JPH07284566A - Reach detection system for automatic mahjong table - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the reach detection system of the automatic mahjong table capable of confirming that a bar is placed on a bar mounting part without fail even when the surrounding illumination luminance is changed and the bar is changed and emitting a reach detection signal according to it. CONSTITUTION:A reach is recognized by confirming that a bar 22 is placed on a bar mounting part located in front of each seat of a dice box arranged at the center of the mahjong table. Two detection holes 8a and 9a are provided at the bottom of a cavity 24a of each mounting part. Photoelectric elements 14a and 15a are provided at the lower part of each detection hole. In this case, a differential amplifier where one photoelectric element 14a consists of a light emitting element and a light receiving element and the other photoelectric element 15a consists of a light receiving element and the difference signal of the output signal of both light receiving elements is formed at the output and a comparator outputting an output signal telling the reach detection when the differential signal is higher than the threshold value are provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a reach detection system used in an automatic mahjong table.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an automatic mahjong table, the work required before or at the time of playing a game such as washing tiles or stacking tiles on a wall is automatically performed, and various convenient measures are taken. ing. One of them is a reach detection system that emits a reach electric signal when a reach is applied and automatically notifies from which house (seat) in the northeast It has been developed and proposed (see Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-38871).

In this reach detection system, when the reach is desired to be applied, the point bar is placed sideways on the point bar placement section in front of each seat of the dice box body arranged in the center of the table. Then, a photoelectric type stick detector provided for each of the mounting portions detects the mounting of the stick, and supplies a reach detection signal to the control portion to generate an audio signal to perform the reach processing.

When this reach detection system is used, since the detection system is of a photoelectric type, it is affected by external light, and in particular, even though the detector on the mounting portion is shielded by the dot bar, the light is shielded. It may indicate a malfunction that is not done. Such an erroneous operation occurs when the light transmittance of the dot rod is relatively large and the light blocking is insufficient. In addition, malfunctions may occur even when the surrounding illumination intensity suddenly changes and becomes dark.

In order to avoid such a problem, it is possible to adopt a method in which the threshold voltage of the determination circuit for determining the light-shielding determination standard is varied according to the surrounding conditions and the type of dot bar used. However, such an adjustment may be difficult for a general user to master, and it is not practical because the threshold value is changed each time the environment changes.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the inconveniences of the above-described conventional apparatus, the object of the present invention is to change the point bar and change to the light-shielding judgment standard even if the illumination intensity of the surroundings changes. Even if occurs, it is to provide a reach detection system for an automatic mahjong table that can reliably confirm that the point bar has been placed on the point bar placement section and can generate a reach detection signal accordingly. .

[0007]

According to the present invention, the above-mentioned problem is solved by the present invention. The point bar in front of each seat i = a, b, c, d of the dice box body 40 arranged at the center of the mahjong table. Placement part 2
In order to confirm the reach by confirming that the point bar 22 is mounted on i, two detection holes 8i, 9i are provided at the bottom of the recess 24i of each mounting portion 2i. Photoelectric elements 14i and 15i are attached to the lower part, and one photoelectric element 14i
i is a light emitting element 32i and a light receiving element 34i, and the other photoelectric element 15i is only a light receiving element 36i, and a differential amplifier 40i that forms and outputs a difference signal between the output signals of both light receiving elements 34i and 36i, The difference signal is set to the threshold value setting unit 4
And a comparator 44i which outputs an output signal comparing with a predetermined threshold value output from No. 2 and notifying the reach detection when the difference signal is above the threshold value. ing.

Further advantageous configurations according to the invention are described in the dependent claims.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the drawings showing the embodiments. FIG. 1 is a plan view of a dice box body 40 installed in the center of an automatic mahjong table, viewed from above. A transparent plate window 10 is provided at the center of the upper surface of the dice box body 40, and two dice inside the dice box can be viewed through the window 10.
The dice box body 40 in front of the seats a, b, c, d has point bar placement parts 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d and parent display switches 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, respectively. Besides, there are also two start switches 6A and 6B on the upper surface of the dice box body 40.

Point bar mounts 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, parent display switches 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d and start switch 6A,
6B is substantially the same as the previously-referenced apparatus disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-38871, the description thereof will be omitted except for those functions directly related to the present invention. The difference in arrangement between the present invention and the previously proposed device is, as will be described in more detail below, the point rod mounting portions 2a, 2b, 2c, 2
Two detection holes 8a, 9a; 8b, 9b; 8c, 9c in each of d
8d and 9d are provided.

FIG. 2 shows a cross section of the point bar mounting portion 2a of FIG. 1 as seen from the direction of arrow X. The point bar 22 is placed in the recess 24 provided in the base plate 20, which is the upper surface of the dice box body 40. In the lower part of the two detection holes 8a, 9a in the center of the recess 24 of the base plate 2, the corresponding photoelectric element 1 is provided.
4a and 15a are provided. In the case of this embodiment, the photoelectric elements 14a, 15a are mounted on the circuit board 18 by soldering, and the circuit board 18 and the base plate 20 are positioned and fixed via a predetermined connecting member (not shown). Has been done. Then, a light-shielding treatment is performed around each photoelectric element 14a, 15a so as to block light other than the light coming from the detection holes 8a, 9a (this is a well-known technique, and therefore, component names and reference numerals are omitted). is there. According to the present invention, one photoelectric element 14a has a light emitting ability and a light receiving ability, and the other photoelectric element 15a has only a light receiving ability. Furthermore, each detection hole 8
a and 9a are filter films 12a, which pass only light of a specific wavelength.
It was cut off at 12a. These filter membranes 12a, 1
Corresponding photoelectric elements 14a and 15a are individually arranged below 2a. The wavelength range of transmitted light is usually in the infrared light range, and a filter that blocks the visible light range is used. Accordingly, it is advantageous to set the light emitting and light receiving capacities of the photoelectric elements 14a and 15a in the transmission wavelength region. In the embodiment shown here, the transmitted light region is the infrared light region, but other light wavelength regions are selected, and appropriate filter films 12a and 12a and photoelectric devices 14a and 15 having appropriate characteristics are selected accordingly.
You can also choose a.

FIG. 3 shows an electrical connection circuit for the photoelectric devices 14a and 15a of the reach detection system according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, the photoelectric element 14a having a light emitting ability and a light receiving ability includes a light emitting element 32a such as a light emitting diode (LED) and a light receiving element 3 such as a phototransistor.
It is formed by integrally encapsulating 4a and plastic resin. On the other hand, the photoelectric element 15a having only light receiving ability
Is composed of a light receiving element 36a which is, for example, a phototransistor. A light emitting element 32a and a light receiving element 34a,
36a is connected between the positive power supply V _CC and the reference potential GND via appropriate resistors R1 and R2, respectively, in order to operate with an appropriate idling current and an appropriate bias voltage.

The operation of the phototransistors 34a and 36a is read in this embodiment from each detection end connected to the collector, both detection signals being introduced into a differential amplifier, where the difference signal is formed. . This difference signal is further introduced to one input terminal of the comparator 44a. Comparator 44a
A predetermined threshold value signal set by the threshold value setting unit 42 is input to the other input end of the input terminal, and is compared with the difference signal. With this circuit configuration, when the dot rod 22 is placed in the depression 24 that is the mounting portion, the output signal of the comparator 44a, for example, outputs an output signal having a logic high (H) accordingly, and the dot rod 22 Is not placed in the depression 24, an output signal whose logic value is low (L) is output. This output signal is supplied via an output conductor 46a to a control unit (not shown), where it is used, for example, to generate a voice display signal and / or a light emission signal indicating that reach has been applied. Normally, this control unit is also used to perform other functions of the automatic mahjong table, and the microprocessor and its associated storage devices (ROM, RAM), analog / digital converter, which are not the subject of the present invention, are included. It also owns digital / analog converters and interfaces.

According to the present invention, the photoelectric elements 14a, 15a
Since the difference signal between the light receiving elements 34a and 36a of
For example, even if the external illumination is changed, that is, it becomes dark, the difference signal does not substantially change. Thus, only when the point bar 22 is placed in the recess 24, it is possible to detect that the difference signal is changed and the reach is applied only for the first time. In addition, when the dot bar is relatively transparent and such a dot bar is placed in the depression of the placing portion, the difference in the signals of the light receiving elements 34a and 36a causes the transmitted light signal of the background to be transmitted. Can be offset between the two light receiving elements 34a and 36a. Therefore, since the light emitted from the light emitting element 32a of the photoelectric element 14a hits the point rod 22 and only the light reflected from the point rod 22 can be emphasized and taken out, no malfunction occurs in the reach detection.

In order to effectively cancel the background light signal, both photoelectric elements 14a, 14a, 15a are controlled so that the background light signals detected by the photoelectric elements 14a, 15a have the same intensity.
It is advantageous to place 15a as close as possible. To make this cancellation even more complete, both photodetectors 34a and 36a
In order to make the photoelectric detection characteristics of a uniform, the same photoelectric element is used, and as shown implicitly in FIG. 3, the light emitting element 38a (shown by the broken line in the figure) of the photoelectric element 15a is not used, and the light receiving element is not used. There is also a method of using only 36a.

In the above description, only the seat a has been described, but the similar arrangement of the detecting portions also applies to the seats b, c and d. In this way, the photoelectric detection characteristics are set for all seats a, b,
If they are aligned with respect to c and d, only one threshold setting unit 42 that supplies the threshold voltage for comparison can be used.

In addition to the above, the differential amplifier 40a has a built-in band filter for removing a disturbance signal.
If the input signal of the comparator 44a is in the vicinity of the threshold value, it is possible for those skilled in the art to easily think of giving a hysteresis characteristic to prevent chattering. Difference formation and comparison can also be configured with digital circuit elements. In any case, various variations and modifications of the reach detection system of the present invention are conceivable, but it goes without saying that all those defined in the claims fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0018]

As described above, in the reach detection system of the automatic mahjong table according to the present invention, the background light signal can be canceled by the two photoelectric elements, so that only the light truly reflected from the point bar is extracted and detected. As a result, it is possible to completely eliminate malfunctions due to external influences and dot sticks.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view seen from above a dice box body in which a reach detection system according to the present invention is incorporated.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrow of the point bar mounting portion as viewed from the X direction in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a connection diagram of two light receiving elements used and an accessory circuit unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d Point bar mounting part 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d Parent display switch 8a, 9a Detection hole 10 Transparent plate 12a, 13a Filter film 14a, 15a Photoelectric element 18 Circuit board 20 Base plate 22 Point bar 24 Recess 32a Light emitting element 34a, 36a Light receiving element 40a Differential amplifier 42 Threshold setting section 44a Comparator

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A dot stick on a dot mount (2i) in front of each seat (i = a, b, c, d) of a dice box body (40) arranged in the center of a mahjong table. In the reach detection system of the automatic mahjong table that confirms that (22) has been placed and announces the reach, there are two detection holes (8i, 9i) at the bottom of the depression (24i) of each placement part (2i). ) Is provided, and a photoelectric element (14i, 15i) is attached to the lower portion of each detection hole (8i, 9i). One photoelectric element (14i) is a light emitting element (32i) and a light receiving element (34i), and the other is Photoelectric device (15i)
Is composed of only the light receiving element (36i),
4i, 36i) and a differential amplifier (40i) that forms and outputs a difference signal, and compares the difference signal with a predetermined threshold value output from a threshold value setting section (42), And a comparator (44i) which outputs an output signal for notifying reach detection when the signal is above the threshold value. 2. The detection holes (8) on both sides of the point bar mounting portion (2i).
Each of i, 9i) is characterized in that an optical filter film (12i, 13i) is arranged between the side on which the point bar (22) is mounted and the photoelectric element (14i, 15i). The reach detection system according to claim 1. 3. A light emitting element (32i) and both light receiving elements (34)
i, 36i) has a light emitting property and a light receiving property of the filter film (1
The reach detection system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the reach detection system has maximum efficiency in a transmission wavelength band of 2i, 13i). 4. The reach detection system according to claim 1, wherein the two detection holes (8i, 9i) are arranged as close to each other as possible. 5. In order to make the photoelectric characteristics of both light receiving elements (34i, 36i) uniform, the same type of photoelectric element is used, and the light emitting element of the photoelectric element (15i) is not used, but the light receiving element (36i) is used.
) Is used only, the reach detection system according to any one of claims 1 to 4. 6. The threshold value signal to be compared with the difference signal is supplied from a common single threshold value setting unit (42). Reach detection system.