Patent Publication Number: US-7220181-B2

Title: Gaming machine having transparent LCD in front of variable display device, the LCD having a light-guiding plate and a reflective plate

Description:
FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY 
     This invention relates to a gaming machine comprising a transparent electric display panel disposed in front of variable display means for variably displaying designs. 
     DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
     Conventionally, this type of gaming machine includes, for example, a slot machine. The slot machine comprises three reels embedded behind its front panel. Each reel comprises a reel band affixed on the outer periphery of its reel drum, and various designs are drawn on the outer periphery of the reel band. These designs may be viewed by a player through three windows formed in the front panel. 
     A slot machine game is started when the player&#39;s operation of a start lever causes each reel to rotate and a moving sequence of designs is variably displayed in each window. Subsequently, the player&#39;s operation of a stop button causes each reel to stop rotating, and designs corresponding to the operation timing of the stop button are stop-displayed in each window. At this time, if any predetermined combination of designs is stop-displayed in the windows, a winning occurs. 
     During the game, the slot machine game provides effects such as blinking lamps embedded in each reel or displaying character designs on a liquid crystal display device provided below the windows of the front panel. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In conventional gaming machines described above, the novelty of game effects is maintained by changing the blinking pattern of the lamps embedded in the reels, changing effect contents given by character designs displayed on the liquid crystal display device, or otherwise. However, in the conventional gaming machines described above, the machine components of the gaming machine for effecting game effects have been well-established. Accordingly, there are some difficulties in maintaining the novelty of game effects. 
     To solve these problems, this invention provides a gaming machine comprising: variable display means for variably displaying designs in a plurality of rows; and front display means disposed in front of the variable display means, wherein the front display means includes a transparent liquid crystal display panel through which said variable display means is able to be seen, and a light guiding plate for guiding light emitted from a light source to the entire of said liquid crystal display panel; and in the light guiding plate, transparent areas for ensuring the visibility of the variable display of said variable display means are individually formed corresponding to said plurality of rows. 
     According to this configuration, the liquid crystal display panel disposed in front of the variable display means for variably displaying designs serves as a new machine component for performing game effects. Further, in the light guiding plate, since transparent areas for ensuring the visibility of the variable display of the variable display means are formed, the visibility of the designs variably displayed on the variable display means is ensured. Furthermore, since these transparent areas are formed individually corresponding to the rows of variable displays of the designs of the variable display means, also by the light guiding plates between the respective transparent areas, the light from the light source can be guided to the liquid crystal display panel. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view showing an appearance of a slot machine in accordance with an embodiment of this invention; 
         FIGS. 2(   a ),  2 ( b ) and  2 ( c ) show how the pay lines depicted on the display windows of the slot machine in accordance with this embodiment are sequentially activated; 
         FIGS. 3(   a ) and  3 ( b ) are vertical cross-sectional views of the reel display window unit of the slot machine in accordance with this embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the reel display window unit shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  shows symbols drawn on the outer periphery of the reels of the slot machine in accordance with this embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing a rotating reel unit of the slot machine in accordance with this embodiment; 
         FIGS. 7(   a ) and  7 ( b ) are perspective views showing a structure of a rotating reel constituting the rotating reel unit shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  shows a symbol combination drawn on a payout display unit of the slot machine in accordance with this embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration arranged on a main control board of the slot machine in accordance with this embodiment; and 
         FIG. 10  is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration arranged on a sub-control board of the slot machine in accordance with this embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     An embodiment will now be described in which a gaming machine in accordance with this invention is applied to a slot machine. 
       FIG. 1  is a front view showing an appearance of a slot machine  1  in accordance with this embodiment. 
     Inside a cabinet at the center of the main body of the slot machine  1 , three reels  2 ,  3 , and  4  are rotatably provided. These reels  2 ,  3 , and  4  constitute variable display means for variably displaying various designs used for a game in a plurality of rows. On the outer periphery of each reel  2 ,  3 ,  4 , a plurality of kinds of designs (hereinafter referred to as symbols) are drawn to form a symbol sequence. A reel display window unit  39  is provided in front of these reels  2 - 4 . Through display windows  5 ,  6 , and  7  formed in the reel display window unit  39 , symbols drawn on the reels  2 ,  3 , and  4  are observed, three symbols for each reel. A total of five pay lines are provided on the reel display window unit  39  where three of them are horizontal and two diagonal. Furthermore, below the display windows  5 - 7 , on the right side, an insertion slot  8  is provided through which a player can insert one or more medals serving as gaming media. 
     When a player inserts one medal into the medal insertion slot  8  prior to starting a game, one horizontal center pay line L 1  is activated as shown in  FIG. 2(   a ). When two medals are inserted, two upper and lower horizontal pay lines L 2 A and L 2 B are added thereto, and thus three horizontal pay lines L 1 , L 2 A, and L 2 B are activated as shown in  FIG. 2(   b ). Furthermore, when three medals are inserted, all the five pay lines L 1 , L 2 A, L 2 B, L 3 A, and L 3 B are activated as shown in  FIG. 2(   c ). A circle sign shown in  FIG. 2  represents a symbol drawn on each reel  2 - 4 . 
     On a machine front panel  38  to the left of the display windows  5 - 7 , from the top, there are four chance LEDs (light emitting diodes)  9 - 12 , three game operation indicator lamps  13 - 15 , a deposited number of game medals display unit  16 , and a start lamp  17  provided. The chance LEDs  9 - 12  and the game operation indicator lamps  13 - 15  are controllably lighted up in accordance with the game status to inform a player of the current game status. The deposited number of game medals display unit  16  is composed of three digits of seven-segment LEDs and displays the number of medals currently credited within the machine. The start lamp  17  is blinked when each reel  2 - 4  can be actuated. 
     On the machine front panel  38  to the right of the display windows  5 - 7 , from the top, there are a bonus count display unit  18 , a WIN lamp  19 , number of payout medals display unit  20 , and an insert lamp  21  provided. The bonus count display unit  18  is composed of three digits of seven-segment LEDs and digitally displays, when a player wins a bonus game, the remaining number of times the player could win the RB game and JAC game described below. The WIN lamp  19  is lighted up when a winning combination of symbols lines up on any activated pay line. The number of payout medals display unit  20  is composed of three digits of seven-segment LEDs and displays the number of medals paid out due to the winning. The insert lamp  21  is lighted up when the insertion slot  8  can accept the insertion of medals. 
     The reel display window unit  39  comprises a liquid crystal panel  39   d  (described below) stacked thereon as an electric display panel. The liquid crystal panel  39   d  may display various game information and game effect image. Below the left-hand machine front panel  38 , there are a cross key  23 , an A-button  24 , a B-button  25 , one-deposited-medal insertion switch  26 , two-deposited-medal insertion switch  27 , and three-deposited-medal insertion switch  28  provided. The cross key  23  is switched in four directions of up, down, left, and right, and is operated in conjunction with the A-button  24  and B-button  25  for use in selecting information to be displayed on the liquid crystal panel  39   d . The deposited-medal insertion switches  26 - 28  are used in betting one to three medals on one game instead of inserting medals into the medal insertion slot  8  when the deposited amount display unit  16  is displaying the number of credited medals. 
     Below the reel display window unit  39 , from the left, there are a deposited-medal adjusting switch  29 , a start lever  30 , and stop buttons  31 ,  32 , and  33  provided. The start lever  30  constitutes game starting means for starting a game. The deposited-medal adjusting switch  29  is used in adjusting the medals credited within the machine. Operation of the start lever  30  causes each reel  2 - 4  to start rotating simultaneously. The stop buttons  31 - 33 , disposed corresponding to the reels  2 - 4 , respectively, are activated for operation when the rotating of each reel  2 - 4  reaches a predetermined speed, and stop the rotating of respective reels  2 - 4  in response to the player&#39;s operation. The stop buttons  31 - 33  constitute variable display stopping means for stopping the rotating display of the reels  2 - 4 . 
     A medal receiving tray  34  is provided at the front bottom of the slot machine  1 . The medal receiving tray  34  serves to store medals paid out of a medal payout opening  35 . At the front top of the slot machine  1 , a payout display unit  36  is provided for displaying how many medals will be paid out for winning. 
       FIG. 3(   a ) is a vertical cross-sectional view of the slot machine  1  at the reel display window unit  39 , and  FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the reel display window unit  39 . The reel display window unit  39  constitutes front display means, and is provided in front of the reels  2 ,  3 , and  4  as shown in  FIG. 3(   a ). As shown in  FIGS. 4(   a )-( i ), the reel display window unit  39  comprises, disposed from the front side of the machine, a transparent acryl plate  39   a , a reel glass base  39   b , a bezel metal frame  39   c , a liquid crystal panel  39   d , a liquid crystal holder  39   e , a diffusion sheet  39   f , a light guiding plate  39   g , a rear holder  39   h , and an antistatic sheet  39   i . The diffusion sheet  39   f , light guiding plate  39   g , and rear holder  39   h  are provided with openings  5   a ,  5   b , and  5   c  forming the display window  5 , openings  6   a ,  6   b , and  6   c  forming the display window  6 , and openings  7   a ,  7   b , and  7   c  forming the display window  7 . 
     The reel display window unit  39  is mounted on the machine front panel  38  such that, as shown in  FIG. 3(   a ), brackets  39   ba  provided on the reel glass base  39   b  and protruding upward and downward are screwed on the rear of the machine front panel  38  with screws  39   j , respectively. Note that in  FIG. 4(   b ), each bracket  39   ba  provided on the reel glass base  39   b  is not shown. 
     At the upper and lower ends of the light guiding plate  39   g , a pair of cold-cathode tubes  40   a  is provided as a light source for the liquid crystal panel  39   d . Above and below each window  5   c ,  6   c ,  7   c  of the rear holder  39   h  on its rear side, another pair of cold-cathode tubes  40   b  is provided for illuminating symbols drawn on the outer periphery of each reel  2 - 4 . 
     The liquid crystal panel  39   d  is a transparent electric display panel disposed in front of the reels  2 - 4  and made of ITO or the like through which each reel  2 - 4  can be seen. The rear side of the periphery of its display unit is held by the liquid crystal holder  39   e . The light guiding plate  39   g  is made of a light transparent resin panel, and has a lens cut formed therein for guiding light emitted from the laterally disposed cold-cathode tubes  40   a  to the rear side of the liquid crystal display panel  39   d . The diffusion sheet  39   f  is made of a light transparent resin sheet, and constitutes diffusion means for equalizing the light which illuminates the liquid crystal display panel  39   d . The liquid crystal holder  39   e  holding the liquid crystal display panel  39   d , the diffusion sheet  39   f , and the light guiding plate  39   g  are integrated and the periphery thereof is inserted into the bezel metal frame  39   c . This insertion allows the front side of the periphery of the display unit of the liquid crystal panel  39   d  to be held by the bezel metal frame  39   c.    
     The bezel metal frame  39   c , into which the liquid crystal holder  39   e , the diffusion sheet  39   f , and the light guiding plate  39   g  are fitted and integrated, has its periphery inserted into the reel glass base  39   b , and is supported by the reel glass base  39   b  such that the front of the display unit of the liquid crystal panel  39   d  has an opening. Since the reel glass base  39   b  is attached to the machine front panel  38  with the screws  39   j , the transparent acryl plate  39   a  is pressure bonded to the front of the reel glass base  39   b  and occludes the above-described opening of the front of the display unit of the liquid crystal panel  39   d.    
     The rear holder  39   h  is made of a white resin plate and holds, on the reel glass base  39   b  from behind, the bezel metal frame  39   c , the liquid crystal holder  39   e  holding the liquid crystal panel  39   d , the diffusion sheet  39   f , and the light guiding plate  39   g , which are supported by the reel glass base  39   b . The rear holder  39   h  also functions as a reflection plate for reflecting the light, emitted from the cold-cathode tubes  40   a  on the light guiding plate  39   d , to the side of the liquid crystal panel  39   d . The antistatic sheet  39   i , being transparent, is adhered to the rear side of the rear holder  39   h  with double-sided tapes and covers the rear side of the openings  5   c ,  6   c , and  7   c  formed in the rear holder  39   h.    
       FIG. 3(   b ) is a partial enlarged view of a marginal portion of the openings  5   c ,  6   c ,  7   c  of the rear holder  39   h , which is circumscribed by a dashed circle shown in  FIG. 3(   a ). A marginal corner portion of the rear side of the openings  5   c ,  6   c ,  7   c  of the rear holder  39   h  has been chipped away. The antistatic sheet  39   i  is adhered to this chipped portion. 
       FIG. 5  shows symbol sequences drawn on the outer periphery of the reels  2 ,  3 , and  4 . Each symbol sequence comprises  21  arranged symbols of a plurality of kinds. The symbol sequences correspond to a first reel  2 , a second reel  3 , and a third reel  4 , respectively, from the left in the figure. Each symbol is assigned a code number among “1” to “21”. Each reel  2 ,  3 ,  4  is rotationally driven such that its symbol sequence moves downward in the figure. 
     There are seven kinds of symbols: “Red 7” representing a digit shaded with mesh lines; “Blue 7” representing a digit shaded with lines sloping down to the left; “BAR” including two lines of alphabetic letters BAR arranged vertically; “Watermelon” consisting of a picture of a watermelon; “Bell” consisting of a picture of a bell; “Plum” consisting of a picture of a plum; and “Cherry” consisting of a picture of cherries. 
     Each reel  2 - 4  is configured as a rotating reel unit as shown in  FIG. 6 , and attached to a frame  41  via a bracket  42 . Each reel  2 - 4  comprises a reel drum  43  having a reel band  44  affixed on its outer periphery. The symbol sequence described above is drawn on the outer periphery of the reel band  44 . Each bracket  42  is provided with a stepping motor  45 . The reels  2 - 4  rotate when the stepping motors  45  are driven. 
     Each reel  2 - 4  has a structure shown in  FIG. 7(   a ). Note that in this figure, like parts as in  FIG. 6  are marked with like reference letters and are not described herein. A lamp case  46  is provided inside the reel drum  43  behind the reel band  44 . Back lamps  47   a ,  47   b , and  47   c  are installed in three compartments of the lamp case  46 , respectively. Each of these back lamps  47   a - 47   c  is made of a while LED (light emitting diode) having a great amount of light emission, mounted on a board  48  as shown in  FIG. 7(   b ). The board  48  is in turn attached to the rear side of the lamp case  46 . Furthermore, a photosensor  49  is attached to the bracket  42 . The photosensor  49  detects a shield plate  50  provided on the reel drum  43  passing by the photosensor  49  in association with the rotating of the reel drum  43 . 
     Each back lamp  47   a - 47   c  is controllably lighted up by the lamp drive circuit described below. Each of the lighted back lamps  47   a - 47   c  separately illuminates three symbols positioned in front of the back lamp  47  among the symbols drawn on the reel band  44 , and the three symbols are projected on each display window  5 - 7 . In this embodiment, since the back lamps  47   a - 47   c  have a great amount of light emission, they also illuminate the liquid crystal panel  39   d  in front thereof. Furthermore, since the back lamps  47   a - 47   c  are made of white LEDs, the colors of the symbols drawn on the reel band  44  and of the effect displayed on the liquid crystal panel  39   d  are viewed in a manner faithful to the original colors. 
       FIG. 8  shows a winning symbol combination table, which has been predetermined in the slot machine  1  in accordance with this embodiment, and shown on the payout display unit  36  at the front top of the slot machine  1 . In a ordinary game, if a combination of symbols “Red 7”-“Red 7”-“Red 7”, a combination of symbols “Blue 7”-“Blue 7”-“Blue 7”, or a combination of symbols “BAR”-“BAR”-“BAR” lines up on any activated pay line, fifteen medals are paid out and then an RB (regular bonus) game is executed. 
     Further, in a ordinary game, if three identical symbols of “Watermelon” or “Bell” line up on any activated pay line, a small prize is won, and fifteen medals are paid out, respectively. Similarly, in a ordinary game, if a combination of symbols “Bell”-“Bell”-“Red 7”, a combination of symbols “Bell”-“Bell”-“Blue 7”, or a combination of symbols “Bell”-“Bell”-“BAR” occurs, a small prize is also won, and ten medals are paid out, respectively. 
     Furthermore, in a ordinary game, if three identical “Plum” symbols occurs on any activated pay line, then a replay is won, and one can play another game without inserting any medal, although no medal is paid out. In addition, this combination of three “Plum” symbols is also a combination of a JAC game winning occurrence in a JAC game during an RB game. The JAC game refers to a game of trying to get a combination of “Plum”-“Plum”-“Plum” on the center pay line L 1  in an RB game. 
     Moreover, in a ordinary game, if one symbol “Cherry” stops on one activated pay line for the first reel  3 , a small prize is won and two medals are paid out, which is referred to as “two medals cherry”. When three medals have been bet, if one symbol “Cherry” stops on two activated pay lines, four medals are paid out, which is referred to as “four medals cherry”. 
       FIGS. 9 and 10  show circuit configurations arranged on a main control board  61  and a sub-control board  62  for controlling the game processing operation of the slot machine  1  described above. 
     The main control board  61  shown in  FIG. 9  has a control unit comprising a microcomputer  63  as its major component, and additionally a circuit for sampling random numbers. The microcomputer  63  comprises a main CPU (central processing unit)  64  for performing control operations in accordance with a preset program, a program ROM (read only memory)  65  served as program storage means, and a backup-capable control RAM (random access memory)  66 . The CPU  64  has connected thereto a clock pulse generator  67  and a frequency divider  68  for generating reference clock pulses, a random number generator  69  for generating a certain range of random numbers, and a random number sampling circuit  70  for specifying one of the generated random numbers. In addition, an I/O port  71  is also connected for communicating signals with peripheral devices (actuators) described below. The ROM  32  has a storage unit divided so as to store a winning probability table, a symbol table, a winning symbol combination table, and a sequence program. 
     Principal actuators whose operation is controlled by a control signal from the microcomputer  30  include the stepping motors  45  for rotationally driving the respective reels  2 ,  3 , and  4 , various lamps (game operation indicator lamps  13 - 15 , start lamp  17 , and WIN lamp  19 ), various display units (deposited number of game medals display unit  16 , chance LEDs  9 - 12 , bonus count display unit  18 , number of payout medals display unit  20 ), and a hopper  72  for containing medals. These are driven by a motor drive circuit  73 , an individual lamp drive circuit  74 , an individual display unit drive circuit  75 , and a hopper drive circuit  76 , respectively. These drive circuits  73 - 76  are connected to the CPU  64  via the I/O port  71  of the microcomputer  63 . 
     Major input signal generation means for generating input signals required for the microcomputer  63  to produce control signals include an inserted medal sensor  8 S for detecting any medal inserted through the medal insertion slot  8 , a start switch  30 S for detecting any operation of the start lever  30 , the above-described deposited-medal insertion switches  25 - 27 , and the deposited-medal adjusting switch  29 . In addition, there is a reel position detecting circuit  77  for detecting the rotational position of each reel  2 ,  3 ,  4  upon receipt of an output pulse signal from the photosensor  49 . The photosensor  49  is included in the driving mechanism of each reel  2 - 4  and not shown in this figure. 
     The reel position detecting circuit  77  counts the number of driving pulses supplied to each stepping motor  45  after the reels  2 - 4  have started to rotate, and writes these count values to a predetermined area in the RAM  66 . Accordingly, the RAM  66  stores the count value corresponding to the rotational position within a range of one rotational cycle for each reel  2 - 4 . On the other hand, the photosensor  49  detects the shield plate  50  for each rotational cycle of the reel  2 - 4  to generate a reset pulse. This reset pulse is applied to the CPU  63  via the reel position detecting circuit  77  and causes the count value of driving pulses counted in the RAM  66  to be cleared to “0”. This clear processing eliminates any deviation occurring between the moving display of each symbol and the rotation of each stepping motor  45  for one rotational cycle. 
     The input signal generation means described above also includes a reel stop signal circuit  78  for generating a signal for stopping a corresponding reel when any stop button  31 ,  32 ,  33  is pushed, a medal detection unit  72 S for counting the number of medals paid out of the hopper  72 , and a payout complete signal generation circuit not shown. The payout complete signal generation circuit generates a signal indicating the completion of medal payout when the count value of medals actually paid out inputted from the medal detection unit  72 S reaches the payout amount data represented by the count signal inputted from the display unit drive circuit  75 . Each circuit constituting these input signal generation means is also connected to the CPU  64  via the I/O port  71 . 
     To the I/O port  71 , a sub-control unit communication port  79  is connected. The microcomputer  63  delivers a signal to the sub-control board  62  via the sub-control unit communication port  79 . The sub-control board  62  shown in  FIG. 10  is provided with a main control unit communication port  80  for receiving this signal. Communication between the sub-control unit communication port  79  and the main control unit communication port  80  is performed only in one direction from the sub-control unit communication port  79  to the main control unit communication port  80 . In this embodiment, the signal delivered from the sub-control unit communication port  79  to the main control unit communication port  80  is composed of a set of a command type representing its control type in 7-bit length and a parameter representing the content of the command in 8-bit or 24-bit length. 
     The sub-control board  62  has a control unit comprising a microcomputer  81  as its major component, and additionally a circuit for sampling random numbers. The microcomputer  81  also comprises, as with the microcomputer  63  in the main control board  61 , a sub-CPU  82  for performing control operations in accordance with a preset program, a program ROM  83  serving as program storage means, and a backup-capable control RAM  84 . The CPU  81  has also connected thereto a clock pulse generator  85  for generating reference clock pulses and a frequency divider  86 . In addition, an I/O port  87  is connected for communicating signals with the main control unit communication port  80  and the actuators described below. The sub-CPU  82  calculates data required to display gaming machine data on the liquid crystal panel  39   d  on the basis of the command transmitted from the main control board  61  for each game, and updates data stored in the control RAM  84  to the data calculated for each game. 
     Actuators whose operation is controlled by a control signal from the microcomputer  81  include the reel back lamps  47   a ,  47   b , and  47   c  embedded in the reels  2 - 4 , respectively. The lighting of these reel back lamps  47   a - 47   c  is controlled by a driving signal from a lamp drive circuit  89  connected to the I/O port  87 . In addition, input signal generation means for generating input signals required for the microcomputer  81  to produce control signals include the cross key  23 , A-button  24 , and B-button  25  described above. Furthermore, a game status monitoring timer  97  is connected to the I/O port  87 . This timer  97  is set at the time of starting a game by the sub-CPU  82 , and measures an elapsed time since the start of the game. 
     An image control IC (integrated circuit)  90  and a sound source IC  91  are also connected to the I/O  87 . The image control IC  90  has connected thereto a character ROM  92  for storing character data and a video RAM  93  serving as a memory for color display representation. The image control IC  90  displays an image on the liquid crystal panel  39   d  of the reel display window unit  39  under the control of the microcomputer  81 . The microcomputer  81  fetches such information as the current game status and the type of winning flag from the main control board  61  via the main control unit communication port  80 , and selects an image effect pattern to be displayed on the basis of the fetched game status and winning flag. It then controls the image control IC  90  for causing the liquid crystal panel  39   d  to display the selected pattern. The liquid crystal panel  39   d  may be caused to display information desired by a player through the operation of the cross key  23 , A-button  24  and B-button  25 . 
     The sound source IC  91  has connected thereto a sound ROM  94  for storing sound data. Under the control of the microcomputer  81 , the sound source IC  91  causes a speaker  96  via a power amplifier  95  to emit a sound. In accordance with the instructions inputted from the main control board  61  via the main control unit communication port  80 , the microcomputer  81  controls the sound source IC  91  and power amplifier  95  for causing the speaker  96  to produce such sound effects as a medal insertion sound, a start lever operation sound, a stop button operation sound, and a game sound during a bonus game. 
     In the slot machine  1  in accordance with this embodiment having the configuration described above, when a player operates the start lever  30 , this operation leads to a turn on of the start switch  30 S. This ON signal is detected by the main CPU  64  via the I/O port  71 . The main CPU  64  then controls the motor drive circuit  73  for driving the stepping motors  45 , causing each reel  2 - 4  to rotate. At the same time as this rotating, the main CPU  64  performs probability lottery processing. By making reference to a lottery probability table deposited in the program ROM  65 , a lottery of the internal winning mode is drawn. The type of the drawn internal winning mode and the current game status are transmitted to the sub-control board  62  via the sub-control unit communication port  79 . 
     As each reel  2 - 4  rotates, a moving sequence of symbols is variably displayed in each window  5 - 7 . The player tries to adjust the timing of operating each stop button  31 - 33  while observing this variable display, and performs a push operation of each stop button  31 - 33  at an appropriate timing. The operation of each stop button  31 - 33  is detected by the main CPU  64  via the reel stop signal circuit  78 . At the time of this detection, supply of driving pulses to each stepping motor  45  is stopped by the control of the main CPU  64 . When the supply of driving pulses to each stepping motor  45  is stopped, each reel  2 - 4  stops rotating, and symbols corresponding to the operation timing of each stop button  31 - 33  are stop-displayed in each window  5 - 7 . At this time, if any predetermined combination of symbols shown in the payout table is stop-displayed in the windows  5 - 7 , a winning occurs. When a winning occurs, the main CPU  64  controls the hopper drive circuit  76  for driving the hopper  72 , and a predetermined number of medals are paid out of the payout opening  35  into the receiving tray  34 . 
     The type of internal winning mode and the game status transmitted from the sub-control unit communication port  79  to the sub-control board  62  is received by the sub-control board  62  via the main control unit communication port  80  of the sub-control board  62 . During the slot machine game described above, effects of the slot machine game are performed under the control of the sub-CPU  82  which has detected the type of internal winning mode and the game status, such as blinking reel back lamps  47   a ,  47   b , and  47   c  embedded in the reels  2 - 4  or displaying character designs on the liquid crystal display  39   d  provided below the display windows  5 - 7  of the reel display window unit  39 . Furthermore, in this embodiment, effects are displayed in accordance with the type of internal winning mode and the game status also on the liquid crystal display  39   d  provided in reel display window unit  39  in front of the reels  2 - 4 . 
     According to the slot machine  1  in accordance with this embodiment as described above, the liquid crystal panel  39   d  disposed in front of the reels  2 - 4  for variably displaying symbols serves as a new machine component for performing game effects. Therefore, new effects for the slot machine game can be performed on the liquid crystal panel  39   d , which facilitates maintaining the novelty of effects for the slot machine game. 
     Furthermore, in the slot machine  1  in accordance with this embodiment, the diffusion sheet  39   f  and the light guiding plate  39   g  are formed with openings  5   a ,  6   a  and  7   a  and openings  5   b ,  6   b  and  7   b  respectively for allowing the symbols variably displayed on the reels to be observed. As a result, there are decreased obstacles, interposed, in such a way as to prevent the light from passing through, between the transparent acryl plate  39   a  and the reels  2 - 4  on which the light is variably displayed. Further, these openings  5   b ,  6   b  and  7   b  are formed corresponding to the rows of the variable displays of the symbols. Accordingly, by means of the light guiding plates  39   g  also located between the opening  5   b  and the opening  6   b , and between the opening  6   b  and the opening  7   b , the light from the cold-cathode tubes  40   a  is guided toward the liquid crystal panel  39   d . Consequently to this, the visibility of the symbols variably displayed on the reels  2 - 4  is increased, and by means of the liquid crystal panel  39   d  between the respective display windows  5 - 7 , light luminance can be obtained. 
     As described above, according to this invention, the liquid crystal display panel disposed in front of the variable display means for variably displaying designs serves as a new machine component for performing game effects. Further, in the light guiding plate, since transparent areas for ensuring the visibility of the variable display of the variable display means are formed, the visibility of the designs variably displayed on the variable display means is ensured. Furthermore, since these transparent areas are formed individually corresponding to the rows of variable displays of the designs of the variable display means, also by the light guiding plates between the respective transparent areas, the light from the light source can be guided to the liquid crystal display panel. Accordingly, new game effects can be performed on the liquid crystal display panel, which facilitates maintaining the novelty of game effects. In addition, the visibility of the designs variably displayed on the variable display means is ensured, and furthermore by means of the liquid crystal panels between the respective transparent areas, light luminance can be obtained. 
     Although only some exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate 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. 
     This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent applications entitled “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Ser. No. 10/697,942, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Ser. No. 10/697,946, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Ser. No. 10/697,244, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Ser. No. 10/697,441, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Ser. No. 10/697,239, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Ser. No. 10/697,004, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Ser. No. 10/697,251, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Ser. No. 10/697,254, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Ser. No. 10/697,005, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Ser. No. 10/697,006, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Ser. No. 10/697,259, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Ser. No. 10/697,007, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Ser. No. 10/697,042, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Ser. No. 10/697,158, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Ser. No. 10/697,039, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Ser. No. 10/697,157, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Ser. No. 10/697,040 “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Ser. No. 10/697,041, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Ser. No. 10/697,026, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Ser. No. 10/697,054, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Ser. No. 10/697,082, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Ser. No. 10/697,088, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Ser. No. 10/697,080, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Ser. No. 10/697,081, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Ser. No. 10/697,027, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Ser. No. 10/697,086, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Ser. No. 10/697,237, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Ser. No. 10/697,238, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Ser. No. 10/697,947, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Ser. No. 10/697,245, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Ser. No. 10/697,246, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Ser. No. 10/697,248, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Ser. No. 10/697,084, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Ser. No. 10/697,432, “MOTOR STOP CONTROL DEVICE” referred to as Ser. No. 10/697,085, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Ser. No. 10/697,256, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Ser. No. 10/697,281, “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Ser. No. 10/697,2612, and “GAMING MACHINE” referred to as Ser. No. 10/697,258, respectively, all the applications being filed on Oct. 31, 2003 herewith. The co-pending applications including specifications, drawings and claims are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.