JPH0490777A - Display device of game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the perception and attractiveness of a pattern and the interest in a game by forming the transparent or translucent pattern on a pattern tube and disposing a luminescent element for illuminating the pattern from the rear in the pattern tube. CONSTITUTION:In the beginning of a pinball game, a CPU stops respective pattern tubes 20 to indicate any of patterns 23 in a display window 9. The CPU lights all LEDs 19 for illumination while holding upper, medium and lower stage LEDs 16-18 under the put-out condition. Thus, the pattern 23 on the pattern tube 20 is illuminated by a LED 19 for illumination from the rear side and luminously indicated to be perceived clearly from the player's side with the attractiveness different from that illuminated usually from the outside. Also, a picture card 23a with high light-transmissivity emits light brightly compared with the surrounding usual pattern 23 so that the player can easily grasp the movement of the picture card 23a in the rotation of the pattern tube 20.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a display device for a gaming machine, and for example, to a display device that is provided at the center of the gaming surface of a pachinko machine and displays symbols.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, this type of display device is provided in a pachinko machine or a slot machine. For example, in the case of a pachinko machine, the display device is provided in the center of the game surface.

This display device is equipped with three symbol tubes with many symbols drawn on the outer periphery, and each symbol tube is rotated by a stepping motor, and one of the symbols is displayed toward the player depending on the stopping angle of the motor. do. Then, the probability of the ball entering the winning hole is changed according to the combination of symbols displayed in this way.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in the above-mentioned display device, the L on the surface of the pattern cylinder is
Since a very common lighting method is adopted in which the symbols are illuminated by irradiating ED light, there is a problem that the visibility and appearance of each symbol are not very good and the game lacks interest.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a display device for a gaming machine that has good visibility and appearance of symbols and can enhance the fun of the game.

[Means to solve the problem]

The present invention provides a plurality of symbols on the outer periphery of an annular symbol tube, rotates the symbol tube with a motor, and displays one of the symbols toward the player depending on the stopping angle of the motor. Abstract: A display device for a gaming machine according to the present invention, in which the symbols of the symbol tube are formed in a transparent or semi-transparent shape, and a light emitting element for illuminating the symbols from the back side is arranged inside the symbol tube. That is.

[Effect]

The symbols on the symbol tube are illuminated from the back side by a light emitting element, and from the player's side, the symbols are displayed with light and are clearly visible, and the appearance is different from that when illuminated from the outside.

〔Example〕

An embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in a display device for a pachinko machine will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the pachinko machine of this embodiment.

As shown in this figure, a game surface 2 is formed on the surface of the front frame 1 of the pachinko machine, and a display device 3 is formed in the center of the game surface 2.
is provided. In addition, there are three winning holes 4 on the gaming surface 2.
are provided, and upper and lower prize ball plates 5 are provided on the lower side of the gaming surface 2.
, 6 and an operating handle 7 are installed.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the display device 3, and FIG. 4 is a plan view of the display device 3. In each figure, the left side is the player's side. As shown in these figures and FIG.
3 display boxes 10-12 are attached.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the first display box 10, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line X--X in FIG. 5, and in each figure, the right side is the player's side. As shown in these figures, a stepping motor 14 and a photoswitch 15 are fixed on the printed circuit board 13 of the first display box 1o, and seven switches are arranged in an arc shape around the output shaft 14a of the stepping motor 14. LEDs 16 to 19 are arranged. Each LED 16 to 19 are large upper, middle, and lower L
Separated into EDs 16 to 18 and small LEDs for lighting 19, upper, middle and lower LEDs 16 to 18 are LEDs for lighting.
They are arranged at equal intervals with two DI9s sandwiched between them.

In the pachinko machine of this embodiment, a light emitting element is constituted by the upper, middle, and lower LEDs I 6 to 18 and the illumination LED I 9.

An annular pattern cylinder 20 is fixed to the output shaft 14a of the stepping motor I4, and this pattern cylinder 2° surrounds the stepping motor I4, the photoswitch 15, and the LEDs 6 to 19 on the printed circuit board 13. An origin indicator 21 is provided on one side of the inner circumferential surface of the symbol tube 20, and when the symbol tube 2o is rotated by the stepping motor 14 to a predetermined rotation angle, the origin indicator 21 is displayed on the photoswitch 1.
It is detected at 5. Further, a case 22 is placed over the printed circuit board 13 to accommodate the pattern tube 20, and one side of the pattern tube 20 is provided with an opening 22a of the case 22.
and are exposed to the player side through the display window 9.

Although the configuration of the first display box 10 has been described above, the other display boxes 11 and 12 have exactly the same configuration.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the symbols of the symbol cylinder 20 displayed on the display window 9. As shown in this figure, many types of symbols 23 representing playing cards are drawn at equal intervals on the outer peripheral surface of the symbol cylinder 20, and the symbols 23 include picture cards 23a such as "King". Then, using the stepping motor 14, the pattern cylinder 2 is
0 is rotated and stopped at a predetermined rotation angle, three specific types of symbols 23 are made visible to the player through the display window 9. Moreover, the three kinds of patterns 23 at this time correspond to the upper, middle, and lower LEDs 16 to 18, respectively, and are illuminated from the back side by each of the LEDs 16 to 18.

In the display window 9, the part where the symbol cylinder 20 of the first display box 10 is displayed is the first display part 24, and similarly, the part where the symbol cylinder 20 of the second display box 11 is displayed is the second display part 24. The display portion 25 and the portion where the symbol tube 20 of the third display box 12 is displayed are referred to as a third display portion 26.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the cross-sectional structure of the symbol cylinder 20 and the LEDs 16 to 19. As shown in this figure, the pattern cylinder 20 is made of transparent resin, and two printed layers 27 and 28 are formed on its surface. The pattern 23 is printed on the print layer 27 on the surface side.
is printed, and the printing layer 28 on the inner surface side is translucent with a milky white color, and is formed except for the portion of the pattern 23 that corresponds to the picture card 23a. Therefore, each symbol 23 is semi-transparent, and the picture card 23a has a higher light transmittance than other parts.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine of this embodiment. As shown in this figure, a detection sensor 30 that detects a ball that has entered the winning slot 4 is connected to the input side of a central processing unit 29 (hereinafter referred to as CPU) that controls the operation of the pachinko machine. The photo switch 15 is connected to the input side of the CPU 29, and the stepping motor 14 and the upper, middle, and lower LEDs are connected to the output side of the CPU 29.
16 to 18 and an illumination LED 19 are connected.

In addition, CP[J29 has one drive-only memory 3■ (
(hereinafter referred to as ROM), and random access memory 3
2 (hereinafter referred to as RAM) is connected, and the ROM 31 stores various programs for executing pachinko games, and the CPU 29 executes various processes in accordance with these programs. Note that the RAM 32 is C
Data of processing performed by the PU 29 is temporarily stored.

Then, the CPU 29 determines whether the ball has entered the winning hole 4 based on the detection signal from the detection sensor 30, and operates the stepping motor 14 of each of the display boxes 10 to 12 to rotate the symbol tube 20.

Further, the CPU 29 determines the rotation angle of each symbol tube 20 based on the origin position of the symbol tube 20 detected by the photoswitch 15 while the symbol tube 20 is rotating, and determines the rotation angle of each symbol tube 20 from the symbol tube 20 of the first display box 10. Each symbol tube 20 is stopped in a state in which a predetermined symbol 23 is displayed on the display window 9.

Furthermore, the CPU 29 determines the type of the symbol 23 displayed on the display window 9 based on the rotation angle of the symbol cylinder 20, and selectively blinks the upper, middle, and lower LEDs 16 to 18 to display the picture card 23.
Only 3a is intermittently illuminated from the back side.

In addition, the CPU 29 has an LED 19 for lighting in the pachinko game center.
is turned on to illuminate all the patterns 23 displayed on the display window 9 from the back side.

Next, the process executed by the CPU 29 to control the lighting of the above-mentioned upper, middle, and lower LEDs 16 to 18 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 9.

In addition, in the pachinko machine of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, if the same face cards 23a line up along any of the five determination lines 33 drawn on the display window 9, a jackpot is achieved. The game rules are set as follows.

At the beginning of the pachinko game, as shown in FIG. 1.7, the CPU 29 stops each symbol tube 20 and displays one of the symbols 23 on the display window 9.

In addition, the CPU 29 has upper, middle, and lower LEDs 16 to 1.
8 is kept off, and all lighting LEDs 1
9 is lit. Therefore, the symbols 23 of the symbol cylinder 20 are illuminated from the back side by the illumination LED I 9, and from the player's side, the symbols 23 are displayed as light emitting lights and are clearly visible, and are different from the case where they are illuminated from the outside. It will look different. In addition, since the transmittance of the picture card 23a is high, the picture card 23a
The symbols 23a and 23b are brighter than the surrounding ordinary symbols 23 (they emit light), and the player can easily grasp the movement of the picture cards 23a when the symbol tube 20 is rotated.

Then, when the game is started and a ball enters the winning hole 4, each symbol tube 20 is rotated by rotation control of the symbol tube 20 performed in a separate routine, and first the symbol tube 20 of the first display box 10 is rotated. When stopped (as shown in FIG. 10), CPU2
9 confirms that the symbol tube 20 has stopped in step 1, and moves to step 2. Next, in step 2, the CPU 29 determines whether or not there is a picture card 23a among the three types of symbols 23 displayed on the first display section 24, and if the picture card 23a is not displayed, the process returns to step 1.

Further, when there is a picture card 23a among the displayed symbols 23, the CPU 29 moves to step 3 and blinks the LED 16 located on the back side of the picture card 23a at a predetermined period (in the case shown in FIG. 10, (Only the upper LED 16 blinks). Therefore, the picture card 23a is intermittently illuminated by the upper LED 16 from the back side, and the picture card 23a itself blinks, further increasing visibility for the player.

Next, when the symbol tube 20 of the second display box 11 is stopped in step 4 (as shown in FIG. 11), the CPU 29
In step 5, it is determined whether or not there is a picture card 23a among the three types of symbols 23 displayed on the second display section 25.
When "a" is not displayed, the process moves to step 6, and the upper LED 16, which has started blinking in the step 3, is turned off.

Also, among the symbols 23 displayed in step 5, there is a picture card 23a.
When there is a jackpot, the CPU 29 moves to the step 7 and blinks the LED 17 on the back side of the picture card 23a at a predetermined period, and at the same time, in the final third display section 26, the LED 18 on the back side of the picture card 23a that can be a jackpot is flashed at a predetermined period. (In the case shown in FIG. 11, the middle LED 17 is blinked on the second display section 25, and the lower LED 17 is blinked on the third display section 26.)
D18 will be flashing).

In addition, in Figure 11, there is a face card 23a that can be a jackpot.
Although there is only one picture card 23a, if there are a plurality of picture cards 23a, the respective LEDs 16 to 18 will blink. Further, in step 8, the CPU 29 shortens the blinking period of each of the LEDs 16 to 18 to inform the player that there is a high possibility of winning the jackpot.

Furthermore, when the symbol tube 20 of the third display box 12 is stopped in step 9, the CPU 29 proceeds to step 10 and determines whether the picture card 23a is positioned above the lower LED 18 blinking in the third display section 26. That is, it is determined whether or not the same picture cards 23a are aligned along the determination line 33. and,
If the picture cards 23a are not aligned, the process moves to step 6 and the LED 1 that started flashing in steps 3 and 7
Turn off lights 6 to 18. Also, in step 1o, picture card 23a
When all of the LEDs 16 to 18 on the back side of each picture card 23a are blinked for a predetermined period of time in step 11 (as shown in FIG.
D Turn off lights 16-18.

As described above, in the pachinko machine of this embodiment, the symbols 23 of the symbol tube 20 are formed in a semi-transparent shape, and the LEDs 16 to 19 are arranged within the symbol portion 20 to illuminate the symbols 23 from the back side. Therefore, during the game, the symbols 23 of the symbol tube 20 are LE from the back side.
D16 to D19 are illuminated to emit light, and the visibility and appearance of each pattern 23 can be improved.

In addition, a translucent printing layer 28 is provided at a location corresponding to the picture card 23a.
The transmittance of the picture card 23a is increased without forming any.

Therefore, the picture card 23a related to the jackpot emits light more brightly than the surrounding normal symbols 23, and the movement of the picture card 23a can be reliably grasped.

In addition, in the pachinko machine of this embodiment, the picture cards 23a displayed on the display window 9 are displayed on the upper, middle, and lower LEDs 16 to
18, it was made to illuminate intermittently from the back side. Therefore,
The picture card 23a itself flashes to further enhance visibility, allowing the player to easily determine whether there is a possibility of a jackpot.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and for example, although the above-mentioned embodiments are embodied in a display device for a pachinko machine, they may also be embodied in a display device for a slot machine.

Further, in the above embodiment, the display device is of a type in which three symbol tubes are rotated, but the number of symbol tubes may be two or only one.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the upper, middle and lower LEDs 16
~18 caused the picture card 23a to flash, but these LE
D16-18 may be omitted.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described in detail above, the display device for a gaming machine of the present invention exhibits an excellent effect in that the visibility and appearance of symbols are good.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the cross-sectional structure of the symbol tube and LEDs in the display device of the embodiment, Fig. 2 is a front view of the pachinko machine, Fig. 3 is a side view of the display device, and Fig. 4 is the same of the display device. A plan view, FIG. 5 is a side view of the first display box, FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line X-X in FIG. 5, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the pattern displayed on the display window, and FIG. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine, FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the operation, and FIGS. 10 and 11 are diagrams for explaining the operating order of the display device. 14 is a stepping motor; 16 is an upper LED that constitutes a light emitting element; 17 is a middle LED that constitutes a light emitting element;
Reference numeral 8 indicates a lower stage LED constituting a light emitting element, 19 an illumination LED constituting a light emitting element, 20 a pattern tube, and 23 a pattern. Patent applicant Newgin Co., Ltd. Agent Patent attorney On 1) Hironobu (and 1 other person) 1aa Figure 8 sam

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of designs (2
3), the symbol tube (20) is rotated by a motor (14), and one of the symbols (23) is displayed toward the player depending on the stopping angle of the motor (14). In the display device for a gaming machine, the symbol (23) of the symbol tube (20) is formed in a transparent or semi-transparent shape, and a light emitting element ( 16-19) A display device for a gaming machine.