Gaming Machines

Abstract

To provide a game machine board unit capable of improving electrical test efficiency and reducing the area of the board.SOLUTION: If a connection point 502A of a buffer IC 301 which is a surface mounted component and a component connection through hole 500A of a main CPU 61 which is an insertion mounted component are connected, no test point is to be provided. If a connection point 502B of the buffer IC 301 and a connection point 502C of a buffer IC 302 which is a surface mounted component are connected but are not connected to other insertion mounted components or connectors, a test point 600B is to be provided at one position on a route of an electrical wiring 503B. Then, an electric wiring 504B from the connection point 502B to the test point 600B is to be installed on a front surface side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a gaming machine equipped with a control board. [Background technology]

[0002] A control board equipped with a control device for an amusement machine is housed in a transparent board case and installed in the amusement machine. Some of these control boards aim to reduce the board area by combining insertion mounting components, which are mounted by inserting terminals into vias, and surface mounting components, which are mounted by soldering to the mounting surface.

[0003] In this case, since the distance between the terminals of surface mount components is generally narrow, it becomes difficult to perform electrical testing using a tester. To address this problem, a technique has been proposed in which a land pattern for testing is provided on the wiring connected to the terminals of the surface mount components (for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-141139 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1 has the problem that providing land patterns corresponding to the terminals of the surface mount components reduces the design freedom of the board, which may result in an increase in the board area. Also, there is the problem that it is difficult to know which land pattern corresponds to which terminal.

[0006] The present invention proposes a gaming machine that can contribute to reducing the circuit board area while allowing electrical testing using a tester to be easily performed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention is a gaming machine having a front door and a housing, in which a control board on which a control device is mounted is installed inside the gaming machine, and a plurality of electronic components including the control device are arranged on one side of the control board, and when the front door is opened while the control board is installed inside the gaming machine, the one side is visible, and the plurality of electronic components are arranged in an opening penetrating the one side of the control board and the other side opposite to the one side. First board connection terminal and a terminal is not inserted into the opening, Second board connection terminal and a surface mount component mounted by soldering to the one surface side, the control board including a first wiring pattern laid on the one surface side, a second wiring pattern laid on the other surface side, a first through hole connecting the first wiring pattern and the second wiring pattern, before A wiring pattern connected to the first wiring pattern Inspection points and Second board connection Terminals Among the signal paths connected to The above To the first board connection terminal Connected signal The route includes the above Inspection points is established. Teora First, Second board connection Terminals Among the signal paths connected to The above To the first board connection terminal Connected First, the signal path is connected to a second board connection terminal different from the second board connection terminal. The specific route includes the above Inspection points are set. It has been A plurality of the specific paths are provided by connecting a plurality of the second board connection terminals to each other, and the inspection point is provided at only one location on each of the specific paths. The specific route is connected to Second board connection terminal Of From either The above To the inspection point The special path is characterized in that it is composed of the first wiring pattern.

[0008] In such a configuration, the path connecting the terminals of the surface mount component and the terminals of the insert-mount component is designed to have a large area so that no inspection through-hole suitable for electrical testing is provided. Even in paths that require an inspection through-hole, the number of inspection through-holes that need to be provided is limited to one, thereby reducing the number of inspection through-holes that need to be provided, and since this path can be addressed by electrically testing the terminals of the insert-mount component, the difficulty of inspection does not increase.

[0009] Furthermore, by limiting at least one of the paths from the terminals of the surface-mounted components to the one side, which is the component mounting surface on which the electronic components are mounted and which is the side that the store clerk checks on a daily basis, it is possible to confirm the path from the corresponding terminal to the inspection through-hole by looking at the one side, and it is possible to check, with the control board installed, for suspicious signs, such as the creation of electrodes for fraudulent purposes.

[0010] The control board has a first surface on which the Inspection points In the vicinity of Inspection points The present invention proposes a gaming machine characterized in that an identification number corresponding to the first surface is printed on the first surface, and the identification number is not printed on the other surface.

[0011] In this configuration, the correspondence between the terminals and the inspection through-holes can be confirmed on the component mounting surface, eliminating the need for extra processing to print an identification number on the other surface, thereby reducing costs.

[0012] Also, a gaming machine is proposed in which the surface mounted components include a buffer having a signal input terminal and a signal output terminal, and in a bus connection connecting one signal output terminal to the signal input terminals of multiple buffers, the special path is formed by a path from the signal output terminal to the second through hole.

[0013] In such a configuration, the signal flow can be understood by checking the wiring connected to the test through-hole on the mounting surface. For example, when conducting electrical testing while checking the circuit diagram on the component mounting surface to investigate the cause of a failure, the testing can be performed easily.

[0014] Furthermore, a gaming machine is proposed in which the specific path in the bus connection is composed of the first wiring pattern from the special path from the signal output terminal to the second through hole to a branch point where the wiring pattern branches to correspond to the signal input terminals of the multiple buffers, the branch point being composed of the first through hole, and the subsequent path to the signal input terminal is composed of either the first wiring pattern, the second wiring pattern, or the first through hole.

[0015] In this configuration, the bus connection is made by normal through holes, not by inspection through holes, and this contributes to reducing the board area without increasing the pitch between the bus wiring. Also, by limiting the path to the branch point of the bus wiring to the component mounting surface, the connection relationship becomes clearer, and when performing electrical inspection while checking the circuit diagram on the component mounting surface, the inspection can be performed more easily.

[0016] In addition, a gaming machine is proposed in which the second through holes in the bus connection are arranged in a specific area adjacent to the second through holes connected to each of the output terminals, and on the other side, the specific area is surrounded by power supply wiring to which a constant potential is supplied.

[0017] In such a configuration, during the manufacturing process, when the control board is removed and an electrical test is performed by placing a tester against the test through-holes on the back side, the test through-holes can be arranged together for a large number of wirings, such as bus wiring, so that the tests can be performed all at once, and by surrounding it with power wiring, the test points can be easily identified visually.

[0018] In addition, Inspection points teeth, each The proposed gaming machine is characterized in that the one surface side is positioned so as not to overlap any of the plurality of electronic components when viewed from the front.

[0019] In this configuration, since an electrical test can be performed while checking the correspondence between the terminals and the test through-holes on the component mounting surface, the electrical test can be easily performed. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view of a slot machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 2 is a perspective view of the slot machine 1 shown in FIG. 1 in an open state; [Diagram 3] 1 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of a slot machine 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a front view of the housing 3. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a board case 107 and a main control board 63. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a front view showing the mounting positions of electronic components on the main control board 63. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing electrical wiring on the front side of the main control board 63. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing electrical wiring on the rear side of the main control board 63. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of region A in FIG. 6 to FIG. 8. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram showing the signal connections of the main electronic components in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] A slot machine 1, which is an example of a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0022] (composition) The outline of the configuration of the slot machine 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0023] The slot machine 1 in this embodiment is a machine in which one game is executed based on the player's operation under the condition that a prescribed number of gaming media such as medals are inserted in any one of a plurality of preset game states, and is configured as shown in Fig. 1. That is, in this slot machine 1, the front of the cabinet 3 is closed by a front door 5 that can be opened and closed freely, an operation panel 7 is disposed at a position approximately at the center height of the front door 5, and a front panel 9 is disposed above the operation panel 7.

[0024] The front panel 9 is provided with a horizontally long rectangular display window 11. Inside the display window 11, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the left, center, and right reels 13L, 13M, and 13R are arranged, which variably display a plurality of types of symbols in a predetermined order. The left, center, and right reels 13L, 13M, and 13R are provided with a total of 20 symbols in a predetermined arrangement. Each symbol is assigned a symbol number from 0 to 19 in order. For example, reel tapes on which symbols from 0 to 20 are printed are attached to the periphery of the reels to form each of the reels 13L, 13M, and 13R. When each of the reels 13L, 13M, and 13R rotates, a plurality of symbols are variably displayed in the display window 11 in a predetermined order of symbol numbers 19, 18, ..., 0, 19, .... When the reels 13L, 13M, and 13R stop spinning, three symbols in total, one each in the upper, middle, and lower rows, are visible through the display window 11. That is, when all three reels 13L, 13M, and 13R stop, a total of nine symbols arranged in three columns and three rows are stopped and displayed in the display window 11. For example, a predetermined line (for example, the middle row line) is set as the winning line.

[0025] Further, reel motors 14L, 14M, and 14R shown in FIG. 3, which are configured by stepping motors, are connected to the reels 13L, 13M, and 13R, respectively, so that the reels 13L, 13M, and 13R can be rotated independently.

[0026] Further, the operation panel 7 is provided with a bet switch 15 for instructing the insertion of one medal at a time from the credit medals stored inside, a maximum bet switch 17 for instructing the insertion of the maximum number of medals (set to three medals) per game (play) from the credit medals, a performance button 42 operated to participate in the performance, a lever-shaped start switch 19 for rotating each of the reels 13L, 13M, 13R to start the variable display of each symbol, left, center, and right stop switches 21L, 21M, 21R for stopping the rotation of the left, center, and right reels 13L, 13M, 13R, respectively, to stop the variable display of each symbol, a settlement switch 23 for paying out credit medals, and a medal insertion port 25. Also, a plurality of variable display columns for variably displaying a plurality of types of symbols are formed by each of the reels 13L, 13M, 13R, and each of the stop switches 21L, 21M, 21R is provided corresponding to each of the reels 13L, 13M, 13R.

[0027] In addition, a liquid crystal display 27 is provided at the center of the upper part of the front panel 9 to display moving images and the like to inform the player of winning or winning prizes, and to notify the player of the operation of each stop switch 21L, 21M, 21R. An explanation panel 29 on which various winning symbols are displayed is provided immediately above the liquid crystal display 27, and speakers 31L, 31R for performing effects using music, voice, and the like are provided on the left and right sides of the liquid crystal display 27 and the explanation panel 29, respectively. As shown in FIG. 2, speakers 31L, 31R are also provided on the left and right sides of a medal payout opening 39, which will be described later. A central lamp unit 33M is provided on the upper side of the explanation panel 29 and the speakers 31L, 31R, and left and right lamp units 33L, 33R are provided on the left and right sides of the central lamp unit 33M. A light source such as a light-emitting diode is provided in each of the lamp units 33M, 33L, 33R. These lamp sections 33M, 33L, and 33R are integrally formed and constitute an upper lamp section 33 for performing effects such as informing the player of a win or prize.

[0028] In addition, a lower panel 35 on which a decorative picture or the like is displayed is provided below the operation panel 7, and lower lamp sections 37L and 37R in which a plurality of light sources are arranged, for example, in two rows, are provided on the left and right sides of the lower panel 35. In addition, a medal payout outlet 39 and a medal receiver 41 for receiving medals paid out from the medal payout outlet 39 are provided below the lower panel 35. In addition, a figure (not shown) showing the position of the winning line for the three reels is drawn in the lower right corner of the front panel 9, and a credit indicator 45 for displaying the number of credit medals stored and a payout indicator 46 for displaying the number of medals paid out are disposed in the lower left corner of the front panel 9. The credit indicator 45 is, for example, made up of two 7-segment LEDs, and is capable of displaying a two-digit number of stored medals (maximum 50 medals). In addition, the payout indicator 46 is, for example, made up of two 7-segment displays, and is capable of displaying a two-digit number of medals paid out. The seven-segment display has a total of eight segments, which are formed in a bar shape and are arranged in the shape of the letter "8" and one small round segment (DP) that serves as a decimal point, and each segment is composed of a light-emitting diode. The payout indicator 46 may also be used as an indicator for notifying (displaying) information related to the control of the main control board 63, such as displaying an error code corresponding to an error that has occurred or the result of a hand lottery. In addition, an advantageous zone lamp 47 is disposed above the payout indicator 46. The advantageous zone is an area in which it is permitted to notify the operation mode when a hand that can obtain an advantageous result according to the operation mode of the player is won, and it is confirmed that the advantageous zone is present when the advantageous zone lamp 47 is lit. In this embodiment, the advantageous zone lamp 47 is not necessarily lit during the advantageous zone, but is lit when a predetermined lighting condition is met after the advantageous zone is entered. However, once the advantageous zone lamp 47 is lit, it remains lit until the advantageous zone ends and the player moves to a non-advantageous zone. The advantageous zone lamp 47 may be substituted with a segment DP that is a decimal point of the payout display 46. For gaming machines that do not notify the player of advantageous operation modes, the lamp may be used for other purposes.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 2, the support frame 13 supporting the reels 13L, 13M, and 13R is fixed to the rear wall of the housing 3. As shown in FIG. 2, a hopper unit 43 for discharging medals to the medal payout outlet 39 is disposed below the support frame 13 in the housing 3. As shown in FIG. 2, a medal selector 48 for selecting whether the medal inserted into the medal insert port 25 is genuine or not and guiding only genuine medals to the hopper unit 43 is disposed on the rear side near the medal insertion port 25. A medal passage is provided inside the housing 3, and medals rejected as non-genuine medals by the medal selector 48 and medals paid out from the hopper unit 43 pass through this medal passage and are paid out from the medal payout outlet 39. As shown in FIG. 2, an operation box 49 is fixed to the left wall of the housing 3 on the left side of the hopper unit 43. This operation box 49 is provided with a power switch 50 (see FIG. 3) for turning the power on and off, a change process start switch 56 (see FIG. 3) consisting of a key cylinder for setting change start process that can be switched on and off, and a reset switch 52 (see FIG. 3) used to switch the setting value when changing the settings. However, when the power switch 50 is turned on with the change process start switch 56 on, a setting change process using the reset switch 52 is started. The reset switch 52 is also used as a switch for canceling an error when an error occurs.

[0030] Next, the electrical configuration of the slot machine 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the slot machine.

[0031] 3, the insertion sensor 53 is provided in the medal selector 48 near the medal insertion port 25 inside the housing 3, and detects each medal inserted into the medal insertion port 25. The payout sensor 54 is provided at the outlet of the hopper unit 43, and detects each medal paid out to the medal payout outlet 39.

[0032] The left, center, and right position sensors 55L, 55M, and 55R are for detecting the rotational positions of the left, center, and right reels 13L, 13M, and 13R, respectively, and are composed of, for example, photointerrupters that detect protrusions provided on the left, center, and right reels 13L, 13M, and 13R, respectively, and as the left, center, and right reels 13L, 13M, and 13R rotate, they detect the protrusions every revolution and output the detection signal to the main control board 63. In this embodiment, for example, when the left, center, and right position sensors 55L, 55M, and 55R detect the protrusions, the symbol with symbol number 19 is positioned in the middle of the display window 11, respectively.

[0033] The hopper motor 57 is disposed in the hopper unit 43, and is driven to pay out medals toward the medal payout outlet 39.

[0034] In addition, in this slot machine 1, a main control board 63 on which a main CPU 61 that controls the progress of the game is mounted and a sub-control board 73 on which a sub-CPU 71 that controls a predetermined presentation (for example, a presentation according to the progress of the game) based on information transmitted from the main CPU 61 mounted on the main control board 63 are separately provided, and various game information is transmitted in one direction from the main control board 63 to the sub-control board 73. The main control board 63 is tightly sealed in a board case so that it cannot be accessed illegally from the outside. In addition, various measures are taken in the board case so that it is possible to visually confirm that it has been opened illegally.

[0035] (Main control board) Next, the main control board 63 will be described.

[0036] The main CPU 61 mounted on the main control board 63 has various functions that are realized by executing programs stored in the ROM 67 and various functions that are realized by controlling the hardware.

[0037] The main CPU 61 controls the game of the slot machine 1 to one of a plurality of game states provided in the slot machine 1 depending on the type of winning role group (having one or more roles as constituent roles) that has been won and whether the role is winning or not.

[0038] In addition, the main CPU 61 changes the settings (settings 1 to 6) to adjust the ball payout rate (number of medals won ÷ number of medals inserted × 100 [%]) based on specified setting change operations on the power switch 50, the change process start switch 56, and the reset switch 52.

[0039] In addition, the main CPU 61 selects one of the multiple role selection tables based on the type of the controlled game state and the set value (Setting 1 to Setting 6). In this role selection table, for each of the multiple winning role groups set in advance, the winning role group and the range of the lottery value in which the winning role group wins in the role selection are stored in association with each other.

[0040] In addition, when the start switch 19 is operated by the player, the main CPU 61 generates a random number for lottery within a predetermined range, and extracts the generated random number as a lottery value at the timing when the start switch 19 is operated. Then, the main CPU 61 determines whether or not the winning role group is a winning role, using the selected role lottery value table and the extracted lottery value.

[0041] In addition, when the start switch 19 is operated by the player, the main CPU 61 starts the rotation of each of the reels 13L, 13M, 13R, and detects the rotation positions of the left, center, and right reels 13L, 13M, 13R based on the detection signals of the left, center, and right position sensors 55L, 55M, 55R and the number of pulses supplied to each of the reel motors 14L, 14M, 14R that drive the left, center, and right reels 13L, 13M, 13R. When all of the reels 13L, 13M, 13R have started to rotate at a constant speed, the main CPU 61 enters a state in which it accepts the operation of each of the stop switches 21L, 21M, 21R as a valid operation. In this state, when the player operates each stop switch 21L, 21M, 21R, the main CPU 61 performs stop control so that each reel 13L, 13M, 13R stops within a preset number of slip frames (retractable range: usually up to 4 frames) based on the detected rotation positions of each of the left, center, and right reels 13L, 13M, 13R, the manner in which each stop switch 21L, 21M, 21R is operated by the player (e.g., the order in which it is pressed and the timing of operation), and the result of the role selection.

[0042] After all the reels 13L, 13M, and 13R have stopped spinning, the main CPU 61 judges whether the symbol combination of the winning lines of the reels 13L, 13M, and 13R corresponds to the winning combination that constitutes the winning combination group that was won by the winning combination lottery, and judges that the winning combination has been won if the symbol combination of the winning line corresponds to the winning combination, and judges that the winning combination has been lost if the symbol combination does not correspond to the winning combination. When the main CPU 61 judges that the winning combination that constitutes the winning combination group that was won by the winning combination lottery has been won, if the winning combination is a winning combination with a medal payout, it operates the hopper unit 43 to pay out medals by the payout number corresponding to the winning combination. However, if the number of credit medals stored has not reached the upper limit (for example, 50 medals in this embodiment), the main CPU 61 increases the number of credit medals by the payout number.

[0043] Furthermore, the main CPU 61 controls the operation of the medal selector 48 to switch between medal acceptance and non-acceptance.

[0044] Further, the main CPU 61 generates commands for transmitting various information to the sub-control board 73 (sub-CPU 71), such as setting values, game status, information on the result of the lottery, information on the result of the symbol determination, data representing the status of the slot machine 1, such as the spinning / stopped status of each of the reels 13L, 13M, 13R, the medal payout status, the open / closed status of the front door 5, and an error status of the slot machine 1, and information on the operation of the operating devices operated by the player, such as each of the stop switches 21L, 21M, 21R and the start switch 19, and transmits the generated commands to the sub-CPU 71 of the sub-control board 73. Note that commands are transmitted from the main control board 63 to the sub-control board 73 in a one-way manner.

[0045] (Sub-control board) Next, the sub-control board 73 will be described. The sub-control board 73 receives commands sent from the main control board 63 and performs effects according to the operation and state of the main control board 63. The sub-CPU 71 mounted on the sub-control board 73 has various functions that are realized by executing programs stored in the memory 75 and various functions that are realized by hardware.

[0046] The sub-CPU 71 receives commands including various data transmitted by the main control board 63 (main CPU 61). Then, the sub-CPU 71 determines the content of the performance according to the received command, and according to the determined content of the performance, for example, performs display control to display images such as videos on the liquid crystal display 27, controls the output of audio from the speakers 31L, 31R, controls the light sources of the upper lamp unit 33 and the lower lamp units 37L, 37R to blink simultaneously or individually, and controls the performance based on the operation of the performance button 42.

[0047] (Board unit) Next, the board unit 6 will be described. The control device and control board in this embodiment are the main CPU 61 and main control board 63, respectively, but are not limited to this and may be anything that controls some equipment. For example, the control device and control board may be the sub-CPU 71 and sub-control board 73, respectively, or may be a video control device and video board that control video (not shown), or a gaming media control device and gaming media control board that control the number of gaming media (not shown).

[0048] The board unit 6 of this embodiment is configured by housing the main control board 63 in a transparent board case 107. As shown in FIG. 4, the board unit 6 is configured such that the board case 107 housing the main control board 63 is attached to a back plate covering the back side of the housing 3 by a mounting bracket. In the following, the front side in FIG. 4 is the front side (one side in this embodiment) of the board unit 6, board case 107, and main control board 63, and the back side is the back side (the other side in this embodiment) of the board unit 6, board case 107, and main control board 63. In addition, the top, bottom, left, and right in FIG. 4 will be described as the top, bottom, left, and right of the board unit 6, board case 107, and main control board 63.

[0049] 5, the board case 107 is formed by assembling a rectangular box-shaped cover member 110 with an open rear side and a rectangular box-shaped base member 111 with an open front side using a fixing structure (not shown), and the main control board 63 is housed in the internal space formed by assembling the cover member 110 and the base member 111. Specifically, the cover member 110 and the base member 111 have a horizontally elongated rectangular shape that is slightly larger than the main control board 63 when viewed from the front, and the internal space of the board case 107 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape that can accommodate the entire main control board 63.

[0050] The cover member 110 and the base member 111 are molded products made of transparent resin, and are configured so that the inside of the board case 107 can be seen through the cover member 110 and the base member 111. As shown in Fig. 5, a connector opening 123 is formed in the cover member 110, and when the main control board 63 is housed in the board case 107, the connectors 16a, 16b, and 16c mounted on the main control board 63 are exposed to the outside from the connector opening 123, and the portion of the main control board 63 other than the connectors 16a, 16b, and 16c is sealed by the cover member 110 and the base member 111. In addition, connectors other than the connectors 16a, 16b, and 16c are mounted on the main control board 63, and are exposed to the outside from the corresponding connector openings.

[0051] In order to prevent fraudulent acts against the main control board 63, when the main control board 63 is housed in the board case 107, a sealing structure (not shown) engages the cover member 110 and the base member 111 in a manner that makes them difficult to separate, and also installs them in a manner that makes them difficult to remove from the slot machine 1.

[0052] FIG. 6 shows the positions of electronic components installed on the front side of the main control board 63, FIG. 7 shows the state of electrical wiring and through holes on the front side of the main control board 63, FIG. 8 shows the state of electrical wiring and through holes on the back side of the main control board 63, and FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of area A in FIG. 6 to FIG. 8. However, FIG. 9(C) is inverted left and right to make it easier to understand the correspondence with FIG. 9(A) and FIG. 9(B). Also, FIG. 10 shows the signal connection relationship of the main electronic components in FIG. 9. As shown in FIG. 6, the main control board 63 has multiple electronic components mounted on the front side of the main control board 63, and no electronic components are mounted on the back side, with only wiring connecting the electronic components laid out. Here, electronic components are classified into active components such as diodes and transistors that receive an input signal and output an output signal that changes the power, voltage or current; passive components such as capacitance and resistance that consume, store and release the supplied power; and auxiliary components such as connectors and switches that connect / disconnect or fix elements (between).

[0053] 6 and 7, a main CPU 61 and a buffer IC 301 are mounted as examples of active components mounted on the main control board 63. The main CPU 61 is fixed by inserting terminals into component connection through holes 500 and filling the component connection through holes 500 with solder, and in this embodiment, electronic components mounted by such a mounting method are called insertion-mounted components. The component connection through holes 500 are provided in a roughly circular shape and are designed to have a larger area than the wiring connection through holes 501 provided to connect the electrical wiring on the front side and the electrical wiring on the back side.

[0054] In contrast, the buffer IC 301 is fixed by soldering the terminals of the buffer IC 301 to the connection points 502 exposed on the board wiring on the main control board 63 side, without inserting the terminals into the component connection through holes 500. In this embodiment, electronic components mounted by such a mounting method are called surface mounted components. The connection points 502 are set in a roughly rectangular shape, and are designed to have an area smaller than the component connection through holes 500.

[0055] Further, the component connecting through holes 500, the wiring connecting through holes 501, and the inspection points 600 described below are provided by openings in the main control board 63, and the openings are filled with conductive metal to fix electronic components or to connect the electrical wiring on the front side to the electrical wiring on the back side. Since there are openings, the diameter of the electrical wiring is generally larger than the minimum width of the electrical wiring laid on the front side or back side.

[0056] Generally, the distance between terminals of surface-mounted components is narrower than that of insertion-mounted components. This is because, in insertion-mounted components, terminals are inserted into the component-connecting through-holes 500, so the distance between the through-holes must be sufficient to prevent a decrease in the strength of the board, and the component-connecting through-holes 500 themselves have a larger area than the wiring-connecting through-holes 501 in order to ensure space for the terminals to pass through. In contrast, the minimum distance between terminals for surface-mounted components is the distance between terminals that can be mechanically soldered, so the distance between terminals of surface-mounted components is narrower than that of insertion-mounted components. Therefore, surface-mounted components are often smaller than insertion-mounted components, and mounting them on boards can contribute to the miniaturization of boards.

[0057] Here, by installing buffer IC301, which is a surface-mounted component with a narrow distance between terminals, it is possible to reduce the size of main control board 63. However, it becomes difficult to perform electrical testing such as measuring signal values ​​by contacting each terminal of buffer IC301 with a tester needle during manufacturing or when a malfunction occurs.

[0058] Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, by providing test points 600, which are the second through-holes in this embodiment, on the wiring connected to each terminal of buffer IC 301 so as to correspond to each terminal of buffer IC 301, electrical testing can be easily performed.

[0059] The inspection points 600 have a larger diameter than the wiring connection through holes 501, which are the first through holes in this embodiment, and have approximately the same area as the component connection through holes 500. Therefore, electrical inspection can be easily performed, but if the installation positions, number, and conditions are not determined, the size of the main control board 63 may become larger.

[0060] Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, when connection point 502A of buffer IC 301, which is a surface-mount component, and component connection through-hole 500A of main CPU 61, which is an insertion-mount component, are connected by electrical wiring 503A, electrical testing can be performed by directly contacting the tester needle with component connection through-hole 500A or the terminal of main CPU 61, so that inspection point 600 is not installed.

[0061] Similarly, although not shown, when the connection points of the surface mount components and the component connection through holes of the connector are connected by electrical wiring, the test can be performed by directly applying a tester to the component connection through holes or connector terminals, so no inspection points are provided. In this case, the same approach can be taken even if the connector is a surface mount component. This is because connector terminals generally have a distance between them that allows them to be measured with a tester.

[0062] On the other hand, when the connection point 502B of the buffer IC301 and the connection point 502C of the buffer IC302, which is a surface mount component, are connected by the electric wiring 503B and are not connected to an insertion mount component or a connector, it is difficult to apply a tester to the connection points 502B, 502C and the buffer ICs 301, 302, so an inspection point 600B is provided at one point on the path of the electric wiring 503B. At this time, the electric wiring 504B, which is the path from the connection point 502B to the inspection point 600B, is laid on the front side, and no wiring is laid from the inspection point 600B to the back side, and the back side of the inspection point 600B is surrounded by the power supply solid wiring BL. In addition, the electric wiring 505B, which is the path from the inspection point 600B to the wiring connection through hole 501B, is laid on the front side and is connected to the electric wiring 506B on the back side by the wiring connection through hole 501B.

[0063] The electrical wiring 506B laid on the back side is connected to electrical wiring 510B, 511B, 512B laid on the front side by a plurality of wiring connection through holes 507B, 508B, 509B, respectively, and is connected to connection points 502D, 502E, 502F of buffer ICs 303, 304, 305 by electrical wiring 510B, 511B, 512B.

[0064] Here, as shown in Fig. 6 and Fig. 9(A), the main CPU 61, the buffer ICs 301 to 305, and the inspection point 600B are printed as identification numbers on the front side of the main control board 63 near each of them, with numbers such as "IC6", "IC10", "IC13", "IC12", "IC9", "IC17", and "TP4". These numbers are displayed by silk screen printing, but may be printed by laser engraving or the like. Although not shown, the identification numbers may be printed on the back side at positions corresponding to the main CPU 61 and the buffer ICs 301 to 305, but the identification numbers are not printed at the position corresponding to the inspection point 600. The reason for this will be described later.

[0065] 9(B) and 10, electrical wiring 504B, which is a path from connection point 502B to inspection point 600B, is laid on the front side. Electrical wiring 504B is a wiring that connects the output terminal of buffer IC 301 and inspection point 600B, and by laying this electrical wiring on the front side and laying wiring connection through hole 501B and electrical wiring 506B on the back side in the subsequent path, it is possible to clearly see that electrical wiring 504B is the output side electrical wiring and that buffer IC 301 connected to this electrical wiring is the output side simply by checking the front side of main control board 63.

[0066] 9, the test points 600 connected to the output terminals of the buffer IC 301 are densely arranged in the test point area TPA, and the power supply solid wiring BL is laid out on the back side so as to surround the test point area TPA. This makes it easy to check the test points 600 visually and mechanically when performing electrical testing.

[0067] Incidentally, when performing the above-mentioned electrical inspection, two types of tests are considered: a continuity test, which is performed to check whether the electrical wiring is broken during the manufacturing process, and an analysis test, which is performed to find the cause of a malfunction when it occurs. In the case of a continuity test, since it is only to check whether electrical continuity is established, a tester is mechanically applied to the component connection through holes 500 and the inspection points 600 from the back side with the control board removed, and measurements are taken. Therefore, it is more convenient if the inspection points 600 have a through-hole structure, but there is no need to check the identification number. On the other hand, in the case of an analysis test, the cause of the malfunction is inferred by comparing the ideal value with the actual value while comparing with the mounted circuit. Therefore, if the flow of the electrical signal can be understood by the identification number on the main control board 63 and the laying of the electrical wiring to the inspection points 600, the analysis test can be performed efficiently. For the above reasons, the identification number corresponding to the inspection points 600 is printed on the front side of the main control board 63, and the identification number corresponding to the inspection points 600 is not printed on the back side.

[0068] As for the electrical wiring where the inspection point 600 is provided, it is desirable to lay the electrical wiring from the connection point 502 to which the output terminal is connected to the inspection point 600 on the front side like the electrical wiring 504B, but in terms of layout, doing so reduces the degree of design freedom and may result in an increase in the board area. For this reason, it is desirable to use this form for so-called bus connections in which one output terminal is connected to the input terminals of multiple buffer ICs. This is because it is possible to prevent confusion during analysis testing that may occur due to multiple connection destinations.

[0069] 6 and 7, the inspection points 600 are provided on the front side of the main control board 63 at positions that do not overlap with electronic components when viewed from the front of the main control board 63. In other words, the inspection points 600 are not provided at positions that are hidden by electronic components. This is because, when performing an analysis test, if there are locations that can only be measured by a tester on the back side, the efficiency of the inspection decreases.

[0070] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the above embodiment is the main control board 63 of the slot machine 1, but the present invention may be other control boards (sub-control boards, image control boards, etc.) of the slot machine, or may be control boards related to other gaming machines (pachinko machines, etc.).

[0071] In addition, although the board unit 6 in this embodiment is attached to the rear side of the housing 3, this is not limited thereto. For example, it may be attached to the rear side of the front door 5 or to the side of the housing 3. However, when the board unit 6 is attached to the rear side of the front door 5, the rear side of the front door 5 is the front side of the board unit 6, the board case 107, and the main control board 63, and the front side of the front door 5 is the rear side of the board unit 6, the board case 107, and the main control board 63. In either case, the board unit 6 is installed inside the slot machine 1 so that the electronic component mounting surface of the main control board 63 is visible when the front door is opened.

[0072] Also, although it has been described above that the inspection point 600 is not installed in a position hidden by electronic components, the inspection point 600 may be arranged in a position hidden by electronic components. Since the inspection point 600 allows electrical testing with a tester, the electrical wiring is exposed, and if someone attempting to commit fraud were able to access it with a wire or the like, it would be easy to commit fraud such as injecting any signal into the main CPU 61. In contrast, if the inspection point 600 is arranged in a position hidden by electronic components, the electrical wiring can only be accessed from the back side, improving security.

[0073] Also, as shown in FIG. 10, some electronic components represented by the buffer ICs 301-305 have a reset function. The reset function detects power interruption or temperature change and changes the signal input to the reset terminal of each electronic component to prevent the slot machine 1 and the main CPU 61 from being affected, but since it is an internal function, it is difficult to monitor by electrical inspection. However, if the reset IC 306 is made a surface mount component in addition to the buffer ICs 301-305, an inspection point 600 is provided, making it easier to monitor by electrical inspection. In this way, the electronic components connected to monitor the specific signal may be surface mount components, so that an inspection point 600 for monitoring the specific signal may be provided. In addition to the above-mentioned reset signal, the specific signal may be a ratio display signal that displays the payout ratio of the slot machine 1 on a 7-segment display, or a gaming media number display signal that displays the number of gaming media. [Explanation of symbols]

[0074] 1. Slot machines 61…Main CPU 63…Main control board 301~305...Buffer IC 501, 501B, 507B, 508B, 509B...Through holes for wiring connections 600, 600B…Inspection points

Claims

1. A gaming machine having a front door and a housing, A control board on which a control device is mounted is installed inside the gaming machine, a control board on one side of which a plurality of electronic components including the control device are arranged, and when the control board is installed inside the gaming machine and the front door is opened, the one side of the control board is visible; The plurality of electronic components include an insertion mounting component that is mounted by inserting a first board connection terminal into an opening that penetrates the one surface side and the other surface side opposite to the one surface side of the control board; a surface mount component in which a terminal is not inserted into the opening and a second board connection terminal is soldered to the one surface side; Including, The control board includes: A first wiring pattern is laid on the one surface side; a second wiring pattern provided on the other surface side; a first through hole connecting the first wiring pattern and the second wiring pattern; a test point connected to the first wiring pattern; Equipped with Among the signal paths connected to the second board connection terminal, the signal path connected to the first board connection terminal is not provided with the test point, the inspection point is provided on a specific path, which is a signal path that is not connected to the first substrate connecting terminal but is connected to a second substrate connecting terminal different from the second substrate connecting terminal, among the signal paths connected to the second substrate connecting terminal; a plurality of the specific paths are provided by connecting a plurality of the second board connection terminals to each other, and the inspection point is provided at only one location on each of the specific paths; A gaming machine characterized in that, in each of the specific paths, a special path from any of the connected second board connection terminals to the inspection point is composed of the first wiring pattern.

2. The gaming machine described in claim 1, characterized in that an identification number corresponding to the inspection point is printed near the inspection point on one side of the control board, and the identification number is not printed on the other side.

3. 3. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the inspection points are arranged at positions that do not overlap any of the plurality of electronic components when the one surface side is viewed from the front.

Images