Game Machine and Self-Running Body For Use Therein

Abstract

The invention provides a game machine enabling to reduce the load of the maintenance of a running surface by using the guide line detecting function of a self-running body. The game machine includes a game machine main body ( 10 ) having a running surface ( 18 ) on which a guide line ( 34 ) is provided and a self-running body ( 30 ) capable of self-running on the running surface ( 18 ) and having a guide line detecting device for detecting the guide line ( 34 ) and a traveling control device ( 110 ) for controlling the running of the self-running body according to the result of detection by the guide line detecting device. The guide line detecting unit is a line sensor ( 50 ) having light-receiving elements arranged in the lateral direction of the self-running body ( 30 ) to detect the luminance distribution in a predetermined detection region including the guide line ( 34 ) of the running surface ( 18 ). The self-running body ( 30 ) is provided with the line width inspecting device ( 136 ) for determining the line width of the detected guide line ( 34 ) according to the output of the line sensor ( 50 ).

1 . A game machine comprising:
 a game machine main body having a running surface on which a guide line is provided; and   a self-running body capable of self-running on the running surface and having a guide line detecting device for detecting the guide line and a run control device for controlling the running of the self-running body according to the result of detection by the guide line detecting device, wherein   the guide line detecting device is a line sensor having light-receiving elements arranged in the lateral direction of the self-running body for detecting the luminance distribution in a predetermined detection region including the guide line of the running surface, and   the self-running body is further provided with a line width inspection device for determining the line width of the detected guide line according to the output of the line sensor.   
   
   
       2 . The game machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the line width inspection device further determines suitability of the determined line width. 
   
   
       3 . The game machine according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the self-running body includes a direction detecting device for detecting information necessary to specify a directional shift of the self-running body in the longitudinal direction of the guide line,   the run control device being configured to determine the directional shift of the self-running body with respect to the longitudinal direction of the guide line based on the result of detection by the direction detecting device, and further to control the running of the self-running body by referring to the result of the determination, and   the line width inspection device determines the line width based on the result of detection by the guide line detecting device and the directional shift determined by the run control device.   
   
   
       4 . The game machine according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the self-running body includes a longitudinal-direction position detecting device for detecting information necessary to specify a position of the self-running body in the longitudinal direction of the guide line,   the run control device is configured to determine the position of the self-running body on the running surface based on the results of detection by the longitudinal direction position detecting device and the line sensor, and to control the running of the self-running body based on the result of the determination, and   the line width inspection device generates inspection data in which the result of the determination of the line width is correlated with the position of the self-running body determined by the run control device.   
   
   
       5 . The game machine according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the self-running body includes a data output device for outputting the inspection data to the outside of the self-running body.   
   
   
       6 . The game machine according to  claim 4 , further comprising a running surface maintenance device which performs a predetermined process based on the inspection data outputted from the self-running body so as to notify the game machine manager of the state of the running surface. 
   
   
       7 . The game machine according to  claim 6 , wherein
 in the predetermined process, the running surface maintenance device produces data for specifying the position on the running surface where the line width is unsuitable and for specifying the number of detection times of the position based on the inspection data outputted from the self-running body; collects the data; and displays a running surface check screen indicating the position on the running surface where the line width is unsuitable and the number of detection times of the position based on the collected data.   
   
   
       8 . The game machine according to  claim 6 , wherein
 in the predetermined process, the running surface maintenance device generates data for specifying at least one of the position on the running surface where the line width is unsuitable and the number of detection times of the position based on the inspection data outputted from the self-running body, collects the data, and provide a predetermined warning to the game machine manager when amount of the collected data exceeds a predetermined allowable amount.   
   
   
       9 . The game machine according to  claim 6 , comprising:
 a game control device which makes the run control device of the self-running body to perform a predetermined game by transmitting to the run control device an instruction for the running of the self-running body through predetermined communication means, wherein   the game control device acts as the running surface maintenance device.   
   
   
       10 . The game machine according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the game machine is connected to a server for managing the game machine through a predetermined network, and   the server acts as the running surface maintenance device.   
   
   
       11 . A self-running body comprising:
 a guide line detecting device for detecting the guide line provided on a running surface of a game machine; and   a run control device for controlling the running of the self-running body according to the result of detection by the guide line detecting device, wherein   the guide line detecting device is a line sensor having light-receiving elements arranged in the lateral direction of the self-running body for detecting the luminance distribution in a predetermined detection region including the guide line of the running surface, and   the self-running body is further provided with a line width inspection device for determining the line width of the detected guide line according to the output of the line sensor.   
   
   
       12 . The self-running body according to  claim 11 , wherein the line width inspection device further determines suitability of the determined line width. 
   
   
       13 . The self-running body according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the self-running body includes a direction detecting device for detecting information necessary to specify a directional shift of the self-running body in the longitudinal direction of the guide line,   the run control device being configured to determine the directional shift of the self-running body with respect to the longitudinal direction of the guide line based on the result of detection by the direction detecting device, and further to control the running of the self-running body by referring to the result of the determination, and   the line width inspection device determines the line width based on the result of detection by the guide line detecting device and the directional shift determined by the run control device.   
   
   
       14 . The self-running body according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the self-running body includes a longitudinal-direction position detecting device for detecting information necessary to specify a position of the self-running body in the longitudinal direction of the guide line,   the run control device is configured to determine the position of the self-running body on the running surface based on the results of detection by the longitudinal direction position detecting device and the line sensor, and to control the running of the self-running body based on the result of the determination, and   the line width inspection device generates inspection data in which the result of the determination of the line width is correlated with the position of the self-running body determined by the run control device.   
   
   
       15 . The self-running body according to  claim 14 , comprising a data output device for outputting the inspection data to the outside of the self-running body. 
   
   
       16 . The game machine according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the self-running body includes a longitudinal-direction position detecting device for detecting information necessary to specify a position of the self-running body in the longitudinal direction of the guide line,   the run control device is configured to determine the position of the self-running body on the running surface based on the results of detection by the longitudinal direction position detecting device and the line sensor, and to control the running of the self-running body based on the result of the determination, and   the line width inspection device generates inspection data in which the result of the determination of the line width is correlated with the position of the self-running body determined by the run control device.   
   
   
       17 . The game machine according to  claim 16 , wherein
 the self-running body includes a data output device for outputting the inspection data to the outside of the self-running body.   
   
   
       18 . The game machine according to  claim 16 , further comprising a running surface maintenance device which performs a predetermined process based on the inspection data outputted from the self-running body so as to notify the game machine manager of the state of the running surface. 
   
   
       19 . The game machine according to  claim 18 , wherein
 in the predetermined process, the running surface maintenance device produces data for specifying the position on the running surface where the line width is unsuitable and for specifying the number of detection times of the position based on the inspection data outputted from the self-running body; collects the data; and displays a running surface check screen indicating the position on the running surface where the line width is unsuitable and the number of detection times of the position based on the collected data.   
   
   
       20 . The game machine according to  claim 18 , wherein
 in the predetermined process, the running surface maintenance device generates data for specifying at least one of the position on the running surface where the line width is unsuitable and the number of detection times of the position based on the inspection data outputted from the self-running body, collects the data, and provide a predetermined warning to the game machine manager when amount of the collected data exceeds a predetermined allowable amount.