Patent EP0289248A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent EP0155126A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0155126A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Self tuning coin recognition system
Assignee: Mars Inc
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Filing: 1985-03-01
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-03-01
Abstract
Abstract A self-tuning coin testing apparatus having a coin sensor circuit which produces an output signal indicative of a parameter characteristic of the coins which are tested by the coin sensor and a programmed microprocessor which stores an initial acceptance limit, determines whether the output signal from the coin sensor is indicative of a valid coin, stores a signal based on the output signal for each valid coin, calculates a statistical function based on the stored signal, and finally computes and stores a new acceptance limit based on the stored signals for a predetermined number of previously accepted coins. The statistical function, is preferably weighted so that it is based upon values for only a predetermined number of the most recently accepted coins so that a recent average is maintained.
Inventors
- 👤 Frederic P. Heiman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 07:49
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07D; G07D5/00; G07D5/08; G07D5/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of operating a coin testing apparatus having a coin sensor circuit and a processing and control circuit so that it is self-tuning comprising the steps of: (a) inserting a first coin to be tested into the coin testing apparatus; (b) determining a test value for the first coin characteristic of the first coin; (c) using the test value to set an acceptance limit; and (d) testing a subsequently inserted coin using the acceptance limit.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of operating a coin testing apparatus having a coin sensor circuit and a processing and control circuit so that it is self-tuning comprising the steps of: (a) inserting a first coin to be tested into the coin testing apparatus; (b) determining a test value for the first coin characteristic of the first coin; (c) using the test value to set an acceptance limit; and (d) testing a subsequently inserted coin using the acceptance limit.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of operating a coin testing apparatus having a coin sensor circuit and a processing and control circuit so that it is self-tuning comprising the steps of: (a) testing a coin which is inserted into the coin testing apparatus with the coin sensor circuit and producing an output signal indicative of a characteristic of the coin; (b) determining if the output signal is indicative of an acceptable coin; (c) storing a value related to the output signal if the coin was determined to be an acceptable coin; (d) computing a statistical function value from the stored value; (e) using the computed statistical function value after a predetermined number of coins have been accepted for determining the acceptability of subsequently inserted coins; and (f) repeating the steps (a)-(e) as additional coins are inserted into the test apparatus.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of operating a coin testing apparatus having a coin sensor circuit and a processing and control circuit so that it is self-tuning comprising the steps of: (a) testing a coin which is inserted into the coin testing apparatus with the coin sensor circuit and producing an output signal indicative of a characteristic of the coin; (b) determining if the output signal is indicative of an acceptable coin; (c) storing a value related to the output signal if the coin was determined to be an acceptable coin; (d) computing a statistical function value from the stored value; (e) using the computed statistical function value after a predetermined number of coins have been accepted for determining the acceptability of subsequently inserted coins; and (f) repeating the steps (a)-(e) as additional coins are inserted into the test apparatus.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the step of using the computed statistical function value for determining the acceptability of subsequently inserted coins further comprises the steps of (a) computing acceptance limits for an acceptable coin from the statistical function value; (b) storing the computed acceptance limits in the processing and control circuit; and (c) comparing the value related to the output signal for a subsequently inserted coin with the stored acceptance limits.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of operating a coin testing apparatus having a coin sensor circuit and a processing and control circuit comprising the steps of: (a) inserting a predetermined number of coins of a single denomination which are known to be acceptable into the coin testing apparatus; (b) testing the coins with the coin sensor circuit and producing output signals indicative of a characteristic of the coins; (c) storing values related to the output signals; (d) computing a statistical function value from the stored values; and (e) storing the computed statistical function values in the processing and control means.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of operating a coin testing apparatus having a coin sensor circuit and a processing and control circuit comprising the steps of: (a) inserting a predetermined number of coins of a single denomination which are known to be acceptable into the coin testing apparatus; (b) testing the coins with the coin sensor circuit and producing output signals indicative of a characteristic of the coins; (c) storing values related to the output signals; (d) computing a statistical function value from the stored values; and (e) storing the computed statistical function values in the processing and control means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of using the stored statistical function values in determining if subsequently inserted coins are acceptable.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of using the stored computed statistical function values to compute acceptance limits for the denomination of the coins which have been inserted.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for testing coins comprising the steps of (a) storing an initial set of test limits in a memory in a coin testing apparatus; (b) inserting a first coin to be tested into the coin testing apparatus; (c) determining a test value for the first coin characteristic of the first coin; (d) comparing the test value.with the initial set of test limits to see if the test value is within those limits; (e) accepting the first coin if the test value is within the initial test limits; (f) using the test value to recompute the test limits if the first coin was accepted; and (g) testing subsequently inserted coins using the recomputed test limits.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for testing coins comprising the steps of (a) storing an initial set of test limits in a memory in a coin testing apparatus; (b) inserting a first coin to be tested into the coin testing apparatus; (c) determining a test value for the first coin characteristic of the first coin; (d) comparing the test value.with the initial set of test limits to see if the test value is within those limits; (e) accepting the first coin if the test value is within the initial test limits; (f) using the test value to recompute the test limits if the first coin was accepted; and (g) testing subsequently inserted coins using the recomputed test limits.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of using the test value for each additional acceptable coin to recompute the test limits.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
107 words
Apparatus for testing coins comprising a coin sensor circuit having a sensor located adjacent a coin path, said coin sensor circuit producing an output signal indicative of a characteristic of an inserted coin on the coin path adjacent the sensor; memory means for storing test limits; means to derive a test value from the output signal; and means to determine if the output signal from the coin sensor circuit is indicative of an acceptable coin by determining if the test value is within a set of test limits and to recompute the test limits used for subsequent coins if the inserted coin is found to be acceptable.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
107 words
Apparatus for testing coins comprising a coin sensor circuit having a sensor located adjacent a coin path, said coin sensor circuit producing an output signal indicative of a characteristic of an inserted coin on the coin path adjacent the sensor; memory means for storing test limits; means to derive a test value from the output signal; and means to determine if the output signal from the coin sensor circuit is indicative of an acceptable coin by determining if the test value is within a set of test limits and to recompute the test limits used for subsequent coins if the inserted coin is found to be acceptable.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the coin sensor circuit is an oscillator circuit which produces an oscillating output signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the means to derive a test value from the output signal comprises an analog-to-digital converter circuit for producing a digital output signal related to the amplitude of the oscillating output signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the means to derive a test value from the output signal comprises a counter circuit for producing a digital output count related to the frequency of oscillation of the oscillating output signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 9, 10, 11 or 12 wherein the means to determine and to recompute comprises a programmed microprocessor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the programmed microprocessor stores the recomputed test limits each time a coin is found to be acceptable.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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