JP4747276B2 - Game machine medal and medal game machine using the medal - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a game machine medal or substitute coin (in the present specification, both are referred to as a medal) and a medal game machine using the medal.

Micro IC tags used in the UHF or microwave band are used for various purposes in addition to ID cards and are widely used.
One of those uses is management of goods distribution, storage, maintenance records, and the like.
This is a reader / writer for reading and writing micro IC tag information by attaching a non-contact type micro IC tag to the item to be managed and a dipole antenna for exchanging information with the micro IC tag. Is used to identify and manage those articles.

  In this application, there is no problem if the portion to which the micro IC tag is attached is non-metallic, but the entire article is made of metal, such as a medal for a game machine (hereinafter simply referred to as a medal). In this case, there has been a problem that data communication with a micro IC tag becomes extremely difficult.

  In this case, if the medal is made of synthetic resin, communication becomes easy. However, since the plastic medal is light and soft, it does not give a sense of weight, metallic luster, and touch like an actual coin. In addition, the behavior of the game machine in the play field is not appropriate because it is different from coins, and the sound quality and volume at the time of use are also different. Furthermore, in an actual game machine, there is a problem that it is likely to be clogged, that is, clogged up with medals, and lacks durability.

For this reason, a proposal has been made to insert a metal ring into the outer periphery of a medal with a micro IC tag made of plastic, but it is not practical and is hardly adopted.
Also, to prevent the communication electromagnetic wave generated from the induced current of the micro IC tag embedded in the metal member from being consumed by the eddy current etc. on the surface of the nearest metal member, cross the eddy current etc. Although it has been proposed to provide a slit in a metal member, it has not been practical as a medal for a game machine.
JP 2003-85515 A Japanese Utility Model 6-64512

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a metal medal for a medal game machine incorporating a micro IC tag.
Furthermore, the built-in micro IC tag does not impair the sense of weight, metallic luster, touch, operation stability inside the game machine, sound quality during use, sound volume, durability, etc. of conventional metal medals. And providing a medal game machine using such a medal.

Shigeru Yamauchi, one of the inventors of the present invention, previously proposed a method of embedding a micro IC tag inside a metal member so that data communication can be performed with a reader / writer.
This is because a metal member is provided with a slot, and a pair of arm portions are cut out such that their tip portions are opposed to each other with a minute distance, and the conductor length is λ / Electromagnetically connect a micro IC tag made by cutting from a normal λ / 2 long IC tag so that it can be regarded as a micro dipole antenna shorter than 2, and fix the micro IC tag by filling a curable resin in the slot By configuring the ID response unit, the data communication sensitivity is improved compared to the case of a single micro IC tag without compromising the strength of the metallic member, and the same function as an IC tag using a normal dipole antenna The gist is to enable reading of IC tag data.
The conductor length of the minute dipole antenna is not particularly limited, but is desirably 2 ⁻ⁿ of an ordinary dipole antenna (where n is an integer of 1 to 3).
Here, the term “electromagnetically connected” means that when a high-frequency current flows through the conductor of a minute dipole antenna without making an electrical connection such as soldering, a current of the same frequency is also supplied to the arm portion. Is excited and radio waves are emitted.

Therefore, it is desirable that the micro IC tag is integrally configured by providing an IC chip and a micro dipole antenna connected to the IC chip on an elongated insulating substrate.
The minute dipole antenna has a shorter conductor length than a normal dipole antenna, but the antenna execution length becomes equal to the total length of the pair of arm portions by electromagnetically coupling with the arm portions. When the total length is λ / 2, a function corresponding to a normal dipole antenna can be exhibited.

However, if the present invention is applied to a medal whose diameter is smaller than λ / 2, it is necessary to bring the IC tag reader and the medal close to each other or increase the radio wave output of the IC tag reader.
The present invention solves this problem by performing ID identification at a close range, and provides a medal suitable for a game machine and a medal game machine using these medals.

  The medal of the present invention has a feeling of weight, metallic luster, touch, correct behavior inside the game machine, sound quality, sound volume, and durability when used in the same manner as an actual coin. It is a medal with a micro IC tag that can be used exactly as a medal or medal.

  In the medal according to the present invention, a slot is provided in a game machine medal made of a thin metal plate piece, and a pair of arm-like portions are cut out so that their tip portions are opposed to each other with a minute distance, and the slots are placed in the slots. Along the arm-shaped part, a minute dipole antenna whose conductor length is shorter than a normal dipole antenna and a minute IC tag attached with an IC chip connected to the minute dipole antenna are provided on an elongated base material. The antenna is formed by electromagnetically connecting the dipole antenna to the arm-shaped part, and the ID response part is formed by filling the slot with a curable resin such as a two-component mixed type and fixing the micro IC tag. In addition, the balance compensator is provided so that the center of gravity is located on a central axis (in this specification, simply referred to as the central axis) extending in a direction perpendicular to the main plane of the thin plate piece.

In short, in the medal according to the present invention, a balance compensation unit is provided in order to recover the static balance that has been lost by providing an ID response unit in a conventionally known game machine medal.
However, in this balance compensation unit, the ID response unit also serves as the ID response unit by providing two sets of ID response units in rotational symmetry about the central axis, or configuring the ID response unit itself to be rotationally symmetrical around the central axis. Can be.

  In general, it is recommended that the micro IC tag is provided in the peripheral portion of the medal from the viewpoint of transmission / reception sensitivity. However, if this is done, the static balance of the medal is impaired.

  If a small IC tag is provided around the medal, the posture will be biased when transported along a guide in a game machine, or dropped or rolled in the play field, causing clogging in the transport path or play. The player's interest is killed due to unnatural behavior in the field.

  More specifically, in the game machine, medals are passed through a medal identification device, transported by a transport device such as a lift, or stored in a storage device. At this time, if the balance of the medals is poor, the medals may be clogged and it may not be possible to pass through various devices smoothly.

  In some medal game machines, a large number of nails and winning pots are provided, and a vertically supported play board surface is used, and medals are dropped along the play board surface. An irregular bounce occurs and the player's disappointment is bought.

  Also, in other types of game machines, a horizontal play field, a front / rear movable barrier having a target slit provided at the rear edge thereof, and a player operate to release medals on the play field. A shooter to be moved is provided, and medals released from the shooter onto the play field by the player are allowed to roll on the play field toward the target slit.

An event occurs when the rolling medal enters the target slit. Other medals accumulate on the play field, and the released medals move over those deposits. It rolls and goes to the target slit. At this time, if the balance of medals is bad, the rolling state becomes unnatural and the interest of the player is impaired.

Therefore, a balance compensation unit is provided to restore the static balance.
In one embodiment, a compensation slit is provided at a position rotationally symmetric with the slit for providing the micro IC tag, and the balance is restored by filling with a curable resin.
In this case, an IC chip may be provided in the compensation slit to configure the second ID response unit.

  In another embodiment, a balance hole is provided on the side opposite to the side where the micro IC tag is provided, and the balance hole is filled with a curable resin. Restore static balance.

  In yet another embodiment, the metal plate on the side opposite to the side where the micro IC tag is provided is made slightly thinner to achieve balance.

  In yet another embodiment, a set of ID response parts is provided coaxially with the center axis of the medal and rotationally symmetric, and members occupying rotationally symmetric positions of the ID response parts are mutually opposite one another. It is comprised so that it may become a balance compensation part.

  In the above-described embodiment, it is further recommended to cover the surface of the resin filling portion of the ID response portion and the balance compensation portion with a pattern or a coating having a metallic luster.

  The shape of the metal thin plate may be a disk shape, an oval shape, a polygonal shape, etc., and as the synthetic resin for filling the slit, a curable resin such as a two-component mixed type having a metallic luster or a thermosetting type is recommended. However, a thermoplastic resin can also be used.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a first embodiment of a medal according to the present invention, wherein 10 is a medal, 12 is a disk-shaped metal thin plate piece, and 10A and 10B are a pair of pieces cut out by slits S10a and S10b. The arm-shaped portions, 12A and 12B are a pair of arm-shaped portions cut out by the slits S12a and S12b, and 100 is a micro IC tag.

The slit S10a has an arc shape, is symmetrical with respect to one diameter of the metal thin plate 12, and the central portion thereof is provided at a position close to the peripheral portion of the metal thin plate 12, and the slit S10a and the above-mentioned A pair of arm-like portions 10A and 10B is formed by the slit S10b provided in a diameter, and the micro IC tag 100 is provided along the arm-like portions 10A and 10B inside the slit S10a.
The slits S12a and S12b are balance compensation slits, and are provided in rotational symmetry with the slits S10a and S10b with respect to the central axis of the metal thin plate piece 12.

As shown in FIG. 5, the micro IC tag 100 is provided with a micro dipole antenna comprising an IC chip 120 and a pair of poles 110L and 110R connected to the IC chip 120 on a base 130. Become.
The poles 110L and 110R are shorter than the poles of a normal dipole antenna. Although there is no particular limitation, it is desirable to use 2- ⁿ of a normal pole. Here, n is an integer of 1 to 3.
The micro IC chip 120 later records predetermined data, for example, issuer name, consistent number, issue date, usage history, etc., and these data are further recorded in the server recording area corresponding to the ID of the IC chip. To be recorded.

As described above, the micro IC tag 100 is inserted into the slit S10a so that the IC chip 120 faces the slit S10b, in other words, between the distal ends of the arm-like portions 10A and 10B, and then the slit S10a And the resin R10 is filled and cured in S10b, and the micro IC tag 100 is fixed inside the slit S10a along the arm portions 10A and 10B, whereby the micro dipole antenna 130 is connected to the arm portions 10A and 10B. It becomes electromagnetically connected.
The IC chip 120 and the pair of arm-like parts 10A and 10B are electromagnetically connected via the minute dipole antenna 110, whereby the ID response part 10 is formed and is connected to a reader / writer (not shown). Data communication using UHF or microwaves is possible between them, and data reading and writing of the IC chip 120 and data management using a database or the like are possible.

The slits S10a and S10b and the slits S12a and S12b are provided to be rotationally symmetric with respect to the center of the thin metal plate piece 12.For this reason, the pair of arm portions 12A and 12B are
The pair of arms 10A and 10B is rotationally symmetric.
Thus, the slits S12a and S12b are filled with the same resin BR10 as that filled in the slits S10a and S10b and cured. Since the density of this resin BR10 is not much different from the density of the micro IC tag 100, the balance compensation part B10 is formed by these, and the static balance of the medal 10 damaged by providing the slits S10a and S10b is original good. Recovers to a normal state.

  This medal 10 has the same weight feeling as a conventionally known medal, and has a good static balance, so there is no clogging of medals in the inside of a game machine or the like, and it has been conventionally used in the play field. Behaves exactly like a medal.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a second embodiment of the medal according to the present invention, in which 20 is a medal, 22 is a disk-shaped metal thin plate piece, and 20A and 20B are a pair of pieces cut out by slits S20a and S20b. Arm-shaped part, 100 is a micro IC tag, and R20 is a curable resin.
These components are the same as the medal 10, the disk-shaped thin metal plate piece 12, the slits S10a and S10b, the pair of arm portions 10A and 10B, and the micro IC tag 100 shown in FIG. 1, respectively. is there.

Thus, in this second embodiment, instead of the balance compensation portion B10 used in the first embodiment, the balance hole BH20, and the curable resin BR20 filled and cured in the balance hole BH20, A balance compensation unit B20 is used.
The diameter of the balance hole BH20 and the distance from the medal center are determined so that the static balance of the medal 20 damaged by providing the slits S20a and S20b is restored to the original good state.
In this second embodiment, in order to form the balance compensation portion B20, the balance hole BH20 is provided and filled with the resin BR20. For example, the thickness of a specific portion of the thin metal piece 22 is increased. It is also possible to balance by reducing the thickness or simply providing a balance hole and omitting the filling of the resin.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a third embodiment of the medal according to the present invention, in which 30 is a medal, 32 is a disk-shaped metal thin plate piece, and 30A and 30B are concentric with the contour of the metal thin plate piece 32. A pair of arm portions cut out by slits 30c provided to communicate with the central portions of the slits S30a and S30b, 100 is a micro IC tag, R30 is a slit S30a, S30b and 30c The cured resin B30 filled in is a balance compensator formed by providing the balance hole BH30 and filling the cured resin BR30 therein.

In this third embodiment, the pair of arm portions 30A, 30B are cut out by the slits S30a, S30b, and 30c, the micro IC tag 100 is inserted into the slit S30a, and the cured resin is filled in these slits. The micro IC tag 100 is fixed.
The IC chip 120 is preferably fixed at a position facing the slit 30c.
Thus, the minute dipole antenna of the minute IC tag 100 is electromagnetically connected to the pair of arm-like portions 30A and 30B, thereby forming the ID response portion 30, and data communication with an external reader / writer is possible. It becomes possible.
The configuration and operational effects of the balance compensation unit B30 will no longer need to be explained.

This medal 30 is strong because there is no notch effect due to the slits S10b and S20b reaching the outer peripheral surface as used in the medals 10 and 20 described above, and there is no wear of the cured resin in the peripheral part, and the slit S10b , Deterioration of the feel at the time of use by the resin filled in S20b and irregular behavior in the play field are reduced.
In this embodiment, the slits S30a and S30b are concentric with the outline of the thin metal plate piece 32, but this may be other shapes.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a fourth embodiment of the medal according to the present invention, in which 40 is a medal, 42 is a disk-shaped metal thin plate piece, and 40A and 40B are one of the metal thin plate pieces 42. A pair of arm-shaped parts cut out by the slits S40a and S40b provided symmetrically with respect to the diameter, 100 is a micro IC tag, and R40 is a cured resin filled in the slits S40a and S40b.

In this embodiment, the slits S40a and S40b and the curable resin R40 filled in the slits S40a and S40b are located symmetrically with respect to the center of the metal thin piece 42 to form a balance compensation portion.
Also in this embodiment, the micro IC tag 100 is provided in one slit S40a, and the micro dipole antenna is electromagnetically connected to the pair of arm portions 40A and 40B, thereby forming the ID response portion ID40. Data communication with an external reader / writer is possible.

In this embodiment, the slits S40a and S40b are combined in an X shape, but this may be an H shape or other shapes. In short, any shape may be used as long as a pair of arm portions are cut out, and each slit may be a straight line, a curved line, or a broken line.
The slits are desirably symmetrical with respect to one diameter of the thin metal plate piece 42, but may be asymmetrical even if they are asymmetrical in the left-right direction.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a medal game machine using the above-mentioned medals. In the figure, 200 is a medal game machine, 300 is a medal game machine 200, and a number of game machines not shown. A database server that centrally manages used medals.
Thus, the medal game machine 200 includes a fee collection device 210 having a medal slot 210a, a medal inspection device 220, an illegal medal return device 230, a medal lift 240, a play field 250, and a game input device 260 operated by the player. A medal payout device 270, a medal collection device 280, and a medal storage box 290. Further, the medal inspection device 220, the medal payout device 270, and the medal collection device 280 respectively read and write data of the micro IC tag of the medal. It includes reader / writers 222, 272 and 282 for performing.

A player who wants to play a game inserts a considerable number of medals into the medal slot 210a.
The inserted medal is checked for its weight, dimensions and other physical properties by a known medal inspection device 220, and further, the data of the micro IC tag is read by the reader / writer 222, and the read data is sent to the database 300. And the authenticity of the medal is checked.

Thus, illegal medals such as forged products, medals issued at other stores, damaged medals, etc. are sent to the illegal medal return device 230 and returned, and only valid and valid medals are returned to the medal lift 240. To the play field 250 for use in the game.
At this time, if necessary, the medal usage history is recorded in the database 300 and the IC chip of the medal.

  The medal sent to the game field 250 is used for the game in the play field 250 according to the game operation of the player input from the game input device 260, and depending on the result of the game, the medal payout device 270 or It is sent to the medal collection device 280.

  The medals sent to the medal payout device 270 are paid out to the player, and the medals sent to the medal collection device 280 are sent to the medal storage box 290 and temporarily stored. Sent.

  The medal payout device 270 and the medal collection device 280 are not essential components, but reader / writers 272 and 282 are provided, respectively, and medal data passing through the medal payout device 270 and the medal collection device 280 are read, respectively. Usage history is recorded in the database 300 and the IC chip of the medal.

  Since the game machine according to the present invention is configured as described above, the use of medals issued by other stores can be prohibited, and medals can be managed individually. When it is inserted into 210 or when it is paid out from the medal payout device 270, a special event can be generated, a bonus can be given to the player, and old medals are collected and discarded. It is also possible to do so.

  In the above embodiment, the length of the micro IC tag to be used is substantially the same as the length of the slit into which the micro IC tag is inserted, but this is not an essential requirement, and the IC chip and a pair of arm portions The IC chip and the pair of arms can be directly electromagnetically coupled, depending on the circuit design of the IC chip, by substituting the antenna at the output part of the IC chip. The present invention encompasses such an embodiment.

  Since the medal according to the present invention is configured as described above, it can be suitably used as a medal for a game machine, and not only can the medal be managed reliably, but also a new game machine that has never existed can be provided.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the 1st Example of a medal. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 2nd Example of a medal. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 3rd Example of a medal. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 4th Example of a medal. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of a micro IC tag. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of 1 structure of the game device using a medal.

Explanation of symbols

10, 20, 30, 40 medals
12, 22, 32, 42 Metal sheet
S10a, S10b, S12a, S12b; S20a, S22b; S30a, S30b, S30c; S40a, S40b
slot
10A, 10B; 12A, 12B; 20A, 20B; 30A, 30B; 40A, 40B A pair of arms
R10, R20, R30, R40 curable resin
ID10, ID20, ID30, ID40 ID response part
B10, B20, B30 Balance compensator
100 micro IC tag
110, 110L, 110R micro dipole antenna
120 IC chip
130 Base material
200 medal game machine
210 Charge collection device
220 Medal acceptance device
230 Unauthorized medal return device
240 Medal Lift
250 play fields
260 Game input device
270 Medal payout device
280 Medals collection device
290 Medals storage box
300 databases

Claims (10)

Slots (S10a, S10b; S20a, S20b; S30a, S30b, S30c; S40a, S40b) are provided in the metal sheet pieces (12, 22, 32, 42), and a pair of arm-shaped parts (10A, 10B; 20A, 20B) 30A, 30B; 40A, 40B) are cut out so that their tips are opposed to each other with a minute distance, and the IC chip (120) is provided in the slot (S10a, S20a, S30a, S40a). Insert the IC tag (100) and fix it so that the IC chip (120) and the pair of arms (10A, 10B; 20A, 20B; 30A, 30B; 40A, 40B) are electromagnetically connected An ID response unit (ID10, ID20, ID30, ID40) is a game machine medal for the RFID system,
The game machine medal (10, 20, 30), characterized in that a balance compensation unit (B10, B20, B30) is provided so that the center of gravity of the medal is positioned on a central axis extending in a direction perpendicular to the main plane. 40).   A micro IC tag (100) consists of an IC chip (120), a micro dipole antenna (110) consisting of a pair of poles 110L and 110R, and a base material (130) on which they are mounted, and a pair of poles 110L and 110R Are each connected to a pair of arm-like parts (10A, 10B; 20A, 20B; 30A, 30B; 40A, 40B) electromagnetically (10, 20, 30, 40).   The game machine medal (10, 20, 30, 40) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the metal thin plate pieces (12, 22, 32, 42) have a disk shape.   The slots (S12a, S12b) for balance compensation are provided symmetrically with the slots (S10a, S10b) with respect to the central axis, and the inside is filled with a curable resin member (BR10), thereby the balance compensation section (B10) The game machine medal (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein:   5. The game machine medal according to claim 4, wherein the balance compensation slot (S12a) is also provided with a micro IC tag.   The ID transmitter (ID20, ID30) is provided in the peripheral part of the thin plate pieces (22, 32), and the balance compensator (B20, B30) is in the peripheral part opposite to the ID transmitter (ID20, ID30) The game machine medal (20, 20) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a provided balance hole (BH20, BH30) and a curable resin member (BR20, BR30) filled in the balance hole. 30).   The ID response unit is provided in a peripheral portion of the thin plate piece, and the balance compensation unit is formed of a thin portion provided in a portion on the opposite side of the thin plate plate from the ID response unit. The game machine medal described.   The pair of slots (S40a, S40b) are provided so as to be rotationally symmetric with respect to the medal central axis, and the members occupying symmetrical positions of the medals are configured as one of the other balance compensators. The medal for game machines (40) as described in any one of thru | or 3.   Slots (S10a, S10b, S12a, S12b; S20a, S20b; S30a, S30b, S30c; S40a, S40b) provided on the metal thin plate pieces (12, 22, 32, 42) are provided on the surface of the medal The game machine medal according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the game machine medal is covered with a symbol. A housing provided with a medal slot (210a), a sorting device (220) for determining the authenticity of the inserted medal, an illegal medal return device (230), and the collected genuine medal are sent to the play field (250). A transport device (240), a game control device (260) operated by the player, a payout device (270) for paying out medals to the player, a recovery device (280) for taking in recovered medals, and a medal storage unit (290) In the medal game device (200) comprising:
The medal used is the medal (10, 20, 30, 40) according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
An IC tag reader (220) is installed in the medal passage inserted in the medal slot,
The medal game device (200) described above, wherein a server (300) for managing an IC tag reader (220, other) of a plurality of medal game devices (200, other) is provided.

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