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Thread: Pachislo Interface Board

  1. #1
    Blind Shooter Compy's Avatar
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    Default Pachislo Interface Board

    Hey everyone,

    I am working on a pachislo battle counter (and more) system very similar to the "PachiStat" style system, but something that does a bit more. I am looking to use a raspberry pi as they're affordable and readily available. They also have GPIO pins for interfacing with the stop board. The general idea is that statistics and such would be readily available online. Players would be able to badge in and track stats (I've got an RFID prox card reader that hooks up to USB), and eventually have a wide-area progressive bit. The reason I also want to use a raspberry pi is because products that have done these things in the past have used interfaces that are becoming lesser and lesser as technology evolves (parallel ports, serial ports, etc). So having a "drop in" system would really make things a lot easier. Plus, with the full on raspberry pi being about $40, there's no reason NOT to use it.

    Before I make the feature list too grand, I want to get basic functionality working. My question right now is the interface board. I have a yamasa kiwame pachislo machine that is the "donor machine" for this project. It has the standard stop board. I am looking to tap the signals on CN4 and I'm referring to a schematic posted here. However, for these signals, it is stated that external +24V must be supplied? Is that AC or DC voltage? I have read lots and lots of posts here, but many have either not updated their threads or maybe just hadn't gotten it to work.

    Does anyone have any input on this? If I missed a thread where this was uncovered, forgive me! I'm just deferring to individuals much smarter than I am about these things.

    =====================================================
    So who am I?

    I'm a software engineer (and currently a graduate student) located just outside of Atlanta, GA. I mostly write code for pinball machines, but I also make guitar effects equipment, a bunch of random arduino projects, and a computerized automatic scoring system for half scale bowling alleys. I also love visiting the casinos when I visit my family out in Oklahoma. Believe it or not, its a great family experience (Riverwind is my second home out there).

    You guys are great folks, and I appreciate your help!
    Pachislos: Kiwame
    Pinballs: Space Shuttle, Space Gambler, Millionaire, Whirlwind, Rollergames, The Addams Family, Demolition Man 2000 (custom pin)

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  3. #2
    Pachi Puro RaymondV's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pachislo Interface Board

    You need one of the smarter guys to come along and respond, like Daverob or drunkenclam or a few others who I cannot think of their names at the moment.
    Be patient, they will see your thread soon
    Pachislo - Super Bingo-King Camel-Mephisto-Neo Pharaoh Zetz-Nangokusodachi-Mu Mu World DX-Super BlackJack-Death Valley-Gin Gin Maru-Power Jump
    Pachinko - Fever the King-Monster Village-Top Gun-Thunderzone-Casino Fever-Super Sea Story

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  5. #3
    I was thrown out of Top Gear Drunkenclam's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pachislo Interface Board

    Not me I'm afraid. I know nothing about slo's
    Ian #UKPachinko

  6. #4
    Blind Shooter Compy's Avatar
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    Cool [UPDATED] Pachislo Interface Board

    Hey guys and girls,

    So I was poking around a bit with the interface board and decided to make a video update about it. Parts of it may be a bit technical, but there are some brainstorming bits in there! Anywho, I hope you enjoy it. Leave some comments in this thread if you like!

    Pachislo Hackery Part 1 - YouTube


    Basically the interface board (the 8 pin header at CN4) connects to the Arduino over 3 pins. All I did was connect the grounds together and the signal pins go to the arduino and are read as inputs. Then those signals are fed to the computer over USB, and it updates the graphics with the counts. However, with this basic functionality we could have tournament play, wide area progressives, etc. I'd really like to get a live leaderboard going. Imagine playing your pachi and you see something come on your screen for a few seconds like "Drunkenclam just won 75 tokens in a bonus round at Drunkenclam's Casino!"

    I think it'd be pretty cool. I'm doing the code in python, so that means it could run on pretty much anything (mac, windows, linux).

    If I were to put this on a raspberry pi, that'd be even better as the solution is a single board with a wifi connection. I want to add in a credit-add feature so that you can use a prox-card or something to swipe in and get your credits, and your credits follow you around from game to game... so if you win a tournament, you can also get more credits!

    What do you guys think? Ideas? I've seen people discuss these things before, and I'd really like to get some interaction between pachislos going.

    Thanks guys!
    Pachislos: Kiwame
    Pinballs: Space Shuttle, Space Gambler, Millionaire, Whirlwind, Rollergames, The Addams Family, Demolition Man 2000 (custom pin)

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  8. #5
    Kungishi CarlW's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pachislo Interface Board

    Very nice !

    Could you post the Arduino sketch, please? Maybe I missed it in another thread or forum...

    I have some thoughts on why you are occasionally getting extra reads. Are the grounds shared between all of your devices? Are you using interrupts or digitalreads in your sketch? Do you have any diode protection?

    And as far as a wish list? Credit add and autostop features...

    Members Wayne-oo and Newintown are knowledgable about these types of things.

    Thanks for sharing your work.

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  10. #6
    Blind Shooter Compy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pachislo Interface Board

    Heya Carl,

    Thanks for getting back to me! Furthermore, thanks for the offer to help! Here's the current Arduino code I'm using (its a rough mockup that took about 10 mins to write)

    Code:
    #define TOKEN_IN  2
    #define TOKEN_OUT 3
    
    
    #define ACTIVE 0
    #define INACTIVE 1
    
    
    int lastPin[4] = { LOW, LOW, LOW, LOW };
    
    
    int pinStart = 2;
    
    
    void setup() {
      Serial.begin(28800);
      for (int i = pinStart; i < pinStart + 4; i++) {
        pinMode(i, INPUT_PULLUP);
      }
    }
    
    
    void loop() {
      
      int pinIdx = 0;
      for (int i = pinStart; i < pinStart + 4; i++) {
        pinIdx = i - pinStart;
        int val = digitalRead(i);
        if (val != lastPin[pinIdx]) {
          if (val == ACTIVE && i == TOKEN_IN) { Serial.write("I"); }
          if (val == ACTIVE && i == TOKEN_OUT) { Serial.write("O"); }
          lastPin[pinIdx] = val;
        }
      }
      
    }
    Note there's not really any debounce logic at all.

    Pins 2, 3 and GND are connected directly to the pachi. (GND going to Pin 6 of the stop board on the pachi labeled 'Common Ground') I've got some 1N4001 diodes that I can put in the middle. I am using the Arduino's internal pull up resistors.

    The schematic I am using for the stop board is: http://www.pachitalk.com/museumpics/...us%20board.JPG

    After the pin is read LOW (or ACTIVE in this case), I send a byte over the serial link and read it back using pyserial. Baud rate on both ends is 28800

    I'll try to put some diodes in the middle (always a good idea anyway) and then tinker with some of the debounce logic. If you've got any suggestions, I'm all ears! This is an open project As soon as I get the python code to a good state, I'll post it on github along with the sketch.

    Thanks for the feedback and assistance, Carl!
    Pachislos: Kiwame
    Pinballs: Space Shuttle, Space Gambler, Millionaire, Whirlwind, Rollergames, The Addams Family, Demolition Man 2000 (custom pin)

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  12. #7
    Kungishi CarlW's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pachislo Interface Board

    There is a bounce library, worth a try.

    But since your code is already using the interrupt pins... you could also try attaching interrupts and using the FALLING or LOW methods.
    I'm assuming your using an UNO?

    I'm wondering about the ground on your monitor, connecting that with your commons; my guess is the noise is from the pachislo machine though...

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  14. #8
    Blind Shooter Compy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pachislo Interface Board

    Hey Carl,

    Thanks a bunch for replying. Looks like after adding some debounce mechanisms the software is working flawlessly. I will continue to test to see if there's any noise or anything coming in that could throw counts off.

    Now time to get this puppy internet connected and add in some more functionality!

    Jimmy
    Last edited by Compy; 12-12-2013 at 11:22 PM.
    Pachislos: Kiwame
    Pinballs: Space Shuttle, Space Gambler, Millionaire, Whirlwind, Rollergames, The Addams Family, Demolition Man 2000 (custom pin)

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  16. #9
    Kungishi CarlW's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pachislo Interface Board

    Just need volunteers to hook up a setup similar to yours?




  17. #10
    Blind Shooter Compy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pachislo Interface Board

    Quote Originally Posted by CarlW View Post
    Just need volunteers to hook up a setup similar to yours?



    Yeah probably. I'm working a bit more on the software and getting a raspberry pi set up so that things can connect directly into the GPIO and "just work"

    I'm writing in the various screens of the system now, and making it to where it persists the token counts and such through reboots. Next I'll be designing in the machine<->server configuration so that various statistics can be exchanged. Then I'll start on the mini-games that take place on the monitors and such. So from there it'll evolve.

    I'll be making a new thread when I get something to show that's a bit tidier. Then I'd really be interested in taking on some testers.
    Pachislos: Kiwame
    Pinballs: Space Shuttle, Space Gambler, Millionaire, Whirlwind, Rollergames, The Addams Family, Demolition Man 2000 (custom pin)

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  19. #11
    Pachi Puro pachiwall's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pachislo Interface Board

    Thanks for the video! The printed word on this subject was over my head and a dry, boring read. I couldn't grasp it let alone contribute. It is now more understandable...even though I just glaze over the technical jargon. Please make another video when enough progress is made to justify one! The idea is sound, and I am sure many are going to benefit. Keep up the good work!

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  21. #12
    Sandwich Shooter mandoman's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pachislo Interface Board

    This should be fun. I just donated all my Arduino stuff to an elementary school so now it's time to buy a Pi. Checked my Eva 4 and I lucked out because it came with a cable. I just need to verify the pin outs. The labels are way too handy.

    Full res pics: Eva4-Output1 Eva4-Output2

    Evangelion 4-Output Board 1(640).jpg

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  23. #13
    Sandwich Shooter mandoman's Avatar
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    Default Re: Pachislo Interface Board

    I just realized the label above the output board in my machine is for the status LEDs on the Main Board. The CN2 terminal on my output board the same as CN4 in the thread drawing.

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