Amusement devices: games – Surface projectile game; game element – Ball games
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-29
2002-07-09
Harrison, Jessica (Department: 3713)
Amusement devices: games
Surface projectile game; game element
Ball games
C463S029000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06416053
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an improvement of a game machine, such as a ball-flicking type including a so -called “Pachinko”, “Arrange-ball”, and “Majong-ball”, a reel-rotating type called “Pachi-slot”, or a slot machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
Prior art game machines allow a special pattern indication device using liquid crystal display, CRT, or a mechanical reel to perform changeable indication corresponding to changes of progress of games, for example, occurrence of a ball's falling into a special operation-start hole, or allow a lamp(s) and/or an amplifier(s) to make unique performance effects. Methods and forms of such changeable indication or unique performance effects become more advanced or complicated corresponding to development of microcomputer technology and advanced needs from players in recent years.
Hence, most of such kinds of game machines are designed, for reducing loads to a micro-processor, to employ a main CPU, which adapted for main control controlling progress of play such as determination of a big bonus winning, and at least one subordinate CPU, which is for indicating patterns and controlling predetermined output means, in order to enable dispersed processing. Usually, such game machine comprises a main control substrate including a main CPU and at least one peripheral controlling substrate formed separately from the main control substrate and including a subordinate CPU, and a signal transmission means such as wiring connecting the substrates to transmit data.
Due to the limit in spaces for installing the substrates or for the purpose of enabling design for specific assemblies, the substrates are generally separated with specific functions and connected via a signal transmission means such as wirings. Furthermore, a detection means detecting conditions that bring changes to progress of play, for example, a special operation-start switch, is provided at a point for making the detection and is connected to the main control substrate via a signal transmitting means such as wiring.
This kind of game machines are subjected to local regulation, i.e., by the Entertainment Establishments Control Law (Japanese Law No. 122 dated Jul. 10, 1948). Hence, the principal parts for the game, such as the main control substrate, and the peripheral control substrate, are accommodated inside the substrate casing and sealed to be prevented frown being shocked or tampered by an unlawful action from the outside.
Not like the electronic parts placed in the substrate casing, the signal transmission means such as wiring may be often stretched through or exposed to the outside air and although the wirings have outer sheaths, the conductive members are not exposed, and are properly collected at the middle on an intervening substrate or retained by a harness or a cable cramp, so that it is unlikely that a long wiring is suspended solely.
However, upon assembling parts during manufacturing, the wirings are possibly broken at its outer sheaths by legs of IC projecting from the substrate, a pointed tool, or any of various protuberances in the working environment, thereby causing a short-circuit or breaking of wire. The wirings could be torn off by an inadvertent handling during removal or transportation. Furthermore, the signal transmission means such as wiring which can be easily accessible or touched from the outside is susceptible to suffer troubles by pranks or unlawful actions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention was necessitated by the fact that the signal transmission means such as wiring is likely to undergo damages or troubles as stated previously. An object of the present invention is to provide a game machine wherein a signal transmission path consecutively extending from a signal start part to a signal arrival part via wirings can be inspected without the necessity of taking apart the machine body.
The invention defined in an embodiment of the invention is a game machine comprising, as exemplified in
FIG. 1
, a main control means
1
for controlling progress of play, a peripheral means
2
, which a control signal from the main control means
1
is input into in order to actuate an output means
20
to be controlled, and a control signal transmission means
3
connecting the main control means and the peripheral means, wherein there is provided a control signal takeout means
4
which takes out control signals transmitted by the control signal transmission means
3
to the outside at a point after a connection to the peripheral means.
The output means
20
to be controlled may be a special pattern indication device using a liquid crystal display, CRT, mechanical reels, dots-type reels to changeably show patterns consisting of numbers, pictures, etc., to cause players to expect a big winning that opens a large winning hole. The items to be controlled may include an ordinary pattern indication device using 7 segments of LED to changeably show patterns of numbers, signs, etc., to cause players to expect opening of a tulip-type advantageous mechanism, a visible indication device such as LED, LCD, lamps arranged in the play zone, a sound output device such as amplifiers providing sound effects, BGM, sounds of error, or buzzers, or a payoff device for balls or tokens.
The main control means
1
may comprise at least one micro-processor in most cases. The peripheral means
2
when it bears a complicated control as of the special pattern indication may comprise at least one micro-processor, but needs not be so when the output means
20
to be controlled is relatively simple in construction and uses a separate substrate in consideration of spaces. In other words, it is enough for the peripheral means
2
to only bear service of transmitting a control signal from the main control means
1
to the output means
20
.
The control signal transmission means
3
may include a single or plural wiring cable(s) , flat cable(s) , flexible printed wiring substrate. The control signal takeout means
4
may use such structures of terminal type such as connectors, receptacles, or direct-formation type such as pin, lands projecting on the substrate. Points where signals are taken out may be input connectors serving as a connection to the peripheral means
2
, a patterned part on the substrate extended from the input connectors, and I/O part of CPU provided on the peripheral means
2
.
The invention defined in an embodiment of the invention is directed to a Pachinko machine and has an object to enable inspection of wiring at an important part having a large influence on the winning or profit of players. The game machine provides that the output means
20
to be controlled comprises a special pattern indication device for changeably showing a number of patterns including a big bonus winning or losing patterns, and the peripheral means
2
comprises an indication control device for controlling the special pattern indication device.
The invention defined in an embodiment of the invention is a game machine comprising, as exemplified in
FIG. 2
, a detection means
5
detecting conditions which bring changes to the progress of the game, a main control means
1
controlling the progress of the game in accordance with detection signals from the detection means, and a detection signal transmission means
6
connecting the detection means and the main control means, wherein there is provided a detection signal takeout means
7
which takes out detection signals transmitted by the detection signal transmission means to the outside at a point after a connection to the main control means.
The detection means
5
, in case of Pachinko machines, may be a special operation start switch for starting selection between a big winning to open or close a large winning hole, a gate switch for actuating selection between opening or closing a tulip-type advantageous mechanism, a count switch for regulating a maximum of winning balls, or a winning-ball detecting switch. Variation of the detection signal transmission means
6
and detection signal takeou
Aruze Co. Ltd.
Bacon & Thomas PLLC
Harrison Jessica
LandOfFree
Game machine does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Game machine, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Game machine will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2826279