Check-actuated control mechanisms – Including means to test validity of check – By testing material composition
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-10
2001-10-09
Bartuska, F. J. (Department: 3652)
Check-actuated control mechanisms
Including means to test validity of check
By testing material composition
Reexamination Certificate
active
06298973
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to coin analyzers or discriminators and, more particularly, to coin analyzers that are capable of distinguishing among a plurality of coins. The invention is useful with various coin-operated machines; for example, video games, car washes, clothes washers and dryers, coin counters, and the like.
The invention in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,884,672 and 5,056,644 provided the first commercially successful coin analyzer that was capable of detecting two coins, or a coin and token. In such commonly owned patents, a sample coin holder held two coin denominations or a coin and token adjacent to associated sample coin coil assemblies. A test coin coil assembly was located at a coin path. A circuit compared the effect on the magnetic field at the test coin assembly with the sample coin coil assemblies in order to determine when a match occurred between a test coin and one of the sample coins. The coin analyzer disclosed in these commonly assigned patents utilized analog circuitry to operate a kicker coil to accept a valid coin and in order to provide a credit indication of the amount of valid coins accepted.
Since the introduction of the Slug Buster II coin analyzer, which embodied the invention in the '672 and '644 patents, other multiple coin analyzers have been developed. These other coin analyzers typically utilize a microprocessor in combination with a test coil assembly and other input circuitry. The microprocessor stores characteristics of various coin denominations. When a coin is inserted in the coin path, the output of the test coil is applied to the microprocessor through the input circuitry. The microprocessor attempts to identify a match between the characteristics of the test coin and those stored within the microcomputer. If a match occurs, then a particular coin is deemed to have been identified. Such coin analyzers typically have a learning mode in which the coins to be identified are juxtaposed with the test coil while the microprocessor stores the parameters of each denomination coin.
One difficulty arises with coins of very similar characteristics. For example, the United States Mint introduced the Susan B. Anthony dollar coin which was made from a five-layer clad blank. The United States quarter is also made from a five-layer clad blank similar to that from which the Susan B. Anthony dollar is made. As a result, commercially available coin analyzers are incapable of accurately discriminating between a Susan B. Anthony dollar and a United States quarter. Other countries have such coins of similar properties. Also, coins from one country may have similar properties to a coin of another country. The inability of coin analyzers to distinguish between two coins having similar properties is a serious deficiency that heretofore has created a long-felt need in the art of coin analyzers. The present invention satisfies this long-felt need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a coin discrimination apparatus and method which is capable of repeatedly and accurately discriminating between coins of similar properties, including, by way of example, United States quarters and Susan B. Anthony dollars. A coin discrimination apparatus, according to an aspect of the invention, includes a test coin sensor that is adapted to sense a coin to be detected and including a test coin coil assembly. A microprocessor-based control is responsive to the test coin coil assembly to determine whether a test coin at the test coin sensor matches any of a plurality of coin denominations including resolving matches of a test coin at the test coin sensor with more than one of the plurality of coin denominations.
According to another aspect of the invention, a coin discrimination apparatus includes a plurality of sample coin assemblies, each including a sample coin holder and a sample coil assembly. The sample coil assembly generates a sample field and senses a sample field with the holder holding a sample coin. The apparatus further includes a test coin sensor including a coin guide path and a test coil assembly. The test coil assembly generates a test field and senses a test field with a test coin at the guide path. The apparatus further includes a microprocessor-based control which compares the test coil assembly with each of the sample coil assemblies and determines whether a test coin at the guide path matches a sample coin at one of the sample coin holders. The microprocessor-based control resolves matches of a test guide at the guide path with sample coins at more than one of the sample coin holders.
This is accomplished, according to a more detailed aspect of the invention, by the control determining which of the coins at more than one of the sample coin assemblies indicates a match with a coin at the test coin sensor. Substantially throughout the duration, the test coin is at the test coin sensor. The control, according to this more-detailed aspect of the invention, determines which of the coins at more than one of the sample coin assemblies first indicates a match with the coin at the test coin sensor.
A method of discriminating among a plurality of coin denominations includes sensing the characteristics of a test coin and comparing the characteristics of the test coin with characteristics of a plurality of coin denominations. If the comparing results in a match between the characteristics of the test coin and the characteristics of one of the coin denominations, then the test coin is declared to be that one of the coin denominations. If the comparing results in matches between the characteristics of the test coin and the characteristics of the test coin and the characteristics of more than one of the coin denominations, then the matches are compared to each other to determine which of the matches represents a valid match. The test coin which represents the valid one of the matches is declared the denomination of the test coin.
A method of discriminating denominations of coins, according to another aspect of the invention, includes providing a plurality of sample coin assemblies in a test coin sensor, each of the sample coin assemblies is adapted to hold a coin to be detected and includes a sample coin coil assembly. The test coin coil assembly is adapted to sense a coin to be detected and includes a test coin coil assembly. The method further includes comparing the test coin coil assembly with each of the sample coin coil assemblies with a microprocessor-based control and determining whether a test coin at the test coin sensor matches a sample coin at one of the sample coin assemblies. The method further includes determining whether any of the coins at more than one of the sample coin assemblies indicates a match with the coin at the test coil sensor during the entire time the test coin is at the coil sensor and which of the coins at more than one of the sample coin assemblies first indicates a match with a coin at the test coin sensor.
By resolving indications from multiple matches between the test coin and more than one denomination, the present invention is capable of determining which of the denominations truly matches the test coin. The present invention is capable of being scaled to accept one or more coin denominations and a token and can be expanded theoretically up to an unlimited number of coins and any combination of coins and tokens to be accepted.
These and other objects, advantages and features of this invention will become apparent upon review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3741363 (1973-06-01), Hinterstocker
patent: 3966034 (1976-06-01), Heiman et al.
patent: 4432447 (1984-02-01), Tanaka
patent: 4884672 (1989-12-01), Parker
patent: 5056644 (1991-10-01), Parker
patent: 5078251 (1992-01-01), Hayaski et al.
patent: 5129501 (1992-07-01), Halsey et al.
patent: 5211275 (1993-05-01), Halsey et al.
patent: 5226520 (1993-07-01), Parker
patent: 5293980 (1994-03-01), Parker
patent: 5433310 (1995-07-01), Bell
patent: 5439089 (1995-08-01
Meade Mark H.
Parker Douglas O.
Parker Keith W.
Bartuska F. J.
Parker Engineering & Manufacturing Co., Inc.
Van Dyke Gardner, Linn & Burkhart, LLP
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