JPH0420629B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a reel stop mechanism for a slot machine. More specifically, the present invention relates to a reel stop mechanism that can enhance the entertainment value of a game by randomly and directly determining the combination of symbols on the reels using a random number generating circuit.

[Prior Art] It is preferable for slot machines to have random combinations of symbols on the reels, and various types of reel stopping mechanisms have been proposed, such as those in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 54-85840 (prior art) and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 85840 (prior art). 1972-
There is one shown in Publication No. 141740 (conventional example).

In the conventional example, the delay time from when the stop button is pressed until the rotating reels stop varies irregularly each time based on a random number.

Furthermore, in the conventional example, random numbers are generated by a random number generator, and the reels are stopped at a position determined by the generated random numbers.

[Problems to be solved by the invention] In the conventional example, the number of reel rotations is varied by changing the delay time, but when the number of times is small, the combinations of symbols appear to be random at first glance. However, the rate of change in the delay time itself may cause discomfort to the operator (if there is too much of a gap between pressing the stop button and actually stopping the drum, the operator may have to decide when to stop the rotating drum on his own will). The expectation that decisions can be made will decrease,
On the contrary, it is not possible to achieve a sufficiently random combination of patterns since it is not very large considering that it causes discomfort.

In addition, since it is intended to give randomness to the determination of the symbols on each reel, even if it works as intended, the combination of symbols will only be random, and for example, the return rate (medals earned by winning) will be random. It is not possible to produce many symbol combinations with high payouts or, conversely, to produce a large number of symbol combinations with low payouts, while maintaining the number (number of medals/number of inserted medals).

On the other hand, the conventional example allows for a more random combination of symbols than the conventional example, but like the conventional example, the aim is to ensure the randomness of the stopping position of each reel, and it is possible to create a combination of arbitrary symbols. It is impossible to make a combination appear.

As described above, in the conventional examples ~, the control is directed only to determining the stop position of each reel, and not directly to determining the symbols, resulting in a lack of variation in the game and, therefore, a lack of entertainment. The problem is that it is inferior to

In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, the present invention provides randomness in stopping the reels in order to maintain a constant return ratio, while allowing arbitrary combinations of winning symbols to be set, thereby increasing the entertainment value of the game. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a reel stop mechanism for a slot machine that allows the user to stop the reel of a slot machine.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The reel stop mechanism of the slot machine of the present invention includes (A) a huddle signal detection section that detects a signal generated by pulling down the handle; (B) a random number generated by the signal from the handle signal detection section; a random number generation circuit that determines information; (C) a symbol position detection unit that creates symbol position information on the rotating reels; (D) a symbol position detector that generates symbol position information from the address specified by the random number information in the payout table memory based on the random number information. (E) a comparison calculation unit that reads the combinations and payouts, compares them with symbol position information, and outputs reel stop position information; and (E) stops the reels at the determined symbol combination based on the reel stop position information. It is characterized by comprising a reel stop part that stops the reel.

[Operations and Effects of the Invention] In the present invention, the combination of symbols and the payout are directly determined by random numbers instead of controlling the stop position of each reel. Therefore,
The combination of symbols on the payout table can be set arbitrarily, and while maintaining a certain return ratio, for example, you can increase the combination of symbols with high payouts (in this case, you can set the random numbers and payout table so that the probability of winning is small). ), or conversely, it is possible to increase the number of combinations of symbols with low payouts.

As described above, according to the present invention, various games can be provided within a fair and appropriate range, and the enjoyment of the players can be increased.

[Example] Next, an example of the reel stop mechanism of the present invention will be described based on the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to this example.

A slot machine usually has an appearance as shown in Figure 1, and the three reels 2 are pulled by pulling the handle 1.
a, 2b, and 2c are rotated, and the three reels are sequentially stopped automatically or by pressing stop buttons 3a, 3b, and 3c, and a predetermined number of medals are ejected according to the combination of symbols.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the reel stop mechanism of the present invention.

When the handle 2 is pulled, the switch 4 turns on and emits a signal, but since this signal includes chattering and noise, the waveform is shaped by the waveform shaping section 5 and then sent to the timer 6. The switch 4, the waveform shaping section 5, and the timer 6 are the handle signal detection section 7.
It consists of

The output signal of the timer 6 is input to the latch 9 of the random number generation circuit 8 as a data latch signal. On the other hand, the latch 9 receives a data signal updated at high speed from the counter 11, which is always in a free running state due to the free running of the oscillator 10. When the handle signal from the timer 6 is input to the latch 9 to which data in the free run state is always input, scatter information (address information of the payout table memory 13) based on the data at the time of input of the handle signal is generated. is sent from the latch 9 to the comparison calculation section 12.

The comparison calculation unit 12 reads the symbol combinations and dividends stored at addresses based on random number information from the dividend table memory 13 in which a table of symbol combinations and corresponding dividends is stored.

Next, the reel symbol position detection mechanism will be explained based on FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 3 shows a stop disk 14 and a pair of photo sensors 1 disposed on the reels 2a, 2b, and 2c, respectively.
5a, 15b and 16a, 16b. FIG. Around the disk there is a groove 1 corresponding to each pattern.
7 are provided, and holes 18 corresponding to each pattern are further arranged closer to the center. One reference hole 19 is provided closer to the center of one of the holes 18. Photo sensor 15a, 15
b is aimed at the hole 18, and the photo sensors 16a, 16b are aimed at the reference hole 19.

When the disk 14 begins to rotate, the photo sensor 1
5a and 15b generate frame pulse signals corresponding to the number of frames of the pattern that have passed. This frame pulse signal is sent to the waveform shaping section 21 of the picture position detection section 20, where the waveform is shaped, and then inputted into the counter 22.
On the other hand, the reference hole 19 is connected to the photo sensors 16a and 16b.
A reference pulse signal is generated each time it passes through the counter 2, and is sent to the waveform shaping section 23 where the waveform is shaped.
2 is input. The counter 22 returns the frame pulse signal to zero each time the reference pulse signal is input. Therefore, the output from the counter 22 includes picture position information indicating the number of the picture currently passing through the photo sensors 15a, 15b from the reference picture. This picture information is sent to the comparison calculation section 12.

The comparison calculation unit 12 compares the pattern combination information randomly determined by the random numbers with the pattern position detection unit 2.
A comparison calculation is made with the current position information starting from 0, and reel stop position information is output to the down counter 25 of the reel stop section 24. The reel stop position information is output when a target symbol appears within a predetermined number of frames from the symbol display position after the reels have been rotated a predetermined number of times.

The down counter 25 counts down the input reel stop position information using a counter signal for each frame obtained by the photo sensor 15b.
The counted down signal is sent to a comparator 27, and when the content reaches zero, the comparator 27 sends a stop signal to a solenoid 29 via a timer 28 to stop the reels at a position where a target pattern is displayed.

A commonly used solenoid type mechanism can be used as the reel stop mechanism. FIG. 4 shows an example of a solenoid type reel stop mechanism.

As shown in FIG. 4, this type of stop mechanism is composed of a combination of a solenoid 29 and a link, and when a stop signal is input to the solenoid 29 from the reel stop section 24, the solenoid 29 is actuated to stop the link 30. Pull in the direction of arrow A. Then, link 31 pulls link 32 in the direction of arrow B, and hook 3
3 in the direction of arrow C to engage the groove 17 of the disk 14 and stop the reel.

As described above, in the present invention, since the symbol combinations are directly determined using random numbers, symbol combinations can be obtained completely based on probability, and the symbol combinations in the payout table can be set arbitrarily. It is possible to increase the entertainment value of the game.

Therefore, it is possible not only to receive an appropriate payout according to the probability, but also to increase the player's enjoyment by controlling the manner of winning by setting a large number of high payout symbols.

As the reel drive mechanism, a conventionally known drive mechanism can be employed, such as a mechanism that mechanically rotates the reel by pulling down the handle 2 or a mechanism that rotates the reel using an electric motor.

You can also use the reel stop button 3a to stop the reels.
This can also be done by pressing 3b and 3c.
In that case, the signal generated by pressing the stop button is shaped into a waveform by the waveform shaping section 35 of the stop signal section 34, and then the stop signal is sent to the comparison calculation section 12. When a stop signal is input, the comparison calculation unit 12, unlike the above, selects a picture within a predetermined number of frames from the current picture when the stop signal is input (the predetermined number of frames is usually set to about 5 frames, including the current picture when the stop signal is input). (This is because if too many pieces are taken, the player's intention is not added.) is compared to see if there is a picture determined by the random number, and if there is a picture, then Reel stop position information for stopping the reel at that position is output to the down counter 25. On the other hand, if there is no target symbol within a predetermined number of frames, the reel stop position information is set such that the reel always stops at the second frame, or stops at the position of a frame within a predetermined number of frames determined by a random number. It is output to the down counter 25. In the latter case, you will not be able to win a prize in the end, but in this case, the payout table should be created so that the overall payout rate is a predetermined payout rate, taking into account the probability of not winning in the end. There is a need.

Therefore, when a stop button is used, the player's intention can be added, and the gameplay can be further enhanced.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a slot machine, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the reel stop mechanism of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a reel position detection device that can be used in the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a reel stop mechanism that can be used in the present invention. (Main symbols in the drawing), 1: Handle, 2a, 2
b, 2c: reel, 7: handle signal detection section,
8: Random number generation circuit, 12: Comparison calculation section, 19: Payout table memory, 20: Picture position detection section, 2
4: Reel stop section.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. (A) A steering wheel signal detection section that detects a signal generated by pulling down the steering wheel, (B) A random number generation circuit that determines random number information based on the signal from the steering wheel signal detection section, (C) Rotation. (D) Based on the random number information, reads the symbol combination and payout from the address specified by the random number information in the payout table memory, and reads these and the symbol position information. (E) a reel stop mechanism for a slot machine, comprising: a comparison calculation section that compares and calculates reel stop position information; and (E) a reel stop section that stops the reels at the combination of symbols determined based on the reel stop position information.