US20040214636A1 - Gaming machine - Google Patents

Abstract

Pixel units a and b each of which is formed by arranging each one of a plurality of kinds of pixel electrodes which display predetermined colors respectively, an information signal driver10for controlling information signals supplied to the pixel electrodes, and information signal lines DB, DG, and DR that connect outputs for one pixel from the information signal driver10with the pixel electrodes (Ra, Rb), (Ga, Gb), and (Ba, Bb) for the same color included in a pair of pixel units a and b respectively in a one-to-many relationship, are provided. The information signal driver10supplies information signals for one pixel to pixel electrodes (Ra, Rb), (Ga, Gb), and (Ba, Bb) for the same color that are included in each of a pair of pixel units.

Description

FIELD OF THE TECHNOLOGY
• This invention relates to a display device which is provided in a gaming machine such as a slot machine or a pachinko machine.[0001]
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
• In recent years, in the market of gaming machines such as slot machines and pachinko machines, images are mentioned as one of important elements which constitute game property. Conventionally, in an image of a gaming machine, it has become a main stream to mount a liquid crystal monitor or a dot display device whose size is seven inches or less. According to a gaming machine equipped with such a display device, it becomes possible by displaying an image according to the progress of a game in the gaming machine to display stages of progress of the game clearly, to make a player's expectations arouse, or to direct a winning status effectively (for example, see patent document No. 1).[0002]
• In the above-mentioned display device and the gaming machine equipped with the display device, while it is possible to expect high stage effects as the display screen has a large area, it can be said that an image displayed on the display device with finer pixels has a larger amount of information which can be displayed, as well as is more beautiful.[0003]
• However, in a liquid crystal monitor, there is a problem that, although a pixel also becomes large as an area of the liquid crystal monitor rises, an image displayed becomes coarse as the pixel becomes large, and the resolution of the image is lowered. Hence, finer pixels are desired.[0004]
• For example, refer to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-340518.[0005]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• Nevertheless, as mention above, there is a problem that image data displayed increases when an area of a liquid crystal display monitor is enlarged and pixels are made finer. As a result, it comes to cause the delay of processing speed, the increase of volume of storage capacity, and the increase of manufacturing cost of the image data.[0006]
• Then, this invention is made in view of the above issues, and provides a display device and a gaming machine which can make pixels of the display device fine and can achieve improvement in image quality without increasing image data in the display device, with which the gaming machine such as a slot machine or a pachinko machine is equipped.[0007]
• In order to solve the above-mentioned subjects, this invention is a display device which is provided in a gaming machine such as a slot machine or a pachinko machine. The gaming machine comprises pixel units each of which is formed by arranging each one of a plurality of kinds of pixel electrodes which display predetermined colors respectively, drive control means for controlling an information signal supplied to the pixel electrodes, and information signal lines that connect outputs for one pixel from the drive control means with the pixel electrodes for the same color included in a pair of pixel units respectively in a one-to-many relationship, wherein one pixel is constituted by a pair of adjacent pixel units.[0008]
• According to this invention as described above, in a display device provided in a gaming machine, information signals for one pixel are supplied through the information signal lines that connect pixel electrodes for the same color included in a pair of adjacent pixel units with outputs of the drive control means in a one-to-many relationship. Hence, it becomes possible to apply information signal voltages for one pixel to a pair of pixel electrodes in the same timing and at the same level. Therefore, it is possible to make the above-mentioned pixels finer without increasing output terminals of the drive control means. Consequently, according to this invention, it becomes possible to make a distance between pixel electrodes for the same color (a pitch between pixel units) about one half of the conventional one without requiring drastic improvement of the drive control means such as an existing information signal driver, and increasing a data amount of the existing image data. Hence, finer pixels can be attained.[0009]
• In addition, in a display device which is provided in a gaming machine such as a slot machine or a pachinko machine, by a pitch P between pixel units and a distance d to a player in a normal game posture from the display device concerned satisfying a relationship of P<tan(π/180/35)×d, pixel lines can be made hardly conspicuous. According to the present invention, by adopting the above-mentioned constitution, it is possible to easily achieve the pitch P between pixel units satisfying the above-mentioned relationship.[0010]
• In the above-mentioned invention, it is desirable that the pixel electrodes are arranged in matrix on an xy plane, and that pixel electrodes of the same color are arranged in a y direction and the same pattern is continuously arranged in an x direction to form a stripe. In this case, since pixel electrodes of the same colors are lined in the y direction, it is possible to reduce the spreading of an image at the time of displaying a slant line in comparison with the pixel electrodes with other arrangement forms. Hence, it becomes possible to improve the image quality.[0011]
• This invention may include a gaming machine, such as a slot machine or a pachinko machine. The gaming machine comprises a display unit that is constituted by a plurality of kinds of pixel electrodes that display predetermined colors respectively and are arranged in matrix, the display device comprising pixel units each of which is formed by arranging each one of a plurality of kinds of pixel electrodes which display predetermined colors respectively, drive control means for controlling information signals supplied to the pixel electrodes, and an information signal line that connect outputs for one pixel from the drive control means with the pixel electrodes for the same color included in a pair of pixel units respectively in a one-to-many relationship, wherein one pixel can be constituted by a pair of adjacent pixel units.[0012]
• According to this invention as described above, in a display device provided in a gaming machine, information signals for one pixel are supplied through the information signal lines that connect pixel electrodes for the same color included in a pair of adjacent pixel units with outputs of the drive control means in a one-to-many relationship. Hence, it becomes possible to apply information signal voltages for one pixel to a pair of pixel electrodes in the same timing and at the same level. Therefore, it is possible to make the above-mentioned pixels finer without increasing output terminals of the drive control means. Consequently, it becomes possible to make a pitch between pixel units about one half of the conventional one, and consequently, it becomes possible to display effectively the image according to the progress of the game in the gaming machine.[0013]
• In the above-mentioned invention, it is desirable that the pixel electrodes are arranged in matrix on an xy plane, and the pixel electrodes of the same color are arranged in a y direction and the same pattern is continuously arranged in an x direction to form a stripe. In this case, since pixel electrodes of the same color are lined in the y direction, it is possible to reduce the spreading of an image at the time of displaying a slant line with comparing the pixel electrodes with other arrangement forms. Hence, it becomes possible to raise the image quality.[0014]
• In the above-mentioned invention, preferably, the display unit is a highly transmissive liquid crystal display provided on a game board. In this case, it becomes possible to make the above-mentioned minute image displayed on the game board, such as a reel unit of a slot machine, or a game board of a pachinko machine, with being overlapped. Hence, it is possible to attain improvement in power of expression more effectively.[0015]
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the assumed value and the value of pitch P;[0016]
• FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a display screen of a display device according to a first embodiment;[0017]
• FIG. 3 is a structural diagram showing the internal configuration of the display device according to the first embodiment;[0018]
• FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing the application timing of information signal voltages in the display device according to the first embodiment;[0019]
• FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a modified example of an arrangement form of pixel units according to the first embodiment;[0020]
• FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a slot machine according to the first embodiment;[0021]
• FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control unit provided inside the slot machine according to the first embodiment;[0022]
• FIG. 8 is a structural diagram showing the configuration of a display device according to a second embodiment; and[0023]
• FIG. 9 is a graphical representation where the vertical axis is set as the sensitivity of a player to pixels and the horizontal axis logarithmically shows the number of pixel lines per one degree of the player's viewing angle (lines/deg) in a third embodiment.[0024]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• Hereafter, a display device and a slot machine gaming machine according to an embodiment of this invention will be explained in detail with referring to drawings.[0025]
• [First Embodiment][0026]
• (Configuration of Display Device)[0027]
• FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a display screen of a display device according to a first embodiment. Note that, in this figure, only 4 pixels in 2×2 are shown in an enlarged manner.[0028]
• As shown in this figure, in the display screen, a plurality of kinds of pixel electrodes R, G, and B (hereinafter, these are called Ra, Ga, Ba, Rb, Gb, and Bb appropriately) that display three colors of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) respectively are arranged in matrix on an xy plane, and pixel electrodes of the same color are arranged in the y direction and the same pattern is continuously arranged in the x direction to form a stripe.[0029]
• Then, in this display screen, pixel units a and b are formed by arranging each kind of pixel electrodes R, G, and B, and one pixel is constituted by one pair of adjacent pixel units. Going in detail, a pixel unit a is formed by adjacently arranging the pixel electrodes Ra, Ga, and Ba, a pixel unit b is formed by adjacently arranging the pixel electrodes Rb, Gb, and Bb, and one pixel data is displayed by these adjacent pixel units a and b.[0030]
• FIG. 3 shows a concrete configuration of this display screen. As shown in this figure, on a display screen, gate lines G[0031]1, G2, . . . that are wired in a horizontal direction in this figure (corresponding to the x direction in FIG. 2) and are connected to ascanning signal driver11, and information signal lines (source lines) DR, DG, DB, . . . that are wired in a vertical direction in this figure (corresponding to the y direction in FIG. 2) and are connected to aninformation signal driver10 that is drive control means are provided on a liquid crystal panel substrate so that they may be orthogonal in the condition of being insulated mutually. At each of their intersections, they are connected to each pixel electrode through a thin film transistor (TFT) which is an active element (switching element).
• In addition, in this embodiment, outputs for one pixel from the[0032]information signal driver10 which is drive control means, and respective pixel electrodes Ra, Ga, Ba, Rb, Gb, and Bb included in the pair of pixel units a and b are connected in a one-to-many relationship. That is, each of the information signal lines DR, DG, DB, . . . is branched on the way, and outputs for one pixel from theinformation signal driver10, and pixel electrodes for the same color included in a pair of pixel units a and b respectively are connected in a one-to-two relationship. That is, also in this embodiment, one pixel is constituted by one pair of adjacent pixel units a and b, and the information signal line DR is connected to the pixel electrodes Ra and Rb, the information signal line DG is to the pixel electrodes Ga and Gb, and the information signal line DB is to the pixel electrodes Ba and Bb.
• In such a configuration, the[0033]scanning signal driver11 makes the scanning selection of the gate lines G1, G2, . . . by turns to supply gate voltages. In synchronization with this scanning selection of the gate lines, theinformation signal driver10 supplies information signal voltages, corresponding to respective pixel data, to the information signal lines DR, DG, DB, . . . , and applies them to respective pixel electrodes through the TFTs. At this time, outputs for one pixel from theinformation signal driver10, and pixel electrodes for the same color included in the pixel units a and b respectively are connected in the one-to-two relationship. Hence, the information signal voltages for one pixel are supplied at the same level to pixel electrodes (Ra, Rb), (Ga, Gb), and (Ba, Bb) for the same color included in each pixel unit.
• FIG. 4 shows the application timing of these information signal voltages. In addition, this figure shows voltage levels in a positive field and a negative field that are applied to the gate lines and respective pixel electrodes in the case that one frame is scanned by shuttling.[0034]
• As shown in this figure, the scanning selection of the gate lines G[0035]1, G2, . . . is made by turns, the voltages are applied, and in synchronization with this timing of application to respective gate lines, information signal voltages at the same level are applied through the information signal lines DR, DG, . . . to pairs of pixel electrodes (Ra, Rb), (Ga, Gb), and (Ba, Bb).
• Note that, in this embodiment, although the case that pixels each formed by a pair of pixel units a and b are arranged in a stripe is explained as an example, this invention is not limited to this. As shown in FIG. 5, this invention is applicable also to a mosaic arrangement (FIG. 5([0036]a)), a delta arrangement (FIG. 5(b)), or a 2G square arrangement (FIG. 5(c)). Also in these cases, information signals for one pixel are supplied at the same level and in the same timing to respective pixel electrodes for the same color included in the pair of pixel units a and b.
• (Configuration of Gaming Machine)[0037]
• A gaming machine that is provided with the above-mentioned display will be explained. This embodiment will be explained by way of example where the display device is applied to a slot machine as a gaming machine. FIG. 6 is a perspective view and a front view that show the[0038]slot machine1 according to this embodiment.
• As shown in FIG. 6, a[0039]game board2 is provided in the front of a main body of theslot machine1, and on thisgame board2, a transparentliquid crystal display3 which is the display device mentioned above is provided in an area shown by dotted lines in the figure. In order to allow designs drawn on the outer periphery of reels provided in the main body of theslot machine1 to be visible,reel display windows3aare formed in this transparentliquid crystal display3. In addition, various display units, such as lamps and segment indicators, are provided also in areas other than the transparentliquid crystal display3 on thegame board2. Moreover, theslot machine1 comprises aspeaker4, alamp5, anoperation switch unit6, and amedal receiving tray1ain the front of the main body. The transparentliquid crystal display3 is a highly transmissive liquid crystal display, and electrodes which apply voltages to liquid crystal are formed with electroconductive substances (for example, adaptive oxide of indium and tin, etc.) in transparent thin films.
• FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a[0040]control unit7 provided inside theslot machine1. As shown in this figure, theslot machine1 comprises amain control circuit71 for controlling game processing operation in theslot machine1, peripheral devices (actuator etc.) electrically connected to themain control circuit71, and asub-control circuit72 for controlling the transparentliquid crystal display3 andspeaker4 on the basis of a control instruction transmitted from themain control circuit71.
• The[0041]main control circuit71 mainly comprises a CPU arranged on a circuit board, and in addition to this, comprises a circuit performing random sampling at the time of performing the probability lottery processing of determining a winning. The CPU serves as internal winning combination determination means and winning judgment means to perform control operation according to a program set up beforehand, and also comprises ROM and RAM served as memory means. This memory means (ROM and RAM) stores the data used for the judgment of random sampling performed every start operation, and various control instructions (commands) for transmission to thesub-control circuit72.
• As the main actuators whose operation is controlled by control signals from the above-mentioned[0042]main control circuit71, there are alamp5, various display units on thegame board2, a hopper (including a drive unit for payout) that contains coins and pays out the predetermined number of coins to themedal saucer1a, which are shown in FIG. 4, and stepping motors for rotating reels. Each of these actuators is connected to an output unit of the above-mentionedmain control circuit71 through a drive circuit provided for each, and its operation is controlled in response to a control signal, such as a drive instruction outputted from the CPU.
• Moreover, as main input signal generation means generating an input signal required for the[0043]main control circuit71 to generate a control command, theoperation switch unit6 provided in the front of theslot machine1, and an inserted coin sensor, and various sensors detecting operating statuses of reels are provided. Theoperation switch unit6 detects the start of a game, and a stop operation of each reel, and the inserted coin sensor detects a coin inserted into a coin insertion slot. The various sensors for each reel supply signals for identifying respective reel positions to themain control circuit71.
• Then, in the[0044]main control circuit71, in order to associate a rotational position of a reel with a design drawn on the outer periphery of the reel, a design table is stored in ROM. In this design table, each code number given one by one for every fixed rotation pitch of each reel is associated with each design code showing a kind of a design provided correspondingly for the code number. Furthermore, a winning design combination table is also stored in the ROM. On this winning design combination table, combinations of the designs showing winnings, coin payoff amounts of winnings, and winning judgment code showing those winnings are associated with each other. The above-described winning design combination table will be referred to when performing winning identification at the time of the stop of all reels.
• The[0045]sub-control circuit72 performs the display control of the transparentliquid crystal display3, and the output control of sound from thespeaker4 on the basis of control instructions (commands) from themain control circuit71. Thissub-control circuit72 is configured on a circuit board other than the circuit board where themain control circuit71 is configured. This mainly comprises a microcomputer (hereafter, this is called “sub-microcomputer”)73, and is constituted by animage control circuit81 as display control means for the transparentliquid crystal display3, asound source IC78 controlling the sound outputted by thespeaker4, and apower amplifier79 as an amplifier.
• The above-mentioned[0046]sub-microcomputer73 includes a sub-CPU74 performing control operation according to a control instruction transmitted from themain control circuit71, aprogram ROM75 as memory means, and awork RAM76. Thesub-control circuit72 is configured so as to execute random sampling on an operating program in the sub-CPU74. Theprogram ROM75 stores a control program executed by the sub-CPU74. Thework RAM76 functions as temporary storage means when the sub-CPU74 executes the above-mentioned control program.
• The[0047]image control circuit81 is constituted by animage control CPU82, an imagecontrol work RAM83, an imagecontrol program ROM84, animage ROM86, avideo RAM87, and animage control IC88. Theimage control CPU82 determines the contents of display in the transparentliquid crystal display3 according to the image control program stored in the imagecontrol program ROM84 on the basis of parameters set up by the sub-microcomputer73. The imagecontrol program ROM84 stores the image control program and various selection tables that relate to the display in the transparent10′liquid crystal display3.
• The image[0048]control work RAM83 functions as temporary storage means when theimage control CPU82 executes the above-mentioned image control program. Theimage control IC88 forms an image according to the contents of display determined by theimage control CPU82, and outputs it to the transparentliquid crystal display3. Theimage ROM86 stores dot data for forming an image. Thevideo RAM87 functions as temporary storage means when theimage control IC88 forms an image.
• Then, in the[0049]slot machine1 having such a configuration, theoperation switch unit6 detects a player's operation. According to an operation signal from theoperation switch unit6, thecontrol unit7 drives each actuator to start a game. Subsequently, according to the stop operation of a player, each reel is stopped by turns. Then, when all reels stop, themain control circuit71 refers to the winning design combination table in ROM to judge whether there is any winning design combination among combinations of designs currently displayed on thereel display window3a. When there is a design combination which is a winning, themain control circuit71 pays off the payoff amount of medals corresponding to the winning to themedal saucer1aout of a hopper. Moreover, themain control circuit71 outputs suitably to the sub-control circuit72 a control instruction according to internal winning combination obtained as a result of the probability lottery processing, a player's stop operation, a kind of the winning, and the like.
• The[0050]sub-control circuit72 performs the display control of the transparentliquid crystal display3, and the output control of sound from thespeaker4 on the basis of the control instruction from themain control circuit71. That is, theimage control CPU82 of theimage control circuit81 determines the contents of display in the transparentliquid crystal display3 according to the image control program stored in the imagecontrol program ROM84 on the basis of parameters set up by the sub-microcomputer73. Theimage control IC88 forms image data according to the contents of display determined by theimage control CPU82, and outputs it to the transparentliquid crystal display3.
• In the transparent[0051]liquid crystal display3, according to the image data formed by theimage control CPU82, thescanning signal driver11 makes scanning selection of the gate lines G1, G2, . . . by turns to supply gate voltages. In synchronization with this scanning selection of the gate lines, theinformation signal driver10 applies information signal voltages for one pixel at the same level to each of pixel electrodes (Ra, Rb), (Ga, Gb), and (Ba, Bb) for the same color, which are included in each of a pair of pixel units. Consequently, the image is displayed on thegame board2 so as to overlap with designs of each reel visually recognized through thereel display window3a.
• (Action and Advantageous Effect)[0052]
• According to the[0053]display device3 andslot machine1 in accordance with this embodiment explained above, information signals for one pixel are supplied to each of the pixel electrodes Ra, Ga, Ba, Rb, Gb, and Bb for the same color included in the adjacent pixel units a and b respectively. Hence, it becomes possible to display one pixel by pairs of pixel electrodes (Ra, Rb), (Ga, Gb), and (Ba, Bb).
• In particular, in this embodiment, by the information signal lines DR, DG, DB, . . . , outputs for one pixel from the[0054]information signal driver10 and the pixel electrodes (Ra, Rb), (Ga, Gb), and (Ba, Bb) for the same color included in a pair of pixel units a and b respectively are connected in the one-to-many relationship. Therefore, it becomes possible to make the pitch P between pixel units about one half of the conventional one without requiring drastic improvement of drive control means such as an existing information signal driver, and increasing a data amount of the existing image data. Hence, finer pixels can be attained.
• Moreover, according to the[0055]display device3 andslot machine1 in accordance with this embodiment, the pixel electrodes Ra, Ga, Ba, Rb, Gb, and Bb are arranged in a stripe on the xy plane. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the spreading of an image at the time of displaying a slant line in comparison with the case where pixel electrodes are arranged in another form, such as a delta arrangement, a mosaic arrangement, or the like. Hence, it becomes possible to improve the image quality.
• In addition, in the[0056]slot machine1 according to this embodiment, a display device is the highly transmissive transparentliquid crystal display3 pasted to thegame plane2. Hence, it becomes possible to display images overlapping with designs on the reels, being visible through thereal display windows3aand provided inside the main body, and with thegame board2. Hence, it is possible to attain improvement in power of expression more effectively.
• [Second Embodiment][0057]
• Next, a second embodiment of this invention will be explained. In this embodiment, in the display device explained in the first embodiment, outputs for one pixel from the[0058]information signal driver10 which is drive control means, and respective pixel electrodes Ra, Ga, Ba, Rb, Gb, and Bb included in a pair of the above-mentioned pixel units a and b are connected in a one-to-one relationship.
• Going in detail, in the display device according to this embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment mentioned above, in a display screen, a pixel unit a is formed by adjacently arranging the pixel electrodes Ra, Ga, and Ba, a pixel unit b is formed by adjacently arranging the pixel electrodes Rb, Gb, and Bb, and one pixel data is displayed by these adjacent pixel units a and b (see FIG. 2).[0059]
• FIG. 8 shows a concrete configuration of this display screen. As shown in this figure, gate lines G[0060]1, G2, . . . that are wired in the horizontal direction in this figure and are connected to thescanning signal driver11, and information signal lines (source lines) DRa, DGa, DBa, DRb, DGb, DBb, . . . that are wired in the vertical direction in this figure and are connected to theinformation signal driver10 that is drive control means are provided on a liquid crystal panel substrate so that they may be orthogonal in the condition of being insulated mutually. At each of their intersections, they are connected to each pixel electrode through a thin film transistor (TFT) which is an active element (switching element). That is, the gate lines G1, G2, . . . are connected to gate electrodes of the TFTs, the information signal lines DRa, DGa, . . . are connected to source electrodes of the TFTs, and the pixel electrodes are connected to drain electrodes of the TFTs.
• In such a configuration, the[0061]scanning signal driver11 makes the scanning selection of the gate lines G1, G2, . . . by turns to supply gate voltages. In synchronization with this scanning selection of the gate lines, theinformation signal driver10 supplies information signal voltages, corresponding to respective pixel data, to the information signal lines DRa, DGa, DBa, . . . , and applies them to respective pixel electrodes through the TFTs. At this time, the information signal voltages for one pixel are supplied at the same level to pixel electrodes for the same color included in each pixel unit.
• According to the[0062]display device3 andslot machine1 in accordance with this embodiment explained above, the information signals for one pixel are supplied to respective pixel electrodes Ra, Ga, Ba, Rb, Gb, and Bb for the same color included in the adjacent pixel units a and b respectively. Hence, it becomes possible to display one pixel by pairs of pixel electrodes (Ra, Rb), (Ga, Gb), and (Ba, Bb). In consequence, according to thedisplay device3 andslot machine1 in accordance with this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, it becomes possible to make the pitch P between pixel units one half of the conventional one without increasing the data amount of existing image data. Hence, finer pixels can be attained.
• Moreover, according to the[0063]display device3 andslot machine1 in accordance with this embodiment, the pixel electrodes Ra, Ga, Ba, Rb, Gb, and Bb are arranged in a stripe on the xy plane. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the spreading of an image at the time of displaying a slant line in comparison with the case where pixel electrodes are arranged in another form, such as a delta arrangement, a mosaic arrangement, or the like. Hence, it becomes possible to improve the image quality.
• [Third Embodiment][0064]
• Next, a third embodiment of this invention will be explained. In this embodiment, a pitch P (mm) between pixel units a, b, which are explained in the above-mentioned first and second embodiments, and a distance d (mm) from the[0065]slot machine1 concerned to a player in a normal game posture satisfy the following relationship:
• P<tan(π/180/35)×d  (1)
• This will be explained in detail by using FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a graphical representation where the vertical axis is set as the sensitivity of a player to pixels and the horizontal axis logarithmically shows the number of pixel lines per one degree of a player's viewing angle (lines/deg) (hereafter, this is called “number of stripes”). In addition, this number of stripes means the number of colored (black, blue, red) pixel lines at the time of displaying a white and an arbitrary color (for example, white and black, white and blue, white and red, or the like) in a stripe by turns for every pixel line.[0066]
• As shown in this figure, when pixel lines are blue or red, sensitivity rapidly drops at the time of the number of stripes being about 5 to 8.5, which makes the pixel lines hardly conspicuous. When pixel lines are black, sensitivity rises until the number of stripes reaches 35 making the pixel lines conspicuous, and then drops rapidly after the number of stripes reaches a peak of 35.[0067]
• In this embodiment, with reflecting this property, in order that the number of stripes of pixel lines may exceed 35 (lines/deg), that is, in order that the pitch P between pixel units may become smaller than a predetermined value, the number of stripes of pixel lines is set up according to the relationship of the above-mentioned formula (1). Here, although the distance d from the display device to a player in a normal game posture changes according to the kind of a gaming machine, its assumed value is 300-400 mm in a pachinko machine, and 400-500 mm in a slot machine. The relationship between this assumed value and the value of the above-mentioned P is shown in FIG. 1.[0068]
• [FIG. 1][0069]
• In addition, in FIG. 1, a range enclosed with dotted lines shows values of the pitch P corresponding to the above-mentioned number of stripes of pixel lines equal to 35. Values satisfying the above-mentioned formula (1) are in a range lower than a hatched portion in FIG. 1, i.e., a range where the number of stripes becomes 40 or more.[0070]
• According to the display device and gaming machine according to this embodiment as described above, since a pitch between pixel units is set up in consideration of a player's normal game posture, it is possible to make pixel lines in the display device hardly conspicuous, and hence it is possible to attain a suitable image display.[0071]
• In addition, the value of the pitch P between pixel units a and b is set up in this embodiment so that the above-mentioned formula (1) may be satisfied. Nevertheless, the value of the above-mentioned P may be set so that the pitch P (mm) and distance d (mm) may satisfy the following relationship:[0072]
• P=tan(π/180/35)×d/2×(1+α)  (2)
• where the correction value α is ±0.1-0.2.[0073]
• Going in detail of this, the distance d under normal use is 300-500 mm as mentioned above. Nevertheless, since a player's game posture changes every player or by a game status, it can be considered that a player approaches a gaming machine to about one half of the assumed distance d. Therefore, since pixels become conspicuous when a player approaches the gaming machine, the assumed distance d is set at one half in this modified example as shown in the above formula (2).[0074]
• In addition, a pixel line becomes not conspicuous if the number of stripes is set to 35 or more. Nevertheless, even if the value of the pitch P is made small beyond necessity, it becomes impossible to visually recognize the difference with human eyes when the pitch P becomes below some extent. Hence, it is not reasonable in view of a manufacturing cost etc. to make the number of stripes large beyond necessity. In addition, there also arises a problem that an aperture ratio decreases. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 9, pixel lines are not conspicuous so long as the number of stripes is equal to or larger than the peak value (about 5-8) for blue or red pixel lines even if it is 35 or less. Therefore, in this modified example, by using the correction value α, the number of stripes is made within a hatched range in FIG. 9.[0075]
• According to the display device and gaming machine in accordance with such a modified example, it is possible not only to reduce the conspicuousness of pixel lines with taking a change of a player's game posture into consideration, but also to prevent an aperture ratio of a liquid crystal drive element from being lowered due to the unnecessarily fine definition of pixels, thereby reducing a problem that a screen becomes dark and poorly visible.[0076]
• As mentioned above, according to an image display device and a gaming machine in accordance with this invention, it is possible in a display device provided in the gaming machine to make pixels of the display device finer and to make pixel lines hardly conspicuous, without increasing image data. That is, by constituting one pixel by a pair of adjacent pixel units, and supplying information signals for one pixel to pixel electrodes for the same color that are contained in the pair of pixel units respectively, it becomes possible to make the pitch between pixels finer up to about one half with the conventional amount of image data.[0077]
• Although only some exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciated that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention.[0078]
• This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent applications entitled “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Attorney Docket No. SHO-0019, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Attorney Docket No. SHO-0020, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Attorney Docket No. SHO-0021, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Attorney Docket No, SHO-0022, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Attorney Docket No. SHO-0023, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Attorney Docket No. SHO-0024, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Attorney Docket No. SHO-0025, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Attorney Docket No. SHO-0026, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Attorney Docket No. SHO-0027, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Attorney Docket No. SHO-0028, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Attorney Docket No. SHO-0029, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Attorney Docket No. SHO-0030, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Attorney Docket No. SHO-0031, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Attorney Docket No. SHO-0032, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Attorney Docket No. SHO-0033, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Attorney Docket No. SHO-0034, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Attorney Docket No. SHO-0035, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Attorney Docket No. SHO-0036, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Attorney Docket No. SHO-0037, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Attorney Docket No. SHO-0038, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Attorney Docket No. SHO-0039, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Attorney Docket No. SHO-0040, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Attorney Docket No. SHO-0041, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Attorney Docket No. SHO-0042, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Attorney Docket No. SHO-0043, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Attorney Docket No. SHO-0044,[0079]

Claims (5)

What is claimed is:

1. A display device provided with a gaming machine, comprising:

pixel units each of which is formed by arranging each one of a plurality of kinds of pixel electrodes which display predetermined colors respectively;

drive control means for controlling an information signal supplied to the pixel electrodes; and

information signal lines that connect outputs for one pixel from the drive control means with the pixel electrodes for the same color included in a pair of the pixel units respectively in a one-to-many relationship,

wherein one pixel is constituted by a pair of adjacent pixel units.

2. The display device according toclaim 1, wherein the pixel electrodes are arranged in matrix on an xy plane, and the pixel electrodes for the same color are arranged in a y direction and the same pattern is continuously arranged in an x direction to form a stripe.

3. A gaming machine, such as a slot machine or a pachinko machine, comprising:

a display unit that is constituted by a plurality of kinds of pixel electrodes that display predetermined colors respectively and are arranged in matrix,

wherein the display unit comprises:

pixel units each of which is formed by arranging each one of a plurality of kinds of pixel electrodes which display predetermined colors respectively;

drive control means for controlling information signals supplied to the pixel electrodes; and

an information signal line that connect outputs for one pixel from the drive control means with the pixel electrodes for the same color included in a pair of pixel units respectively in a one-to-many relationship; and

wherein one pixel is constituted by a pair of adjacent pixel units.

4. The gaming machine according toclaim 3, wherein the pixel electrodes are arranged in matrix on an xy plane, and the pixel electrodes of the same color are arranged in a y direction and the same pattern is continuously arranged in an x direction to form a stripe.

5. The gaming machine according toclaim 3, wherein the display unit is a highly transmissive liquid crystal display provided on a game board.

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