JP2008194382A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve restraining force of a fraudulent practice by allowing early discovery of the fraudulent practice. <P>SOLUTION: The machine is provided with: an open/close detection sensor 60 capable of detecting open/close of a front door and outputting an open/close signal; and a sub-control board 5 capable of storing information related to a change of set value when a close signal from the open/close detection sensor 60 is received and a set value change signal for changing profit grant probability is received. When the sub-control board 5 receives the close signal from the open/close detection sensor 60 and receives the set value change signal, it performs control so that a display device 9, a speaker 11, and a lamp 27 inform the game machine that an error has occurred. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine including a set value changing unit for changing a profit granting probability at the time of a game and a housing that houses various gaming devices, and a front door that can be opened and closed in the housing.

In a gaming machine such as a slot machine, an opening / closing detection sensor for detecting opening / closing of a front door provided to be openable / closable is provided on the front surface of the housing, and the opening / closing detection sensor detects opening of the front door and outputs an opening signal. When a set value change signal is sent to change the profit-giving probability in the game when the front door is closed, i.e., when the front door is closed, illegal devices are used by disabling the signal In some cases, the setting value cannot be changed due to an unauthorized act (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-135844 A

  However, in the gaming machine described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, it is extremely difficult to find a gaming machine that has been damaged by fraud because no trace remains in the gaming machine after attempting to change the setting value by fraud. At the same time, it is difficult to find fraudsters, and there is a problem that discovery of fraudulent activities is delayed.

  In view of the above-described conventional problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine that enables early detection of fraud and can improve the deterrence of fraud.

According to the present invention, the above problem is solved as follows.
(1) In a gaming machine comprising a set value changing unit for changing a profit granting probability at the time of a game and a housing that houses various gaming devices, and a front door that can be opened and closed in the housing, An open / close detection sensor capable of detecting an open / close signal by detecting opening / closing of a lid member that can open / close a set value change unit or the front door, and a close signal from the open / close detection sensor, and changing the profit grant probability When a set value change signal is received, control means is provided that can store information related to the set value change at that time.

(2) In the above item (1), the control means controls the game as a whole, and also inputs a main control unit to which the set value change signal and an operation signal operated in the game are input, A sub-control unit capable of outputting a control signal to an effect device that performs an effect during a game based on a command from the control unit, and an open / close signal output from the open / close detection sensor is input to the sub-control unit, When the sub-control unit receives a closing signal from the open / close detection sensor and receives the set value change signal via the main control unit, the effect device notifies that an error has occurred in the gaming machine. Control to do.

(3) In the above item (1), the control means controls the game in an integrated manner, and receives a main control unit to which the set value change signal and an operation signal operated at the time of the game are input; A sub-control unit capable of outputting a control signal to an effect device that produces an effect during a game based on a command from the control unit, and the open / close signal output from the open / close detection sensor When the main control unit receives a close signal from the open / close detection sensor and receives the set value change signal, the main control unit invalidates an operation signal operated in the game.

(4) In the above item (3), the main control unit receives the close signal from the open / close detection sensor and invalidates the set value change signal when the set value change signal is transmitted.

(5) In the above item (3) or (4), when the sub-control unit receives a close signal from the open / close detection sensor and receives the set value change signal, the effect device sends the game machine to the game machine. Control is performed to notify that an error has occurred.

(6) In any one of the above items (2) to (5), the sub-control unit has storage means for storing information related to the setting value change, and stores the information related to the stored setting value change. It is possible to output to a display device capable of display.

(7) In any one of the above items (1) to (6), the information related to the setting value change includes date and time information when the setting value change signal is received.

According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the set value change signal is transmitted when the lid member or the front door is in the closed state, information related to the set value change when the set value change signal is received is stored. By monitoring illegal acts based on the stored information, it is possible to early detect the gaming machine in which the illegal acts were performed, and it is possible to prevent the illegal acts from expanding at an early stage.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the sub-control unit receives the closing signal from the open / close detection sensor and receives the set value change signal, the effecting device is controlled to perform the error notification operation. Based on the error notification operation, fraudulent acts can be detected promptly and reliably.

  According to the third aspect of the invention, when the main control unit receives the closing signal from the open / close detection sensor and receives the set value change signal, the operation signal operated in the game is invalidated. It is possible to prevent a game on the gaming machine where the action has been performed.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, when the main control unit receives the close signal from the open / close detection sensor and receives the set value change signal, the set value change signal is invalidated. Can be prevented.

  According to the fifth aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the invention according to the third or fourth aspect, it is possible to quickly and surely find an illegal act based on the error notification operation of the rendering device.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to surely confirm whether or not the gaming machine has been cheated by confirming the information related to the setting value change displayed on the display device.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, an illegal act can be detected earlier based on the date and time when the set value change signal is received.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gaming machine (slot machine) to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the gaming machine with a front door opened, and FIG. 3 shows an example of a control circuit. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of setting value change, and FIG. 5 is a history display example displayed on the display device. In the following description, the lower left diagonal in FIGS. 1 and 2 is referred to as “front”, and the upper right diagonal in FIGS.

  A slot machine as a gaming machine 1 is pivotally supported by a front-opening rectangular housing 2 and a pair of upper and lower hinge shafts (not shown) facing the top and bottom on the left side of the housing 2. The front door 3 is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the housing 2, the main control board 4 that forms part of the control means for overall control of the game, and the production information related to the game based on the command of the main control board 4 A sub-control board 5 that forms part of a control means capable of outputting error history information, a rotating reel unit 6 that can display and stop identification information composed of a plurality of types of symbols and numbers, and a game medium. A gaming device related to a game, such as a hopper unit 7 capable of storing and paying out a medal and an external power supply device 8 for supplying electric power of an external power source to various electrical components of the gaming machine 1 is housed. The external power supply of the external power supply device 8 to each gaming machine is performed via the main control board 4.

On the front surface of the external power supply device 8 is a power switch 81 that is operated when turning on / off the power that constitutes the set value changing unit, and the profit granting probability in the game is set in a plurality of stages (generally 6 stages) A setting key switch 82, a setting value change switch 83, and a lid member 84 that are operated when changing are provided. The lid member 84 is pivotally supported on the front face of the power switch 81, the setting key switch 82, and the setting value change switch 83 so as to be openable and closable. When the lid member 84 is in the closed state, the power switch 81, the setting key switch 82, and the setting value change switch 83 are When closed and in the open state, the power switch 81, the setting key switch 82, and the setting value change switch 83 are exposed. Therefore, normally, when operating each set value changing unit, it is necessary to open the lid member 84.

  An opening / closing detection sensor 60 capable of detecting opening / closing of the front door 3 is disposed at a location facing the front door 3 in the housing 2. The open / close signal detected by the open / close detection sensor 60 is transmitted to the sub-control board 5.

  The main control board 4 is fixed to the rear plate 2a in the housing 2 in a state accommodated in a transparent board box in order to prevent unauthorized modification, replacement, etc., and a sealing portion provided in the board box is provided. It cannot be removed from the substrate box unless it is destroyed.

  The rotary reel unit 6 includes three left, middle, and right rotary reels 61 whose identification information is printed or pasted on the outer peripheral surface, and a motor drive circuit 62 that controls a motor for rotating each rotary reel 61. Prepare. The motor drive circuit 62 controls the rotation and stop of the motor of each rotary reel 61 based on a control command output from the main control board 4.

  On the back side of the front door 3, a display device 9 having a liquid crystal display screen 91 capable of displaying production information, error history information, and other information related to games output by the sub control board 5, and the sub control board 5 The relay board 10 that relays the control signal output from the right and left, the left and right speakers 11 that generate sound effects, and the authenticity of medals inserted into the medal insertion unit 18 described later are determined. And a medal selector 12 for guiding to

  On the open side (right side) around the back side of the front door 3, a lower hook 13 is pivotally supported so that it can be engaged and disengaged at an appropriate position of the housing 2. The hook 13 restrains the front door 3 in a closed state by engaging with a proper position of the housing 2.

  The relay board 10 is provided with an error check operation switch 14 that is operated when error history information stored in a RAM 52 (to be described later) serving as a storage unit of the sub control board 5 is displayed on the display screen 91. The error check operation switch 14 can be operated only with the hook 13 disengaged and the front door 3 opened by using a key possessed only by an attendant of the game store. I can't do it.

  As shown in FIG. 1, on the front surface of the front door 3, an information display window 15 through which effect information, error history information, and the like related to the game displayed on the display screen 91 of the display device 9 can be seen through, and a history related to the game A game information display operation switch 16 that is operated when data is displayed on the display screen 91, an identification information display window 17 through which the identification information of each rotary reel 61 can be seen through, and a lamp 27 that produces a game light effect. Is provided.

  Below the identification information display window 17, a medal insertion unit 18 into which medals are inserted when starting a game, a MAX bet button 19 for setting the maximum number of medals (three), and a medal bet 1 bet button 20 for setting the number to one, a start lever 21 that is operated when all the rotating reels 61 are simultaneously rotated, and 3 that is operated when individually stopping the rotation of each rotating reel 61 There are provided a stop button 22, a checkout button 23 that is operated when paying out a game, and a key cylinder 24 that can be operated by a key possessed by an attendant of the game shop.

  When the key cylinder 24 is operated clockwise with the key, the hook 13 is released and the front door 3 can be opened. When the key cylinder 24 is operated counterclockwise with the key, the reset switch 25 provided on the back side of the front door 3 detects the key operation and cancels the error of the gaming equipment related to the game.

  The MAX bet button 19, the 1 bet button 20, the start lever 21, the stop buttons 22, and the checkout button 23 have built-in sensors for detecting respective operations.

  Next, a gaming method of the gaming machine 1 will be briefly described. After the player inserts a medal into the medal insertion unit 18 and sets the bet number of the game by operating the MAX bet button 19 (or 1 bet button 20), the start lever 21 is operated to rotate each rotary reel 61. Rotate all at once. Then, after a predetermined time has elapsed, the respective stop buttons 22 corresponding to the respective rotary reels 61 are sequentially operated to stop the respective rotary reels 61.

  The combination of left, middle and right identification information displayed on the active line in the identification information display window 17 when each rotating reel 61 is stopped determines the presence / absence of a prize and the size of the prize. Depending on the number of medals, the medal is paid out from the hopper unit 7 to the tray 3a provided at the lower part of the front door 3. And when it becomes a specific game state among winnings, a predetermined sound effect is generated from the speaker 11, game information or effect information related to the specific game state is displayed on the display screen 91 of the display device 9, etc. And enhance the production effect.

Next, a control circuit of the entire gaming machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
The main control board 4 has a main control unit configured as an integrated one-chip CPU together with a ROM that stores a control program and data for overall control of games and a RAM that functions as a work area for the CPU. A series of control processes are executed by the stored control program.

  The ROM on the main control board 4 stores a basic program related to the game of the gaming machine 1 and also stores a data table such as the winning probability of each winning, the number of medals paid out for winning. The CPU executes game control, for example, control of rotation and stop of the rotary reel 61 in the rotary unit 6 in accordance with the ROM program.

  The input interface of the main control board 4 includes an external power supply device 8, a setting key switch 82, a setting change switch 83, a MAX bet button 19, a 1 bet button 20, a start lever 21, a stop button 22, a settlement button 23, and a reset switch. 25 and a medal detection sensor 26 for detecting a medal that has passed the medal selector 12 are connected.

  The output interface of the main control board 4 is connected to the hopper unit 7, the motor drive circuit 62 of the rotary reel unit 6, and the sub control board 5.

  When the main control unit of the main control board 4 receives the start signal of the start lever 21, it draws whether or not a prize is won based on the numerical data update data, and sends a control command based on the lottery result to the rotary reel unit 6. This is transmitted to the motor drive circuit 62 to individually control the motor of each rotary reel 61 and to transmit an effect command to the sub control board 5.

  Signals output from the main control board 4, the error check operation switch 14, the game information display operation switch 16 and the open / close detection sensor 60 are input to the input interface of the sub control board 5, and the output interface also has a relay. A signal for controlling the display device 9, the speaker 11, and the lamp 27 is output via the substrate 10.

  The sub-control board 5 transmits display information to the display device 9 based on the control command output from the main control board 4 to display characters, images, etc. on the display screen 91, In addition to controlling the effect by outputting sound effects such as sound and music from the speaker 11, when an error occurs in the gaming machine 1, the display device 9, the speaker 11, and the lamp 27 are notified that an error has occurred. Output error signal to activate. The display device 9, the speaker 11, and the lamp 27 receive an error signal and perform a notification operation in a form in which an error has occurred in the gaming machine 1. Therefore, the clerk of the game store can immediately find out that an error has occurred in the gaming machine 1 based on the notification operation of the display device 9, the speaker 11, and the lamp 27.

In the present embodiment, the display device 9, the speaker 11, and the lamp 27 form an effect device according to the present invention.

  The sub-control board 5 stores a control program and various data, and a sub-control unit 51 configured by a CPU capable of outputting effect information and error information based on a control command output from the main control board 4; A RAM 52 serving as a storage unit in which various information including error history information is stored by the sub-control unit 51, a clock module 53, and the like are mounted.

Various information stored in the RAM 52 can be displayed on the display screen 91 of the display device 9 by operating the error check operation switch 14 with the front door 3 opened.

Next, with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, the flow of setting value change operations will be described.
When the set value is changed by a regular operation, the front door 3 is first opened. When the front door 3 is opened, the open / close detection sensor 60 outputs an open signal (step S1). When the sub control board 5 receives the open signal, it transmits front door opening error information indicating that the front door 3 is open to the display device 9 and displays that information on the display screen 91 of the display device 9. Together with (Step S2), the front door opening error information is stored in the RAM 52 as error history information (Step S3).

To change the setting value with the front door 3 opened, first, a dedicated key is inserted into the setting key switch 82, and the setting key switch 82 is rotated in a predetermined direction to a position where the setting value change is valid. . When the power switch 81 is turned on, a set value change command is transmitted from the main control board 4 to the sub control board 5 (step S4).

The sub control board 5 starts setting change when the set value change command is received via the main control board 4 (step S5), reads the date and time when the set value change is started from the clock module 53, The RAM 52 stores the history information indicating the date and time and the start of the setting change (step S6), and outputs a notification signal indicating that the setting value is being changed to the display device 9, the speaker 11 and the lamp 27 (step S7). ).

After changing the set value, when the sub control board 5 receives the set value change end command from the main control board 4 by operating the start lever 21 (step S8), the set value is confirmed and the set value change is released. (Step S9), the setting value change end history information including the date and time at that time is stored in the RAM 52 (step S10).

After completing the setting change, when the front door 3 is closed and the sub control board 5 receives a close signal from the open / close detection sensor 60 (step S11), the sub control board 5 cancels the opening error of the front door 3. (Step S12), error cancellation history information including the date and time at that time is stored in the RAM 52 (Step S13), error output to the display device 9, the speaker 11 and the lamp 27 is stopped (Step S23), and the game can be performed. It becomes a state.

Next, a case where a fraudulent act is performed, for example, a case where the set value is changed using a fraudulent tool such as a wire while the front door 3 is closed will be described. In this case, the front door 3 is closed, and the open / close detection sensor 60 outputs a close signal (step S1). When the set value change command is output in this state (step S14), the set value change command is input to the sub control board 5 while the close signal from the open / close detection sensor 60 is input. Based on this, the sub-control board 5 determines that an invalid set value change command has been output, sets that it is a set value change error error (step S15), and generates a set value change error error and The date and time at that time is stored in the RAM 52 (step S16). Further, the sub-control board 5 outputs a set value change abnormality error signal to control the display device 9, the speaker 11 and the lamp 27 so as to notify that a set value change abnormality error has occurred (step S17). . When the sub control board 5 receives the set value change end command from the main control board 5 (step S18), the set value is confirmed, and the set value change end history including the date and time at that time is stored in the RAM 52 (step S19). ).

That is, although the main control board 4 is confirmed with the setting value changed illegally, the display device 9, the speaker 11 and the lamp 27 controlled by the sub control board 5 still display the setting value change abnormality error. Therefore, it is possible to easily detect that the setting value change has been illegally operated, and it is possible to suppress illegal acts. In addition, even if the fraudulent act cannot be found at that time, since the setting value change abnormality error history is stored in the RAM 52 of the sub-control board 5 and can be confirmed, it is confirmed whether or not the fraudulent act has been performed. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the spread of illegal acts to other gaming machines at an early stage.

To cancel the set value change abnormality error, the front door 3 is opened by the release operation of the key cylinder 24 (step S20), an open signal from the open / close detection sensor 60 is transmitted to the sub-control board 5, and then the front By closing the door 3 (step S21) and transmitting a closing signal from the open / close detection sensor 60 to the sub-control board 5, the sub-control board 5 cancels the set value change abnormal error (step S22), and at that time Is stored in the RAM 52 (step S13), and the error notification operation of the display device 9, the speaker 11 and the lamp 27 is stopped (step S23).

As described above, the setting value change abnormality error can be canceled only by the staff of the game store that has the key of the key cylinder 24, and the player cannot cancel it. Therefore, if an illegal act is performed, the illegal player cannot continue the error notification operation of the display device 9, the speaker 11, and the lamp 27 even if the game itself can be performed. Becomes difficult and fraud can be deterred.

Further, various error information including the set value change abnormality error information stored in the RAM 52 of the sub control board 5 can be obtained by opening the front door 3 and operating the error check operation switch 14, for example, as shown in FIG. The date and time when the error occurred, the error occurrence event, and the like can be displayed on the display screen 91 of the display device 9. By confirming this display, it is possible to easily confirm whether or not an unauthorized operation has been performed. The gaming machine 1 on which the set value change abnormality error is displayed on the display screen 91 is determined as having a possibility of fraud, and is checked carefully or replaced with a new gaming machine.

  In the above embodiment, the open / close signal of the open / close detection sensor 60 is input only to the sub-control board 5, but instead, the open / close signal of the open / close detection sensor 60 is input to the sub-control board 5 and the main control board. 4 may be input to both control boards. In this case, when the set value change signal is transmitted while receiving the closing signal from the open / close detection sensor 60, the main control board 4 determines that it is a set value change abnormality error signal, and changes the set value. Disable. In addition, the operation signal of the start lever 21 operated during the game is invalidated to prohibit the start of the game so that the game cannot be performed. In addition, a set value change abnormality error signal is transmitted to the hall computer that manages the entire gaming machine of the gaming store. Further, when the sub control board 5 receives the set value change abnormality error signal, the display device, the display device 9, the speaker 11 and the lamp 27 indicate that an error has occurred in the gaming machine 1 as in the above embodiment. The notification operation is controlled.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the following various modifications and changes can be made to the present embodiment without departing from the gist of the present invention.
(I) The gaming machine 1 is a pachinko machine in which the gaming medium is a pachinko ball, a slot machine, and other gaming machines, instead of a slot machine in which the gaming medium is a medal (including coins).
(Ii) The opening / closing detection sensor 60 may be configured to detect opening / closing of the lid member 84 that can open / close the front surface of the set value changing unit, instead of detecting the opening / closing of the front door 3. Also in this case, the same effects as those of the above embodiment can be obtained.
(Iii) The display device for displaying error information may be a display device dedicated to error information on the back surface of the front door 3 or in the housing 2 instead of the display device 9 as in the above embodiment.

1 is a perspective view of a gaming machine to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. It is a perspective view of the gaming machine with the front door opened. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a control circuit. It is a flowchart figure which shows the flow of setting value change operation. It is an example of a history display displayed on a display screen.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Game machine 2 Case 2a Rear plate 3 Front door 3a Receptacle 4 Main control board (control means)
5 Sub-control board (control means)
6 Rotating reel unit 7 Hopper unit 8 External power supply device 9 Display device (production device)
10 relay board 11 speaker (production device)
12 medal selector 13 hook 14 error confirmation operation switch 15 information display window 16 game information display operation switch 17 identification information display window 18 medal insertion part 19 MAX bet button 20 1 bet button 21 start lever 22 stop button 23 settlement button 24 key cylinder 25 Reset switch 26 Medal detection sensor 27 Lamp (production device)
51 Sub-control unit 52 RAM (storage means)
53 Clock Module 60 Open / Close Detection Sensor 61 Rotating Reel 62 Motor Drive Circuit 81 Power Switch (Setting Value Changing Unit)
82 Setting key switch (setting value changing section)
83 Set value change switch (Set value change section)
84 Lid member 91 Display screen

Claims (7)

In a gaming machine comprising a set value changing unit for changing a profit grant probability at the time of a game and a housing that houses various gaming devices, and a front door that can be opened and closed in the housing,
An opening / closing detection sensor capable of detecting the opening / closing of the lid member or the front door capable of opening / closing the set value changing unit and outputting an opening / closing signal;
When receiving a closing signal from the open / close detection sensor and receiving a setting value change signal for changing the profit granting probability, a control means is provided that can store information related to the setting value change at that time. A featured gaming machine. The control means generally controls the game, and based on the main control unit to which the set value change signal and the operation signal operated in the game are input, and the command of the main control unit, Including a sub-control unit capable of outputting a control signal to an effect device that produces an effect when
The open / close signal output from the open / close detection sensor is input to the sub-control unit,
When the sub-control unit receives a closing signal from the open / close detection sensor and receives the set value change signal via the main control unit, the effect device notifies that an error has occurred in the gaming machine. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the gaming machine is controlled to do so. The control means controls the game in an integrated manner, and receives a main control unit to which the set value change signal and an operation signal to be operated at the time of the game are input, and based on a command from the main control unit, Including a sub-control unit capable of outputting a control signal to an effect device that produces an effect when
The open / close signal output from the open / close detection sensor is input to each of the main control unit and the sub control unit,
2. The main control unit, when receiving a closing signal from the open / close detection sensor and receiving the set value change signal, invalidates an operation signal operated in a game. Game machines. 4. The gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein the main control unit receives the close signal from the open / close detection sensor and invalidates the set value change signal when the set value change signal is transmitted. . The sub-control unit is configured to perform control so that when the closing signal is received from the open / close detection sensor and the set value change signal is received, the effect device notifies the gaming machine that an error has occurred. The gaming machine according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the gaming machine is characterized in that: The sub-control unit includes storage means for storing information relating to the setting value change, and is capable of outputting the stored information relating to the setting value change to a display device capable of displaying the information. A gaming machine according to any one of 2 to 5. The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the information related to the setting value change includes date and time information when the setting value change signal is received.

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