BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a gaming machine in which a game is conducted by
betting game media stored therein.
2. Description of Related Art
[0002] Conventionally, as such kind of the gaming machine, it is, for example, well-known
a slot machine disclosed in Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-120716.
On a switch panel of the slot machine shown in the above reference, there are provided
bet buttons through which a player determines a bet number to bet game media stored
in the slot machine. The bet buttons are constructed from a 1-BET button that one
bet number is added by every one operation thereof and a MAX-bet button that game
media can be betted at the MAX bet number by operation thereof. The bet number is
determined by operation of these bet buttons and thereafter a game is started by operating
a start lever.
[0003] However, in the slot machine shown in the Japanese reference, game media can only
be betted by the bet number which is allotted beforehand for each of the bet buttons,
therefore the bet number cannot be voluntarily set. Thus, in a case that the bet number
is large, the player has to press the 1-BET button many times. As a result, it takes
a relatively long time for a BET operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention has been done to dissolve the above problems and has an object
to provide a gaming machine through which a player can voluntarily and quickly set
a bet number, thereby operability to determine the bet number can be raised.
[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, it is provided a gaming machine
comprising a game medium storing device for storing game media, wherein a game is
conducted by betting at least one of the game media,
the gaming machine further comprising
:
an input device for inputting a numerical value; and
a recognition device for recognizing the numerical value input from the input device
as a bet number of the game media.
[0006] According to the above gaming machine, the numerical value input from the input device
is recognized as the bet number by the recognition device. And the game media corresponding
to the bet number are betted and a game is conducted. Therefore, the player can voluntarily
set the bet number without being limited to a bet number allotted to each of bet buttons
as in the prior art. Therefore, even if the bet number is large, the player can quickly
set the bet number without pressing the bet button in many times.
[0007] Here, the game media include various game media such as coins, tokens, medals, coupons,
tickets, memory media (cards and the like).
[0008] The above and further objects and novel features of the invention will more fully
appear from the following detailed description when the same is read in connection
with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the
drawings are for purpose of illustration only and not intended as a definition of
the limits of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this
specification illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description,
serve to explain the objects, advantages and principles of the invention.
[0010] In the drawings,
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a slot machine according to the embodiment,
Fig. 2 is an enlarged front view of a reel display window portion formed in the slot
machine according to the embodiment,
Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the reel display window portion of the slot machine
according to the embodiment,
Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the reel display window portion shown in
Fig. 3,
Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing a circuitry construction of a control circuit in
the slot machine according to the embodiment, and
Fig. 6 is an explanatory view of the reel display window portion on which a numerical
keypad is provided to determine a bet number, according to the embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0011] The preferred embodiment of the present invention will described hereinafter. Here,
in the embodiment, although various game media such as coins, tokens, medals, coupons,
tickets, memory media (cards and the like) can be utilized, it will be hereinafter
explained the embodiment in which coins are utilized as an example.
[0012] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a slot machine 1 in one embodiment of a gaming machine
according to the present invention. In a cabinet constructing a central main body
of the slot machine 1, three reels comprising a first reel 2, a second reel 3 and
a third reel 4 are rotatably arranged. On an outer periphery of each of the reels
2 to 4, a symbol row constructing from a plural kinds of symbols (abbreviated as "the
symbol" hereinafter) is described. In front of each of the reels 2 to 4, a reel display
window portion 5 is arranged. And in the reel display window portion 5, three display
windows 6, 7 and 8 are formed, and three symbols of the symbol row described on the
outer periphery of each of the reels 2 to 4 are displayed through each of the display
windows 6 to 8, respectively. When a player inserts coins as the game media into the
slot machine and operates a start lever 9 arranged at a side of the cabinet, variable
display of the symbols is conducted. And on the reel display window portion 5, it
is formed a pay line L according to which a symbol combination is defined and a winning
combination is determined based on a symbol combination stopped and displayed along
the pay line L through each of the display windows 6 to 8.
[0013] On a control panel 10 positioned at a lower position of the reel display window portion
5, a coin insertion slot 11 in which the player inserts coins and a bill insertion
portion 12 to insert a bill are provided. And also on the control panel 10, it is
provided a spin switch 13 to start rotation of the reels 2 to 4 by press operation
thereof, independently from the start lever 9 and further a change switch 14, a cashout
switch 15, a 1-BET switch 16 and a MAX-BET switch 17 are arranged.
[0014] The change switch 14 is a switch used when the player calls an attendant of a game
arcade, and when the change switch 14 is operated, a tower light arranged on an upper
part of the slot machine 1 is turned on. The cashout switch 15 is a switch to pay
out money betted and credited to a coin tray 19 as coins when pressed. The 1-BET switch
16 is a switch to bet only a predetermined unit sum among the money betted and credited
by one press operation, and the MAX BET switch 17 is a switch to bet a sum corresponding
to the max bet number (1000 coins in the embodiment) among the money betted and credited
by one press operation.
[0015] And on a top glass 20 arranged at an upper position of the reel display window portion
5, it is displayed a payout table indicating a relation that each of the winning combinations
and payout thereof is corresponded. And on a bottom glass 21 positioned at a lower
position of the reel display window portion 5, characters relating to the slot machine
are described.
[0016] Fig. 2 is an enlarged front view showing the reel display window portion 5 of the
slot machine 1. Here, in Fig. 2, the same elements, parts as in Fig. 1 are indicated
by the same numbers as in Fig. 1 and explanation thereof will be omitted. The reel
display window portion 5 constitutes a display device to display game image. On a
surface of the reel display window portion 5, it is arranged a touch panel 5k to accept
input operation by the player. The touch panel 5k is made transparent so as to display
therethrough the symbols described on the reels 2 to 4 and information such as game
effect images displayed on a liquid crystal display panel 5d. Here, as well-known
in the art, the touch panel 5k is constructed from a pair of transparent sheets on
each of which a plurality of transparent electrodes such as ITO are formed and transparent
dot spacers formed between the transparent sheets. Concretely, the transparent dot
spacers are formed on one of the transparent sheets or both of the transparent sheets
so as not to superimpose with each other. And two transparent sheets are superimposed
with each other so that the transparent electrodes on each sheet are separated by
a distance corresponding to the height of the dot spacers. When the touch panel 5k
is touched by a finger of the player, the transparent electrodes of the sheets are
contacted at a touch position, thereby such touch position on the touch panel 5k is
detected based on a contact position where the transparent electrodes are contacted
with each other. On the other hand, as mentioned later, a numerical keypad image (not
shown in Fig. 2) is displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 5d arranged behind
the touch panel 5k. And a numerical keypad device 30 (not shown in Fig. 2) is constructed
from the numerical keypad image displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 5d and
a predetermined area of the touch panel 5k corresponding to the numerical keypad image.
The numerical keypad device 30 constructs a numerical value input device to input
the bet number by a numerical value, in stead of the 1-BET switch 16 and the MAX BET
switch 17.
[0017] Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the slot machine showing an inner construction of the
reel display window portion 5. As shown in Fig. 3, the reel display window portion
5 is arranged in front of the reels 2 to 4 and is constructed so as to have the liquid
crystal display panel 5d. And Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the reel display
window portion 5 shown in Fig. 3. As shown in Figs. 4 (a) to 4 (j), the reel display
window portion 5 is constructed from the touch panel 5k, a transparent acrylic plate
5a, a reel glass base 5b, a bezel metallic frame 5c, the liquid crystal display panel
5d, a liquid crystal holder 5e, a diffusion sheet 5f, a light guiding plate 5g, a
rear holder 5h and an antistatic sheet 5i, these members being arranged from a front
plane side of the device according to this order. The touch panel 5k is arranged at
a front side of the transparent acrylic plate 5a, the front side thereof being faced
to the player. And in the diffusion sheet 5f, the light guiding plate 5g and the rear
holder 5h, three openings 6a, 6b, 6c forming the display window 6, three openings
7a, 7b, 7c forming the display window 7 and three openings 8a, 8b, 8c forming the
display window 8, are formed.
[0018] And attachment of the reel display window portion 5 to a front panel of the device
is, as shown in Fig. 3, is done by fixing brackets 5ba formed in the glass base 5b
so as to project toward up and down directions to a rear side of the front panel of
the device through screws 5j.
[0019] At both an upper end and a lower end of the light guiding plate 5g, a pair of cold
cathode ray tubes 30a are arranged as light sources of the liquid crystal display
panel 5d. And at an upper and a lower positions of display window parts on a rear
side of the rear holder 5h, a pair of cold cathode ray tubes 30b to illuminate the
symbols described on the outer periphery of each of the reels 2 to 4 are arranged.
[0020] The liquid crystal display panel 5d is a transparent electric display panel which
is disposed at the front side of the reels 2 to 4 and the reels 2 to 4 are seen and
recognized through the liquid crystal display panel 5d. A rear side around the display
part of the liquid crystal display panel 5d is held by the liquid crystal holder 5e.
The light guiding plate 5g is formed from a light transmitting resin panel and lens
cuts are formed to guide light emitted from the cold cathode ray tubes 30b disposed
at sides thereof toward the rear side of the liquid crystal display panel 5d. The
diffusion sheet 5f is formed light transmitting resin sheet and constructs diffusion
member to diffuse light guided by the light guiding plate 5g and levels light illuminated
to the liquid crystal display panel 5d. The liquid crystal holder 5e holding the liquid
crystal display panel 5d, the diffusion sheet 5f and the light guiding plate 5g are
formed into one-construction and the circumference thereof is inserted in the bezel
metallic frame 5c. By this insertion, the front side of the circumference of the display
part in the liquid crystal display panel 5d is held by the bezel metallic frame 5c.
[0021] The liquid crystal holder 5e, the diffusion sheet 5f and the light guiding panel
5g, which are inserted in the bezel metallic frame 5c and formed into one-construction,
are further inserted in the reel glass base 5b at the circumference thereof, thereby
are supported by the reel glass base 5b in a state that the front side of the display
part in the liquid crystal display panel 5d is opened. The transparent acrylic plate
5a, on the front surface of which the touch panel 5k is arranged, is attached to the
front plane of the device by fixing the reel glass base 5b on the front panel of the
device through the screws 5j, thereby the transparent acrylic plate 5a is pressed
and attached to the front plane of the reel glass base 5b with the touch panel 5k.
Thus, the transparent acrylic plate 5a closes the above opening positioned on the
front plane of the display part in the liquid crystal display panel 5d.
[0022] The rear holder 5h is formed from a white resin plate and retains the bezel metallic
frame 5c, the liquid crystal holder 5e supporting the liquid crystal display panel
5d, the diffusion sheet 5f and the light guiding plate 5g, all of which are supported
to the reel glass base 5b, to the reel glass base 5b from the rear side thereof. The
rear holder 5h functions as a reflecting plate to reflect light emitted to the light
guiding plate 5g from the cold cathode ray tubes 30a toward the liquid crystal display
panel 5. The antistatic sheet 5 is made transparent and is adhered to the rear plane
of the rear holder 5h by a double-sided tape, thereby the antistatic sheet 5i covers
the openings formed in the rear holder 5h.
[0023] Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing a circuitry construction of a control circuit 40
for controlling game operation process in the slot machine 1 of the embodiment.
[0024] The control circuit 40 is mainly constructed from a microcomputer 41 and the microcomputer
41 is constructed from a main CPU 42 (Central Processing Unit) for conducting control
operation according to a program preset beforehand, a ROM (Read-Only Memory) 43 as
a storing device and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 44. In the ROM 43, control procedures
for wholly controlling the gamin machine are stored as a sequence program and the
RAM 44 is utilized as a temporary memory work area and the like when such program
is executed.
[0025] To the main CPU 42, a clock pulse generator 45 for generating standard clock pulses
and a frequency divider 46, a random number generator 47 for generating random numbers
within a predetermined range and a sampling circuit 48 for sampling one random number
generated by the random number generator 47, are connected. Further, an I/O port 49
to receive and output various signals between peripheral devices (actuators) mentioned
later, is connected to the main CPU 42. And the ROM 43 has also memory areas to store
a winning combination table which is referred when the winning combination is determined
based on a symbol combination, other than the sequence program.
[0026] Here, the microcomputer 41, the random number generator 47 and the sampling circuit
48 constructs a lottery device to determine the winning combination by a lottery and
selects the symbols which are stopped and displayed on the display windows 6 to 8
or the liquid crystal display panel 5d by a lottery and determines the winning combination
based on the selected symbol combination. And the microcomputer 41 constructs a game
medium storing device for storing the betted money inserted from the coin insertion
slot 11 and the bill insertion portion 12 as data in the RAM 44.
[0027] As the main actuator the operation of which is controlled by a control signal from
the microcomputer 41, there exist stepping motors 50 for rotating and driving the
reels 2 to 4, various lamps 51, a LED display part 52, a hopper 53 for storing coins,
the liquid crystal display panel 5d and a speaker 55. These are driven and controlled
by a motor drive circuit 56,a lamp drive circuit 57, a LED drive circuit 58, a hopper
drive circuit 59, an image control circuit 60 and a sound control circuit 61, respectively,
These drive circuits 56 to 59 and the control circuits 60, 61 are connected to the
main CPU 42 through the I/O port 49.
[0028] And as the main input signal generation device for generating input signals necessary
for the main CPU 42 to produce control signals, there exist a start switch 9S for
detecting operation of the start lever 9, the spin switch 13, the change switch 14,
the cashout switch 15, the 1-BET switch 16, the MAX BET switch 17 and a coin sensor
11S to detect coins inserted in the coin insertion slot 11. Further, a reel position
detection circuit 62 for detecting the rotation position of the reels 2 to 4 is provided.
[0029] And as the input signal generation device, there exist a coin detection part 53S
for counting the number of coins paid out from the hopper 53, a payout completion
signal generation circuit 63, the numerical keypad device 30 constructed from the
numerical keypad image displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 5d and the predetermined
area of the touch panel 5k corresponding to the numerical keypad image and a numerical
keypad device detection circuit 64. The payout completion signal generation circuit
63 generates a signal to detect a coin payout completion when the coin count value
corresponded to the coin number actually paid out and input from the coin detection
part 53S reaches to the payout coin number data. And the numerical keypad device detection
circuit 64 detects operation of the numerical keypad device 30, such operation being
done by touching the touch panel 5k corresponding to numerical keys of the numerical
keypad image displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 5d and outputs the detected
operation signal to the main CPU 42. The above payout completion signal generation
circuit 63 and the numerical keypad device detection circuit 64 are also connected
to the main CPU 42 through the I/O port 49. Here, the main CPU 42 constructs a bet
number recognition device to recognize the numerical value input from the numerical
keypad device 30 as the bet number of the money betted.
[0030] In the above construction, before the game is conducted in the slot machine 1, the
player at first inserts coins in the coin insertion slot 11 or inserts a bill in the
bill insertion slot 12, thereby the betted money is stored in the slot machine 1.
Next, the sum betted for the game is directed by the player among the betted money
which is stored. This direction is done by conventional operation of the 1-BET switch
16 or the MAX-BET switch 17, or by operation of the numerical keypad device 30 constructed
from the liquid crystal display panel 5d and the touch panel 5k.
[0031] On a game image displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 5d of the reel display
window portion 5, as shown in Fig. 6, a character image 31, a bet number (BET) display
part 32 and a payout (WIN) display part 33 are displayed. When the touch panel 5k
corresponding to a periphery of the bet number display part 32 is touched, the numerical
keypad image is displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 5d, thereby numerical
value input operation is activated through the numerical keypad device 30 constructed
from the numerical keypad image on the liquid crystal display panel 5d and the touch
panel 5k. The numerical keypad device 30 is provided with numerical keys of "0" ~
"9" and "00" and a clear key (CLEAR). Here, the numerical keys and the clear key are
constructed from the numerical and clear key images included in the numerical keypad
image displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 5d and the touch panel 5k. And
the numerical value input by touching the touch panel 5k corresponding to the numerical
key images is displayed in an input numerical value area 34 formed at an upper position
of the numerical keypad image in the numerical keypad device 30. For example, the
touch panel 5k corresponding to three numerical key images of "3", "9", "5" are pressed
in this order, the number "395" is displayed in the input numerical value area 34.
Thereafter, the numerical keypad image disappears at the timing that the player operates
the start lever 9 or the spin switch 13 or the MAX BET switch 17 and the bet number
is recognized as the numerical value "395" by the main CPU 42, thereby this bet number
is displayed in the bet number display part 32. In the embodiment, the bet number
from 1 to 1000 can be directed through the numerical keypad device 30. And in a case
that the bet number is input by the numerical keys, if a false numerical value is
input, such value can be corrected by pressing the touch panel 5k corresponding to
the clear key image and again inputting the correct numerical value by touching the
touch panel 5k corresponding to the numerical key images.
[0032] When the bet number is recognized, the main CPU 42 sets the sum calculated by multiplying
the bet number with the unit sum corresponding to one bet as the betted money. And
based on the operation of the start lever 9 or the spin switch 13 or the MAX BET switch
17 by the player, rotation process of the reels 2 to 4 is done and the slot machine
game is started. And in a case that the symbol combination of the winning combination
with payout is stopped and displayed along the pay line L, the payout corresponding
to the betted money which is set by the main CPU 42 is given to the player. Thereby,
the credit number is increased or coins are paid out to the coin tray 19.
[0033] According to the slot machine 1 of the embodiment, as mentioned, when the numerical
value is input through the numerical keypad device 30 constructed from the numerical
keypad image displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 5d and the touch panel
5k, such numerical value is recognized as the betted number by the main CPU 42 and
the slot machine game is conducted after the betted money corresponding the recognized
bet number is set. Thus, the player can voluntarily set the bet number without being
limited to the bet number "1" allotted to the 1-BET switch 16 and the bet number "1000"
allotted to the MAX BET switch 17, as in the conventional slot machine. Therefore,
even in a case that the bet number is large, the player can quickly set the bet number
without troublesome operation, for example, without pressing the 1-BET switch 16 395
times in order to conduct the game with 395 bets.
[0034] And in the embodiment, the numerical keypad image is displayed on the liquid crystal
display panel 5d in the reel display window portion 5 which displays the game image
of the slot machine 1, and the player can input the bet number by touching the touch
panel 5k corresponding to each of the numerical key images constructing the numerical
keypad device 30 in cooperation with the touch panel 5k. Therefore, the player can
operate the numerical keypad device 30 while seeing the reel display window portion
5 and operability to determine the bet number can be raised.
[0035] Here, in the embodiment, although the bet number is determined by the numerical keypad
device 30 every the unit game, the present invention is not limited to this. For example,
it may be constructed so that the bet number input through the numerical keypad device
30 is used as the bet number over a plural times of games and such bet number is used
for setting the betted money. That is to say, the bet number input in the present
game by the player may be stored as the data in the RAM 44 and the like and it may
be provided a repeat bet switch to determine the stored data in the RAM 44 as the
bet number in the next games. In this case, in the next games, so long as the bet
number is determined by the repeat bet switch without again inputting the bet number
through the numerical keypad device 30, the stored data in the RAM 44 is continued
to be used as the bet number. And when the bet number is again input through the numerical
keypad device 30, the data stored in the RAM 44 may be displayed in the bet number
display part 32.
[0036] According to the above construction, in a case that the constant bet number is used
over a plural times of games, the player can omit the input operation of the bet number
through the numerical keypad device 30 every the unit game, thereby operation in the
game can be reduced. As a result, even if the player conducts games for a long time,
the player can concentrate in games without feeling fatigue and improvement of motivation
for games can be expected.
[0037] And it may be determined corresponding to a gaming state whether or not the bet number
input through the numerical keypad device 30 by the player is used for setting the
betted money. For example, it is supposed two gaming states, in which the expectation
values of the payout paid out to the player in the unit game are different with each
other, and it is supposed that the gaming state with lower expectation value is the
first gaming state and the gaming state with high expectation value is the second
gaming state. At that time, in one of the first gaming state and the second gaming
state, the bet number input through the numerical keypad device 30 by the player is
used and in the other gaming state thereof the bet number fixedly stored in the ROM
43 is used.
[0038] According to the above construction, there may be a case that the rate for getting
coins in the specific gaming state may be controlled.
[0039] And according to the gaming state, it may be conceivable that a range of the bet
number which the player can input through the numerical keypad device 30 is changed.
For example, in the above first gaming state, the bet number may be selected within
the range up to a predetermined first upper limit value (for example, the bet number
is 1000) and in the above second gaming state, the bet number may be selected within
the range up to a predetermined second upper limit value (for example, the bet number
is 100) lower than the above first upper limit value. Further, the second upper limit
value may be set higher than the first upper limit value. And a lower limit value
of the bet number which the player can input may be changed according to the gaming
state.
[0040] According to the above construction, there may be a case that the rate for getting
coins in the specific gaming state may be controlled.
[0041] And in the above embodiment, although it is explained the case that operation of
the numerical keypad device 30 is detected by the numerical keypad device detection
circuit 64 and the detected value is input to the main CPU 42, thereby the bet number
is determined, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be
conceivable that the function of the numerical keypad device detection circuit 64
is provided with the touch panel 5k and the value input through the numerical keypad
device 30 is directly given to the main CPU 42 from the touch panel 5k. According
to this construction, in the cabinet to which the touch panel 5k is installed as the
standard, the slot machine having the same function as the above embodiment may be
realized by only changing software thereof, without adding a new parts such as the
numerical keypad device detection circuit 64.
[0042] Further, in the above embodiment, although dollar ( $ ) and cent (¢) are utilized
as the currency denomination displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 5d in the
numerical keypad device 30 for inputting the bet number, the currency denomination
is not limited to this. For example, the currency denomination displayed on the liquid
crystal display panel 5d in the numerical keypad 30 may be pound and penny and the
like, thereby the currency denomination may be changed and displayed corresponding
to the area where the slot machine 1 is used.
[0043] And in the above embodiment, although the bet number is determined by directly inputting
the numerical value through the numerical keypad device 30, determination method of
the bet number is not limited to this. For example, a bet number selection panel may
be displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 5d in the reel display window portion
5 in stead of the numerical keypad device 30, the bet number selection panel having
a plurality of bet number selection parts in each of which the bet number is set beforehand
by stages, and the bet number may be determined to the bet number in the bet number
selection part to which the player touches.
[0044] In each of the above mentioned modifications, the effect similar to the above mentioned
embodiment may be obtained.
[0045] In the above mentioned embodiment, although it is explained a case that the gaming
machine of the present invention is applied to the slot machine, the present invention
can be applied to the gaming machine in which game media are betted, similar to the
above embodiment. For example, the present invention can be applied to a Japanese
Pachi-slot gaming machine that rotation of the reels is stopped by operating the stop
buttons, a poker gaming machine, a trump gaming machine, a mah-jong gaming machine
and the like. Further, the present invention can be applied to a game program by which
a home gaming machine can suspectedly execute the same operation as in each of the
above gaming machines. In this case, as the recording medium to record the game program,
various recording media such as CD-ROM, FD (Flexible Disk), flash memory card and
the like can be utilized. If the present invention is applied to any of the above
gaming machines, the same effect as that of the embodiment can be obtained.
[0046] Further, the numerical keypad image may be displayed on the liquid crystal display
panel 5d every one game is terminated and when the player wants to change the bet
number.
[0047] And the numerical keypad image may disappear when the touch panel 5k corresponding
to the periphery of the bet number display part 32 is touched.
[0048] Further, in a case that the numerical keypad image includes an enter key image instead
of the clear key image shown in Fig. 6, the numerical keypad image may disappear at
the timing that the player touches the touch panel 5k corresponding to the enter key
image.