JPH0230272B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a gaming card used in a so-called card-type pachinko machine, and particularly relates to a storage device for storing game ball count data related to a pachinko game. , an input/output device that can input and output game ball number data from the outside to the storage device, and a display device that visually displays the game ball number data stored in the storage device are integrally formed. .

<Prior Art> The basic structure of a card-type pachinko machine was proposed by the applicant of the present application in Japanese Patent Application No. 154787-1987. This is because the actual balls actually fired by the player are sealed in a fixed number inside the pachinko machine and are recycled, and the number of balls held by the player at the beginning of the game, the number of fired balls, the number of winning balls, the number of winning balls, and the associated number of balls are used. All data associated with pachinko games, such as the number of converted prize balls and the number of prize balls to be provided to the player after the game is stopped or finished, are converted into electrical signals and calculated electronically, and the players memorize these electrical signals. All you have to do is carry around the card, and there is no need to touch the real ball, which tends to be bulky. Of course, such cards can also be applied to coin-operated pachinko machines where players compete to increase or decrease the number of coins.

The cards used in the conventional card-type pachinko machines described above have a magnetic band formed on the surface of the card, and information such as the number of balls is stored in this magnetic band, or information such as the number of balls is stored in the card itself. This is a configuration in which a punch hole is punched.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> The above-mentioned conventional information storage cards cannot directly visually display information such as the number of balls in the player's hand, and are difficult for beginners and female players who are unfamiliar with pachinko games. There was a sense of distrust towards this, and the hassle of having to go through the leader of a pachinko machine or prize exchange each time. That is, even if a player obtains a card by inserting currency at a card issuing machine, the number of pitches stored on the card cannot be visually confirmed at the player's hand. For this reason, it is inconvenient for a player who leaves a pachinko machine to always remember the number of balls when moving to another pachinko machine to play. It is difficult to decide whether to play the game again or exchange it for a prize based on the number of balls.

Further, in conventional cards, the stored data is rewritten by magnetic action while the magnetic head and the magnetic surface of the card are in contact with each other, so that they are not reliable in pachinko machines where rewriting is frequently performed. Furthermore, since storage is performed by magnetic action, there is a risk that the magnetic surface of the card may react to external magnetism and damage the stored data.

<Means for Solving the Problems> The present invention has been proposed in view of the above, and includes a storage device 6 for storing game ball number data related to pachinko games, and a storage device 6 into which game ball number data is externally input. A gaming card 1 that integrally includes an input/output device 12 capable of outputting data and a display device 2 that visually displays game ball count data stored in the storage device.
The input/output device of the gaming card is optical.
It is composed of an electrical converter 12A and an electrical-to-optical converter 12B, and is indirectly connected to the electrical-to-optical converter 14B and the optical-to-electrical converter 14A of the control device 20 provided in the pachinko machine, facing each other. This makes it possible to communicate game ball number data, and update the game ball number data in the storage device based on data sent by the control device of the pachinko machine.

<Function> The card storage device and the control device of the pachinko machine are indirectly connected through an input/output device composed of a light-to-electrical converter and an electric-to-optical converter, and data on the number of game balls can be instantly transferred. Communication is possible. Then, the player can visually display the stored data of the card on the display device as needed.

<Examples> Examples of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the card 1 according to the present invention has, for example, a game ball count display device 2 as a display device. This game ball number display device 2 has, for example, a 5-digit liquid crystal display 3, and is controlled by a control device 5 that is driven by the output of a read command switch 4 to display the number of game balls stored in a storage device 6. Display data visually.

The storage device 6 and the control device 5 are configured in a circuit as shown in FIG. That is, the card 1 has a storage device 6 having a register configuration, and the stored data is given to the game ball count display device 2 via the driver 11 in response to the read command output RD of the read command switch 4.

However, the writing and reading of data to and from the storage device 6 is executed via the input/output device 12 in response to signals from a central processing unit of a control device of a ball lending machine, a pachinko machine, a payment machine, etc. For example, the following configuration can be applied to a pachinko machine.

The input/output device 12 has an optical-to-electrical converter 12A formed by arranging a group of light-receiving elements of a predetermined number of bits, and an electro-optical converter 12B formed by arranging a group of light-emitting elements of a predetermined number of bits in the insertion direction. For example, they are placed on the left and right positions. When the card 1 is inserted into the card insertion slot 13 of the pachinko machine, these optical-to-electrical converter 12A and the electric-to-optical converter 12B convert the light that constitutes the input/output device 14 on the pachinko machine side, as shown in FIG. - It is arranged to face the electric conversion device 14A and the electric-to-optical conversion device 14B, and transmits and receives signals by converting the data converted into an optical signal by the light emitting diode into an electric signal by a phototransistor. This is done by indirectly joining.

The optical-to-electrical converter 12A of the card 1 supplies the write command signal WR or the read command signal RE received from the electric-to-optical converter 14B of the pachinko machine to the bidirectional driver 15 and the storage device 6 as a control signal.
When the write command signal WR arrives, the bidirectional driver 15 writes into the storage device 6 the game ball count data that subsequently arrives from the pachinko machine. Also read command signal
When RE arrives, the bidirectional driver 15 then transfers the stored data in the storage device 6 to the electro-optic converter 1.
Transferred to the pachinko machine side via 2B.

In addition, in FIG. 1, 16 is a battery provided as a driving power source.

As shown in FIG. 4, the control device 20 of the pachinko machine has a central processing unit (CPU) 21 configured as a microcomputer, and its program memory 22.
By specifying a program stored in advance in the computer, the arithmetic processing unit 23 is operated to control each part of the pachinko machine, and it also transfers data to and from the inserted card 1 and stores the data of the game results of the pachinko machine in the data memory. Perform calculations using 24.

That is, when the card 1 is inserted into the card insertion slot 13, the control device 20 of the pachinko machine issues a data read command to the input/output device 12 of the card 1 via the bidirectional driver 25 and further via the input/output device 14. A signal RE is applied to cause the data in the storage device 6 of the card 1 to be stored in the game ball number data memory area of the data memory 24 via the input/output device 14 and the bidirectional driver 25. This allows the player to start playing the pachinko machine.

On the other hand, when the player operates the settlement switch 26, the control device 20 gives a data write command signal WR to the card 1 and transfers the game ball count data from the data memory 24 to the bidirectional driver 25 and the input/output device 14.
The game ball number data representing the game result is given to the card 1 via the card 1, and the contents of the storage device 6 of the card 1 are updated.

Inserting and returning the card 1 to the pachinko machine is performed using the card processing mechanism 31 shown in FIG. 5, which is controlled by the control device 20 (FIG. 4).

When card 1 is inserted into card insertion slot 13,
The card insertion detector 32 detects this and inputs the detection signal to the central processing unit 21 via the card transport control receiver 33. At this time, the central processing unit 21 drives the card feed motor 35 via the driver 34 to rotate the card feed roller 36 and draw the card 1 into the card path 37. As a result, when the card 1 comes to the position of the input/output device 14 on the pachinko machine side, the fixed position detector 38 detects this and inputs the detection signal to the central processing unit 21 via the receiver 33. At this time, the central processing unit 2
1 stops the motor 35 via the driver 34 and drives the insertion blocking solenoid 39 to prevent the card 1 from being inserted thereafter.

Thereafter, the central processing unit 21 reads the data of the card 1 and stores it in the data memory 24, and displays it on the pitch count display device 42 via the driver 41. In this state, when the player operates the start switch 43 provided on the front frame of the pachinko machine, a start command is given to the central processing unit 21 via the command input receiver 44, and the pachinko machine is thus ready to play. become.

Every time a player hits a game ball, the ball detector 4
5 is detected and "1" is subtracted from the game ball number data in the data memory 24, and when this data becomes "0", the game ends. At this time, the central processing unit 21 drives the card intake solenoid 46 via the driver 34 to move the fixed position detector 38 to the card passage 37.
When the fixed position detector 38 turns off, the motor 35 is driven and the card 1 is taken into the card pool 47. Note that 48 is an intake confirmation detector, and its output stops the motor 35.

On the other hand, if a batted ball enters the winning hole during the game, the safe detector 51 detects this and the central processing unit 21 enters the number of prize balls (for example, 15 balls) into the game ball number data in the data memory 24 via the receiver 44. to add. Further, if a hit ball enters the outro during the game, the out ball detector 52 detects this and the central processing unit 21 accumulates it in the data memory 24 via the receiver 44.

Thus, the game ball count data obtained based on the detection output of the safe detector 51 and the out ball detector 52
When the data on the number of out pitches obtained based on the detection output exceeds the scheduled number of batted balls, the central processing unit 21 lights up the batted out display device 53 provided on the front frame via the driver 34.

At this time, the central processing unit 21
4 is transferred to the card 1 via the bidirectional driver 25 and the input/output device 14, and stored in the storage device 6 of the card 1. Note that such memory is stored in the card presence/absence detector 54 (fifth
This is executed on the condition that there is a detection output as shown in the figure.

Thereafter, the central processing unit 21 demagnetizes the insertion blocking solenoid 39 and drives the motor 35 in reverse to return the card 1 from the card insertion slot 13 to the player's hand.

The above has described how to return the card 1 at the time of cancellation, but when the settlement switch 26 is operated, the central processing unit 21 of the control device 20 uses the data of the number of game balls in the data memory 24 via the receiver 44 to return the card 1. After updating the data stored in the storage device 6 of the card 1, the card 1 is returned to the player.

In the above embodiment, an example of the card insertion mechanism and control device of a pachinko machine has been described, but the conveyance of the card 1 and the exchange of data are performed in the same manner in ball rental machines, payment machines, etc.

In the case of a ball lending machine, data on the number of game balls corresponding to the amount of money inserted by the player is stored in the storage device 6 of the card 1, and then sent and issued to the player's hand. In addition, in the case of a payment machine, when the player inserts the card 1 that he/she has brought into the card slot, the payment machine reads the game ball count data stored in the card 1 and prints this on, for example, a receipt to play the game. After returning the card to the person, the card can be retrieved. At this time, the player can exchange for prizes by going to the prize exchange office with the receipt.

Regarding the data to be stored in card 1,
In the above explanation, only the game ball count data has been described, but it goes without saying that it is also necessary to store management data such as the store name code, date code, etc. for card management and crime prevention purposes.

<Effects of the Invention> In summary, the present invention comprises an input/output device for a gaming card as an optical-to-electrical converter and an electric-to-optical converter, and the input/output device is configured as a controller for a pachinko machine. By indirectly connecting the electric-to-optical converter and the optical-to-electrical converter to face each other, data on the number of game balls can be exchanged, and the control device of the pachinko machine can transfer the number of game balls in the storage device provided on the card. It can be updated based on the transmitted data, and communication between the card storage device and devices that exchange data such as pachinko machines, ball rental machines, payment machines, etc. Since this is done via an input/output device configured with the device, data can be read and written reliably and is highly reliable, making it suitable for use as a pachinko machine card. In addition, since the input/output device is a non-contact type using optical-to-electrical converter and electric-to-optical converter, there is no possibility of poor contact or wear and damage of the contacts due to long-term use, unlike with contact type. It has extremely high durability and reliability, and there are no mistakes in data exchange. Further, unlike magnetic storage systems, the present invention does not react to external magnetism, and there is no fear that external magnetism will damage the stored contents. Therefore, there is no occurrence of trouble that would damage the credibility of the game parlor, and the players can enjoy the games with peace of mind.

Further, according to the present invention, the game ball count data is electronically stored in the storage device of the card, and this stored data is visually displayed on the display device of the card itself, so that the player can The stored game ball number data can be viewed visually whenever desired. Therefore, when a player removes a card from a pachinko machine, he or she does not have to remember the number of balls that was previously displayed on the pachinko machine, and can play the game with peace of mind. This will serve as a guideline when selecting a pachinko machine, making it easier to plan a strategy when selecting a pachinko machine.

In addition, when changing pachinko machines, beginners and female customers who are unfamiliar with pachinko can easily see the number of cards in their hand, so they can decide whether to continue playing or exchange for prizes. This makes it easier to attach, making it extremely convenient for customers who are unfamiliar with pachinko games.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a card, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of its control device, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an input/output device, and FIG. 4 is a diagram of a pachinko machine. FIG. 5 is a side view showing the card processing mechanism of the control device. In the figure, 1 is a card, 2 is a game ball count display device as a display device, 3 is a liquid crystal display, 4 is a read command switch, 5 is a control device, 6 is a storage device, 12, 1
4 is an input/output device, 12A and 14A are optical-electrical converters, 12B and 14B are electric-optical converters, 13
1 is a card insertion slot, 16 is a battery, 20 is a pachinko machine control device, and 31 is a card processing mechanism.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A storage device that stores game ball number data related to a pachinko game, an input/output device that can input and output game ball number data from the outside to the storage device, and a storage device that stores game ball number data related to pachinko games; A gaming card that is integrally formed with a display device that visually displays data on the number of game balls played, and the input/output device of the gaming card is composed of an optical-to-electrical conversion device and an electrical-to-optical conversion device. , the number of game balls data can be exchanged by indirectly connecting the electric-to-optical conversion device and the optical-to-electrical conversion device of the control device installed in the pachinko machine, so that the number of game balls data in the storage device can be exchanged. A card for a pachinko machine, characterized in that the card can be updated based on data sent out by a control device of the pachinko machine.