Patent US3918563A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3918563A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Coin arrival sensor
Assignee: Mars Inc
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Filing: 1974-11-21
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Granted: 1975-11-11
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Expires: 1994-11-21
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for sensing the arrival of a coin in coin handling mechanisms and producing an output signal only if the coin is of an acceptable type of material. The coin is placed between transmitting and receiving coils. The transmitting coil produces an oscillating magnetic field with components of different frequencies. The amplitudes of the components of the two different frequencies are examined and if they correspond to the amplitudes for an acceptable type of material, e.g. conductive non-ferromagnetic, the apparatus indicates the arrival of a coin.
Inventors
- 👤 Guustaaf Arthur Schwippert
- 👤 Wouter Smits
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 23:55
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07D; G07D5/00; G07D5/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
Apparatus for sensing the arrival of a coin in a coin handling mechanism and for producing an output signal when the coin is of an acceptable type of material comprising: transmitting means including at least one transmitting inductor, for generating an oscillating magnetic field having components of two substantially different frequencies; receiving means including at least one receiving inductor disposed in the magnetic field produced by said transmitting means for detecting the amplitude of said components at the location of said receiving inductor; means for guiding a coin between the transmitting and receiving inductors so that a substantial portion of the magnetic energy received by said receiving inductor is transmitted through the coin; and means for comparing the amplItudes of the components detected by the receiving means with the corresponding amplitudes for coins of an acceptable type of material and for producing an output signal indicative of the arrival of a coin of an acceptable type of material when the detected amplitudes of both components correspond substantially to the amplitudes for a coin of an acceptable type of material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
179 words
Apparatus for sensing the arrival of a coin in a coin handling mechanism and for producing an output signal when the coin is of an acceptable type of material comprising: transmitting means including at least one transmitting inductor, for generating an oscillating magnetic field having components of two substantially different frequencies; receiving means including at least one receiving inductor disposed in the magnetic field produced by said transmitting means for detecting the amplitude of said components at the location of said receiving inductor; means for guiding a coin between the transmitting and receiving inductors so that a substantial portion of the magnetic energy received by said receiving inductor is transmitted through the coin; and means for comparing the amplItudes of the components detected by the receiving means with the corresponding amplitudes for coins of an acceptable type of material and for producing an output signal indicative of the arrival of a coin of an acceptable type of material when the detected amplitudes of both components correspond substantially to the amplitudes for a coin of an acceptable type of material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the transmitting means comprise an inductor core wound with two coils, the coils being connected to respective oscillator circuits oscillating at the said two different frequencies.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the receiving means includes high and low pass filters connected to the inductor for isolating the higher and lower frequency components.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
155 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the comparing means include two comparators, a first comparator connected to the receiving means for comparing the detected amplitude of the high frequency component with the output of a first reference signal generator the first comparator producing an output signal if the said detected amplitude so deviates from the reference signal as to correspond to the signal for a conductive coil, and a second comparator connected to the receiving means for comparing the detected amplitude of the lower frequency component with the output of a second reference signal generator, the second comparator producing an output signal if the detected amplitude so deviates from the reference signal as to correspond to the signal for a ferromagnetic coin, and combinatorial means for providing the output signal for the comparing means only when the first comparator is producing its output signal and the second comparator is not producing its output signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 in which the second comparator is adapted to respond more quickly to the presence of a ferromagnetic coin than the second coin responds to the presence of a conductive coin.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 in which the said output signal of the first comparator corresponds to a logical value of 1 and the said output signal of the second comparator corresponds to a logical value 0, and the combinatorial means comprise a NAND gate, the NAND gate producing its output signal only if the signals from both comparators have a logical value 1.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 in which the combinatorial means is adapted to combine the said output signal from the second comparator with the detected higher component to prevent it so deviating from the reference signal when a conductive ferromagnetic coin is present that the first comparator provides its output signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to any of claim 4 in which the reference signal generators are connected to the transmitting means to derive the reference signals from the currents that produce the high and low frequency magnetic fields.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 in which the reference signal generators are connected to the receiving means to derive the reference signals from the high and low frequency components.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the receiving means includes high and low pass filters connected to the inductor for isolating the higher and lower frequency components.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
155 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 in which the comparing means include two comparators, a first comparator connected to the receiving means for comparing the detected amplitude of the high frequency component with the output of a first reference signal generator, the first comparator producing an output signal if the said detected amplitude so deviates from the reference signal as to correspond to the signal for a conductive coin, and a second comparator connected to the receiving means for comparing the detected amplitude of the lower frequency component with the output of a second reference signal generator, the second comparator producing an output signal if the detected amplitude so deviates from the reference siGnal as to correspond to the signal for a ferromagnetic coin, and combinatorial means for providing the output signal for the comparing means only when the first comparator is producing its output signal and the second comparator is not producing its output signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 in which the second comparator is adapted to respond more quickly to the presence of a ferromagnetic coin than the second coin responds to the presence of a conductive coin.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
155 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the comparing means include two comparators, a first comparator connected to the receiving means for comparing the detected amplitude of the high frequency component with the output of a first reference signal generator, the first comparator producing an output signal if the said detected amplitude so deviates from the reference signal as to correspond to the signal for a conductive coin, and a second comparator connected to the receiving means for comparing the detected amplitude of the lower frequency component with the output of a second reference signal generator, the second comparator producing an output signal if the detected amplitude so deviates from the reference signal as to correspond to the signal for a ferromagnetic coin, and combinatorial means for providing the output signal for the comparing means only when the first comparator is producing its output signal and the second comparator is not producing its output signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 in which the second comparator is adapted to respond more quickly to the presence of a ferromagnetic coin than the second coin responds to the presence of a conductive coin.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 in which the said output signal of the first comparator corresponds to a logical value of 1 and the said output signal of the second comparator corresponds to a logical value 0, and the combinatorial means comprise a NAND gate, the NAND gate producing its output signal only if the signals from both comparators have a logical value 1.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 in which the combinatorial means is adapted to combine the said output signal from the second comparator with the detected higher component to prevent it so deviating from the reference signal when a conductive ferromagnetic coin is present that the first comparator provides its output signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 in which the said output signal of the first comparator corresponds to a logical value of 1 and the said output signal of the second comparator corresponds to a logical value 0, and the combinatorial means comprise a NAND gate, the NAND gate producing its output signal only if the signals from both comparators have a logical value 1.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 in which the said output signal of the first comparator corresponds to a logical value of 1 and the said output signal of the second comparator corresponds to a logical value 0, and the combinatorial means comprise a NAND gate, the NAND gate producing its output signal only if the signals from both comparators have a logical value 1.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 in which the combinatorial means is adapted to combine the said output signal from the second comparator with the detected higher component to prevent it so deviating from the reference signal when a conductive ferromagnetic coin is present that the first comparator provides its output signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 in which the combinatorial means is adapted to combine the said output signal from the second comparator with the detected higher component to prevent it so deviating from the reference signal when a conductive ferromagnetic coin is present that the first comparator provides its output signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 in which the reference signal generators are connected to the transmitting means to derive the reference signals from the currents that produce the high and low frequency fields.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
ApparatUs according to claim 5 in which the reference signal generators are connected to the receiving means to derive the reference signals from the high and low frequency components.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 in which the reference signal generators are connected to the transmitting means to derive the reference signals from the currents that produce the high and low frequency magnetic fields.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 in which the reference signal generators are connected to the receiving means to derive the reference signals from the high and low frequency components.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 in which the reference signal generators are connected to the transmitting means to derive the reference signals from the currents that produce the high and low frequency magnetic fields.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 in which the reference signal generators are connected to the receiving means to derive the reference signals from the high and low frequency components.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 17 in which the reference signal generators are connected to the transmitting means to derive the reference signals from the currents that produce the high and low frequency magnetic fields.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 17 in which the reference signal generators are connected to the receiving means to derive the reference signals from the high and low frequency components.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 18 in which the reference signal generators are connected to the transmitting means to derive the reference signals from the currents that produce the high and low frequency magnetic fields.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 18 in which the reference signal generators are connected to the receiving means to derive the reference signals from the high and low frequency components.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 19 in which the reference signal generators are connected to the transmitting means to derive the reference signals from the currents that produce the high and low frequency magnetic fields.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 19 in which the reference signal generators are connected to the receiving means to derive the reference signals from the high and low frequency components.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 20 in which the reference signal generators are connected to the transmitting means to derive the reference signals from the currents that produce the high and low frequency magnetic fields.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 20 in which the reference signal generators are connected to the receiving means to derive the reference signals from the high and low frequency components.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3870137A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-10 | 1979-05-12 | 1979-11-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-10 | 1983-05-12 | 1983-11-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-10 | 1987-05-12 | 1987-11-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |