Motor stop control device utilizable for gaming machine and gaming machine using the same

• US 7,482,772 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Issued: 01/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
• Original Assignee: Aruze Corp.
• Inventors: Suzuki, Yuuichirou, Nireki, Takao
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro; Bentsu
• Application Number:
  US10/954,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20050096122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,580 Days
• Field of Search: 318/368, 318/685, 318/696, 463/16, 463/17, 463/20, 273/138.1, 273/142.R, 273/143.R, 273/148.R
• US Class Current: 318/368
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members

Abstract

In the motor stop control device according to the embodiment, a main CPU is provided which executes any one of reel stop control process 1 and the reel stop control process 2 when the stop instruction of a stepping motor occurs. In the reel stop control process 1, the main CPU changes a drive power source A, which is applied to the stepping motor rotating at the constant speed, to the drive power source B2, the voltage value of which is lower that that of the drive power source A, and executes the stop control of the stepping motor by the 2-phase excitation. In the reel stop control process 2, the main CPU changes the drive power source A, which is applied to the stepping motor rotating at the constant speed, to the drive power source B1,the voltage value of which is between the voltage values of the drive power source A and the drive power source B2, and executes the stop control of the stepping motor by the 2-phase excitation.

Claims

1. A motor stop control device utilizable for a gaming machine with a reel on which a plurality of symbols are formed,

the motor stop control device comprising:

a winning combination determination device for determining a winning combinations;

a motor having at least three excitation phases to rotate the reel, wherein the motor is a stepping motor; and

a motor stop controller for stopping the motor based on a stop instruction;

wherein the motor stop controller executes any one of a first process and a second process corresponding to the winning combination determined by the winning combination determination device when the stop instruction occurs, in the first process the motor stop controller decreasing a predetermined voltage value applied to the motor rotating at a constant speed to a first voltage value lower than the predetermined voltage value and executing a stop control of the motor by 2-phase excitation and in the second process the motor stop controller decreasing the predetermined voltage value to a second voltage value which lies between the predetermined voltage value and the first voltage value and executing the stop control by the 2-phase excitation,

wherein the first process includes a stop process for stopping a first predetermined symbol of the reel on a pay line, the first process being executed until a first predetermined time is elapsed since the stop instruction occurs, a power source change process for changing a predetermined power source with the predetermined voltage value to a first power source with the first voltage value, the power source change process being executed right after the first predetermined time is elapsed, and an excitation process for conducting the 2-phase excitation of the stepping motor, the excitation process being executed until the reel is completely stopped,

wherein the second process includes a stop process for stopping a second predetermined symbol of the reel on a pay line, the stop process being executed until a second predetermined time including the first predetermined time and a specific time is elapsed since the stop instruction occurs, a power source change process for changing the predetermined power source with the predetermined voltage to a second power source with the second voltage value, the power source change process being executed right after the specific time is elapsed, and an excitation process for conducting the 2-phase excitation of the stepping motor, the excitation process being executed until the reel is completely stopped, and

wherein an elapsed time, from when the stop instruction occurs to when the excitation process is completed, in the first process is equal to an elapsed time, from when the stop instruction occurs to when the excitation process is completed, in the second process.

2. The motor stop control device according to claim 1, wherein the motor is a stepping motor with four excitation phases.

3. A gaming machine comprising:

a reel on which a plurality of symbols are formed;

a motor stop control device having a motor with a plurality of excitation phases to rotate the reel and a motor stop controller for stopping the motor based on a stop instruction;

a winning combination determination device for determining a winning combination;

wherein the motor stop controller executes any one of a first process and a second process corresponding to the winning combination determined by the winning combination determination device when the stop instruction occurs, in the first process the motor stop controller decreasing a predetermined voltage value applied to the motor rotating at a constant speed to a first voltage value lower than the predetermined voltage value and executing a stop control of the motor by 2-phase excitation and in the second process the motor stop controller decreasing the predetermined voltage value to a second voltage value which lies between the predetermined voltage value and the first voltage value and executing the stop control by the 2-phase excitation,

wherein the first process includes a stop process for stopping a first predetermined symbol of the reel on a pay line, a power source change process for changing a predetermined power source with the predetermined voltage value to a first power source with the first voltage value, and an excitation process for conducting the 2-phase excitation of the stepping motor,

wherein the second process includes a stop process for stopping a second predetermined symbol of the reel on a pay line, a power source change process for changing the predetermined power source with the predetermined voltage to a second power source with the second voltage value, and an excitation process for conducting the 2-phase excitation of the stepping motor,

wherein a first elapsed predetermined time, from when the stop instruction occurs to when the power source change process is executed, in the first process is shorter than a second elapsed predetermined time, from when the stop instruction occurs to when the power source change process is executed, in the second process, and

wherein an elapsed time, from when the stop instruction occurs to when the excitation process is completed, in the first process is equal to an elapsed time from when the stop instruction occurs to when the excitation process is completed, in the second process.

4. A slot machine comprising:

stepping motors as drive sources of a plurality of reels on each of which a plurality of symbols are displayed, the stepping motor being provided corresponding to each of the plurality of reels; and

a motor stop controller arranging the symbols on the plurality of reels corresponding to a winning combination determined beforehand, if a symbol combination to be displayed is determined as the winning combination beforehand,

wherein if the symbol combination to be displayed is determined as the winning combination beforehand, the motor stop controller executes stop control after stepping down to a first voltage value that is lower than a voltage value already inputted in a first process or to a second voltage value that is lower than the first voltage value in a second process in response to input of motor stop command so as to apply to the stepping motor,

wherein the first process includes a stop process for stopping first predetermined symbols of the reels on a pay line, a power source change process for changing a predetermined power source with the predetermined voltage value already inputted to a first power source with the first voltage value, and an excitation process for conducting a 2-phase excitation of the stepping motor,

wherein the second process includes a stop process for stopping second predetermined symbols of the reel on a pay line, a power source change process for changing the predetermined power source with the predetermined voltage already inputted to a second power source with the second voltage value, and an excitation process for conducting the 2-phase excitation of the stepping motor,

wherein a first elapsed predetermined time, from the input of motor stop command occurs to when the power source change process is executed, in the first process is shorter than a second elapsed predetermined time, from when the input of motor stop command occurs to when the power source change process is executed, in the second process, and

wherein an elapsed time, from when the input of motor stop command occurs to when the excitation process is completed, in the first process is equal to an elapsed time, from when the input of motor stop command occurs to when the excitation process is completed, in the second process.