invention.
In this figure, the display about the power supply system is omitted. The slot machine 100 includes a main substrate (processing unit) 10 and a sub substrate 20 that operates in response to a command from the main substrate (processing unit) 10 as main processing devices. At least the main substrate 10 is accommodated inside the case so that it cannot be contacted from the outside, and is sealed so that traces remain when these substrates are removed.

  The main board 10 is for performing an internal lottery in response to a player's operation, and processing such as reel rotation / stop and medal payout. The main board 10 includes a CPU that performs a control operation according to a preset program, a ROM that is a storage unit that stores the program, and a RAM that temporarily stores processing results and the like.

  The sub board 20 is for receiving a command signal from the main board 10 and notifying the result of the internal lottery and performing various effects. The sub-board 20 includes a CPU that performs a control operation in accordance with a preset program corresponding to the command signal, a ROM that is a storage unit that stores the program, and a RAM that temporarily stores processing results and the like. Only one command flows from the main board 10 to the sub board 20, and conversely, no command is issued from the sub board 20 to the main board 10.

  The main board 10 counts the start switch 134, the stop button 140, the reel unit (including the reel driving device) 203, the reel position detection circuit 71, the hopper driving unit 80, the hopper 81, and the number of medals paid out from the hopper 81. For this purpose, a medal detection unit 82 (which constitutes the hopper device 121 described above) is connected.

  The hopper driving unit 80 rotates the hopper 81 and performs an operation of paying out medals of the payout number instructed by the main board 10. The gaming machine includes a medal detection unit 82 that operates every time a medal is paid out, and the main board 10 receives a medal actually paid out from the hopper 81 based on an input signal from the medal detection unit 82. You can manage the number.

  Further, medal sensors S1 and S2 of the medal selector 1 are connected to the main board 10.

  The medal selector 1 is provided with medal sensors S1 and S2 for counting medals. The medal sensors S1 and S2 are provided on the downstream side (near the exit) of a medal passage (not shown) provided in the medal selector 1 (the upstream side of the medal passage communicates with the medal slot 132). The two medal sensors S1 and S2 are arranged side by side at a predetermined interval along the medal traveling direction. The medal sensors S1 and S2 are, for example, photointerrupters that have a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion that face each other, are formed in a U-shaped cross section, and are positioned so that the detection optical axis faces the medal passage from above. . Each photo interrupter detects the passage of a medal sent without being blocked on the way. The reason why two photo interrupters are adjacent is not only to detect the number of medals but also to monitor whether or not the passage of medals is normal. That is, by providing two photo interrupters adjacent to each other, it is possible to detect the passing speed and passing direction of medals, thereby detecting not only the number of medals but also an illegal act moving in the reverse direction.

A peripheral substrate (local substrate) such as a liquid crystal control substrate 200 for controlling the liquid crystal display device, a speaker substrate 201, and an LED substrate 202 is connected to the sub substrate 20. Furthermore, the movable body control part 60 which controls the movable body 50 is connected.
The liquid crystal control substrate 200, the speaker substrate 201, the LED substrate 202, and the movable body control unit 60 are device substrates that control the liquid crystal display device LCD, a speaker (not shown), LED illumination (not shown), and the movable body 50. The sub-board 20 is a control board that controls these device boards.

  The main board 10 receives the outputs of the medal sensors S1 and S2 of the medal selector 1, accepts the insertion of medals for each game, and based on the fact that medals corresponding to the prescribed number of insertions are inserted, A process of permitting the rotation start operation of the first reel to the third reel is performed (input acceptance function). Note that the pressing operation of the start switch 134 is an opportunity to start rotation of the first reel to the third reel and an opportunity to execute the internal lottery. Also, a prescribed number of throws is set according to the gaming state, the prescribed number of throws is set to 3 in the normal state and the bonus established state, and the prescribed number of throws is set to 1 in the bonus state.

  When medals are inserted, the inserted medals are set to the inserted state up to a specified number of insertions according to the gaming state. Alternatively, when the bet switch BET is pressed in a state where medals have been credited to the gaming machine, the credited medals are set to the inserted state by limiting the prescribed number of insertions according to the gaming state. The main board 10 controls whether or not to accept a medal. When it is not in a state of accepting insertion of medals (when not permitted), even if medals are inserted, they are not counted by the medal sensors S1 and S2 and are returned as they are. Similarly, the main board 10 controls the validity / invalidity of the bet switch BET. When the bet switch BET is not valid (when not permitted), even if the bet switch BET is pressed, it is ignored.

  The main board 10 incorporates random number generating means (not shown). The random number generating means is means for generating a random number value for lottery. The random value can be generated based on, for example, a count value of an increment counter (a counter that counts a numerical value so as to circulate a predetermined count range). In this embodiment, the “random number value” is not only a value that is randomly generated in a mathematical sense, but even if the generation itself is regular, the acquisition timing and the like are irregular. Includes a value that can function as a random number.

  The main board 10 performs an internal lottery (internal lottery function) in which the player determines whether or not the winning combination is based on a start signal from the start switch 134. That is, lottery table selection processing, random number determination processing, lottery flag setting processing, and the like are performed.

  In the lottery table selection process, a lottery table (not shown) stored in a storage unit (ROM) (not shown) is used to determine which lottery table is used for internal lottery. In the lottery table, for each of a plurality of random values (for example, 65536 random values from 0 to 65535), replay, small role (bell, cherry), regular bonus (RB: bonus), and big bonus (BB :), etc., are associated with each other. In addition, a normal state, a bonus establishment state, and a bonus state can be set as the gaming state, and a replay lottery state, a replay low probability state, and a replay high probability state can be set as replay lottery states.

  In the random number determination process, a random value (lottery random number) is acquired from the random number generation means (not shown) for each game based on a start signal from the start switch 134, and the lottery table is referred to for the acquired random value. Then, it is determined whether or not the winning combination is won.

  In the lottery flag setting process, the lottery flag of the winning combination determined to be won based on the result of the random number determination process is changed from the non-winning state (first flag state, off state) to the winning state (second flag state, on Status). When two or more types of winning combinations are won, a lottery flag corresponding to each of the two or more types of winning winning combinations is set to the winning state. The lottery flag setting information is stored in storage means (RAM).

  A lottery flag (possible carryover flag) that can carry over the winning state for the next game until winning, and a lottery flag that is reset to the non-winning state without bringing the winning state to the next game regardless of winning Carry-over impossible flag) may be provided. In this case, there are a regular bonus (RB) and a big bonus (BB) as a combination to which the former carry-over possible flag is associated, and other combinations (for example, small role, replay) correspond to the latter carry-over impossible flag. It is attached. In other words, in the lottery flag setting process, if a regular bonus is won by internal lottery, the winning state of the regular bonus lottery flag is carried over until the regular bonus is won, and if the big bonus is won by internal lottery, the big bonus lottery A process of carrying over the winning state of the flag until the big bonus is won is performed. At this time, the main board 10 determines whether or not a role other than the regular bonus and the big bonus (small role and replay) is used even in a game in which the winning state of the regular bonus or big bonus lottery flag is carried over by the internal lottery function. An internal lottery is performed. In other words, in the lottery flag setting process, in a game in which the winning state of the regular bonus lottery flag is carried over, if a small role or replay is won in the internal lottery, the regular bonus lottery flag and the internal lottery already won In a game in which the lottery flags corresponding to two or more types of winning combinations or replay lottery flags won in the win state are set to the winning state and the winning state of the big bonus lottery flag is carried over, it is small in the internal lottery When a winning combination or replay is won, a lottery flag corresponding to two or more kinds of winning combinations including a big bonus lottery flag that has already been won and a small bonus or replay lottery flag that has been won in an internal lottery is set to a winning state. Set.

  The main board 10 may perform control for changing the winning probability of replay in the internal lottery under a predetermined condition (replay probability changing function). The replay lottery states include a replay no lottery state in which replay is excluded from the internal lottery, a replay low probability state in which the replay winning probability is set to about 1 / 7.3, and a replay winning probability of about 1 / A plurality of lottery states such as a high replay probability state set to 6 can be set. By changing the replay lottery state, the winning probability of the replay in the internal lottery is changed.

  The main board 10 rotates the first reel to the third reel by the stepping motor based on the start signal generated by the player pressing the start switch 134 (rotation start operation) to rotate the first reel to the third reel. In a state where the speed has reached a predetermined speed (about 80 rpm: a rotational speed of about 80 revolutions per minute), control is performed to permit the pressing operation (stopping operation) of the three stop buttons 140 respectively corresponding to the spinning reels. At the same time, control is performed to stop the first reel to the third reel, which are rotationally driven by the stepping motor, in accordance with the lottery flag setting state (internal lottery result) (reel control function).

  When the player presses the three stop buttons 140 in a state where the pressing operation (stop operation) for the three stop buttons 140 is permitted (validated), the main board 10 is based on the reel stop signal. By stopping the supply of drive pulses (motor drive signals) to the stepping motor of the reel unit 203, control is performed to stop each of the first to third reels.

  That is, each time the three stop buttons 140 are pressed, the main board 10 determines the reel stop position corresponding to the pressed button from the first reel to the third reel. Control is performed to stop the reel at the stop position. Specifically, referring to a stop control table (not shown) stored in the storage means (ROM), the first reel according to the pressing timing, pressing order, etc. (stop operation mode) of the three stop buttons. The stop position of the third reel is determined, and the first reel to the third reel are stopped at the determined stop position.

  Here, in the stop control table, the position of the first reel to the third reel (press detection position) at the time when the stop button 140 is operated and the actual stop position (or the slip from the press detection position) of the first reel to the third reel. (Number of frames) is set. Depending on the setting state of the lottery flag, a stop control table for determining the stop positions of the first reel to the third reel may be prepared.

  In the gaming machine, the reel unit 203 includes an index sensor (not shown) including a photo sensor, and the main board 10 is configured to be a reel based on a reference position signal detected by the index sensor every time the reel rotates once. By determining the rotation angle (number of rotation steps of the rotation shaft of the step motor) from the reference position (frame detected by the index sensor), the current rotation state of the reel can be monitored. That is, the main board 10 can obtain the position of the reel when the stop switch 140 is operated by obtaining the rotation angle from the reference position of the reel.

  The main board 10 performs so-called pull-in processing and kick-out processing as control for stopping the reels. The pull-in process is a control process for stopping the reel so that the symbol corresponding to the combination whose lottery flag is set to the winning state is stopped on the winning determination line (so that the winning combination can be won). It is. On the other hand, the kicking process means that the reel corresponding to the combination for which the lottery flag is set to the non-winning state does not stop on the valid winning determination line (so that the non-winning combination cannot be won) This is a control process to be stopped. That is, in the gaming machine of the present embodiment, the lottery flag setting state, the stop button 140 pressing timing, the pressing order, and the stop position of the reels that have already stopped (types of display symbols) in order to realize the pull-in processing and kicking processing. ) Etc., the stop control table is set so that the stop position of each reel changes. In this way, the main board 10 can stop the symbol of the combination for which the lottery flag is set to the winning state in a winning form, while the symbol of the combination for which the lottery flag is set to the non-winning state is in the winning form. Control is performed to stop the first reel to the third reel so as not to stop.

  In the gaming machine of the present embodiment, the first to third reels are set to a control state in which the rotating reel corresponding to the pressed stop button is stopped within 190 ms from the time when the stop button 140 is pressed. ing. That is, in the stop control table for determining the stop position of each rotating reel, the number of frames required from when the stop button 140 is pressed until each reel stops is in the range of 0 to 4 frames (predetermined pull-in range). Is set in

  The main board 10 performs a process of determining whether or not a winning combination has been won based on the stop mode of the first to third reels. Specifically, referring to the winning determination table stored in the storage means (ROM), the symbol combination displayed on the winning determination line when all of the first reel to the third reel are stopped, It is determined whether or not the winning combination is a predetermined combination (winning determination function).

  The main board 10 performs a winning process based on the determination result by the winning determination function. As a process at the time of winning a prize, for example, when a small role wins, the hopper 81 is driven to perform a medal payout control process, or a credit is increased (a predetermined maximum number is increased to 50, for example, When the replay is won, a replay process is performed. When a big bonus or a regular bonus is won, a game state transition control process for shifting the game state is performed.

  The main board 10 performs a payout control process related to the payout of medals according to the game result (payout control function). Specifically, when a small combination wins, the number of medals to be paid out in the game is determined based on a payout predetermined for each combination, and the medals corresponding to the determined number of payouts are determined by the hopper driving unit 80. Then, the hopper 81 is driven to pay out.

  When medal credits (internal storage) are permitted, instead of actually paying out medals by the hopper 81, the number of credits stored in a credit storage area (not shown) of the storage means (RAM) (not shown) A credit addition process for adding the number of payouts to the number of credited medals is performed to virtually pay out medals.

  When the replay wins, the main board 10 performs a replay process (replay process) for setting the same preparation state as the previous game without requiring insertion of medals owned by the player for the next game (replay). Processing function). When a replay wins, an automatic insertion process is performed in which the same number of medals as the previous game is automatically set to the insertion state without using the player's own medals (including credit medals). The game machine is set in a state of waiting for a rotation start operation (pressing operation of the start switch 134 by the player) in the next game in a state where the same winning determination line as the previous game is validated.

  The main board 10 may perform control to shift the gaming state between the normal state, the bonus establishment state, and the bonus state (gaming state transition control function). As the game condition transition condition, one condition may be defined, or a plurality of conditions may be defined. When a plurality of conditions are established, transitioning the gaming state to another gaming state based on the fact that one of the plurality of conditions is satisfied or all of the plurality of conditions are satisfied Can do.

  The normal state is a game state corresponding to the initial state among a plurality of types of game states, and a transition from the normal state to the bonus establishment state is possible. The bonus establishment state is a gaming state that shifts when a big bonus or a regular bonus is won in the internal lottery. In the bonus establishment state, when the big bonus is won in the internal lottery in the normal state, the lottery flag corresponding to the big bonus is maintained in the winning state until the big bonus is won, and the regular bonus is won in the internal lottery in the normal state Until the regular bonus is won, the lottery flag corresponding to the regular bonus is maintained in the winning state. In the bonus state, it is determined whether or not the end condition is satisfied based on the total number of medals paid out by the bonus game, and medals exceeding a predetermined payout limit number are paid out according to the type of bonus won. The bonus state is terminated and the gaming state is returned to the normal state.

Next, game processing in the gaming machine will be described with reference to FIG.
Generally, in a gaming machine, one game is started from the insertion of medals (insertion of credits) until the end of payout (or until the increase in the number of credits is completed). There is a rule that it is not possible to proceed to the next game until one game is finished.

  First, when a prescribed number of medals are inserted, the start switch 134 is activated, and the processing of FIG. 4 is started.

  In step S1, the start switch 134 is turned on by operating the start switch 134. Then, the process proceeds to the next step S2.

  In step S2, a lottery process is performed by the main board 10. Then, the process proceeds to the next step S3.

  In step S3, the rotation of the first reel to the third reel starts. Then, the process proceeds to the next step S4.

  In step S4, when the stop button 140 is operated, the stop button 140 is turned ON. Then, the process proceeds to the next step S5.

  In step S5, rotation stop processing is performed on the reel corresponding to the pressed stop button 140 among the first to third reels. Then, the process proceeds to the next step S6.

  In step S6, it is determined whether or not the operation of the stop button 140 corresponding to the three reels has been performed. If it is determined that all three stop buttons 140 corresponding to the three reels have been operated, the process proceeds to the next step S7.

  In step S7, it is determined whether or not the winning symbols corresponding to the lottery flag are aligned on the effective winning line while the lottery flag is established, that is, whether or not the winning is confirmed. If it is determined that the winning is confirmed, the process proceeds to the next step S8. If the winning is not confirmed, no medals are paid out even if the lottery flag is established.

  In step S8, medals corresponding to winning symbols are paid out.

  The process from the insertion of the medal to the completion of the execution of step S8 is one game. When the standby process in step S8 ends, the process returns to the beginning of the flowchart. In other words, the next game is possible (transition to the next game).

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a control board (control unit) according to the embodiment of the invention. This control board controls the liquid crystal control board 200, the speaker board 201, the LED board 202, and the movable body control unit 60, and corresponds to the sub board 20 in an actual machine. Specifically, the CPU of the sub board 20 executes a predetermined program stored in advance in the ROM, thereby realizing the apparatus of FIG. Details of the processing by the program will be described later.

  Although not shown, there are “arch”, “pat lamp”, “back lamp illumination” and the like as other effects devices. The arch is lighting (LED) provided in the upper part of the front of the gaming machine in an arch shape, and the patrol lamp is a flashlight provided in the gaming machine (red lighting with an ambulance attached to the upper part of the roof). The lamp illumination illuminates three reels in the reel unit 203 from the inside. These are known devices and will not be described in detail. Needless to say, the object to be controlled by the apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the arch or the like.

  In FIG. 5, reference numeral 2001 denotes a sequence A for storing a predetermined sequence A (first sequence) instruction (unique instruction) and an instruction for executing a common instruction common to each sequence (common sequence call instruction). It is a table (1st sequence table).

  2002 is a sequence B table (second sequence) for storing a predetermined sequence B (second sequence) command (unique command) and a command for executing a common command common to each sequence (common sequence call command). Sequence table).

  Reference numeral 2003 denotes an AB common sequence table (common sequence table) that stores the common instructions in advance.

  Reference numeral 2004 denotes a sequence control unit that controls the device substrates 60, 200, 201, and 202 with reference to the AB common sequence table 2003, the sequence A table 2001, and the sequence B table 2002.

  The sequence control unit 2004 includes a control queue storage unit that stores a control queue, a control pointer variable storage unit that stores a control pointer variable, a next control area that is a save area, and a next control counter that determines whether or not there is a save. The control queue, control pointer variable, next control area, and next control counter will be described later.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a sequence (instruction group) to be executed. The sequence A 'and the sequence B' shown in the figure are each an instruction group including a plurality of instructions for controlling the device substrate. For example, the instructions are executed in order from the top. The sequence shown in the figure shows a sequence executed according to the procedure described below, and these are not stored in the tables 2001 to 2003. In other words, the sequence shown in the figure is stored in a table in a conventional gaming machine.

  Each of the sequence A ′ in FIG. 6A and the sequence B ′ in FIG. 6B includes seven instructions. Some instructions are exactly the same. In the figure, symbol α indicates the same part, and symbols β and γ indicate different parts. Although the control instruction itself in the different part is the same, the control data is different, so that the control instruction can be regarded as different. The “control end” instruction means that all instructions in the sequence are executed and the sequence should be ended, and is always placed at the end of the sequence. Note that the “control end” command does not perform any operation on the device, and therefore has no control data (NULL means this).

  The code α in FIG. 6 is a plurality of instructions (common instructions) common to the two sequences, the codes β and γ are different from each other, and are unique to the sequences A ′ and B ′, respectively (unique instructions). .

  FIG. 7 shows two sequences including the unique instruction. The instruction groups of sequence A and sequence B shown in the figure are stored in sequence A table 2001 and sequence B table 2002, respectively. The “common sequence call” instruction is a new instruction according to the embodiment of the present invention, and is an instruction for calling and executing a common sequence described later. In the following description, there is one common sequence. However, since a plurality of common sequences can be provided, the common sequence to be called by the control data is designated.

  FIG. 8 shows a common sequence including the common instruction. This common sequence is stored in the AB common sequence table 2003. This is obtained by adding a “control end” instruction to the end of the common instruction α.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the gaming machine according to the embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, some terms will be explained.

  A sequence is a structure having as a member a combination of control instructions and control data. Usually, it has a combination of a plurality of control instructions and control data, which are arranged and managed as a table (Note that some commands such as “End Control” do not have control data. is there). Then, each control command is executed in a predetermined order (for example, in order from the top). In addition, what is included in the sequence is a combination of a plurality of control commands and control data, but in order to simplify the description, the combination will be referred to as “control command” or simply “command” in the following. To do.

  The registration sequence pointer (registration pointer) indicates the position of a specific sequence (table). A pointer generally means a part of an instruction that holds an address of a record to be accessed next.

  The control queue is a place (location) for storing information (pointer) of a sequence to be executed. The sequence specified in the control queue is executed sequentially. A queue is generally a list of items awaiting attention in a computer system, ordered according to certain criteria.

  A control pointer variable is a location (actually, data at a specific address on a storage device) that is referred to when a control instruction is executed. A pointer is stored there.

  The next control area is a place on the storage device that temporarily stores sequence information (information for indicating the sequence, pointer) of the parent sequence from which the common sequence is executed when the common sequence is executed. .

  The next control counter is a counter indicating whether or not there is sequence information temporarily saved in the next control area. The value of the next control counter indicates the number of saved sequence information. If the counter value is 0, there is no saved sequence (control command), and the process can be terminated.

  Next, the operation of the gaming machine according to the embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, the case where the sequence A of FIG. 7A is executed will be described.

The pointer of sequence A is registered in the control queue (S100).
The pointer registered in the control queue is registered in the control pointer variable (S101). The control pointer variable now points to the first instruction Ca1 “call common sequence” of sequence A.

  A control instruction indicated by the control pointer variable is executed (S102). Since the instruction Ca1 is a “common sequence call” instruction, YES is obtained in S103, and the processing of S110 to S112 is executed.

  The sequence information of the control queue (indicating that the control command Ca1 of the sequence A is executed and the next command to be executed is the control command Ca2) is re-saved in the next control area (S110).

  The next time the control counter is incremented by 1 (S111). This records that one sequence has been saved in the control area next time.

  The common sequence pointer is registered in the control pointer variable (S112). Since “AB common sequence” is designated in Ca1 “common sequence call”, a pointer indicating the first instruction C10 “sound” of the AB common sequence is registered in the control pointer variable.

  Returning to S102, the control command indicated by the control pointer variable is executed. Specifically, the instruction C10 “Sound” is executed. Since the instruction C10 is not a “common sequence call” instruction, NO is determined in S103, and since it is not a “control end” instruction, NO is determined in S104.

  Then, the control pointer variable is incremented (S105), and C11 “left side lamp” which is the next instruction of the common sequence is designated.

  Returning to S102, the C11 “left side lamp” command indicated by the control pointer variable is executed. Since the instruction C11 is not a “common sequence call” instruction, NO in S103, and since it is not a “control end” instruction, NO in S104. And S105 is performed and it returns to S102.

  The above processing of S102 to S105 is also performed for the subsequent control commands C12 and C13.

  Since the instruction C14 is “control end”, YES is obtained in S104, and the processes of S120 to S123 are performed.

  First, the value of the next control counter is checked (S120). If this value is 0, there is no saved instruction (unexecuted instruction), and the sequence control is terminated (S130). In the above example, since the sequence A is saved and the value is 1, the processes of S121 to S123 are performed.

  The registration pointer of the next control area is registered in the control pointer variable (S121). In the above example, a pointer indicating that the next instruction to be executed next (control instruction Ca2 of sequence A) is registered.

  The registration pointer of the next control area is saved again in the control queue (S122). In the above example, the pointer of sequence A is registered in the control queue.

  The next control counter is decremented by 1 (S123). Then, the value of the next control counter becomes zero.

  Then, returning to S102, the instructions Ca2 and Ca3 of the sequence A are executed in order (S102 to S105). When the last Ca4 “control end” of the sequence A is executed, YES is obtained in S104. At this time, since the value of the next control counter is 0, NO is obtained in S120, and the process is terminated (S130).

  As can be seen from the above description, according to the gaming machine according to the embodiment of the present invention, “Sound”, “Left side lamp”, “Right side lamp”, “Backlight”, “Liquid crystal” for the sequence A in FIG. The commands are executed in the order of “command (0xAAAAAAAA)” and “arch (arch A set)”. This series of instruction execution is the same as the sequence A ′ shown in FIG.

  Similarly, for the sequence B in FIG. 7B, commands are given in the order of “sound” “left side lamp” “right side lamp” “backlight” “liquid crystal command (0xBBBBBBBB)” “arch (arch B set)”. Is executed. This series of instruction execution is the same as the sequence B ′ according to FIG.

  Here, the amount of data related to the sequence is examined.

The data amounts of the sequences of FIGS. 7 and 8 according to the embodiment of the invention are as follows.
Data amount of AB common sequence = (command (1 byte) + control (4 byte)) x 5 = 25 bytes
Data amount of sequence A = (command (1 byte) + control (4 byte)) × 4 = 20 bytes
Data amount of sequence B = (command (1 byte) + control (4 byte)) × 4 = 20 bytes
The total is 65 bytes.

On the other hand, the data amount of the sequence of FIG. 6 as a comparative example is as follows.
Data amount of sequence A = (command (1 byte) + control (4 byte)) × 7 = 35 bytes
Data amount of sequence B = (command (1 byte) + control (4 byte)) × 7 = 35 bytes
The total is 70 bytes.

  That is, the capacity is reduced by 5 bytes.

  According to the embodiment of the present invention, a sequence that is common in a plurality of sequences is collected, and when executing the plurality of sequences, the common sequence is referred to, thereby eliminating waste of storing instructions redundantly. The capacity of the (table) can be reduced.

  If the same sequence can be executed, the capacity should be small. Therefore, the capacity can be reduced according to the embodiment of the present invention. Moreover, since it can be applied to the execution of instruction groups by a sequence, it can be said to be highly versatile and an excellent method.

  In addition, consider the capacity to be reduced.

  In the above two sequence examples, if the number of common instructions is n, the number of instructions in the tables A and B is reduced by (n−1) compared to the tables A ′ and B ′. Here, (-1) corresponds to the fact that a “common sequence call” command is newly required. The number of instructions in the common sequence (including “end instruction”) is (n + 1) (this corresponds to an increase).

Therefore, the following formulas are established for the tables A and B and the entire common table.
(Number of instructions to be reduced) = 2 × (n−1) − (n + 1)

  For n = 1, 2, 3, 4 (number of instructions to be reduced) = − 2, −1, 0, +1. When n = 3, the total capacity of the tables A and B and the common table is the same as the total capacity of the tables A ′ and B ′. Therefore, when there are two sequences, the capacity can be reduced if the number of common instructions is four or more.

  When the number of sequences is 3 or more, the reduction effect is further increased. In the case of three, for n = 1, 2, 3, 4, (number of instructions to be reduced) = − 2, −0, +2, +4.

If the number of sequences is N, the result is as follows.
(Number of instructions to be reduced) = N × (n−1) − (n + 1)
N and n may be selected such that (N × (n−1) − (n + 1)) is 1 or more. In other words, the embodiment of the present invention may be applied to a gaming machine that satisfies this condition.

FIG. 10 shows the concept of the process of the flowchart of FIG. 9 (reference diagram).
S10 and S11 in FIG. 10 correspond to S100 and S101 in FIG.
S12 in FIG. 10 corresponds to S104 and S120 in FIG.
S13 in FIG. 10 corresponds to S102 in FIG.
S14 in FIG. 10 corresponds to S103 in FIG.
S15 in FIG. 10 corresponds to S121 in FIG.
S16 in FIG. 10 corresponds to S110 and S111 in FIG.
S17 in FIG. 10 corresponds to S112 in FIG.
S19 in FIG. 10 corresponds to S121, S122, and S123 in FIG.

  As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, in device control, liquid crystal commands, sounds, and other device instructions registered corresponding to one opportunity are managed together in one sequence table, and In a gaming machine having a control method for registering and executing sequence data (commands) together, the device sequence table can be shared to reduce the data capacity and improve the work efficiency when creating a program.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and these are also included in the scope of the present invention. Needless to say.

20 Sub-board (control board)
60 Movable body controller (device substrate)
200 Liquid crystal control substrate (device substrate)
201 Speaker substrate (device substrate)
202 LED substrate (device substrate)
2001 Sequence A table (first sequence table)
2002 Sequence B table (second sequence table)
2003 AB common sequence table (common sequence table)
2004 Sequence control unit

Claims (2)

A device substrate for controlling a device related to the production and a control substrate for controlling the device substrate, each of which executes a first sequence and a second sequence comprising a plurality of instructions for controlling the device substrate. In gaming machines,
In the plurality of instructions included in the first sequence and the plurality of instructions included in the second sequence, one or a plurality of instructions common to both (hereinafter referred to as “common instructions”) and one or a plurality different from each other And the following instructions (hereinafter referred to as “specific instructions”)
A common sequence table for storing the common instruction in advance;
A first sequence table that stores in advance the unique instruction of the first sequence and an instruction for executing the common instruction (hereinafter referred to as a “common sequence call instruction”);
A second sequence table for storing in advance the unique instruction and the common sequence call instruction of the second sequence;
A sequence controller that controls the device substrate with reference to the common sequence table, the first sequence table, and the second sequence table;
The sequence controller is
A first step of selecting either the first sequence table or the second sequence table and reading an instruction contained therein;
When the read instruction is not the common sequence call instruction, a second step of executing the instruction to control the device substrate;
When the read instruction is the common sequence call instruction, a third step of saving information related to execution of the plurality of instructions related to the sequence table being executed;
A step of reading and executing an instruction included in the common sequence table based on the read common sequence call instruction, and controlling the device substrate;
A fifth step of returning information related to execution of the plurality of instructions related to the saved sequence table when execution of the instructions of the common sequence table is completed;
And a sixth step of controlling the device substrate by executing the restored instruction. The sequence control unit reads out an instruction based on a control pointer variable indicating a place to be referred to when executing the control instruction and a control queue storing information on the instruction to be executed, and performs a predetermined next time control. It is determined whether or not it is necessary to restore the saved data with reference to the next control counter which is a counter indicating whether or not there is an instruction temporarily saved in the area or information indicating it.
The next-time control counter is set to a predetermined initial value at the start of control by either the first sequence table or the second sequence table,
In the third step, the execution of the plurality of instructions is saved in the next control area, and the next control counter is changed,
2. The value of the next control counter is checked in the fifth step, and when the value is not the initial value, the contents of the next control area are set in the control pointer variable and the control queue. The gaming machine described.

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