US3870137A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for coin selection utilizing inductive sensors
Assignee: Arthur D Little Inc
•
Filing: 1973-10-12
•
Granted: 1975-03-11
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Expires: 1993-10-12
Abstract
Abstract The method and apparatus of this invention examine properties of coins by subjecting them to electromagnetic fields of at least two substantially different frequencies. An indication that a coin is acceptable is produced only after the coin has satisfied the examination requirements at at least two substantially different frequencies.
Inventors
- 👤 Guy L Fougere
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 00:58
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07D; G07D5/00; G07D5/08; G07D5/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 66
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A method for examining conductive coins with respect to both their authenticity and their denomination within a set of acceptable coins of various denominations comprising the steps of generating a first electromagnetic field of a low frequency range, subjecting the coin to the first field, generating a second electromagnetic field of a substantially higher frequency range than that of the first field, subjecting the coin to the second field, producing signals indicative of the degree of interaction of the coin with each field, and producing a signal indicative of the acceptability of the coin and selective of its denomination within the set only if the degree of each interaction is within predetermined tolerances of those of acceptable coins of one of the denominations of the set.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
126 words
A method for examining conductive coins with respect to both their authenticity and their denomination within a set of acceptable coins of various denominations comprising the steps of generating a first electromagnetic field of a low frequency range, subjecting the coin to the first field, generating a second electromagnetic field of a substantially higher frequency range than that of the first field, subjecting the coin to the second field, producing signals indicative of the degree of interaction of the coin with each field, and producing a signal indicative of the acceptability of the coin and selective of its denomination within the set only if the degree of each interaction is within predetermined tolerances of those of acceptable coins of one of the denominations of the set.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
126 words
A method for examining conductive coins with respect to both their authenticity and their denomination within a set of acceptable coins of various denominations comprising the steps of generating a first electromagnetic field of a low frequency range, subjecting the coin to the first field, generating a second electromagnetic field of a substantially higher frequency range than that of the first field, subjecting the coin to the second field, producing signals indicative of the degree of interaction of the coin with each field, and producing a signal indicative of the acceptability of the coin and selective of its denomination within the set only if the degree of each interaction is within predetermined tolerances of those of acceptable coins of one of the denominations of the set.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
126 words
A method for examining conductive coins with respect to both their authenticity and their denomination within a set of acceptable coins of various denominations comprising the steps of generating a first electromagnetic field of a low frequency range, subjecting the coin to the first field, generating a second electromagnetic field of a substantially higher frequency range than that of the first field, subjecting the coin to the second field, producing signals indicative of the degree of interaction of the coin with each field, and producing a signal indicative of the acceptability of the coin and selective of its denomination within the set only if the degree of each interaction is within predetermined tolerances of those of acceptable coins of one of the denominations of the set.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the coin is in one location when subjected to the first electromagnetic field and in a second location when subjected to the second electromagnetic field.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 including the steps of causing the coin to move along a predetermined path with respect to the fields.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 1 including the steps of subjecting the coin to a third electromagnetic field of a substantially higher frequency range than that of the first field and examining the degree of interaction of the coin with the third field wherein the acceptability signal is produced only if the degree of each interaction is within predetermined tolerances of those of acceptable coins of a given denomination.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the second field is directed toward one face of the coin and the third field is directed toward the other face of the coin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the low frequency range is below approximately 75 kHz.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the higher frequency range is above approximatelY 75 kHz.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the degree of at least one interaction is indicated by a shift in the frequency of an oscillator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the degree of at least one interaction is indicated by the degree of balance of a bridge circuit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a field of low frequency range and a field of a higher frequency range are concurrently applied to the coin.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 1 including the steps of mechanically segregating acceptable coins from inacceptable coins in response to the acceptability indicative signal, producing a signal indicative of the completion of segregation of an acceptable coin, and recording the value of the coin''s denomination in response to the segregation signal.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for examining conductive coins with respect to authenticity and denomination comprising the steps of subjecting a coin to a first electromagnetic field of a low frequency range below 75 kHz., subjecting the coin to a second electromagnetic field of a substantially higher frequency range than that of the first field and higher than 75 kHz., producing first and second signals indicative of the degree of interaction of the first and second fields respectively with the coin, and separately examining the degree of interaction of the coin with each field and producing a signal indicative of the acceptability of the coin only if the degree of each interaction is within predetermined tolerances of those of acceptable coins of a given denomination.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for examining conductive coins with respect to authenticity and denomination comprising the steps of subjecting a coin to a first electromagnetic field of a low frequency range below 75 kHz., subjecting the coin to a second electromagnetic field of a substantially higher frequency range than that of the first field and higher than 75 kHz., producing first and second signals indicative of the degree of interaction of the first and second fields respectively with the coin, and separately examining the degree of interaction of the coin with each field and producing a signal indicative of the acceptability of the coin only if the degree of each interaction is within predetermined tolerances of those of acceptable coins of a given denomination.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the upper limit of the higher frequency range is 1MHz.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the lower limit of the lower frequency range is 3kHz.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the only change in frequency of an electromagnetic field, when the coin passes through it, is coin dependent.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the change of frequency of an electromagnetic field is detected and employed as an indicia of coin authenticity and denomination.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
88 words
The method of claim 12 including the steps of causing the coin to move along a predetermined path with respect to the fields, subjecting the coin to a third electromagnetic field of a substantially higher frequency range than that of the first field, examining the degree of interaction of the coin with the third field wherein the acceptability signal is produced only if the degree of each interaction is within predetermined tolerances of those of acceptable coins of a given denomination, and identifying the denomination of the coin.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the second field is directed toward one face of the coin and the third field is directed toward the other face of the coin.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the third field''s frequency range is above 75kHz, the first and third fields are concurrently applied to the coin, and the coin acceptability signal is produced only if the interaction indicative signals with respect to the first and third fields are obtained concurrently.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second fields are concurrently applied to the coin, and the coin acceptability signal is produced only if the interaction indicative signals with respect to the fields are obtained concurrently.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
137 words
Apparatus for examining conductive coins of a plurality of denominations with respect to authenticity and denomination within a set of acceptable coins of various denominations comprising means for subjecting a coin to a first electromagnetic field of a low frequency range, means for producing a signal indicative of the degree of interaction of the coin with the first field, separate means for subjecting the coin to a second electromagnetic field of a substantially higher frequency range than that of the first field, means for producing a signal indicative of the degree of interaction of the coin with the second field, and means for producing a signal indicative of acceptability and denomination of the coin only if both interaction indications are within predetermined tolerances of those of acceptable coins of one of the denominations of the set. l
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
137 words
Apparatus for examining conductive coins of a plurality of denominations with respect to authenticity and denomination within a set of acceptable coins of various denominations comprising means for subjecting a coin to a first electromagnetic field of a low frequency range, means for producing a signal indicative of the degree of interaction of the coin with the first field, separate means for subjecting the coin to a second electromagnetic field of a substantially higher frequency range than that of the first field, means for producing a signal indicative of the degree of interaction of the coin with the second field, and means for producing a signal indicative of acceptability and denomination of the coin only if both interaction indications are within predetermined tolerances of those of acceptable coins of one of the denominations of the set. l
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the means for subjecting the coin to the first field comprise a first inductor and the means for subjecting the coin to the second field comprise a second inductor.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the means for indicating the degree of interaction of the coin with the first field comprises a bridge circuit and the means for indicating the degree of interaction of the coin with the second field comprises frequency shift detection means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the low frequency range is below approximately 75 kHz.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the higher frequency range is above approximately 75 kHz.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
72 words
The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising means for subjecting the coin to a third electromagnetic field of a substantially higher frequency range than that of the first field and means for indicating the degree of interaction of the coin with the third field, wherein the acceptability signal producing means produces the acceptability signal only if all three interaction indications are within tolerances of those of acceptable coins of a given denomination.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the second field is directed toward one face of the coin and the third field is directed toward the other face of the coin.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 21 comprising at least one inductor operating in a higher frequency range than that of the first field for each denomination of coin to be accepted by the apparatus.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the means for producing an acceptability signal comprise digital logic circuitry having inputs connected to the outputs of at least one low frequency interaction indicating means and one high frequency interaction indicating means.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising mechanical gate means for separating acceptable coins from unacceptable coins, a coin presence sensor located in a position where it will sense accepted coins which have passed the gate and produce a signal in response thereto, and accumulator means arranged to record the value of an accepted coin in reponse to the gate passed signal.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
116 words
Apparatus for examining conductive coins with respect to authenticity and denomination comprising a coin passageway, means for subjecting a coin in the passageway to a first electromagnetic field of a low frequency range below 75 kHz., separate means for subjecting the coin to a second and a third electromagnetic field each of a frequency range above 75 kHz. and substantially higher than that of the first field, separate means for examining the degree of interaction of each of the fields with the coin, and means for producing a signal indicative of acceptability of the coin only if each of the three interaction indications is within predetermined tolerances of those of acceptable coins of a single denomination.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
116 words
Apparatus for examining conductive coins with respect to authenticity and denomination comprising a coin passageway, means for subjecting a coin in the passageway to a first electromagnetic field of a low frequency range below 75 kHz., separate means for subjecting the coin to a second and a third electromagnetic field each of a frequency range above 75 kHz. and substantially higher than that of the first field, separate means for examining the degree of interaction of each of the fields with the coin, and means for producing a signal indicative of acceptability of the coin only if each of the three interaction indications is within predetermined tolerances of those of acceptable coins of a single denomination.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the upper limit of the higher frequency range is 1MHz.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the lower limit of the lower frequency range is 3kHz.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the degree of at least one interaction of the coin with a higher frequency field is indicated by a shift in the frequency of an oscillator and the degree of interaction of the coin with the first field is indicated by the degree of balance of a bridge circuit.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus of claim 31 further comprising means for causing relative motion of the coin through the fields along a predetermined path defined by a coin supporting track wherein each of the fields is produced by an inductor driven by an alternating current, and wherein the second field is directed toward one face of the coin and the third field is directed toward the other face of the coin.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
74 words
The apparatus of claim 35 wherein a first inductor operating in a higher frequency range than that of the first field and a second inductor operating in a low frequency range are at substantially the same longitudinal location along the coin path, and further comprising combinatorial means connected so that a signal indicative of coin acceptability is produced only if both the interaction indications with respect to said first and second inductors occur concurrently.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 35 further comprising at least one oscillator to produce the alternating current, wherein at least one oscillator is connected with its associated inductor so that the presence of conductive material in the field produced by that inductor causes the frequency of the oscillator to shift from an idling frequency.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
73 words
The apparatus of claim 37 wherein at least one interaction examining means is a narrow band detector circuit responsive to the output signal of that oscillator for detecting a predetermined frequency shifted from the oscillator''s idling frequency and producing a signal indicative of the occurrence of the shifted frequency, and the detector circuit produces an output pulse for each transition of the frequency of its associated oscillator into the bandpass of the detector.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 35 wherein at least one of the inductors is an element of a bridge circuit, the bridge is driven by an oscillator and at least one interaction indicative means is a bridge condition detector arranged to monitor the output of the bridge.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 39 wherein the detector circuit produces a single pulse each time the output of the bridge passes into and out of a range of signal values within a predetermined tolerance of a predetermined value.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 39 wherein the bridge is a multileg bridge having a plurality of parallel branches in parallel with an inductor branch comprising an inductor and a resistor, and wherein each of a plurality of bridge condition detectors is connected to monitor the output of a bridge circuit comprising the inductor branch and one of the other branches.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 39 wherein at least one inductor having at least one pole piece is located adjacent the coin track with at least a portion of a pole piece below the level of the track and at least a portion of a pole piece above the level of the track.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus of claim 35 wherein an inductor is an element of a multileg bridge circuit having a plurality of parallel branches in parallel with an inductor branch comprising said inductor and a resistor, and wherein each of a plurality of bridge condition detectors is connected to monitor the output of a bridge circuit comprising the inductor branch and one of the other branches.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 43 wherein the inductor of the inductor branch comprises a series connected pair of low frequency field producing inductors, one of which is located on each side of the coin path.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus of claim 43 further comprising mechanical gate means for separating acceptable coins from unacceptable coins, a coin presence sensor located in a position where it will sense accepted coins which have passed the gate and produce a signal in response thereto, an accumulator means arranged to record the value of an accepted coin in response to the gate passed signal.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
123 words
Apparatus for examining conductive coins with respect to authenticity and denomination comprising first inductor means arranged to subject a face of a coin to a first electromagnetic field which would penetrate through an authentic coin of an acceptable denomination, second inductor means arranged to subject a face of the coin to a second electromagnetic field having a frequency high enough that it would not penetrate through an authentic coin of said acceptable denomination, separate means for indicating the degree of interaction of the coin with each of the fields, and means for producing a signal indicative of acceptability of the coiN as a coin of said acceptable denomination only if both interaction indications are within predetermined tolerances for acceptable coins of said denomination.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
123 words
Apparatus for examining conductive coins with respect to authenticity and denomination comprising first inductor means arranged to subject a face of a coin to a first electromagnetic field which would penetrate through an authentic coin of an acceptable denomination, second inductor means arranged to subject a face of the coin to a second electromagnetic field having a frequency high enough that it would not penetrate through an authentic coin of said acceptable denomination, separate means for indicating the degree of interaction of the coin with each of the fields, and means for producing a signal indicative of acceptability of the coiN as a coin of said acceptable denomination only if both interaction indications are within predetermined tolerances for acceptable coins of said denomination.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 46 wherein one inductor of a series connected pair of low frequency field producing inductors is located adjacent each side of the coin path.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 46 wherein a first inductor operating in a higher frequency range than that of the first field and a second inductor operating in a low frequency range are at substantially the same longitudinal location along the coin path.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 48 further comprising combinatorial means connected so that a signal indicative of coin acceptability is produced only if both the interaction indications with respect to said first and second inductors occur concurrently.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 46 wherein at least one inductor having at least one pole piece is located adjacent the coin track with at least a portion of a pole piece below the level of the track and at least a portion of a pole piece above the level of the track.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
97 words
The apparatus of claim 46 further comprising at least one oscillator to produce the alternating current, wherein at least one oscillator is connected with its associated inductor so that the presence of conductive material in the field produced by that inductor causes the frequency of the oscillator to shift from an idling frequency and at least one interaction indicating means is a narrow band detector circuit responsive to the output signal of that oscillator for detecting a predetermined frequency shifted from the oscillator''s idling frequency and producing a signal indicative of the occurrence of the shifted frequency.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 51 wherein the detector circuit produces an output pulse for each transition of the frequency of its associated oscillator into the bandpass of the detector.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
78 words
The apparatus of claim 51 wherein the detector circuit means comprises means for periodically sampling the output signal of an associated oscillator for a predetermined sampling interval and means for producing the shifted frequency indicative signal when the number of cycles in the output signal of the oscillator circuit during each of a predetermined number of sampling intervals is substantially equal within a predetermined tolerance to a number of signal cycles predetermined for genuine coins of a denomination.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 53 wherein the sampling means periodically and sequentially samples the output signals of each of a plurality of oscillator circuits.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
96 words
The apparatus of claim 53 wherein the means for producing an interaction indicating signal comprises a counter for counting the number of cycles in the output signal of said associated oscillator circuit during each sampling interval, a decoder signal pulse when the number of cycles counted by said first counter in any sampling interval is substantially equal to said predetermined number of signal cycles; and a second counter responsive to said decoder for producing said frequency detector output signal when the number of decoder signal pulses is substantially equal to said predetermined number of sampling intervals.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
177 words
The apparatus of claim 53 wherein the means for producing interaction indicating signals comprises at least one signal cycle counter responsive to said sampled oscillator output signals for producing an output signal proportional to the number of cycles in each oscillator output signal sample; and wherein the means for producing a coin acceptability indicative signal comprises at least a first and second decoder each responsive to an output signal of said signal cycle counter, each producing an output signal pulse when the number of signal cycles represented by the output signal of said signal cycle counter is substantially equal to said predetermined number of signal cycles for its associated low frequency or high frequency oscillator circuit, respectively, first and secoNd pulse counters for counting the output signal pulses produced by said first and second decoders, respectively, and logic means responsive to said first and second counters for producing a coin acceptability indicative signal when the number of output signal pulses counted by each of said pulse counters is substantially equal to said predetermined number of sampling intervals.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 46 wherein at least one of the inductors if an element of a bridge circuit, the bridge is driven by the oscillator and at least one interaction indicative means is a bridge condition detector arranged to monitor the output of the bridge.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 57 wherein the detector circuit produces a single pulse each time the output of the bridge passes into and out of a range of signal values within a predetermined tolerance of a predetermined value.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 57 wherein the bridge is a multileg bridge having a plurality of parallel branches in parallel with an inductor branch comprising an inductor and a resistor, and wherein each of a plurality of bridge condition detectors is connected to monitor the output of a bridge circuit comprising the inductor branch and one of the other branches.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3059749A
Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-10 | 1978-09-09 | 1979-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-10 | 1982-09-09 | 1983-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-10 | 1986-09-09 | 1987-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |