U.S. patent application number 09/783612 was filed with the patent office on 2001-08-23 for apparatus for detecting passage of a game medium and a game machine employing same.
Invention is credited to Kubota, Isamu, Matsumoto, Jinichi, Oda, Sumito, Odake, Shinichi, Shinbo, Toshiaki.
Application Number | 20010015524 09/783612 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18563600 |
Filed Date | 2001-08-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010015524 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shinbo, Toshiaki ; et
al. |
August 23, 2001 |
Apparatus for detecting passage of a game medium and a game machine
employing same
Abstract
In a game medium passage detecting apparatus, a plurality of
optical sensors are arranged in correspondence to a plurality of
detection areas which are set to be adjacent to one another in a
cross direction of a game board surface. Each of the optical
sensors has a light emitting element and a photoelectric receiving
element. The light emitting elements and the photoelectric
receiving elements are arranged such that the optical axis of the
detection light extends in the direction which crosses a flat
surface containing therein an axis extending in the depth direction
of the game board surface in parallel with the game board surface
and an axis intersecting perpendicularly the game board surface,
and also passes obliquely through the game board surface.
Inventors: |
Shinbo, Toshiaki; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Matsumoto, Jinichi; (Tokyo, JP) ; Oda,
Sumito; (Tokyo, JP) ; Kubota, Isamu; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Odake, Shinichi; (Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LEYDIG VOIT & MAYER, LTD
700 THIRTEENTH ST. NW
SUITE 300
WASHINGTON
DC
20005-3960
US
|
Family ID: |
18563600 |
Appl. No.: |
09/783612 |
Filed: |
February 15, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
273/126A |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 9/02 20130101; A63F
2250/13 20130101; A63F 2009/0627 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/126.00A |
International
Class: |
A63F 003/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 17, 2000 |
JP |
2000-40165 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A game medium passage detecting apparatus for use in a game
machine in which a game medium is rollably moved on a game board
surface in the depth direction of said game board surface, for
detecting that said game medium has passed through a detection area
on said game board surface, said apparatus comprising: a
light-cut-off type optical sensor having a light emitting element
for emitting a detection light to said detection area, and a
photoelectric receiving element which is arranged so as to face
said light emitting element and to sandwich said detection area
between said light emitting element and said photoelectric
receiving element in order to receive said detection light; and a
control section for detecting the passage of said game medium, on
the basis of the signals from said optical sensor, wherein said
light emitting element and said photoelectric receiving element are
arranged such that the optical axis of said detection light extends
in a direction which crosses a flat surface containing therein an
axis extending in the depth direction of said game board surface in
parallel with said game board surface and an axis perpendicularly
intersecting said game board surface, and also passes obliquely
through said game board surface.
2. A game medium passage detecting apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein said game medium has a disc-like configuration.
3. A game medium passage detecting apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein said game medium is a medal.
4. A game medium passage detecting apparatus for use in a game
machine in which a game medium is rollably moved on a game board
surface in the depth direction of said game board surface, for
detecting which of a plurality of detection areas set to be
adjacent to one another in the cross direction perpendicular to
said depth direction, said game medium has passed through, said
apparatus comprising: a plurality of light-cut-off type optical
sensors each having a light emitting element for emitting a
detection light to said detection areas, and a photoelectric
receiving element arranged to face said light emitting element and
to sandwich said detection areas between said light emitting
element and said photoelectric receiving element in order to
receive said detection light; and a control section for detecting
which detection area said game medium has passed through, on the
basis of signals from said optical sensors, wherein each of said
light emitting elements and each of said photoelectric receiving
elements are arranged such that the optical axis of said detection
light extends in a direction which crosses a flat surface
containing therein an axis extending in the depth direction of said
game board surface in parallel with said game board surface and an
axis perpendicularly intersecting said game board surface, and also
passes obliquely through said game board surface.
5. A game medium passage detecting apparatus according to claim 4,
wherein said light emitting elements and said photoelectric
receiving elements are arranged such that a plurality of optical
axes pass through one detection area in parallel with one
another.
6. A game medium passage detecting apparatus according to claim 5,
wherein when the cut-off of the detection light is simultaneously
detected by the plurality of photoelectric receiving elements
adjacent to one another, said control section judges that said game
medium has passed through the detection area corresponding to the
photoelectric receiving element, which is located at an end part of
a predetermined side of the plurality of photoelectric receiving
elements which have detected the cut-off of said detection
light.
7. A game medium passage detecting apparatus according to claim 4,
wherein said plurality of optical sensors are divided into a
plurality of blocks, and said control section detects the passage
of said game medium by repeatedly carrying out the scanning for
every block.
8. A game medium passage detecting apparatus according to claim 4,
wherein said light emitting elements and said photoelectric
receiving elements are arranged such that the optical axes of said
plurality of detection lights are arranged at equal intervals at
equal intervals in parallel with one another.
9. A game medium passage detecting apparatus according to claim 4,
wherein said game medium has a disc-like configuration.
10. A game medium passage detecting apparatus according to claim 9,
wherein said game medium is a medal.
11. A game machine comprising: a game board surface; sending means
for sending a game medium to move rollably on said game board
surface said game medium in the depth direction of said game board
surface; and a game medium passage detecting apparatus for
detecting which of a plurality of detection areas, which are set
adjacent to one another in a cross direction perpendicular to said
depth direction, said game medium has passed through, said game
medium passage detecting apparatus including: a plurality of
light-cut-off type optical sensors each having a light emitting
element for emitting a detection light to said detection areas, and
a photoelectric receiving element arranged to face respectively
said light emitting elements and to sandwich said detection areas
between said light emitting element and said photoelectric
receiving element in order to receive said detection light; and a
control section for detecting which detection area said game medium
has passed through, on the basis of signals from said optical
sensors, wherein each of said light emitting elements and each of
said photoelectric receiving elements are arranged such that the
optical axis of said detection light extends in a direction which
crosses a flat surface containing therein an axis extending in the
depth direction of said game board surface in parallel with said
game board surface and an axis perpendicularly intersecting said
game board surface, and also passes obliquely through said game
board surface.
12. A game machine according to claim 11, further comprising target
generating means for making targets appear in correspondence to
said detection areas.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is based on Application No. 2000-040165,
filed in Japan on Feb. 17, 2000, the contents of which are hereby
incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates in general to an apparatus for
detecting a passage of a game medium for use in a game machine.
More particularly, the invention relates to a game medium passage
detecting apparatus for detecting a game medium which passes
through an area of detection or area swept by an optical sensor,
and a game machine employing same.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] In a group of detection areas in which a plurality of
detection areas are set adjacent to one another, a optical sensor
is employed corresponding to each of the detection areas when
detecting the area through which a game medium has passed.
Normally, the optical sensors has a light emitting element and a
photoelectric receiving element which are respectively arranged
above and below the corresponding detection area.
[0006] In a system in which one optical sensor is arranged for
every detection area, however, when medals are employed as the game
media and the medals are detected when rolling, it is difficult to
reliably detect the passage of the medals since the thickness of
each medal is small and the medals swing from side to side while
rolling.
[0007] In addition, when the width of each of the detection areas
is set sufficiently large with respect to the thickness of the
medals, since a plurality of optical sensor sets must be arranged
in one detection area at intervals smaller than the thickness of
each of the medals, there arises a problem that manufacturing the
game machine takes a great deal of time and also the game machine
becomes expensive.
[0008] To date, with respect to game machines employing disc-like
game media, there has never been one designed such that, the
detection area, among a plurality of detection areas arranged
adjacent to one another, through which the game medium has passed
is detected. In game machines as described above, if the optical
sensors are respectively arranged above and below the detection
areas, the number of optical sensors used therein increases, making
it impossible to provide an inexpensive game machine.
[0009] In order to detect a medal passing through one detection
area, although a light emitting element and photoelectric receiving
element may be arranged so as to sandwich therebetween the
detection areas, as described above, in the case where the
detection areas are set so as to be adjacent to one another, space
for arranging the light emitting elements and the photoelectric
receiving elements on both sides of each detection area can not be
acquired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] In light of the foregoing, the present invention has been
made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems associated with
the prior art, and it is therefore an object of the present
invention to provide an inexpensive apparatus for detecting the
passage of a game medium which has a high detection ability and a
game machine employing same.
[0011] In order to attain the above-mentioned object, according to
the present invention, there is provided a game medium passage
detecting apparatus for use in a game machine in which a game
medium is rollably moved on a game board surface in the depth
direction of the game board surface, for detecting that the game
medium has passed through a detection area on the game board
surface, the apparatus comprising: a light-cut-off type optical
sensor having a light emitting element for emitting a detection
light to the detection area, and a photoelectric receiving element
which is arranged so as to face the light emitting element and to
sandwich the detection area between the light emitting element and
the photoelectric receiving element in order to receive the
detection light; and a control section for detecting the passage of
the game medium, on the basis of the signals from the optical
sensor, wherein the light emitting element and the photoelectric
receiving element are arranged such that the optical axis of the
detection light extends in a direction which crosses a flat surface
containing therein an axis extending in the depth direction of the
game board surface in parallel with the game board surface and an
axis perpendicularly intersecting the game board surface, and also
passes obliquely through the game board surface.
[0012] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a game medium passage detecting apparatus for use in a
game machine in which a game medium is rollably moved on a game
board surface in the depth direction of the game board surface, for
detecting which of a plurality of detection areas set to be
adjacent to one another in the cross direction perpendicular to the
depth direction, the game medium has passed through, the apparatus
comprising: a plurality of light-cut-off type optical sensors each
having a light emitting element for emitting a detection light to
the detection areas, and a photoelectric receiving element arranged
to face the light emitting element and to sandwich the detection
areas between the light emitting element and the photoelectric
receiving element in order to receive the detection light; and a
control section for detecting which detection area the game medium
has passed through, on the basis of signals from the optical
sensors, wherein each of the light emitting elements and each of
the photoelectric receiving elements are arranged such that the
optical axis of the detection light extends in a direction which
crosses a flat surface containing therein an axis extending in the
depth direction of the game board surface in parallel with the game
board surface and an axis perpendicularly intersecting the game
board surface, and also passes obliquely through the game board
surface.
[0013] According to a still further aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a game machine comprising: a game
board surface; sending means for sending a game medium to move
rollably on the game board surface the game medium in the depth
direction of the game board surface; and a game medium passage
detecting apparatus for detecting which of a plurality of detection
areas, which are set adjacent to one another in a cross direction
perpendicular to the depth direction, the game medium has passed
through, the game medium passage detecting apparatus including: a
plurality of light-cut-off type optical sensors each having a light
emitting element for emitting a detection light to the detection
areas, and a photoelectric receiving element arranged to face
respectively the light emitting elements and to sandwich the
detection areas between the light emitting element and the
photoelectric receiving element in order to receive the detection
light; and a control section for detecting which detection area the
game medium has passed through, on the basis of signals from the
optical sensors, wherein each of the light emitting elements and
each of the photoelectric receiving elements are arranged such that
the optical axis of the detection light extends in a direction
which crosses a flat surface containing therein an axis extending
in the depth direction of the game board surface in parallel with
the game board surface and an axis perpendicularly intersecting the
game board surface, and also passes obliquely through the game
board surface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The above and other objects as well as advantages of the
present invention will become clear by the following description of
the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference
to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing the construction
of a shooting game machine according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the construction of a main
part of an apparatus for detecting the passage of a game medium
shown in FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part of the apparatus
for detecting the passage of a game medium shown in FIG. 2;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a side elevational view showing the construction
of the apparatus for detecting the passage of a game medium shown
in FIG. 3; and
[0019] FIG. 5 is a schematic view useful in explaining one example
of the game contents of the shooting game machine shown in FIG.
1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] The preferred embodiment of the present invention will
hereinafter be described in detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
[0021] This embodiment relates, in a shooting game machine in which
medals are employed as the game media, to an apparatus for
detecting the passage of a game medium which detects each of the
medals passing through an associated detection area by an
associated optical sensor.
[0022] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing the construction
of a shooting game machine according to one embodiment of the
present invention; FIG. 2 is a front view showing the construction
of a main part of an apparatus for detecting the passage of a game
medium shown in FIG. 1 (a view when viewed from a player side of
FIG. 1); FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part of the apparatus
for detecting the passage of a game medium shown in FIG. 2; and
FIG. 4 is a side elevational view showing the construction of the
apparatus for detecting the passage of a game medium shown in FIG.
3.
[0023] In FIGS. 1 to 3, this shooting game machine 1 includes: a
downwardly sloped game board surface 8; a monitor 2 which is
arranged above the game board surface 8 so as to face it to project
thereto the game contents; a half mirror 3 which is arranged
between the game board surface 8 and the monitor 2; a medal
shooting unit 4; a plurality of light-cut-off type optical sensors
6; a control section 60; a medal collecting receptacle 9; and a
collecting groove 10.
[0024] The half mirror 3 reflects the image from the monitor 2 to
show the virtual image thereof to a player. The medal shooting unit
4 sends out a medal 7 as a disc-like game medium onto the game
board surface 8 so that the medal 7 is rollably moved in the depth
direction (to the left in FIG. 1) of the game board surface 8.
[0025] The optical sensors 6 are arranged in correspondence to the
group 5 of detection areas which are set on the game board surface
8. The control section 60 controls the optical sensors 6, and
detects that the medal 7 has passed through the group of detection
areas 5 on the basis of the signals from the optical sensors 6. The
apparatus for detecting the passage of a game medium in this
embodiment has a plurality of optical sensors 6 and the control
section 60.
[0026] The medal 7 which has been shot towards the target, which is
projected on the half mirror 3, from the medal shooting unit 4 is
rollably moved on the game board surface 8 to pass through the
detection area group 5 or go wild to pass therethrough. In any
case, the medal 7 is collected in the medal collecting receptacle 9
through the collecting groove 10.
[0027] In FIGS. 3 and 4, the detection area group 5 includes a
plurality of detection areas 51, 52, 53, . . . which are arranged
on the game board surface 8 so as to be adjacent to one another in
the cross direction perpendicular to the depth direction of the
game board surface 8.
[0028] In this connection, while each of the detection areas 51,
52, 53, . . . is expressed in the drawings in the form of a
rectangular frame, the rectangular frames are not actually present,
and each of the detection areas 51, 52, 53, . . . is only shown
virtually. Of course, a rectangular frame member formed of a
light-transmissive member may be actually provided, but then
inconveniences such as the medal 7 colliding with the frame member
and falling down occur. This is not preferable in terms of the
management of the game.
[0029] A plurality of light emitting elements 11 for emitting the
detection light to the corresponding detection areas 51, 52, 53, .
. . are arranged under the detection area group 5. In addition,
above the detection area group 5, a plurality of photoelectric
receiving elements 12 for receiving the detection light are
arranged so as to face the corresponding light emitting elements 11
and to sandwich the detection areas 51, 52, 53, . . . between the
light emitting elements 11 and the photoelectric receiving elements
12. Each optical sensor 6 comprises the light emitting element 11
and the photoelectric receiving element 12. In this example, the
line of the light emitting elements 11 on the lower side and the
line of the photoelectric receiving elements 12 on the upper side
are arranged in parallel with the detection area group 5.
[0030] In this connection, in FIG. 4, since the line of the light
emitting elements 11 are arranged under the game board surface 8, a
part of the game board surface 8 is made of a light-transmissive
member 81 such that the detection light which have been emitted
from the light emitting elements 11 is transmitted through the game
board surface 8.
[0031] The light emitting elements 11 and the photoelectric
receiving elements 12 are arranged such that the optical axis of
each of the detection lights extends in the direction which crosses
the flat surface containing therein the axis (the Z-axis in FIG. 3)
extending in the depth direction of the game board surface 8 in
parallel with the game board surface 8 and the axis (the X-axis in
FIG. 3) perpendicularly intersecting the game board surface 8, and
passes obliquely through the game board surface 8. In addition, in
this embodiment, the axis of each of the detection lights extends
in parallel with the flat surface containing therein both the
X-axis and the Y-axis in FIG. 3.
[0032] Now, when it is assumed that each of the detection areas 51,
52, 53, . . . is a rectangular frame, in order that one of optical
sensor 6 is responsible for the detection through one detection
area, the light receiving element 11 and the photoelectric
receiving element 12 may be arranged on the diagonal line of the
rectangular frame such that one optical axis crosses the
rectangular frame. At this time, the height of the rectangular
frame must to be smaller than the diameter of the medal 7.
[0033] However, the medal 7 does not necessarily roll while
maintaining an upright state. Hence, the medal 7 may roll
unsteadily left and right, or may roll as if it is about to fall in
some cases.
[0034] In such cases, with the method of arranging the optical
sensors 6 so that one optical axis passes obliquely through one
detection area, there is the possibility that the medal 7 may pass
through the detection area in such a way as not to cut off the
obliquely extending optical axis.
[0035] In order to solve this problem, in this embodiment, the
optical sensors 6 are arranged such that a plurality of optical
axes pass through the detection areas 51, 52, 53, . . . in parallel
with one another. In other words, the detection light not only
passes through the corresponding detection area but also the
detection areas adjacent to the corresponding detection area as
well.
[0036] In this case, while medals 7 passing through the detection
areas 51, 52, 53, . . . may cut off a plurality of optical axes in
some cases, when specifying which detection area a medal 7 has
passed through, the following method is used.
[0037] That is, in the case where the cut-off of detection light is
detected simultaneously by a plurality of photoelectric receiving
elements 12 adjacent to one another when a medal 7 has passed
therethrough, the control section 60 judges that the medal 7 has
passed through the detection area corresponding to the
photoelectric receiving element 12, which is located at the end of
a predetermined side of a plurality of photoelectric receiving
elements 12 each of which has detected the cut-off of detection
light. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 3, the control
section 60 judges that the medal 7 has passed through the detection
area corresponding to the detection light on the left end side of
all the detection light which has been cut off. Of course, when
only one detection light is cut off, it is judged that the medal 7
has passed through the detection area corresponding thereto.
[0038] In this connection, even though in this example the optical
sensors 6 are arranged, as shown in FIG. 3, such that each of the
axes which is used to determine the detection areas, passes
obliquely through the bottom right corner of each detection area,
the arrangement may be adopted in which the inclination of the
optical axes is reversed so that each of the optical axes passes
through the bottom left corner of each detection area. In this
case, the detection area of interest may be judged with the optical
axis on the right end side, of the cut-off optical axes, as the
reference.
[0039] In addition, in the case where the distance between adjacent
photoelectric receiving elements 12 is small, there is even a
possibility of a photoelectric receiving element 12 receiving
detection light for an adjacent photoelectric receiving element 12
if detection light is simultaneously emitted from all of the light
emitting elements 11. Therefore, in this example, a method of
successively reading out the data from the optical sensors 6 from
one set to another, e.g., the method of the scanning from the left
end to the right end of FIG. 3.
[0040] In addition thereto, for example, there may be adopted the
method wherein five continuous optical sensors 6 (five detection
areas) are treated as one block, and the scanning is carried out in
every block to detect the passage of the medals 7. In such a way, a
plurality of optical sensors 6 are divided into a plurality of
blocks, and then the scanning is repeatedly carried out in every
block. Thus, even in the case where the detection area group 5 is
long, the passage of the medals 7 can be surely and quickly
detected.
[0041] As described above, in the case where a plurality of optical
axes are obliquely transmitted through the detection areas 51, 52,
53, . . . , it is preferable that the light emitting elements 11
and the photoelectric receiving elements 12 are arranged such that
the optical axes become parallel with one another. Further, in
order to specify the detection area through which a medal 7 has
passed, it is preferable that the parallel intervals of the optical
axes are set equally.
[0042] Next, the game machine will hereinbelow be described in
detail. In the present game machine, the medal shooting unit 4 is
employed as the sending means for sending a medal 7 towards the
target. This medal shooting unit 4 is constructed such that a lever
is operated against a suppression member which is pressed
downwardly by a spring to push out a medal 7 towards the target,
whereby the medal rolls with great force on the game board surface
8 while maintaining an upright state.
[0043] As other examples of the means for sending out the medal,
there may be employed a unit having a lever which is swung by the
rotation of a motor to flick out a medal 7, a long groove which is
used in conventional medal games or the like.
[0044] In addition, as the target generating means for making a
target appear in front of the game board surface 8, a combination
of the monitor 2 and the half mirror 3 is employed. The monitor 2
and the half mirror 3 are arranged so as to fulfill the positional
relationship in which the image containing the target of the
monitor 2 is in view of a player, and also so the medal 7 rolling
on the game board surface 8 is in view of a player until it has
overlapped with the target.
[0045] In FIG. 5, the image which is in view of a player is
generated such that the target appears in correspondence to the
detection areas 51, 52, 53, . . . in FIG. 3. That is, while targets
21, 22 and 23 shown in FIG. 5 are generated so as to have a width
corresponding to two adjacent detection areas, the present
invention is not limited thereto. That is, targets with widths
having one-to-one correspondence with the detection areas, or a
target 24 with a width corresponding to three or more detection
areas may be generated.
[0046] Furthermore, above the heads of the targets 21, 22 and 23,
lottery boxes 25 for displaying thereon the number of medal
repayment, the increasing number of medal repayment in a jackpot,
the number of target hits for the bonus game, misses, and the
amount thereof are respectively generated.
[0047] Next, the game contents will hereinbelow be described with
reference to FIGS. 1 and 5.
[0048] A player puts a medal 7 into the model shooting unit 4 and
then shoots the medal 7 aiming at the targets 21 to 23 which are
projected in front of the game board surface 8.
[0049] The targets 21 to 23 paired with the lottery boxes 25 are
moved vertically. Then, if the medal 7 passes through any of the
detection areas corresponding to the targets 21 to 23 when the
targets 21 to 23 are landed, then it is judged that the medal 7 has
hit one of the targets 21 to 23.
[0050] When it is judged that the medal 7 has hit any of the
targets 21 to 23, the judgement for the lottery is carried out and
then the corresponding target 21, 22 or 23 disappears from the
screen. Then, the displayed lottery boxes 25 drop above the heads
of the corresponding target 21, 22 or 23 to display the lottery
result.
[0051] For the lottery result, first of all, the rotating numerical
characters are stopped to display the amounts thereof on lower
windows 25b of the lottery boxes 25, respectively. Next, the
operating conditions for the amounts thereof are respectively
displayed on upper windows 25a. The display of the operating
conditions means the display in the lower windows 25b of the number
of medals 7 to be paid, the increase in the number of medals to be
paid in a jackpot, or the number of targets 24 hit for the bonus
game, or the amount that has become invalid to be misses each
having no special favor, for example by displaying "MEDAL",
"JACKPOT", "BOSS" or "MISS".
[0052] For example, in the case where as shown in FIG. 5, "MEDAL"
and "2" are respectively displayed on the upper window 25a and the
lower window 25b of the lottery box 25G, two medals are repaid to a
player.
[0053] In addition, in the case where "BOSS" and "1" are
respectively displayed on the upper window 25a and the lower window
25b, the target 24 for the bonus game which is being floated in the
center drops only one step. This target 24 for the bonus game,
similar to the targets 21 to 23, is also set such that the medal 7
does not hit the target 24 as long as it is not landed.
[0054] Further, in the case where "JACKPOT" and "10" are
respectively displayed on the upper window 25a and the lower window
25b, the repayment number of the jackpot display 26 which is
displayed on the upper part of the monitor 2 is increased.
[0055] Furthermore, in the case where "MISS" is displayed on the
upper window 25a, even if any numerical character other than "0" is
displayed on the lower window 25b, the associated one of these
numerical characters becomes invalid, and hence there are no
special favors such as the repayment of medals 7 at all.
[0056] If a medal hits the bonus game target 24 which has landed,
then the game proceeds either to the bonus game in which the
targets 21 to 23 are kept on the ground for a fixed period of time,
or to the jackpot state in which the number of medals displayed on
the jackpot display 26 are repaid to a player.
[0057] In this connection, it is not intended that the present
invention is limited to the above-mentioned game contents, and
hence in addition thereto, various presenations may be adopted.
[0058] In addition, while in the above-mentioned game machine of
this embodiment, medals are employed as the game media, it is to be
understood that the present invention is not intended to be limited
thereto, and hence the same effects as those of the above-mentioned
game machine can be offered as long as the game medium has a disc
shape.
[0059] In addition, for the target generating means, actual targets
may be made to appear or image display means such as a cathode ray
tube (CRT) or a liquid crystal display device may be employed such
that a player aims directly at the targets which are projected by
the image display means to shoot the game media towards the
targets. Alternatively, by employing the half mirror, the actual
objects or the images from the image displaying means may be shown
indirectly to the player.
[0060] In addition, when a player aims directly at the targets
which are displayed by the image displaying means, collecting means
such as a groove for collecting the game media may be provided in
front of the image displaying means.
[0061] By adopting the above-mentioned construction, when detecting
the passage of the game medium such as a medal 7, even in the case
where the game medium is thin, or the width of each of the
detection areas is sufficiently wide compared with the game medium,
the passage of the game medium can be more surely detected. Thus,
it is possible to provide an inexpensive apparatus for detecting
the passage of a game medium which has a higher detection ability
compared with a conventional apparatus.
[0062] In addition, since the optical axes of a plurality of
optical sensors 6 obliquely cross the detection areas 51, 52, 53, .
. . , it is even possible to readily detect a medal 7 which is
rolling while swinging from side to side, or which is rolling in a
lower position as if it is about to fall.
[0063] Further, according to the present invention, it is possible
to provide an inexpensive apparatus for detecting the passage of a
game medium in which the medal 7 can be used as the game medium
irrespective of the size of the diameter thereof.
[0064] Furthermore, it is possible to provide an inexpensive and
novel game machine with which the play, the direction and the like
which have not been conventionally realized are possible.
[0065] While the present invention has been particularly shown and
described with reference to the preferred embodiment and the
specified modifications thereof, it will be understood that the
various changes and other modifications will occur to those skilled
in the art without departing from the scope and true spirit of the
invention. The scope of the invention is therefore to be determined
solely by the appended claims.
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