JP6078232B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to gaming machines such as slot machines and pachinko machines.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a gaming machine (a spinning machine, slot machine) having a plurality of spinning cylinders 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. In addition, this type of gaming machine has an internal lottery triggered by the player's rotation start operation and starts rotation of a plurality of spinning cylinders, and a mode according to the result of the internal lottery as a player's stop operation trigger. In order to stop multiple cylinders. The game result is determined by the symbol combination displayed on the winning determination line in a state where the plurality of spinning cylinders are stopped, and medals are paid out according to the game result.

  The gaming machine executes a control related to the game including the internal lottery process and generates and transmits a predetermined command, a sub board that receives the command and executes a predetermined process based on the command, And rendering means such as a liquid crystal display device controlled by the sub-board. The main board sends commands to the sub-board when various game operations such as medal insertion, bet button operation, start lever operation, stop button operation, etc., and informs the result of the internal lottery and provides various effects. Also send commands when doing.

JP 2008-212271 A JP 2006-141682 A JP 2008-188347 A JP 2002-325934 A

  As described above, various communications are performed in the gaming machine, but abnormalities may occur in the communications. For example, the communication path may remain busy or no response may be returned. It is important to investigate the cause of such abnormal communication because it causes malfunction of the gaming machine.

  However, unlike permanent component failures, communication abnormalities often occur very rarely due to the effects of noise, etc., and it is not easy to know the exact cause just by receiving a report of the symptoms of the failure after the fact. . In order to investigate the cause, it is necessary for the gaming machine to have a function for detecting a communication abnormality and collecting the information.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine that can acquire and collect information on communication abnormality and can feed back information contributing to product improvement to a development process. And

The gaming machine according to this invention is
A main board that executes control related to games including internal lottery processing;
A sub board that receives a command from the main board and executes a process related to a predetermined effect;
A device for performing the production;
A peripheral board for controlling the device based on a command from the sub-board;
A communication abnormality detection unit that detects at least one of a communication abnormality between the sub board and the peripheral board or a communication abnormality between the main board and the sub board;
An abnormality storage unit for storing the communication abnormality detected by the communication abnormality detection unit;
Output means connected to the abnormality storage unit,
The abnormal storage unit retains the stored contents even when the power is turned off, and the stored contents can be taken out by the output means.

The communication abnormality detection unit detects a communication abnormality between the main board and the sub board,
The command from the main board includes one or more messages.
The main board is
Alternately generating a signal indicating a first period during which transmission of the message is permitted and a signal indicating a second period during which transmission of the message is not permitted;
Transmitting the electronic message to the sub-board in the first period;
The sub-board is
Receiving the message from the main board;
Store the received message in the reception buffer,
Check the number of messages stored in the reception buffer at a predetermined time interval (hereinafter referred to as “reception check interval”),
Read the message when the message is stored in the reception buffer,
Outputting the message read from the reception buffer when the message is not stored in the reception buffer as the command from the main board;
Count the telegrams read from the receive buffer,
When the message is not stored in the reception buffer, the count value of the message is checked, and when the value does not match a predetermined specified value, it is determined that there is a communication error between the main board and the sub board. Is.

The device includes a movable element that moves within a predetermined range, a drive unit that moves the movable element, and a sensor that acquires position information of the movable element, and is a movable body used for the production,
The peripheral substrate is a movable body control unit that controls driving of the driving unit and receives a position information signal from the sensor,
The sub board stops control of the movable body control unit when the abnormality is detected by the communication abnormality detection unit.

  For example, the communication abnormality detection unit could not acquire the position information of the movable element by the sensor within a predetermined time after sending a command to drive the drive unit to the movable body control unit. When it is determined that the communication abnormality is detected.

  According to the present invention, since the communication abnormality detection unit that detects the communication abnormality, the abnormality storage unit that stores information related to the communication abnormality, and the output unit that enables the contents of the abnormality storage unit to be taken out are provided. It is possible to take out the memory contents related to the communication abnormality from the machine, feed back the abnormality record to the product development, and use it for the development of a better product.

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 explanatory drawing of the communication system of the sub board | substrate and slave board | substrate (peripheral board | substrate) which concerns on embodiment of invention. It is an internal block diagram of the sub board | substrate which concerns on embodiment of invention. It is a flowchart of the gaming process of the slot machine. It is a process flowchart of the communication abnormality detection part which concerns on Embodiment 1 of invention. It is explanatory drawing of the memory content of the abnormality memory | storage part which concerns on Embodiment 1 of invention. It is a block diagram of the command transmission system of the gaming machine according to the second embodiment of the invention. It is a flowchart of the transmission process of the command which concerns on Embodiment 2 of invention. It is a flowchart of the reception process of the command which concerns on Embodiment 2 of invention. It is explanatory drawing of the example of a command structure. It is a timing chart (command transmission normal) as explanatory drawing of the command transmission which concerns on Embodiment 2 of invention. It is a timing chart as explanatory drawing of the command transmission which concerns on Embodiment 2 of invention (Example 1 of command transmission abnormality). It is a timing chart as explanatory drawing of the command transmission which concerns on Embodiment 2 of invention (Example 2 of command transmission abnormality). It is a timing chart as explanatory drawing of the command transmission which concerns on Embodiment 2 of invention (Example 3 of command transmission abnormality). It is a front view of the slot machine which concerns on Embodiment 3 of invention. It is a block diagram of the slot machine which concerns on Embodiment 3 of invention. It is the schematic of a movable body. 4A is a top view, FIG. 2B is a front view, FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB, and FIG. 4D is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A. It is explanatory drawing of the open state (the figure (a)) and closed state (the figure (b)) of a movable element (shutter). It is a process flowchart of the communication abnormality detection part which concerns on Embodiment 3 of invention.

Embodiment 1 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.

  Further, 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 spinning cylinders. 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.

  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 (rotating cylinder) unit 203 including three rotating cylinders 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 spinning cylinders (first to third drums) 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 the player can see the symbols of the rotating drums of the reel unit 203. A power supply unit 205 is provided on the left side of the hopper device 121.

  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. Although not shown, the slot machine includes a power supply unit for generating a DC power supply (+5 V or the like) from a commercial power supply (AC 100 V).

  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 performing processing (game 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 is paid out from a bet switch BET, a start switch 134, a stop button 140, a reel unit (including a reel driving device) 203, a reel position detection circuit 71, a hopper driving unit 80, a hopper 81 and a hopper 81. A medal detection unit 82 for counting the number of medals (these constitute the hopper device 121 described above) is connected. 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.

  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.

  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.

  The insertion accepting unit 1050 receives the outputs of the medal sensors S1 and S2 of the medal selector 1, accepts the insertion of medals for each game, and determines that the medal corresponding to the specified number of insertions has been inserted. A process of permitting the rotation start operation of the first reel to the third reel is performed. 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 1100. The random number generation means 1100 is a means for generating a random number for lottery. The random value can be generated based on, for example, a count value of an increment counter (a counter that counts numerical values 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 internal lottery means 1200 performs an internal lottery in which the player determines whether or not the winning combination is based on a start signal from the start switch 134. That is, a lottery table selection process for selecting a lottery table (not shown) stored in a memory (not shown) of the main board 10, a random number determination process for determining the winning of a random number obtained from the random number generation means 1050, The lottery flag setting process for setting a flag to that effect when a big win or the like is won by the determination result is 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, when 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 when a big bonus is won by internal 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 replay processing unit 1600 may perform control to change the winning probability of replay in the internal lottery under a predetermined condition. The replay processing unit 1600 will be described later again. 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 reel control means 1300 rotates the first to third reels by a stepping motor based on a start signal generated by the player pressing the start switch 134 (rotation start operation), and the first to third reels are driven. Control that permits the pressing operation (stop operation) of the three stop buttons 140 respectively corresponding to the rotating reels in a state in which the rotation speed of the motor reaches a predetermined speed (about 80 rpm: a rotation speed of about 80 rotations per minute). And a control to stop the first reel to the third reel, which are rotationally driven by the stepping motor, according to the lottery flag setting state (result of the internal lottery).

  In addition, the reel control means 1300 receives the reel stop signal when the player presses the three stop buttons 140 in a state where the pressing operation (stop operation) with respect to the three stop buttons 140 is permitted (validated). Based on this, 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 reel control means 1300 determines the reel stop position corresponding to the pressed button among the first to third reels. The reel is stopped 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 a reel index (not shown) made of a photosensor, and the reel control means 1300 is based on a reference position signal detected by the reel index every time the reel rotates once. By determining the rotation angle (the number of rotation steps of the rotation axis of the step motor) from the reel reference position (the frame detected by the reel index), 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 reel control means 1300 performs so-called pull-in processing and kick-out processing as control for stopping the reel. 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 winning determination means 1400 performs a process of determining whether or not a winning combination has been won based on the stop mode of the first reel to the third reel. 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 it is a predetermined winning combination.

  The winning determination means 1400 executes a winning process based on the determination result. 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 payout control means 1500 performs payout control processing relating to the payout of medals according to the game result. 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. At this time, a current flows through a motor (not shown) built in the hopper 81.

  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 is won, the replay processing means 1600 performs a replay process (regame process) for setting the same preparatory state as the previous game without requiring insertion of medals owned by the player for the next game. 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.

  Further, 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.

  The reel unit 203 includes three reels (not shown), and one stepping motor is attached to each of the three reels. A stepping motor includes a gear-shaped iron core or permanent magnet as a rotor (rotor), a plurality of windings (coils) as a stator (stator), and is rotated by switching windings through which current flows. is there. That is, a current is passed through the windings of the stator to generate a magnetic force, and the rotor is rotated by attracting the rotor. Since the rotation axis can be stopped at a specified angle, it is used to drive the rotation of the reel of the slot machine. A plurality of windings constitute one phase. As the number of phases, for example, there are two (two phases), four (four phases), and five (five phases).

  The stepping motor can change its characteristics (excitation mode changes) by changing the way of applying current to the windings of each phase. The two-phase type is as follows.

• Single-phase excitation Always allow current to flow through only one phase of the winding. Positioning accuracy is good.

・ Two-phase excitation
Current flows in two phases. An output torque approximately twice that of single-phase excitation can be obtained. The positioning accuracy is good and the stationary torque is large when stopped, so that the stop position can be held reliably.

・ One-two-phase excitation
A current is passed by alternately switching between one phase and two phases. Since the step angle can be halved in the case of one-phase excitation and two-phase excitation, smooth rotation can be obtained.

  Note that “driving” a stepping motor includes rotating the motor by the above-described excitation and exciting each phase in order to stop at a desired position and hold the position.

  In the slot machine, for example, a four-phase stepping motor having a basic step angle of 1.43 degrees is used, and one-two-phase excitation is adopted as a pulse output method.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the connection between the sub-board 20 and its peripheral board. As shown in FIG. 3, a liquid crystal control board 200, a speaker board 201, and an LED board 202 are connected to the sub board 20. These should be referred to as peripheral substrates of the sub-substrate 20 (sometimes expressed as “slave substrates”). The peripheral board controls a device that performs a predetermined effect based on a command from the sub-board 20. The device is a liquid crystal display device LCD if the liquid crystal control substrate 200, a speaker (sound generating device) (not shown) if the speaker substrate 201, and a light emission built in the arch or side lamp if the LED substrate 202. It is an element (not shown).

  The plurality of peripheral substrates are connected as shown in FIG. That is, a plurality of slave boards are connected to a common bus (BUS, communication path), and communicate with the sub-board 20 through the bus. The signal flowing through the bus is a signal on two lines, a data line and a clock line, such as a parallel signal (for example, a signal transmitted by an 8-bit line) or a serial signal (for example, I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit)). ). In the example of FIG. 4, the signal output from the sub-board 20 returns to the sub-board 20, but this is an example, and the end opposite to the connection end is opened as in a general bus structure. Also good.

  Data is transmitted from the sub board 20 to the slave board by designating an address. For example, when data is sent to the speaker board 201 as a slave board, an address associated with the speaker board 201 is designated in advance and the data is sent to the bus. When the speaker board 201 recognizes that the data is addressed to itself by the address, the speaker board 201 takes in the data following the address into the latch. A predetermined operation is performed according to the fetched data. If the fetched data is a command for transmitting data acquired or obtainable by the speaker board 201 to the sub-board 20, the data is sent to the sub-board 20 (after receiving the predetermined data, the data stored in advance. Can always be transmitted to the sub-board 20).

  FIG. 4 shows a processing unit CPU and a buffer BUF necessary for processing of the gaming machine. The buffer BUF temporarily stores data to / from the slave board and / or data from the slave board.

  The sub board 20 further includes a communication anomaly detection unit DET that detects an anomaly in communication between the sub board 20 and the peripheral boards 201 and 202, and an anomaly storage unit that stores an anomaly detected by the communication anomaly detection unit DET. EM and output means OUT connected to the abnormality storage unit EM. The abnormal storage unit EM retains the stored contents even when the power is off, and the stored contents can be taken out by the output means OUT.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the hardware configuration of the sub-board 20. The sub board 20 is actually realized by the hardware configuration of FIG. That is, a CPU (processing device), a ROM (nonvolatile storage unit), a memory RWM (a readable / writable memory), and an I / O (input / output device) are connected to a BUS composed of a plurality of bits (wirings). Yes. Further, the sub-board 20 includes a memory RWM2 that functions as the abnormality storage unit EM and a backup power supply (battery) BAT for maintaining the stored contents of the memory RWM2 even when the gaming machine is powered off.

  The communication process is realized by the CPU operating in accordance with a program stored in advance in the ROM of FIG. When performing processing, the CPU stores various data in the memory RWM, reads as necessary, performs processing, and stores it again as necessary.

  Similarly, the communication abnormality detection unit DET is realized by the CPU operating in accordance with a program stored in advance in the ROM of FIG. For example, communication between the sub-board 20 and a specific peripheral board does not end even after a certain period of time (timeout), no response (ACK) is returned from the peripheral board that is the communication partner, abnormal data (for example, parity It is determined that there is an abnormality when data with an incorrect checksum is received.

  The timer TM interrupts the processing unit CPU at regular intervals, and is realized by hardware such as a dedicated IC, but may be realized by software (program). The I / O is an IC for communication processing, for example, and performs data communication according to a predetermined protocol. Communication with the slave board is automatically performed by setting an address and data in a register (not shown).

  The buffer BUF shown in FIG. 4 is realized, for example, on the memory RWM of FIG. 5 (data to be written to the buffer BUF is written in a specific area of the memory). Alternatively, the buffer BUF may be realized by hardware such as a register IC.

  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).

  With reference to the flowchart of FIG. 7, the communication abnormality detection process of the gaming machine according to the embodiment of the invention will be described.

  When the sub-board tries to start communication with an arbitrary peripheral board, the process of FIG. 7 starts.

S100: The processing unit of the sub-board 20 constructs output data.

S101: The processing unit of the sub-board 20 selects a control target device that is an output destination of the output data. For example, when blinking an illumination such as an arch, the lighting data of the LED of the illumination is generated as output data, the LED board 202 is selected as the output destination, and the address addressed to the LED board 202 is set in the lighting data To do. The output data constructed in this way is stored in the buffer BUF. The stored output data is sequentially transmitted to the LED board 202 via the communication path BUS.

S102: The communication abnormality detection unit DET monitors the state of the communication path BUS. If normal, S103 is performed, and if abnormal, S104 and S105 are performed.

  The communication abnormality detection unit DET determines that there is an abnormality in the following case.

(1) The occupation of the communication path BUS is not released (bus busy). Since the communication path BUS is common as shown in FIG. 4, when the sub-board 20 is communicating with a certain peripheral board, it cannot communicate with other peripheral boards. Waiting for the end of communication, other peripheral boards start communication. Although communication is supposed to end within a limited time, it is determined as abnormal when the communication path is not opened forever. Specifically, the bus busy state is measured by a counter (not shown), and when this exceeds a predetermined threshold, it is determined that there is an abnormality. Whether the bus is busy is determined by directly checking whether a signal is present in the communication path, or by determining whether a communication end signal has been sent from the sub-board 20 to the peripheral board or from the peripheral board to the sub-board 20.

(2) The peripheral board is not responding. When data is sent from the sub board 20 to the peripheral board, a signal to that effect is sent first. In response to this, the peripheral board responds (returns ACK to the sub-board 20). If it is normal, the peripheral board always returns a response.

(3) When the sub board 20 receives abnormal data from the peripheral board, it is determined to be abnormal. For example, when data having an incorrect parity is received, data deviating from a predetermined command system is received.

S103: If normal, the sub-board 20 starts communication.

S104: If abnormal, the communication abnormality detection unit DET stores information regarding the detected abnormality in the abnormality storage unit EM. Then, predetermined error processing (for example, forcibly terminating communication with the peripheral board) is performed (S105).

S106: The sub-board 20 ends the communication.

  An example of the contents stored in the abnormality storage unit EM is shown in FIG. For example, (1) which peripheral board communicated with the abnormality, (2) what was the abnormality at that time, (3) the time of occurrence of the abnormality, (4) the same peripheral board, the same abnormality content Is stored.

  The contents of the abnormality storage unit EM can be output to the outside through the output unit OUT. The output means OUT may perform serial transmission. The output means is, for example, the I / O shown in FIG. 5, and the content of the RWM 2 can be extracted from an external computer through this.

  According to the embodiment of the present invention, the abnormality of communication in the gaming machine is stored in the storage unit that does not lose its contents even when the power is turned off. For example, the gaming machine has been removed from the hall and returned. Sometimes the stored contents can be retrieved. By feeding back the abnormality record to product development, it is possible to contribute to the development of a better product. The content and frequency of defects can be tabulated for each device of the gaming machine, and can be fed back to development as reference information for pursuing the cause of the defect and countermeasures.

  The contents stored in the abnormality storage unit EM may be erased by operating a predetermined switch or a special command sent from the main board 10 to the sub board 20.

Embodiment 2 of the Invention
In the above description, the communication abnormality detection unit DET detects a communication abnormality between the sub board 20 and the peripheral board, but it can also detect a communication abnormality between the main board 10 and the sub board 20. With reference to FIG. 9 thru | or FIG. 16, description is added about the game machine which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an apparatus for performing data transmission from the main board to the sub board according to the embodiment of the present invention. Only the portions necessary for the description of the operation according to the embodiment of the present invention are shown, and the display of other elements such as the input receiving means 1050 in FIG. 3 is omitted. The apparatus shown in the figure is realized, for example, by the CPUs of the main board 10 and the sub board 20 executing predetermined programs. Alternatively, it can be realized by hardware such as an IC.

  In the following description, unless otherwise specified, “command” means not a specific command for performing a predetermined operation but a general command. Although the command is generated on the main board 10, the command itself and the generation procedure thereof are well known, and the description thereof is omitted. In the following description, commands are considered as given assumptions.

  A transmission buffer 10-1 stores commands generated by the main board 10. The command is composed of one or more messages arranged in order (a message is a group of data, typically 1-byte data). An example is shown in FIG. The transmission buffer 10-1 is a first-in first-out memory (FIFO), for example, and stores messages in the order of transmission. In the example of the command in FIG. 12, message 1, message 2, message 3, message 4, checksum, and checksum are stored in this order. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, messages 1 to checksum are expressed as messages. When referring to a specific message, it is expressed as “message 1”. The message according to the embodiment of the present invention does not include a message identification bit, and all the bits can be used for data storage.

  10-2 is a signal indicating a first period (sign TPA in FIG. 15 and the like) in which transmission of a message (may be expressed as “command transmission”) is permitted and transmission of a message is not permitted. It is a transmission timing generation unit that alternately generates a signal indicating two periods (same as TPB). The transmission timing generation unit 10-2 is a timer, for example, and outputs signals (same as TmA and TmB, and TmA = TmB) at predetermined intervals.

  10-3 is a transmission part which reads a message in order from the transmission buffer 10-1, and transmits a message in order in a 1st period based on the output of the transmission timing generation part 10-2. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 13, the transmission unit 10-3 starts transmitting a message at the start timing of the code TPA.

  Reference numeral 10-4 denotes a command writing unit that stores a command message generated on the main board 10 in the transmission buffer 10-1. The command writing unit 10-4 checks whether or not the transmission buffer 10-1 is empty before storing the message, and clears the transmission buffer 10-1 when it is not empty. By clearing, even if a message of a previous command that has not been transmitted remains in the transmission buffer 10-1, the command can be transmitted without causing a message error (see FIG. 11 and its description for the message error). .

  Reference numeral 20-1 denotes a reception unit that receives a message from the transmission unit 10-3. Each time the receiving unit 20-1 receives a message from the main board 10, it stores it in the receiving buffer 20-2.

  Reference numeral 20-2 denotes a reception buffer for sequentially storing received electronic messages. The reception buffer 20-2 is, for example, a first-in first-out memory (FIFO), and stores messages in the order of reception. When there is no error and transmission is performed normally, message 1, message 2, message 3, message 4, checksum, and checksum are stored in this order.

  Reference numeral 20-3 denotes a reception buffer check timing generation unit that outputs a signal at a predetermined fixed time interval (symbol Ts in FIG. 15 and the like, hereinafter referred to as “reception check interval”). The reception buffer check timing generation unit 20-3 is a timer, for example, and outputs a signal at a predetermined interval Ts.

  Reference numeral 20-4 denotes a received message number income unit that checks the number of messages stored in the reception buffer 20-2 based on the output of the reception buffer check timing generation unit 20-3. The number of messages means the number of messages stored between the previous reception buffer check and the current reception buffer check. During command transmission (this maximum period is approximately the first period TPA plus the transmission time from the main board 10 to the sub-board), the number of messages is not zero. However, the number of the messages does not exceed the number of messages (6 in the example of FIG. 12) constituting the command. On the other hand, during command non-transmission (the maximum period is approximately the second period TPB plus the transmission time from the main board 10 to the sub board), the number of messages is 0. This point will be described in detail later. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether the main board 10 on the transmission side is the first period TPA or the second period TPB based on the number of messages. The operations of the main board 10 and the sub board 20 are independent of each other, and the sub board 20 cannot know what state the main board 10 is in. However, according to the embodiment of the present invention, Based on this, the operation state (operation phase) of the main board 10 can be known.

  Reference numeral 20-5 denotes a received message reading unit that reads a message when the message is stored in the reception buffer 202. The received message reading unit 20-5 reads all messages in the reception buffer 202 when the number of messages indicating that data transmission is in progress is not zero.

  Reference numeral 20-6 denotes a message buffer that sequentially stores messages read by the received message reading unit 20-5.

  Reference numeral 20-7 denotes a command output unit that sequentially reads out the messages stored in the message buffer 20-6 and outputs them as commands from the main board 10 when no message is stored in the reception buffer 20-2. The command output unit 20-7 reads all messages in the message buffer 20-6 when the number of messages indicating completion of data transmission is zero.

  Reference numeral 20-8 denotes a reception continuous message number counter that counts the messages read by the reception message reading unit 20-5 from the reception buffer 20-2 and stored in the message buffer 20-6.

  When outputting a command, the command output unit 20-7 checks the value of the received continuous message number counter 20-8, and the value is a predetermined value (in the example of FIG. 12, the number of messages is six). If it does not match the specified value), a message error occurs and the command is not output.

  The command output unit 20-7 sets the received continuous message counter 20-8 to an initial value (= 0) when a command is output, or when a command is not output due to a message error or a checksum error. Return to.

  When an error is output from the command output unit 20-7, the error is stored in the above-described abnormality storage unit EM. The command output unit 20-7 corresponds to the communication abnormality storage unit DET.

  The first period TPA, the second period TPB, and the reception check interval Ts will be described.

  The first period TPA is equal to or longer than the time required to transmit all the messages included in the command. For example, when the transmission time of one message is tTx and the number of messages included in the command is N, the first period TPA ≧ N × tTx. By doing so, command transmission can be completed in the first period TPA, and a message of one command is not transmitted with the second period TPB in between.

  In the second period TPB, when one command is transmitted in a certain first period TPA and another one command is transmitted in the next first period TPA across the second period TPB, the sub-board 20 It is set long enough to detect that the main board 10 is not transmitting a command (the number of messages = 0). If the second period TPB is sufficiently longer than the first period TPA, the condition can be satisfied. On the other hand, if the second period TPB is set too long, there is a problem that the time available for command transmission is shortened and many commands cannot be transmitted. The second period TPB must be longer than the reception check interval Ts (if the time is shorter than the reception check interval Ts, the number of messages is not 0). If the second period TPB is longer than twice the reception check interval Ts (second period TPB> 2 × reception check interval Ts), it is considered that the command non-transmission can be detected. For example, the reception check interval Ts is set to about one third of the second period TPB.

  Note that the first period TPA and the second period TPB may have the same length so as to simplify the processing on the transmission side.

  FIG. 10 shows a command transmission process flowchart in the main board 10. The process shown in FIG. 10 is started when a command is generated on the main board 10.

S10: The command writing unit 10-4 receives a command generated by the main board 10. Thereby, the processing from S11 is executed.

S11: The command writing unit 10-4 checks whether or not the transmission buffer 10-1 is empty before writing a command to the transmission buffer 10-1. As described above, since the first TPA that can be transmitted is set to a time sufficient to transmit all messages of the command, the transmission buffer is used when writing a new command as long as transmission is performed normally. 10-1 becomes empty (in order to avoid overflow of the transmission buffer 10-1, the frequency of command generation is at most one with respect to the total time of the first period TPA and the second period TPB, and the first period TPA And two or more are not generated in the period of the second period TPB).

  However, it is also conceivable that some electronic messages are not transmitted for some reason and remain in the transmission buffer 10-1. If a command message is further stacked in the transmission buffer 10-1 as it is, the command transmission may not be successful and the command may be lost. In the embodiment of the present invention, since one command is transmitted in the first period TPA, if a message of a different command is mixed there, a message error or a checksum error (see FIG. 11 and the description thereof) is generated and is normal. Commands are not output. Not only the command remaining in the transmission buffer 10-1, but also the newly stored command is lost. Accordingly, the newly stored command can be normally transmitted to the sub-board 20 by clearing the transmission buffer 10-1.

S12: When a message of the previous command remains in the transmission buffer 10-1 (NO in S11), the command writing unit 10-4 determines that there is a transmission buffer error.

S13: The command writing unit 10-4 clears the transmission buffer 10-1.
Similarly, when the previous command message remains in the transmission buffer 10-1 (NO in S11), the transmission buffer 10-1 is cleared.

S14: The command writing unit 10-4 stores the transmission command in the transmission buffer 10-1.
The commands are stored in the transmission buffer 10-1 in order for each message constituting the command. An example of the command structure is shown in FIG. The command in the figure is composed of six messages (one byte each). The left side of the figure is the top. Telegram 1 to telegram 4 are command texts, and the last two are their checksums (2 bytes). In the example of FIG. 12, message 1, message 2, message 3, message 4, checksum (part 1), and checksum (part 2) are stored in order in transmission buffer 10-1. As described above, these six messages do not have a message identification bit, and all the bits can be used for data storage. Since the telegram 1 to telegram 4 and the checksum are simple 1-byte data, the illustration and description of the internal structure are omitted.

S15: The transmission unit 10-3 monitors the signal of the transmission timing generation unit 10-2 and determines whether it is a transmission possible timing. If the first period TPA is reached, the answer is YES.

S <b> 16: When the transmission ready timing is reached, the transmission unit 10-3 reads out the messages sequentially from the transmission buffer 10-1 and transmits them to the sub-board 20.

  FIG. 11 shows a command reception process flowchart in the sub-board 20. The process shown in FIG. 11 is started at the reception buffer check timing by the reception buffer check timing generation unit 20-3.

S20: The received message number acquiring unit 20-4 determines whether it is the reception buffer check timing. When YES is determined, the processing from S21 onward is executed.

S21: The received message number acquisition unit 20-4 acquires the number of messages (number of messages) in the reception buffer 20-2. The acquired number of messages is sent to the received message reading unit 20-5.

S22: The received message reading unit 20-5 distributes the process according to the number of messages. If the number of messages is 1 or more, the processing of S23 to S27 is performed assuming that the message related to the first period TPA is being received. If the number of messages is 0, it is determined that the message reception for the second period TPB is suspended, and the processes of S28 to S33 are performed.

  It should be noted that the processing of S28 to S33 may be performed as an interval when the number of messages = 0 continuously for a certain number of times (for example, the processing of S28 to S33 is performed when “0” is obtained in S28). ).

S23: The received message reading unit 20-5 sets the number of messages to be extracted (acquired number) based on the output from the received message number acquiring unit 20-4.

S24: The received message reading unit 20-5 takes out one message and stores it in the message buffer 20-6.

S25: The received message reading unit 20-5 operates the received continuous message number counter 20-8 every time one message is taken out, and adds the number of received continuous messages.

S26: The received message reading unit 20-5 subtracts one message number (acquired number) to be extracted.

S27: The received message reading unit 20-5 repeats the above S24 to S26 until all the messages in the reception buffer 20-2 are read. When the number of messages becomes 0 in S27, the reception buffer 20-2 becomes empty.

S28: The command output unit 20-7 receives the number of received continuous messages from the received message number counter 20-8, and distributes the processing based on this.

  If the number of received continuous messages = 0, the process of FIG. 11 is exited because the state (interval) in which no messages are transmitted is repeated. Consecutive intervals are not abnormal.

  If the number of received continuous messages = 6, it means that all the messages of the command in FIG. 12 have been received, so the processes of S29 to S31 are performed to output the command.

  If the number of consecutive received messages is not 0 and ≠ 6, a message error is determined (S32). When the number of received continuous messages is 1 or more and 5 or less, a part of the message that should be received cannot be received, and the command cannot be normally output, so a message error is assumed. Further, when the number of continuous messages received is 7 or more, it means that noise or the like has been received as a message in error, so that the command cannot be output normally and a message error is generated.

  When a message error (S32) occurs, “abnormal” is determined in S102 of FIG. 7, and the error is stored in the above-described abnormality storage unit EM (S104 of FIG. 7). For example, abnormal board = main board, abnormal content = message number error, time = detection time, cumulative number = previous number + 1.

S29: The command output unit 20-7 checks messages 1 to 4 based on the received checksum. Since the processing relating to the checksum is known, its description is omitted.

S30: If the check result by the checksum is normal, the command output unit 20-7 outputs the received command (message 1 to message 4).

S31: If the result of the checksum check is above, the command output unit 20-7 does not output the command received as a checksum error.

  When a checksum error (S31) occurs, “abnormal” is determined in S102 of FIG. 7, and the error is stored in the above-described abnormality storage unit EM (S104 of FIG. 7). For example, abnormal board = main board, abnormality content = checksum error, time = detection time, cumulative number = previous number + 1.

S33: The command output unit 20-7 clears the reception continuous message number counter 20-8. This process is performed after S30, S31, and S32. Thus, the preparation for receiving the command is completed in the next first period TPA.

  Next, the operation of the apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the timing charts of FIGS. In FIG. 13 to FIG. 16, telegram 1 to telegram 4 and two checksums (which may be expressed as telegram 5 and telegram 6) are transmitted in the first period TPA from time tm1 to tm2. These data flows are indicated by reference symbols a1 to a6. Subsequent times tm2 to tm3 are the second period TPB, and data transmission is stopped. The reception buffer check timing is repeated at a constant interval Ts, and these are indicated by symbols ts1 to ts8. The combination of the first period TPA and the second period TPB is repeated.

  FIG. 13 shows an example in which the command is normally received.

  At time ts2, message 1 is transmitted with code a1 immediately before that, so the number of messages in reception buffer 20-2 is 1 (“1 or more” in S22 of FIG. 11). The message 1 is extracted from the reception buffer 20-2 and stored in the message buffer 20-6 (S24 in FIG. 11). Then, the number of continuous received messages = 1 (S25 in FIG. 11), and the process is terminated.

  Similarly, at time ts3, telegram 2 and telegram 3 are stored, and the number of consecutive received telegrams = 1 + 2 = 3.

  Similarly, at time ts4, telegram 4 and telegram 5 (check sum) are stored, and the number of consecutive received telegrams = 3 + 2 = 5.

  Similarly, at time ts5, telegram 6 (checksum) is stored, and the number of received continuous telegrams = 3 + 1 = 6.

  At time ts6, since no message is received after time ts5, the reception buffer 20-2 is empty and the number of messages is 0 (“0” in S22 of FIG. 11). Since the number of received continuous messages is 6, as described above, it is determined to be normal ("6" in S28 in FIG. 11). Next, the checksum is checked. If normal, messages 1 to 4 are output as commands. (S30 in FIG. 11). Then, the number of received continuous messages is cleared (S33).

  FIG. 14 shows an example in which noise is erroneously received as a message.

  The operation from time ts2 to ts4 is the same as that in FIG.

  At time ts5, the telegram 6 has been transmitted with the code a6 immediately before that, but since the noise was mistakenly recognized as a telegram and stored in the receive buffer 20-2, the number of telegrams in the receive buffer 20-2 is 2. (“1 or more” in S22 of FIG. 11). The message 6 and noise are extracted from the reception buffer 20-2 and stored in the message buffer 20-6 (S24 in FIG. 11). Then, the number of continuous received messages = 5 + 2 = 7 (S25 in FIG. 11), and the process is terminated.

  At time ts6, since no message is received after time ts5, the reception buffer 20-2 is empty and the number of messages is 0 (“0” in S22 of FIG. 11). Since the number of received continuous messages is 7 as described above, it is determined as abnormal (“other than 6 or other than 0” in S28 of FIG. 11), and a message error occurs (S32 of FIG. 11). Then, the number of received continuous messages is cleared (S33).

  FIG. 15 shows an example in which noise is erroneously received as a message. FIG. 15 differs from FIG. 14 in that noise is received during the interval period after the command is normally received. In FIG. 15, the command is not lost.

  At time ts2, telegram 1 and telegram 2 are transmitted immediately before with the code a1, so the number of telegrams in the reception buffer 20-2 is 2 ("1 or more" in S22 of FIG. 11). Telegram 1 and telegram 2 are extracted from the reception buffer 20-2 and stored in the telegram buffer 20-6 (S24 in FIG. 11). Then, the number of continuous received messages = 2 (S25 in FIG. 11), and the process is terminated.

  Similarly, at time ts3, telegram 3 and telegram 4 are stored, and the number of received continuous telegrams = 2 + 2 = 4.

  Similarly, at time ts4, telegram 5 and telegram 6 (check sum) are stored, and the number of consecutive received telegrams = 4 + 2 = 6.

  At time ts5, since no message is received after time ts4, the reception buffer 20-2 is empty and the number of messages is 0 (“0” in S22 of FIG. 11). Since the number of received continuous messages is 6, as described above, it is determined to be normal ("6" in S28 in FIG. 11). Next, the checksum is checked. If normal, messages 1 to 4 are output as commands. (S30 in FIG. 11). Then, the number of received continuous messages is cleared (S33).

  At time ts6, noise was mistaken as a message between ts5 and ts6 and stored in the reception buffer 20-2. The number of messages in the reception buffer 20-2 is 1 (“1 or more” in S22 of FIG. 11). Then, the number of continuous received messages = 1 (S25 in FIG. 11).

  At time ts6, since no message is received after time ts6, the reception buffer 20-2 is empty and the number of messages is 0 (“0” in S22 of FIG. 11). Since the number of continuous messages received is 1 as described above, it is determined as abnormal (“other than 6 or other than 0” in S28 in FIG. 11), and a message error occurs (S32 in FIG. 11). Then, the number of received continuous messages is cleared (S33).

  FIG. 16 shows an example in which some telegrams could not be received due to noise or the like. In FIG. 16, the message 4 with the code a4 could not be received.

  At time ts2, telegram 1 and telegram 2 are transmitted immediately before with the code a1, so the number of telegrams in the reception buffer 20-2 is 2 ("1 or more" in S22 of FIG. 11). Telegram 1 and telegram 2 are extracted from the reception buffer 20-2 and stored in the telegram buffer 20-6 (S24 in FIG. 11). Then, the number of continuous received messages = 2 (S25 in FIG. 11), and the process is terminated.

  At time ts3, message 3 was received, but message 4 could not be received. Received continuous message count = 2 + 1 = 3.

  At time ts4, telegram 5 and telegram 6 (checksum) are received, and the number of consecutive received telegrams = 3 + 2 = 5.

  At time ts5, since no message is received after time ts4, the reception buffer 20-2 is empty and the number of messages is 0 (“0” in S22 of FIG. 11). Since the number of received continuous messages is 5, as described above, it is determined as abnormal (“other than 6 or other than 0” in S28 of FIG. 11), and a message error occurs (S32 of FIG. 11). Then, the number of received continuous messages is cleared (S33).

  According to the second embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to detect a communication abnormality between the main board and the sub board and store the information. Even when a message is erroneously received due to noise or the like, it can be detected, and an inappropriate command is not interpreted and executed.

  Further, since it is not necessary to provide information (bits) for identifying the message constituting the command and all the bits of the message can be assigned to the information to be sent, more information can be efficiently transmitted. it can. In other words, by recognizing a group of commands based on the interval between commands, it is no longer necessary to include message identification information in a message, and all 8-bit messages can be expressed in one 8-bit message. This can improve the efficiency of software design and reduce the processing load. Needless to say, the message is not limited to 8 bits.

Embodiment 3 of the Invention
In addition to recording the communication abnormality, the control on the peripheral board may be stopped when the communication abnormality occurs. For example, when an ACK is not returned when a movable accessory (movable body) is operated, it cannot be determined whether a command has not arrived or whether a response has not been returned. In the latter case, the movable body continues to operate. In the worst case, the movable body moves beyond the limit and is damaged, and the motor that drives the movable body may be overloaded and burned out. Therefore, it is preferable to stop the control and send a stop command to prevent trouble, especially when a communication error occurs in the movable body (If the response is not returned, the movable body can be stopped with the stop command. Yes, if the command has not arrived, the movable body will not work in the first place). Embodiment 3 of the invention relates to such a gaming machine.

  FIG. 17 shows a front view of the slot machine with the front door closed. This is the same as FIG. 1 except that a movable body 50 is additionally provided.

  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).

  In addition, the movable body 50 of FIG. 17 is an example, and there are other forms. For example, when the liquid crystal display device LCD is provided on the right side of the game display unit 131, the movable body 50 is also provided at the same position. What is hidden by the shutters 51L and 51R of the movable body 50 may be electrical decorations such as LEDs and light bulbs. The number of shutters may be one.

  FIG. 18 shows a functional block diagram of the slot machine 100 according to the third embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 is the same as FIG. 3 except that a movable body 50 and a movable body control unit 60 are additionally provided.

  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.

  FIG. 19 is a schematic view of the movable body 50 according to the embodiment of the invention. 4A is a top view, FIG. 2B is a front view, FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB, and FIG. 4D is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A. In the figure, the drive unit including the stepping motor 54, the index 56, and the index sensor 57 are shown only for the right shutter 51R, but the same is provided for the left shutter 51L (the left one). Is not shown).

  The movable body 50 includes a left shutter 51L and a right shutter 51R, an upper rail 52U and a lower rail 52L that slidably hold upper and lower ends of the shutters 51L and 51R, and an inner side of the movable body 50. A rack 53a provided in parallel with the lower rail 52L, a pinion 53b meshing with the rack 53a, a stepping motor 54 with the pinion 53b attached to its rotating shaft directly or via a reduction gear mechanism (not shown), and a right shutter The bracket 55 attached to the inside of the 51R (the bracket 55 which is an arm bracket / extrusion bracket is also an attachment base of the stepping motor 54), the index 56 attached to the inside of the right shutter 51R, and the index 56 are detected. And an index sensor 57. In the drawing, the pinion 53b to the index 56 are shown for the right shutter 51R, but the left shutter 51L has the same structure, and the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 5B shows a state in which the shutters 51L and 51R are fully opened on both sides, and in the example of the figure, the index sensor 57 detects the index 56 in this state. The index sensor 57 is an optical sensor such as a photo interrupter or a contact sensor such as a microswitch. The movable range of the shutters 51L and 51R is the same, and is the center of the movable body 50 (specifically, the midpoint between the ends of the shutters 51L and 51R in a state where the shutters 51L and 51R are fully opened on both sides, respectively). Can move only to the middle point. The numbers 0, 50, and 100 in FIG. 100 corresponds to an intermediate point. The shutter 51L can move from 0 on the left side to 100 in the center, and the shutter 51R can move from 0 on the right side to 100 in the center. The index sensor 57 detects that the shutters 51L and 51R have come to the “0” position. That is, as shown in FIG. 20A, when the shutters 51L and 51R are fully opened (when the lower limit is reached), the end thereof is at the position “0”. When the ends of the two shutters 51L and 51R are at the position “0”, they are fully opened to the left and right, and the liquid crystal display device LCD is exposed (the player can view the screen). As shown in FIG. 20B, when the shutters 51L and 51R are completely closed (when the upper limit is reached), the end is at the position “100”. When the ends of the two shutters 51L and 51R are moved to the position "100" and are completely closed, the liquid crystal display device LCD is completely invisible.

  The rack 53a and the pinion 53b are mechanisms that convert the rotational force into a linear motion. The pinion 53b is a small-diameter circular gear, and the rack 53a is formed by cutting a tooth on a flat bar (toothed). When a rotational force is applied to the pinion 53b by the stepping motor 54, the shutters 51L and 51R move horizontally on the rack 53a. According to FIG. 19, since the rack 53a is fixed to the frame of the movable body 50 and the stepping motor 54 is attached to the shutters 51L and 51R by the bracket 55, the shutters 51L and 51R move.

  A stepping motor includes a gear-shaped iron core or permanent magnet as a rotor (rotor), a plurality of windings (coils) as a stator (stator), and is rotated by switching windings through which current flows. is there. That is, a current is passed through the windings of the stator to generate a magnetic force, and the rotor is rotated by attracting the rotor. Since the rotation axis can be stopped at a specified angle, it is used to drive the rotation of the reel of the slot machine. A plurality of windings constitute one phase. As the number of phases, for example, there are two (two phases), four (four phases), and five (five phases). The motor shaft rotates by passing a current through the coil of the stepping motor in a predetermined order, and the motor shaft rotates in the reverse direction when a current is passed in the reverse order.

  The movable body shown in FIGS. 19 and 20 is merely an example. The definition of the positional relationship between the index 56 and the index sensor 57 and the positions of the movable bodies 51L and 51R is merely an example. For example, the moving range of the movable body may be from −50 to 100, and the index sensor may detect a position such as −20, 0, +20. Here, a negative value means that the movable bodies 51L and 51R move further outward (minus side) from the 0 position. For example, −50 is a position moved from the position of 0 in FIG. 19B to the outside by a distance corresponding to the distance between 0 and 50 (opposite to the position of 100).

  In the above example, the positions of the movable bodies 51L and 51R are detected by the index 56 and the index sensor 57, but other position detection means (sensors) may be used. For example, instead of the index 56 and the index sensor 57, a combination of a magnet and a reed switch can be used. Alternatively, if a potentiometer such as a slide resistance is provided so that its action part is interlocked with the movement of the movable bodies 51L and 51R, the movable bodies 51L and 51R are controlled based on the resistance value (or voltage value) of the potentiometer. The position can be known directly (not only that the movable body is at a specific position, but also where the movable body is located).

The control of the movable body will be briefly described.
It is determined how to move the movable body in response to a request for production (for example, fully opening or closing the shutters 51R and 51L, moving to a specific position, stopping there, and repeating opening and closing). In response to this, information (operation information) such as the number of moving steps of the stepping motor 54 (number of pulses to be given), the rotation direction, and the rotation speed (pulse frequency) is registered. The operation information is information for instructing the movement of the movable body. For example, when the shutters 51R and 51L are moved to a specific position and stopped there, the number of movement steps is determined based on the difference between the current position and the target position, and the rotation direction is set based on the positional relationship between the current position and the target position ( The rotation direction is set so that the difference becomes small.) For a fast production, the pulse frequency is set to a high frequency fH, and for a slow production, it is set to a low frequency fL (fH> fL).

  In order to send excitation data to the movable body control unit 60, which is a peripheral board, and to receive data from the index sensor 57 from the movable body control unit 60, for example, excitation is performed on a specific register of the I / O. Along with the data, a command for instructing the movable body control unit 60 to send the acquired data of the index sensor 57 is written. The data set here is transmitted at a predetermined timing (for example, the transmission / reception data and the address of the other party are set in the register of the communication IC (I / O), and the data transmission / reception interrupt is applied to the IC. When it is received, it is sent to the movable body control unit 60 which is the designated partner. The movable body control unit 60 causes a current to flow through a predetermined phase of the stepping motor 54 based on the received excitation data, and turns off the currents of the other phases. When the stepping motor 54 is stopped, a current is supplied to all phases (all-phase excitation), and the currents of all phases are turned off after the stop. In addition, there is also a method in which a specific phase lasts for a certain period of time and is stopped by applying a current.

  In accordance with the command, the movable body control unit 60 sends the data (position information) of the index sensor 57 to the sub-board 20, which is after the excitation data reception process. Data transmission / reception is performed between the sub-board 20 and the peripheral board using a predetermined protocol, and the data format is also predetermined. For this reason, the excitation command of the stepping motor 54 (for example, the command that the first phase is on and the second phase is off) cannot be sent as it is, and it is necessary to make the excitation data in a format suitable for communication. In addition, the movable body control unit 60 that has received the excitation data needs to convert the excitation data into a command for directly driving the stepping motor 54 (for example, applying a voltage between the terminals A and B of the first phase). Then, the voltages of the terminals C and D of the second phase are set to zero (off)). Similarly, with respect to the signal of the index sensor 57, the on / off signal (H / L signal) is converted into data of a predetermined format and sent to the sub-board 20. The sub board 20 converts the received data into data (0, 1) corresponding to the on / off signal (H / L signal) of the index sensor 57. The index sensor value (position information) is updated based on the index sensor 57 data (sensor position information).

  With reference to the flowchart of FIG. 21, the communication abnormality detection process of the gaming machine according to the third embodiment of the invention will be described.

  When the sub-board tries to start communication with the movable body control unit 60, the process of FIG. 7 starts.

S100: The processing unit of the sub-board 20 constructs output data.
For example, in order to send excitation data to the movable body control unit 60, the excitation data is written in a specific register of I / O, and the index sensor 57 data is received from the movable body control unit 60 in order to receive the data of the index sensor 57. Write a command that tells you to send it.

S101: The processing unit of the sub-board 20 selects a control target device that is an output destination of the output data. Here, the movable body control unit 60 is selected.

S103: The sub-board 20 starts communication with the movable body control unit 60.
While transmitting the above command, it waits for data of the index sensor 57 from the movable body control unit 60.

S102: The communication abnormality detection unit DET monitors the state of the communication path BUS. If normal, S103 is performed, and if abnormal, S104 and S105 are performed.

  The communication abnormality detection unit DET determines that there is an abnormality in the cases (1) to (3) described above. In addition, in the third embodiment of the present invention, the index sensor 57 is within a predetermined time. Even if the position information is not updated based on the data (sensor position information) (timeout error), it is determined that there is an abnormality. In the third embodiment of the present invention, only the case will be described.

  The case generally corresponds to the above-mentioned “(2) The peripheral board is not responding”, but the fact that the position information is not updated is that the shutter 51 is not moving although the motor 54 is operating (the motor 51 54 overload), and the index sensor 57 is out of order (possibility of overrun of the shutter 51). When such a failure occurs, it is desirable not only to determine that there is an abnormality, but also to stop the control in order to avoid failure of the device.

S104: If abnormal, the communication abnormality detection unit DET stores information regarding the detected abnormality in the abnormality storage unit EM.

S105b: The control is stopped. Here, the control process is not only stopped at the sub-board 20, but the movable body controller 60 is instructed to stop driving the motor 54. That is, data for instructing excitation stop is written in a specific register of I / O.

S106: The sub-board 20 ends the communication.

  According to the third embodiment of the invention, the same effects as those of the first embodiment of the invention can be obtained, and the control is stopped when communication is abnormal, so that troubles such as damage to the staging device and peripheral devices can be prevented. Can do.

  In the above description, a slot machine is taken as an example of a gaming machine, but the embodiment of the present invention can also be applied to other gaming machines such as pachinko machines.

  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.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Main board | substrate 10-1 Transmission buffer 10-2 Transmission timing generation part 10-3 Transmission part 10-4 Command writing part 20 Sub board | substrate 20-1 Reception part 20-2 Reception buffer 20-3 Reception buffer check timing generation part 20 -4 Received message number acquisition unit 20-5 Received message read unit 20-6 Message buffer 20-7 Command output unit 20-8 Received continuous message number counter 50 Movable body (device)
51L, 51R Movable shutter (movable element)
54 Stepping motor (drive unit)
56 Index 57 Index sensor (sensor)
60 Movable body controller (peripheral board)
200 LCD control board (peripheral board)
201 Speaker board (peripheral board)
202 LED board (peripheral board)

Claims (3)

A main board that executes control related to games including internal lottery processing;
A sub board that receives a command from the main board and executes a process related to a predetermined effect;
A device for performing the production;
A peripheral board for controlling the device based on a command from the sub-board;
An abnormality storage unit that stores at least one of a communication abnormality between the sub-board and the peripheral board or a communication abnormality between the main board and the sub-board,
The command includes a plurality of messages,
The main board is
A first period in which transmission of a plurality of the messages is permitted and a second period in which transmission of the plurality of messages are not permitted occur alternately,
A transmission buffer storing a plurality of the messages of the command;
A transmission unit that reads a plurality of the messages from the transmission buffer and sequentially transmits the messages in the first period;
The sub-board is
A receiving unit that receives the plurality of messages from the transmitting unit;
A reception buffer for storing a plurality of received messages;
A message buffer for storing the message read from the reception buffer,
Count and check the number of messages stored in the reception buffer at a predetermined time interval (hereinafter referred to as “reception check interval”),
When the number of messages by the check is 1 or more, the message is read from the reception buffer and stored in the message buffer;
When the number of messages by the check is 0, the plurality of messages stored in the message buffer are output as the commands from the main board,
When the number of the messages by the check is 0, the count value of the message is checked, and when the count value does not match a predetermined specified value, it is determined as a communication error, and the communication error is determined as the error storage unit. Remember
The reception check interval is determined so that the number of messages by the check is 1 or more when the transmission unit of the main board is transmitting the message.
The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the second period is longer than twice the reception check interval, and is determined such that the number of the messages by the check may be zero. The device includes a movable element that moves within a predetermined range, a drive unit that moves the movable element, and a sensor that acquires position information of the movable element, and is a movable body used for the production,
The peripheral substrate is a movable body control unit that controls driving of the driving unit and receives a position information signal from the sensor,
When the sub-board cannot acquire the position information of the movable element by the sensor within a predetermined time after sending the command to drive the driving unit to the movable body control unit, The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein it is determined that the communication is abnormal, and the communication abnormality is stored in the abnormality storage unit.   The gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein the sub-board stops control of the movable body controller when it is determined that the communication is abnormal.

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