US4474281A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and method for coin diameter computation
Assignee: GENEAL SIGNAL TECHNOLOGY Corp (DE CORP)
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Filing: 1982-06-07
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Granted: 1984-10-02
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Expires: 2002-06-07
Abstract
Abstract A system for recognizing coin diameters and for computing the cumulative value of coins, including an arrangement for determining the velocity of the coins under free fall conditions by measuring (1) the time taken by a given coin to traverse a fixed distance, namely, a gap between the levels at which a first and second array of detectors are disposed; further including an arrangement for measuring (2) the time between a first event when the coin reaches, for example, said first level and a second event when the coin leaves the first level, the time interval between events being representative of the diameter of the coin; and additionally including an arrangement for computing the diameter from the two time measurements.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Roberts
- 👤 Gregory Slobodzian
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 15:48
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07D; G07D5/00; G07D5/02; G07F; G07F9/00; G07F9/08; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S194/00; Y10S194/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A system for recognizing the diameters of objects such as coins and the like, comprising: means for determining the velocity of the objects, under free-fall conditions and regardless of the particular velocity initially assumed by the objects, by measuring a first time interval taken by a given object to traverse a fixed distance between two levels; means for measuring a second time interval during which one of said levels is passed by the object; and means for unambiguously computing the diameter of the object by algebraically combining the measurements of the two time intervals.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
94 words
A system for recognizing the diameters of objects such as coins and the like, comprising: means for determining the velocity of the objects, under free-fall conditions and regardless of the particular velocity initially assumed by the objects, by measuring a first time interval taken by a given object to traverse a fixed distance between two levels; means for measuring a second time interval during which one of said levels is passed by the object; and means for unambiguously computing the diameter of the object by algebraically combining the measurements of the two time intervals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as defined in claim 1, in which said means for computing includes means for dividing said second time interval by said first time interval.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
69 words
A system as defined in claim 1, in which said means for determining the velocity is operative to determine both the entrance and exit velocities by twice measuring the time intervals taken by a given object to traverse said fixed distance; and in which said means for measuring is operative to measure the additional two time intervals during which each of said respective levels is passed by the object.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as defined in claim 1, in which at least one light detector is disposed at each level.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as defined in claim 4, in which at least one light emitting device is disposed at each of said levels opposite the respective detectors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
A system as defined in claim 2, further including a pair of arrays, each array including a plurality of light emitting diodes horizontally aligned with a corresponding plurality of photo-diode detectors; a pair of spaced plates defining a guideway for said objects, and a series of apertures in each of the plates for normally permitting light communication between said respective light emitting devices and said detectors.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for testing the diameter so obtained by comparing that diameter with stored valid diameter sizes and valuations, thereby to determine authenticity.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system as defined in claim 7, further comprising means for incrementing the revenue total as the value of the coins are successively determined and validated, and means for displaying said revenue total.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system as defined in claim 6, further comprising means for continuously testing for a change in the first signal from said first array, means for reading the time value at which said first signal changed, and means for determining if that first signal went low or went high.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system as defined in claim 9, further comprising means for storing the time value obtained as T 0 in the event that said first signal went low, and means for storing said time value as T 2 if said first signal went high.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system as defined in claim 10, further comprising means for continuously testing for a change in the second signal from said second array, means for reading the time value at which said second signal changed, and means for determining if that second signal went low or went high.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system as defined in claim 11, further comprising means for storing the time value obtained as T 1 in the event that said second signal went low, and means for storing said time value as T 3 if said second signal went high.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
66 words
A system as defined in claim 12, further comprising means for computing the diameter by dividing the difference between T 2 and T 0 by the difference between T 1 and T 0 , and dividing the difference between T 3 and T 1 by the difference between T 3 and T 2 , then summing the results, thereby to obtain an average value of diameter.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for recognizing the diameters of objects such as coins and the like comprising the steps of: determining the velocity of the objects, under free fall conditions and regardless of the particular velocity initially assumed by the objects, by measuring a first time interval taken by a given object to traverse a fixed distance between two levels; measuring a second time interval between a first event when the object reaches one of said levels and a second event when the object leaves that level; and computing the diameter of the object by algebraically combining the measurements of the two time intervals.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for recognizing the diameters of objects such as coins and the like comprising the steps of: determining the velocity of the objects, under free fall conditions and regardless of the particular velocity initially assumed by the objects, by measuring a first time interval taken by a given object to traverse a fixed distance between two levels; measuring a second time interval between a first event when the object reaches one of said levels and a second event when the object leaves that level; and computing the diameter of the object by algebraically combining the measurements of the two time intervals.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
97 words
A method as defined in claim 14 for recognizing the diameters of objects such as coins and the like, comprising the steps of: computing the diameter by obtaining four time values, T 0 , T 1 , T 2 , and T 3 , representative of events in the free-fall passage of such objects, dividing the difference between T 2 and T 0 by the difference between T 1 and T 0 , and dividing the difference between T 3 and T 1 by the difference between T 3 and T 2 , then summing the results.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as defined in claim 14, in which said step of computing includes multiplying the first time interval by the second time interval.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as defined in claim 14, further comprising the step of testing the diameter so obtained by comparing that diameter with stored valid diameter sizes and valuations, thereby to determine authenticity.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as defined in claim 17, further comprising the steps of incrementing the revenue total as the value of the coins are successively determined and validated, and displaying said revenue total.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-10-02 | 1988-04-02 | 1988-10-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-10-02 | 1992-04-02 | 1992-10-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-10-02 | 1996-04-02 | 1996-10-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |