U.S. patent application number 11/932537 was filed with the patent office on 2008-12-11 for slot machine with symbol sensor and control method thereof.
This patent application is currently assigned to ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.. Invention is credited to Kazuo Okada.
Application Number | 20080305848 11/932537 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40096367 |
Filed Date | 2008-12-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080305848 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Okada; Kazuo |
December 11, 2008 |
SLOT MACHINE WITH SYMBOL SENSOR AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF
Abstract
In a slot machine, reel bands are fitted to circumferential
surfaces of rotatable reels. Multiple symbols drawn on the reel
bands and multiple identifiers corresponding to the symbols are
disposed on the reel bands at certain intervals in the rotating
direction of the rotatable reels. Each of the identifiers includes
identification information having a content corresponding to the
symbol on the reel band displayed on a display. The identification
information is developed in the direction of the rotation axis of
the rotatable reels. When reading the identification information
out of the identifier located in the position corresponding to the
symbol displayed on the display, the sensor is moved in the
direction of the rotation axis of the rotatable reel and is caused
to read the identification information over the entire length in
that direction of the identifier. The symbol displayed in the
display is identified according to the identification information
thus read out of the identifier.
Inventors: |
Okada; Kazuo; (Tokyo,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NDQ&M WATCHSTONE LLP
1300 EYE STREET, NW, SUITE 1000 WEST TOWER
WASHINGTON
DC
20005
US
|
Assignee: |
ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
Las Vegas
NV
|
Family ID: |
40096367 |
Appl. No.: |
11/932537 |
Filed: |
October 31, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60929031 |
Jun 8, 2007 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/20 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/3213
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/20 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Claims
1. A slot machine comprising: a rotatable reel being rotatable and
stoppable; a reel band fitted to a circumferential surface of the
rotatable reel and including a plurality of symbols and a plurality
of identifiers respectively positioned corresponding to the
symbols, the symbols and the identifiers being drawn on the reel
band; a display adapted to display part of the reel band; a sensor
configured to read identification information developed in a
direction of a rotation axis of the rotatable reel and having a
content corresponding to one of the symbols drawn on the part of
the reel band displayed in the display out of one of the
identifiers positioned corresponding to the symbol displayed in the
display; and a controller configured to (a) execute a unit game for
rotating and stopping the rotatable reel, (b) move the sensor in
the direction of the rotation axis of the rotatable reel when the
rotatable reel is stopped, (c) identify one of the symbols
displayed in the display according to the identification
information read out of corresponding one of the identifiers over
an entire length in the direction of the rotation axis by the
sensor moved in the direction of the rotation axis when the
rotatable reel is stopped, and (d) determine an outcome of the unit
game according to the identified symbol.
2. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein the controller is
configured to repeatedly move the sensor in the direction of the
rotation axis during a predetermined period from a stop until a
subsequent start of rotations of the rotatable reel, identify the
symbols displayed in the display for respective time points of
readout by the sensor during the predetermined period according to
the identification information read out of the corresponding
identifiers by the sensor for the respective movements in the
direction of the rotation axis, and judge whether or not the
rotatable reel is rotated during the predetermined period according
to the symbols identified for the time points of readout by the
sensor during the predetermined period.
3. A slot machine comprising: a rotatable reel being rotatable and
stoppable; a reel band fitted to a circumferential surface of the
rotatable reel and including a plurality of symbols and a plurality
of identifiers respectively positioned corresponding to the
symbols, the symbols and the identifiers being drawn on the
rotatable reel; a display adapted to display part of the reel band;
a sensor configured to read identification information developed in
a direction of a rotation axis of the rotatable reel and having a
content corresponding to one of the symbols drawn on the part of
the reel band displayed in the display out of one of the
identifiers positioned corresponding to the symbol displayed in the
display by scanning the identifier with a scanning signal; and a
controller configured to (a) execute a unit game for rotating and
stopping the rotatable reel, (b) move the scanning signal in the
direction of the rotation axis when the rotatable reel is stopped,
(c) identify one of the symbols displayed in the display according
to the identification information read out of corresponding one of
the identifiers scanned over an entire length in the direction of
the rotation axis with the scanning signal moved in the direction
of the rotation axis by the sensor when the rotatable reel is
stopped, (d) determine an outcome of the unit game according to the
identified symbol, (e) repeatedly move the scanning signal in the
direction of the rotation axis during a predetermined period from a
stop until a subsequent start of rotations of the rotatable reel,
(f) identify the symbols displayed in the display for respective
time points of readout by the sensor during the predetermined
period according to the identification information read out of the
corresponding identifiers by the sensor for the respective
movements of the scanning signal in the direction of the rotation
axis, and (g) judge whether or not the rotatable reel is rotated
during the predetermined period according to the symbols identified
for the time points of readout by the sensor during the
predetermined period.
4. A slot machine comprising: a rotatable reel being rotatable and
stoppable; a reel band fitted to a circumferential surface of the
rotatable reel and including a plurality of symbols and a plurality
of identifiers respectively positioned corresponding to the
symbols, the symbols and the identifiers being drawn on the reel
band; a display adapted to display part of the reel band; a sensor
configured to read identification information developed in a
direction of a rotation axis of the rotatable reel and having a
content corresponding to one of the symbols drawn on the part of
the reel band displayed in the display out of one of the
identifiers positioned corresponding to the symbol displayed in the
display; and a controller configured to (a) execute a unit game for
rotating and stopping the rotatable reel, (b) identify one of the
symbols displayed in the display according to the identification
information read out of corresponding one of the identifiers over
an entire length in the direction of the rotation axis by the
sensor when the rotatable reel is stopped, (c) determine an outcome
of the unit game according to the identified symbol, (d) identify
the symbols displayed in the display for respective time points of
readout by the sensor during a predetermined period from a stop
until a subsequent start of rotations of the rotatable reel
according to the identification information read out of the
corresponding identifiers over an entire length in the direction of
the rotation axis by the sensor during the predetermined period,
and (e) judge whether or not the rotatable reel is rotated during
the predetermined period according to the symbols identified for
the time points of readout by the sensor during the predetermined
period.
5. A method of controlling a slot machine, the method comprising
the steps of: executing a unit game for rotating and stopping a
rotatable reel having a reel band, the reel band fitted to a
circumferential surface of the rotatable reel and including a
plurality of symbols and a plurality of identifiers respectively
positioned corresponding to the symbols, the symbols and the
identifiers being drawn on the reel band; moving a sensor in a
direction of a rotation axis of the rotatable reel when the
rotatable reel is stopped, the sensor configured to read
identification information developed in the direction of the
rotation axis of the rotatable reel and having a content
corresponding to one of the symbols drawn on part of the reel band
displayed in the display out of one of the identifiers positioned
corresponding to the symbol displayed in the display; reading the
identification information out of one of the identifiers positioned
corresponding to one of the symbols displayed in the display on the
reel band over an entire length in the direction of the rotation
axis by the sensor moved in the direction of the rotation axis when
the rotatable reel is stopped; identifying the one of the symbols
displayed in the display when the rotatable reel is stopped
according to the identification information read out by the sensor
when the rotatable reel is stopped; and determining an outcome of
the unit game according to the identified symbol.
6. The method of controlling a slot machine according to claim 5,
further comprising the steps of: repeatedly moving the sensor in
the direction of the rotation axis during a predetermined period
from a stop until a subsequent start of rotations of the rotatable
reel; identifying the symbols displayed in the display for
respective time points of readout by the sensor during the
predetermined period according to the identification information
read out of the corresponding identifiers for the respective
movements in the direction of the rotation axis by the sensor; and
judging whether or not the rotatable reel is rotated during the
predetermined period according to the symbols identified for the
time points of readout by the sensor during the predetermined
period.
7. A method of controlling a slot machine, the method comprising
the steps of: executing a unit game for rotating and stopping a
rotatable reel having a reel band, the reel band fitted to a
circumferential surface of the rotatable reel and including a
plurality of symbols and a plurality of identifiers respectively
positioned corresponding to the symbols, the symbols and the
identifiers drawn on the reel band; allowing a sensor, which reads
identification information developed in a direction of a rotation
axis of the rotatable reel and having a content corresponding to
one of the symbols drawn on part of the reel band displayed in the
display out of one of the identifiers positioned corresponding to
the symbol displayed in the display, to move a scanning signal in
the direction of the rotation axis of the rotatable reel when the
rotatable reel is stopped, the scanning signal output by the sensor
for reading the identification information; reading, by the sensor,
the identification information out of one of the identifiers over
an entire length in the direction of the rotation axis, the
identifier positioned corresponding to one of the symbols displayed
in the display and scanned with the scanning signal moved in the
direction of the rotation axis when the rotatable reel is stopped;
identifying the one of the symbols displayed in the display when
the rotatable reel is stopped according to the identification
information read out by the sensor when the rotatable reel is
stopped; determining an outcome of the unit game according to the
identified symbol; repeatedly moving the scanning signal in the
direction of the rotation axis during a predetermined period from a
stop until a subsequent start of rotations of the rotatable reel;
identifying the symbols displayed in the display for respective
time points of readout by the sensor during the predetermined
period according to the identification information read out of the
corresponding identifiers by the sensor for the respective
movements of the scanning signal in the direction of the rotation
axis; and judging whether or not the rotatable reel is rotated
during the predetermined period according to the symbols identified
for the time points of readout by the sensor during the
predetermined period.
8. A method of controlling a slot machine, the method comprising
the steps of: executing a unit game for rotating and stopping a
rotatable reel having a reel band, the reel band fitted to a
circumferential surface of the rotatable reel and including a
plurality of symbols and a plurality of identifiers respectively
positioned corresponding to the symbols, the symbols and the
identifiers being drawn on the reel band; reading, by a sensor,
identification information out of one of the identifiers positioned
corresponding to one of the symbols drawn on part of the reel band
displayed in a display over an entire length in a direction of the
rotation axis when the rotatable reel is stopped, the identifier
developed in the direction of the rotation axis of the rotatable
reel and having a content corresponding to the symbol displayed in
the display; identifying the one of the symbols displayed in the
display when the rotatable reel is stopped according to the
identification information read out by the sensor when the
rotatable reel is stopped; determining an outcome of the unit game
according to the identified symbol; identifying the symbols
displayed in the display for respective time points of readout by
the sensor during a predetermined period from a stop until a
subsequent start of rotations of the rotatable reel according to
the identification information repeatedly read out of the
corresponding identifiers over the entire length in the direction
of the rotation axis by the sensor; and judging whether or not the
rotatable reel is rotated during the predetermined period according
to the symbols identified for the time points of readout by the
sensor during the predetermined period.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to co-pending U.S.
provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/929,031 filed on Jun. 8,
2007, and which is incorporated by reference herein for all
purposes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a slot machine with a
symbol sensor and a control method thereof.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 4,138,114 discloses a slot machine configured
to execute unit games (slot games) by rotating and stopping
multiple rotatable reels each of which includes symbols that are
printed on a circumferential surface thereof.
[0006] In a slot machine using multiple rotatable reels as
represented by the above-mentioned slot machine, it is possible to
easily change contents and layouts of symbols on the respective
rotatable reels substantially by attaching, onto the
circumferential surfaces of the respective rotatable reels, new
reel bands that include symbols with new contents and layouts
printed on surfaces thereof.
[0007] In the slot machine using the multiple rotatable reels, a
decision as to whether or not a payout should be awarded is made
according to the combination of the symbols on the circumferential
surfaces of the respective reels viewable through display windows,
the symbols aligned as a result of stopping rotation of the
rotatable reels in a unit game. Accordingly, in the slot machine
using the multiple rotatable reels, it is necessary to detect the
symbol viewable through the display window for each of the
rotatable reels after all of the rotatable reels are rotated and
then stopped.
[0008] Concerning such detection of the symbols, U.S. Pat. No.
4,138,114 discloses a technique in which symbols and markings with
binary codes for detecting the symbols are drawn on the respective
rotatable reels.
[0009] Therefore, when changing the contents and the layouts of the
symbols on the respective rotatable reels by attaching the
above-mentioned reel bands to the respective rotatable reels
according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,138,114, it is necessary to attach the
reel bands accurately to the rotatable reels so as not to cause
misalignment of positions of the symbols on the reel bands and
positions of the markings on the rotatable reels.
[0010] When the reel bands are not attached to the rotatable reels
accurately, the contents of the symbols detected by reading the
binary codes of the markings after the rotatable reels are stopped
do not match the contents of the symbols actually displayed in the
display windows. Occurrence of such a mismatch may cause occurrence
of an erroneous payout or nonoccurrence of a payout that should be
made.
[0011] However, an operation to fit the reel bands accurately to
the rotatable reels requires skill, and is extremely complicated.
Accordingly, such an operation is not practical.
[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 4,074,258 discloses a device that detects a
position of a movable member. In this device, multiple
identification marks having different contents from each other are
written with intervals on a strip-shaped scale connected to the
movable member along the moving direction of the movable member.
The device reads the identification marks optically in the course
of movement of the movable member, and thereby detects a position
of the movable member by using the contents of the identification
marks thus read out.
[0013] However, the related art disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
4,074,258 is for detecting the position of the strip-shaped scale
itself after movement thereof, and hence does not have a relation
with detection of symbols printed on a reel band.
[0014] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Laid-open
Publications Nos. 2003-803, H6-170033, and 2006-187529 disclose
slot machines each including one or multiple reel bands, each of
which has symbols drawn on the front surface, and bar codes
indicating contents of the symbols drawn on the rear surface, and
each of which is attached to the outer periphery of a rotatable
reel.
[0015] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
H6-246032 and Japanese Patent Publication No. 2772455 (Japanese
Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H6-277328) disclose
slot machines each including information code marks indicating
contents of symbols drawn on either the front surface or the rear
surface of a reel band.
[0016] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
2002-35200 discloses a slot machine including reel bands in each of
which a magnetic tape with information recorded therein is attached
to the rear surface of the reel band, the information indicating
contents of symbols.
[0017] All the related arts disclosed in these publications are
merely for simply confirming with a readout result of barcodes,
information code marks or information recorded on magnetic tapes
that symbols matching a predetermined combination are actually
displayed in display windows of a slot machine after stopping
rotation of rotatable reels.
[0018] The related arts disclosed in these publications do not
offer any effective countermeasures against a case where a user
obtains a fraudulent payout by improperly (intentionally) rotating
rotatable reels that has already stopped and thereby improperly
aligning on display windows a combination of symbols for providing
a payout.
[0019] Accordingly, the advent of a slot machine capable of
accurately detecting the symbol displayed in a display window as a
result of stopping rotation of the rotatable reel has been
expected.
[0020] In particular, since the rotatable reel may be rotated
slightly due to vibration or the like applied from outside even
when the rotatable reel is stopped, the advent of a slot machine
capable of accurately detecting the symbol displayed in a display
window even in the state where the rotatable reel is not completely
stopped has been strongly expected.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0021] An object of the present invention is to provide a slot
machine for executing games by use of a rotatable reel having
symbols arranged on a circumferential surface, which has high
accuracy of detecting symbols in a state where the rotatable reel
is stopped, and is to provide a control method thereof.
[0022] A first aspect of the present invention provides a slot
machine comprising: a rotatable reel being rotatable and stoppable;
a reel band fitted to a circumferential surface of the rotatable
reel and including a plurality of symbols and a plurality of
identifiers respectively positioned corresponding to the symbols,
the symbols and the identifiers being drawn on the reel band; a
display adapted to display part of the reel band; a sensor
configured to read identification information developed in a
direction of a rotation axis of the rotatable reel and having a
content corresponding to one of the symbols drawn on the part of
the reel band displayed in the display out of one of the
identifiers positioned corresponding to the symbol displayed in the
display; and a controller configured to (a) execute a unit game for
rotating and stopping the rotatable reel, (b) move the sensor in
the direction of the rotation axis of the rotatable reel when the
rotatable reel is stopped, (c) identify one of the symbols
displayed in the display according to the identification
information read out of corresponding one of the identifiers over
an entire length in the direction of the rotation axis by the
sensor moved in the direction of the rotation axis when the
rotatable reel is stopped, and (d) determine an outcome of the unit
game according to the identified symbol.
[0023] A second aspect of the present invention provides a slot
machine comprising: a rotatable reel being rotatable and stoppable;
a reel band fitted to a circumferential surface of the rotatable
reel and including a plurality of symbols and a plurality of
identifiers respectively positioned corresponding to the symbols,
the symbols and the identifiers being drawn on the rotatable reel;
a display adapted to display part of the reel band; a sensor
configured to read identification information developed in a
direction of a rotation axis of the rotatable reel and having a
content corresponding to one of the symbols drawn on the part of
the reel band displayed in the display out of one of the
identifiers positioned corresponding to the symbol displayed in the
display by scanning the identifier with a scanning signal; and a
controller configured to (a) execute a unit game for rotating and
stopping the rotatable reel, (b) move the scanning signal in the
direction of the rotation axis when the rotatable reel is stopped,
(c) identify one of the symbols displayed in the display according
to the identification information read out of corresponding one of
the identifiers scanned over an entire length in the direction of
the rotation axis with the scanning signal moved in the direction
of the rotation axis by the sensor when the rotatable reel is
stopped, (d) determine an outcome of the unit game according to the
identified symbol, (e) repeatedly move the scanning signal in the
direction of the rotation axis during a predetermined period from a
stop until a subsequent start of rotations of the rotatable reel,
(f) identify the symbols displayed in the display for respective
time points of readout by the sensor during the predetermined
period according to the identification information read out of the
corresponding identifiers by the sensor for the respective
movements of the scanning signal in the direction of the rotation
axis, and (g) judge whether or not the rotatable reel is rotated
during the predetermined period according to the symbols identified
for the time points of readout by the sensor during the
predetermined period.
[0024] A third aspect of the present invention provides a slot
machine comprising: a rotatable reel being rotatable and stoppable;
a reel band fitted to a circumferential surface of the rotatable
reel and including a plurality of symbols and a plurality of
identifiers respectively positioned corresponding to the symbols,
the symbols and the identifiers being drawn on the reel band; a
display adapted to display part of the reel band; a sensor
configured to read identification information developed in a
direction of a rotation axis of the rotatable reel and having a
content corresponding to one of the symbols drawn on the part of
the reel band displayed in the display out of one of the
identifiers positioned corresponding to the symbol displayed in the
display; and a controller configured to (a) execute a unit game for
rotating and stopping the rotatable reel, (b) identify one of the
symbols displayed in the display according to the identification
information read out of corresponding one of the identifiers over
an entire length in the direction of the rotation axis by the
sensor when the rotatable reel is stopped, (c) determine an outcome
of the unit game according to the identified symbol, (d) identify
the symbols displayed in the display for respective time points of
readout by the sensor during a predetermined period from a stop
until a subsequent start of rotations of the rotatable reel
according to the identification information read out of the
corresponding identifiers over an entire length in the direction of
the rotation axis by the sensor during the predetermined period,
and (e) judge whether or not the rotatable reel is rotated during
the predetermined period according to the symbols identified for
the time points of readout by the sensor during the predetermined
period.
[0025] A fourth aspect of the present invention provides a method
of controlling a slot machine, the method comprising the steps of:
executing a unit game for rotating and stopping a rotatable reel
having a reel band, the reel band fitted to a circumferential
surface of the rotatable reel and including a plurality of symbols
and a plurality of identifiers respectively positioned
corresponding to the symbols, the symbols and the identifiers being
drawn on the reel band; moving a sensor in a direction of a
rotation axis of the rotatable reel when the rotatable reel is
stopped, the sensor configured to read identification information
developed in the direction of the rotation axis of the rotatable
reel and having a content corresponding to one of the symbols drawn
on part of the reel band displayed in the display out of one of the
identifiers positioned corresponding to the symbol displayed in the
display; reading the identification information out of one of the
identifiers positioned corresponding to one of the symbols
displayed in the display on the reel band over an entire length in
the direction of the rotation axis by the sensor moved in the
direction of the rotation axis when the rotatable reel is stopped;
identifying the one of the symbols displayed in the display when
the rotatable reel is stopped according to the identification
information read out by the sensor when the rotatable reel is
stopped; and determining an outcome of the unit game according to
the identified symbol.
[0026] A fifth aspect of the present invention provides a method of
controlling a slot machine, the method comprising the steps of:
executing a unit game for rotating and stopping a rotatable reel
having a reel band, the reel band fitted to a circumferential
surface of the rotatable reel and including a plurality of symbols
and a plurality of identifiers respectively positioned
corresponding to the symbols, the symbols and the identifiers drawn
on the reel band; allowing a sensor, which reads identification
information developed in a direction of a rotation axis of the
rotatable reel and having a content corresponding to one of the
symbols drawn on part of the reel band displayed in the display out
of one of the identifiers positioned corresponding to the symbol
displayed in the display, to move a scanning signal in the
direction of the rotation axis of the rotatable reel when the
rotatable reel is stopped, the scanning signal output by the sensor
for reading the identification information; reading, by the sensor,
the identification information out of one of the identifiers over
an entire length in the direction of the rotation axis, the
identifier positioned corresponding to one of the symbols displayed
in the display and scanned with the scanning signal moved in the
direction of the rotation axis when the rotatable reel is stopped;
identifying the one of the symbols displayed in the display when
the rotatable reel is stopped according to the identification
information read out by the sensor when the rotatable reel is
stopped; determining an outcome of the unit game according to the
identified symbol; repeatedly moving the scanning signal in the
direction of the rotation axis during a predetermined period from a
stop until a subsequent start of rotations of the rotatable reel;
identifying the symbols displayed in the display for respective
time points of readout by the sensor during the predetermined
period according to the identification information read out of the
corresponding identifiers by the sensor for the respective
movements of the scanning signal in the direction of the rotation
axis; and judging whether or not the rotatable reel is rotated
during the predetermined period according to the symbols identified
for the time points of readout by the sensor during the
predetermined period.
[0027] A sixth aspect of the present invention provides a method of
controlling a slot machine, the method comprising the steps of
executing a unit game for rotating and stopping a rotatable reel
having a reel band, the reel band fitted to a circumferential
surface of the rotatable reel and including a plurality of symbols
and a plurality of identifiers respectively positioned
corresponding to the symbols, the symbols and the identifiers being
drawn on the reel band; reading, by a sensor, identification
information out of one of the identifiers positioned corresponding
to one of the symbols drawn on part of the reel band displayed in a
display over an entire length in a direction of the rotation axis
when the rotatable reel is stopped, the identifier developed in the
direction of the rotation axis of the rotatable reel and having a
content corresponding to the symbol displayed in the display;
identifying the one of the symbols displayed in the display when
the rotatable reel is stopped according to the identification
information read out by the sensor when the rotatable reel is
stopped; determining an outcome of the unit game according to the
identified symbol; identifying the symbols displayed in the display
for respective time points of readout by the sensor during a
predetermined period from a stop until a subsequent start of
rotations of the rotatable reel according to the identification
information repeatedly read out of the corresponding identifiers
over the entire length in the direction of the rotation axis by the
sensor; and judging whether or not the rotatable reel is rotated
during the predetermined period according to the symbols identified
for the time points of readout by the sensor during the
predetermined period.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic
configuration of sensor sections used for identifying symbols
displayed in display windows of a slot machine according to a first
embodiment of the present invention from stopping positions of
rotatable reels thereof.
[0029] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a rotatable reel section of
the slot machine according to the first embodiment of the present
invention.
[0030] FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a schematic
configuration of symbols and sensors disposed on a circumferential
surface of the rotatable reel of the slot machine according to the
first embodiment of the present invention.
[0031] FIG. 4 is another explanatory view showing the schematic
configuration of the symbols and the sensors disposed on the
circumferential surface of the rotatable reel of the slot machine
according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0032] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the slot machine according
to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0033] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a liquid crystal display
panel of the slot machine according to the first embodiment of the
present invention, the liquid crystal display panel viewed from the
back face thereof.
[0034] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the liquid crystal
display panel of the slot machine according to the first embodiment
of the present invention, the liquid crystal display panel viewed
from the front face thereof.
[0035] FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of the
slot machine according to the first embodiment of the present
invention.
[0036] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing procedures of processing in
the slot machine according to the first embodiment of the present
invention.
[0037] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing procedures of another
processing in the slot machine according to the first embodiment of
the present invention.
[0038] FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing procedures of still another
processing in the slot machine according to the first embodiment of
the present invention.
[0039] FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing procedures of yet another
processing in the slot machine according to the first embodiment of
the present invention.
[0040] FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing procedures of yet another
processing in the slot machine according to the first embodiment of
the present invention.
[0041] FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing procedures of yet another
processing in the slot machine according to the first embodiment of
the present invention.
[0042] FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing relationships between
winning combinations and payouts, respectively, in the slot machine
according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0043] FIG. 16 is an explanatory view showing a schematic
configuration of symbols and sensors disposed on a circumferential
surface of a rotatable reel of a slot machine according to a second
embodiment of the present invention.
[0044] FIG. 17 is an explanatory view showing a schematic
configuration of symbols and sensors disposed on a circumferential
surface of a rotatable reel of a slot machine according to a third
embodiment of the present invention.
[0045] FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of the
slot machine according to the second embodiment and the third
embodiment of the present invention.
[0046] FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing procedures of processing in
the slot machine according to the second embodiment and the third
embodiment of the present invention.
[0047] FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing procedures of another
processing in the slot machine according to the second embodiment
and the third embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0048] Now, characteristic features of a first embodiment of the
present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. 1
to FIG. 5. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic
configuration of rotatable reels and sensor sections used in a slot
game with a slot machine according to the first embodiment of the
present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a rotatable reel
section of the slot machine according to the first embodiment of
the present invention. FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are explanatory views each
showing symbols and identifiers arranged on a circumferential
surface of the rotatable reel of the slot machine according to the
first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a perspective
view of the slot machine according to the first embodiment of the
present invention.
[0049] Reel bands 4A to 4C are fitted onto circumferential surfaces
of three rotatable reels 3A to 3C shown in FIG. 1 so as to cover
entire circumferences thereof. The respective reel bands 4A to 4C
can be fitted to the rotatable reels 3A to 3C by adhering back
sides of the reel bands 4A to 4C to circumferential surfaces of the
rotatable reels 3A to 3C, respectively. As shown in FIG. 2, it is
also possible to achieve fitting of the reel bands 4A to 4C to the
rotatable reels 3A to 3C by adhering both ends of the respective
reel bands 4A to 4C in the rotating direction of the rotatable
reels 3A to 3C together to form the respective reel bands 4A to 4C
into an annular shape and then attaching these annular reel bands
4A to 4C to the circumferential surfaces of the rotatable reels 3A
to 3C, respectively. The respective rotatable reels 3A to 3C having
the reel bands 4A to 4C attached to the circumferential surfaces
thereof are rotated by corresponding stepping motors 45A to
45C.
[0050] As shown in FIG. 1, multiple symbols 5A to 5C are drawn on
the front faces of the respective reel bands 4A to 4C while
providing certain intervals in the rotating direction of the
rotatable reels 3A to 3C. However, some blank spaces are arranged
on the front faces of the respective reel bands 4A to 4C instead of
the symbols 5A to 5C. Accordingly, the symbols 5A to 5C on the
respective reel bands 4A to 4C are not always arranged at constant
intervals.
[0051] Multiple identifiers 6A to 6C corresponding to the
respective symbols 5A to 5C are drawn on the front faces of the
respective reel bands 5A to 5C. The respective identifiers 6A to 6C
include identification information having contents to be read out
to identify contents of the corresponding symbols 5A to 5C. The
identifiers 6A to 6C corresponding to the portions where the blank
spaces are arranged instead of the symbols 5A to 5C include
identification information having contents to be read out to
identify that the blank spaces are arranged in the corresponding
positions (or that no symbols 5A to 5C are disposed therein). The
respective identifiers 6A to 6C are disposed while being shifted by
90.degree. relative to the respective symbols 5A to 5C or the blank
spaces corresponding thereto in the rotating direction of the
rotatable reels 3A to 3C. Moreover, the identifiers 6A to 6C are
disposed so as not to overlap the symbols 5A to 5C or the blank
spaces even in a direction of the rotation axis of the rotatable
reels 3A to 3C.
[0052] The identification information of the respective identifiers
6A to 6C can be read out by use of sensors 7A to 7C corresponding
to the respective rotatable reels 3A to 3C. The respective sensors
7A to 7C are disposed close to the corresponding rotatable reels 3A
to 3C. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the respective sensors 7A to
7C are supported by sliders 9A to 9C driven by stepping motors 8A
to 8C so as to be movable in the direction of the rotation axis of
the rotatable reels 3A to 3C.
[0053] The sensors 7A to 7C may be selected from an optical type
and a magnetic type depending on configurations of the identifiers
6A to 6C. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, when the identifiers 6A
to 6C are bar codes combining multiple bars extending in the
direction of the rotation axis of the rotatable reels 3A to 3C, it
is possible to employ an optical pen-type bar code reader
(hereinafter referred to as a "pen reader" as appropriate) as the
sensors 7A to 7C. As shown in FIG. 4, when the identifiers 6A to 6C
are magnetic tapes extending in the direction of the rotation axis
of the rotatable reels 3A to 3C and recording the identification
information magnetically reproducibly, it is possible to employ a
magnetic reproducing head as the sensors 7A to 7C.
[0054] As described above, the identification information of the
respective identifiers 6A to 6C is developed in the direction of
the rotation axis of the rotatable reels 3A to 3C irrespective of
whether the information is recorded optically or magnetically.
Accordingly, the respective sensors 7A to 7C move over the entire
lengths of the identifiers 6A to 6C in the direction of the
rotation axis of the rotatable reels 3A to 3C by operations of the
sliders 9A to 9C caused by the power from the stepping motors 8A to
8C. In this way, the respective sensors 7A to 7C read the
identification information completely from the corresponding
identifiers 6A to 6C. The identification information that the
respective sensors 7A to 7C read out of the corresponding
identifiers 6A to 6C is used for executing a slot game (a unit
game). Hence, the rotatable reels 3A to 3C and the sensors 7A to 7C
are provided on a slot machine 10 that executes slot games, which
is shown in FIG. 5.
[0055] The slot machine 10 includes a cabinet 11, a top box 12
disposed above the cabinet 11, and a main door 13 provided to the
front face of the cabinet 11. The cabinet 11 includes an upper
display 33 and a lower display 16 which are provided on the face
facing a player. The lower display 16 is formed of a liquid crystal
display panel 17. A configuration of this liquid crystal display
panel 17 will be described later with reference to FIG. 6 and FIG.
7.
[0056] The lower display 16 is positioned in front of the three
rotatable reels 3A to 3C disposed behind a central section of the
liquid crystal display panel 17. The central section of the liquid
crystal display panel 17 is always set to a transparent display
state. In this way, a slot game area A1 is defined in the center of
the lower display 16. This slot game area A1 can display part of
the symbols 5A to 5C on the reel bands 4A to 4C fitted to the
circumferential surfaces of the respective rotatable reels 3A to 3C
as will be described later, namely, the number of the symbols that
can be displayed in the slot game area A1 being 9 at the maximum.
For this reason, the slot game area A1 has display regions
equivalent to 3 columns and 3 rows. The respective identifiers 6A
to 6C are disposed while being shifted from the respective symbols
5A to 5C in the direction of the rotation axis of the rotatable
reels 3A to 3C. Accordingly, the identifiers 6A to 6C are not to be
displayed in the display regions of the slot game area A1.
[0057] In the slot machine 10, credits in the number desired by a
player are bet for a slot game when the player inserts medals into
a medal insertion slot 21 disposed below the lower display 16 or
operates any of a MAXBET switch 24, a BET switch 25, and a spin
repeat bet switch 26 arranged in the vicinity of the medal
insertion slot 21. Thereafter, the three rotatable reels 3A to 3C
start rotation when the player operates a start switch 27. In this
way, the symbols 5A to 5C displayed in the respective display
regions of the slot game area A1 start scrolling. Thereafter, the
symbols 5A to 5C stop scrolling as the rotatable reels 3A to 3C
stop rotation after a lapse of a predetermined time period. The
slot game in the slot game area A1 is executed by rotating and
stopping the rotatable reels 3A to 3C as described above. Then, a
payout (an award) of credits is provided in the executed slot game
in response to a combination of the symbols 5A to 5C stopped on a
payline L set on the central row in the slot game area A1.
[0058] In the above-described slot game, the sensors 7A to 7C in
FIG. 1 read the identification information respectively out of the
identifiers 6A to 6C corresponding to the symbols 5A to 5C that are
displayed in the slot game area A1 and stopped on the payline L by
stopping the rotation of the respective rotatable reels 3A to 3C.
Accordingly, it is possible to identify the contents of the symbols
5A to 5C stopped on the payline L by use of the identification
information respectively read out of the identifiers 6A to 6C using
the sensors 7A to 7C.
[0059] As shown in FIG. 5, a touch panel 72 is provided on the
front face of the lower display 16. The player can input various
instructions by operating this touch panel 72.
[0060] Moreover, a payout count display region 48 for displaying a
payout count by use of the liquid crystal display panel 17 is
provided in a lower left region of the lower display 16.
[0061] The above-mentioned medal insertion slot 21 and a bill
validator 22 for identifying and accepting legitimate bills are
provided below the lower display 16. Moreover, various operation
switches are provided in the vicinity of the medal insertion slot
21 and the bill validator 22.
[0062] A cash-out switch 23, and the above-mentioned switches, i.e.
the MAXBET switch 24, the BET switch 25, the spin repeat bet switch
26, and the start switch 27, are provided as the operation
switches.
[0063] The BET switch 25 is the switch for allowing the player to
determine the number of credits to be bet on the unit game that is
to be executed in the slot game area A1. One medal is bet on the
unit game every time the player presses the BET switch 25. When the
player makes the bet of credits on the slot game, a payout of
credits will be provided in a case where the symbols 5A to 5C that
satisfy a winning combination are stopped on the payline L in the
slot game executed in the slot game area A1 after the bet.
[0064] The spin repeat bet switch 26 is the switch for allowing the
player to make a bet on a subsequent slot game in the same number
of credits as the credits bet in the precedent unit game by using
the BET switch 25.
[0065] The start switch 27 is the switch to be operated by the
player for starting the slot game. When the player operates this
start switch 27 after making the bet of a desired number of credits
on the slot game, rotation of the three rotatable reels 3A to 3C is
started and the slot game in the slot game area A1 is thereby
started.
[0066] The cash-out switch 23 is the switch for cashing out medals
inserted in the slot machine 10. When the player operates this
cash-out switch 23, the medals are discharged from a medal payout
opening 28 located at a lower part of the front face of the main
door 13 and are piled on a medal tray 18.
[0067] The MAXBET switch 24 is the switch for betting the maximum
number of credits (for example, 30 medals) that the player can bet
in one game with a single operation.
[0068] A foot display 34 is provided on the lower front face of the
main door 13. The foot display 34 displays various images
concerning the games of the slot machine 10. The images may include
characters of the slot machine 10, for example.
[0069] Lamps 47 are provided on both sides of the foot display 34.
The lamps 47 glow according to a glowing pattern set in advance
when starting a game in the slot machine 10. The medal payout
opening 28 is provided below the foot display 34.
[0070] The upper display 33 is provided to the front face of the
top box 12 and includes a display panel. On the display panel,
relations between the winning combinations of the symbols 5A to 5C
for providing payouts of credits upon alignment on the payline L
and the numbers of payouts of credits to be provided are displayed,
for example.
[0071] A speaker 29 is provided on the top box 12. A ticket printer
35, a card reader 36, a data display 37, and a keypad 38 are
provided below the upper display 33. The ticket printer 35 is for
printing on a ticket a bar code with various coded data including
the number of credits, date and time, the identification number of
the slot machine 10, and the like to output the ticket as a
bar-coded ticket 39.
[0072] The player is able to play with a different slot machine by
allowing this slot machine to read the bar-coded ticket 39, and to
exchange the bar-coded ticket 39 with bills and the like in a
designated place of a game arcade (such as a cashier in a
casino).
[0073] The card reader 36 can accept insertion of a smart card and
is for reading data from the inserted smart card and writing data
into the smart card. The smart card is the card carried by the
player, which stores data for identifying the player, data
concerning a history of games played by the player, and so
forth.
[0074] FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an electrical
configuration of the controller 40 and various instruments to be
connected to this controller 40 provided in the slot machine 10
according to this embodiment. The controller 40 of the slot machine
10 shown in FIG. 8 is a microcomputer, which includes an interface
circuit group 102, an input-output bus 104, a central processing
unit (CPU) 106, a read-only memory (ROM) 108, a random access
memory (RAM) 110, a communication interface circuit 111, a random
number generating circuit 112, motor driving circuits 120 and 126,
a speaker driving circuit 122, a hopper driving circuit 124, a
display driving circuit 128, and a display controller 140.
[0075] The interface circuit group 102 is connected to the
input-output bus 104. This input-output bus 104 executes input and
output of data signals or address signals to and from the CPU
106.
[0076] The start switch 27 is connected to the interface circuit
group 102. A start signal outputted from this start switch 27 is
converted into a predetermined signal in the interface circuit
group 102 and is then transmitted to the CPU 106 through the
input-output bus 104.
[0077] The BET switch 25, the MAXBET switch 24, the spin repeat bet
switch 26, the cash-out switch 23, and the respective sensors 7A to
7C are connected to the interface circuit group 102. Switching
signals outputted from these switches 25, 24, 26, and 23 and sensor
signals outputted from the sensors 7A to 7C are supplied to the
interface circuit group 102, converted into predetermined signals
in the interface circuit group 102, and then transmitted to the CPU
106 through the input-output bus 104.
[0078] A medal sensor 43 is connected to the interface circuit
group 102. The medal sensor 43 is the sensor for detecting the
medals inserted into the medal insertion slot 21 and is provided in
a medal insertion region of the medal insertion slot 21. A
detection signal outputted from this medal sensor 43 is supplied to
the interface circuit group 102, then converted into a
predetermined signal by this interface circuit group 102, and then
transmitted to the CPU 106 through the input-output bus 104.
[0079] The touch panel 72 is connected to the interface circuit
group 102. The touch panel 72 is for detecting touch operations by
the player on a slot game area A1 (having nine areas in the
embodiment) displayed in the lower display 16, and is provided to a
face of the lower display 16. A position detection signal outputted
from this touch panel 72 is supplied to the interface circuit group
102, then converted into a predetermined signal in the interface
circuit group 102, and then transmitted to the CPU 106 through the
input-output bus 104.
[0080] The ROM 108 for storing a system program and the RAM 110 for
storing various data are connected to the input-output bus 104.
Moreover, the random number generating circuit 112, the
communication interface circuit 111, the motor driving circuits 120
and 126, the display controller 140, the hopper driving circuit
124, the speaker driving circuit 122, and the display driving
circuit 128 are connected to the input-output bus 104.
[0081] The CPU 106 reads out of the ROM 108 a game execution
program in the system program stored in the ROM 108 and executes a
game by taking acceptance of pressing the start switch 27 as a
trigger. The game execution program is for executing a slot game in
the slot game area A1 of the lower display 16 by way of the motor
driving circuit 120 and the display controller 140.
[0082] Specifically, the game execution program is programmed to
execute a slot game that provides a payout when the symbols 5A to
5C that satisfy the winning combination are aligned on the payline
L by scrolling symbols 5A to 5C in the slot game area A1 and then
stopping the symbols 5A to 5C as a result of rotating and stopping
the rotatable reels 3A to 3C.
[0083] The communication interface circuit 111 is connected to a
hall server or the like and transmits data such as a history of the
plays executed by this slot machine 10 to the hall server.
Moreover, the communication interface circuit 111 receives various
data transmitted from the hall server.
[0084] The random number generating circuit 112 generates a random
number for determining whether or not it is appropriate to generate
a winning combination in the slot game executed in the slot game
area A1.
[0085] The display driving circuit 128 performs control to cause
the payout count display region 48 defined in the lower left region
of the lower display 16 to display a payout count by use of the
liquid crystal display panel 17.
[0086] The speaker driving circuit 122 outputs audio data to the
speaker 29. Specifically, the CPU 106 reads the audio data stored
in the ROM 108 and transmits the audio data to the speaker driving
circuit 122 through the input-output bus 104. In this way,
predetermined sound effects are outputted from the speaker 29.
[0087] The hopper driving circuit 124 outputs a payout signal to a
hopper 44 when a cash-out occurs. Specifically, when the a cash-out
signal is inputted from the cash-out switch 23, the CPU 106 outputs
a drive signal to the hopper driving circuit 124 through the
input-output bus 104. In this way, the hopper 44 cashes out the
medals corresponding to the remaining number of credits stored in a
given memory area of the RAM 110 at that time point.
[0088] The motor driving circuit 120 controls execution of a slot
game by use of the rotatable reels 3A to 3C in the slot game area
A1 of the lower display 16. For this purpose, the motor driving
circuit 120 incorporates a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM for the reels. The
CPU 106 generates an image display instruction signal for the slot
game area A1 in response to a state of the slot game and an outcome
of the slot game, and outputs this image display instruction signal
to the motor driving circuit 120 through the input-output bus 104.
When the image display instruction signal outputted from the CPU
106 is inputted to the motor driving circuit 120, the motor driving
circuit 120 generates drive signals for causing the stepping motors
45A to 45C to rotate the respective rotatable reels 3A to 3C
according to this image display instruction and outputs the
generated drive signals to the respective stepping motors 45A to
45C. In this way, the symbols 5A to 5C disposed on portions of the
circumferential surfaces of the respective rotatable reels 3A to 3C
are displayed in the slot game area A1.
[0089] The motor driving circuit 126 performs control to move the
respective sensors 7A to 7C over the entire lengths of the
identifiers 6A to 6C in the direction of the rotation axis of the
rotatable reels 3A to 3C. The CPU 106 generates an instruction
signal for moving the respective sensors 7A to 7C and outputs this
instruction signal to the motor driving circuit 126 through the
input-output bus 104. When the instruction signal outputted from
the CPU 106 is inputted to the motor driving circuit 126, the motor
driving circuit 126 generates drive signals for causing the
stepping motors 8A to 8C to move the respective sensors 7A to 7C
with this instruction, and outputs the generated drive signals to
the respective stepping motors 8A to 8C. In this way, the
identification information in the entire length in the direction of
the rotation axis of the rotatable reels 3A to 3C is read out of
the identifiers 6A to 6C corresponding to the symbols 5A to 5C that
are displayed in the slot game area A1, and that are stopped on the
payline L by use of the respective sensors 7A to 7C.
[0090] The display controller 140 performs control of display by
use of the liquid crystal display panel 17. Specifically, the CPU
106 generates an image display instruction signal corresponding to
an image to be displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 17,
and outputs this image display instruction signal to the display
controller 140 through the input-output bus 104. When the image
display instruction signal outputted from the CPU 106 is inputted
to the display controller 140, the display controller 140 generates
a drive signal for driving the liquid crystal display panel 17 with
this image display instruction, and outputs the generated drive
signal to the liquid crystal display panel 17. In this way, a
desired image is displayed on the liquid crystal display panel
17.
[0091] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the liquid crystal display
panel 17 viewed from the back face thereof. FIG. 7 is an exploded
perspective view of the liquid crystal display panel 17 shown in
FIG. 6 which is viewed from the front face side thereof. It is to
be noted that some constituents shown in FIG. 6 are omitted in FIG.
7.
[0092] The liquid crystal display panel 17 is formed into the shape
and the size corresponding to the lower display 16. As shown in
FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the liquid crystal display panel 17 is formed by
stacking a liquid crystal unit 74, a light guiding plate 75, and a
reflecting film 76 sequentially from the front side of the slot
machine 10.
[0093] The liquid crystal unit 74 is formed by encapsulating liquid
crystal in a clearance between a transparent substrate, such as a
glass plate provided with a thin film transistor layer, and another
transparent substrate opposed thereto. This liquid crystal unit 74
is set to display a white color in a normal state, i.e. in an
inactive state when not performing liquid crystal display. For this
reason, the liquid crystal unit 74 is set to the white display in
the inactive state when the liquid crystal is not driven, and light
transmitted toward a display surface is made visible from outside.
In order to render the rotatable reels 3A to 3C visible to the
player, a central section of the liquid crystal unit 74 is always
set to the inactive state and rendered transparent.
[0094] The light guiding plate 75 guides light from fluorescent
lamps 77a and 77b to the liquid crystal unit 74 to illuminate the
liquid crystal unit 74. To be more precise, the light guiding plate
75 is made of a transparent member, such as acrylic resin having a
thickness of about 2 cm and having a light guiding function. Here,
the fluorescent lamps 77a and 77b are respectively fitted to an
upper end surface and a lower end surface of the light guiding
plate 75 by use of lamp holders 79a to 79d.
[0095] The reflecting film 76 uses a transparent film, such as a
polyester film, as a base material and includes a non-reflective
region 76B having a shape, a layout, and a size corresponding to
the slot game area A1 in the center, and a reflective region 76A
around the non-reflective region 76B. The non-reflective region 76B
constitutes a light-transmitting surface made solely of the base
material while the reflective region 76A constitutes a
light-reflecting surface formed by depositing a thin film of
aluminum or silver on one surface of the base material.
[0096] When part of the light of the fluorescent lamps 77a and 77b
guided from the upper end surface and the lower end surface of the
light guiding plate 75 to the inside of the light guiding plate 75
is emitted from the back face of the light guiding plate 75 to the
outside, the reflective region 76A of this reflecting film 76
reflects the light toward the light guiding plate 75 to allow the
light to be incident again from the back face to the inside of the
light guiding plate 75, thereby emitting light from the front face
thereof toward the transparent liquid crystal unit 74.
[0097] Fluorescent lamps 78a and 78b are supported on the back face
side of the reflecting film 76 by use of lamp holders 79e to 79h.
These fluorescent lamps 78a and 78b illuminate the circumferential
surfaces of the rotatable reels 3A to 3C from above and below the
rotatable reels 3A to 3C.
[0098] A display plate 73 is disposed on the front side of the
liquid crystal unit 74, and the touch panel 72 is disposed on the
front side of this display plate 73. The touch panel 72 is for
accepting operations and the like by the player and is made of a
transparent material. The display plate 73 is a section where
various pictures, characters, and the like are drawn and is made of
a transparent material. The pictures, the characters, and the like
are formed in the section of the lower display 16 excluding the
slot game area A1. Accordingly, the player can visually check the
pictures, the characters, and the like drawn at the section of the
lower display 16 excluding the slot game area A1 when playing the
slot machine 10. Here, it is also possible to omit the display
plate 73.
[0099] FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing symbol layouts of the
winning combinations. As shown in FIG. 15, a bonus game is started
when "7" symbols 5A to 5C are aligned on the payline L. A payout
equivalent to 15 medals is provided when "APPLE" symbols are
aligned thereon. A payout equivalent to 10 medals is provided when
"BELL" symbols are aligned thereon. A payout equivalent to 2 medals
is provided when a "CHERRY" symbol is stopped in the display region
on the left side.
[0100] Next, operations of the slot machine according to this
embodiment will be described with reference to flowcharts shown in
FIG. 9 to FIG. 14. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing procedures of a
slot game execution processing executed by the CPU 106 shown in
FIG. 8 in accordance with a game execution program stored in the
ROM 108.
[0101] First, the CPU 106 executes a bet acceptance processing for
accepting a bet of credits for a slot game (Step S11). In this bet
acceptance processing, the number of bet credits is assessed by
detecting a pressing operation of the MAXBET switch 24, the BET
switch 25 or the spin repeat bet switch 26 by the player. Then, the
CPU 106 subtracts the bet credits from current credits (Step S13).
For example, in a case where a bet in the number of "30" is
executed when the current number of credits is equal to "50", then
the credits are reduced to "20" as a result of the subtraction.
[0102] Credits to be bet on the slot game can also be accepted by
insertion of medals into the medal insertion slot 21 by the player.
In this case, the CPU 106 recognizes the number of medals that the
player inserts into the medal insertion slot 21 as the number of
bet credits. When acceptance of the credits bet on the slot game is
fulfilled by a pressing operation of the MAXBET switch 24, the BET
switch 25 or the spin repeat bet switch 26 by the player, it is not
necessary to subtract the credits as stated in Step S13.
[0103] Subsequently, the CPU 106 executes a bet processing for
betting the credits accepted in Step S11 on the slot game (Step
S15). Then, after completing the bet processing of the credits on
the slot game, the CPU 106 judges whether or not the start switch
27 is turned on by the player (Step S17), and executes the slot
game when the start switch 27 is turned on (Step S19).
[0104] Next, procedures of the slot game will be described with
reference to FIG. 10. First, the CPU 106 judges whether a bonus
flag is set to "0" or "1" (Step S21). The bonus flag is set to "1"
when a bonus game is executed, which is initially set to "0".
[0105] Subsequently, the CPU 106 scrolls the symbols 5A to 5C by
rotating the rotatable reels 3A to 3C. Then, after a lapse of a
predetermined time period, the CPU 106 stops the rotatable reels 3A
to 3C to terminate scrolling of the symbols 5A to 5C (Step
S23).
[0106] Then, the CPU 106 executes a stopped symbol identification
processing for identifying the contents of the symbols 5A to 5C
stopped on the payline L (Step S24). Details of this processing
will be described later with reference to FIG. 13. Next, according
to the result of identification in Step S24, the CPU 106 judges
whether or not the "7" symbols 5A to 5C indicating a bonus trigger
are aligned on the payline L (Step S25). The bonus trigger is
established when the "7" symbols 5A to 5C are aligned on the
payline L, and the CPU 106 executes a bonus game starting
processing (Step S26). The bonus game starting processing will be
described later with reference to FIG. 11.
[0107] When the "7" symbols 5A to 5C are not aligned on the payline
L, the CPU 106 judges whether or not the symbols 5A to 5C
satisfying any of the winning combinations are aligned on the
payline L (Step S27). When the symbols 5A to 5C satisfying the
winning combination are aligned on the payline L, a payout is
provided in the number corresponding to the winning combination
(Step S28). Then, the slot game is terminated. When the payout is
provided, the medals in the amount equivalent to this payout may be
paid out of the medal payout opening or the credits in the amount
equivalent to the payout may be added to the current credits.
[0108] On the contrary, when the symbols 5A to 5C satisfying the
winning combination are not aligned on the payline L, the CPU 106
does not provide a payout. Instead, the CPU 106 executes a fraud
monitoring processing for monitoring presence of fraudulent
rotation of the rotatable reels 3A to 3C (Step S29). This fraud
monitoring processing will be described later with reference to
FIG. 14. After the fraud monitoring processing is completed, the
CPU 106 terminates the slot game. In this embodiment, the fraud
monitoring processing (Step S29) is supposed to be executed when a
result of the judgment in Step S27 is NO. However, the present
invention is not limited only to this configuration. It is also
possible to execute the fraud monitoring processing (Step S29)
after Step S28.
[0109] Next, procedures for the bonus game starting processing will
be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. 11. When
the "7" symbols 5A to 5C are aligned on the payline L and thus the
bonus trigger is established in the procedure of Step S25 in FIG.
10, the bonus flag is set to "1" (Step S31 in FIG. 11).
[0110] Thereafter, the CPU 106 determines the number T of bonus
games (Step S32). The game number T may be set to 50 games, for
example. The game number T may be always set to a constant number
of games, or may be randomly determined by the CPU 106 each time.
This game number "T" is stored in the RAM 110.
[0111] Subsequently, the payout corresponding to the established
bonus trigger is provided (Step S33). In this procedure, either 15
medals or the credits equivalent to 15 medals will be paid out.
Then, this processing is terminated.
[0112] When the bonus flag is set to "1" in the bonus game starting
processing shown in FIG. 11, the result in Step S21 in FIG. 10 is
equal to "1" in a subsequent slot game because the bonus flag
remains equal to "1". Accordingly, a bonus game execution
processing is executed (Step S22).
[0113] Now, the bonus game execution processing will be described
with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. 12. When the bonus game
is executed, the CPU 106 scrolls the symbols 5A to 5C by rotating
the rotatable reels 3A to 3C. Then, after a lapse of a
predetermined time period, the CPU 106 stops the rotatable reels 3A
to 3C to terminate scrolling of the symbols 5A to 5C (Step S41).
This procedure is the same as Step S23 in FIG. 10.
[0114] Then, the CPU 106 executes a stopped symbol identification
processing for identifying the contents of the symbols 5A to 5C
stopped on the payline L (Step S42). This Step S42 is the same
processing as Step S24 in FIG. 10. Details of the processing will
be described later with reference to FIG. 13.
[0115] Next, according to a result of identification in Step S42,
the CPU 106 judges whether or not the symbols 5A to 5C satisfying
any of the winning combinations are aligned on the payline L (Step
S43). When the symbols 5A to 5C satisfying the winning combination
are aligned on the payline L, a payout is provided in the number
corresponding to the winning combination (Step S44). On the
contrary, the CPU 106 does not provide a payout when the symbols 5A
to 5C satisfying the winning combination are not aligned on the
payline L.
[0116] Thereafter, the CPU 106 decrements the game number "T" to
"T-1" (Step S45).
[0117] The CPU 106 judges whether or not the game number "F" stored
in the RAM 110 satisfies "T=0" (Step S46). When the game number
satisfies "T=0", the CPU 106 sets the bonus flag to "0" (Step S47).
To be more precise, when the predetermined bonus game number is
consumed, the CPU 106 sets the bonus flag to "0" and executes a
fraud monitoring processing (Step S49) for monitoring presence of
fraudulent rotation of the rotatable reels 3A to 3C. When the game
number "T" stored in the RAM 110 does not satisfy "T=0", the CPU
106 executes the fraud monitoring processing (Step S49) without
carrying out Step S47. This fraud monitoring processing (Step S49)
is the same as the fraud monitoring processing in Step S29 in FIG.
10, which will be described later with reference to FIG. 14. After
the fraud monitoring processing is completed, the CPU 106
terminates the bonus game.
[0118] Next, the stopped symbol identification processing executed
in Step S24 in FIG. 10 will be described with reference to a
flowchart shown in FIG. 13. This processing is executed at a time
point when the scrolling of the symbols 5A to 5C is terminated by
stopping the rotatable reels 3A to 3C.
[0119] First, the CPU 106 moves the respective sensors 7A to 7C
over the entire lengths of the identifiers 6A to 6C in the
direction of the rotation axis of the rotatable reels 3A to 3C
(Step S51). Next, the CPU 106 acquires the identification
information read out of the relevant identifiers 6A to 6C by use of
the respective sensors 7A to 7C during this movement (Step S53).
Lastly, the CPU 106 identifies the symbols 5A to 5C displayed in
the slot game area A1 and stopped on the payline L by use of the
identification information acquired by the respective sensors 7A to
7C (Step S55).
[0120] Subsequently, the fraud monitoring processing to be executed
in Step S29 in FIG. 10 and in Step S49 in FIG. 12 will be described
with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. 14. In each of the
Steps S29 and S49, the fraud monitoring processing will be
repeatedly executed during a predetermined time period between the
times after a time point when the scrolling of the symbols 5A to 5C
is stopped by stopping the rotatable reels 3A to 3C and before a
time point to start a subsequent slot game (including the bonus
game).
[0121] First, the CPU 106 moves the respective sensors 7A to 7C
over the entire lengths of the identifiers 6A to 6C in the
direction of the rotation axis of the rotatable reels 3A to 3C
(Step S61). Next, the CPU 106 acquires the identification
information read out of the relevant identifiers 6A to 6C by use of
the respective sensors 7A to 7C during this movement (Step S63).
Then, the CPU 106 identifies the symbols 5A to 5C displayed in the
slot game area A1 and stopped on the payline L by use of the
identification information acquired by the respective sensors 7A to
7C (Step S65). Next, a judgment is made as to whether or not the
symbols 5A to 5C identified in Step S65 are the same as the symbols
5A to 5C identified in Step S55 of the first stopped symbol
identification processing (Step S67). When the symbols 5A to 5C are
not same as the symbols 5A to 5C identified in Step S55, a fraud
flag is set to "1" (Step S69). This fraud flag is initially set to
"0". The CPU 106 can use the fraud flag set to "1" as a trigger to
transmit data for notifying fraudulent rotation after stopping the
rotatable reels 3A to 3C to the hall server. Moreover, the CPU 106
can use the fraud flag set to "1" as a trigger for controlling the
slot machine 10 to establish a TILT state.
[0122] When the symbols 5A to 5C identified in Step S65 are same as
the symbols 5A to 5C identified in Step S55, the CPU 106 judges
whether or not there is a pressing operation of the MAXBET switch
24, the BET switch 25 or the spin repeat bet switch 26 by the
player (Step S71). When there are no pressing operations of these
switches 24 to 26 by the player, the processing returns to Step
S61. When there is the pressing operation of any of the switches 24
to 26 by the player, the CPU 106 terminates the fraud monitoring
processing.
[0123] In the slot machine 10 according to this embodiment
configured as described above, a slot game is executed, in which
the symbols 5A to 5C to be displayed in the slot game area A1 are
scrolled by rotating and stopping the respective rotatable reels 3A
to 3C. Then, the identification information of the identifiers 6A
to 6C on the respective rotatable reels 3A to 3C is read by the
respective sensors 7A to 7C either magnetically or optically during
the predetermined time period from the time point when rotation of
the respective rotatable reels 3A to 3C is stopped in the current
slot game to the time point when rotation of the respective
rotatable reels 3A to 3C is started in the next slot game.
[0124] When reading the identification information out of the
identifiers 6A to 6C on the respective rotatable reels 3A to 3C,
the respective sensors 7A to 7C are moved over the entire lengths
of the identifiers 6A to 6C in the direction of the rotation axis
of the rotatable reels 3A to 3C by the operations of the sliders 9A
to 9C caused by the power from the stepping motors 8A to 8C. In
this way, the respective sensors 7A to 7C reads the complete
identification information developed in the direction of the
rotation axis of the rotatable reels 3A to 3C out of the
corresponding identifiers 6A to 6C. At this time, slight rotation
of the rotatable reels 3A to 3C will not cause a trouble in the
operation for reading the identification information unless
relative position of the sensors 7A to 7C to the rotatable reels 3A
to 3C in the direction of rotation of the rotatable reels 3A to 3C
are changed in excess of the regions where the identifiers 6A to 6C
are positioned.
[0125] Accordingly, even when the respective rotatable reels 3A to
3C are not in a resting state in terms of the direction of rotation
at the time of the reading operation of the identification
information out of the identifiers 6A to 6C by use of the
respective sensors 7A to 7C, it is possible to read the complete
identification information reliably by use of the sensors 7A to 7C
and to accurately identify the contents of the symbols 5A to 5C
displayed on the payline L in the slot game area A1.
[0126] In the slot machine 10 of this embodiment, the contents of
the symbols 5A to 5C displayed on the payline L in the slot game
area A1 identified by the identification information read out of
the relevant identifiers 6A to 6C by use of the respective sensors
7A to 7C are used for the judgment as to whether or not the winning
combination of the symbols 5A to 5C for providing a payout is
aligned on the payline L.
[0127] In the slot machine 10 of this embodiment, the contents of
the symbols 5A to 5C displayed on the payline L in the slot game
area A1 identified by the identification information read out of
the relevant identifiers 6A to 6C by use of the respective sensors
7A to 7C are also used for the judgment as to whether or not there
is fraudulent rotation after stopping the rotatable reels 3A to 3B
during the predetermined time period between the times after the
time point when rotation of the rotatable reels 3A to 3C in the
current slot game is stopped and the time point before rotation of
the rotatable reels 3A to 3C in the next slot game is started.
[0128] It is also possible to omit the above-described
configuration to identify the contents of the symbols 5A to 5C
displayed on the payline L in the slot game area A1 by use of the
identification information read out of the relevant identifiers 6A
to 6C by the respective sensors 7A to 7C during the predetermined
time period between the times after the time point when rotation of
the rotatable reels 3A to 3C in the current slot game is stopped
and the time point before rotation of the rotatable reels 3A to 3C
in the next slot game is started in order to perform the judgment
as to whether or not the rotatable reels 3A to 3C are fraudulently
rotated after stopping.
[0129] Nevertheless, when a player attempts to fraudulently change
the pattern of the symbols 5A to 5C displayed on the payline L in
the slot game area A1 by rotating the rotatable reels 3A to 3C
after rotation of the respective rotatable reels 3A to 3C is
stopped, it is possible to recognize such an attempt by providing
the above-described configuration.
[0130] Accordingly, when rotation of the respective rotatable reels
3A to 3C is stopped such that the symbols 5A to 5C are displayed in
the slot game area A1 in the pattern not to provide a payout, it is
possible to avoid alteration of the pattern of the symbols 5A to 5C
displayed on the payline L in the slot game area A1 into a
different pattern to provide a payout. Consequently, it is possible
to prevent a situation that a player receives a payout
fraudulently.
[0131] In this embodiment, description has been given of the case
where the sensors 7A to 7C are moved in the direction of the
rotation axis of the rotatable reels 3A to 3C at the time of
reading the identification information out of the respective
identifiers 6A to 6C. However, depending on the types of the
sensors 7A to 7C, it is also possible to read the identification
information out of the identifiers 6A to 6C without moving the
sensors 7A to 7C in the direction of the rotation axis of the
rotatable reels 3A to 3C.
[0132] Now, slot machines according to a second embodiment and a
third embodiment of the present invention including the
above-described features will be described below.
[0133] First, as shown in an explanatory view in FIG. 16, the slot
machine of the second embodiment employs bar codes as the
identifiers 6A to 6C. The slot machine of the second embodiment
employs fixed laser bar code scanners as the sensors 7A to 7C.
Moreover, the stepping motors 8A to 8C and the sliders 9A to 9C
included in the slot machine 10 of the first embodiment are omitted
in the slot machine of the second embodiment. Instead, the slot
machine 10 of the second embodiment is configured not to move the
sensors 7A to 7C in the direction of the rotation axis of the
rotatable reels 3A to 3C which is equivalent to the direction of
development of the identification information of the identifiers 6A
to 6C.
[0134] These laser bar code scanners are configured to emit reader
light (a scanning signal) from a light-emitting diode over the
entire lengths of the identifiers 6A to 6C in the direction of the
rotation axis of the rotatable reels 3A to 3C by moving an optical
path of the reader light in a scanning direction by use of
galvanometer mirrors, and to scan the identifiers 6A to 6C by use
of this reader light. The reader light that scans the identifiers
6A to 6C is received as reflected light from the identifiers 6A to
6C by use of components of the laser bar code scanners, such as
charge-coupled device (CCD) line sensors, and then decoded into the
identification signals corresponding to the contents of the
identification information.
[0135] Next, as shown in an explanatory view in FIG. 17, the slot
machine of the third embodiment employs information code elements
as the identifiers 6A to 6C, the information code elements being
designed for pattern recognition of 2 bits.times.multiple rows that
are different from the bar codes. Each of the information code
elements can employ a format that contains 2-bit information by
marking a square frame in white or black. Moreover, the slot
machine of the third embodiment employs reflective linear
photosensor arrays corresponding to the number of rows in the
information code elements as the sensors 7A to 7C. Here, the
sensors 7A to 7C are fixed as similar to those of the slot machine
of the second embodiment.
[0136] As shown in a block diagram in FIG. 18, the respective slot
machines of the second embodiment and the third embodiment with the
fixed sensors 7A to 7C include a controller 40A which is equivalent
to the controller 40 of the slot machine 10 of the first embodiment
except that the motor driving circuit 126 is excluded therefrom.
The CPU 106 of this controller 40A performs almost identical
processing to those executed by the CPU 106 of the controller 40 of
the slot machine 10 according to the first embodiment. However, the
contents of the stopped symbol identification processing to be
executed in Step S24 in FIG. 10 by the CPU 106 of the first
embodiment (FIG. 13) and the contents of the fraud monitoring
processing to be executed in Step S29 in FIG. 10 and Step S49 in
FIG. 12 (FIG. 14) are slightly different from contents shown in
flowcharts in FIG. 19 and FIG. 20.
[0137] Specifically, in the respective slot machines of the second
embodiment and the third embodiment, the sensors 7A to 7C are fixed
while the stepping motors 8A to 8C as well as the sliders 9A to 9C
are omitted as described previously. For this reason, in terms of
the respective slot machines of the second embodiment and the third
embodiment, in the stopped symbol identification processing to be
executed in Step S24 in FIG. 10 by the CPU 106 of the controller
40A and the fraud monitoring processing to be executed in Step S29
in FIG. 10 and Step S49 in FIG. 12, the procedures for moving the
respective sensors 7A to 7C in the direction of the rotation axis
of the rotatable reels 3A to 3C (which correspond to Step S51 in
FIG. 13 and Step S61 in FIG. 14) are omitted as shown in the
flowcharts in FIG. 19 and FIG. 20, respectively.
[0138] In the slot machine of the second embodiment configured as
described above, the respective sensors 7A to 7C emit the reader
light over the entire lengths of the identifiers 6A to 6C in the
direction of the rotation axis of the rotatable reels 3A to 3C when
reading the identification information out of the identifiers 6A to
6C on the respective rotatable reels 3A to 3C, and scan the
identifiers 6A to 6C by use of this reader light. In the slot
machine of the third embodiment, the reflective linear photosensor
arrays constituting the respective sensors 7A to 7C detect presence
of the information code elements of the rows corresponding to the
respective identifiers 6A to 6C when reading the identification
information out of the identifiers 6A to 6C on the respective
rotatable reels 3A to 3C. Thus, in any of the slot machines
according to the second embodiment and the third embodiment, the
respective sensors 7A to 7C read the identification information
developed in the direction of the rotation axis of the rotatable
reels 3A to 3C completely out of the relevant identifiers 6A to 6C.
At this time, slight rotation movement of the rotatable reels 3A to
3C will not cause a trouble in the operation for reading the
identification information unless relative positions of the sensors
7A to 7C to the rotatable reels 3A to 3C in the direction of
rotation of the rotatable reels 3A to 3C are changed in excess of
the regions where the identifiers 6A to 6C are positioned.
[0139] Accordingly, in any of the slot machines of the second
embodiment and the third embodiment, even when the respective
rotatable reels 3A to 3C are not in a resting state in terms of the
direction of rotation at the time of the reading operation of the
identification information out of the identifiers 6A to 6C by use
of the respective sensors 7A to 7C, it is possible to read the
complete identification information reliably by use of the sensors
7A to 7C without being affected by the condition, and to accurately
identify the contents of the symbols 5A to 5C displayed on the
payline L in the slot game area A1. Thus, when judging the presence
of fraudulent rotation of the rotatable reels 3A to 3C by
repeatedly reading the identification information out of the
identifiers 6A to 6C by use of the sensors 7A to 7C during the
predetermined time period between the times after stopping rotation
of the respective rotatable reels 3A to 3C and before starting
rotation again, it is possible to suppress erroneous detection of
slight rotation of the rotatable reels 3A to 3C after stopping as
occurrence of fraudulent rotation. In this way, it is possible to
have high determination accuracy for fraudulent rotation of the
rotatable reels 3A to 3C.
[0140] Although the slot machine and the control method of a slot
machine of the present invention have been described according to
the embodiments with reference to accompanying drawings, it is to
be noted that the preset invention is not limited only to the
embodiments described herein. The configurations of the
constituents can be replaced by other arbitrary configurations
having similar functions.
[0141] For example, the embodiments describe the case where the
slot game area A1 of the lower display 16 includes the display
regions having the matrix of 3 columns and 3 rows. However, the
present invention is not limited only to this configuration and is
applicable to a slot machine having a slot game area including
display regions having a matrix other than 3-by-3, such as a matrix
having 5 rows and 5 columns. Moreover, the present invention is
also applicable to a slot machine including a slot game area
defined by different numbers of rows and columns, such as display
regions having a matrix of 5 rows and 3 columns.
[0142] Further, it is possible to set a single payline or multiple
paylines in arbitrary directions including vertical, horizontal,
and oblique (including a V shape or an inverted V shape) directions
depending on the configuration of the matrix of the slot game area.
In addition, it is also possible to increase the number of the
paylines that provide a payout upon alignment of the symbols 5A to
5C satisfying a winning combination depending on the number of bet
credits. The present invention is applicable to any of these slot
machines.
[0143] Moreover, the respective embodiments described above are
based on the assumption that the identifiers 6A to 6C are drawn on
the front faces of the reel bands 4 together with the symbols 5A to
5C corresponding thereto. For this reason, the sensors 7A to 7C are
disposed outside the rotatable reels 3A to 3C so as to cause the
sensors 7A to 7C to read the identification information out of the
identifiers 6A to 6C from the outside of the rotatable reels 3A to
3C.
[0144] However, it is also possible to draw the identifiers 6A to
6C on the back side of the reel bands 4 and to expose the
identifiers 6A to 6C to the inside of the rotatable reels 3A to 3C.
Accordingly, it is possible to dispose the sensors 7A to 7B inside
the rotatable reels 3A to 3C so as to cause the sensors 7A to 7C to
read the identification information out of the identifiers 6A to 6C
from the inside of the rotatable reels 3A to 3C.
[0145] The respective embodiments described above are based on the
assumption that the judgment is made as to whether or not the
symbols 5A to 5C identified in Step S67 in FIG. 14 are the same as
the symbols 5A to 5C identified in Step S55 in the first stopped
symbol identification processing. However, when the symbols 5A to
5C identified in Step S65 are already present, it is possible to
compare the symbols 5A to 5C identified in Step S65 in the
precedent round with those identified in Step S65 in the current
round. For example, it is possible to judge whether or not the
symbols 5A to 5C identified in Step S65 in a first round are the
same as the symbols 5A to 5C identified in Step S65 in a second
round.
[0146] In the detailed description stated above, the characteristic
features of the present invention have been mainly described in
order to facilitate understanding of the present invention. It is
to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the
embodiments associated with the detailed description stated above.
The present invention is also applicable to other embodiments in
various application ranges. Moreover, the terms and the diction
used in this identification have been for accurately describing the
present invention and are not therefore used to restrict
interpretation of the present invention. Moreover, it is deemed
easy for those skilled in the art to estimate other configurations,
systems, and method encompassed by the concepts of the present
invention from the teachings of the concepts of the present
invention which are expressly described in this identification.
Hence, the description of the appended claims should be deemed to
include other equivalent configurations without departing from the
technical scope of the present invention. Moreover, the purpose of
the abstract of the disclosure attached hereto is to allow the
patent offices, public institutions, engineers and others pertinent
to the technical field without having full knowledge of patent
systems, legal terms or technical terms, to assess the technical
contents and the gist of the present invention promptly by means of
simple investigation. Accordingly, it is not intended to provide
the abstract in order to limit the scope of the present invention
which should be evaluated by the appended claims. Moreover, in
order to fully understand the object of the preset invention and
the effects unique to the present invention, this specification
should be interpreted with full reference to previously disclosed
documents related hereto.
[0147] The detailed description stated above includes processing to
be executed by use of a computer. The above description and
expression have been made for the purpose of enabling those skilled
in the art to understand the present invention most efficiently. In
this specification, the respective steps used for inducing one
result should be understood as the self-consistent processing.
Moreover, electric or magnetic signals are transmitted, received,
and recorded in these steps. In the processing in the respective
steps, the signals are expressed in the forms of bits, values,
symbols, characters, terms, numbers, and the like. However, it is
to be noted that these forms are used simply because of the
convenience of description. Furthermore, the processing in the
respective steps has been described from time to time by using the
expressions common to human behaviors. Nevertheless, it is to be
understood that the processing described in this specification is
basically supposed to be executed by various devices. In addition,
other configurations required for performing the respective steps
are to be obvious from the aforementioned description.
* * * * *