Gaming machine and coin selection device

Abstract

A coin selection device includes a coin path portion and a photo sensor. The coin path portion is formed so as to allow a passage of a coin due to its own weight. The photo sensor includes a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion to detect a coin passing through the coin path portion. The light emitting portion emits light while modulating an oscillation of the light. The light receiving portion receives and demodulates the light emitted from the light emitting portion in sync with an emission of the light emitting portion. In this way, the coin selection device detects a coin passing through the coin path portion.

1 . A coin selection device for a gaming machine screening an appropriate coin out of coins inserted into the gaming machine and discharging an inappropriate coin from the gaming machine, the coin selection device comprising: 
 a coin path portion configured to allow a passage of the inserted coins due to their own weights; and    a photo sensor configured to detect the coins passing through the coin path portion, the photo sensor having a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion,    wherein    the light emitting portion is formed so as to modulate an oscillation of light thereby emitting light, while the light receiving portion is formed so as to receive and demodulate the light emitted from the light emitting portion in sync with the light emitting portion's emitting light, whereby the photo sensor can detect the coins passing through the coin path portion.    
     
     
         2 . A gaming machine for screening an appropriate coin out of coins inserted into the gaming machine and discharging an inappropriate coin from the gaming machine, comprising: 
 a coin path portion configured to allow a passage of the inserted coins due to their own weights; and    a photo sensor configured to detect the coins passing through the coin path portion, the photo sensor having a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion,    wherein    the light emitting portion is formed so as to modulate an oscillation of light thereby emitting light, while the light receiving portion is formed so as to receive and demodulate the light emitted from the light emitting portion in sync with the light emitting portion's emitting light, whereby the photo sensor can detect the coins passing through the coin path portion.    
     
     
         3 . The coin selection device of  claim 1 , further comprising a coin determining portion configured to determine that an acceptance state of the coin is abnormal when light receiving of the light receiving portion is not synchronized with light emitting of the light emitting portion.  
     
     
         4 . The gaming machine of  claim 2 , further comprising a coin determining portion configured to determine that an acceptance state of the coin is abnormal when light receiving of the light receiving portion is not synchronized with light emitting of the light emitting portion.  
     
     
         5 . A coin selection device provided in a gaming machine configured to allow an insertion of a coin, the gaming machine having a coin path portion allowing a passage of the coin inserted into the gaming machine, the coin selection device comprising: 
 a transmission unit configured to transmit a detection signal to the coin path portion, the detection signal having a frequency different from a frequency of a signal existing in the coin path portion;    a receiving unit configured to receive the detection signal reflected by the coin when the coin passes through the coin path portion; and    a determining unit configured to determine that the coin has passed through the coin path portion only when, in signals received by the receiving unit, signals' part having the same frequency as the frequency of the detection signal has amplitude larger than a predetermined reference value.    
     
     
         6 . A gaming machine comprising: 
 a reservoir unit configured to reserve a coin;    a guide unit configured to guide the coin to the reservoir unit;    a signal transmission unit configured to transmit a signal to the coin guided by the guide unit;    a signal receiving unit configured to receive the signal transmitted from the signal transmission unit and subsequently reflected by the coin;    a transmission information generating unit configured to generate information included in the signal transmitted from the signal emitting unit; and    a guide determination unit configured to determine whether the guide unit is guiding the coin or not on the basis of the information generated by the transmission information generating unit and the signal received by the signal receiving unit.    
     
     
         7 . The gaming machine of  claim 6 , further comprising a random-number data generating unit configured to generate random-number data, 
 wherein    the transmission information generating unit generates the information in the form of a specific bit row selected from a plurality of bit rows on the basis of the random-number data generated by the random-number data generating unit;    the signal transmission unit converts the specified bit row to pulse signals and transmits the pulse signals; and    the guide determination unit determines that the guide unit is guiding the coin when the specified bit row is included in the bit rows obtained by converting the pulse signals received by the signal receiving unit.    
     
     
         8 . The gaming machine of  claim 7 , wherein 
 the transmission information generating unit generates the information on the basis of the random-number data generated by the random-number data generating unit every time when the signal transmission unit transmits the signal;    the guide determination unit determines that the guide unit is guiding the coin on condition that, after determining that the guide unit was not guiding the coin, it is successively determined as many as a predetermined number of times that the specified bit row is included in the bit rows obtained by converting the pulse signals; and    the guide determination unit determines that the guide unit is not guiding the coin on condition that, after determining that the guide unit was guiding the coin, it is successively determined as many as the predetermined number of times that the specified bit row is not included in the bit rows obtained by converting the pulse signals.    
     
     
         9 . The gaming machine of  claim 6 , wherein 
 the guide unit is provided in one or plural areas of the gaming machine;    each of the areas is provided with one or plural guide determination units; and    the gaming machine further comprises a guide-finality determination unit configured to determine that the guide unit has completed to guide the coin on condition that determination results of the one or plural guide determination units change in a specific order.