Data transfer system for currency cassettes

Claim 2

In an automated teller machine, a system comprising: a currency dispensing means for dispensing currency; a cassette for storing currency to be dispensed; a cassette receiving means located in said currency dispensing means for receiving said cassette; said cassette having first data processing means for processing data associated with the currency to be dispensed; said cassette receiving means having second data processing means for processing data associated with the currency to be dispensed; said cassette also having first circuit means for processing power to be used by said first data processing means; said cassette receiving means also having second circuit means for processing power to be used by said first data processing means; and said first and second circuit means including first and second coils, respectively, with said first and second coils acting as a transformer when said cassette is mounted in an operational position in said cassette receiving means so as to transfer power from said second circuit means to said first circuit means.

Claim 3

The system as claimed in claim 1 in which said first data processing means includes a first data receiving and transmitting means located in said cassette and in which said second data processing means includes a second data receiving and transmitting means located in said cassette receiving means, with said first and second data receiving and transmitting means being in operational relationship with each other so as to receive and transmit data between said first and second data processing means when said cassette is mounted in the operational position in said cassette receiving means.

Claim 4

The system as claimed in claim 2 in which said first data processing means includes a microprocessor and a data storage means for storing data associated with said cassette and with the currency to be dispensed.

Claim 5

The system as claimed in claim 3 in which said data storage means includes a ROM and a RAM.

Claim 6

The system as claimed in claim 2 in which said first and second data receiving and transmitting means are optically operated.

Claim 7

The system as claimed in claim 5 in which said first circuit means includes a battery for retaining data in said RAM when said cassette is removed from said operational position in said cassette receiving means.

Claim 8

A data transfer system comprising: a currency cassette having data storage means; and currency dispensing means for dispensing currency; said currency dispensing means having a cassette receiving means into which said cassette is adapted to be inserted; said cassette having random access memory means forming said data storage means, first data receiving and transmitting means, first data processing means connected to said random access memory means and to said first data receiving and transmitting means, and first circuit means including a first coil means; said cassette receiving means including second data receiving and transmitting means and second circuit means including second coil means, said second data receiving and transmitting means and said second coil means being mounted on said cassette receiving means so as to be respectively positioned adjacent said first data receiving and transmitting means and said first coil means when said cassette is mounted in an operational position in said cassette receiving means to enable data to be transferred in a non-contact manner between said random access memory means and second data processing means external to said cassette via said first data processing means and said first and second data receiving and transmitting means, and to enable said first and second circuit means to transfer power from said cassette receiving means to said cassette with said first and second coil means acting as a transformer, said first circuit means serving to provide a dc voltage supply for said cassette.

Claim 9

A data transfer system comprising: a currency cassette having data storage means; and currency dispensing means for dispensing currency; said currency dispensing means having a cassette receiving means into which said cassette is adapted to be inserted; said cassette having random access memory means forming said data storage means, first data receiving and transmitting means, first data processing means connected to said random access memory means and to said first data receiving and transmitting means, and first circuit means including a first coil means; said cassette receiving means including second data receiving and transmitting means and second circuit means including second coil means, said second data receiving and transmitting means and said second coil means being mounted on said cassette receiving means so as to be respectively positioned adjacent said first data receiving and transmitting means and said first coil means when said cassette is mounted in an operational position in said cassette receiving means to enable data to be transferred in a non-contact manner between said random access memory means and second data processing means external to said cassette via said first data processing means and said first and second data receiving and transmitting means, and to enable said first and second circuit means to transfer power from said cassette receiving means to said cassette with said first and second coil means acting as a transformer, said first circuit means serving to provide a dc voltage supply for said cassette.

Claim 10

The system as claimed in claim 7, in which said first data receiving and transmitting means includes a first light responsive device and a first light emitting device, and said second data receiving and transmitting means includes a second light responsive device and a second light emitting device, said first light responsive device and said first light emitting device being respectively in cooperative relationship with said second light emitting device and said second light responsive device when said cassette is mounted in said operational position.

Claim 11

The system as claimed in claim 8 in which said first and second data receiving and transmitting means are each adapted to transmit and to be responsive to infrared light, and in which said random access memory means, said first data receiving and transmitting means, said first data processing means, and said first circuit means are protected by a cover which is of a material transmissive to infrared light.

Claim 12

The system as claimed in claim 9 in which said first circuit means is arranged to provide a dc voltage supply for said random access memory means, said first data processing means and said first data receiving and transmitting means.

Claim 13

The system as claimed in claim 10 in which said cassette has mounted thereon a battery arranged to provide back-up power for said cassette when said cassette is not in said operational position in said cassette receiving means, said battery being associated with means for disabling said battery from supplying power to said cassette when said cassette is receiving its power requirements from said first circuit means.

Claim 14

The system as claimed in claim 11 in which said random access memory means, said first data receiving and transmitting means, said first data processing means, and said first circuit means are mounted on a first printed circuit board attached to the outside of said cassette, and in which said second data receiving and transmitting means and said second circuit means are mounted on a second printed circuit board attached to said cassette receiving means.

Claim 15

The system as claimed in claim 12 in which said cassette further has a stud thereon and said cassette receiving means has a latch means for latching said stud to latch said cassette in said operational position in said cassette receiving means.

Claim 16

The system as claimed in claim 13 in which said first and second coil means are respectively wound on first and second U-shaped magnetic cores, with the ends of said first core being in registration with the ends of said second core when said cassette is in said operational position in said cassette receiving means.

Claim 17

The system as claimed in claim 7 in which said first circuit means includes means to render said first data processing means operational when said dc voltage supply meets a predetermined specification, and to render said first data processing means non-operational when said dc voltage supply fails to meet said specification.

Claim 18

A currency cassette having data storage means; said cassette comprising: random access memory means forming said data storage means; data processing means connected to said random access memory means; first data receiving means connected to said first data processing means to receive data in a non-contact manner from first data transmitting means external to said cassette; said data processing means further comprising: means to write the received data into said random access memory means; second data transmitting means adapted to receive data from said random access memory means via said data processing means and to transmit this data in a non-contact manner to second data receiving means external to said cassette; and first circuit means including first coil means adapted to receive power from second circuit means including second coil means external to said cassette, with said first and second coil means acting as a transformer, and with said first circuit means serving to provide a dc voltage supply for said cassette.

Claim 19

A currency cassette having data storage means; said cassette comprising: random access memory means forming said data storage means; data processing means connected to said random access memory means; first data receiving means connected to said first data processing means to receive data in a non-contact manner from first data transmitting means external to said cassette; said data processing means further comprising: means to write the received data into said random access memory means; second data transmitting means adapted to receive data from said random access memory means via said data processing means and to transmit this data in a non-contact manner to second data receiving means external to said cassette; and first circuit means including first coil means adapted to receive power from second circuit means including second coil means external to said cassette, with said first and second coil means acting as a transformer, and with said first circuit means serving to provide a dc voltage supply for said cassette.