Patent Application
20070004483
This application claims benefit of priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-189739 filed on Jun. 29, 2005.
The contents of this application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a gaming machine comprising a detecting part configured to detect a change in physical phenomenon occurring in a predetermined region of a game board through which a gaming ball is passable.
2. Discussion of the Background
Conventional examples of the gaming machine of the kind described above include a pachinko gaming machine. Generally, in the pachinko gaming machine, when a pachinko ball having been launched to a game board enters a regular winning opening in the course of flowing down on the game board face, prize balls are paid out. Further, when the pachinko ball passes through a passing gate, a start winning opening is kept open for a predetermined time period. When the pachinko ball enters the start winning opening that is open, prize balls are paid out while a variable display of special symbols is executed. A combination of special symbols when the variable display of them is stopped becomes a specific mode, a big hit game is played. In the big hit game, a special winning opening is kept open for a predetermined time period, and when the pachinko ball enters the special winning opening that is open, prize balls are paid out. Moreover, when the pachinko ball enters a V-zone within the special winning opening that is open, the special winning opening which has closed opens again so that the big hit game is continued. Predetermined regions through which the gaming ball is passable, such as the passing gate, the V-zone and each of the winning openings, are each provided with a ball passing sensor to detect the pachinko ball having passed therethrough. As such a ball passing sensor, a sensor that employs a proximity sensor using a Hall element or a permanent magnet, and a sensor that employs a photo sensor using an LED (Light Emitting Diode) or PD (Photo Diode) are known.
The following action has been known as an illegal action on the ball passing sensor. That is to make the sensor perform a false detection so that prize balls are illegally paid out, by irradiating with light intentionally in the case of the photo sensor, or by transmitting an electromagnetic wave intentionally by a radiowave transmitter in the case of the proximity sensor. As a countermeasure against such illegal actions, JP-A 10-286344 proposes a pachi-slot machine (Japanese slot-machine) including a gaming ball detecting device which is configured to inhibit output of a detection signal from a ball detecting part of a ball passing sensor at the time of detecting the illegal action so that prize balls are not paid out.
However, with the constitution configured to inhibit output of the detection signal from the ball passing sensor at the time of detecting an illegal action, as the above-mentioned gaming ball detecting device in the conventional pachi-slot machine, temporary prevention of an illegal action, such as cancellation of payout of prize balls from a ball disbursement device at the time of detecting an illegal action, is possible, but it has not been possible to take a fundamental illegality prevention measure, such as stop of the game itself played by the player taking the illegal action or disclosure of an illegal action on the side of the manager who manages the gaming machine.
The contents of JP-A 10-286344 (1999) are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine capable of preventing an illegal action on a ball passing sensor as well as capable of excluding an illegal action performer and disclosing an illegal action by controlling not only a ball disbursement device but also other devices at the time of detecting an illegal action.
Therefore, the present invention provides a gaming machine comprising:
a detecting part configured to detect a change in physical phenomenon occurring in a predetermined region of a game board through which a gaming ball is passable;
an illegality detecting means configured to detect an illegal action based upon detection of a change in physical phenomenon by the detecting part, the change being different from a change in physical phenomenon occurring when the gaming ball passes through the predetermined region; and
an output means configured to output an illegality signal indicating detection of the illegal action based upon the detection of the illegal action by the illegality detecting means.
According to this constitution, when an illegal action is taken, and the detecting part detects a change in physical phenomenon that is different from a change in physical phenomenon occurring when the gaming ball passes through the predetermined region, the illegality detecting means detects an illegal action, and an illegality signal indicating detection of an illegal action is outputted. Therefore, with the use of this illegality signal, it is possible not only to temporarily cancel payout of prize balls at the time of detecting an illegal action, but also to take a fundamental illegality prevention measure, such as stop of the game itself played by the player taking the illegal action or disclosure of an illegal action on the side of the manager who manages the gaming machine.
Further, according to the present invention, the gaming machine further comprises a control means configured to control the operation of the gaming machine. Herein, the output means outputs the illegality signal to the control means based upon the detection of an illegal action by the illegality detecting means so as to make the control means control the operation of the gaming machine in a manner according to the detection of an illegal action.
With this constitution, when the detecting part detects an illegal action and an illegality signal is outputted, the control means having received this signal controls the operation of the gaming machine in a manner according to the detection of an illegal action. This for example enables notification of the illegal action as well as control of the gaming machine, such as stopping of control of launch of the gaming ball, payout of prize balls, changes of special symbols and the like.
Further, according to the present invention, the detecting part detects the change in physical phenomenon as an electric signal, and the illegality detecting means determines that an illegal action has been taken when level of the electric signal detected by the detecting part is at a predetermined electric signal level which is greater than level of an electric signal detected when the gaming ball passes through the predetermined region.
In the case of an illegal action by means of an electromagnetic wave where a radiowave is intentionally transmitted by a radiowave transmitter to make the detecting part perform a false detection so that the prize balls are illegally paid out, an electric signal level detected by the detecting part is greater than an electric signal level detected when the gaming ball passes through. With the above-mentioned constitution, since the illegality determining means determines that an illegal action has been taken when the electric signal level detected by the detecting part is greater than the electric signal level detected when the gaming ball passes through the predetermined region, it is possible to prevent the illegal action by means of an electromagnetic wave.
Further, according to the present invention, the output means outputs the illegality signal with a length different from a length of a signal which is outputted when the illegality detecting means is not detecting an illegal action.
With this constitution, since the illegality signal is different only in length from a signal which is outputted when the illegality detecting means is not detecting an illegal action, it is possible to constitute a simple circuit which receives a signal outputted from the illegality detecting means and determines whether or not the received signal is an illegality signal.
As thus described, the present invention provides a gaming machine which enables a fundamental illegality prevention measure, such as stop of the game itself played by the player taking the illegal action or disclosure of an illegal action on the side of the manager who manages the gaming machine.
Next, best embodiments of the present invention are described.
A game board 11 is provided on the front face of the pachinko gaming machine 10. An upper tray 12 is provided below the game board 11. A handle 14, which is operated in launching a pachinko ball to the game board 11 through a rail 13, is provided on the right side below the upper tray 12. Further, an illumination LED (Light Emitting Diode) 15a and an irregularity notification LED 15b are provided above the game board 11.
An LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 16 as a special symbol display device is provided at the center of the face of the game board 11. A plurality of special symbols in three rows, comprising a left symbol, a middle symbol and a right symbol, are displayed on the LCD 16, and an effect image is displayed behind these special symbols. Over the LCD 16, a regular symbol display device 17 is provided in parallel with a green LED and a red LED which are respectively provided to the left and right sides of the regular symbol display device 17. A regular starting storage number display section 18 comprising four LEDs is provided with the regular symbol display device 17 placed therebetween. Moreover, a special starting storage number display section 19 comprising four LEDs is provided below the LCD 16. A passing hole 20 is provided to each of the right and left of the LCD 16. A start winning opening 21 is provided below the LCD 16. A special winning opening 22 is provided below the start winning opening 21. A regular winning opening 23 is provided to each of the right and left sides of the start winning opening 21.
In the regular starting storage number display section 18, passage of the pachinko balls through the passing hole 20 is stored in number up to four as reserved balls. In the special starting storage number display section 19, entry of the pachinko balls through the start winning opening 21 is stored in number up to four as reserved balls.
Moreover, a card unit 24 is provided on the left side of the pachinko gaming machine 10. When a card with a card balance recorded thereon is inserted into a card insertion slot 24a of the card unit 24 and a predetermined ball lending operation is performed by the player, the pachinko balls in number corresponding to a preset lending unit sum are supplied to the upper tray 12.
Mounted on the main control circuit 30 are electronic components such as a main CPU 31, an initial reset circuit 32 and a serial communication IC 33. Further, also mounted on the main control circuit 30 are a main ROM (not shown) where a program is stored for use by the main CPU 31 in processing and controlling the game operation of the pachinko gaming machine 10, and a main RAM (Random Access Memory) (not shown) where data are temporarily stored while the game operation is processed and controlled. The initial reset circuit 32 transmits a reset signal for deleting contents of a gaming state stored in the main RAM at the time of activating the main control circuit 30. Moreover, the serial communication IC 33 transmits a control signal sent out from the main CPU 31 to the control circuits 40 and 60 in a serial manner.
A gate switch 20S provided on the inner side of the passing hole 20 and configured to detect passage of the pachinko ball through the passing hole 20, and a start winning ball switch 21S configured to detect the pachinko ball having entered the start winning opening 21 are connected to the main control circuit 30. Also, a count switch 22S configured to detect the pachinko ball having entered the special winning opening 22, a V-count switch 22V configured to detect the pachinko ball having passed through a specific region inside the special winning opening 22, and a regular winning ball switch 23S configured to detect the pachinko ball having entered the regular winning opening 23 are connected to the main control circuit 30. As actuators, a start winning opening solenoid 21a configured to extend a ball receiving slot of the start winning opening 21, a special winning opening solenoid 22a configured to open and close the door of the special winning opening 22, a specific region leading device 34 configured to lead the pachinko ball out of the specific region after the pachinko ball has entered the specific region inside the special winning opening 22, and the like are connected to the main control circuit 30.
When each of the above-mentioned switches 20S, 21S, 22S, 22V and 23S detects the pachinko ball, a detection signal is inputted into the main CPU 31 of the main control circuit 30. The main CPU 31 controls driving of each of the above-mentioned actuators 21a, 22a and 34 according to the inputted detection signals.
The effect control circuit 40 performs: an image display control of displaying an image on the LCD 16; a sound control of allowing release of effective sound from a speaker 47; and a control of emitting light from the illumination LED 15a and the irregularity notification LED 15b according to a gaming state or irregularity detection. On this effect control circuit 40, a sub-CPU 41, a program ROM 42 and a work RAM 43 are mounted. The sub-CPU 41 translates a control command received from the main control circuit 30 and sets a parameter of a VDP (Video Display Processor) 44. In the program ROM 42, a control program is stored for use by the sub-CPU 41 in processing and controlling each of the operations of the LCD 16, the speaker 47 and the illumination LED 15a. The work RAM 43 serves as a temporary storage means at the time when the sub-CPU 41 processes and controls the operations according to the above-mentioned control program.
Further, an image data ROM 45, a VDP 44 and an initial reset circuit 46 are mounted on the effect control circuit 40. The image data ROM 45 stores dot data for forming an image to be displayed on the LCD 16. The VDP 44 reads the dot data in the image data ROM 45 according to the parameter set in the sub-CPU 41 to produce image data for displaying an image on the LCD 16. The initial reset circuit 46 transmits a reset signal for resetting the effect control circuit 40.
When the pachinko ball enters the start winning opening 21 to generate start winning, the main CPU 31 determines whether or not the game is to be a big hit game. The effect control circuit 40 makes the special symbols stop sequentially and be displayed on the LCD 16 in a mode corresponding to the result of the determination. When the game gets into a reach state where the right and left symbols stopped and displayed are equivalent to each other, a reach effect is produced by means of the special symbol and the effect image on LCD 16.
Further, the effect control circuit 40 is provided with a speaker driving circuit configured to control the speaker 47, and a drive circuit 52 configured to control the emission from the illumination LED 15a and the irregularity notification LED 15b. The sub-CPU 41 outputs drive signals respectively to the speaker driving circuit and the drive circuit 52.
The speaker driving circuit comprises a sound source IC 48 as a section configured to generate an original signal of effective sound, a sound source data ROM 49 as an effective sound storage section connected to the sound source IC 48, an amplifier 50 as amplification section configured to amplify a sound signal outputted from the sound source IC 48, and a volume change-over switch 51 configured to set a volume output level. The drive circuit 52 performs an illumination control, that is, a control of emission from the illumination LED 15a according to the gaming state of the pachinko gaming machine 10 in response to a drive signal from the sub-CPU 41. The drive circuit 52 also performs an emission control, that is, a control of emission from the irregularity notification LED 15b according to later-described detection of irregularity with regard to each of the switches 20S, 21S, 22S, 22V and 23S.
A disbursement device 61 configured to pay out prize balls and lent balls, and a launching device 62 configured to launch the pachinko ball onto the game board 11 are connected to the disbursement/launching control circuit 60. The disbursement/launching control circuit 60 controls driving of the disbursement device 61 in response to a prize ball disbursement command signal outputted from the main control circuit 30 according to each kind of the winning so that prize balls are paid out, while controlling driving of the launching device 62 according to the operation of the handle 14 so that the pachinko ball is launched. The paid prize balls are counted by a prize ball count switch 63, and the counted value is outputted to the disbursement/launching control circuit 60 and the main control circuit 30. Further, the disbursement/launching control circuit 60 controls driving of the disbursement device 61 according to a lent ball disbursement command signal outputted from the card unit 24 so that lent balls are paid out. The paid lent balls are counted by a lent ball count switch 64, and the counted value is outputted to the disbursement/launching control circuit 60.
A magnetic detection element 71 is comprised of a Hall element, a magnetoresistive element and the like, and detects a magnetic change that occurs when the pachinko ball passes through the inside of the start winning opening 21 to output a ball passing detection signal as an electric signal. The magnetic detection element 71 constitutes a detecting part configured to detect a change in physical phenomenon (a magnetic change in the present embodiment) that occurs in a predetermined region (the opening region of the start winning opening 21 with regard to the start winning ball switch 21S) of the game board 11 through which the pachinko ball is passable.
An amplifier 72 amplifies a detection signal outputted from the magnetic detection element 71. A noise filter 73 is a circuit configured to remove a frequency component of a high-frequency band such as an external noise included in a signal outputted from the amplifier 72. The noise filter 73 is activated in synchronization with a synchronization pulse inputted from a pulse generation circuit 79. A Schmitt circuit 76 is a circuit configured to determine a reception level of a detection signal. When a reception level of a detection signal inputted through the noise filter 73 is not lower than a lower limit level corresponding to a predetermined threshold level, the Schmitt circuit 76 determines that the magnetic detection element 71 has detected passage of the pachinko ball, and outputs a detection signal.
A peak hold circuit 74 is a circuit configured to hold the maximum value of the reception level of the detection signal inputted through the noise filter 73 upon output of the detection signal from the Schmitt circuit 76, and then output the maximum value. In a comparator 75, an inverting input terminal is provided with a predetermined voltage as an output reference voltage, and the maximum value of the reception level inputted from the peak hold circuit 74 is inputted into the non-inverting input terminal. The comparator 75 compares the maximum value of the reception level outputted from the peak hold circuit 74 with the output reference voltage, and outputs a comparison result. An output determining device 77 is an AND circuit configured to calculate a logical product of an input signal from the Schmitt circuit 76 and an input signal from the comparator 75. Only when a detection signal indicating detection of ball passage is outputted from the Schmitt circuit 76, and also the comparison result indicating that the maximum value of the reception level of the detection signal is not greater than the output reference voltage is inputted from the comparator 75, the output determining device 77 determines that the detection by the magnetic detection element 71 is normal and outputs a ball detection signal.
When an illegal action is taken, such as intentional transmission of an electromagnetic wave by the radiowave transmitter, the comparator 75 outputs a comparison result, indicating that the maximum value of the reception level of the detection signal has exceeded the output reference voltage. In this case, the comparator 75 has detected that the electric signal level received by the magnetic detection element 71 is at a predetermined electric signal level that exceeds the output reference voltage being greater than the electric signal level which is to be received upon passage of the pachinko ball through a predetermined region. With this detection, the output determining device 77 determines that an illegal action has been taken, and outputs an irregularity detection signal. The peak hold circuit 74, the comparator 75 and the output determining device 77 constitute an illegality detecting means configured to detect an illegal action based upon detection of a change in physical phenomenon by the magnetic detection element 71, the change being different from a change in physical phenomenon that occurs when the pachinko ball passes through the predetermined region.
Upon input of the ball detection signal or the irregularity detection signal from the output determining device 77, an output pulse generation circuit 78 outputs the inputted ball detection signal or irregularity detection signal to the main CPU 31 in synchronization with a synchronization pulse inputted from the pulse generation circuit 79. The output pulse generation circuit 78 constitutes an output means configured to output the irregularity detection signal as an illegality signal indicating that an illegal action has been detected based upon the detection of an illegal action by the illegality detecting means. In the present embodiment, the output pulse generation circuit 78 outputs the irregularity detection signal with a length different from a length of the ball detection signal outputted when the illegality detecting means is not detecting an illegal action. The main CPU 31 constitutes a control means configured to control the operation of the pachinko gaming machine 10. The output pulse generation circuit 78 outputs the irregularity detection signal to the main CPU 31 based upon the detection of an illegal action by the illegality detecting means so as to make the main CPU 31 control the operation of the pachinko gaming machine 10 in a manner according to the detection of an illegal action. In the present embodiment, the operation of the pachinko gaming machine 10 is controlled such that the irregularity notification LED 15b is lighted to notify an illegal action. Each of the foregoing circuits is supplied with a stable voltage by a constant power source circuit 80 comprised of a regulator and the like.
Next, with regard to the pachinko gaming machine 10 according to the present embodiment having the above-mentioned constitution, detection of passage of the pachinko ball by each of the switches 20S, 21S, 22S, 22V, 23S, 63 and 64 is described, taking the start winning ball switch 21S as an example.
In the case where the magnetic detection element 71 is not detecting a magnetic change, no detection signal is outputted from the Schmitt circuit 76 since a reception level which is equal to or greater than the lower limit level is not detected in the Schmitt circuit 76. Hence the peak hold circuit 74 is not activated, and the output determining device 77 and the output pulse generation circuit 78 are not activated either. Therefore, no signal is outputted from the output pulse generation circuit 78.
Starting from such a state, when the pachinko ball enters the start winning opening 21 and the magnetic detection element 71 detects a magnetic change, a reception level not lower than the lower limit level is detected in the Schmitt circuit 76, and a detection signal is outputted from the Schmitt circuit 76. The detection signal is thus inputted into the peak hold circuit 74, and the activation of the peak hold circuit 74 is then started. The maximum value of the reception level is inputted from the peak hold circuit 74 into the non-inverting input terminal of the comparator 75. Since the output reference voltage provided to the inverting input terminal of the comparator 75 is set higher than the maximum value of the reception level which is to be inputted into the non-inverting input terminal when the pachinko ball enters the start winning opening 21, a comparison result is outputted from the comparator 75, indicating that the maximum value of the reception level is not greater than the output reference voltage. Since the detection signal is inputted from the Schmitt circuit 76 and the comparison result is inputted from the comparator 75 indicating that the maximum value of the reception level is not greater than the output reference voltage, the output determining device 77 determines that passage of the ball has been normally detected by the magnetic detection element 71, and outputs a ball detection signal. Since the ball detection signal is inputted from the output determining device 77 into the output pulse generation circuit 79, the ball detection signal is outputted from the output pulse generation circuit 79 to the main CPU 31. Accordingly, the main CPU 31 performs a control of starting a special symbol game based upon the inputted ball detection signal.
Further, when the magnetic detection element 71 detects a magnetic change under the influence of the illegal radiowave, the reception level inputted from the magnetic detection element 71 into the non-inverting input terminal of the comparator 75 becomes higher than the output reference voltage provided to the inverting input terminal of the comparator 75, under the influence of the illegal radiowave. A detection signal is inputted from the Schmitt circuit 76 into the output determining device 77, while the comparison result is inputted from the comparator 75 indicating that the maximum value of the reception level exceeds the output reference voltage. The output determining device 77 determines that the detection by the magnetic detection element 71 is irregular, and outputs an irregularity detection signal to the main CPU 31. Therefore, the main CPU 31 performs a control of lighting the irregularity notification LED 15b based upon the inputted irregularity detection signal.
The ball detection signal outputted from the output pulse generation circuit 79 has a time length ranging from time t0 to t3, as shown in
When a high-level signal input is detected at times t1 and t2 and a low-level signal input is detected at time t4, the main CPU 31 determines that a ball detection signal as shown in
According to the pachinko gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment, as thus described, when an illegal action is taken, the output determining device 77 detects an illegal action and outputs an irregularity detection signal. The output pulse generation circuit 78 then outputs an irregularity detection signal with a long pulse width indicating that an illegal action has been detected, as shown in
Further, according to the pachinko gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment, when a comparison result is detected by the comparator 75, indicating that the reception level of the detection signal exceeds the output reference voltage, and an irregularity detection signal is outputted from the output pulse generation circuit 79, the main CPU 31, receiving the irregularity detection signal, controls the operation of the pachinko gaming machine 10 in a manner according to the detection of an illegal action. This for example enables notification of an illegal action as well as control of the pachinko gaming machine 10, such as stopping of control of launch of the gaming ball, payout of prize balls, changes of special symbols and the like.
In the case of an illegal action where a radiowave is intentionally transmitted by the radiowave transmitter to make the magnetic detection element 71 perform a false detection so that prize balls are illegally paid out, an electric signal level held in the peak hold circuit 74 is greater than an electric signal level held in the peak hold circuit 74 upon passage of the pachinko ball. Therefore, according to the pachinko gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment, since the electric signal level of a signal detected due to a magnetic change detected by the magnetic detection element 71 is a level greater than an electric signal level received when the pachinko ball passes through the region which is the passing hole 20, the start winning opening 21, the special winning opening 22, the regular winning opening 23 or the specific region inside the special winning opening 22, the illegality determining means determines that an illegal action has been taken, and thereby the illegal action by means of the electromagnetic wave can be prevented.
Furthermore, according to the pachinko gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment, since an irregularity detection signal as an illegality signal is different only in signal length from the signal outputted when the output determining device 77 is not detecting an illegal action, it is possible to form a simple circuit constitution which receives a signal outputted from the output determining device 77 and then determines whether or not the received signal is an irregularity detection signal. In the present embodiment, it is possible to simplify the process, performed by the main CPU 31, for distinguishing whether or not the signal is an irregularity detection signal.
It is to be noted that in the above description of the embodiment, an explanation was given for the case where the ball detection signal or the irregularity detection signal outputted from the output pulse generation circuit 79 is inputted into the main CPU 31 of the pachinko gaming machine 10. However, another constitution is allowed where the ball detection signal or the irregularity detection signal is inputted into a gaming machine managing device configured to manage and monitor a plurality of pachinko gaming machines 10. According to this constitution, by reception of the irregularity detection signal by the gaming machine managing device, it is possible to stop the operation of the pachinko gaming machine 10 from which the ball detection signal has been outputted. It is also possible on the side of the manager who manages the gaming machine 10 to detect at an early stage the pachinko gaming machine 10 from which the irregularity detection signal has been outputted. This enables not only prevention of payout of prize balls with respect to the illegal act to the player having taken the illegal action, but also prevention of the game itself by the player having taken the illegal action. Further, since the finding of the pachinko gaming machine 10 from which the irregularity detection signal has been outputted can lead to disclosure of the player who has taken the illegal action, it is possible to take a fundamental illegality prevention measure.
Additionally, in the above description of the embodiment, an explanation was given for the case where the ball detection signal or the irregularity detection signal is outputted from the output pulse generation circuit 78 after determination by the output determining device 77 based upon the output signal from the comparator 75 and the output signal from the Schmitt circuit 76. However, another constitution is allowed where the respective output signals are outputted from the comparator 75 and the Schmitt circuit 76 directly to the main CPU 31, not through the output determining device 77 and the output pulse generation circuit 78.
In the above embodiment, an explanation was given for the case where the gaming machine according to the present invention is applied to a pachinko gaming machine. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The operational advantage same as that of the above embodiment can be obtained in a case where the present invention is applied to another gaming machine comprising a detecting part configured to detect a change in physical phenomenon that occurs in a predetermined region on the game board, through which a gaming ball is passable.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-189739 | Jun 2005 | JP | national |
