Game machine

The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a pachinko gaming machine and a slot machine, and more particularly to a gaming machine that draws a lottery related to a game by using a counter value updated in response to a trigger input.

In gaming machines such as pachinko gaming machines and slot machines, various measures have been taken to make cheating difficult. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a control device for a gaming machine that makes it difficult to analyze the time required to reach a counter value that is a big hit by a so-called "hanging board (board that has been illegally added)" or the like. It is disclosed. Specifically, the counter value is updated by using white noise as a trigger so that the update cycle of the counter value does not become constant. In this way, the time until the counter value that becomes the big hit changes irregularly, so even if the current counter value is read by the "hanging board" or the like, the big hit is illegally generated. Becomes difficult.

However, in the gaming machine described in Patent Document 1, since the counter value is updated by using a weak white noise as a trigger, when noise is intentionally given from the outside (for example, when radio wave goto is performed). Etc.), it is very likely that the counter value will be updated triggered by the noise. That is, in the gaming machine of Patent Document 1, weak white noise is amplified and A / D-converted to obtain a 1-bit trigger, so that noise intentionally given from the outside is also amplified in the same manner. , The counter value may be updated based on it. Therefore, in the gaming machine of Patent Document 1, the countermeasures against fraudulent acts in which the "hanging board" and the radio wave goto are combined are insufficient.

Therefore, a gaming machine equipped with first and second Schmidt oscillator circuits and updating the counter value with a trigger obtained by synthesizing the outputs of both oscillator circuits so that the update cycle of the counter value does not become constant. It has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2). Further, in the gaming machine of Patent Document 2, by configuring an oscillation circuit using elements (resistors, capacitors, etc.) whose constants change in response to temperature changes, fluctuations due to temperature changes are given to the update cycle of the counter value. It makes it even more difficult to analyze the period at which the counter value is updated.<patcit num="1"><text>Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-42227</text></patcit><patcit num="2"><text>Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-6866</text></patcit>

<p> However, in the gaming machine described in Patent Document 2, as shown in FIG. 10, the outputs of the Schmidt inverters INV1 and INV2 are synthesized by using a synthesis circuit (AND) composed of diodes D1, D2 and resistors R3. Therefore, the rise at point A becomes a gentle curve (see (D) in Fig. 11). Then, according to such a synthesis circuit, there is a possibility that a waveform having a rising edge of about half (h / 2) as compared with the normal time (h) may be generated, and such a waveform has the following problems. There is a fear of causing it. The waveform shown in FIG. 11C is a waveform obtained by shaping with a downstream waveform shaping circuit (fluctuation circuit).</p><p> The first problem is that if a waveform with a rising edge of about h / 2 is output to the counter circuit or CPU side without waveform shaping, it may cause a malfunction. For example, if a waveform with a rising edge of about h / 2 is input to the C-MOS circuit, the output of the C-MOS circuit will be in a state of repeating the HI level and the LOW level, and the output level will change between the HI level and the LOW level. It becomes unstable repeatedly.</p><p> The second problem is that even if a waveform with a rising edge of about h / 2 is waveform-shaped, a whisker-like waveform with a very short HI level retention time may occur. When such a whiskers waveform is output to the counter circuit or the CPU side, it may cause a malfunction. Therefore, it is necessary to design in advance to absorb the whiskers waveform. In order to perform such a design, it is necessary to accurately determine the effective tc3 value from the measured value, etc., which increases the work man-hours of the designer and complicates the design.</p>

<p> The present invention has been created for the purpose of solving these problems in view of the above circumstances, and includes a counter circuit for updating the counter value used for the lottery and a trigger for updating the counter value. It is a game machine provided with an oscillator circuit for updating a counter that generates a signal, and the oscillator circuit for updating the counter is configured by combining a first Schmidt oscillator circuit and a second Schmidt oscillator circuit. The Schmidt oscillator circuit returns the output of the first Schmidt oscillator, the first capacitor connected to the input side of the first Schmidt oscillator, and the output of the first Schmidt oscillator to the input side of the first Schmidt inverter. A first feedback circuit and a first resistor intervening in the first feedback circuit are provided, and the second Schmidt oscillator circuit is connected to the input side of the second Schmidt oscillator and the second Schmidt oscillator. It is equipped with a second capacitor, a second feedback circuit that feeds back the output of the second Schmidt oscillator to the input side of the second Schmidt oscillator, and a second resistor that intervenes in the second feedback circuit. The output side of the first Schmidt oscillator is connected to the input side of the second Schmidt oscillator via a connection circuit with a third resistor intervening, and the output of the second Schmidt oscillator is used as the trigger to connect to the counter circuit. It is characterized by inputting. In this way, the inflow and outflow of currents are generated between the first Schmidt oscillator circuit and the second Schmidt oscillator circuit connected in series, so that the oscillation frequency of at least the second Schmidt oscillator circuit is reached. Fluctuations can be given and the counter value of the counter circuit can be updated at irregular intervals. Further, since the output of the second Schmidt oscillator circuit is a waveform that rises substantially vertically, not only can it be input to the counter circuit without going through the waveform shaping circuit, but also malfunction due to the output of the intermediate potential can be prevented. Further, the current flowing from the first Schmidt inverter into the second capacitor via the connection circuit is smaller than the current flowing into the second capacitor from the second feedback circuit. By doing so, it is possible to reliably prevent the occurrence of a whisker-like waveform having a very short HI level holding time in the output waveform of the second Schmidt oscillator circuit. As a result, not only the malfunction caused by the whiskers waveform can be avoided, but also the design that ignores the whiskers waveform in advance becomes unnecessary, and the design can be simplified. Further, the connection circuit includes a first connection circuit and a second connection circuit that are parallel to each other, and the first connection circuit includes a current from the second Schmidt oscillator circuit to the first Schmidt oscillator circuit. A first diode that limits the inflow and a third resistor intervene, and in the second connection circuit, the second that limits the inflow of current from the first Schmidt oscillator circuit to the second Schmidt oscillator circuit. It is characterized in that a diode of the above and a fourth resistor intervene. In this way, the current value flowing from the first Schmidt oscillator circuit into the second Schmidt oscillator circuit and the current value flowing from the second Schmidt oscillator circuit into the first Schmidt oscillator circuit can be selected by selecting the resistance value. Since it can be set individually, the oscillation frequency and the magnitude of fluctuation can be easily designed.</p>

<p> According to the present invention as described above, at least the second Schmidt oscillation is caused by causing the inflow and outflow of the current between the first Schmidt oscillation circuit and the second Schmidt oscillation circuit connected in series. It is possible to give fluctuation to the oscillation frequency of the circuit and update the counter value of the counter circuit at an irregular cycle. Further, since the output of the second Schmidt oscillator circuit is a waveform that rises substantially vertically, not only can it be input to the counter circuit without going through the waveform shaping circuit, but also malfunction due to the output of the intermediate potential can be prevented.</p>

[Overall configuration of pachinko game machines] Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In FIGS. 1 and 2, 1 is a pachinko gaming machine (gaming machine), and the pachinko gaming machine 1 is attached to an outer frame 2 fixed to a pachinko island so as to be openable and closable. A pachinko ball lending machine 3 is installed side by side at a position adjacent to the pachinko game machine 1, and by inserting cash or a prepaid card into the pachinko ball lending machine 3, the pachinko ball lending machine 3 or the pachinko machine 3 is installed. A game ball is rented from the game machine 1, and pachinko games using the game ball become possible.

The front part of the pachinko game machine 1 stores a game board 4 on which a game ball is launched, a glass frame 5 that can be opened and closed to cover the front thereof, an upper plate 6 for storing the game ball, and a surplus ball on the upper plate 6. The lower plate 7 to be used, the launch handle 8 to launch the game ball, the lending operation unit 9 to instruct the pachinko ball lending machine 3 to lend the game ball, the speaker 10 to output the sound effect, and the player. It is equipped with an operation switch S for directing operations, and the back of the pachinko game machine 1 has a game ball tank 11 for storing game balls for payout and a game ball in the game ball tank 11 above. It is equipped with a prize ball payout device 12 for paying out to a plate 6, a launch motor 13 for launching a game ball, and various substrates described later.

As shown in FIG. 3, the game board 4 has a starting port 14, a large winning opening 15, a winning opening (not shown), a gate (not shown), an out opening 16, a game nail 17, and the like. , The game ball launched on the game board 4 is guided to each mouth 14 to 16 by the game nail 17. In addition, display devices such as a special symbol display device 18, an effect symbol display device 19, and a normal symbol display device 20 are arranged on the game board 4. The special symbol display device 18 is a display device that formally displays the special symbol in a variable manner, and is composed of, for example, a 7-segment LED or a plurality of LEDs. The effect symbol display device 19 is a display device that variablely displays the effect symbol corresponding to the special symbol. For example, the effect symbol display device 19 is composed of a liquid crystal panel, a reel unit, and the like, and in addition to the effect symbol variation display, a reach notice effect display and a super reach effect. Display, jackpot production display, etc.

[Basic operation of pachinko game machines] When the launch handle 8 is turned and operated while the game ball is stored in the upper plate 6, the game ball is launched toward the game board 4. When the launched game ball wins in the starting port 14 or the winning opening (not shown), a predetermined number of game balls are paid out as prize balls. Further, when the game ball passes through the gate (not shown), a normal symbol lottery is performed internally, and the lottery result is displayed on the normal symbol display device 20. Then, when the normal symbol lottery is won, the normal electric accessory 14a provided at the starting port 14 is opened for a predetermined time. When the game ball wins the start opening 14, a special symbol lottery is performed internally, and the lottery result is displayed on the special symbol display device 18 and the effect symbol display device 19. Then, when the special symbol lottery is won, the jackpot mode is set so that the player can acquire many game balls. Hereinafter, various game modes of the pachinko gaming machine 1, which are switched when the big hit starts or ends, will be described with reference to FIG.

(1) Normal game mode In this mode, the low probability (for example, 1/300) of the two-stage jackpot probability in the special symbol lottery is applied. Also, in this mode, the lottery cycle for normal symbols is long. (2) Big hit mode This mode is executed when the special symbol (effect symbol) is stopped in a predetermined hit arrangement, and the special electric accessory 15a provided in the large winning opening 15 is opened. This opening operation is repeated over a predetermined number of rounds (for example, 15 rounds), with the passage of a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds) or a predetermined number of winnings (for example, 10 balls) as one round. (3) Probability fluctuation mode This mode is executed with a predetermined probability (for example, 1/2) after the jackpot mode ends. That is, for the big hit of the special symbol lottery, after the opening operation of the big winning opening 15, the winning probability of the special symbol lottery is set to a low probability, and after the opening operation of the big winning opening 15, the winning probability of the special symbol lottery is set. There is a probability variation hit that makes it a high probability. For example, when the stop symbol at the time of a big hit is a specific probability variation symbol, it becomes a probability variation hit. And, in the probability fluctuation mode, the jackpot probability is high (for example, 1/30), the lottery cycle of the normal symbol lottery is short, and the opening time of the normal electric accessory 14a is long, so most of the balls are held. The jackpot can be generated again without reducing it. (4) Time saving mode This mode is executed after the normal hit jackpot mode ends. In the time reduction mode, the jackpot probability of the special symbol lottery is low, but the lottery cycle of the ordinary symbol lottery is short, and the opening time of the ordinary electric accessory 14a is long, so the game is played with almost no reduction in the number of balls held. Can be continued. However, this mode ends when the number of fluctuations of the special symbol reaches a predetermined number of times (for example, 100 times) after the end of the big hit, and the mode is switched to the normal mode.

[Board configuration of pachinko game machines] Next, the substrate configuration of the pachinko gaming machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in this figure, the pachinko gaming machine 1 includes at least a main board 21 and a peripheral board 22 that performs an effect process or the like in response to a command from the main board 21. The main board 21 of the present embodiment includes the main control board 23, the payout control board 24, and the launch motor control board 25, and the peripheral board 22 includes the effect symbol display control board 26, the voice control board 27, and the lamp control board 28. I'm out.

A ball-out switch 29, a pay-out sensor 30, a pay-out motor 31, and the like are connected to the pay-out control board 24. The game ball is paid out according to the rental signal from the machine 3. Further, a launch switch (handle angle sensor) 32, a touch sensor 33, a launch motor 13, and the like are connected to the launch motor control board 25, and when the launch switch 32 and the touch sensor 33 are ON, the launch motor 13 is driven. Let me.

The main control board 23 has a winning opening switch SW1 for detecting the winning of the game ball for the winning opening (not shown), a starting opening switch SW2 for detecting the winning of the game ball for the starting opening 14, and a gate (not shown). Sensors such as the gate switch SW3 that detects the passage of the game ball, the large winning opening switch SW4 that detects the winning of the game ball with respect to the large winning opening 15, and the solenoid that opens and closes the ordinary electric accessory 14a and the special electric accessory 15a. Actuators such as SOL are connected to display devices such as the special symbol display device 18 and the normal symbol display device 20. Then, the main control board 23 responds to the detection signals of the switches SW1 to SW4, and receives a special symbol lottery process, a special symbol display process, a normal symbol lottery process, a normal symbol display process, a command transmission process, and an electric accessory operation process. And so on.

The effect symbol display device 19 and the operation switch S are connected to the effect symbol display control board 26, and the effect symbol display device 19 is variablely displayed and operated in response to a command from the main control board 23. A switch effect display is performed according to the operation of switch S. The effect symbol display control board 26 is provided with a counter circuit, and an effect lottery for determining the effect content is performed using the count value updated by the counter circuit. Further, a speaker 10 is connected to the voice control board 27, and a predetermined effect sound is output from the speaker 10 in response to a command from the main control board 23 (or the effect symbol display control board 26). Further, a light emitting display lamp L is connected to the lamp control board 28, and the light emitting display lamp L is turned on in response to a command from the main control board 23 (or the effect symbol display control board 26).

[Counter circuit and counter update oscillation circuit] As shown in FIG. 6, the main control board 23 includes a CPU 34, a RAM 35, a ROM 36, an input / output port 37, a counter circuit (counter IC) 38, a counter update oscillation circuit 39, and the like. The counter circuit 38 is a circuit for generating a counter value (random number) used for a special symbol lottery or a normal symbol lottery, and the counter value is updated according to the input of the trigger. The counter update oscillation circuit 39 is a circuit that generates a trigger to be input to the counter circuit 38, and is provided with a function of giving fluctuations to the counter value update cycle in order to make it difficult for fraudulent acts by a "hanging board" or the like. ing. Specifically, it is configured by combining the first Schmidt oscillator circuit 40 and the second Schmidt oscillator circuit 41. Hereinafter, the basic configuration and operation of the Schmidt oscillator circuit will be described with reference to FIG. 7. ..

The Schmidt oscillator circuit is an oscillator circuit that utilizes the hysteresis characteristics of the Schmidt inverter INV. It is configured to include a feedback circuit that feeds back to the inverter and a resistor R that intervenes in the feedback circuit. In the Schmidt oscillator circuit in the initial state, the voltage across the capacitor C is 0V because no electric charge is accumulated in the capacitor C. At this time, the input side voltage Vin of the Schmidt inverter INV is V._LSince it is below, the output is H level (5V). When the output side voltage Vout of the Schmidt inverter INV is 5V, a current flows to the input side of the Schmidt inverter INV via the resistor R, so that the electric charge gradually accumulates in the capacitor C and the voltage across it rises. And the input side voltage Vin of the Schmidt inverter INV is V_HWhen reaches, the output of the Schmidt inverter INV switches to L level (0V). When the output side voltage Vout of the Schmidt inverter INV becomes 0V, the capacitor C is discharged through the resistor R, and the input side voltage Vin of the Schmidt inverter INV gradually drops. And the input side voltage Vin of the Schmidt inverter INV is V_LWhen it drops to, the output of the Schmidt inverter INV switches to H level. By repeating the above operation, a square wave having a predetermined frequency can be obtained from the output side of the Schmidt inverter INV. The oscillation frequency f (= 1 / T) of the Schmidt oscillator circuit is the storage period T._HAnd discharge period T_LDetermined by, storage period T_HAnd discharge period T_LIs determined by the constants of the capacitor C and the resistor R. Therefore, the oscillation frequency f of the Schmidt oscillator circuit can be arbitrarily designed according to the constants of the capacitor C and the resistor R.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, in the pachinko game machine 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the counter update oscillation circuit 39 is configured by combining the first Schmidt oscillation circuit 40 and the second Schmidt oscillation circuit 41. In doing so, instead of synthesizing the outputs of the Schmidt oscillators 40 and 41, the first Schmidt oscillator circuit 40, which is a slave circuit, and the second Schmidt oscillator circuit 41, which is a master circuit, are connected in series. The counter value is updated by using the output of the second Schmidt oscillator circuit 41 as a trigger. Specifically, the first Schmidt oscillating circuit 40, which is a slave circuit, includes the first Schmidt inverter INV1, the first capacitor C1 connected to the input side of the first Schmidt inverter INV1, and the first A second feedback circuit 42, which feeds the output of the Schmidt inverter INV1 to the input side of the first Schmidt inverter INV1, and a first resistor R1 intervening in the first feedback circuit 42, which is a master circuit. The Schmidt oscillating circuit 41 uses the output of the second Schmidt inverter INV2, the second capacitor C2 connected to the input side of the second Schmidt inverter INV2, and the output of the second Schmidt inverter INV2 as the second Schmidt inverter INV2. A second feedback circuit 43 for feeding back to the input side of the inverter and a second resistor R2 intervening in the second feedback circuit 43 are provided, and the output side of the first Schmidt inverter INV1 is set to the third resistor R3. Is connected to the input side of the second Schmidt inverter INV2 via the connection circuit 44 intervening, and the output of the second Schmidt inverter INV2 is input to the counter circuit 38 as a counter update trigger.

That is, as described above, the oscillation frequencies of the Schmidt oscillator circuits 40 and 41 are determined by the constants of the resistors R1 and R2 and the capacitors C1 and C2, but the charge / discharge time of the capacitor C2 in the second Schmidt oscillator circuit 41. Is the current i flowing from the second feedback circuit 43 into the second capacitor C2.₁Not only the current i inflow / outflow from the first Schmidt oscillator circuit 40 via the connection circuit 44₂Therefore, the oscillation frequency of the second Schmidt oscillator circuit 41 is not constant and becomes irregular with fluctuations. In this way, since the counter value of the counter circuit 38 can be updated at an irregular cycle, it is possible to make it difficult to perform fraudulent activities such as analyzing the time until the counter value of the jackpot is reached. Moreover, since the output of the second Schmidt oscillator circuit 41 is a rectangular waveform that rises almost vertically, it can be input to the counter circuit 38 without going through the waveform shaping circuit, and malfunction due to the output of the intermediate potential also occurs. Can be prevented.

In the above counter update oscillation circuit 39, the reference oscillation frequency and fluctuation magnitude of each Schmidt oscillation circuit 40 and 41 are designed by setting the constants of the capacitors C1, C2, resistors R1, R2, and R3. Can be done. At this time, the current i flowing from the first Schmidt inverter INV1 to the second capacitor C2 via the connection circuit 44₂Is the current i flowing from the second feedback circuit 43 into the second capacitor C2.₁Less than (i₁&gt; i₂), It is preferable to set each constant. By doing so, it is possible to reliably prevent the occurrence of a whisker-like waveform in which the H level holding time is very short in the output waveform of the second Schmidt oscillator circuit 41. As a result, not only the malfunction caused by the whiskers waveform can be avoided, but also the design that ignores the whiskers waveform in advance becomes unnecessary, and the design can be simplified.

[Second Embodiment] Next, the counter update oscillation circuit 39B of the pachinko gaming machine 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. However, for the configuration common to the first embodiment, the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment are assigned, and the description of the first embodiment is incorporated. As shown in FIG. 9, in the counter update oscillation circuit 39B of the second embodiment, the connection circuit 44 connecting the first Schmidt oscillation circuit 40 and the second Schmidt oscillation circuit 41 is the first connection in parallel with each other. A circuit 44a and a second connection circuit 44b are provided, and the first connection circuit 44a includes a first diode D1 that limits the inflow of current from the second Schmidt oscillator circuit 41 to the first Schmidt oscillator circuit 40. And the third resistor R3 intervene, and the second connection circuit 44b has a second diode D2 that limits the inflow of current from the first Schmidt oscillator circuit 40 to the second Schmidt oscillator circuit 41. , The point that the fourth resistor R4 intervenes is different from the first embodiment.

It goes without saying that the counter update oscillation circuit 39B of the second embodiment configured in this way exerts the same effect as the counter update oscillation circuit 39 of the first embodiment, but in addition to that, the first Current value i flowing from the first Schmidt oscillator circuit 40 into the second Schmidt oscillator circuit 41₂And the current value i flowing from the second Schmidt oscillator circuit 41 into the first Schmidt oscillator circuit 40₃Can be set individually by selecting the constants of the resistors R3 and R4, so that the oscillation frequency and the magnitude of fluctuation can be designed more easily.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and any modification can be made as long as it does not deviate from the scope of claims. For example, it goes without saying that the gaming machine to which the present invention is applied is not limited to the pachinko gaming machine shown in the above embodiment, but can also be applied to other gaming machines such as slot machines. Further, the counter value updated by the counter updating oscillation circuit of the present invention is used only for a lottery for determining whether or not to give a profit to the player, such as a special symbol lottery or a normal symbol lottery on the main control board. It does not have to be something that is used in a lottery to determine something as the game progresses. For example, the counter value updated by the counter update oscillation circuit of the present invention can also be used in an effect lottery performed to determine the effect content on the effect symbol display control board. When the counter update oscillation circuit without fluctuation is provided on the main control board, the oscillation cycle of the counter update oscillation circuit provided on the main control board and the fluctuation provided on the effect symbol display control board are present. Since the oscillation cycle of the counter update oscillation circuit is asynchronous, the counter update cycle of the main control board is not analyzed even if the "hanging board" is attached to the effect symbol display control board.

<figref num="1">It is a front view of a pachinko machine.</figref><figref num="2">It is a rear view of a pachinko machine.</figref><figref num="3">It is a front view of a game board.</figref><figref num="4">It is a flowchart which shows the game mode of a pachinko game machine.</figref><figref num="5">It is a block diagram which shows the substrate structure of a pachinko gaming machine.</figref><figref num="6">It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the main control board which concerns on 1st Embodiment.</figref><figref num="7">(A) is a circuit diagram showing the configuration of the Schmidt oscillator circuit, and (B) is an operation explanatory diagram of the Schmidt oscillator circuit.</figref><figref num="8">It is a circuit diagram which shows the oscillation circuit for counter update which concerns on 1st Embodiment.</figref><figref num="9">It is a circuit diagram which shows the oscillation circuit for counter update which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.</figref><figref num="10">It is a circuit diagram which shows the oscillation circuit for counter update which concerns on a prior art example.</figref><figref num="11">It is an operation explanatory diagram of the counter update oscillation circuit which concerns on the prior art, (A) is the output waveform of the first Schmidt oscillator circuit, (B) is the output waveform of the second Schmidt oscillator circuit, (C) is after synthesis. The shaped waveform, (D), is the waveform immediately after synthesis.</figref>

Code description

1 Pachinko game machine 23 Main control board 38 Counter circuit 39 Oscillator for counter update 40 First Schmidt oscillator circuit 41 First Schmidt oscillator circuit 42 First feedback circuit 43 Second feedback circuit 44 Connection circuit 44a First connection circuit 44b Second connection circuit INV Schmidt Inverter C capacitor R resistor D diode