Amusement park systems

Abstract

To provide a game information display device with an improved visual effect in a configuration provided with an extension display device, and to provide a game parlor system.SOLUTION: In a game information display device, an extension display device having a 7 segment display part on a principal surface and an extension lamp part in a peripheral part can be connected to an upper side of an upper display device. Extension game information different from game information of the upper display device is displayed by the 7 segment display part, and performance display related to a light flow is performed by the extension lamp part so that both can be easily recognized by a player.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for an amusement park. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, in a gaming machine island where a plurality of gaming machines are arranged, a gaming machine display device is installed above each gaming machine to display information about the gaming machine. This type of display device is provided in the form of a plate that protrudes from the installation surface of the gaming machines on the gaming island and has a plurality of LEDs as light-emitting means (see, for example, Patent Document 1). With this device, the light-emitting mode of the light-emitting means can be expected to have the effect of appealing to other players the payout status of each gaming machine, etc. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-63786 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In recent years, information related to gaming machines has become more diverse, and it is desirable for the above-mentioned display devices to be able to display multiple types of gaming information. In this case, it is conceivable to periodically switch the display content (by switching the LED light emission mode) to display multiple types of gaming information, but there is also the concern that it may take the player time to figure out which gaming information is being displayed. Therefore, it is conceivable to expand the display area of ​​the display device, but how to expand the display area and the visibility and visual effect thereof are also issues that must be considered.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an amusement park system that is configured with an extended display device and has an enhanced visual effect. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention relates to a system for amusement parlors in which a plurality of game information display devices are installed, each of which is configured with an upper display device that is provided above a call display device provided corresponding to a gaming machine and displays predetermined game information (for example, maximum ball output, ball output at one shot, etc.), and an extended display device that can be connected to the upper side of the upper display device. The extended display device has a 7-segment display unit (for example, extended display unit 61 in Figure 4(b)) provided on its main surface and an extended lamp unit (for example, extended lamp units 45L to 48Lb on outer periphery 45 to 48b in Figure 4(b)) provided on the outer periphery, and displays extended game information (for example, the number of jackpots, rankings, etc.) different from the game information on the 7-segment display unit, and also displays a performance related to a light flow that sequentially illuminates the light-emitting areas on the outer periphery of the extended lamp unit.

[0007] According to the present invention, an extended display device having a 7-segment display section on the main surface and an extended lamp section on the outer periphery can be connected to the upper side of the upper display device, and the 7-segment display section displays extended game information that is different from the game information of the upper display device, and the extended lamp section displays a performance related to light flow, so that both are easy for players to see and the device can be provided as a game information display device with enhanced visual effects. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a game center system according to a first embodiment; [Figure 2] Card unit electrical block diagram [Figure 3] Electrical block diagram of the call display device and upper display device [Figure 4] (a) is an external view of the upper display device, (b) and (c) are external views of the first and second extended display devices. [Figure 5] 1A and 1B are external views of the game information display device showing the second extended display device connected to the first position and the second position, respectively. [Figure 6] Electrical block diagram when first and second extension displays are connected to the upper display unit [Figure 7] An explanatory diagram of the light emission pattern in the upper display device and the extended display device (part 1) [Figure 8] An explanatory diagram of the light emission pattern in the upper display device and the extended display device (part 2) [Figure 9] An explanatory diagram of the light emission pattern in the upper display device and the extended display device (part 3) [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of settings related to an extended display device by a management device. [Figure 11] 5A and 5B, showing the first and second positions in the second embodiment. [Figure 12] 4(b) and 4(c) show first and second extended display devices according to a third embodiment; [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a perspective view schematically showing a game information display device and its periphery in a fourth embodiment. [Figure 14] (a) and (b) are a side view and a perspective view showing the extension member, and (c) is a schematic view of the entire game information display device shown in a state where the extension member is inserted. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, a number of embodiments embodying the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that substantially the same components in the respective embodiments will be designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. First Embodiment The first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the gaming facility system shown in Fig. 1, a large number of gaming machines 1, such as pachinko machines and slot machines, are installed in the gaming facility, and card units 2 are installed in one-to-one correspondence with the gaming machines 1. The gaming machines 1 are connected to the corresponding card units 2, and the card units 2 are connected in pairs to relay devices 4. The relay devices 4 are connected to a management device 6 via a LAN 5.

[0010] A call display device 3 is attached above each gaming machine 1, and an upper display device 7 is further attached above the call display device 3, and both display devices 3, 7 are provided for each gaming machine 1. Of these, the call display device 3 receives various game signals (game information) output from the gaming machine 1 via the card unit 2 and the relay device 4, and creates and displays various display information.

[0011] The upper display device 7 receives from the call display device 3 information relating to game media that will be awarded to the player as a result of the game, among the display information created by the call display device 3, and displays it. The upper display device 7 of this embodiment, together with first and second extended display devices 81 and 82 (collectively referred to as "extended display devices 8") connectable thereto, constitutes a game information display device 9, which will be described in detail later. The game information display device 9 is connected to the relay device 4 via the call display device 3, and the relay device 4 collects information from the display devices 3, 9 or from the gaming machine 1 and card unit 2.

[0012] Although not shown in the figure, a prize exchange terminal (POS) and a payment machine are also installed in the gaming center, and the POS and the payment machine are also connected to the management device 6 via the LAN 5. The POS executes a prize exchange process for exchanging prizes within a range of gaming values ​​such as owned points and deposited points (so-called saved balls) specified by accepting an IC card 10 (membership card 10a or general card 10b shown in FIG. 2) issued by the card unit 2. The settlement machine also has a card insertion slot into which the IC card 10 is inserted, reads the deposit balance (monetary value, hereinafter sometimes referred to as the balance) recorded on the IC card 10 inserted through the card insertion slot using a card RW, and returns bills or coins corresponding to the read balance through a return slot.

[0013] The management device 6 is installed in an office or the like within the amusement facility, and includes a control unit (not shown) and an I / F unit as a transmission / reception unit. The control unit of the management device 6 is mainly composed of a microcomputer having a CPU and storage units such as ROM and RAM, and the control unit is connected to a keyboard 6b, monitor 6a, printer (not shown), etc., which are operated by the amusement facility manager (simply referred to as the "manager").

[0014] The control unit of the management device 6 (hereinafter referred to as "management device 6") manages the game information for each gaming machine 1 by receiving the game signal output from the gaming machine 1 side at the I / F unit via the card unit 2 and relay device 4 in sequence. The management device 6 also manages information on all the devices in the gaming facility, such as the card unit 2, the call display device 3, the game information display device 9, the POS, the payment machine, etc., in addition to the operating status of the gaming machine 1. As will be described in detail later, the management device 6 manages the game information display device 9 and transmits setting information related to the connection of the extended display device 8.

[0015] 1, for example, several hundred gaming machines 1 are actually managed by the management device 6. Also, for the sake of convenience in the drawing, there are spaces on the left and right sides of the gaming machines 1, but in reality, a number of gaming machines 1 are installed adjacent to each other on the gaming island with a card unit 2 in between, as is well known, and the gaming information display device 9 (upper display device 7) is installed at an upper position of the gaming island in accordance with the arrangement of the gaming machines 1 (see gaming island 100 in FIG. 13 described later).

[0016] The gaming machine 1 shown in FIG. 1 is configured as, for example, a so-called sealed-in type pachinko gaming machine or a medal-less type slot machine in which gaming value is managed only by information. Specifically, the pachinko machine shown on the left side of Fig. 1 is a sealed-type pachinko gaming machine that uses circulating pachinko balls sealed inside the machine in advance. The game value used in the gaming machine 1 is virtual pachinko balls, but it is a game value stored in a memory unit inside the machine, and unlike conventional payout-type gaming machines, the balls shot onto the board 11 circulate and are not paid out outside the gaming machine even if a prize is won, and the game value (game points) in the memory unit increases or decreases depending on the game.

[0017] When the pachinko machine receives the game points from the card unit 2, it becomes possible to fire pachinko balls equal to the game points, and when the game points reach "0", it becomes impossible to fire pachinko balls. The pachinko machine transmits the game points to the card unit 2 in response to a counting operation (for example, a touch operation on the touch panel described below) and subtracts the game points. The gaming machine 1 displays various game data (number of jackpots, number of special drawing draws, etc.) on the information display unit 13 in response to an information display operation (an operation on the same touch panel).

[0018] 1, the pachinko machine has a face 11 from which pachinko balls are shot, a launch handle 12 that constitutes the launching device, and a touch panel type information display unit 13 having a touch panel on its surface. The face 11 is provided with a liquid crystal display unit 14 and a pattern display unit (special pattern display unit, normal pattern display unit) on the display unit 14, a special pattern 1 start slot 15, a special pattern 2 start slot 16, and a big prize slot 17. In pachinko machines, a jackpot lottery is held on special prize draw 1 by winning the so-called center hole (special prize draw 1 start slot 15) (or on special prize draw 2 by winning the electric chute). One jackpot lottery is also called a start. When a jackpot is won in the jackpot lottery, the jackpot game begins (transition to jackpot state), and the large prize draw slot 17 is opened for a number of rounds (R) corresponding to the type of special prize draw. In this case, for example, the maximum number of prizes per round is 10, and when a prize is won in the large prize draw slot 17, 15 game points are added.

[0019] The slot machine shown on the right side of Figure 1 is a medalless slot machine that allows play without using actual medals. The slot machine also stores and manages game values ​​(game points) stored in its internal memory, and a game can be started on the condition that the game points have a specified number (for example, 3 points) required to play at least one game. When a player acquires points according to the type of winning combination, the points are added to the game points in the data without paying out medals, and the slot machine mainly manages the increase and decrease of the game points.

[0020] When the slot machine receives the gaming points from the card unit 2, it becomes possible to bet points equal to the gaming points. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the slot machine has a display window 18, a start lever 19, stop buttons 20 (left stop button, center stop button, and right stop button), a touch panel type information display unit 21, a BET button 22, etc. A player can view the symbols depicted on the reels provided inside through the display window 18. When the player operates the BET button 22, a predetermined number of credited (stored) game points are bet (the player bets the aforementioned three points). When the start lever 19 is operated in this state, an internal lottery is executed and the symbol fluctuations are initiated (the game is started), and when the stop button 20 is operated, the reel fluctuations are stopped by so-called pull-in control.

[0021] As is well known, slot machines have bonus roles (BB and RB roles) in addition to small roles and replay roles. During the internal lottery, if a player operates the stop button 20 while an internally winning role has been obtained, a win occurs when the symbols corresponding to the internally winning role are stopped and displayed on a pre-set pay line. When a win occurs, game points are awarded according to the winning role. For example, there are 3-point winning roles, 5-point winning roles, 10-point winning roles, and 15-point winning roles. If the winning role is a 15-point winning role, 15 game points are awarded. If the winning role is a bonus role (BB or RB), the machine transitions to a bonus state (BB state or RB state). The BB state and RB state are game states (jackpot states) that are more advantageous to the player than the normal state. Since the number of game points awarded for small roles and the probability of winning are improved, game points can be earned all at once. In addition, like the information display unit 13 of a pachinko machine, the information display unit 21 of a slot machine is capable of displaying not only counting buttons for the counting operation, but also game points and various operating data (number of games played, number of bonuses generated, etc.).

[0022] From the gaming machine 1 such as the pachinko machine or slot machine, various gaming signals including the following gaming signals are transmitted (output) to the card unit 2. ·Out signal: A signal indicating the number of points used in the game. Safe signal: A signal indicating the number of points obtained as a result of the game. · Jackpot signal: A signal that is output when a jackpot occurs. As mentioned above, the gaming value acquired by the player through play, which is the number of points managed primarily on the gaming machine 1 side, is also referred to as gaming points, and the number of points managed primarily on the card unit 2 side is also referred to as owned points.

[0023] The above gaming signals may be a data item (for example, "out" = a data item indicating the value (out) consumed (used, put in) since the previous data transmission in units of one ball), or may be a data signal summarizing multiple pieces of gaming information in a telegram. In this case, data may be aggregated in units of a predetermined period (for example, 200 ms), and the aggregated data and a data signal in a telegram that can identify the status at that time may be transmitted (output). In addition to the data signal, gaming signals may of course include pulse signals, status signals, etc. Furthermore, various gaming information is transmitted from the gaming machine 1 to the card unit 2 side (relay device 4 side) as a signal output in accordance with the execution of a game using gaming points, and various signals may be output depending on the model, not just the above gaming signals.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 1, there are two types of card units 2: one for pachinko machines that is placed on the left side of the pachinko machine, and one for slot machines that is placed on the right side of the slot machine. For ease of explanation, the same reference numerals will be used to designate components that are common to both types, and they will be described together. The card unit 2 is a gaming device that is provided in correspondence with each gaming machine 1 such as a pachinko machine or a slot machine, and allows the player to play on the gaming machine 1 by granting gaming value to the player based on the deposited balance.

[0025] The card unit 2 shown in Figure 1 has a status lamp 2L that indicates the gaming status of the corresponding gaming machine 1 and the status of the card unit 2 (error status, etc.), a bill insertion slot 23 into which bills are inserted, a touch panel type LCD display 24 that accepts operation inputs from the player and displays various gaming data and the like, a loan button 25 for performing loan operations, a return button 26 for performing return operations, a replay button 27 for performing replay operations, and a card insertion / ejection slot 28 that allows the insertion and ejection of an IC card 10.

[0026] 2 is a functional block diagram mainly showing the card unit 2. As shown in the figure, the card unit 2 has a control unit 29 and an I / F unit 29e as a transmitting / receiving unit. The control unit 29 is mainly composed of a microcomputer having a CPU 29a, ROM 29b, RAM 29c, I / O 29d, etc. The I / F unit 29e accepts various game information (receives signal outputs, etc.) in accordance with the execution of a game using game points on the corresponding gaming machine 1, and also accepts setting information, etc. through communication with the management device 6, etc.

[0027] The peripheral parts connected to the control unit 29 include an LED that constitutes the above-mentioned status lamp 2L, a banknote processing unit (not shown) that determines the authenticity of banknotes inserted into the banknote insertion slot 23, an LCD display unit 24 and the touch panel provided on the display unit 24, a loan button 25, a re-play button 27, and a return button 26, as well as an I / F unit 29e that sends and receives various signals and information to and from the gaming machine 1 and the management device 6, a card R / W 28a that reads and writes various information recorded on the IC card 10 inserted into the card insertion / ejection slot 28, a card stock unit 28b that can stock up to 10 general cards 10b, and a short-range communication unit 2C that has a short-range communication function that can contactlessly read various information recorded on the IC card 10 and a mobile terminal (not shown).

[0028] The card unit 2 operates as follows. (1) Receives the various gaming signals described above from the gaming machine 1, tallying and storing them, and transmits them to the management device 6 and the call display device 3 via the relay device 4. It also transmits the player's deposit balance and gaming points to the management device 6. Receives and stores various setting information (gaming machine number, model name, point unit price, etc.) from the management device 6. (2) When a bill is inserted into the bill insertion slot 23, the deposit information is added to the deposit balance and recorded.

[0029] (3) When the IC card 10 is inserted into the card insertion / ejection slot 28, the card unit 2 reads out the deposit balance and the number of points associated with the card ID of the card 10 and displays them on the display unit 24. For example, in the card unit 2 for a pachinko machine, when the loan button 25 is operated, points corresponding to a certain amount (for example, 1,000 yen) are converted into game points in increments of 250 points and sent to the gaming machine 1. When the replay button 27 is operated, the number of points owned is converted into game points in increments of 250 points and sent to the gaming machine 1. The number of points owned, game points, and total number of points (the sum of the number of points owned and game points) are stored and displayed. The card unit 2 receives point addition information and point subtraction information from the gaming machine 1, updates the stored number of points according to the received point addition information and point subtraction information, and sends point number information to the relay device 4 according to the updated number of points.

[0030] (4) When at least one of the deposited balance and the number of owned points exists and the player operates the return button 26 (return operation), the deposited balance and the number of owned points are recorded on the IC card 10 and issued. In other words, the deposit information, etc. is recorded in association with the IC card 10, and the card 10 is dispensed and issued through the insertion / ejection slot 28. When the number of owned points is recorded, type information (for example, information on the lending rate) corresponding to the gaming machine 1 that acquired them is also recorded in association. The gaming points are not recorded on the IC card 10 but remain on the gaming machine 1 side.

[0031] (5) A maximum of 10 general cards 10b are stocked in the card stock section 28b. The card unit 2 described above can identify various information such as currency acceptance processing, value granting processing, balance, points held, loan points (points at the time of loan), conversion points, deposit amount, counted points, loan points, sales amount in exchange for the loan points, and acceptance and issuance processing of IC card 10 through serial communication with the relay device 4 in the management device 6.

[0032] The call display device 3 shown in FIG. 1 is capable of displaying game data corresponding to the type of gaming machine 1, and one device is provided for each gaming machine 1 above the gaming machine 1. The call display device 3 comprises a liquid crystal display unit 31, a lamp unit 32, a group of operation buttons including a call button 33 and a menu button, and a remote control light receiving unit 34. When the call button 33 is pressed by a player, a call display for calling an employee is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 31 and the lamp unit 32. The remote control light receiving unit 34 receives a remote control signal transmitted from a remote control (not shown) carried by the employee.

[0033] FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the display devices 3 and 7 including the call display device 3 (excluding the extended display device 8). The control unit 30 of the call display device 3 is mainly composed of a microcomputer having a CPU 30a, storage units such as a ROM 30b and a RAM 30c, an I / O 30d, etc. The control unit 30 is connected to an I / F unit 30e that transmits and receives various signals and information to and from the management device 6 and the gaming machine 1, as well as the above-mentioned liquid crystal display unit 31, lamp unit 32, a group of operation buttons including a call button 33, a remote control light receiving unit 34, etc.

[0034] In addition to the call display, the call display device 3 divides the display area on the liquid crystal display unit 31 into multiple display areas and displays the number of jackpots and the number of initial jackpots that occur under normal conditions in the relevant period unit (for example, the day of business, one day before, two days before), as well as the start (number of pattern changes) from the time the initialization condition is met (the start of business, the end of special state, etc.), and a history graph that graphs the start of each jackpot unit.

[0035] The game information display device 9 shown in Fig. 1 is provided at a position higher than the call display device 3 so that, for example, one device corresponds to each gaming machine 1. For ease of explanation, Fig. 1 shows the game information display device 9 in a schematic perspective form, but as shown in Fig. 13, it is mounted in a direction that protrudes from the installation surface 100b of the gaming island 100. The configuration of the game information display device 9 will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 4 and subsequent drawings.

[0036] Here, Figures 4(a) to (c) are external views showing each display device 7, 81, 82 that make up the game information display device 9 individually, and of these, (a) shows the upper display device 7, and (b) and (c) show the first extended display device 81 and the second extended display device 82 individually. 1(a) to 1(c) are front views of the display devices 7, 81, 82 as seen from their respective main surfaces, with the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of the drawings being the front-to-back direction. In the drawings, the longitudinal direction of the upper display device 7 in 1(a) is the left-to-right direction, and the base end side (mounting side) of the upper display device 7 is the right side.

[0037] As shown in Figure 4(a), the upper display device 7 integrally comprises a device main body 7a in the shape of a relatively horizontally elongated plate (thin box), and a base portion 7b connected to the base end lower portion 44a of the device main body 7a (lower right side in the same figure). The base 7b has a flange-shaped mounting portion 7c located at the lower right side, which is the base end side of the base 7b. The mounting portion 7c has, for example, a screw hole formed therein, and by inserting a screw (not shown) through the mounting portion 7c and threading it into the mounting seat 100a (see FIG. 13) of the play island 100, the base 7b and therefore the device main body 7a are attached and fixed.

[0038] In this case, the base part 7b holds the device main body 7a in a form that extends diagonally upward from the mounting seat 100a side of the gaming island 100 shown in Fig. 13 toward the aisle side (left side) (see Fig. 4(a)). As a result, the upper display device 7 is positioned so that the main surface of the device main body 7a is perpendicular (or intersects) with the installation surface 100b of the gaming island 100, that is, in a direction that is easily visible not only to players playing on the gaming island 100 but also to other players watching the games from the edge of the gaming island 100.

[0039] 13, the installation surface 100b is a substantially vertical surface, and the mounting seat 100a corresponds to a mounting portion formed on the upper part of the stepped installation surface 100b (above the call display device 3). The mounting portion 7c of the base portion 7b only needs to be configured so that it can be mounted directly to the mounting portion or indirectly via an extension member 90 (described later), and it may be mounted using a mounting means other than the screw.

[0040] The device body 7a of the upper display device 7 is a housing formed in a relatively horizontally elongated honeycomb shape when viewed from the front in Figure 4(a), and its outer periphery 41 to 44b forms an approximately hexagonal shape with an upper side portion 41 and a lower side portion 43 extending horizontally, and left side portions 42a and 42b and right side portions 44a and 44b each inclined at, for example, 60 degrees relative to these. In other words, the outer peripheral portions 41 to 44b of the device body 7a are generally hexagonal, with the upper inclined portions 42a, 44b inclined downward from both ends of the upper side 41 in a V-shape, and the lower inclined portions 42b, 44a inclined upward from both ends of the lower side 43 in an inverted V-shape, forming a slightly upward angle. As a result, the device body 7a has a larger display area in its upper half (upper stage portion) than in its lower half (lower half portion).

[0041] The upper display device 7 has a first display unit 51 and a second display unit 52 provided in the upper and lower parts of the device main body 7a, legend display units 53 and 54 provided above and below the display units 51, 52, and lamp units 41L to 44Lb provided on the outer periphery 41 to 44b.

[0042] Of these, the first and second display units 51, 52 each display predetermined game information arbitrarily selected and set by the administrator using the management device 6 (game information setting means). This game information includes multiple types of game information indicating, for example, the best records for the current day or past business days, and the type of game information selected and set by the management device 6 is sent to the upper display device 7 via the call display device 3 (see Figure 3), making it possible to change the game information to be displayed.

[0043] In this case, the first display unit 51 is configured with an LED group including, for example, a multi-digit 7-segment LED (7-segment display unit), and the contents (changeable game information) displayed by the light emission thereof are as follows: · Maximum payout: Indicates the maximum number of game points awarded to a player on the corresponding gaming machine 1. · Single payout: Indicates the maximum number of game points awarded to a player in one special prize period (the period from the first jackpot, such as a jackpot or bonus, that occurs from normal mode to the return to normal mode) on the corresponding gaming machine 1. BB / RB: Indicates the number of big bonuses / regular bonuses when the corresponding gaming machine 1 is a slot machine. For example, of the five-digit seven-segment display shown in Figure 4(a), the left two digits indicate the number of BBs, and the right two digits indicate the number of RBs. AT / RB: When the corresponding gaming machine is a slot machine, it indicates the AT equivalent to BB / AT equivalent to RB. As with BB / RB, the left two digits indicate the number of ATs, and the right two digits indicate the number of RBs.

[0044] The second display unit 52 is configured, for example, with a multi-digit 7-segment display unit similar to (or slightly smaller than) the first display unit 51, and displays the following information: · Balls held: Indicates the number of game points owned by the player. · Maximum payout: Indicates the maximum number of game points awarded to a player on the corresponding gaming machine 1. · Single payout: Indicates the maximum number of game points awarded to a player in one special prize period on the corresponding gaming machine 1. Start: Indicates the number of starts since the end of the previous jackpot. · Composite probability: When the corresponding gaming machine 1 is a slot machine, it indicates (total number of BB and RB) / (cumulative number of starts).

[0045] Both the upper and lower legend display sections 53, 54 have a transparent POP cover on the front (surface), and can store (insert) a display medium that has game information names (such as the names of game information such as the above-mentioned maximum ball payout, one-shot ball payout, ... composite probability) displayed in advance, like a POP medium. A plurality of types of POP media are prepared for each piece of game information displayed in each legend display section 53, 54, and are configured to be interchangeable as appropriate according to the type of game information (game information name). As a result, the upper legend display section 53 displays the game information name displayed in the first display section 51, while the lower legend display section 54 displays the game information name displayed in the second display section 52.

[0046] In addition, the legend display unit 53 is provided on the front side of the lamp unit 41L on the upper side 41, and the legend display unit 54 is provided on the front side of the lamp unit 43L on the lower side 43, and the name of the game information can be displayed (illuminated) by illuminating each of the lamp units 41L, 43L. This makes it possible to know at a glance (from the legend display sections 53, 54) which gaming information is currently being displayed on the first and second display sections 51, 52, and makes it possible to provide information in an appropriate manner to a player who is considering (selecting) which gaming machine 1 to play on.

[0047] The lamp sections 41L to 44Lb are located around the first and second display sections 51 and 52 shown in Figure 4(a) and are light-emitting areas set in a ring shape on the outer periphery 41 to 44b of the device main body 7a (upper display device 7). Specifically, the lamp sections 41L to 44Lb are groups of LEDs mounted on, for example, a substrate not shown, and have groups of LEDs arranged along the top edge 41, left edge sections 42a, 42b, bottom edge 43, and right edge sections 44a, 44b, respectively, and form a ring shape with the lamp section 41L on the top edge 41, the lamp sections 42La, 42Lb on the left edge sections 42a, 42b, the lamp section 43L on the bottom edge 43, and the lamp sections 44La, 44Lb on the right edge sections 44a, 44b.

[0048] The lamp units 41L to 44Lb are prisms that disperse and reflect the light of the LED groups, and have a prism unit 56 that matches the arrangement of the LED groups and is configured in combination with the substrate of the LED groups. As a result, the lamp units 41L to 44Lb (first light-emitting means) form a light-emitting area as an illumination unit, so to speak, with the LED groups as light-emitting bodies and the prism unit 56.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 50 (light emission control means) of the upper display device 7 is mainly composed of a microcomputer having a CPU 50a, storage units such as a ROM 50b and a RAM 50c, an I / O 50d, and the like. The control unit 50 is connected to the I / F unit 30e of the call display device 3 via an I / F 50e as receiving means shown in the figure and a connection cable C1. This allows the control unit 50 to receive game signals output from the gaming machine 1 via the call display device 3 (after the device 3 has created display information such as the number of points owned), display the received information on the first and second display units 51, 52, and transmit and receive information to and from the management device 6 (for example, receive the type of game information (setting information)).

[0050] In addition to the I / F unit 50e, the control unit 50 is connected to the first display unit 51, the second display unit 52, and the LED groups of the lamp units 41L to 44Lb, as well as to three sensors 550, 551, and 552, for example, as detection means. The sensors 550 to 552 are configured by proximity sensors for detecting whether the first and second extension display devices 81 and 82 are connected to the upper display device 7, for example.

[0051] The sensor 550 is provided, for example, near the upper tip side of the upper display device 7 (the upper inclined portion 42a of the device main body 7a in Figure 4(a)), and when the first extended display device 81 is connected to the upper inclined portion 42a as shown in Figure 5(a), the sensor 550 detects this. In contrast, sensors 551 and 552 are provided separately in positions where the second extended display device 82 is adjacent to the first extended display device 81 on the upper display device 7, for example, near a position (first position) toward the left of the upper side 41 of the device main body 7a in Fig. 4(a) and a position (second position) toward the top of the lower inclined portion 42b. As a result, when the second extended display device 82 is connected to the first position or the second position as shown in Fig. 5(a) or (b), this is detected by sensor 551 or 552.

[0052] In addition, such detection means is not limited to sensors 550-552, but may also be configured, for example, as a detection device having a well-known operating part and switch part that operates as a switch when pushed in the installation direction when the first and second extended display devices 81, 82 are connected (installed). In this way, the control unit 50 compares the detection results (detection signals) from the sensors 550-552 with information regarding the connection of the first and second extended display devices 81, 82 received from the management device 6 (setting information described below), and transmits control signals (signals regarding extended game information and optical flow) to those extended display devices 81, 82. In addition, the control unit 50 controls the lamp units 41L to 44Lb to emit light in a predetermined manner according to the gaming status of the corresponding gaming machine 1 and the connection status of the first and second extended display devices 81, 82, based on information from the corresponding gaming machine 1 (information received via the call display device 3) and detection signals from the sensors 550 to 552.

[0053] Next, the configuration of the first and second extended display devices 81, 82 and the above-mentioned connections will be described. As shown in Figures 4(b) and 4(c), both devices 81, 82 have the same dimensions and shape of the housings that form their outer shells, and therefore the description will focus on the first extended display device 81. Furthermore, the same components of the second extended display device 82 are identified by the same reference numerals with an '' added to distinguish between the two devices 81, 82. That is, first, the first extended display device 81 in Figure 4(b) is a housing formed in the shape of a relatively thin plate that has a honeycomb shape when viewed from the front, and its outer periphery has a regular hexagonal shape with each of the sides 45, 46a, 46b, 47, 48a, and 48b having the same length L1.

[0054] The first extension display device 81 is set so that the length L1 of one side of its outer periphery 45 to 48b is the same as the length of the upper inclined portion 42a of the upper display device 7. Although detailed illustration is omitted, of the outer peripheral portions 45 to 48b, for example, the lower inclined portion 48a is the mounting portion, and is detachably mounted and connected to the mounting portion (connection position) of the upper inclined portion 42a of the upper display device 7 (see FIG. 5(a)). In other words, both inclined portions 48a, 42a are portions where the first extended display device 81 and the upper display device 7 are connected to each other (connectable portions), and when the first extended display device 81 is connected to the upper display device 7, the inclined portions 48a, 42a match exactly in terms of both dimensions and mounting surface, allowing the sensor 550 to more reliably detect whether or not the connection is made, and also resulting in an excellent external design.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 4(b), the first extended display device 81 has an extended display section 61 provided on its main surface, and extended lamp sections 45L to 48Lb provided on the outer peripheral sections 45 to 48b. The first extended display device 81 receives the control signal from the upper display device 7, thereby displaying extended game information on the extended display unit 61 and performing optical flow-related performance display on the extended lamp units 45L to 48Lb. Here, the extended game information refers to specific game information that is different from the game information displayed on the upper display device 7.

[0056] For example, the extended display unit 61 is configured with a group of LEDs including a multi-digit seven-segment LED (seven-segment display unit), and the contents (extended game information) displayed by the light emission thereof are as follows: ·Jackpot: Indicates the total number of jackpots on the corresponding gaming machine 1 on that day. Ranking: The number of jackpots and the top three highest ball payout rankings within the model to which the corresponding gaming machine 1 belongs are displayed as "NO1" to "NO3." The number of rankings to be displayed can be separately set by the management device 6 (see FIG. 10 described later). Also, as will be explained in FIG. 10, the expanded display unit 61 can selectively display "number of jackpots" and "ranking." The expanded display unit 61 is not limited to a 7-segment display unit, and may be configured as a liquid crystal display unit.

[0057] The extension lamp sections 45L to 48Lb are located around the outer periphery of the extension display section 61, and are light-emitting areas set in a ring shape on the outer peripheries 45 to 48b of the extension display device 81. Specifically, the extended lamp sections 45L to 48Lb are groups of LEDs mounted on, for example, a substrate not shown, and have groups of LEDs arranged along the upper edge 45, the left edge sections 46a, 46b, the lower edge 47, and the right edge sections 48a, 48b, respectively, and form a ring shape with the lamp section 45L on the upper edge section 45, the lamp sections 46La, 46Lb on the left edge sections 46a, 46b, the lamp section 47L on the lower edge section 47, and the lamp sections 48La, 48Lb on the right edge sections 48a, 48b.

[0058] The extended lamp units 45L to 48Lb are prisms that disperse and reflect the light of the LED groups, and have a prism unit 62 that matches the arrangement of the LED groups and is configured in combination with the substrate of the LED groups. As a result, the extended lamp units 45L to 48Lb (second light-emitting means) form a light-emitting area as an illumination unit with the LED groups as light-emitting bodies and the prism unit 62.

[0059] In this way, the light-emitting areas of the extended lamp units 45L to 48Lb, which are set in a ring shape (e.g., a honeycomb shape) on the outer periphery of the first extended display device 81, and the light-emitting areas of the lamp units 41L to 44Lb, which are set in a ring shape (e.g., a horizontally elongated, approximately honeycomb shape) on the outer periphery of the upper display device 7, are connected at the connection points (connection positions at the inclined portions 48a, 42a) to form an eight shape (see Figure 5). For ease of explanation, the reference symbols "41L to 44Lb", "45L to 48Lb", and "45L' to 48Lb'" for the lamp sections are omitted in FIG. 5 (see the reference symbols in parentheses in FIG. 4).

[0060] On the other hand, the second extension display device 82 shown in Figure 4(c) is also formed in the shape of a relatively thin plate that has a honeycomb shape when viewed from the front, and is composed of a housing in which each of the sides 45' to 48b' at its outer periphery has the same length L2. The second extended display device 82 has a side length L2 at its outer periphery 45'-48b' set to the same dimension as the side length L1 at the outer periphery 45-48b of the first extended display device 81 (L2=L1).

[0061] For example, the lower edge portion 47' and the upper inclined portion 48b' of the outer peripheral portions 45' to 48b' are the mounting portions, and are detachably mounted and connected to the mounting portion at the first position or the second position (upper edge portion 41 or lower inclined portion 42b in Figure 4(a)) on the upper display device 7 (see Figures 5(a) and (b)).

[0062] 5(a), the first position is set to a position toward the left of the upper edge 41 of the device main body 7a so that the second extended display device 82 is adjacent to and relatively higher than the first extended display device 81. Also, the second position is set to a position toward the upper side of the lower inclined portion 42b of the device main body 7a so that the second extended display device 82 is adjacent to and relatively lower than the first extended display device 81 in the upper display device 7 shown in FIG. In this way, the second extended display device 82 fits perfectly in terms of dimensions with the adjacent first extended display device 81 (and is also connected to that extended display device 81) at either the first or second connection position, and the sensors 551, 552 can more reliably detect whether or not it is attached at each connection position, resulting in an excellent external design.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 4(c), the second extended display device 82 has a housing portion 71 provided on its main surface, and extended lamp portions 45L' to 48Lb' provided on its outer periphery portions 45' to 48b'. The storage section 71 can store media that display predetermined game information as extended game information. Specifically, the storage section 71 has a transparent POP cover on its front (surface), and stores a display medium (POP medium 72) that displays, for example, the type of the corresponding gaming machine 1, "pachinko," or the rental rate, "4 yen," by inserting it into the POP cover, as shown in FIG. 1(c). The POP medium 72 displays extended game information that differs from the content displayed on the display sections 51 and 52 of the upper display device 7. The POP media 72 is not limited to rental rates, but may also display other information such as notices from the game center (see FIG. 12(b)).

[0064] The second extended display device 82 receives the control signal from the upper display device 7, and thereby performs a performance display related to the optical flow on the extended lamp units 45L' to 48Lb'. The extended lamp sections 45L' to 48Lb' are located around the outer periphery of the storage section 71 and are light-emitting areas set in a ring shape at 45' to 48b' of the extended display device 82, and are configured as illumination sections combining a prism section 62' and a substrate for a group of LEDs, similar to the extended lamp sections 45L to 48Lb of the first extended display device 81.

[0065] Thus, like the first extended display device 81, the second extended display device 82 is shaped like an eight, with the light-emitting areas of the extended lamp units 45L' to 48Lb' connected to the light-emitting areas of the lamp units 41L to 44Lb of the upper display device 7 at the connection points (the connection points at the first position or the second position) (see Figure 5).

[0066] As shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 60 of the first extended display device 81 is mainly composed of a microcomputer having a CPU 60a, storage units such as a ROM 60b and a RAM 60c, an I / O 60d, and the like. The control unit 60 is connected to the I / F unit 50e of the upper display device 7 via the I / F unit 60e and connection cable C2 shown in the figure, and receives control signals from the upper display device 7. Note that the portion of the connection cable C2 in the figure is an electrical connection structure that electrically connects the first extended display device 81 and the upper display device 7, but it may also be configured to include an electrical connector or the like, corresponding to the mechanical connection position (the portion of the inclined portions 48a and 42a in Figures 5(a) and 5(b)) that detachably connects both devices 81 and 7.

[0067] In addition to the I / F unit 60e, the control unit 60 is connected to an extended display unit 61 and a group of LEDs for the extended lamp units 45L to 48Lb, and based on a control signal received from the upper display device 7, controls the extended lamp units 45L to 48Lb so that they emit light in a predetermined manner according to the gaming status of the corresponding gaming machine 1.

[0068] Similarly, the control unit 70 of the second extended display device 82 shown in FIG. 6 is mainly composed of a microcomputer having a CPU 70a, a ROM 70b, a RAM 70c, an I / O 70d, and the like. The control unit 70 is connected to the I / F unit 50e of the upper display device 7 via the I / F unit 70e and connection cable C3 shown in the figure, and receives control signals from the upper display device 7. Note that the portion of the connection cable C3 in the figure is an electrical connection structure that electrically connects the second extended display device 82 and the upper display device 7, but it may also be configured to include an electrical connector or the like corresponding to the mechanical connection position (the first position in FIG. 5(a) or the second position in (b)) that detachably connects both devices 82, 7.

[0069] In addition to the I / F unit 60e, the control unit 60 is connected to a group of LEDs of the extended lamp units 45L' to 48Lb', and based on the control signal received from the upper display device 7, controls the extended lamp units 45L' to 48Lb' so that they emit light in a predetermined manner according to the gaming status of the corresponding gaming machine 1.

[0070] In this way, in the game information display device 9, the control units 50, 60, and 70, which serve as light-emitting control means, control the lamp units 41L to 44Lb in the upper display device 7 and the extended lamp units 45L to 48Lb and 45L' to 48Lb' in the first and second extended display devices 81 and 82 to emit light in predetermined modes, respectively. The first light emitting mode of the lamp units 41L to 44Lb, the second light emitting mode of the lamp units 41L to 44Lb and the extension lamp units 45L to 48Lb, 45L' to 48Lb', and the special light emitting mode in the game information display device 9 will be described below.

[0071] As shown in FIG. 4(a), when neither the first nor second extension display device 81, 82 is connected to the upper display device 7, the control unit 50 controls the lamp units 41L to 44Lb to the following first light emission mode. That is, when the upper display device 7 is installed alone, the first light-emitting mode includes, for example, a mode in which all of the lamp units 41L to 44Lb are always lit, and a light flow mode in which the unlit parts (or specific display colors) of the lamp units 41L to 44Lb are lit so that they flow around the light-emitting areas 41L to 44Lb indicated by the corresponding symbols.

[0072] The light flow display is performed in such a manner that parts of the lamp units 41L to 44Lb other than the unlit parts (or specific display colors) are made lit parts (or other display colors), and part of the lit area is turned off (or made to light up in a specific display color) so that the unlit parts (or specific display colors) move around the lit areas indicated by the symbols 41L to 44Lb.

[0073] As shown in Figure 5(a) or (b), when the first and second extended display devices 81 and 82 are connected to the upper display device 7, the control units 50, 60, and 70 control the lamp units 41L to 44Lb and the extended lamp units 45L to 48Lb and 45L' to 48Lb' to a second light-emitting mode different from the first light-emitting mode.

[0074] The second light-emitting mode includes, for example, a mode in which all of the lamp units 41L to 44Lb and the extended lamp units 45L to 48Lb, 45L' to 48Lb' are always illuminated, and a light flow mode in which the respective unlit areas (or specific display colors) of the lamp units 41L to 44Lb and the extended lamp units 45L to 48Lb, 45L' to 48Lb' are illuminated so that they flow around the respective light-emitting areas.When a pair of lamp units at the connection position (lamp units 48La, 42La, 47L', 41L or 48Lb, 46Lb' that respectively form a pair at the connection positions indicated by the symbols "48a, 42a", "47', 41" or "48b, 46b'" in Figure 5(a)) is illuminated, one or both of the pair are illuminated. In this way, in the second light emission mode, the lamp units 41L to 44Lb and the extension lamp units 45L to 48Lb, 45L' to 48Lb' are controlled to emit light in cooperation with each other.

[0075] As described above, the second light emitting mode differs from the first light emitting mode in that it is a mode in which not only the lamp units 41L to 44Lb but also the light emitting area extended by the extended lamp units 45L to 48Lb, 45L' to 48Lb' is illuminated. The second light-emitting mode is the normal light-emitting mode when at least one of the first and second extended display devices 81 and 82 is connected to the upper display device 7. When a predetermined game condition is met, the lamp units 41L to 44Lb and the extended lamp units 45L to 48Lb and 45L' to 48Lb' are controlled to the special light-emitting mode. Here, the predetermined game condition is, for example, a condition that is met by game information that can be identified by a game signal or a condition that is met by a game environment other than the game signal. The condition that is met by the game information is, for example, a condition that is met when a special prize is won on the corresponding gaming machine 1 or when a predetermined time has passed since the corresponding gaming machine 1 was switched to a non-operating state. The condition that is met by a game environment other than the game signal is, for example, a condition that is met when a predetermined time set by the administrator (management device 6) is reached or when the administrator instructs that the special light-emitting mode be activated.

[0076] The special light-emitting mode is a special light-emitting mode that is different from the second light-emitting mode in at least one of the first and second extension display devices 81, 82 and the upper display device 7. 7, for example, the extension lamp units 45L-48Lb of the first extension display device 81 and the lamp units 41L-44Lb of the upper display device 7 are illuminated to form a figure eight. It is also possible to illuminate the extension lamp units 45L'-48Lb' of the second extension display device 82, shown by the two-dot chain line in the same figure, to form a figure eight between the lamp units 41L-44Lb of the upper display device 7 (or the extension lamp units 45L-48Lb of the first extension display device 81).

[0077] In this case, the control unit 50 of the upper display device 7 communicates with the control units 60, 70 of the first and second extended display devices 81, 82, and controls the lamp units 41L to 44Lb, 45L to 48Lb, 45L' to 48Lb' in cooperation with the control units 60, 70. In the following, the extended lamp units 45L to 48Lb, 45L' to 48Lb' will also be simply referred to as "lamp units 45L to 48Lb, 45L' to 48Lb'." An example of a special light-emitting mode between the lamp units 45L to 48Lb of the first extended display device 81 and the lamp units 41L to 44Lb of the upper display device 7 shown in Figure 7 will be described.

[0078] 7(a), in lamp unit 41L of upper display device 7, parts of the light-emitting region are sequentially illuminated so that the light-emitting point (position) moves from the right end to the left end of the LED group. Next, in lamp unit 42La connected to lamp unit 41L, parts of the light-emitting region are sequentially illuminated so that the light-emitting position moves from the upper right end to the lower left end of the LED group. In addition, in the lamp section 47L of the first extended display device 81 connected to the lamp section 42La of the upper display device 7, parts of the light-emitting area are sequentially illuminated so that the light-emitting position moves from the right end to the left end of the LED group. The light emitted by these lamp sections 41L, 42La, and 47L is emitted by sequentially lighting up some of the LEDs so that the light-emitting position moves in the order of the arrangement of each LED group, and parts of the light-emitting area emit light sequentially in the direction of the arrows that run through the symbols 41L, 42La, and 47L in that order.

[0079] 7(b), some of the LEDs in the lamp units 46Lb, 46La, and 45L of the first extended display device 81 are sequentially lit so that the light-emitting positions move in the order of the LED groups. In this case, some of the light-emitting areas sequentially emit light in the direction of the arrows that run through the symbols 46Lb, 46La, and 45L in this order.

[0080] 7(c), some of the LEDs in the lamp units 48Lb and 48La of the first extended display device 81 and the lamp unit 42Lb of the upper display device 7 are turned on in sequence so that the light-emitting positions move in the order of the LED groups. In this case, some of the light-emitting areas are illuminated in sequence in the direction of the arrows that run through the symbols 48Lb, 48La, and 42Lb.

[0081] 7(d), some LEDs are sequentially lit so that the light-emitting positions move in the order of the LED groups in the lamp units 43L, 44La, and 44Lb of the upper display device 7. In this case, some of the light-emitting areas sequentially emit light in the direction of the arrows that run along the order of the reference symbols 43L, 44La, and 44Lb, and when they have completed a circle (when the light-emitting position has moved to the top end of lamp unit 44Lb), they move again from the right end to the left end of lamp unit 41L (return to FIG. 7(a)).

[0082] In this way, the special lighting mode is a performance display using the movement of the light-emitting position (light flow) indicated by the arrows in Figures 7(a) to (d), in which the light-emitting areas of the annular lamp units 41L to 44Lb in the upper display device 7 and the light-emitting areas of the annular lamp units 45L to 48Lb in the first extended display device 81 are connected at the connecting parts, and the light-emitting positions in these light-emitting areas move to sequentially illuminate parts of the light-emitting areas so as to form the figure eight, and the light flows of (a) to (d) in the same figure are repeated when predetermined game conditions are met. Therefore, the light flow effect display involves repeatedly executing a process to move the light emitting position in the order of symbols 41L → 42La → 47L → 46Lb → 46La → 45L → 48Lb → 48La → 42Lb → 43L → 44La → 44Lb in the same figure.

[0083] The special light emitting mode of FIG. 7 may be replaced by the special light emitting mode of FIG. 8 or FIG. In both the special lighting modes of Figures 8 and 9, the lighting areas of the lamp units 41L to 44Lb in the upper display device 7 and the lighting areas of the lamp units 45L to 48Lb in the first extended display device 81 are connected at the connecting portion, and parts of the lighting areas are illuminated sequentially so that the lighting position moves from the lighting areas of the lamp units 41L to 44Lb to the lighting areas of the lamp units 45L to 48Lb, or from the lighting areas of the lamp units 45L to 48Lb to the lighting areas of the lamp units 41L to 44Lb.

[0084] In detail, as shown by the bold lines in Figure 8(a), the entire LED group (light-emitting area) around the entire circumference of the lamp units 41L to 44Lb of the upper display device 7 is illuminated, while the entire LED group (light-emitting area) around the entire circumference of the lamp units 45L to 48Lb of the first extended display device 81 is turned off. Thereafter, as indicated by the thick lines in FIG. 8(b), all of the LEDs in the lamp units 41L to 44Lb of the upper display device 7 are turned off, while all of the LEDs in the lamp units 45L to 48Lb of the first extended display device 81 are turned on. In this way, the special lighting mode of Figure 8, when a predetermined game condition is met, lights up the lamp sections 41L to 44Lb of the upper display device 7 and the lamp sections 45L to 48Lb of the first extended display device 81 alternately at relatively short time intervals (repeating the lighting states of Figures (a) and (b)), thereby lighting up the respective lighting areas of both devices 7, 81 sequentially.

[0085] On the other hand, the special lighting mode of Figure 9 sequentially lights up parts of the lighting area starting from an end of either the lamp units 41L to 44Lb of the upper display device 7 or the lamp units 45L to 48Lb of the first extended display device 81, so that the light travels to the opposite end of the other. That is, for example, as shown by the arrows in Figure 9(a), starting from the left end of the lamp unit 45L or the upper right end of the lamp unit 46La, which is the tip side of the first extended display device 81, a part of each light-emitting area (some of the LEDs in each lamp unit 45L, 46La) is sequentially illuminated so that the light-emitting position moves from the left end to the right end of the lamp unit 45L, and also from the upper right end to the lower left end of the lamp unit 46La.

[0086] Next, in lamp section 48Lb connected to lamp section 45L, the light-emitting position moves from its upper left end to its lower right end, and in lamp section 46Lb connected to lamp section 46La, a portion of each light-emitting area (some of the LEDs in each lamp section 48Lb, 46Lb) is sequentially illuminated so that the light-emitting position moves from its upper left end to its lower right end.

[0087] Next, in Figure 9(b), similarly, a portion of each light-emitting area (each LED in each lamp unit 41L, 44Lb, 44La and 47L, 42Lb, 43L) is illuminated sequentially so that the light-emitting position moves in the direction of the arrow that runs through the lamp units 41L, 44Lb, 44La of the upper display unit 7 in that order, and also so that the light-emitting position moves in the direction of the arrow that runs through the lamp unit 47L of the first extended display unit 81 and the lamp units 42Lb, 43L of the upper display unit 7 in that order. In this way, in the special lighting mode of Figure 9, when a predetermined game condition is met, a portion of each lighting area is illuminated sequentially so that the lighting position moves from the starting point of the arrow of the lamp units 45L to 48Lb of the first extended display device 81 shown in (a) to the ending point of the arrow of the lamp units 41L to 44Lb of the upper display device 7 shown in (b) (the series of lighting flows in Figures (a) and (b) is repeated).

[0088] The special lighting modes shown in Figures 7 to 9 above are not limited to those between the lamp units 45L to 48Lb of the first extended display device 81 and the lamp units 41L to 44Lb of the upper display device 7, but can of course also be similarly performed between the lamp units 45L' to 48Lb' of the second extended display device 82 shown by the dotted line in the same figures and the lamp units 41L to 44Lb of the upper display device 7 (or the extended lamp units 45L to 48Lb of the first extended display device 81).

[0089] The management device 6 sets whether the first and second extended display devices 81, 82 are connected to the upper display device 7, and the set information (setting information regarding the connection) is received by the control unit 50 of the upper display device 7, thereby controlling the above-mentioned light emission mode. Here, for example, if the setting information indicates that the first and second extended display devices 81, 82 are connected but the first and second extended display devices 81, 82 are not actually connected, there is a risk that the lamp units 41L-44Lb may not be controlled to the normal light-emitting mode, so the control unit 50 controls the lamp units 41L-44Lb to the first light-emitting mode instead of the second light-emitting mode. Also, in this case, even if the control unit 50 of the upper display device 7 controls the lamp units 41L-44Lb to the first light-emitting mode, if the first and second extended display devices 81, 82 are actually connected thereafter, the control unit 50 controls the lamp units 41L-44Lb, 45L-48Lb, and 45L'-48Lb' to the second light-emitting mode.

[0090] This means that in the upper display device 7, when the control unit 50 and the I / F unit 50e (receiving means) receive setting information indicating that the first extended display device 81 or the second extended display device 82 is connected, but the sensors 550 to 552 do not detect either the first or second extended display device 81, 82 (see Figures 3 and 4(a)), the upper display device 7 is controlled to the first light-emitting mode without being controlled to the second light-emitting mode.

[0091] FIG. 10 shows a display screen that is displayed on the monitor 6a of the management device 6 when setting the setting information related to the connection and the setting information related to the extended game information. As shown in the same figure, the setting information display screen has selection buttons for "without" or "with" the connection of the "extended display device" 8 to the upper display device 7, and also has selection buttons for the "number of jackpots" and the "ranking" as the "display information" (extended game information) of the extended display section 61.

[0092] As a result, when the connection of the "extended display device" 8 is selected "yes" by performing an input operation on the management device 6, the content to be displayed on the extended display section 61 is set to either "number of jackpots" or "ranking." In addition, the "number of jackpots" can be arbitrarily set using the "BB" and "AT" buttons, and the "ranking" can be arbitrarily set using the setting button for the rank number.

[0093] In addition, which extended game information is displayed can be set arbitrarily, including whether the ``extended display device'' 8 is connected ``with'' or ``without,'' and can be set arbitrarily, such as per rental price, per game island, or per model (the setting target for the game center can be set arbitrarily, such as per model, in an item column not shown). In this way, the various setting information set by the management device 6 includes information indicating that the "extended display device" 8 is connected "yes" and that the extended game information is "ranking" in the example shown in the figure, and is transmitted to each upper display device 7 (game information display device 9). Also, in the example shown in the figure, the connection or non-connection of the first and second extended display devices 81, 82 is set collectively as the "extended display device" 8, but the connection or non-connection of these devices may be set individually.

[0094] The operation of the above-described configuration of the first and second extended display devices 81 and 82 will be described by taking an example in which the first and second extended display devices 81 and 82 are connected. First, the first extension display device 81 (FIG. 4(b)) is attached and connected by aligning the outer periphery 48a with the outer periphery 42a of the upper display device 7 (FIG. 4(a)). At this connection position, a mechanical connection is established between the upper display device 7 and the first extension display device 81 at the outer peripheries 42a and 48a (between the attachment portion and the attached portion) (see FIG. 5), and an electrical connection is also established by the connection cable C2 (see FIG. 6). Furthermore, as the first extension display device 81 is attached, it is detected by the sensor 550 on the upper display device 7.

[0095] The second extended display device 82 can be selectively connected to the first position in Figure 5(a) or the second position in (b), which are first and second positions different from the connection position of the first extended display device 81 and change the relative positional relationship between the two extended display devices 81, 82 on the upper display device 7.

[0096] As shown in Figure 5(a), the first position is located to the left of the upper edge 41 of the upper display device 7, and the second extended display device 82 is attached and connected so that the outer periphery 47' of the second extended display device 82 is aligned with this position (or so that the outer periphery 46b' of the second extended display device 82 is aligned with the outer periphery 48b of the first extended display device 81). In this first position, a mechanical connection (between the mounting portion and the mounted portion) is ensured at the outer peripheries 41 and 47' between the upper display device 7 and the second extended display device 82, and an electrical connection is also made by the connection cable C3 (see FIG. 6). In this case, the outer periphery 46b' of the second extended display device 82 is adjacent to and positioned relatively higher than the outer periphery 48b of the first extended display device 81, allowing a mechanical connection (as the mounting portion and the mounted portion) at the outer peripheries 46b' and 48b. When the second extended display device 82 is mounted in this manner, it is detected by a sensor 551 on the upper display device 7.

[0097] In contrast, the second position shown in Figure 5(b) is located at an upper position of the lower inclined portion 42b of the upper display device 7, and the second extended display device 82 is attached and connected so that the outer periphery 48b' of the second extended display device 82 is aligned with this (or so that the outer periphery 45' of the second extended display device 82 is aligned with the outer periphery 47 of the first extended display device 81). In this second position, a mechanical connection (between the mounting portion and the mounted portion) is ensured at the outer peripheries 42b and 48b' between the upper display device 7 and the second extended display device 82, and an electrical connection is also made by the connection cable C3 (see FIG. 6). In this case, the outer periphery 45' of the second extended display device 82 is adjacent to and positioned relatively lower than the outer periphery 47 of the first extended display device 81, allowing a mechanical connection (as the mounting portion and the mounted portion) at the outer peripheries 45' and 47. When the second extended display device 82 is mounted, this is detected by the sensor 552 on the upper display device 7.

[0098] As described above, the game information display device 9 of this first embodiment can connect a first extended display device 81 equipped with at least one of an LCD display unit and a 7-segment display unit, and a second extended display device 82 equipped with a storage unit capable of storing POP media 72, to the upper display device 7, and the second extended display device 82 is connected to a first position or a second position different from the connection position of the first extended display device 81 (see Figures 5(a)(b)).Therefore, not only the extended game information provided by the first extended display device 81, but also extended game information such as announcements from the gaming facility provided by the second extended display device 82 can be displayed at different positions (any position such as the first position or the second position), making all game information easy for players to see, and providing an information display device 9 with high visibility.

[0099] The second extended display device 82 can be connected in a manner that is continuous with both devices 7, 81, with its upper and lower positions being different: a first position adjacent to and relatively higher than the first extended display device 81 on the upper display device 7, and a second position adjacent to and relatively lower than the first extended display device 81.

[0100] Since different light emission modes are controlled depending on whether the first and second extended display devices 81, 82 are present or not, even if the display area for game information is increased, it is possible to perform a presentation display with an unprecedented light emission mode (for example, a light flow presentation display) according to the configuration of the display devices 7, 81, 82. Furthermore, since the first light emitting means and the second light emitting means (for example, lamp units 41L to 44Lb and 45L to 48Lb, 45L' to 48Lb') are controlled to a special light emission mode when a predetermined game condition is established, it is possible to perform a presentation display with a special light emission mode due to the increased display area for game information, and it is possible to realize unprecedented light presentation patterns according to the configuration of the display devices 7, 81, 82.

[0101] Furthermore, as a special light-emitting mode, the light-emitting position is moved between the three display devices 7, 81, and 82 so that light flows in an eight-shape between them. For example, an eight-shape light flow display can be produced across the two display devices 7 and 81 in Figure 7, and an unprecedented light flow display can be produced depending on the configuration of the display devices 7, 81, and 82.

[0102] If the first and second extended display devices 81, 82 are not connected despite the setting to control to the second light emission mode, it will be impossible to display the effects in the appropriate light emission mode. Therefore, when the upper display device 7 receives such a setting (setting information indicating that each extended display device 81, 82 is connected) and, for example, sensors 550 to 552 do not detect the connection of any of the extended display devices 81, 82, it will be controlled to the first light emission mode, thereby making it possible to display the light flow effects, etc., appropriately.

[0103] <Other embodiments> 11 to 14 show second to fourth embodiments of the present invention. Below, we will describe the points that are substantially different from the previously described embodiments.

[0104] 11(a), the first position in the second embodiment is set to a position including the top side 41 and right side 44b of the upper display device 7, and is set to an upper position extending clockwise from the first extended display device 81 to the base part 7b. In this case, the second extended display device 82 is attached to the attachment part of the right side (upper inclined part) 44b of the upper display device 7, with its left side (lower inclined part) 46b' as the attachment part. 11(b), the second position is set to a position including the bottom edge 43 and left edge 42b of the upper display device 7, and is set to a position below the first extension display device 81 extending counterclockwise to the base part 7b. In this case, the second extension display device 82 is attached to an attachment part located to the left of the bottom edge 43 of the upper display device 7, with its top edge 45' as the attachment part. Note that sensors 551 and 552 are placed in positions where they can detect the second extension display device 82 in FIGS. 11(a) and 11(b).

[0105] In this way, the second extended display device 82 of this second embodiment can be connected to any of these positions even if it is not adjacent to the first extended display device 81 on the upper display device 7, by setting the first position and the second position to have relatively different vertical heights (see Figures 11(a)(b)), and can display extended game information with good visibility.

[0106] 12(a) and 12(b) show a first extended display device 81 and a second extended display device 82 according to the third embodiment. As shown in Figure 12(a), the extended display unit 61 of the first extended display device 81 is provided with a lower display unit 61a and an upper display unit 61b located below and above the 7-segment display unit, and having LEDs that illuminate and display the words "Ranking" and "Jackpot", respectively.

[0107] As a result, the extended display section 61 can display the type of extended game information on the lower display section 61a and the upper display section 61b depending on either the "ranking" or the "number of jackpots" (see Figure 10) set in the management device 6. Furthermore, when an LCD display is used in place of the 7-segment display or the upper and lower display sections 61a and 61b in the extended display section 61, by configuring it to reproduce a display similar to that including the upper and lower display sections 61a and 61b, it is possible to switch between "Ranking No. 1" and "Jackpot 128" as shown in Figure (a) as LCD displays according to the settings.

[0108] As shown in Fig. 12(b), a POP medium 73 is stored in the storage section 71 of the second extended display device 82 instead of the POP medium 72 of Fig. 4(c). The POP medium 73 displays, for example, information indicating the grand opening of the amusement facility or other announcements from the amusement facility. The first and second extended display devices 81, 82 may be any device that has the function of displaying extended game information on the 7-segment display unit, LCD display unit, or storage unit 71, and they may share some or all of their respective housings, or may use different housings.

[0109] Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing a game information display device 9 and its periphery in the fourth embodiment, in which an extension member 90 shown in Fig. 14 is used. Fig. 14(a) and (b) are a side view and a perspective view showing the extension member 90, respectively, and Fig. 14(c) is a front view of the entire game information display device 9 with the extension member 90 inserted.

[0110] As shown in Figures 13 and 14, the game information display device 9 can have an extension member 90 detachably interposed between the mounting portion 7c of its upper display device 7 and the mounting seat 100a of the game island 100. Specifically, the extension member 90 has, for example, a plate shape extending in the vertical direction as a whole, and has a flange-shaped mounting portion 91 located at its lower end (see FIGS. 14(a) and 14(b)). Also, for example, the mounting portion 91 has a screw hole formed therein, and the extension member 90 is attached and fixed by inserting a screw (not shown) through the hole and screwing it into the mounting seat 100a of the play island 100 (see FIG. 13).

[0111] 14(a) to (c), the upper end of the extension member 90 is formed as an attachment portion 92, and the upper display device 7 is attached and fixed to the extension member 90 by threading a screw (not shown) inserted into the attachment portion 7c of the upper display device 7 into the attachment portion 92. Thus, when installing the upper display device 7, if the extension member 90 is interposed between the mounting portion 7c and the mounting seat 100a of the game island 100, the upper display device 7 can be installed so that the extension member 90 extends in a substantially vertical direction, thereby extending the height of the mounting portion 7c and therefore the height of the entire game information display device 9 (see Figures 13 and 14(c)). In this way, by installing the upper display device 7 with the extension member 90 interposed therebetween, it can be installed at a higher position than the other upper display devices 7.

[0112] In this case, examples of installation patterns for the game information display device 9 include a first pattern in which the upper display device 7 is attached with an extension member 90 interposed therebetween and the second extended display device 82 is connected to a first position, as shown in Figure 14(c), and a second pattern in which the upper display device 7 is attached without an extension member 90 interposed therebetween and the second extended display device 82 is connected to a second position, as shown in Figure 5(b).

[0113] 13, one game information display device 9 and the other game information display device 9 adjacent to each other on the game island 100 are installed alternately in the up-down direction, with one of them being installed with an extension member 90 interposed therebetween (for example, installed as shown in the back side of the figure in the first pattern), and the other being installed without an extension member 90 interposed therebetween (for example, installed as shown in the front side of the figure in the second pattern). This allows the adjacent game information display devices 9 to have their display areas expanded by the extended display devices 81, 82, while still allowing for an arrangement pattern that does not impede the visibility of each display area.

[0114] As described above, the game information display device 9 of this fourth embodiment allows the upper display device 7 to be positioned higher by using the extension member 90, which acts as an extension part, so to speak.Therefore, even in an amusement park where multiple upper display devices 7 are installed, each upper display device 7 can be arranged higher up so that it is relatively easy to see, and the information display device 9 can be provided with high visibility.

[0115] When the upper display device 7 is positioned at the top by connecting the extension parts, the second extended display device 82 equipped with a storage section 71 for storing POP media 72 is connected to the top (first position), and when the extension parts are not connected, the second extended display device 82 is connected to the bottom (second position). This allows for a difference in height between the upper display device 7 with the extension parts connected and the upper display device 7 without the extension parts connected, reducing the overlapping area between the two 7, 7 and improving the visibility of the second extended display device 82 in particular.

[0116] Furthermore, since adjacent gaming machines 1 are connected with or without extension parts differently, it is possible to improve the visibility of adjacent upper display devices 7. In other words, even if the gaming machines 1 and the upper display devices 7 correspond one-to-one on the gaming island 100 and are arranged at the bottom and top of the installation surface 100b, adjacent upper display devices 7 are installed alternately in the up-down direction, with one upper display device 7 having the extension member 90 interposed therebetween (see the back side of FIG. 13, for example) and the other upper display device 7 not having the extension member 90 interposed therebetween (see the front side of the same figure, for example), thereby obtaining favorable visibility.

[0117] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but may be modified or expanded as follows, or each modified example may be combined with the above-described embodiment, or each modified example may be combined. The target gaming machine 1 is assumed to be an enclosed pachinko gaming machine or a medal-less slot machine, but it may also be a pachinko gaming machine or slot machine that uses pachinko balls or medals.

[0118] In Figure 4 etc., the front view of the game information display device 9 is explained, focusing on the configuration on the front side, but it goes without saying that the rear side can also be configured to provide each display unit 51, 52, 61 and storage unit 71, etc., and to display in the same way as the front side. The lamp portions 41L to 44Lb, 45L to 48Lb, and 45L' to 48Lb' are provided on the outer peripheral portions 41 to 44b, 45 to 48b, and 45L' to 48b' of the display devices 7, 81, and 82, respectively, and can be seen from both the front and rear sides.

[0119] Therefore, if the first position as viewed from the front side is defined as the upper position extending clockwise from the first extended display device 81 on the upper display device 7 to the base part 7b (see Figures 5(a) and 11(a)), and the second position is defined as the lower position extending counterclockwise from the first extended display device 81 to the base part 7b (see Figures 5(b) and 11(b)), the first position and the second position as viewed from the back side can be understood as having a positional relationship in which the clockwise and counterclockwise directions are interchanged. In any case, the first position and the second position need only be separate positions that change the relative positional relationship between the first extended display device 81 and the second extended display device 82, and can be set at any position around the upper display device 7.

[0120] Furthermore, for example, the connection position of the second extended display device 82 in Figure 5(a) may be set as the first position and the connection position of the second extended display device 82 in Figure 11(a) may be set as the second position, or the connection position of the second extended display device 82 in Figure 5(b) may be set as the first position and the connection position of the second extended display device 82 in Figure 11(b) may be set as the second position.

[0121] In other words, the first and second positions may be set at positions where the second extended display device 82 and the first extended display device 81 are symmetrically located on opposite sides of the upper display device 7 in the horizontal or vertical direction (see Figure 11(a) or Figure 5(b)), and the position of the reference axis of symmetry can be set appropriately. The first extension display device 81 may also be connected (attached) to the upper display device 7 at any location (at any location on the outer peripheral portions 41 to 44b).

[0122] The second extended display device 82 may omit the extended lamp units 45L'-48Lb', and in this case, they can be understood as a design part having an aesthetically pleasing appearance, including the POP media 72. If omitted, the second extended display device 82 may have a configuration for guiding light from the lamp units 41L-44Lb and 45L-48Lb in the connected upper display device 7 and first extended display device 82. The second extension display device 82 may also be configured to be connectable only to the first extension display device 81. For example, the outer peripheral portion 46b' (mounting portion) of the second extension display device 82 in FIG. 5(a) may be configured to be connectable only to the outer peripheral portion 48b (mounting portion) of the first extension display device 81. Even in this case, the connection position (the mounting position of the outer peripheral portions 46b', 48b) can be understood as a first position that changes the relative positional relationship between the first extension display device 81 and the second extension display device 82 on the upper display device 7. Although not shown, the second extension display device 82 may also be configured to be indirectly connected to the upper display device 7 via the first extension display device 81.

[0123] Although the configuration in which the first and second extended display devices 81 and 82 can be connected individually has been shown, multiple devices of either type may be connected. The number of such extended display devices 8 (connectable number) may also be changed as appropriate, such as to three or more. Although the configuration for mechanically connecting the second extended display device 82 has been described as being such that the mounted portion is attached to the mounting portion and connected, various connection methods may be employed. For example, the upper side 41 of the upper display device 7 and the lower side 47' of the second extended display device 82 in Fig. 5(a) may be connected to each other with screws (not shown), or by engaging an engaged portion with an engaged portion (neither of which are shown).

[0124] The extension member 90 may be used to position the upper display device 7 relatively higher when it is installed, and the dimensions and shape of the extension member 90 and the configuration of the mounting portion 91 and the mounting portion 92 may be changed as appropriate. Also, although not shown in the figures, multiple types of extension members 90 with different extension lengths may be prepared, and extension members 90 of different lengths may be interposed between adjacent game information display devices 9 on the game island 100 so that they are staggered in the vertical direction when each is installed.

[0125] As a special lighting mode, light is emitted in a figure eight pattern between the three display devices 7, 81, and 82 (between the upper display device 7 and the first extended display device 81 in Figures 7 to 9), or the light is emitted so that the light-emitting position moves from one display device to the other display device or from the other display device to the first display device.However, as another light flow display, light may be emitted so that the light-emitting position flows around the outer periphery of each display device 7, 81, and 82.

[0126] For example, between the upper display device 7 and the first extended display device 81, the light may be emitted so that the light-emitting position moves in the opposite direction to the arrow direction in Figures 9(b) and (a), with the end point of the arrow in Figure 9(b) as the starting point and the start point of the arrow in Figure 9(a) as the end point, or the process of moving the light-emitting position in the order of symbols 41L → 48Lb → 45L → 46La → 46Lb → 47L → 42Lb → 43L → 44La → 44Lb may be repeatedly performed so that the light-emitting position circles the outer periphery of both devices 7, 81.

[0127] Furthermore, the display color, brightness, lighting speed (speed of movement of the light-emitting position), and lighting / extinguishing may be designed appropriately according to the light-emitting mode. For example, in the lamp units 41L to 48Lb in Figures 7 to 9, the display color of the moving light-emitting position may be a specific display color, and the display colors of positions other than the specific light-emitting position may be other display colors, and the specific display colors may be emitted so as to flow in the directions of the arrows in Figures 7 to 9. Also, different display colors may be used for the first light-emitting mode, the second light-emitting mode, and the special light-emitting mode (special light-emitting mode).

[0128] In the game information display device 9, when the displayed game information satisfies a predetermined condition, the display device 9 may emit light in a special light emitting mode that makes it possible to recognize that fact. For example, if the maximum number of balls paid out exceeds the maximum record for the day or any previous business day, the game information will be flashed on the corresponding display unit 51, 52, or the upper display unit 7 itself (including lamp units 41L to 44Lb) will be flashed. With this configuration, players other than those playing the corresponding gaming machine 1 can be informed that the previous record is being broken on that gaming machine 1, which can lead to the creation of motivation to play.

[0129] Also, for example, if the number of balls released in one shot during one special prize period exceeds the highest record for that day or for any past business day, the game information will be flashed on the corresponding display unit 51, 52, or the upper display device 7 itself will be flashed. With this configuration, it is possible to inform players other than those playing the corresponding gaming machine 1 that the previous best record is being updated on that gaming machine 1, which can lead to the creation of motivation to play. As described above, the display units 51, 52 are also included in the first light-emitting means, and the above configuration (light-emitting mode) may be included in the special light-emitting mode, or may be performed simultaneously with the special light-emitting mode.

[0130] In the game information display device 9, when two-digit game information is displayed by a seven-segment display unit, if the game information exceeds 99, the fact can be displayed in a recognizable manner. For example, the game information is flashed on the corresponding display unit 51, 52, 61, or the display devices 7, 81, 82 themselves (including lamp units 41L to 44Lb, 45L to 48Lb, 45L' to 48Lb') are flashed.

[0131] With this configuration, it is possible to inform other players other than those playing the corresponding gaming machine 1 that there is a gaming machine 1 that has a high payout rate, which is the degree of advantage of the gaming machine, and to create a motivation to play. As described above, the display units 51, 52, and 61 are also included in the first and second light-emitting means, and the above configuration (light-emitting mode) may be included in the special light-emitting mode, or may be performed simultaneously with the special light-emitting mode. [Explanation of symbols]

[0132] In the drawings, 1 is the gaming machine, 3 is the call display device, 7 is the upper display device, 7c is the mounting portion, 8, 81 and 82 are the extended display devices (first and second extended display devices), 9 is the gaming information display device, 61 is the extended display portion (7-segment display portion, LCD display portion), 71 is the storage portion, 72 and 73 are POP media (media), 90 is the extension member, 100 is the gaming island, and 100a is the mounting base (mounting portion).

Claims

1. In a system for an amusement facility in which a plurality of game information display devices are installed, each of which is composed of an upper display device that is provided above a call display device provided corresponding to a gaming machine and displays predetermined game information, and an extended display device that can be connected to the upper side of the upper display device, The extended display device has a 7-segment display unit on its main surface and an extended lamp unit consisting of multiple light-emitting areas on the outer periphery, and displays extended game information that is different from the game information on the 7-segment display unit, and is an amusement park system that displays a performance related to a light flow that sequentially illuminates the multiple light-emitting areas on the outer periphery of the extended lamp unit.

2. The upper display device has a mounting portion at its base end that can be mounted to a mounting portion of the game island, 2. The game arcade system according to claim 1, further comprising an extension member detachably interposed between the mounting portion and the mounting portion, for extending the overall height of the game information display device at least in the vertical direction.

3. An amusement park system as described in claim 2, wherein among the plurality of game information display devices, one game information display device and the other game information display device adjacent to each other on the game island are installed alternately in the vertical direction, with the extension member interposed on one of the devices and the extension member not interposed on the other device.

Images