JP2002000896A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately detect and inform a disconnection in a transmission route of command data sent out from a main controller. SOLUTION: Since FF (hexadecimal) data or 00 (hexadecimal) data are alternately transmitted to respective controllers every time the main controller 90 executes a main processing, for instance when the data are supposed to be FF (hexadecimal) but they are not (one bit is 0, for instance), it is judged that the transmission route is disconnected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention belongs to the technical field of gaming machines.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a gaming machine is provided with a main control device for mainly controlling the progress of a game and a sub-control device for controlling electric components in charge of the main control device in response to instructions from the main control device. is there. In that case, the instruction from the main control device to the sub control device is sent as command data,
A flat cable is used for transmitting the command data.

[0003]

When a flat cable is used for transmitting command data, for example, even if one line is broken, correct data is not transmitted. There is a problem that it does not operate as instructed by the main control device.

[0004] If this electric component is, for example, a lamp for illumination, there is no or little actual harm. However, if it is a display device for displaying a hit or miss, the problem is extremely serious if the display of the hit or miss is not correctly performed. However, the conventional gaming machine sub-controller has a means for determining whether or not a flat cable is disconnected, and in particular, determining whether or not only one of a plurality of lines constituting a flat cable is disconnected. There was no way to do that. For this reason, the above-mentioned problems cannot be avoided.

It is conceivable to make the flat cable transparent, but even in such a case, it is extremely difficult to actually detect the disconnection because the detection of the disconnection must be performed by visual inspection. In addition, there is currently no room for such visual inspections in amusement arcades.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to avoid the above-mentioned problem by accurately detecting a disconnection in a transmission path of command data transmitted from a main control device and reporting the disconnection.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gaming machine, comprising: a main control device for judging a hit; a display device for displaying a hit; In a gaming machine having a display control device that controls the operation of the display device in response to an instruction from the control device, a flat cable, a connector, and a connector for configuring a parallel transmission path from the main control device to the display control device The resin portion of the header is all translucent, and the display control device has a disconnection detection unit that detects the presence or absence of a disconnection in the parallel transmission path based on disconnection detection data sent from the main control device. Disconnection display control means for displaying on the display device that the disconnection is detected by the disconnection detection means.

In this gaming machine, the display control device detects the disconnection of the parallel transmission path and displays the disconnection on the display device. For example, when the gaming machine is started before the store is opened, the display device ( (Displayed content), and measures such as not operating the gaming machine in which disconnection is displayed are possible.

Further, even if a disconnection occurs during operation,
Since this is displayed on the display device, a game clerk or the like can stop the gaming machine according to this display. Since the player also knows the disconnection (failure of the gaming machine) by looking at the display, it is possible to prevent unnecessary trouble in stopping the gaming machine.

In addition, since the flat cable, the connector, and the resin portion of the header, which constitute a parallel transmission path from the main control device to the display control device, are all translucent, it is possible to accurately detect a broken portion. Since this visual inspection only needs to be performed for one game machine (broken game machine), the amount of work is small.

Further, it is possible to determine whether the flat cable is broken or the terminal of the connector or the header is defective (for example, broken). That is, since it is possible to know which one of the flat cable, the connector and the header should be replaced, an accurate repair can be performed. As apparent from this description, the disconnection referred to in the present invention includes a defect in the connector and the header. If necessary, a part of the signal transmitted by the parallel transmission path is lost.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to the first aspect, the disconnection detecting means detects presence or absence of a disconnection for each line of the parallel transmission path, and the disconnection display control means includes: The information which can specify the line where the disconnection was detected by the disconnection detecting means is displayed on the display device.

The disconnection detecting means detects the presence / absence of a disconnection for each line of the parallel transmission path, and the disconnection display control means causes the display device to display information capable of specifying the line in which the disconnection is detected, so that inspection and repair are performed. The side knows what line is broken. Accordingly, it is extremely easy to find a broken portion by visual inspection of the flat cable, the connector, and the header.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to the first or second aspect, the disconnection detection data is transmitted to the sub-control device for controlling an electric component different from the display device by the parallel transmission path. The sub control device is provided with the disconnection detecting means and disconnection notifying means for notifying that the disconnection is detected by the disconnection detecting means. Therefore, disconnection of the signal transmission path from the main control device to the sub control device can also be detected and reported.

In addition, since the display control device and the sub-control device are double-checked for the shared portion of the parallel transmission path, the disconnection of this portion can be more reliably detected.
A gaming machine according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to the third aspect, wherein, as the sub-control device, a payout control device for controlling a value payout device for giving a player a game value such as a prize object, and a lamp. Illumination control device for controlling the actuator, actuator control device for controlling actuators such as solenoids,
It is characterized by including any or all of a launch control device for controlling a launch device of a game ball and a voice control device for controlling a voice output. These are examples of sub-controllers, but if a disconnection check is performed by a plurality of sub-controllers, the detection of a disconnection in a shared portion of the parallel transmission path will be more reliable.

The game value is not limited to prize bodies such as game balls and medals, but may be, for example, data on the number of prize bodies or points. Therefore, the value dispensing device can be a device that discharges a prize that is a tangible object, a device that issues a piece of paper or a memory card on which the above-mentioned score is recorded, a device that sends data such as the score to the computer of the prize exchange counter, or the like.

Further, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which one sub-control device is in charge of a plurality of types of control objects, for example, as a dual control device for controlling the illumination and the actuator control device.

[0018]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIG. 1, a pachinko machine 10 as a gaming machine is provided with a lending accepting device 111. The main body of the pachinko machine 10 includes an outer frame 12, a front frame 13, a glass frame 14, an upper plate 15, and a lower plate 1 similar to those of a known pachinko machine.
6, a firing handle 17 and the like. Behind the glass plate 18 held by the glass frame 14, a game board 20 is arranged.

A liquid crystal display device 22 is provided at the center of the game board 20.
Is installed, and a start winning device 23 is installed thereunder. The starting winning device 23 is of a so-called tulip type, and a state in which a winning can be easily achieved by tilting a pair of blades left and right. Below the start winning device 23, a big winning device 24 is installed. The prize door 25 is located at the center of the big prize winning device 24.
There is provided a large winning opening 26 which is opened and closed by a pair, and a pair of normal winning openings 27 is provided on the left and right sides thereof. Further, below the special winning opening 26, there are provided a normal symbol display portion 34a, and a normal symbol hold display portion 34b of two LEDs arranged on the left and right sides thereof.

A normal winning opening 27 is also provided above the liquid crystal display device 22 and on the left and right of the starting winning device 23.
Further, gates 28 are provided on the left and right sides of the liquid crystal display device 22, and a lamp windmill 29 is mounted above the gates 28. Further, the gaming board 20 has a pair of side lamps 35,
A window winning display section 36 and a ball shortage display section 37 are provided. In addition, although a windmill, an obstacle nail, and the like are also attached to the game board 20, their illustration and description are omitted.

The upper plate 15 located below the game board 20 is attached to a plate door 30, and the plate door 30 is provided with a ball opening 15a that opens into the upper plate 15. The ball port 15a communicates with the inside of the pachinko machine 10, and in the case of this embodiment,
Game balls are ejected as rental balls or prize balls. Similarly, a ball opening 16a is also opened in the lower plate 16, and this ball opening 16a
The prize ball and the foul ball are discharged from. In addition, upper plate 15
By operating the ball removal button 15b, the game balls in the upper plate 15 are passed from the ball opening 16a to the lower plate 1 through a passage (not shown).
6 can be moved.

The dish door 30 is provided with a full indication 30a indicating "Please pull out the ball of the lower dish" on translucent plastic. The full display 30a has a built-in LED, and is lit when the lower plate 16 is full. The center of the firing handle 17 is the touch display 17
a. Also here, the surface portion is made of transparent plastic and an LED is arranged inside. When the player is in contact with the firing handle 17, the touch display section 17a is lit and displayed.

A loan button 31a and a return button 31b are provided on a portion of the front frame 13 adjacent to the loan accepting device 111.
And a lending operation panel 31 having a balance display section 31c. The lending operation panel 31 is operated when a card is inserted into the lending reception device 111 to borrow a game ball (lending ball).

On the side of the front frame 13 opposite to the lending operation panel 31, a probable change display section 38 is provided, and on the upper side, a forefront display section 39 is provided. The lending accepting device 111 includes a credit card insertion slot 112, a prepaid card insertion slot 113, a coin insertion slot 114, and a coin return slot 115, and accepts a credit card, a prepaid card, and coins. Further, call buttons 116a and 116b operated by a player in the event of a failure or an error are provided, and when the call button 116a is pressed, the upper call lamp 1 is displayed.
When the call button 116b is pressed, the lower call lamp 117b is turned on. In the case of the present embodiment, the upper call button 116b and the call lamp 1a are used when the coin receiving unit fails or an error occurs.
Reference numeral 17b denotes a setting corresponding to a failure or error of the card receiving unit.

As shown in FIG. 2, on the back of the front frame 13, a back mechanism board 51, which is an assembly of various mechanisms mainly for handling game balls, is mounted. In the upper part of the back mechanism board 51, a ball tank 52 for storing game balls for prize balls and for renting balls.
A tank rail 53 that guides the game balls flowing out of the ball tank 52 while aligning them is disposed below the tank rails. At the bottom of the tank rail 53, a replenishment sensor 53a operated by the load of the game ball is attached, and the downstream side of the tank rail 53 is connected to a payout device 55 via a relay gutter 54. The relay gutter 54 is provided with an insufficient ball detector 54a for detecting the presence or absence of a game ball flowing into the payout device 55.

The payout device 55 is provided with a payout motor 55a and a sprocket 55b which is driven to rotate by the payout motor 55a, and discharges game balls flowing from the relay gutter 54 downward by the rotation of the sprocket 55b. The discharged game balls are the number-of-payout detection 56a and the number-of-lending number detection 5
6b.

The prize-lending ball switching device 56 is provided with a valve for selectively guiding the flowing game balls to the prize ball path or the lending ball path. The number of game balls flowing into the prize ball path is detected 56a. The game balls that have flowed into the lending ball path after being detected by the lending ball path are discharged from the prize lending ball switching device 56 after being detected by the lending number detection 56b.

The game balls discharged from the prize lending ball switching device 56 fall to the switching valve 57a. The game balls discharged from the prize lending ball switching device 56 are guided to the payout gutter 58 or the ball gutter 59 alternatively. The switching valve 57a is a part of the ball removing device 57, the details of which are not shown, and the switching valve 57a is positioned to guide the game ball to the payout gutter 58 during use of the pachinko machine 10, and flows into the payout gutter 58. The played game ball is first released to the upper plate 15 from the ball port 15a. When the upper plate 15 becomes full,
The game ball is guided to the downstream side of the payout gutter 58 without going to the upper plate 15, and is discharged from the ball port 16a to the lower plate 16. A full switch 60 for detecting that the lower plate 16 is full is mounted downstream of the payout gutter 58.

On the other hand, if the payout device 55 is operated with the switching valve 57a positioned to guide the ball drainage gutter 59, the game balls discharged from the payout device 55 pass through the ball drainage gutter 59,
It is discharged out of the machine from the discharge port 59a. Back mechanism panel 51
Is provided with a window-shaped opening 62 for allowing the back of the gaming board 20 to be desired, and a relay board 63 is disposed inside the window-shaped opening 62. Between the relay board 63 and the game board 20 (the relay board 63
The operation control device 70 and the display control device 120 are arranged at the position hidden by. Below the relay board 63, a payout control device 80 and a main control device 90 are arranged side by side.

An external output device 150 is mounted at the upper right corner of the back mechanism panel 51. External output device 150
The external connection terminal 150a has an LE that constitutes a photocoupler.
D is exposed, and external wiring (not shown) is connected to this by a connector having a phototransistor. A part of the external wiring reaches the hall computer, and a part is connected to the connection terminal 111a of the lending reception device 111. The header 111a also has a structure in which the LED is exposed. A portion of the external connection terminal 150a connected to the lending reception device 111 is a lending reception connection terminal 150b.

A firing device 66 is attached to the lower right corner of the front frame 13, and a firing control device 100 is disposed above the firing device 66. A power supply control device 110 is provided on the left side of the launch control device 100, and a voice control device 130 is provided at a position hidden by the launch control device 100.

The operation control device 70 and the payout control device 8
0, the launch control device 100 and the voice control device 130 each correspond to a sub-control device of the present invention. The operation control device 70 also serves as an electric control device and an actuator control device. Then, the operation control device 70, the payout control device 80, the main control device 90, the firing control device 1
The power control device 110, the display control device 120, and the audio control device 130 are connected to each other by the flat cable 104 around the main control device 90. The coating of the flat cable 104 is made of a transparent resin (for example, transparent vinyl chloride resin), and the core wire can be seen through the coating.
The other side can be seen through the flat cable 104 at a portion other than the core wire.

The main controller 90 is housed in a case 101 having the structure shown in FIG. Case 101 is cover 1
01a and the bottom 101b.
01a and the bottom 101b are both made of transparent plastic. On one side surface of the cover 101, four cylindrical screw holding portions 102a each having a built-in one-way screw are provided.
01b is provided with a screw threaded portion 102b corresponding to each screw holding portion 102a. Also, the screw holding portion 102a
A hinge portion 103 is provided on a side surface portion adjacent to the side surface on which the screw threaded portion 102b is provided, and the cover 101a and the bottom portion 101b are connected by the hinge portion 103.

The case 101 accommodates a main control device 90 (details of which are omitted), and
It is sealed by screwing the one-way screw 2a into the screw screwing portion 102b of the other party. Since the one-way screw cannot be loosened, the screw holding part 102a or the screw screw part 102b
Must be cut or destroyed. After the case 101 is broken and the case 101 is opened, the main controller 9
0, the remaining (normal) screw holding portion 10
What is necessary is just to screw the one way screw 2a into the screw screw part 102b of the other party. Therefore, proper opening and closing such as repair can be performed up to three times. Further, in the case of unauthorized opening / closing, it can be easily found by checking the opening / closing history.

Headers 105, 106 and 107 are attached to the wiring board of the main control unit 90, and the cable insertion openings 108a, 108b and 108
c is provided. The flat cable 104 for inputting and outputting signals to and from the main control device 90 reaches the inside of the case 101 through these cable insertion openings 108a, 108b, and 108c, and is connected to the headers 105, 106, and 107.

The flat cable 104 and the header 105,
The connection state with 106 and 107 is as shown in FIG. Here, it is represented by the header 105. The header 105 shown in FIG. 4A has a long lock lever 105a, and the connector 109 on the flat cable 104 side is provided with an adjuster 109a for folding and holding the end of the flat cable 104.

On the other hand, the header 105 shown in FIG. 4B has a short lock lever 105b, and the adjuster is not attached to the connector 109 on the flat cable 104 side. In each case, the resin portion of the header 105 (other than the contacts 105d and the header pins) is entirely made of a transparent resin, and the surface of the wiring board 90a of the main control device 90, that is, the wiring pattern can be seen through the header 105.

The connector 109 is also made of a transparent resin except for the metal contacts, and the adjuster 109a is also made of a transparent resin. Therefore, the connector 1
09 or the connector 1 or the header 1
Through 05, you can see inside them. At this time, the flat cable 104 does not interfere.

Although illustration and description are omitted, the operation control device 7
0, payout control device 80, launch control device 100, power supply control device 110, display control device 120, and voice control device 13
0 is also housed in a transparent case similarly to the main control device 90, each header is also made of transparent resin like the above-mentioned header 105, and the connector of each flat cable 104 is also made of transparent resin like the connector 109. It is. Therefore, even in these control devices, the surface of the wiring board can be seen through the header, and the inside of the header and the connector can be seen.

An outline of the electric system of the pachinko machine 10 is shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, a control unit is configured by the above-described operation control device 70, payout control device 80, main control device 90, firing control device 100, power supply control device 110, display control device 120, and voice control device 130. Note that the display control device 120 is hidden by the operation control device 70, and the voice control device 130 is hidden by the launch control device 100, and is not shown in FIG.

The main control unit 90 includes a well-known CPU, R
It is a computer including an OM, a RAM, a random number counter, an input / output circuit, and the like. The main control device 90 includes a full switch 60, a specific start detection unit 23a built in the start winning device 23 for detecting a winning ball, a normal start detection unit 28a built in the gate 28 and detecting a passing ball, A normal winning detection unit 27a provided in the winning opening 27 to detect each winning ball, a winning ball detection 24a built in the big winning device 24 and detecting a winning ball to the big winning opening 26, the inside of the big winning opening 26 A specific ball detection 24b, a shortage ball detection 54a, a payout number detection 56a, a lending ball number detection 56b, which detects a game ball passing through a specific area provided in the front side, and a signal level changes when the front frame 13 is opened. Frame open detection 13
a, a metal frame opening detection 14a whose signal level changes when the glass frame 14 is opened, and a launching ball detection 66a that detects a game ball fired by the launching device 66 are connected,
The main control device 90 can acquire a detection signal and the like from these.

The main controller 90 includes the operation controller 7
0, the payout control device 80, the launch control device 100, the display control device 120, and the voice control device 130 are connected,
The main controller 90 transmits commands to these, and the respective units of the pachinko machine 10 are controlled by the respective controllers performing control processing according to the commands. Further, the power supply control device 110 controls electric power supplied to each control device. In addition, the main control device 90 and the payout control device 80 are backed up by the auxiliary power supply 110a at the time of a power failure or the like.

As shown in FIG. 6, the actual signal transmission path from the main control device 90 to each control device is as follows: the main control device 90 → the launch control device 100 → the voice control device 130.
→ Payout control device 80 → Operation control device 70 → Symbol display device 120. From the main control device 90 to other control devices (the operation control device 70, the payout control device 80, the firing control device 100, the display control device 120, and the voice control device 13)
The transmission of the command to 0) is one-sided, and the updating process is performed by the interrupt command transmission method and every time the reset interruption is performed as the level transmission method. Note that mutual communication is possible between other control devices.

The display control device 120 includes a well-known CPU, R
This is a computer including an OM, a RAM, an input / output circuit, and the like, and controls the display of the liquid crystal display device 22 according to a command sent from the main control device 90. The liquid crystal display device 22 includes a frame decoration display unit 22a, an LCD illumination power supply unit 22b, an LCD panel 22c, and a symbol control unit 22.
The symbol control unit 22d drives the LCD panel 22c in response to an instruction from the display control device 120,
An image is displayed on the LCD panel 22c by controlling turning on and off of the backlight by the CD lighting power supply unit 22b. The blinking of the lamps in the frame decoration display section 22a is directly controlled by the display control device 120.

The operation control unit 70 includes a well-known CPU, RO
It is a computer including an M, a RAM, an input / output circuit, and the like, and controls a solenoid and lamps according to a command sent from the main control device 90. Operation control device 7
0 indicates the normal symbol display 34b and the normal symbol display 3
4a, a prize door solenoid 24c for opening and closing the prize door 25 of the special prize opening 26, a prize device lamp 26c installed inside the special prize opening 26, a specific control solenoid 24d for opening and closing a specific area, a start prize An electric accessory solenoid 23b for opening and closing the device 23, an ordinary winning opening lamp 27b attached to the ordinary winning opening 27, a specific starting opening lamp 23c attached to the starting winning arrangement 23, a windmill lamp 29a built in the lamp windmill 29, a side. A lamp 35, a window winning display section 36, a ball shortage display section 37, a probability change display section 38, a hit display section 39, an external output device 150, and a full display 30a are connected.

The firing control device 100 controls the operation of the firing device 66 and is a computer having a well-known CPU, ROM, RAM, input / output circuit, and the like. The firing control device 100 detects whether the firing stop button 66b for temporarily stopping the operation of the firing device 66, the touch plate 66c provided on the firing handle 17, and the cam of the firing device 66 are at fixed points. Fixed point stop detection 66d
From the launching device 66 in response to these signals and a command sent from the main control device 90.
Operation, ball sending device 66 for sending game balls to firing device 66
e and the lighting of the touch display section 17a is controlled.

In this embodiment, a stepping motor is used as a motor serving as a driving source of the firing device 66, and its reference pulse is sent from the main control device 90 to the firing control device 100. Controls the stepping motor using this reference pulse. For this reason, for example, it is not possible to increase the number of shots per unit time (current regulations stipulate less than 100 shots per minute) by illegally replacing the crystal oscillator of the firing control device 100 (in a game store). Attempts to increase sales are prevented).

The payout control device 80 includes a well-known CPU, RO
M, a RAM, a computer provided with an input / output circuit, etc., controls the discharge of award balls in response to a command sent from the main controller 90, and controls the discharge of a ball to be loaned in response to a signal from the lending button 31a. The balance display unit 31c is controlled. Since the lending button 31a is necessary for controlling the discharge of the lending ball, the lending reception connection terminal 150b communicates with the lending reception device 111. The payout control device 8
The signal of the replenishment sensor 53a is also input to 0 and the ball tank 5
When 2 becomes empty, a supply request signal is sent from the supply request terminal 52a to the supply equipment to supply game balls.

The voice control unit 130 is provided with the main control unit 9
A signal for audio output is generated according to the command sent from 0, thereby causing the speaker 130a to emit audio. One of the features of the pachinko machine 10 is that the main control device 90 controls other control devices (the operation control device 70, the payout control device 80, the launch control device 100, the display control device 12
0 and the voice control device 130).

As shown in FIG. 4, the outline of the transmission path is, for example, a header 105, a connector 109, a flat cable 1
04. A circuit configuration for transmitting and receiving command data will be described using the main control device 90 and the display control device 120 as representatives. As shown in FIG. 7, the main control device 90 has an IC 1 (S in this embodiment) in which eight D latches 91 (ie, 8 bits) are sealed.
NLS74273N or equivalent), and an IC2 provided with eight open collector inverters 92 (for eight bits) in a PNP transistor array. One data bus 93 is connected to a data terminal D of each D-latch 91, an address signal from an address generation circuit 94 is input to a clock terminal CLK, and a reset signal from the address generation circuit 94 is input to a reset terminal R. Is done. The output terminal Q- is connected to the input terminal of the inverter 92. The output terminal of the inverter 92 is connected to the display control device 120 in the configuration illustrated in FIG.

On the display control device 120 side, there is provided an IC 3 having eight photocouplers 121 each including a light emitting diode and a phototransistor. A line connected to the output terminal of the inverter 92 is connected to the positive electrode of the light emitting diode via a resistor R1. Have been. Further, the negative electrode of the light emitting diode is grounded on the main controller 90 side via the flat cable 104 or the like. The collector of the phototransistor is connected to the input terminal of a three-state buffer 122 (eight of the three-state buffers 122 are sealed in the IC 4). The output terminal D of the three-state buffer 122 is connected to one of the data buses 123 of the display control device 120, and an address signal from the address generation circuit 124 is input to the clock terminal CLK. Further, an input terminal of the three-state buffer 122 is connected to a not-shown C via a switching diode SD and a capacitor C1.
It is connected to the interrupt request terminal IRQ of the PU. The interrupt request terminal IRQ is pulled up by a resistor R2 connected between the capacitor C1 and the switching diode SD.

FIG. 7 shows one bit (data buses 93 and 123, address generation circuits 94 and 1).
Apart from 24. ), The same configuration is provided for 8 bits. Although illustration is omitted, since the flat cable 104 easily picks up noise, a low-impedance input and output is provided with a low-pass filter and a high-pass filter as a countermeasure against this.

When the main controller 90 sends, for example, command data, an address signal is first input to the clock terminal CLK of the D latch 91 by the address generation circuit 94 as shown in FIG. Then, the data bus 93
(The high level in the example of FIG. 7B) is input to the data terminal D, and the output terminal Q- is latched at the low level by turning off the address signal. Then, since the output terminal of the inverter 92 becomes high level, the light emitting diode of the photocoupler 121 is turned on and the phototransistor is turned on, so that the interrupt request terminal IRQ changes to low level through the switching diode SD. This level change is differentiated by the capacitor C1 as shown in FIG. In the case of the present embodiment, the CPU of the display control device 120 causes the address generation circuit 124 to generate an address signal when the interrupt request terminal IRQ becomes low level and to input the address signal to the clock terminal CLK of the three-state buffer 122. The level (high level in this example) of the output terminal D of the three-state buffer 122 is taken from the data bus 123 into the CPU.

As shown in FIG. 7A, the switching diodes SD for 8 bits are connected in parallel, and all of them are connected to the interrupt request terminal IRQ via the capacitor C1. If any one bit goes high, the interrupt request terminal IRQ changes to low as described above. Therefore, the CPU simultaneously inputs address signals to the clock terminals CLK of the eight three-state buffers 122 in response to a change to the low level of the interrupt request terminal IRQ, thereby simultaneously inputting signals of 8 bits. it can. Therefore, the CPU does not need to periodically watch the state of input of data from the main control device 90, and the processing amount of the CPU is reduced accordingly, and other processing can be performed.

When the main controller 90 finishes outputting data, a reset signal from the address generation circuit 94 is input to the reset terminal R of the D latch 91 as shown in FIG. Then, the latch of the output terminal Q- is released and returns to the high level, so that the output terminal of the inverter 92 goes to the low level.

As a result, the light emitting diode of the photocoupler 121 is turned off and the phototransistor is turned off. At this time, a back electromotive voltage is generated at the interrupt request terminal IRQ, but is absorbed by a diode inside the interrupt request terminal IRQ, and
No Q signal is accepted.

Next, the processing executed by the main control device 90 and the processing when another control device receives data from the main control device 90 (represented by the display control device 120) will be described. First, with reference to FIG. 8, a main process executed by the main control device 90 (accurately, its CPU) every time a timer is interrupted will be described.

When the main control unit 90 starts the main processing by the timer interruption, it starts the program from a predetermined address according to the interruption setting (S301). Next, it is determined whether or not to start by turning on the power, based on data at a predetermined address in the RAM (S302). If the power is turned on, various initial values are set (S303). The data used for the determination in S302 is also set in this process.

Subsequent to S303 or in the case of a negative determination in S302, it is determined whether or not the last time 00 (hexadecimal) data was output (S304). If the determination is affirmative (S304:
YES) Output FF (hexadecimal) data (S305),
The output is cleared (S306). If the judgment is negative (S
304: NO), 00 (hexadecimal) data is output (S3
07), the output is cleared (S308). That is,
FF (hexadecimal) data and 00 (hexadecimal) data are output alternately.

After the processing of S306 or S308, FIG.
(S320) to detect a signal input from a switch or a sensor such as the specific start detecting unit 23a shown in (1), for example, a special symbol hit or miss in response to the detection of a winning ball by the specific start detecting unit 23a, and the normal start detecting unit 28a. (Step S 321), a determination is made as to whether or not a normal symbol is hit or not in accordance with the detection of a passing sphere, and various determinations are made based on the signal input in S 312.

Subsequently, a process of sending command data to another control device based on the determination in S321 is performed. In the case of this embodiment, the special symbol data addressed to the display control device 120 and the normal symbol data addressed to the operation control device 70 are output (S322), and the output is cleared (S32).
3), output of ramp data addressed to the operation control device 70 (S324), clear of the output (S325), output of payout data addressed to the payout control device 80 (S326),
Clear the output (S327), output the firing data addressed to the launch control device 100 (S328), clear its output (S329), output the voice data addressed to the voice control device 130 (S330), output Clear (S33
It is performed in the order of 1). Since these command data pass through a common transmission path, they are also received by a control device other than the destination control device.

However, each of them is hexadecimal data of 10 to 5
80 of F are for display control device 120, 48 of 60-8F
32 for the operation control device 70, 32 for 90 to AF are for the payout control device 80, and 16 for B0 to BF are for the firing control device 10.
48 for C0 and EF for voice control device 130
1 to 0F and F0 to FE are set for emergency use (for communication between the control devices), and each control device can determine whether or not the command data is addressed to itself. Is not performed.

Next, the process waits for a timer interrupt while repeatedly updating various counters (for example, a counter used for judging a hit or miss in S313) (S350). The period of the timer interrupt is constant, but starting from S301 and starting at S32
The processing time up to 9 is not constant. For this reason, the number of times of processing in S329 is not constant, so that the periodicity of various counters can be avoided.

As described above, every time the main controller 90 executes the main processing once, the FF (hexadecimal) data or the 0
0 (hexadecimal) data is alternately transmitted to each control device.
Each control device determines whether the transmission path is normal based on the data. The process is as shown in FIG. 9, and is executed as the interrupt process caused by the IRQ signal described with reference to FIG. When each control device, for example, the display control device 120 starts the interrupt process by the IRQ signal, first, it acquires data (S401). And
Whether the data is FF (hexadecimal) (S402), 0
It is determined whether the value is 0 (hexadecimal) (S403). FF
If it is (hexadecimal) data or 00 (hexadecimal) data, it can be confirmed that the transmission path is normal (no disconnection has occurred). In addition, since these are not commands of the substantive processing, this interrupt processing is terminated as it is.

If the acquired data is not FF (hexadecimal) (S402: NO), it is not 00 (hexadecimal) (S
403: NO), it is determined whether or not the data is the same as the data acquired last time (S404). If the data is the same, save it in the data work area of the RAM (S
405), and sets an error flag (S406).

As is clear from the description of the processing of the main controller 90 in FIG. 8, the special symbol data, the ordinary symbol data, the lamp data, the payout data, the firing data, and the voice data are transmitted in this order, and the use of the data is performed. Range is display control device 1
20, the operation control device 70, the payout control device 80, the launch control device 100, the voice control device 130, and the emergency, so that if normal, the same data as the previous time cannot be transmitted. . Therefore, if the same data as the previous data has been received, it is stored in the data work area (S405), and an error flag is set (S40).
6).

If the data is different from the previous data (S40
4: NO), it is determined whether the data is addressed to itself (for example, in the case of the display control device 120, whether it is any of 10 to 5F hexadecimal data or emergency data) (S407). ), If it is addressed to itself, it is stored in the data work area (S408).

If an error flag is set in this interrupt processing (S406), when one of the FF (hexadecimal) data is to be sent next, one bit (or a plurality of bits) remains at low level. If so, it is found that the line corresponding to the bit is disconnected. FF (hex)
And 00 (hexadecimal) correspond to disconnection detection data, and the interrupt processing in FIG. 9 corresponds to disconnection detection means.

On the basis of this, in the case of the display control device 120, for example, the character "What is the disconnection" is displayed on the liquid crystal display device 22, and in the case of the voice control device 130, the same content is output as voice. In addition, the operation control device 70, the payout control device 80, and the launch control device 100 are provided with error indicators 70a, 80a of 7-segment LEDs provided respectively.
At 100a, a display capable of specifying the disconnected line is performed. The point at which the display control device 120 causes the liquid crystal display device 22 to display the disconnection corresponds to disconnection display control means. Further, the voice output and error indicators 70a, 8 of the voice control device 130 are provided.
The display by 0a and 100a corresponds to the disconnection notifying means.

As described above, the display control device 120, the operation control device 70, the payout control device 80, the firing control device 100, and the voice control device 130 are respectively operated by the main control device 90.
The disconnection of the parallel transmission path from the device is detected, and the disconnection is displayed on the liquid crystal display device 22 (display control device 120), output by voice (voice control device 130),
In addition, since the error indicators 70a, 80a, and 100a are displayed, measures such as not operating the pachinko machine 10 that has been notified of the disconnection by, for example, displaying or sound output on the liquid crystal display device 22 or the like at the time of startup before opening the store are taken. Will be possible.

Further, even if a disconnection occurs during operation,
Since this is displayed, for example, by the liquid crystal display device 22, a game clerk or the like can stop the pachinko machine 10 according to this display. The player also knows the disconnection (failure of the gaming machine) by looking at the display, so that unnecessary trouble in stopping the pachinko machine 10 can be prevented.

Further, since the flat cable, the connector, and the resin portion of the header for forming a parallel transmission path from the main control device 90 to the display control device 120 are all translucent, the broken portion can be accurately found. .
This visual inspection needs to be performed only for one pachinko machine 10 (the disconnected pachinko machine 10), so that the amount of work is small.

Further, it can be determined whether the flat cable is broken or the terminal of the connector or the header is defective (for example, broken). That is, since it is possible to know which one of the flat cable, the connector and the header should be replaced, an accurate repair can be performed. Further, the presence or absence of a disconnection is detected for each line of the parallel transmission path, and information that can identify the line in which the disconnection is detected is displayed on the liquid crystal display device 22 or the like. You can see if the line is broken. Accordingly, it is extremely easy to find a broken portion by visual inspection of the flat cable, the connector, and the header.

In addition, for the common part of the parallel transmission path, the operation control device 70, the payout control device 80, the emission control device 10 corresponding to the display control device 120 and the sub-control device.
Since the double check is performed with 0 and the voice control device 130, the disconnection of this portion can be more reliably detected. (Modification 1) The above example has a configuration in which FF (hexadecimal) data or 00 (hexadecimal) data is alternately transmitted to each control device each time the main control device 90 executes the main process once. However, in this case, every time each control device receives the data, the FF (hexadecimal) data or 00 (hexadecimal) data must be discriminated, so that the original processing may be delayed.

Therefore, the configuration shown in FIG. 10 can be adopted. In addition, in the example of FIG.
3, the processing of S320-331 and S350 is the same as that of FIG. In this example, after S303 or S
When a negative determination is made in 302, it is determined whether or not the search flag is set (S310). The search flag is set in the initial value setting in S303.

If the search flag is set (S31
0: YES), it is determined whether or not the 00 flag is set (S311). If the 00 flag is not set (S311: NO), FF (hexadecimal) data is output (S312), and the output is cleared (S313), and 00
The flag is set (S314).

If the 00 flag is set (S31
1: YES), 00 (hexadecimal) data is output (S31)
5) The output is cleared (S316), and the 00 flag is released (S317). Thereafter, after executing S320 to S331, it is determined whether or not the data transmitted as described above has changed from the previous time (S341). If the data has not changed (S341: NO), the search flag is set. It is set (S342). If there is a change in the data (S341: Y
ES), each output flag is released (S343), and if the search flag is set (S344: YES), this is also released (S345).

After S342 or S345 or S34
If a negative determination is made in step 4, the flow advances to step S350 to wait for a timer interrupt while repeatedly updating various counters. As described above, when the search flag is set, FF (hexadecimal) or 00 (hexadecimal) is alternately transmitted to each control device each time the main processing is performed once. Each control device determines whether the transmission path is normal based on the data. The processing is based on FIG. However, if there is a change in the data (S341: YES), the search flag is cleared (S345), so that FF (hexadecimal) or 00 (hexadecimal) is not output in the next processing. Therefore, in each control device, FF (hexadecimal) data or 00 (16
It is not necessary to carry out the process of determining the (hex) data, and it is possible to concentrate on the original process. (Modification 2) As illustrated in FIG. 11 or as illustrated in FIG. 11, the main control device 90 sets an interrupt in the main process (S30).
If it is determined that the activation is started by turning on the power after (1) (S3)
02: YES), following the initial value setting (S303),
Other control devices (operation control device 70, payout control device 80,
Waiting for completion of the initial setting of the launch control device 100, the display control device 120, and the voice control device 130) (S36)
1) After transmitting FF (hexadecimal) data to another control device (S362), a normal control process (for example, the processes of S320 to S350 shown in FIG. 8) can be performed.

In this case, another control device (the operation control device 7)
0, the payout control device 80, the launch control device 100, the display control device 120, and the voice control device 130), as shown in FIG. 12, determine whether or not to start by turning on the power after the setting of the interrupt address (S501). If the power is turned on (S502: YES), initial values are set (S503), and data from the main control device 90 is acquired (S504). Then, the data is FF (16
Is determined (S505), and FF (16)
If not, it means that a disconnection or the like has occurred somewhere as described above, so that processing as disconnection display control means or disconnection notification means is executed as error processing in the same manner as described above (S506). If the data is FF (hexadecimal) data (S505: YES), since no disconnection or the like has occurred, the normal control processing of each control device (S5:
07).

In the case of the second modification, the presence / absence of a disconnection is checked only once at the time of start-up by turning on the power supply. Therefore, if a disconnection occurs during operation, it cannot be detected. However, since it is not performed during normal operation, there is an advantage that the burden on the main control device 90 and other control devices is light and the configuration is simple.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the examples and the modifications. However, the present invention is not limited to these examples, and can be variously implemented without departing from the gist of the present invention. Needless to say.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a pachinko machine according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the pachinko machine according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a case of the control device used in the pachinko machine of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a connection relationship between a flat cable, a connector, and a header in the pachinko machine of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an electric system of the pachinko machine according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a transmission path of command data in the pachinko machine of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of transmission of command data from the main control device of the pachinko machine of the embodiment to another control device.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a main process executed by the main control device of the pachinko machine according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an interrupt process executed when another control device of the pachinko machine of the embodiment acquires data from the main control device.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a first modification of the main process of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a second modification of the main process in FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a process performed by another control device corresponding to the main process (Modification 2) of FIG. 11;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Pachinko machine 20 Game board 22 Liquid crystal display device 23 Start winning device 24 Big winning device 26 Big winning opening 55 Payout device 66 Launch device 70 Operation control device (sub-control device, illumination control device,
Actuator control device) 80 Dispensing control device (sub-control device) 90 Main control device 90a Wiring board 100 Launch control device (sub-control device) 104 Flat cable 105 Header 109 Connector 110 Power control device 111 Lending accepting device 120 Display control device 130 Voice Control device (sub-control device) 150 External output device

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A game machine comprising: a main control device for determining a hit / miss; a display device for displaying a hit / miss; and a display control device for controlling an operation of the display device in response to an instruction from the main control device. The flat cable for forming a parallel transmission path from the main control device to the display control device, a connector, and a resin portion of a header are all translucent, and the display control device transmits the signal from the main control device. Disconnection detection means for detecting the presence or absence of a disconnection in the parallel transmission path based on the disconnection detection data to be performed, and disconnection display control means for displaying on the display device that the disconnection has been detected by the disconnection detection means. A gaming machine comprising: 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein said disconnection detecting means detects presence or absence of a disconnection for each line of said parallel transmission path, and said disconnection display control means uses said disconnection detection means to perform said disconnection. A game machine for displaying information capable of specifying a line in which a line is detected on the display device. 3. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the disconnection detection data shares a part of the parallel transmission path with a sub-control device that controls an electric component different from the display device. A gaming machine, wherein the sub-control device is provided with the disconnection detecting means and disconnection notifying means for notifying that the disconnection is detected by the disconnection detecting means. 4. The gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein, as the sub-control device, a pay-out control device that controls a value pay-out device for giving a game value such as a prize to a player, and an electric device that controls lamps. A gaming machine comprising any or all of a decoration control device, an actuator control device for controlling an actuator such as a solenoid, a launch control device for controlling a launch device for a game ball, and a voice control device for controlling a voice output. .