JP2002085624A - Pattern display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the yield and reduce the cost in a pattern display device arranged with transparent indicators on this side of rotors. SOLUTION: Since transparent EL(electroluminescent) panels 28a, 28b, 28c are arranged correspondingly to a plurality of rotary drums 30a, 30b, 30c respectively in a slot machine 10, the sizes (surface areas) of the transparent EL panels 28a, 28b, 28c can be reduced. The probability that defects occur on the transparent EL panels 28a, 28b, 28c during a manufacturing process becomes extremely small, and the yield is improved. The cost of this pattern display device is reduced as a result.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention belongs to the technical field of a symbol display device mounted on a game machine such as a slot machine and a pachinko machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A symbol display device mounted on a game machine such as a slot machine or a pachinko machine includes a plurality of rotating bodies (usually three or more) such as drums (reels) and belts on which symbols are drawn.
), The symbols are variably displayed by the rotation of the rotating bodies, the symbols are displayed statically by stopping, and the combination of symbols displayed statically along a straight line called a winning line or a winning line wins or loses. Is displayed.

Further, a transparent electroluminescence panel is arranged on the near side (player side) of these rotating bodies and superimposed and displayed on the rotating bodies, thereby enriching the display variations and enhancing the game performance (entertainment). The present applicant has filed Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-65097.

[0004]

In the meantime, a defect such as a black spot or a minute short may occur in a transparent display in a manufacturing process in some cases. Transparent display is 1
Since one display area is composed of an extremely large number of dots or segments, the larger the size of the panel, the higher the possibility of occurrence of the above-described defect. For example, as shown in FIG. In the case of a large-area transparent EL panel that covers the entire area on the front side of the drum), the incidence of defects was increased, and the production yield was low. For this reason, the price of a large-area transparent display is high, and it has been difficult to reduce the cost of a design display device using the same.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems when using a transparent display for a symbol display device.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention A symbol display device according to the first aspect of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems comprises: a plurality of rotating bodies that variably display symbols by rotation and statically display symbols by stopping; In the symbol display device comprising a transparent display disposed on the front side of the rotating body, a plurality of the transparent displays are provided corresponding to each of the rotating bodies, so that the size (area) of each transparent display is provided. Can be reduced. As a result, the rate of occurrence of defects for each transparent display becomes extremely small, and the yield is improved. As a result, the cost of the symbol display device can be reduced.

The symbol display device according to the second aspect is the first aspect.
In the symbol display device described above, since the blindfold members corresponding to the gaps between the rotating bodies are arranged between the adjacent transparent displays, it is possible to prevent the back side from being seen between the adjacent transparent displays. Since the blind member corresponds to the gap between the rotating bodies, it is possible to prevent the inside of the rotating body from being seen through the gap. Furthermore, each transparent display is clearly divided by the blindfold member.

The symbol display device according to the third aspect is the second aspect.
In the symbol display device according to the above, a plurality of windows are provided on a printed circuit board on which the drive circuit of the transparent display is provided, and a display area of the transparent display is attached to the printed circuit board in correspondence with the window, so that adjacent windows are provided. The portion between the fitted windows is the blindfold member.

That is, since the printed circuit board for applying a voltage to the transparent display also serves as a support member of the transparent display, and a part of the printed board is a blind member, the support member and the blind member of the transparent display are separately provided. There is no need to provide them, and the structure can be simplified. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the symbol display device according to the third aspect, wherein the lateral electrodes of the adjacent transparent displays are provided on a portion of the printed circuit board serving as the blindfold member. Since the connection is made via the relay wiring, a circuit for applying a voltage to the lateral electrodes can be shared by a plurality of transparent displays. Thereby, the configuration of the driving circuit can be simplified.

As a reminder, the lateral direction is
It is the left and right direction as viewed from the player facing the symbol display device. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the symbol display device according to the fourth aspect, wherein the relay wiring and a lateral electrode of the transparent display are connected by a conductive member. The electrodes in the horizontal direction of the vessel can be reliably conducted. In addition, although the relay wiring and the electrode of the transparent display may be directly (for example, contact conduction),
May be uncertain.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the symbol display device, since the conductive member is a conductive rubber, the conductive member is sandwiched between the printed circuit board and the transparent display and elastically deformed, so that the relay wiring is formed by the elastic repulsive force. And the electrodes in the lateral direction of the transparent display can be reliably conducted.

[0012] The symbol display device according to the seventh aspect is the first aspect.
In the symbol display device according to any one of to 6, since the transparent display is individually replaceable, if a failure occurs in the transparent display after assembling to the symbol display device,
The problem can be solved by replacing only the broken transparent display.

In the case of covering the front side of the rotator with a single large transparent display as in the example of FIG. 6, the replacement of the rotator becomes expensive, but the symbol display device according to claim 7 has failed. Since only one piece needs to be replaced, the replacement cost at the time of failure can be reduced. The symbol display device according to claim 8 is the symbol display device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
Since the transparent display is a transparent electroluminescent panel, and the transparent electroluminescent panel is excellent in transparency, the visibility of the pattern of the rotating body through the transparent electroluminescent panel does not deteriorate.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to an embodiment in which the symbol display device of the present invention is applied to a slot machine which is a kind of gaming machine.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in a front view in FIG. 1, a main body frame 14 is attached to a front portion of a housing 12 of a slot machine 10 via a hinge (not shown), and is normally locked but unlocked. It can be opened like a door. Also,
A receiving tray 16 is attached below the main body frame 14, and a speaker 18 is arranged behind a window formed by a number of slits.

The main body frame 14 is divided into an upper section 14a, a middle section 14b and a lower section 14c, and decorative panels 22a and 22b are mounted on the upper section 14a and the lower section 14c. The middle section 14b is provided with a display of symbols, members operated by the player, and the like, which will be described in detail. First, a rectangular window 24 is provided in the middle section 14b, and a printed circuit board 26 is inserted therein.

At the center of the printed circuit board 26, three windows 26a, 26b, 26c are provided.
a, 26b, and 26c, corresponding to transparent electroluminescent panels (transparent EL panels) 28a, 28b, 28
c is arranged. Therefore, the transparent EL panels 28a, 28
b, 28c can be seen behind them. These transparent EL panels 28a, 28b, 28c correspond to a transparent display. Blindfold 2 corresponding to a blindfold member between windows 26a and 26b and between windows 26b and 26c
9 are provided. The blind portions 29 can prevent the back side (inside) from being seen from between the adjacent transparent EL panels 28a, 28b, and 28c. Further, the blinds 29 also serve to clearly divide the transparent EL panels 28a, 28b, 28c.

Note that a plastic decorative material is laminated on the front surface (the surface on the player side) of the printed board 26.
Since the decorative material and the like are drawn on the decorative material and are entirely opaque, the patterns and lands on the printed circuit board 26 cannot be seen. The structure of the transparent EL panels 28a, 28b and 28c is not different from the known one, and as schematically shown in FIG. 5, a scanning side electrode 57 corresponding to a horizontal electrode is formed on a glass substrate 71 as a base. , Insulating layer (not shown),
Light emitting layer 72, insulating layer (not shown) 5, and signal side electrode 58
Are sequentially laminated by vacuum deposition, sputtering, or the like, and are covered with a transparent protective film 73.
By applying a voltage between the light emitting layer 7 and the signal side electrode 58, the light emitting layer 72 can emit light (display). Also,
Needless to say, the transparent EL panel 28
a, 28b, and 28c are transparent in the non-display state,
When characters, figures, and the like are displayed, the characters may obstruct the line of sight.

Each transparent EL panel 28a, 28b, 28c
Behind the rotating drum 30 corresponding to the rotating body
a, 30b, 30c (see FIG. 2), and the rotating drums 30a, 30b, 30c can be seen through the corresponding transparent EL panels 28a, 28b, 28c.

At the lower edge 33 of the window 24, a credit switch 34, a bet switch 36 and a medal slot 38 are provided. A start lever 42, stop switches 44 a, 44 b, 44 c, an EL stop switch 45 are provided on a vertical portion 40 which is connected to the lower edge portion 33.
Is arranged.

As shown in FIG. 2, the rotary drums 30a, 3a
0b and 30c are arranged substantially coaxially with each other,
The gap between Oa and 30b and the gap between the rotating drums 30b and 30c correspond to the blinds 29 of the printed circuit board 26.
For this reason, the blindfold 29 is provided with the rotating drums 30a, 30b,
30c, the rotating drum 30a is hidden from the gap.
The inside of 30b, 30c and the like is prevented from being seen.

The drums 30a, 30b, 30c are provided with various patterns 31, such as ＄, 7, X, etc., on the body.
In the case of this embodiment, each of the rotating drums 30a, 30b, 30c
Has 21 symbols 31 drawn on it (there are some types of symbols 31 that are duplicated on one drum, so there are less than 21 types). By rotating the rotating drums 30a, 30b, 30c, a plurality of symbols 31 are drawn. 31 can be scrolled vertically, that is, displayed in a variable manner. Also, the rotating drum 30a,
When 30b and 30c stop, the transparent EL panel 28
Each of the three symbols 31 is statically displayed through a, 28b, and 28c. The rotating drums 30a, 30b, 30c
The detailed structure, drive system, control system, and the like are the same as those of a known slot machine, and thus illustration and description are omitted.

On the other hand, each transparent EL panel 28a, 28b,
28c can display figures, characters, and the like.
FIG. 2 shows a state in which the pay line 32 is displayed. For example, X is displayed so as to hide ＄ of the upper pay line 32 (line of X, X, ＄), and X, X, X It is also possible to form a prize.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the transparent EL panel 2
8a, 28b, 28c are supported by the printed circuit board 26. The transparent EL panels 28a, 28b, 28c are mounted on the printed circuit board 26 so that their display areas correspond to the windows 26a, 26b, 26c. Window 26
The dimensions of the transparent EL panels 28a, 26b, 26c are
8b, 28c, slightly smaller than the outer dimensions
The dimensions are approximately matched to the display areas of the L panels 28a, 28b, 28c.

As shown in FIG. 3, on the printed circuit board 26, a scanning IC driver 65 and a signal IC driver 66 are mounted. A power supply circuit and a control circuit are also mounted on the printed circuit board 26, but are not shown. From the scanning-side IC driver 65, the printed wiring 52 for the scanning voltage is extended to reach the vertical side of the window 26c. In addition, between window 26c and window 26b, window 26
A printed wiring 53 (corresponding to a relay wiring) extending along the extension of the printed wiring 52 is provided between the window 26a and the window 26a, and extends from the vertical side outside the window 26a to the extension of the printed wiring 52 and the printed wiring 53. A printed wiring 54 is provided along.

On the other hand, from the signal side IC driver 66, the signal printed wiring 55 is extended, and the windows 26a,
26b and 26c have been reached. As shown in FIG. 4, the printed wiring 53 includes transparent EL panels 28a and 28a.
The transparent EL panels 28a, 28b, and 28c are correctly placed on the printed circuit board 26, and each of the scanning electrodes 57 and the printed wiring 53 overlap one-on-one. .

Similarly, the printed wiring 55 is arranged corresponding to the signal side electrode 58 of the transparent EL panels 28a, 28b, 28c, and
If the printed circuit board 8c is correctly placed on the printed circuit board 26, the signal-side electrodes 58 and the printed wiring 55 overlap one-on-one.

Although not shown in detail, the same applies to the end of the printed wiring 52 (portion on the window 26c side) and the correspondence between the printed wiring 54 and the scanning electrodes 57 of the transparent EL panels 28a, 28b, 28c. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, a connector 61 is provided between the transparent EL panels 28a, 28b, 28c and the printed wirings 52, 53, 54, 55.
Is arranged.

The structure of these connectors 61 is as shown in FIG.
2 are buried. The conductive rubber 62 is connected to each scanning side electrode 5.
7, signal side electrode 58, printed wiring 52, 53, 54,
It is arranged corresponding to 55 and penetrates the connector 61.

For this reason, as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 5, the transparent EL panel 28 is arranged such that the scanning electrode 57, the printed wiring 53, and the conductive rubber 62 correspond to each other one by one.
If the connector 61 is sandwiched between the printed circuit boards 26a, 28b, and 28c, the corresponding scanning electrodes 57 and the printed wiring 53 are electrically connected via the conductive rubber 62. Although not shown, the printed wiring 5
Similarly, the continuity between the scanning electrodes 57 and the scanning electrodes 57 is ensured, and the continuity between the signal electrodes 58 and the printed wiring 55 is similarly secured via the connector 61 (conductive rubber 62).

In this embodiment, the connector 61 is sandwiched between the transparent EL panels 28a, 28b, and 28c and the printed circuit board 26 to secure conduction as shown in FIG.
A frame 50 for fixing a transparent EL panel having the structure shown in FIG. In this frame 50, windows 50a, 50 corresponding to the windows 26a, 26b, 26c of the printed circuit board 26 are provided.
b and 50c are provided, and screw stopper holes 51 are provided at four locations in each of the upper and lower portions, for a total of eight locations. On the other hand, the printed circuit board 26 is provided with screw holes 27 for fixing the frame corresponding to the holes 51 for screwing.

The frame 50 and the printed circuit board 26
The transparent EL panels 28a, 28b, 28c are attached to the printed circuit board 26 by sandwiching the transparent EL panels 28a, 28b, 28c in a sandwich shape and tightening the screws passing through the screw holes 51 and 27. The printed wirings 52, 53, 54, 55 of the printed circuit board 26 and the scanning electrodes 57,
Conduction with the signal side electrode 58 is ensured.

As described above, the transparent EL panels 28a, 28
The connector 61 (including the conductive rubber 62) by sandwiching the connector 61 between the printed circuit board 26b and the printed circuit board 26
Is elastically deformed, the conductive rubber 6
2 and the scanning side electrode 57, the signal side electrode 58, and the printed wirings 52, 53, 54, 55 have good conduction (contact).

As described above, in the slot machine 10 of this embodiment, a plurality of transparent EL panels 28a, 28b, 28c are provided corresponding to each of the rotating drums 30a, 30b, 30c. , 28
The size (area) of c can be reduced. As a result, the rate of occurrence of defects for each of the transparent EL panels 28a, 28b, 28c is extremely small, and the yield is improved. As a result, the cost of the slot machine 10 can be reduced.

The adjacent transparent EL panels 28a, 28a
Since the blinds 29 are disposed between the transparent EL panels 8b and 28c, the back side can be prevented from being seen from between the adjacent transparent EL panels 28a, 28b and 28c. Since the blind portion 29 corresponds to the gap between the rotating drums 30a, 30b, 30c, it is possible to prevent the inside of the rotating drums 30a, 30b, 30c from being seen from the gap. Further, the transparent EL panels 28a, 28b, 28c are clearly separated from each other by the blindfold portion 29.

Moreover, the transparent EL panels 28a, 28b,
A plurality of windows 26a, 26b, 26c are provided on a printed circuit board 26 provided with a drive circuit 28c, so that the display area of the transparent EL panels 28a, 28b, 28c is
6b and 26c, the portions between the adjacent windows 26a, 26b and 26c were made blindfolds 29, so that the transparent EL panel 28 was formed.
It is not necessary to separately provide the support members and the blindfold members of a, 28b, and 28c, and the structure can be simplified.

Further, adjacent transparent EL panels 28a,
Since the scanning-side electrodes 57b and 28c are connected to each other via the printed wiring 53 provided in the blindfold portion 29 of the printed circuit board 26, a circuit for applying a voltage to the scanning-side electrode 57 includes a plurality of transparent electrodes. EL panels 28a, 28
b, 28c. Thereby, the configuration of the driving circuit can be simplified.

In particular, the transparent EL panels 28a, 28b, 2
Since the connector 61 (including the conductive rubber 62) is elastically deformed by sandwiching the connector 61 between the printed circuit board 8c and the printed circuit board 26, the conductive rubber 62 and the scanning-side electrode 57, the signal-side electrode 58, and the Printed wiring 5
Conduction (contact) with 2, 53, 54, 55 is improved.

Further, the transparent EL panels 28a, 28b, 2
Since the electrical connection between the printed circuit board 8c and the printed circuit board 26 is ensured by the connector 61 which can be separated therefrom, the transparent EL panels 28a, 28b, 28c can be easily separated from the printed circuit board 26, and the transparent EL panels 28a, 28b, 28c can be separated. They can be exchanged individually. Therefore, slot machine 1
0 after assembling the transparent EL panels 28a, 28b, 28
In the event that a failure occurs in c, it can be dealt with by replacing only the failed transparent EL panel 28a, 28b, 28c. For this reason, the replacement cost at the time of failure can be reduced. In addition, the transparent transparent EL panels 28a, 28b, and 28c are sandwiched between the frame 50 and the printed circuit board 26, and are tightened with screws.
Since the structure is such that b and 28c are attached to the printed circuit board 26, the work of attaching and detaching the transparent and transparent EL panels 28a, 28b and 28c is simple, and the above-mentioned exchange work is also easy.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments. For example, as an example of a transparent display, a backlight is provided on a side. It goes without saying that various implementations can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention, such as the use of an arranged liquid crystal panel.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an arrangement of a transparent EL panel and a rotating drum in the embodiment.

3A and 3B are explanatory views of a mounting structure of a transparent EL panel in the embodiment, wherein FIG. 3A is a rear view of a printed circuit board, and FIG. 3B is a rear view of a frame.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion A in FIG. 3;

5 is a schematic diagram of a cross-sectional structure taken along line BB of FIG.

FIG. 6 is an exemplary view when one transparent EL panel is used.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Slot machine (gaming machine) 26 Printed circuit board 26a, 26b, 26c Window 28a, 28b, 28c Transparent EL panel (transparent display) 29 Blind part (blind member) 30a, 30b, 30c Rotary drum (rotary body) 50 Frame 52 Printed wiring 53 Printed wiring (relay wiring) 54 Printed wiring 55 Printed wiring 57 Scanning electrode (lateral electrode) 58 Signal side electrode 61 Connector 62 Conductive rubber 65 Scanning IC driver 66 Signal IC driver

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hirotaka Suzuki 1-1-1, Showa-cho, Kariya-shi, Aichi Prefecture Inside Denso Corporation (72) Inventor Takahisa Kaneko 1-1-1, Showa-cho, Kariya-shi, Aichi Co., Ltd. Inside DENSO (72) Inventor Taku Yamaguchi 362-1 Takao, Niimi City, Okayama Prefecture Yamasa Corporation

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A symbol display device comprising: a plurality of rotating bodies for displaying a symbol by rotating and displaying a symbol statically by stopping; and a transparent display disposed in front of the rotating body. A symbol display device comprising a plurality of the transparent displays corresponding to each of the plurality of transparent displays. 2. The symbol display device according to claim 1, wherein a blindfold member corresponding to a gap between the rotating bodies is disposed between the adjacent transparent displays. 3. The pattern display device according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of windows are provided on a printed circuit board provided with a drive circuit for the transparent display, and a display area of the transparent display is made to correspond to the window. A symbol display device, wherein a portion between adjacent windows is used as the blindfold member by being attached to a printed board. 4. The pattern display device according to claim 3, wherein lateral electrodes of the adjacent transparent displays are provided on a portion of the printed circuit board serving as the blindfold member (hereinafter referred to as “relay wiring”). The symbol display device is connected to the symbol display device. 5. The symbol display device according to claim 4, wherein the relay wiring and a lateral electrode of the transparent display are connected by a conductive member. 6. The symbol display device according to claim 5, wherein the conductive member is a conductive rubber. 7. The symbol display device according to claim 1, wherein the transparent indicators are individually replaceable. 8. The symbol display device according to claim 1, wherein the transparent display is a transparent electroluminescence panel.