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EP0203702B1
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Moving coin validation
Assignee: Landis and Gyr Communications UK Ltd
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Filing: 1986-04-18
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Granted: 1992-04-15
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Expires: 2006-04-18
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for validating a moving coin by detecting an oscillating signal generated in coils connected in a tuned oscillating circuit. A property of the signal which varies linearly with coin displacement in one direction for a first period and varies linearly in an opposite direction with coin displacement for a second period is measured. From measurements made during the first and second periods a signal characteristic of the coin, and substantially independent of the coin's velocity is derived. The coin is validated by comparing this signal with stored reference values.
Inventors
- 👤 John Wright
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 12:22
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07D; G07D5/00; G07D5/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
A method of validating a coin by moving the coin past an electrical coil (L₁,L₂) connected in a tuned oscillating circuit (2), monitoring an oscillating signal generated by the coil (L₁,L₂) in the presence of the coin, deriving from the oscillating signal a measurement representative of the coin, and comparing each measurement with a reference value to determine whether the coin is valid, characterised in that the monitoring is carried out for two fixed time periods initiated in response to detection of the position of the coin, a first period (t₂-t₃) during which the frequency of the oscillating signal is varying linearly in one direction as the coin approaches the coil to derive a first frequency-dependent measurement, and a second fixed time period (t₅-t₆) during which the frequency of the oscillating signal is varying linearly in the opposite direction as the coin moves away from the coil to derive a second frequency-dependent measurement, a linear combination of the first and second measurements being formed, thereby substantially cancelling out the effect of the coins velocity and deriving the measurement representative of the coin.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising sensing a trailing edge of the coin at a first position and thereupon causing the first of the fixed time periods (t₂-t₃) to commence; and subsequently sensing a leading edge of the coin at a second position and thereupon causing the second of the fixed time periods (t₅-t₆) to commence.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 1 or 2, in which the monitoring of the oscillating signal includes counting the number of oscillating signal periods occurring during each of the first and second fixed time periods (t₂-t₃),(t₅-t₆).
Claim 4
Independent Claim
187 words
A method of validating a coin by moving the coin past an electrical coil (L₁,L₂) connected in a tuned oscillating circuit (2), monitoring an oscillating signal generated by the coil (L₁,L₂) in the presence of the coin, deriving from the oscillating signal a measurement representative of the coin, and comparing each measurement with a reference value to determine whether the coin is valid, characterised in that the monitoring is carried out for two fixed time periods initiated in response to the detection of the position of the coin, a first period (t₂-t₃) during which the peak amplitude of the oscillating signal is varying linearly in one direction as the coin approaches the coil to derive a first peak amplitude-dependent measurement, and a second fixed time period (t₅-t₆) during which the peak amplitude of the oscillating signal is varying linearly in the opposite direction as the coin moves away from the coil to derive a second peak amplitude-dependent measurement, a linear combination of the first and second measurements being formed thereby substantially cancelling out the effect of the coins velocity and deriving the measurement representative of the coin.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method according to claim 4, in which the oscillating signal peak amplitude is represented by a parameter signal whose frequency is proportional to the peak signal amplitude and the first and second measurements are derived by counting the number of parameter signal periods occurring during each of the first and second fixed time periods (t₂-t₃), (t₅-t₆).
Claim 6
Independent Claim
30 words
A method according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the monitoring of the oscillating signal includes the sensing of at least two properties of the said signal.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
22 words
A method according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the first and second fixed time periods are equal (t₂-t₃,t₅-t₆).
Claim 8
Independent Claim
34 words
A method according to any one of the above claims, in which the first and second fixed time periods are short enough for coins of more than one different denomination to be validated (t₂-t₃,t₅-t₆).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 8, in which the first and second fixed time periods (t₂-t₃,t₅-t₆) are short enough to enable all of the denominations of coin in a particular currency to be validated.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
207 words
A coin validation apparatus including a coin runway (1); an electrical coil (L₁,L₂) adjacent the coin runway (1); a tuned feedback oscillator circuit (C₂,5) having the electrical coil (L₁,L₂), in its feedback loop; oscillating signal monitoring means (2) for monitoring the oscillating signal generated by the oscillator circuit (C₂,5) and deriving a frequency-dependent measurement representative of a coin; validator means (4) for comparing a measurement representative of the coin with a stored reference value, characterised by timing means (4) to enable the oscillating signal monitoring means (2) to monitor the oscillating signal for two fixed time periods initiated in response to detection of the position of the coin, a first fixed time period (t₂-t₃) during which the frequency of the oscillating signal is varying linearly in one direction as the coin approaches the coil (L₁,L₂) to derive a first frequency-dependent measurement and for a second fixed time period (t₅-t₆) during which the frequency of the oscillating signal is varying linearly in the opposite direction to derive a second frequency-dependent measurement, and by summing (4) means arranged to form a linear combination of the first and second frequency- dependent measurements thereby substantially cancelling out the effect of the coin's velocity and deriving the measurement representative of the coin.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, in which the timing means (4) include a first and second sensors (15,16), the sensors (15,16) being arranged to produce signals to initiate the first and second fixed time periods.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
66 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, in which the first sensor (15) is positioned upstream of the second sensor (16) and in which the first sensor (15) is arranged to initiate the first fixed time period upon sensing a trailing edge of the coin and the second sensor (16) is arranged to initiate the second fixed time period upon sensing a leading edge of the coin.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
210 words
A coin validation apparatus including a coin runway (1); an electrical coil (L₁,L₂) adjacent the coin runway (1); a tuned feedback oscillator circuit (C₂,5) having the electrical coil (L₁,L₂), in its feedback loop; oscillating signal monitoring means (2) for monitoring the oscillating signal generated by the oscillator circuit (C₂,5) and deriving a measurement representative of a coin; validator means (4) for comparing a measurement representative of the coin with a stored reference value, characterised by timing means (4) to enable the oscillating signal monitoring means (2) to monitor the oscillating signal for two fixed time periods initiated in response to detection of the position of the coin, a first fixed time period (t₂-t₃) during which the peak amplitude of the oscillating signal is varying linearly in one direction as the coin approaches the coil (L₁,L₂) to derive a first peak amplitude-dependent measurement and for a second fixed time period (t₅-t₆) during which the peak amplitude of the oscillating signal is varying linearly in the opposite direction to derive a second peak amplitude-dependent measurement, and by summing (4) means arranged to form a linear combination of the first and second peak amplitude-dependent measurements thereby substantially cancelling out the effect of the coin's velocity and deriving the measurement representative of the coin.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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