JP2002239082A - Slot machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a slot machine capable of reducing the processing burden of a play control board. SOLUTION: In the slot machine, with which a play state is controlled by a play control board 100, the dispensation control of medals is performed by a dispensation control board 105. The detecting signal of a dispensation sensor 601 for detecting dispensed medals is inputted to both the play control board 100 and the dispensation control board 105. On the basis of the input condition of the detecting signal from the dispensation sensor 601, the presence/absence of abnormality concerning the dispensation of medals is discriminated by the play control board 100 and the dispensation control board 105. When the presence of abnormality is discriminated, both the control boards are turned into inactive state. Afterwards, when reset operation is detected on the side of the play control board 100, the play control board 100 is recovered from the inactive state, transmits a recovery command to the dispensation control board 105 and makes the dispensation control board 105 recover from the inactive state.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a slot machine, and more particularly, to a game that can be started by setting a bet amount on one game, and a display result of a variable display device is derived and displayed. Accordingly, the present invention relates to a slot machine in which a condition for ending one game is satisfied and a prize can be generated according to the display result of the variable display device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It is possible to start a game by setting a bet amount for one game on a conventionally known slot machine of this type, and the display result of the variable display device is changed. There is a slot machine in which the end condition of one game is satisfied by being derived and displayed, and a prize can be generated according to the display result of the variable display device.

In this type of slot machine, a medal, which is an example of a value object, is given to a player in accordance with occurrence of a prize. The medals awarded in accordance with the occurrence of a prize are stored in the storage means of the slot machine as credits, which are examples of numerical data, up to a predetermined upper limit. The credits stored in the storage means can be used for setting the bet amount as in the case of medals. Further, when the settlement operation is performed by the slot machine, medals of the number based on the credit are paid out.

[0004]

However, in the conventional slot machine, since the game control means for controlling the game state also controls the payout of medals, the processing load on the game control means becomes large. There was a problem.

In this case, regarding the payout control of medals,
It is conceivable that the payout control means is different from the game control means. However, if the detection signal of the detecting means for detecting the payout of medals is input only to the payout control means relating to the payout control, it becomes impossible for the game control means to directly detect the occurrence of the payout abnormality. In this case, for example, it is conceivable that the payout control means notifies the game control means of the occurrence of a payout abnormality, but there is a possibility that an improper act using the information transmission path from the payout control means to the game control means may be performed. Further, the game control means can only indirectly recognize the occurrence of the payout abnormality.

The present invention has been conceived in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a slot machine capable of reducing the processing load of a game control means for paying out worth objects while considering various situations. That is.

[0007]

Specific Examples of Means for Solving the Problems and Their Effects
(1) The game can be started by setting the number of bets to bet on one game, and the display result of the variable display device (for example, reel 4) is derived and displayed, so that the end condition of one game is satisfied. The slot machine (1) in which a prize can be generated according to the display result of the variable display device, wherein a game control means (for example, a game control board 100) for controlling a game state and the game control means Payout control means (e.g., payout control) which is provided separately and receives predetermined control information (e.g., payout command, hopper motor drive command) from the game control means and starts control of paying out a worth object (e.g., a medal). Substrate 1
05), a detecting means (for example, a payout sensor 601) for detecting the payout of the valuable object, and an abnormality determining means for determining whether or not there is an abnormality related to the payout of the valuable object based on the input state of the detection signal from the detecting means ( For example, SM8, S
M10, SUB10, SUB14) and when the abnormality determining means determines that there is an abnormality, the game control means cannot normally advance the game, and the payout control means controls the payout of the valuable object. Inactivating means (for example, SM14, SUB)
13, SUB27), and the detection signal of the detection means is input to the game control means and the payout control means (see, for example, FIG. 4), and the payout control means performs a predetermined recovery from the game control means. When receiving control information (for example, an error release command), the mobile station recovers from the inactive state (for example, SUB13, SUB27).

According to the above arrangement, the processing load on the game control means for paying out a value object can be reduced. Further, the game control means can directly detect the occurrence of the payout abnormality based on the detection signal of the detection means, and it is not necessary to receive information on the payout status from the payout control means.

(2) Both the game control means and the payout control means include the abnormality determination means (for example,
FIG. 5), an abnormality relating to the payout of a value object caused by a specific cause can be detected by both the game control means and the payout control means (for example, FIG. 5).

[0010] According to the above arrangement, both the game control means and the payout control means can detect an abnormality relating to the payout of the value object caused by a specific cause. Even if the abnormality occurrence control according to the occurrence of the abnormality is performed in accordance with the abnormality determination of the abnormality determination means provided in Can be prevented from being in a state in which matching is not achieved, such as performing normal control without performing the control.

(3) The payout control means determines whether or not to end the payout of the value object based on the detection signal of the detection means, and detects the payout of a predetermined number of value objects by the detection means. Is completed, the payout of the value object is terminated (for example, SUB5, SUB7, SUB).
8, SUB9).

According to the above arrangement, the payout control means determines whether or not to end the payout of the value object based on a detection signal of the detection means, not based on a command of the game control means. In the case where the payout of a predetermined number of valuable objects is detected by the detection means, in order to terminate the payout of the valuable object, information for notifying whether or not to terminate the payout of the valuable object is provided by the game control means. Need not be transmitted to the payout control means. Therefore, the processing load on the game control means can be further reduced.

(4) When the payout of a predetermined number of worth objects is detected by the detection means, the game control means sends predetermined payout end control information (for example, a hopper motor stop command) to the payout control means. ) Is transmitted (for example, SMM6, SMM7), and the payout control means ends the payout of the valuable object based on the payout end control information (for example, SUB23, SUB24).

According to the above configuration, the game control means can grasp the payout state of the valuable object from the detection signal of the detection means. In addition, the timing of terminating the payout control of the payout control means can be determined under the initiative of the game control means while grasping the payout situation of the value object.

(5) Numerical data (for example, data on the number of credits) which can specify the magnitude of the value of the player's possession that is added and updated by winning and the insertion of a value object, and is subtracted and updated in exchange for the setting of the bet amount ) Is further included (for example, the RAM 113 of the game control board 100), and the processing of updating the numerical data is performed by the game control means (for example, SB7, SB8, SB)
11, SB13, SB14).

According to the above arrangement, while the payout control function of the valuable object is entrusted to the payout control means, the function of updating the numerical data relating to the setting of the bet amount is provided in the game control means side. Each time the bet number is set using the numerical data, there is no need for the game control means to check with the payout control means whether there is numerical data equivalent to the bet number, and the processing of the game control means becomes complicated. Can be prevented.

(6) Power supply means (for example, a backup power supply) for supplying power for holding the numerical data stored in the storage means to the storage means when power supply to the slot machine is cut off 125).

According to the above configuration, for example, after recovery from the power failure, control based on the numerical data stored in the storage means before the power failure can be performed, and the player is not disadvantaged.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. First Embodiment FIG. 1 is an overall front view of a slot machine 1 having a card unit 161 adjacent thereto. The front door 2 of the slot machine 1 can be opened by rotating a predetermined key inserted into the keyhole of the locking device 53 clockwise. When the key inserted into the keyhole is turned counterclockwise, the operation is performed by the first reset switch 531.
(See FIG. 2), and the slot machine 1 is reset. Therefore, for example, when the big bonus is ended and the game is stopped, the game can be provided again by rotating the key inserted into the keyhole in the counterclockwise direction. It is also possible to set so that the slot machine 1 is automatically reset after a predetermined stopping time has elapsed after the big bonus has ended and the hit state has been reached.

At the left and right of the lower part of the front door 2, a substantially lower right game effect lamp portion 37 and a lower left game effect lamp portion 3 in a substantially triangular shape are provided.
8 are provided. A speaker cover 58 is provided on the left and right of the upper part of the front door 2, and a lower speaker part 59 is provided below the slot machine 1. A speaker 581 (see FIG. 2) is provided inside the speaker cover 58 and the lower speaker section 59, and a sound for enhancing the effect and sound effects such as a melody are output from the speaker hole in stereo. Note that the slot machine 1 also has a built-in speaker that outputs a sound effect from the back side.

An upper front decorative frame 8 is provided in a region surrounded by the speaker cover 58, the lower right game effect lamp portion 37, and the lower left game effect lamp portion 38. Is the lower front decorative frame 9
Is provided.

The upper front decorative frame 8 includes the gaming effect lamp section 3.
0a to 30e and an upper portion provided with a winning symbol explanation display panel 5, a substantially elliptical middle portion provided with a game panel 6 and various display portions, and a front portion protruding from a lower portion of the game panel 6 to be formed. And a lower part provided with a medal insertion part 51, various operation buttons 43 to 46, 41L, 41C, 41R, a start lever 42 and the like. The lower front decorative frame 9 is provided with a title panel 7 on which the model name of the slot machine is drawn.

At approximately the center of the winning symbol explanation display panel 5, an effect liquid crystal display 50 is provided. Various liquid crystal images are displayed on the liquid crystal display 50. For example, the liquid crystal display 50 displays an effect drawing screen for AT lottery, which is an example of a specific game state, and indicates to a player whether or not to enter an AT state described later. In the effect screen for the AT lottery, after a plurality of types of symbols start to change, a winning symbol or a missing symbol is derived and displayed. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the symbol “7” hits the liquid crystal display 50 and is derived and displayed. When the winning symbol is derived and displayed, thereafter, the various game effect lamp units blink in a specific manner to notify that the vehicle enters the AT state. The number of games in the AT state is displayed on the liquid crystal display 50.

Below the lower front decorative frame 9, a medal payout hole 54 for paying out a medal as an example of a game medium and the above-described lower speaker portion 59 are formed. Below the medal payout hole 54, a medal tray 55 in which an ashtray 56 is formed is attached.

Around the gaming panel 6 of the upper front decorative frame 8, a diagonally upper right gaming effect lamp portion 33, a diagonally upper left gaming effect lamp portion 34, and a right middle gaming effect lamp portion 31 are provided.
a, 31b, and a left middle game effect ramp 32a, 32b
Are provided. Further, a game effect ramp portion 36 at the lower left of the start lever 42 is provided at the lower left of the start lever 42.
A game effect ramp 35 at the lower right is provided diagonally below the medal clog release button 46.

The game panel 6 has a transparent window 40 through which the left reel 4L, the middle reel 4C, and the right reel 4R provided on the main body of the slot machine 1 can be seen, and a small role notice located above the transparent window 40. Display units 24, 25, 26 and see-through window 4
One bet display unit 21, two bet display units 22a and 22b, and three bet display units 23a and 23 located to the left of 0
b, the game over display section 14, the replay display section 15, the weight display section 16, the start display section 17, and the insertion instruction display section (also referred to as an insert medal display section) 18 located on the right side of the fluoroscopic window 40, and fluoroscopy. Credit display unit 11, game number display unit 1 located below window 40
2 and a payout display unit 13 are provided.

The credit display unit 11, the number-of-games display unit 12, and the payout display unit 13 are LEDs (Light).
It consists of a 7-segment display with a built-in Emitting Diode.

One bet display unit 21, two bet display unit 22
a, 22b and the three bet display units 23a, 23b
Displays the number of bets placed by the player on the game. Each bet display unit corresponds to one of the five pay lines drawn in the see-through window 40 as shown, and also serves as an active line display unit that informs an effective pay line according to the number of bets so as to be identifiable. Have been.

Each of the small portion notification display portions 24, 25, and 26 has one winning symbol of a different type drawn thereon. Specifically, a “white 7” symbol is drawn on the small role notification display portion 24, a “patterned 7” symbol is drawn on the small role notification display portion 25, and a “BAR” symbol is drawn on the small role notification display portion 26. Have been. These small portion notification display portions 24 to 26 indicate that generation of a predetermined small portion prize is permitted by the control portion of the slot machine, that is, that the predetermined small portion prize is internally won. This is a display unit for notifying by lighting a winning symbol corresponding to the small winning combination. These small portion notification display sections 24 to 26 function only when a predetermined condition is satisfied. The gaming state in which the small portion notification display sections 24-26 function is called an "AT (Assist Time) state". The AT state is generated when a predetermined generation condition is satisfied, and ends when a predetermined end condition is satisfied. In the game in the AT state, when a predetermined small-prize winning of a notification target is internally won, one of the lamps is turned on.

The game over display section 14 is turned on when the game has been stopped by the end of the big bonus and when the game cannot be advanced due to some error. Replay display section 1
Reference numeral 5 indicates that a replay winning has occurred. The start display section 17 is turned on when the start operation can be performed by setting the bet amount, and turned off when a valid start operation is detected. The insertion instruction display section 18 flashes when a medal is ready to be received, turns off when a maximum bet amount is set, the number of credits reaches an upper limit number, a game is started, and the like. .

The weight display section 16 turns on when a start operation is detected during the wait time, and turns off after the wait time has elapsed. The wait time is a game progress restriction period set in the slot machine to restrict the game from progressing too quickly. If a start operation is detected during this wait time, the reel is designed to start after the wait time has elapsed. Therefore, when a plurality of games are sequentially played at a sufficient time interval, the progress of the game is not restricted when the start lever 42 is operated, but the player can finish the plurality of games in a short time. In such a case, the progress of the game is regulated by the weight time, and until the weight time elapses,
The reel is in a waiting state.

In this slot machine 1, for example, a game progress regulation period of 4.1 seconds is set based on the point in time when the reel change started in the previous game.
4.1 from the start of reel movement in the previous game
If the start operation is detected before the elapse of the second, the reels start after the game progress restriction period elapses.

The credit display section 11 displays the number of credits. The credit is the number of medals stored in the slot machine 1 as a value owned by the player. This credit is added and updated by inserting medals into the slot machine 1 and generating a prize with payout, and is subtracted and updated by setting a bet amount or paying out medals based on a settlement operation. The slot machine 1 can store a maximum value of 50 medals as a credit. The maximum number of credits (= 5
When the number reaches 0), the insertion instruction display unit 18 is turned off. When a request for adding and updating credits exceeding the upper limit of storage occurs, medals exceeding the upper limit are paid out from the medal payout hole 54.

The number-of-games display section 12 displays the status of winning a bonus during the big bonus, the number of winnings during the regular bonus, and the like. When the big bonus is over and the game is stopped, the number-of-games display section 12 displays “E”.
The character "ND" is displayed to notify the player of the hit state. Further, the game number display section 12 functions as an error display for displaying various abnormalities occurring in the slot machine 1. For example, the abnormal types detected by the control unit of the slot machine 1 include “medal shortage to be paid out (Hopper Empty (Hopper Empt.
y))), "medal jam", "medals have been paid out even though payout conditions have not been met", "abnormal reel rotation speed", "winning despite not winning internally" That the combination of symbols has been derived and displayed ". When these abnormalities are detected by the control unit, an error code capable of specifying the type of the abnormalities is displayed on the game count display unit 12 in a form such as "E-1" or "E-2".

The payout display section 13 displays, for each game, the number of credits to be given to a player based on a prize generated during one game.

On the upper surface of a portion formed so as to protrude from the lower part of the game panel 6 to the front side, a medal insertion part 51 having a medal insertion opening 52 formed therein, a settlement button 45, and a single BE.
A T button 43 and a MAXBET button 44 are provided.

The single bet button 43 is a button to be pressed when betting one credit. The MAXBET button 44 is a button that is pressed when betting on a game within the range of credits in which the maximum number of bets allowed in one game (for example, three medals) is stored. The single BET button 43 has a built-in BET button lamp 430b (see FIG. 2), and the MAXBET button 44 has a built-in BET button lamp 440b (see FIG. 2).
These BET button lamps 430b and 440b are turned on when the corresponding BET button is pressed and the bet amount can be set, and turned off when the bet amount cannot be set. The settlement button 45 is used for the medal payout hole 54 based on the credit stored in the slot machine 1.
This button is pressed when receiving a payout of medals. By pressing the settlement button 45, the number of credits displayed on the credit display unit 11 is reduced and updated until the number of credits reaches 0, and medals corresponding to the number of credits are paid out.

A start lever 42, a left stop button 41L, a middle stop button 41C, a right stop button 41R, a medal jam release button 46, and a start lever 42 are provided on the side surface of the portion formed to protrude from the lower part of the game panel 6 to the front side. Is provided.

The start lever 42 is operated when starting a game. After setting the number of bets, by operating the start lever 42, each reel 4L,
4C and 4R start rotating simultaneously. Each reel 4
A reel closing member 57 for closing the gap between the reels is provided on the front side of the reel between L, 4C, and 4R.

Each stop button 41L, 41C, 41R
Is a button operated when the spinning reel is stopped after the game has started. Stop button 41L
Is an operation enable lamp 410L (see FIG. 2), and the stop button 41C is an operation enable lamp 410C (see FIG. 2).
However, the operation enable lamp 410R is provided on the stop button 41R.
(See FIG. 2). These operation valid lamps 410L, 410C, 410R are turned on when the operation of the corresponding stop button 41L, 41C, 41R is valid, and turned off when the operation is invalid. The stop button unit 19 in which the stop buttons 41L, 41C, 41R are arranged has a bonus notification lamp 190 (see FIG. 2) which is turned on when the regular bonus winning flag or the big bonus winning flag is set. ) Is built-in. For this reason, the stop button unit 19 is
Function as The medal clog release button 46 is a button operated when the medal inserted into the medal insertion slot 52 is clogged inside the slot machine 1 to eliminate the medal clogging.

The game effect lamp section 38 is provided with a lend button 164 and a return button 165. The lending button 164 is a button pressed when a balance (card balance) is withdrawn from the prepaid card inserted into the card insertion slot 163 of the card unit 161 to pay out a medal corresponding to the withdrawn amount. On the other hand, return button 1
A button 65 is pressed when the prepaid card inserted into the card insertion slot 163 is ejected outside the machine. For example, a player who has visited a game arcade inserts a prepaid card into the card insertion slot 163 to start a game,
When the lending button 164 is pressed once, 50 medals are paid out to the medal payout hole 54 in exchange for withdrawal of a balance equivalent to 1000 yen. However, during the progress of the game, the operation of the lending button 164 is invalidated, and the operation of the lending button 164 is validated when all the reels stop and the game result is displayed.

Next, an outline of a game provided by the slot machine 1 will be described. To start the game, first set the bet amount. The bet amount can be set to one of 1 to 3 by pressing the single BET button 43 or the MAX BET button 44. However, when the number of credits displayed on the credit display unit 11 is less than 3, the range of the bet amount that can be set is limited to the range of the number of credits. In the case of playing a regular bonus game, the number of bets is limited to one. Whether the operation of the single BET button 43 and the MAXBET button 44 is valid is indicated by the lighting status of the BET lamps 430b and 440b built in the single BET button 43 and the MAXBET button 44. When the previous game result is a replay prize (re-game prize), since the previous bet amount is automatically set, the bet amount setting operation is unnecessary. At this time, the BET lamps 430b, 440b
Are both turned off.

When the one-sheet BET button 43 is pressed once,
The bet amount is set to one, and the one bet display unit 21 lights up to indicate that. Subsequently, when the one-bet button 43 is pressed once, the number of bets is set to two, and in addition to the one-bet display section 21, two two-bet display sections provided at positions sandwiching the one-bet display section 21. 22a and 22b light up to indicate that. Subsequently, when the single bet button 43 is pressed once, the bet amount is set to 3, and the single bet display units 21 and 2 are displayed.
In addition to the bet display units 22a and 22b, two three bet display units 23a and 23b provided at positions sandwiching the two bet display units 22a and 22b are lit to indicate that. When the MAXBET button 44 is pressed once, the bet number is set to the maximum number of 3, and the single bet display unit 21, the two bet display units 22a and 22b, and the three bet display units 23a and 23a,
23b lights up. When the bet number is set to the maximum number of 3, the BET lamps 430b and 440b are turned off because a bet number exceeding the maximum number cannot be set.

It is also possible to set the number of bets by inserting medals directly into the medal slot 52. Each time one medal is inserted, the bet number is set within a predetermined upper limit. Is incremented by one. When a medal is inserted with the number of bets exceeding the upper limit, the credit is added and updated until the number of credits reaches the upper limit, and the medal is returned from the medal payout hole 54 when the number of credits reaches the upper limit. Is done.

When the number of bets has been set, the start display section 17 lights up. As a result, the player is notified that the operation of the start lever 42 has been effectively accepted. If the start lever 42 is operated while the start display section 17 is turned on, each of the reels 4L, 4C, 4R
Begin to fluctuate (scroll) all at once. However, if the time when the start lever 42 is operated is within the wait time period, the weight display section 16 is turned on without scrolling the reels. Thereafter, the reel starts to scroll at the same time when the wait time period elapses and the weight display section 16 is turned off. A plurality of types of symbols are drawn on each of the reels 4L, 4C, 4R, and the types of symbols appearing in the see-through window 40 change one after another as the reels rotate. In addition, when the big bonus prize is internally won at the timing when the start lever 42 is operated, the bonus notification display section 19 is turned on, and the player is notified of that.

From the see-through window 40, a reel-to-reel closing member 57
A part of the three reels 4L, 4C, 4R partitioned by, is visually recognized. The inter-reel closing member 57 is provided on the reel side. However, in the transparent window 40, three regions divided by dividing the field of view by the inter-reel closing member 57, that is, each of the reels 4L, 4C, and 4R. Reel 3L, 4C, 4R
Are referred to as a left variable display unit, a middle variable display unit, and a right variable display unit.

From each of the variable display portions of the see-through window 40, of a plurality of symbols drawn on each reel, three consecutive symbols are displayed at upper, middle and lower positions, and at the upper part of the upper symbol. A part of the symbol that will soon appear in the upper position is displayed in the lower part, and a part of the symbol that will soon be hidden under the variable display unit is displayed in the lower part.

When a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of reel movement, each of the stop buttons 41L, 41C, 41R
The operation effective lamp provided in the LED lights up. This allows
The player is notified that the pressing operation of each of the stop buttons 41L, 41C, 41R is in an operation valid state. Each stop button 41L, 41C, 41R is provided corresponding to each reel 4L, 4C, 4R. The player can determine the order in which the reels 4L, 4C, 4R are stopped by his / her own operation. Player has stop button 4
When any one of 1L, 41C, and 41R is pressed, the operation enable lamp provided on the corresponding stop button is turned off. Thereafter, the rotation of the reel corresponding to the operated stop button is stopped.

On the other hand, the player presses the stop button 41L, 4
When the 1C and 41R are not operated, the reels 4L, 4C, and 4R, for example,
The stop buttons 41L, 41C, and 41R are automatically turned off sequentially in the priority order of L, 4C, and 4R, and the operation valid lamps provided on the respective stop buttons 41L, 41C, and 41R are turned off in the order of 410L, 410C, and 410R.

When all the reels 4L, 4C, 4R have stopped, the reels 4L, 4
The presence or absence of a prize is determined by a combination of symbols located on an effective prize line determined according to the bet amount among the three tiers of the upper tier, the middle tier, and the lower tier of C and 4R. 1 bet
In the case of, only the pay line in the middle row on the variable display section is a valid line. When the bet number is 2, three horizontal winning lines in the upper, middle, and lower rows on the variable display section are the active lines. When the bet number is 3, a total of five pay lines, that is, three horizontal rows and two diagonally opposite rows in the variable display section, are activated lines.

When a combination of symbols on the activated line has a predetermined specific display mode and a prize is generated, various game effect lamp portions blink in a predetermined mode and a sound effect is output from the speaker 581. It is output and an effective effect is made. In addition, bet display sections 21, 22a, 2
The display unit corresponding to the pay line and the backlight (reel lamp 401 (see FIG. 2) provided in each of the reels 4L, 4C, 4R) among 2b, 23a, 23b blink. Then, the medals corresponding to the winning are paid out as credits, and the credit number of the credit display unit 11 is added and updated. Further, the payout display section 13 displays the number of payouts. In addition, the number of credits is upper limit (=
When the number reaches 50), medals are directly paid out from the medal payout hole 54.

In particular, when a predetermined special display mode is set, a big bonus prize is won, credits are awarded, and a game state where a big bonus game can be performed is established. Hereinafter, the “big bonus” is abbreviated as “BB” as necessary. A game state in which a big bonus game is provided is also called a big bonus state (or simply a big bonus). In the big bonus state, a special winning combination called a regular bonus can be generated as described later.

For example, when a big bonus prize is generated, the number of times the big bonus game can be played (for example, up to 30 times) is displayed on the game number display section 12, and every time the big bonus game is consumed, the game is played. The number of games displayed on the number-of-times display section 12 is counted down by one and displayed. Similarly, when a regular bonus prize is generated, the number-of-games display section 12 displays the number of times the regular bonus game can be played (for example, up to 12 times). Then, every time the regular bonus game is consumed, the game number display section 1
The number of games displayed in 2 is counted down by one and displayed. Hereinafter, “regular bonus” is abbreviated to “RB” as necessary. The gaming state in which the regular bonus game is provided is also referred to as a regular bonus state (or simply, a regular bonus).

In the regular bonus state, usually, before reaching the maximum number of games in which the regular bonus game can be played (for example, 12), the number of winning games is reduced to a predetermined number (for example, the ending condition of the regular bonus state). , 8 times) in most cases. For this reason, when a regular bonus prize is generated, the maximum number of games (for example, 12
Instead of the number of times), a specified number of games (for example, eight times) capable of generating a prize may be displayed, and each time a prize is generated in a regular bonus game, a countdown display may be performed from the specified number of games.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining a connection state between various boards provided in the slot machine 1 and electric components.

In the slot machine 1, as a control board,
A game control board 10 which is a main board for controlling a game state
0, an effect control board 101 and a payout control board 105, which are sub-boards for performing control based on commands received from the game control board 100. The effect control according to the gaming state is performed by the effect control board 101 among the sub-boards. The payout control board 105 controls the payout of medals.

In this embodiment, in addition to the game control function, various sub-control functions required for controlling the slot machine 1 (medal payout control function, effect control function using a display device, a speaker, and the like) are provided. It is configured so that a control board different from the game control board 100 plays a role.

As described above, by distributing the various sub-control functions on a board different from the game control board 100, the control load on the game control board 100 is reduced. Further, by exchanging only the game control board 100, the game content can be changed to a new one, and the control boards 101 and 105 other than the game control board 100 can be effectively used.

Further, when a slot machine is newly developed, a test is performed in advance to determine whether or not the slot machine conforms to a certain standard by a predetermined organization. Thus, a necessary test can be performed for each control function, and the test can be easily performed.

The slot machine 1 includes a power supply board 1 for supplying power to the game control board 100 and the like as other boards.
02, an external output board 104 for externally outputting various game information, a reel relay board 103a, and a reel lamp relay board 103b. Power supply board 10
2 is supplied with power from outside the slot machine 1.
The power supply board 102 includes a power supply cord 625 for receiving a power supply of 100 V AC, a main switch 624.
Etc. are connected.

The game control board 100 includes the effect control board 10
1, the payout control board 105 and the power supply board 102 are connected by wiring. The game control board 100 is connected to the external output board 104 via a reel relay board 103a.

The effect control board 101 is a game control board 10
0 and the wiring is connected to the reel lamp relay board 103b. The payout control board 105 includes a game control board 100, a power supply board 102, and a card unit 106.
Is connected by wire.

The game control board 100 corresponds to an RB signal indicating that the game state is the regular bonus state, a BB signal indicating that the game state is the big bonus state, and the reels 4L, 4C, 4R. A reel control signal (motor phase signal) for controlling the reel motor 402, a medal OUT signal indicating the number of medals (credits) paid out to the player due to the occurrence of a prize, and the number of medals used for setting the bet amount Is output to the external output board 10 via the reel relay board 103a.
4 to control the output from the slot machine 1 to the outside. Note that the stop switches 411L, 411C, 41
The stop switch signal indicating that the operation of the 1R has been performed is transmitted to the stop switches 411L and 411L as described later.
1C, 411R.

The game control board 100 is connected to various switches, sensors, lamps, and wires from a display.

For example, the setting switch 621, the setting key switch 622, and the second
The reset switch 623 and the payout sensor 601
Game control board 100 relayed by power supply board 102
The detection signals of the respective switches and sensors are input to the game control board 100.

The game control board 10 via the power supply board 102
0, the setting switch 62
Reference numeral 1 denotes a switch for setting a winning rate, and a setting key switch 622 is a switch for validating the operation of the setting switch 621. By operating the setting switch 621, the winning rate of various winnings can be set to any one of "set value 1" to "set value 6." The second reset switch 623 is a switch for resetting the slot machine 1, and the payout sensor 601 is a switch for detecting paid medals.

The reel motor 402 and the reel sensor 403 wired and connected to the reel relay board 103a are relayed by the reel relay board 103a and wired and connected to the game control board 100. The detection signal of the reel sensor 403 is It is input to the control board 100. However,
The reel lamp 401 is connected to the reel lamp relay board 103b.
And is wired and connected to the effect control board 101. The reel sensor 403 is provided for each of the reels 4L, 4C,
The full tank sensor 611 is a sensor for detecting the 4R reference position, and detects that the medal storage amount in an overflow tank (not shown) for storing medals overflowing from the hopper 60 is equal to or larger than a predetermined amount. For the sensor. When the starting condition (input of the detection signal of the start switch 420) is satisfied, the game control board 100 outputs a control signal to the reel motor 402 to start the fluctuation of the reels, and then derives and displays the display result. Execute

Among the switches connected to the game control board 100, one BET switch 430a is one BE switch.
The operation of the T button 43 is detected, and the MAXBET switch 4
A switch 40a detects an operation of the MAXBET button 44.

The start switch 420 detects the operation of the start lever 42. The left, middle, and right stop switches 411L, 411C, and 411R are the left and right stop switches.
This switch detects the operation of the middle and right stop buttons 41L, 41C, 41R. Flow path switching solenoid 511
Is a solenoid for switching the flow path of medals inserted into the medal insertion slot 52 between the hopper 60 side and the medal payout hole 54 side.

The settlement switch 450 is a switch for detecting the operation of the settlement button 45, and the first reset switch 531 is a switch for detecting the reset operation of the slot machine by the key inserted into the keyhole of the locking device 53. The inserted medal sensor 510 is a sensor that detects a medal inserted into the medal insertion unit 51.

The credit display unit 110 is a display unit constituting the credit display unit 11, and the game number display unit 12
Numeral 0 is a display constituting the number-of-games display section 12, and a payout display 130 is a display constituting the payout display section 13. The insertion instruction lamp 180 is a lamp built in the insertion instruction display unit 18 and is a single bet lamp 2
The 10 and 2 bet ramps 220a and 220b and the 3 bet ramps 230a and 230b are respectively a single bet display section 21, a 2 bet display sections 22a and 22b, and a 3 bet display sections 23a and 2b.
3b. The single bet lamp 210 is displayed on the single bet display section 21 and the double bet lamp 220 is displayed.
"a" is displayed on the two-betting display unit 22a and the two-betting lamp 220b
Is displayed on the two bet display section 22b, the three bet lamp 230a is displayed on the three bet display section 23a, and the three bet lamp 230b is displayed on the three bet display section 23a.
Each bet is displayed in the bet display section 23b.

The game over lamp 140 is a lamp built in the game over display section 14, the start lamp 170 is a lamp built in the start display section 17, and the replay lamp 150 is built in the replay display section 15. The bonus notification lamp 190 is a lamp built in the bonus notification display unit 19.

The BET button lamp 430b is a single BET
The BET button lamp 440b is a lamp built in the MAXBET button 44. The left operation valid lamp 410L is a lamp built in the left stop button 41L, the middle operation valid lamp 410C is a lamp built in the middle stop button 41C, and the right operation valid lamp 410R is built in the right stop button 41R. It is a built-in lamp.

Power supply board 102 or reel relay board 1
Various lamps and indicators connected to the game control board 100 via the board 03a or without these boards are controlled by the game control board 100. The game control board 100 is a game control board 100.
Or receives detection signals from various switches and sensors connected to the game control board 100 via the power supply board 102 or the reel relay board 103a, and controls the game state.

The effect control board 101 includes game effect lamp units 30a to 30e, 31a, 31b, 32a, 32b,
Each of the game effect lamps 301, the liquid crystal display 50, the speaker cover 58 and the lower speaker unit 59 which are provided in each of the slot machines 1 to 33.
581, fluorescent lamps 302, weight lamps 160, and small notification lamps 240, 250, and 260 are wired and connected to the rear side of the reel lamp, and are further connected to a reel lamp via a reel lamp relay board 103b. 40
1 is connected by wiring.

The fluorescent lamp 302 illuminates the winning symbol explanation display panel 5, the title panel 7, and the game panel 6 from inside, and illuminates the reels 4L, 4C, 4R. The weight lamp 160 is a lamp built in the weight display unit 16. Small part announcement lamp 24
Reference numeral 0 denotes a lamp incorporated in the small notification display unit 24, a small notification lamp 250 is a lamp incorporated in the small notification display unit 25, and a small notification lamp 260 is incorporated in the small notification display unit 26. It is a lamp to be performed.

A card unit 161 is connected to the payout control board 105 by wiring, and a hopper motor 602 and a payout sensor 601 are connected by wiring via a power supply board 102. The payout control board 105 is a game control board 10
When a payout of medals is received from 0 or a card unit, a payout control for outputting medals by outputting a drive signal to the hopper motor 602 is executed.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of the game control board 100 and the effect control board 101. Referring to FIG. 3, a game control unit 111 provided on game control board 100 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 112 capable of executing a control operation in a predetermined procedure.
And a ROM for storing a control program for the CPU 112
(Read Only Memory) 114 and RAM (Random Access Memory) that can write and read necessary data
113 and an I / O port 115 for ensuring signal consistency between the CPU 112 and an external circuit.

The game control board 100 includes an initial reset circuit 118 for applying a reset pulse to the CPU 112 when the power is turned on, a clock generation circuit 119 for applying a clock signal to the CPU 112, and frequency division of the clock signal from the clock generation circuit 119. And periodically output the interrupt pulse to CP
A pulse dividing circuit (interrupt pulse generating circuit) 121 to be provided to U112; a random number generating circuit 123 for continuously generating a random number in a certain range at high speed; and a sampling circuit 124 for sampling random numbers from the random number generating circuit 123. , A buffer circuit 122.

Further, the game control board 100 is provided with a switch circuit 116 to which signals from various switches shown in FIG. 2 are input, a motor circuit 117, and other solenoid circuits (not shown). Further, the game control board 100 is provided with a backup power supply 125 for retaining the memory of the RAM 113 at the time of power failure. R
AM113 has various displays (credit display unit 11,
Information (number of credits, number of games, number of payouts) to be displayed on the number-of-games display section 12 and the payout display section 13);
Information necessary for the game, such as a bet amount, a winning flag, and a set value of a winning rate, is stored. In the event of a power outage, these information are backed up by the backup power supply 125, so that after the power outage is recovered, it is possible to return to the gaming state before the power outage occurred.

Various commands relating to effect control are output from the game control unit 111 of the game control board 100 to the effect control board 101 via the buffer circuit 122. The buffer circuit 122 functions as an irreversible output unit that allows a signal to be output from the inside of the game control board 100 to the outside, but prevents a signal from being input from the outside to the inside of the game control board 100. Therefore, the game control board 10
0 and the effect control board 101, one-way communication from the game control board 100 to the effect control board 101 is ensured, and a signal is input to the game control board 100 via a command transmission path to perform an illegal control operation. Can be prevented.

The effect control board 101 includes an effect control unit 131 composed of a microcomputer and each of the speakers 581.
A speaker drive circuit 136 for outputting sound from
Display drive circuit 13 for controlling display of liquid crystal display 50
7, a lamp drive circuit 138 for lighting or blinking various lamps, and a backup power supply 139.

The effect control unit 131 includes a CPU 132, a ROM 134 for storing a control program, a RAM 133 for writing and reading necessary data, and an I / O
Port 135. The data stored in the RAM 133 is backed up by the backup power supply 139. Therefore, the effect control unit 131 can restart the effect control based on the data stored before the occurrence of the power failure after the recovery from the power failure.

The data table which defines the effect pattern corresponding to the command transmitted from the game control board 100 is stored in the ROM 134 of the effect control section 131.
This data table includes each game effect lamp 301, liquid crystal display 50, each speaker 581, each fluorescent lamp 302, weight lamp 160, and small notification lamps 240 and 25.
0,260.

For example, when a predetermined command is received, the effect control unit 131 reads an effect pattern corresponding to the game state from each data table, and according to the read effect pattern, the game effect lamp 301, the liquid crystal display 50, The speaker 581, the fluorescent lamp 302, the reel lamp 401, and the like are controlled.

As shown in FIG. 3, the detection signal of the start switch 420 is input to the game control section 111 via the switch circuit 116 and to the sampling circuit 124. The game control unit 111 receives the detection signal of the start switch 420 and outputs a reel control signal via the motor circuit 117. This reel control signal is sent to each of the reels 4L, 4L via the reel relay board 103a.
It is input to the reel motor 402 provided for each of C and 4R. The reel control signal is transmitted to the reel relay board 103a.
The signal is output to the outside of the slot machine 1 via the external output board 104.

On the other hand, the sampling circuit 124 samples one random number from the random number generation circuit 123 at the timing when the detection signal of the start switch 420 is input, and transfers the random number to the CPU 112. CPU112
Refers to the sampled random numbers and the winning determination table for each winning combination stored in the ROM 114 to determine whether or not to allow occurrence of a winning for each winning combination,
The result of the determination is stored in the RAM 113. Thereby, at the timing when the start operation is performed, it is determined whether or not the winning combination is won. The fact that a winning is allowed is called "internal winning". When any of the winning combinations is internally won, a winning flag corresponding to the winning combination is set inside the slot machine 1.

Thereafter, the game control section 111 controls the reels according to the winning result for each winning combination. For example, in a game in which a winning flag is set, the reels are controlled so as to draw the symbol of the winning combination corresponding to the winning flag, so that the reel pressing operation generates the winning of the combination corresponding to the winning flag. It is possible to do. However, in the game in which the winning flag is not set, the reels are controlled so as to pull in the missed symbols, and therefore, it is not possible to generate a prize even if the reel is pressed. The control for pulling in a winning symbol or a lost symbol in accordance with the setting status of the winning flag is referred to as “pull-in control”.

No winning flag is set, and
When it is determined that the result of the game is out of the range, the retraction control is adjusted so that no prize is won by any of the winning combinations.

On the other hand, this pull-in control does not allow the reel stop position to be freely controlled without limitation to draw in any winning symbol, but within a predetermined range (for example, a range corresponding to four symbols arranged on the reel). ) Is designed so that winning symbols can be drawn. Therefore, even if the winning flag is set, if the player's eye-catching position is poor, the winning symbol will be drawn without being drawn in. As described above, even if the winning flag is set, if a winning corresponding to the winning flag cannot be generated, the winning flag is cleared. However,
The winning flag of the big bonus prize is different from the winning flag of other winning combinations, and even if no prize is generated in a game in which the winning flag is set, a prize corresponding to the winning flag is generated. Until the winning flag is carried over to the next and subsequent games.

Further, in response to the detection signal of the start switch 420 being input, the game control section 111
A command that can specify the start of the game is output to the effect control board 101 via the buffer circuit 122. The effect control board 101 grasps the game situation based on the command, and controls the game effect lamp 301, the liquid crystal display 50, and the like according to the effect pattern determined at the start of the game.

The stop switch signals output from the stop switches (left, middle, right stop switches 411L, 411C, 411R) are transmitted to the game control board 100,
After being transmitted through a signal path reciprocating between the reel relay board 103a and the external output board 104, the game control board 100
Is input to the switch circuit 116. Furthermore, the stop switch signal output from the stop switch is directly
It is configured to output to the outside via the external output board 104.

The game control unit 111 having received the input of the stop switch signal causes the reel motor (reel 4L, 4L) corresponding to the stop switch signal via the motor circuit 117.
C or 4R) to output a reel control signal for stopping the reel motor. This reel control signal
The signal is input to the reel motor 402 and output to the outside of the slot machine via the external output board 104.

Further, in response to the input of the stop switch signal, the game control section 111 sends to the effect control board 101 via the buffer circuit 122 a command capable of specifying the stop time of each reel 4L, 4C. , 4R. The effect control board 101 controls the game effect lamp 301, the liquid crystal display 50, and the like according to the effect pattern determined according to the reel stop time based on the command.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining a connection state between the game control board 100, the payout control board 105, and the card unit control board 162.

The dispensing control board 105 includes a dispensing control section 151 composed of a microcomputer and a hopper motor 6.
02, a motor circuit 156 for outputting a drive signal to
A backup power supply 159 is mounted. The payout control unit 151 includes a CPU 152, a ROM 154 that stores a control program, a RAM 153 that can write and read necessary data such as a planned payout number of medals,
O port 155. The data stored in the RAM 153 is backed up by the backup power supply 159. Therefore, after the recovery from the power failure, the payout control unit 151 can restart the payout control based on the data of the scheduled payout number of medals stored before the power failure occurred. This can prevent disadvantages for the player.

The payout control board 105 includes the card unit 1
It is connected to a card unit control board 162 mounted on the main unit 61. The lending button 164 and the return button 165 provided on the slot machine 1 side are connected to the card unit control board 162.

The payout control unit 151 sends a signal indicating whether or not payout is possible to the card unit control board 162.
Send to On the other hand, the card unit control board 162
When the operation of the lending button 164 is detected in a state where payout is possible, a signal indicating a medal payout request is transmitted to the payout control board 105. The payout control board 105 controls the payout of medals based on the signal.

Game control board 100 and payout control board 105
Between the game control board 100 and the payout control board 10
5 only in one direction. In order to secure this one-way communication, a buffer circuit 126 is provided on the game control board 100, and a buffer circuit 157 is provided on the payout control board 105. Both buffer circuits function as irreversible output means for permitting the output of a signal from the inside of the game control board 100 to the outside, but for preventing a signal from being input from the outside to the inside of the game control board 100.
Therefore, between the game control board 100 and the payout control board 105, the payout control board 1
One-way communication to 05 is ensured, and it is possible to prevent a fraudulent act of inputting a signal to the game control board 100 via a command transmission path to perform an improper control operation.

In the RAM 113 of the game control board 100,
A credit that indicates the number of medals that can be paid out and that can be used for setting the bet number is stored. Game control unit 11
1 updates the credit in accordance with the setting of the bet amount, occurrence of winning, and settlement. As described above, the credit, which is important data relating to the game, is managed and stored directly on the game control board 100 side, not on the payout control board 105. Therefore, the game management can be centrally managed on the game control board 100 side, as compared with a configuration in which the management of credits is left to the payout control board 105. When the credit management is entrusted to the payout control board 105, the payout control board 105 notifies the game control board 100 whether or not there is a credit required for setting the bet amount when setting the bet amount. And the processing on the game control board 100 side becomes complicated. Also, the payout control board 105 from the game control board 100
It is difficult to secure one-way communication to By leaving the payout control function to the payout control board 105 side and leaving the credit management function on the game control board 100 side, it is possible to secure one-way communication while reducing the control burden of the game control board 100. Become.

As shown in the figure, the detection signal of the payout sensor 601 provided in the hopper 60 is relayed by the power supply board 102, and is input to both the game control board 100 and the payout control board 105. Game control board 100 and payout control board 1
05, check the payout status based on the detection signal of the payout sensor 601 and check for an error (hopper empty) for lack of medals in the hopper 60,
At the same time, the occurrence of an error due to the jammed medals is detected. In this embodiment, the payout sensor 601 is
The power supply board 102 is connected to the game control board 100 and the payout control board 105 while being relayed by the power supply board 102.
02, and the payout sensor 6 is directly connected to both control boards.
01 may be connected.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart for explaining a procedure in which the game control board 100 and the payout control board 105 determine the occurrence of a medal payout error. In the figure,
The command transmission timing by the game control board 100, the ON / OFF timing of the detection signal of the payout sensor 601 and the hopper motor 6 by the payout control board 105
The relationship between the start (ON) and the stop (OFF) of the output of the drive signal 02 is shown.

The game control board 100 determines a payout error due to a shortage of medals in the hopper (hopper empty) using a “medal shortage determination timer (Te)”, and uses a “medal jam determination timer (Tb)”. A payout error due to clogging is determined.

On the other hand, the payout control board 105 uses the "medal detection waiting time determination timer (Tw1)" and the "redrive waiting time determination timer (Tw2)" to detect a payout error due to a medal shortage (hopper empty) in the hopper. judge. The payout control board 105 is a game control board 100.
"Medal clogging determination timer (T
b) "to determine a payout error due to a medal jam.

First, a procedure for determining a payout error due to a shortage of medals (hopper empty) will be described.

The game control board 100 starts counting the medal shortage determination timer (Te) at the timing when the payout command for instructing the payout number of medals is transmitted to the payout control board 105. Thereafter, until the payout of the medal is detected by the payout sensor 601 until the payout of the number of medals corresponding to the payout command is performed, the medal shortage determination timer (Te) is reset to restart the timing. Repeat. The payout sensor 601 is turned off until the medal shortage determination timer (Te) finishes measuring the predetermined time Te.
If N is not set (that is, if no medal is detected),
The game control board 100 determines that a medal shortage (hopper empty) error has occurred.

For example, in FIG. 5A, a payout command instructing the payout of three medals is issued by the payout control board 10.
5 shows a situation where the payout sensor 601 is not turned on even after the time Te elapses after the payout of two medals is detected after transmission to the medals 5. In this case, the game control board 100
Determines that an error has occurred when the time Te has elapsed,
An error command is transmitted to the effect control board 101. However, the error command is not transmitted to the payout control board 105.

On the other hand, when the payout control board 105 receives a payout command for instructing payout of medals from the game control board 100, the payout control board 105 starts timing of a medal detection waiting time determination timer (Tw1) and drives the hopper motor 602. Start outputting the signal. Thereafter, until the payout of the medal is detected by the payout sensor 601 until the payout of the number of medals according to the received payout command is performed, the medal detection waiting time determination timer (Tw1) is reset and the timing is restarted. Is repeated. When the payout sensor 601 is not turned on until the medal detection waiting time determination timer (Tw1) finishes measuring the predetermined time Tw1 (that is, no medal is detected), the payout control board 105 sends the hopper motor 602 Is temporarily stopped, and the timer of the re-drive waiting time determination timer (Tw2) is started. Thereafter, when Tw2 has elapsed, the output of the drive signal to the hopper motor 602 is restarted, and the timer of the medal detection waiting time determination timer (Tw1) is started again. Thereafter, if the payout sensor 601 does not turn on until the time Tw1 has elapsed, the payout control board 10
No. 5 determines that a medal shortage (hopper empty) error has occurred. Then, the payout control board 105 autonomously stops outputting the drive signal of the hopper motor, and enters a payout inactive state in which the payout control of the medals is not executed until the error control command is received from the game control board 100. . The reason why the payout control board 105 determines the medal shortage error after the output of the drive signal to the hopper motor has been stopped / restarted is that the transporting unit that transports the medals in the hopper to the payout unit successfully stores the medals. This is because there is a case where the lifting unit continues to be driven in an empty state without being able to do so.

As shown in (1) of FIG. 5, the time Te for the game control board 100 to determine a medal shortage (hopper empty) error is determined by the time for the payout control board 105 to determine the error. Tw1 + Tw2 + Tw
1 ". Therefore, when the payout control board 105 determines a medal shortage (hopper empty) error, the game control board 100 also determines the error.

Next, a procedure for determining a payout error due to a medal jam will be described. After transmitting the payout command to the payout control board 105, the game control board 100 sends a payout sensor 601 and turns on the medal clogging determination timer (T
Start the timing of b). Similarly, the payout control board 105
Starts the output of the drive signal to the hopper motor upon receipt of the payout command, and then starts counting the medal clogging determination timer (Tb) each time the payout sensor 601 is turned on.

[0111] Both control boards are connected to the payout sensor 60 until the medal clogging timer finishes measuring the time Tb.
If 1 is not turned off (that is, if the payout sensor 601 is kept ON for the time Tb), it is determined that a payout error due to clogged medals has occurred.

For example, FIG. 5B shows a state in which the payout sensor 601 has been ON for more than the time Tb after the payout of two medals is detected. In this case, both the game control board 100 and the payout control board 105 determine that an error has occurred when the time Tb has elapsed. Then, the game control board 100 transmits an error command to the effect control board 101. Further, after the error is determined, the payout control board 105 is in the payout inactive state until the error control command is received.

As described above, the game control board 10
0 and the payout control board 105 determine a medal payout error at the same timing, and execute control according to the determination result. Therefore, in response to the payout error on the game control board 100 side, for example, although the error display control is started, the drive control of the hopper motor 602 is still continued on the payout control board 105 side. For example, it is possible to prevent the inconsistent control from being executed by both control boards.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a schematic processing procedure of the processing performed by the game control board 100. Referring to FIG. 6, first, an initial process is executed (S1). In this initial processing, for example, various built-in devices are initialized, and a RAM error is checked.

Next, a BET process is performed (S2).
In the BET process, a process of setting the number of bets is performed in accordance with a medal insertion operation or a betting operation of the player by operating the single BET button 43 or the MAXBET button 44. Details of the BET processing will be described later with reference to FIG.

Next, a lottery process is executed (S3). In the lottery process, in response to the operation of the start lever 42 by the player, it is determined whether or not a winning is allowed and which winning combination is allowed.

Next, a reel fluctuation start process is executed (S4). The reel change start process is a process for starting the simultaneous change of the reels 4L, 4C, and 4R after the player operates the start lever 42.

Next, reel fluctuation stop processing is executed (S5). The reel fluctuation stop process is a process of stopping a corresponding reel in response to an operation of each stop button 41L, 41C, 41R by a player. In this process, the player operates the stop buttons 41L, 41C, 41R.
Is operated, if there is a symbol according to the lottery result previously performed in S3 within the four drawable ranges from the symbol displayed at that timing, a pull-in process of stopping the reel at that symbol is performed. If there is no symbol according to the lottery result in the retrievable range, a process of stopping at a missing symbol is performed. When the lottery result is out of place, a process for stopping the reel with the out-of-design is always performed.

When all the reels have been stopped in this way, a winning determination process is executed (S6). The winning determination process is a process of determining whether or not a winning has occurred based on a stop symbol. In this process, when the reels stop, it is actually determined whether or not the display result obtained on the pay line is a combination of the winning symbols.

Next, a payout process (S7) is executed, and the process related to this game ends. The payout process is a process of paying out a valuable value (medal) according to the winning when it is determined in S6 that a winning has occurred. Details of the payout process will be described later with reference to FIG.

Next, referring to FIG. 7, B shown in FIG.
The details of the ET processing will be described. In the BET process, first, it is determined whether or not the current game is a replay game (SB1).

If it is determined that the current game is a replay game, the previous bet amount is automatically set, and a BET notification command for notifying the bet amount is transmitted to effect control board 101 (SB20). ). Thereafter, the process of confirming the detection of the start operation is repeated until the start operation is detected (SB21). When the start operation is detected, the BET process ends, and the process proceeds to the lottery process shown in FIG.

When it is determined in SB1 that the game is not a replay game, it is determined whether a start operation (operation of the start lever 42) is detected (SB2). If the start operation has not been detected, it is determined whether or not a medal has been inserted (SB3). When a medal is inserted, it is determined whether or not the bet number is already the maximum number (SB15). If the bet number is not the maximum number, the bet number is incremented by 1 (SB16). On the other hand, for example, if the bet amount has already been set to 3 or if the bet amount has already been set to 1 during the RB game, SB15
Is determined to be the maximum number.

In this case, since the number of bets cannot be set according to the insertion of medals any more, the current number of credits is less than the maximum value (= 50). A process of adding and updating (+1) the number of credits according to the medal is executed (SB17, SB1).
8). On the other hand, when it is determined that the number of credits has already reached the maximum value (NO in SB17), the process of turning off the flow path switching solenoid 511 (see FIG. 2) and returning the inserted medals is executed. (SB19).

If the insertion of a medal is not detected in SB3, the BET button (single BET button or MAXB
It is determined whether or not the operation of the ET button has been detected (SB4). If the BET button operation is not detected, it is determined whether or not a settlement operation (operation of the settlement button 45) is detected (SB11).

If the settlement operation has not been detected, the process returns to SB1. On the other hand, when the settlement operation is detected, the condition is that the credit amount is not 0 (N in SB12).
In O), the current number of credits is set as the expected payout number (SB13), and a medal payout process for paying out the medals of the expected payout number under the control of the payout control board 105 is executed (SB16). After the medal payout process is performed, the process returns to SB1. Details of the medal payout process will be described later with reference to FIG. In this medal payout process, every time one medal is paid out, the scheduled payout number set in SB13, that is, the credit number is decremented and updated by one.

When the BET button operation is detected in SB4, it is determined whether or not the bet amount has already been set to the maximum number (SB5). If set to the maximum number,
The process returns to SB1, but if it is not set to the maximum number, the bet amount is added and updated (SB7) on condition that the credit amount is not 0 (SB6: NO), and the credit amount is changed in exchange for it. Subtraction is updated (SB8). Next, a BET notification command according to the bet amount is sent to the effect control
01 is sent.

After the number of bets is set, for example, SB2
, The start operation is detected, so that it is determined that the bet amount is set (SB10), and the BET processing ends.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the payout process executed in S7 of FIG. In the payout process, first, it is determined whether or not there is a payout due to winning (SG1). If the result of the game is out of play or replay, SG1 is determined to be NO and the payout processing ends. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is a payout due to winning, the payout number is set as the expected payout number (S
G2).

Next, the current credit amount is equal to the upper limit number of 50.
Is determined (SG3). And
When it is determined that the number of credits has not reached 50, the number of credits is added and updated (+1) (SG4), and the expected payout number is updated and subtracted (-1) (SG5). Next, it is determined whether or not the expected number of payouts has been completed (whether the expected number of payouts = 0) (SG6). When it is determined that the payout of the expected number of payouts has been completed, the payout processing ends. On the other hand, if the payout of the planned number of payouts has not been completed, the processing is repeated at S.
Returning to G3, it is determined whether or not the number of credits has reached 50. Then, when it is determined in SG3 that the number of credits has reached 50, a medal payout process for paying out medals of the expected payout number under the control of the payout control board 105 is executed (SG7).

Next, the medal payout process executed in SB14 in FIG. 7 and SG7 in FIG. 8 will be described with reference to FIG. This processing can be summarized as follows.
In this process, a payout command is transmitted to the control unit 5 to execute a payout control of medals, and a monitoring is performed to determine whether a payout error of medals occurs during the payout control.

First, in the medal payout process, a payout command corresponding to the expected payout number is transmitted to the payout control board 105 (SM1). Next, the medal shortage determination timer (Te) shown in FIG. 5 is set, and the counting of the time Te is started (SM2).

Next, it is determined whether or not the payout sensor 601 has been turned on (SM3). If the payout sensor 601 is not ON, it is determined whether or not the OFF state of the payout sensor 601 has continued for the medal shortage determination time (Te) or more (SM10). When it is determined that the OFF state of the payout sensor 601 has not continued for the medal shortage determination time (Te) or more, the process returns to SM3. On the other hand, when the state in which the payout sensor 601 is OFF has continued for the medal shortage determination time (Te) or more, it is determined that an error due to the medal shortage (hopper empty) has occurred, and the process proceeds to error processing. (SM9). FIG. 10 shows the error processing.
Will be described later.

If it is determined in SM3 that the payout sensor 601 has been turned on, the medal clogging determination timer (Tb) shown in FIG. 5 is set (SM4). Next, it is determined whether or not the payout sensor 601 has been turned off (SM5).
If the payout sensor 601 is not turned off, it is determined whether or not the on state of the payout sensor 601 has continued for the medal clogging determination time (Tb) or more (SM8). If the continuation is continued, it is determined that an error has occurred due to jammed medals in the hopper 60, and the process proceeds to error processing (SM9).

On the other hand, if the payout sensor 601 is detected to be OFF before the medal clogging determination timer (Tb) times out, it is determined that one medal has been normally paid out and the number of payouts is determined. Is updated (-1) by subtraction (SM6). Next, it is determined whether or not the payout of the expected number of medals has been completed (SM7). When the payout of the expected number of medals ends, the medal payout process ends. On the other hand, if the payout of the expected number of medals has not been completed yet, the process returns to SM2, and the process of confirming the payout of the next medal is continued.

Next, an error process executed by the SM 10 will be described with reference to FIG. In the error processing, first, an error command is transmitted to the effect control board 101 (SM11). The effect control board 101 receives this error command, generates an error sound from each speaker 581, and blinks each game effect lamp 301 in a predetermined error display mode. On the other hand, the payout control board 105 performs an autonomous error determination at the same timing as the game control board 100 makes an error determination. The control is not executed and the dispensing is inactive.

Next, the flow switching solenoid 511 is turned off (SM12). As a result, the medals inserted into the medal insertion slot 52 are discharged from the medal payout holes 54.

Next, a process of displaying an error code corresponding to the error cause on the game count display section 12 is executed (S).
M13). Next, until the reset switch (the first reset switch 531 or the second reset switch 623) is turned on, the process of confirming that the reset switch is turned on is repeatedly executed (SM14). As a result, until the reset switch is turned on, the game is inactive, in which the game cannot be normally advanced.

Then, when the reset switch is detected to be on, an error release command is issued to the effect control board 101.
And it is transmitted to the payout control board 105 (SM15).
The effect control board 101 receives the error release command, stops the error sound from each speaker 581, and returns the lighting state of each game effect lamp 301 to the normal state. Further, upon receiving the error release command, the payout control board 105 recovers from the payout inactive state in which the payout control of medals is not executed.

Next, an excitation signal is output to the flow path switching solenoid 511 (SM16). As a result, the slot machine can receive the inserted medals. Next, the error code displayed on the game count display section 12 is deleted by the SM 13 (SM 17), and the error processing ends.

When the error processing is completed, the processing shifts from SM9 to SM1 in the medal payout processing shown in FIG. For this reason, the payout of medals is resumed, and the game is restored to a state where the game can proceed normally.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the contents of the payout control processing executed by the payout control board 105. In the payout control process, first, it is determined whether or not a payout command has been received (SUB1). The payout command is a command transmitted from the game control board 100 to instruct the number of medals to be paid out.

If the payout command has not been received, the process ends. When the payout command is received, the scheduled payout number is set according to the payout command (SUB).
2). Next, a process of outputting a drive signal to the hopper motor 602 is started (SUB3). Next, a medal detection waiting time determination timer (Tw1) shown in FIG. 5 is set (SUB4).

Next, it is determined whether or not the payout sensor 601 has been turned on (SUB5). When the payout sensor 601 is not turned on, it is determined whether or not the payoff sensor 601 is in the OFF state for the medal detection waiting time (Tw1) or more (SUB14). If it is determined that the payout sensor 601 has not been turned off for more than the medal detection waiting time (Tw1), the process returns to SUB5. On the other hand, when it is determined that the state in which the payout sensor 601 is OFF continues for the medal detection waiting time (Tw1) or more, the hopper motor 602 has been re-driven as shown in FIG. It is determined whether or not (SUB15). If it is determined that the hopper motor 602 has not been driven again, the output of the motor drive signal is temporarily stopped (SUB16). After that, the re-drive wait time (0.4
2 seconds) has passed (SUB17), and again
The process proceeds to SUB3 to execute a process of outputting a motor drive signal.

Thereafter, the medal detection waiting time determination timer (Tw1) is set again in SUB4, and then S2 is set again.
In UB14, when the state in which the payout sensor 601 is OFF continues for the medal detection waiting time (Tw1) or more, it is determined in SUB15 that the hopper motor has been redriven.

In this case, it is determined that an error due to a medal shortage (hopper empty) has occurred, and the output of the motor drive signal is stopped (SUB12). next,
Until the error release command is received, the process of confirming the reception of the error release command is repeatedly executed (SUB
13). As a result, the payout control board 105 is in a payout inactive state in which the payout control is not executed until the error control signal is received. Thereafter, when the error release command is received, the process exits the loop of SUB13 and the payout control process ends. Thereby, the payout control board 105
Recovers from the dispensing inactive state.

If it is determined in SUB5 that the payout sensor 601 has been turned on, the medal clogging determination timer (Tb) shown in FIG. 5 is set (SUB6). Next, it is determined whether or not the payout sensor 601 has been turned off (SUB).
7). If the payout sensor 601 does not turn OFF, the ON state of the payout sensor 601 is determined by the medal clogging determination time (T
b) It is determined whether or not the process has continued (SUB10).
If the payout sensor 601 has been ON for more than the medal clogging determination time (Tb), it is determined that an error due to medal clogging has occurred, and the above-described SUB12 is determined.
The following processing is executed.

On the other hand, if the payout sensor 601 is detected to be off before the medal clogging determination timer (Tb) times out, it is determined that one medal has been paid out normally and the number of payouts is determined. Is subtracted and updated (-1) (SUB8). Next, it is determined whether or not the payout of the expected number of medals has been completed (SUB9). When the payout of the number of medals to be paid out ends, the output of the motor drive signal is stopped (SUB18), and the medal payout process ends.
On the other hand, if the payout of the expected number of medals has not been completed, the process returns to SUB4, and the process of paying out the next medal is continued.

As described above, the game control board 10
In the medal payout process (see FIG. 9), a payout command indicating the expected payout number of medals is transmitted to notify the payout control board 105 of the start of payout control. On the other hand, after paying out the medals according to the payout command, the payout control board 105 autonomously stops the output of the drive signal to the hopper motor without waiting for the command from the game control board 100 to perform the payout control. Terminate. Therefore, the control load on the game control board 100 related to the payout control can be further reduced as compared with a configuration in which the game control board 100 transmits a command for notifying the end of the payout control. Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the first embodiment, regarding the payout of medals, a payout command for instructing the payout number of medals is transmitted from the game control board 100 to the payout control board 105. The payout control board 105 performs control of paying out the number of medals corresponding to the payout command, and the payout control board 105 determines whether or not the number of paid out medals has reached the expected payout number. The drive signal to the hopper motor 602 is stopped based on this. For this reason, after transmitting the payout command which can be said to be a command indicating the start of the payout control, the game control board 100 entrusts the payout control board 105 with the control of paying out the number of medals to be paid out,
A command indicating the end of the payout control is not transmitted to the payout control board 105.

On the other hand, in the second embodiment, regarding the payout of medals, the payout control board 10
5, the output of the drive signal of the hopper motor 602 is started,
And a command to instruct output stop. The payout control board 105 starts and stops outputting a drive signal to the hopper motor 602 based on a command transmitted from the game control board 100 without recognizing the expected payout number of medals.

Hereinafter, the control contents of the slot machine 1 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to flowcharts. The main processing of the second embodiment that differs from the first embodiment is the medal payout processing shown in FIG.
Since the payout control process is the same as the payout control process shown in FIG. 1, the description common to the other first embodiment is omitted here.

First, a medal payout process 2 executed by the game control board 100 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

This processing can be summarized as follows.
In step 05, a command to output a drive signal to the hopper motor 602 and stop the output are issued to pay out a predetermined number of medals and to monitor whether or not a medal payout error occurs during the payout.

In the second embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, the game control board 100 itself is
2 to control the output of the drive signal to 2 and the output stop. For this reason, the game control shown in (1) of FIG. 5 also includes the control for temporarily stopping the hopper motor 602 when no medal is detected, and the control for driving again after the redrive waiting time (Tw2) has elapsed. Performed directly by the substrate 100.

First, in the medal payout process 2, a hopper motor drive command for instructing the drive of the hopper motor 602 is transmitted to the payout control board 105 (SMM1).
Next, a medal detection waiting time determination timer (Tw) shown in FIG.
1) is set and time measurement of the time Tw1 is started (S)
MM2).

Next, it is determined whether or not the payout sensor 601 has been turned on (SMM3). If the payout sensor 601 does not turn on, it is determined whether or not the payoff sensor 601 has been off for more than the medal detection waiting time (Tw1) (SMM11). When it is determined that the payout sensor 601 has not been turned off for more than the medal detection waiting time (Tw1), the process returns to SMM3. On the other hand, the payout sensor 6
01 is OFF when the medal detection waiting time (Tw
1) When it is determined that the hopper motor 602 has continued, it is determined whether the hopper motor 602 has been driven again (S).
MM12). If it is determined that the hopper motor 602 has not been driven again, a hopper motor stop command is transmitted to the payout control board 105 (S
MM13). Upon receiving the command, the payout control board 105 stops outputting the drive signal to the hopper motor 602.

Thereafter, on condition that the re-drive waiting time (0.42 seconds) has elapsed (SMM14), the SMM1
Then, the process of transmitting the motor drive command to the payout control board 105 is executed. Thereby, the hopper motor 602 is driven again.

On the other hand, the hopper motor 602
Is determined to have been re-driven, it is determined that an error due to a medal shortage (hopper empty) has occurred, and the processing shifts to error processing (SMM10).
The content of the error processing is the same as that of FIG. 10 except that the error command is transmitted not only to the effect control board 101 but also to the payout control board 105 in the SM 11. In this case, instead of transmitting an error command to the payout control board 105, a hopper motor stop command is sent to the payout control board 1
05. Further, instead of transmitting the error release command, a hopper motor drive command may be transmitted.

If it is determined in SMM3 that the payout sensor 601 has been turned ON, the medal clogging determination timer (Tb) shown in FIG. 5 is set (SMM4). Next, it is determined whether or not the payout sensor 601 has been turned off (SMM
5). If the payout sensor 601 does not turn OFF, the ON state of the payout sensor 601 is determined by the medal clogging determination time (T
b) It is determined whether or not the process has continued (SMM9). If it is determined that the processing has been continued, the process proceeds to error processing (SMM10).

On the other hand, if the payout sensor 601 is detected to be OFF before the medal clogging determination timer (Tb) times out, it is determined that one medal has been paid out normally, and the number of payouts is determined. Is subtracted and updated (-1) (SMM6). Next, it is determined whether or not the payout of the expected number of medals has been completed (SMM7). If payout of the number of medals to be paid out has not been completed yet, SMM
Returning to step 2, the processing for confirming the payout of the next medal is continued. On the other hand, when the payout of the expected number of medals is completed, the hopper motor stop command is issued to the payout control board 105.
(SMM8), and the medal payout process ends.
Upon receiving the hopper motor stop command, the payout control board 105 stops outputting the drive signal to the hopper motor 602.

Next, a medal payout control process 2 executed by the payout control board 105 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In the payout control process 2, first, it is determined whether or not a hopper motor drive command has been received from the game control board 100 (SUB21). When it is determined that the hopper motor drive command has been received, the output of the motor drive signal is started (SUB22). As a result, the hopper motor 602 is driven to pay out medals.

If it is determined in SUB21 that a hopper motor drive command has not been received, it is determined whether a hopper motor stop command has been received from the game control board 100 (SUB23). If it is determined that the hopper motor stop command has been received, the output of the motor drive signal is stopped (SUB24). When it is determined that the hopper motor stop command has not been received, it is determined whether an error command has been received from the game control board 100 (SUB25). If no error command has been received, the process ends. If it is determined that the error command has been received, the output of the motor drive signal is stopped (SUB26). Thereafter, until an error release command is received, a process of confirming reception of the error release command is repeatedly executed (SUB2).
7). As a result, the payout control board 105 enters a payout inactive state in which the payout control of medals is not executed.

According to the second embodiment, the game control board 100 manages the payout control board 105 from the start of payout of medals to the end of payout. Therefore, the timing for terminating the payout control of the payout control board 105 can be determined under the initiative of the game control board 100.

Next, modifications and features of the embodiment of the invention described above will be enumerated below.

(1) The balance of the prepaid card inserted into the card unit 161 may be withdrawn and credits may be added and updated. Further, the card unit control board 162 is connected to the game control board 100 instead of the payout control board 105 by wiring, and the communication between the card unit control board 162 and the game control board 100 allows the card balance of the prepaid card to be deducted. The number of medals to be paid out in exchange may be determined.

In the above embodiment, the slot machine to which the card unit is connected has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is applied to a slot machine having no connection interface with the card unit. Is also applicable.

(2) Command information constitutes command information. As described in the first embodiment, in the slot machine, a plurality of types of control information (payout commands) capable of specifying the number of worth objects to be paid out are predetermined. The payout command constitutes payout control information capable of specifying the number of worth objects to be paid out. In FIG. 5, the payout command for notifying that three medals are paid out is taken as an example, but in the slot machine 1, one, two, three,... Needless to say, a payout command corresponding to each of the items is prepared in advance.

Further, in the above embodiment, information is transmitted from the game control board 100 only in one direction of the payout control board 105 (or the effect control board 101), and information is not transmitted in the opposite direction. However, the payout control board 105
(Or effect control board 101) to game control board 100
Information is also transmitted to the game control board 100
Information may be bidirectionally transmitted and received between the payout control board 105 (or the effect control board 101).

(3) The RAMs 113 and 153 of both the game control board 100 and the payout control board 105 are configured to be able to hold the stored contents for a predetermined period by a backup power supply. However, RA of one of the substrates
Only M may be backed up by the backup power supply, or the RAMs of both boards may not be backed up.

In the above embodiment, the backup power supply is provided in both the game control board 100 and the payout control board 105. However, the RAMs 113 and 1 are provided by a backup power supply provided at a location different from the two substrates.
53 may be backed up, and the RAM 113, RAM 113,
153 may be backed up.

(4) In the present embodiment, the effect control board 101, which is an example of the effect control means, includes the liquid crystal display 5
0, various lamps, and each speaker 581 are controlled. However, the effect control board 101 does not control all of the liquid crystal display 50, the various lamps, and the speakers 581, but controls at least one of them. Control board 10
0 may be configured to directly control. Liquid crystal display 5
0, various lamps, and each speaker 581 constitute an effect means controlled by the effect control means for effecting a game state.

(5) A liquid crystal display has been described as an example of the image display device. However, instead of the liquid crystal display, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display device, F
ED (Field Emission Display), PDP (Plasma Dis
A display device using a play panel), an EL (Electro Luminescence), a fluorescent display tube, or an LED may be employed. In addition, it is not limited to such a display device,
It may be a dot matrix display or a 7-segment display. Further, a doll or the like movable by a solenoid, a motor, or the like may be arranged at a predetermined position of the slot machine 1, and the doll may perform a predetermined operation in response to occurrence of a prize or the like.

(6) As described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, between the game control means and the effect control means, information is transmitted by one-way communication from the game control means to the effect control means. Transmission is performed, and information is transmitted between the game control means and the payout control means by one-way communication from the game control means to the payout control means. The credit constitutes value information that can be exchanged for the value object. In addition, as a value object,
Instead of being a game medium such as a medal that can be reused in a game, it may be a prize itself or a value object that can be used exclusively for prize exchange.

The credit numerical data stored on the game control board 100 may be stored on the payout control board 105 as well. In this case, for example, an update status notification command for notifying the update status of the numerical data is transmitted from the game control board 100 to the payout control board 105, and the payout control board 105 stores the update status notification command in accordance with the update status notification command. You may comprise so that numerical data may be updated.

The numerical data of the credit is not stored in the game control board 100, but is stored in a board different from the game control board 100.
May update the numerical data stored on the board.

In the above-described embodiment, the effect control function is carried out by the effect control board 101. However, the effect control function may be borne by either the game control board 100 or the payout control board 105. Good. In this case,
The effect control board 101 becomes unnecessary.

(7) The buffer circuits 126 and 157 constitute communication direction limiting means for limiting communication between the game control means and the payout control means in one direction from the game control means to the payout control means. Have been. SB7,
The SB16 constitutes a bet amount setting means for setting a bet amount. The single BET button 43 and the MAXBET button 44 constitute a bet amount setting operation means capable of setting a bet amount. SB8 constitutes a subtraction updating means for subtracting and updating the numerical data stored in the storage means in exchange for the setting of the bet amount.

The game control means sets a bet amount by subtracting and updating the numerical data (for example, SB7, S7).
B8) and a process of subtracting and updating the numerical data according to the payout of the value object (for example, SB11, SB1)
3, SB14).

(8) In the first embodiment, the payout control board 105 that has detected the occurrence of an error is
The device automatically enters the dispensing inactive state without waiting for reception of a command such as an error command. However, the payout control board 105 that has detected the occurrence of the error may wait for the error command to be received and enter the payout inactive state.

(9) The liquid crystal display 50 displays various notification means (the credit display unit 1) controlled by the game control board 100.
1. Number of games display section 12, Payout display section 13, Insertion instruction lamp 180, One bet lamp 210, Two bet lamps 220a, 220b, Three bet lamp 230a,
230b, start lamp 170, replay lamp 15
0, the bonus notification lamp 190, and the game over lamp 140) may be displayed as an image. For example, the number of games may be displayed during a big bonus game or a regular bonus game, and the number of medals to be paid out may be displayed when a winning occurs. However, in that case, for example, the display of the liquid crystal display 50 is controlled by the game control board 100.

(10) After the variable display device (reel unit 4) is started to fluctuate by the game control board 100,
Variable display control means for deriving and displaying the display result is configured. The reel unit 4 constitutes a variable display device having a plurality of variable display units whose display states can be changed.

The effect control board 101 constitutes image display control means for controlling the display of the image display device (for example, the liquid crystal display 50). The external output board 104 constitutes a game information output board (game information output means) for outputting game information of the slot machine. Game state information on the game state is configured by the RB-in-signal and the BB-in signal.

The start lever 42 constitutes start operation means for performing an operation for starting a game. Then, the variable display device starts to fluctuate by operating the start operation means. In the slot machine, a plurality of types of winning combinations (for example, small roles, replays, big bonuses, regular bonuses) are predetermined, and it is determined for each of the plurality of types of winning combinations whether or not to allow occurrence of a winning. Winning permission / non-permission determining means (for example, the game control unit 11
In the case where no prize is generated in the game in which the prize is allowed to occur, the plurality of types of prize may include the prize by the prize in the next game. (For example, a big bonus) that is allowed to occur. Value storage means (for example, R
AM113) and bet amount setting operation means (for example, one BET button 43, MA
XBET button 44). When a predetermined special bonus combination (big bonus combination) occurs according to the display result of the variable display device, a special bonus game in which the winning probability of the predetermined bonus combination (regular bonus) is improved is continuously performed. When the bonus prize is generated according to the display result of the variable display device, a predetermined prize different from any of the special bonus prize and the bonus prize within a certain number of prizes. It is possible to continuously play a bonus game with an improved winning probability.

(11) The detection signal of the detection means is further input to the game control means (for example, FIG. 4), and abnormality determination means (for example, SM8, SM10) for determining whether or not there is an abnormality related to the payout of the valuable object. , SUB1
0, SUB14), wherein both the game control means and the payout control means include the abnormality determination means (for example, FIG. 5), and the abnormality determination means provided in the game control means and the abnormality provided in the payout control means If one of the determination means determines that there is an abnormality, the other is also determined that there is an abnormality (for example, FIG. 5). According to the above configuration, both the game control unit and the payout control unit determine whether there is an abnormality related to the payout of the valuable object based on the input state of the detection signal from the detection unit over a predetermined time. If one of the two abnormality determination means determines that there is an abnormality, the other has also determined that there is an abnormality. According to the abnormality determination of the means,
Even if abnormality control is performed according to the abnormality,
It is possible to prevent a situation in which matching is not achieved, such as one control means performing normal control without performing abnormality control while the other control means performs abnormality control.

The detection signal of the detection means is further input to the game control means (for example, FIG. 4), and the abnormality relating to the payout of the valuable object is performed based on the input state of the detection signal from the detection means for a predetermined time. Abnormality determining means (for example, SM8, SM10, SUB10,
SUB14), and both the game control means and the payout control means include the abnormality determination means (for example, FIG. 5). According to the above configuration, both the game control unit and the payout control unit determine whether there is an abnormality related to the payout of the valuable object based on the input state of the detection signal from the detection unit over a predetermined time. Since the control means is provided, for example, even if one of the two control means does not notify the other of the occurrence of the abnormality, it is possible to cause both control means to detect the occurrence of the abnormality at the same timing. For this reason, even if both control means perform abnormality occurrence control according to the occurrence of an abnormality in accordance with the abnormality determination of the abnormality determination means provided in each of the control means, it is possible for one of the control means to perform the abnormality occurrence control. However, the other control means can be prevented from being in an unmatched state, such as performing normal control without performing abnormality control.

In the slot machine, when the abnormality determination unit determines that there is an abnormality, the game control unit cannot normally advance the game, and the payout control unit executes the payout control of the valuable object. A deactivating means (for example, SM14, SUB1)
3, SUB27). Further, when the slot machine 1 determines that there is an abnormality by the abnormality determination unit, the game control unit cannot normally advance the game, and the payout control unit controls the payout of the valuable object. And an inactivating means (for example, SM14, SUB13, SUB27) for making an inactive state that cannot be executed.
The game control means determines that the condition for recovering from the inactive state is satisfied (for example, the first reset switch 53
The first or second reset switch 623 is turned on), and predetermined recovery control information (for example, an error release command) is transmitted to the payout control means to recover the payout control means from the inactive state (for example, SM15). First reset switch 531 or second reset switch 623
Thus, a condition satisfaction detecting means for detecting whether a condition for recovering from the inactive state is satisfied is constituted. Second
The reset switch constitutes a recovery operation means capable of performing an operation for recovering from the inactive state.

(12) It should be understood that the embodiments disclosed this time are illustrative in all aspects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall front view of a slot machine.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining a connection state between various substrates provided in the slot machine and electric components.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a game control board and an effect control board.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining a configuration of a game control board and a payout control board.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart for explaining a procedure in which a game control board and a payout control board determine occurrence of a medal payout error.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a schematic procedure of a process performed by a game control board.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a BET process.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a payout process.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a medal payout process.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining error processing.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a payout control process.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining a medal payout process 2;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining payout control processing 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 slot machine, 4 reel unit, 4L, 4
C, 4R reel, 41L, 41C, 41R Stop button, 42 Start lever, 43 1 BET button, 44 MAX BET button, 50 Liquid crystal display, 1
00 game control board, 101 effect control board, 105
Discharge control board, 125, 139, 159 backup power supply.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. The game can be started by setting the number of bets to bet on one game, and the display result of the variable display device is derived and displayed, so that the end condition of one game is satisfied. A slot machine in which a prize can be generated according to a display result of a display device, wherein a game control means for controlling a game state is provided separately from the game control means, and a predetermined control information is provided from the game control means. Payout control means for starting control of receiving and paying out a value object; detecting means for detecting the payout of the value object; and determining whether there is an abnormality related to the payout of the value object based on an input state of a detection signal from the detection means. If the abnormality determination unit determines that there is an abnormality, the game control unit cannot advance the game, and the payout control unit performs And a disabling means for disabling the dispensing control. The detection signal of the detecting means is input to the game control means and the dispensing control means, and the dispensing control means includes the gaming control means. Recovering from the inactive state when receiving predetermined recovery control information from the slot machine. 2. The game control unit and the payout control unit each include the abnormality determination unit, and both the game control unit and the payout control unit can detect an abnormality related to the payout of a value object caused by a specific cause. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein the slot machine is configured as follows. 3. The payout control means determines whether or not to end the payout of the value object based on a detection signal of the detection means, and the payout of a predetermined number of value objects is detected by the detection means. 3. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein the payout of the value object is terminated when the value is paid. 4. When the payout of a predetermined number of worth objects is detected by the detection means, the game control means transmits predetermined payout end control information to the payout control means, 3. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein the payout is terminated based on the payout termination control information. 5. A storage unit for storing numerical data which can be added and updated by winning and the insertion of a value object and which can specify the value of a player's valuable value which is subtracted and updated in exchange for setting of a bet amount. The slot machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the processing for updating the numerical data is performed by the game control means. 6. A power supply means for supplying power to the storage means for holding numerical data stored in the storage means when power supply to the slot machine is cut off. The slot machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein