JPH0552992B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Field of Industrial Application> The present invention relates to a switch device equipped with a switch that operates on and off.

<Prior art> Conventionally, this type of switch device repeatedly turns on and off a switch a number of times according to the size of input data, counts the number of times the switch is turned on and off, and displays the counted data. It is configured to display numerical values on the device.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> However, in the case of this switch device, there is no problem when the input data takes a relatively small value, but if it takes a large value, the switch is turned on/off.
There is a problem that the number of times the device is turned off increases and input operations take time and effort.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a switch device that can perform input operations easily and in a short time even when input data takes a large value.

<Means for solving the problem> The switch device of the present invention includes a switch means,
an operating means for turning on and off the switching means; an operating control means for operating the operating means for a length of time corresponding to the magnitude of input data; The apparatus includes a determining means for making a determination by comparing it with a threshold value, and a data converting means for converting the time length determined by the determining means into count data set in advance in stages and outputting the same.

<Operation> For example, when input data takes a large value, the length of time the switch is turned on or off is increased accordingly. This time length is determined by the determining means, and the data converting means converts the count data according to the result of the determination and outputs the converted data.

Therefore, even if the input data takes a large value, the switch only needs to be turned on and off once, and the input operation can be completed easily and in a short time.

<Example> The drawing shows an example in which the switch device of the present invention is used as a means for converting the amount of money inserted into a slot machine into the number of medals, but the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to other uses. Of course, it can be applied and implemented.

FIG. 3 shows the installation situation of slot machines, in which a plurality of slot machines 1 are installed in a line on an installation stand 2 in a gaming hall.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, each slot machine 1 has three reels 3a, 3b, and 3c, and has a symbol display section 5, a loan number display 6, a medal slot 7, Three stop button switches 8, an operating lever 9, a game button switch 10, a payment switch 11, a selection switch 12, a medal release port 13, etc. are provided.

The symbol display section 5 is a section that displays symbols provided on the circumferential surface of each reel 3a, 3b, and 3c in alignment along a plurality of stop lines.
The rotation status of each internal reel can be seen through, and when the reel is stopped, the symbols of three pieces on the circumference of each reel can be confirmed. The starting lever 9 is for starting three reels all at once, and the three stop button switches 8 are for stopping the corresponding reels individually.

The medal slot 7 is a part for inserting one or more medals when playing a game,
The medal discharging port 13 is a part that receives medals when the medals are distributed or settled.

The loan number display 6 is for digitally displaying the number of medals loaned to the slot machine 1.

The game button switch 10 is used to instruct consumption of loaned medals when playing a game, and is pressed a number of times according to the amount of medals consumed.

The selection switch 12 is a changeover switch for selecting whether to insert medals into the medal slot 7 to play the game or to use the loaned medals to play the game. This is a push button switch for paying and discharging medals to the medal dispensing port 13.

Figure 5 shows an example of the circuit configuration of the above slot machine.
In contrast, a medal detection switch 15, a start switch 16, a photo switch 17, a stop button switch 8, a selection switch 12, a game button switch 10,
A loan number display 6, a payment switch 11, a motor control section 18, a lamp control section 19, and a sound generation section 20 are electrically connected via interfaces 21 and 22. In the figure, a medal detection switch 15 detects the insertion of medals into the medal slot 7 and outputs a detection signal. The start switch 16 is turned on by operating the start lever 9 and outputs a start signal.
The photo switch 17 is a component of the switch device of the present invention, and in this embodiment, is used to convert the input amount into the number of medals.
Note that this photo switch 17 can also be replaced with another switch such as a micro switch.

The motor control unit 18 controls the operation of each reel rotation motor and medal release mechanism drive motor. The lamp control section 19 controls the lighting operations of various lamps, and the sound generation section 20 generates sound effects for the game.

The CPU 14 decodes and executes programs stored in the ROM 23, reads and writes data to and from the RAM 24, and performs various operations.
The operation of each input/output section is controlled in series. The CPU 14 constitutes the main part of the switch device of the present invention, and has arithmetic functions such as converting the input amount into the number of medals and adding it to the number of medals lent, and using the added value to display the number of lent medals. It has control functions such as updating the display contents of 6.

Returning to Figure 3, the adjacent slot machines 1, 1
A vertically elongated medal dispensing machine 25 is provided at an intermediate position, that is, between the sides of each slot machine 1.

The medal lending machine 25 in the illustrated example is for lending medals to the left and right slot machines 1, 1, and has a bill slot 2 on the front side of the device body 26.
7. Coin slot 28, pair of designated lamps 29L,
29R, a pair of rental button switches 30L, 30R,
A coin return port 31 and the like are provided respectively.
The bill slot 27 is for inserting banknotes (for example, 1000 yen bills), the coin slot 28 is for inserting coins (for example, 100 yen coins), and the coin return slot 31 is for returning the inserted coins. It is something.

A pair of lending button switches 30L and 30R are used to specify where to lend the medals. When the left lending button switch 30L is pressed, the medal is sent to the slot machine 1 on the left, and when the right lending button switch 30R is pushed, the medal is sent to the slot machine 1 on the right. 1, each medal will be lent. A pair of designated lamps 29L, 29
R indicates the slot machine to which the medals are lent. When both designated lamps 29L and 29R are blinking, it indicates that the machine is waiting for the operation of the lending button switches 30L and 30R. When is pressed, the designated lamp on the pressed side lights up, and the other designated lamps go out.

FIG. 6 shows the internal structure of the container body 26 of the medal lending machine 25. A coin discriminator 32 is located inside the coin slot 28, and a bill discriminator 33 is located inside the bill slot 27. It has been deployed. The coin discriminator 32 is for determining the authenticity and denomination of the inserted coin 34. If the coin is a genuine coin and has a predetermined denomination, it is taken into the coin box 36 by the receiving guide 35 and rejected as a counterfeit coin. Or if it is another denomination, return guide 37
The coins are returned to the coin return slot 31 by the following steps. The banknote discriminator 33 is for determining the authenticity and denomination of the input banknotes 38. Similarly, if the banknotes are genuine and of a predetermined denomination, they are taken into the banknote box 40 by the receiving guide 39. If the coin is a counterfeit coin or a different denomination, it is returned to the bill slot 27. In the figure, 41 is the coin discriminator 3.
The shutter 41 operates according to the authenticity determination result in step 2, and when it determines that the coin is genuine, the shutter 41 opens the passage of the receiving guide 35, and when it determines that the coin is counterfeit, the shutter 41 closes the passage of the receiving guide 35. and guide the coin toward the return guide 37.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the circuit configuration of the medal lending machine 25 described above, in which the CPU of the microcomputer
42, a banknote detection sensor 43, a banknote discriminator 3
3. Coin detection sensor 44, coin discriminator 32, pair of designated lamps 29L, 29R, pair of lending button switches 30L, 30R, pair of solenoids 45L,
45R, shutter 41 is interface 47,
Electrical connection is made via 48. In the figure, a banknote detection sensor 43 is for detecting the insertion of a banknote, and a coin detection sensor 44 is for detecting the insertion of a coin.

Each of the solenoids 45L and 45R constitutes an operating mechanism for turning on and off the switch device of the present invention.
The solenoid 5L operates the photo switch 17 provided on the slot machine 1 on the left, and the other solenoid 45R operates the photo switch 17 provided on the slot machine 1 on the right.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an example of the mechanism of a switch device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and in particular, the same figure shows the state in which the solenoid 45L and the photo switch 17 are connected (the same applies to the other solenoid 45R). ing.

The solenoid 45L includes a rod 51 that protrudes in an energized state, and a shutter 52 is connected to the tip of the rod 51. Also Rod 51
A compression spring 53 is provided at the solenoid so that when the solenoid is deenergized, the rod 51 is returned to its original position by the force of the spring. This solenoid 45L is disposed near the side wall 54 of the body 26, and is connected to the side wall 54 and the side wall 55 of the body 4 of the slot machine 1.
The shutter 52 projects into the container body 4 through through holes 56 and 57 provided in series. A photo switch 17 is disposed at a protruding position of the shutter 52, and the output of the photo switch 52 is turned on and off by reciprocating the shutter 52 and moving in and out of the optical path of the photo switch 17.

The above-mentioned solenoids 45L and 45R change their energizing time length depending on the size of the input amount (in this example, the denomination). For example, when the input amount is 100
If the input amount is 1,000 yen, set the energizing time length to an appropriate value that is less than the predetermined threshold TH, and if the input amount is 1000 yen, set the energizing time length to an appropriate value that exceeds the threshold TH. Set.

FIG. 8 shows the operating procedure of the medal lending machine 25 when lending out medals.

In the figure, when money is inserted into the bill slot 27 or the coin slot 28 of the medal lending machine 25, the bill detection sensor 43 or the coin detection sensor 4
4 detects this and outputs a detection signal to the CPU 42. As a result, the determination in step 1 (indicated by "ST1" in the figure) becomes "YES", and in the next step 2, the CPU 42 operates the banknote discriminator 33 or coin discriminator 32 to determine the authenticity and denomination of the input coins. Execute the determination. As a result, if it is determined that the inserted coin is a counterfeit coin or a different denomination, the result of step 3 becomes "NO", and the inserted coin is returned from the bill slot 27 or the coin return slot 31 (step 4).

On the other hand, when it is determined that the input coin is genuine coin and of the predetermined denomination, the CPU 42 blinks both designated lamps 29L and 29R, thereby causing the operation of either lending button switch 30L or 30R. (Step 5) the result,
For example, when the lending button switch 30L on the left side is pressed, step 6 becomes "YES", step 7 becomes "YES", the left designated lamp 29L lights up, and the right designated lamp 29R goes out. , informs the user of the place where the medals can be lent (step 8).

Thus, the CPU 42 is connected to the left solenoid 45.
L is energized for a length of time corresponding to the amount of money inserted, the shutter 52 is moved to project into the body of the slot machine 1 on the left, and the optical path of the photo switch 17 is interrupted (step 9).

On the other hand, when the lending button switch 30R on the right side is pressed in steps 6 and 7, step 6 becomes "YES", step 7 becomes "NO", the right designation lamp 29R lights up, and the left designation lamp 29R lights up. lamp 2
The light 9L goes out and the location where the medals are lent is notified (step 10). In this case, the right solenoid 45R is energized for a length of time corresponding to the amount of money inserted, and the shutter 52 projects into the body of the slot machine 1 on the right, blocking the optical path of the photo switch 17 (step 11).

Figure 9 shows the CPU 14 in slot machine 1.
This figure shows the control procedure for the counting operation.

Assuming that in the slot machine 1 on the left, the optical path of the photo switch 17 is blocked by the shutter 52, the determination in step 21 in FIG. (Step 22). This timer times up when the time corresponding to the threshold value TH has elapsed. If the solenoid 45L is deenergized and the shutter 52 leaves the optical path of the photo switch 17 before this time up, the CPU 14 is determined to be a 100 yen coin. As a result, the judgment of “Is the photo sensor on?” in step 23 is “YES”, and the step
24, "Is the time up?" is "NO", and in step 26, the CPU 14 converts the amount of 100 yen into the number of medals N ₁₀₀ (for example, 5 medals), and then sets this number of medals as the current number of medals lent C.
Add N ₁₀₀ to find the new number of medals C to be lent.

On the other hand, if the solenoid 45L is deenergized and the shutter 52 leaves the optical path of the photo switch 17 after the timer times up,
The CPU 14 determines that the input currency is a 100 yen bill. As a result, the determination of ``Is the photo sensor on?'' in step 23 is ``YES'', the determination of ``is the time up?'' in step 24 is ``YES'', and in step 25, the CPU 14 transfers the amount of 1000 yen to the number of medals N After converting to ₁₀₀₀ (for example, 50), add the number of medals N ₁₀₀₀ to the current number of medals lent C,
Find a new number of medals C to lend.

When the new medal lending number C is calculated in this way, the CPU 14 updates the display content of the lending number display 6 with the new medal lending number C in the next step 27, and then resets the timer and starts the next medal lending. stand by.

Note that the above embodiment assumes that there are two types of input amounts, 100 yen and 1000 yen, but if there are more types of input amounts, the length of energization time of solenoids 45L and 45R may be changed. It is divided into multiple stages depending on the size of the input amount, and time management using a timer is also performed over multiple stages.

<Effects of the Invention> As described above, the present invention turns on or off a switch for a length of time corresponding to the size of input data, compares this length of time with a predetermined threshold, and then performs a step-by-step operation in advance. Since the count data is converted to the count data set in It has a remarkable effect of achieving the purpose of the invention, such as being able to terminate the invention.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the mechanism of a switch device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof,
Fig. 3 is a front view showing the installation situation of a slot machine to which the present invention is applied, Fig. 4 is a front view of the slot machine, Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the circuit configuration of the slot machine, and Fig. 6 is the same as Fig. 3. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of the circuit configuration of the medal lending machine, Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing the operating procedure of the medal lending machine when lending medals, and Fig. 9 is a diagram of the CPU in the slot machine. 7 is a flowchart showing a control procedure for counting operation. 14...CPU, 17...Photo switch, 4
5L, 45R...Solenoid.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A switch means, an operation means for turning on and off the switch means, an operation control means for operating the operation means for a length of time depending on the magnitude of input data, and the switch means. a determining means for determining the length of time that the is on or off by comparing it with a predetermined threshold; and converting the length of time determined by the determining means into count data set in stages in advance and outputting the same. A switch device comprising data conversion means.