US5330041A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for improved coin, bill and other currency acceptance and slug or counterfeit rejection
Assignee: Crane Payment Innovations Inc
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Filing: 1992-06-15
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Granted: 1994-07-19
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Expires: 2012-06-15
Abstract
Abstract Methods and validation apparatus for achieving improved acceptance and rejection for coins, bills and other currency items. One aspect includes modifying item acceptance criteria by creating and defining three-dimensional acceptance clusters, the data for which are stored in look-up tables in memory associated with a microprocessor. A second aspect involves fraud prevention by temporarily tightening or readjusting item acceptance criteria when a potential fraud attempt is detected. A third aspect relates to minimizing the effects of counterfeit items such as slugs on the self-adjustment process for the item acceptance criteria. A final aspect relates to calculation of a relative value of the acceptance criteria in order to conserve memory space and minimize computation time.
Inventors
- 👤 Bob M. Dobbins
- 👤 Jeffrey E. Vaks
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 02:27
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07D; G07D7/00; G07D5/00; G07D5/08; G07D5/02; G07F; G07F1/00; G07F1/04; G07F1/041; G07F1/042; G07F1/044; G07D2205/00; G07D2205/001; G07D2205/0012
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 47
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of operating a money validation apparatus which utilizes an acceptance criteria having an outer limit to validate an inserted item as a genuine item, to reduce the acceptance of counterfeit items, comprising: defining an anti-cheat criteria suitable for sensing a counterfeit item which has a parameter falling close to the outer limit of the acceptance criteria; testing an item and generating characteristic data for the item; comparing the time characteristic data to the anti-cheat criteria; adjusting the acceptance criteria for the genuine item to reduce the acceptance of counterfeit items if the item characteristic data for the inserted item is within the anti-cheat criteria; and, utilizing the adjusted acceptance criteria to test a subsequently inserted item.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of operating a money validation apparatus which utilizes an acceptance criteria having an outer limit to validate an inserted item as a genuine item, to reduce the acceptance of counterfeit items, comprising: defining an anti-cheat criteria suitable for sensing a counterfeit item which has a parameter falling close to the outer limit of the acceptance criteria; testing an item and generating characteristic data for the item; comparing the time characteristic data to the anti-cheat criteria; adjusting the acceptance criteria for the genuine item to reduce the acceptance of counterfeit items if the item characteristic data for the inserted item is within the anti-cheat criteria; and, utilizing the adjusted acceptance criteria to test a subsequently inserted item.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
80 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: setting a cheat mode flag for an item type when its acceptance criteria is adjusted; clearing a cheat mode counter for that item type; incrementing the cheat mode counter when a valid item is detected and the cheat mode flag is set; clearing the cheat mode flag when the cheat mode counter reaches a predetermined threshold value; and readjusting the acceptance criteria of that item type when the cheat mode flag is cleared.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 2, wherein a subsequently tested item having characteristic data within the anti-cheat criteria causes the cheat mode counter to be cleared.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the predetermined threshold value and the anti-cheat criteria are adjustable.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 4, wherein the adjustable values are customized for special conditions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 5, wherein special conditions include environmental conditions, mechanism component characteristics, or known counterfeit item characteristics.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the apparatus validates coins and the acceptance criteria is comprised of at least one characteristic corresponding to coin diameter, coin material, or coin thickness.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: readjusting the acceptance criteria after a preset number of consecutive items of that type had characteristic data outside the anti-cheat criteria.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: readjusting the acceptance criteria when a predetermined amount of time has elapsed after the adjustment occurred.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the anti-cheat criteria corresponds to values located outside the acceptance criteria.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
126 words
A money validation apparatus having a means for comparing tested item data to item acceptance criteria having an outer limit to validate an inserted item as a genuine item, to reduce the acceptance of counterfeit items, comprising: means for defining anti-cheat criteria suitable for sensing a counterfeit item that has a parameter falling close to the outer limit of the acceptance criteria; means for testing an item and generating characteristic data; means for comparing the item characteristic data to the anti-cheat criteria; means for adjusting the acceptance criteria for the genuine item to reduce the acceptance of counterfeit items if the characteristic data for the inserted item is within the anti-cheat criteria; and means for utilizing the adjusted acceptance criteria to test a subsequently inserted item.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
126 words
A money validation apparatus having a means for comparing tested item data to item acceptance criteria having an outer limit to validate an inserted item as a genuine item, to reduce the acceptance of counterfeit items, comprising: means for defining anti-cheat criteria suitable for sensing a counterfeit item that has a parameter falling close to the outer limit of the acceptance criteria; means for testing an item and generating characteristic data; means for comparing the item characteristic data to the anti-cheat criteria; means for adjusting the acceptance criteria for the genuine item to reduce the acceptance of counterfeit items if the characteristic data for the inserted item is within the anti-cheat criteria; and means for utilizing the adjusted acceptance criteria to test a subsequently inserted item.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
94 words
The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising: means for setting a cheat mode flag corresponding to an item type when its acceptance criteria is adjusted; means for clearing a cheat mode counter for that item type; means for incrementing the cheat mode counter when a valid item of that type is detected and the cheat mode flag is set; means for clearing the cheat mode flag when the cheat mode counter reaches a predetermined threshold value; and means for readjusting the acceptance criteria for that item type when the cheat mode flag is cleared.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising: a means for readjusting the acceptance criteria after a predetermined consecutive number of items had characteristic data that was outside the acceptance criteria.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising: a means for readjusting the acceptance criteria when a predetermined amount of time elapses after the adjustment.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
153 words
A coin validation apparatus which utilizes acceptance criteria having an outer limit to validate an inserted item as a genuine coin, to reduce the acceptance of counterfeits, comprising: an inductive sensor for sensing data corresponding to at least one coin characteristic; a processing and control circuit connected to the sensor for defining anti-cheat criteria suitable for sensing a counterfeit item that has a parameter falling close to the outer limit of the acceptance criteria, for adjusting the acceptance criteria to reduce the acceptance of counterfeit items, for readjusting the acceptance criteria and for controlling system operation; a memory connected to the processing and control circuit for storing the anti-cheat criteria and the acceptance criteria; comparison circuitry for comparing sensed data from a tested item to the acceptance criteria and to the anti-cheat criteria; and gating means under control of said processing and control circuit for accepting coins whose data matches the acceptance criteria.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
153 words
A coin validation apparatus which utilizes acceptance criteria having an outer limit to validate an inserted item as a genuine coin, to reduce the acceptance of counterfeits, comprising: an inductive sensor for sensing data corresponding to at least one coin characteristic; a processing and control circuit connected to the sensor for defining anti-cheat criteria suitable for sensing a counterfeit item that has a parameter falling close to the outer limit of the acceptance criteria, for adjusting the acceptance criteria to reduce the acceptance of counterfeit items, for readjusting the acceptance criteria and for controlling system operation; a memory connected to the processing and control circuit for storing the anti-cheat criteria and the acceptance criteria; comparison circuitry for comparing sensed data from a tested item to the acceptance criteria and to the anti-cheat criteria; and gating means under control of said processing and control circuit for accepting coins whose data matches the acceptance criteria.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for operating a self-tuning money validator, which uses acceptance windows that have an outer limit to validate inserted items, to prevent tracking of the acceptance windows toward counterfeit money distributions, comprising: defining an anti-cheat window suitable for sensing counterfeit items which has a parameter falling close to the outer limit of an acceptance window for each item type; testing an item and generating characteristic data; comparing the characteristic data to the anti-cheat windows; adjusting the acceptance window for an item type to reduce the acceptance of counterfeit items if the characteristic data falls within an anti-cheat window corresponding to that item type; and using the adjusted acceptance window to validate subsequently inserted items.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for operating a self-tuning money validator, which uses acceptance windows that have an outer limit to validate inserted items, to prevent tracking of the acceptance windows toward counterfeit money distributions, comprising: defining an anti-cheat window suitable for sensing counterfeit items which has a parameter falling close to the outer limit of an acceptance window for each item type; testing an item and generating characteristic data; comparing the characteristic data to the anti-cheat windows; adjusting the acceptance window for an item type to reduce the acceptance of counterfeit items if the characteristic data falls within an anti-cheat window corresponding to that item type; and using the adjusted acceptance window to validate subsequently inserted items.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 16, further comprising: readjusting the acceptance window after a predetermined consecutive number of items of that type had characteristic data that was outside the anti-cheat window.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 16, further comprising: readjusting the acceptance window when a predetermined amount of time elapses after the acceptance window was adjusted.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 16, wherein each acceptance window has boundary data and the step of adjusting the acceptance window involves modifying the boundary data.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 16, wherein each acceptance window has a center point and the step of adjusting the acceptance window involves modifying the center point.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the anti-cheat window corresponds to a range of values located outside the acceptance window.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of operating a self-tuning coin validator which utilizes at least one acceptance window having an outer limit for each coin type to be validated, to reduce the acceptance of counterfeit coins, comprising: defining an anti-cheat window suitable for sensing counterfeit coins which has a parameter falling close to the outer limit of the acceptance criteria for each coin type; testing an item and generating characteristic data; comparing the characteristic data to the anti-cheat windows; adjusting the acceptance window of a coin type to reduce the acceptance of counterfeit items if the characteristic data falls within an anti-cheat window for that coin type; and utilizing the adjusted acceptance window to test subsequently inserted items.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of operating a self-tuning coin validator which utilizes at least one acceptance window having an outer limit for each coin type to be validated, to reduce the acceptance of counterfeit coins, comprising: defining an anti-cheat window suitable for sensing counterfeit coins which has a parameter falling close to the outer limit of the acceptance criteria for each coin type; testing an item and generating characteristic data; comparing the characteristic data to the anti-cheat windows; adjusting the acceptance window of a coin type to reduce the acceptance of counterfeit items if the characteristic data falls within an anti-cheat window for that coin type; and utilizing the adjusted acceptance window to test subsequently inserted items.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 22, further comprising: readjusting the acceptance window after a predetermined consecutive number of coins had characteristic data that was outside the anti-cheat window.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 22, further comprising: readjusting the acceptance window when a predetermined amount of time elapses after the acceptance window was adjusted.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 22, wherein each acceptance window has boundary data and the step of adjusting the acceptance window involves modifying the boundary data.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 22, wherein each acceptance window has a center point and the step of adjusting the acceptance window involves modifying the center point.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 22, wherein the anti-cheat window corresponds to a range of values located outside the acceptance window.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of operating a self-tuning banknote validator which utilizes at least one acceptance window having an outer limit for each banknote type to be validated, to reduce the acceptance of counterfeit banknotes, comprising: defining an anti-cheat window suitable for sensing counterfeit banknotes which has a parameter falling close to the outer limit of the acceptance criteria for each banknote; testing an inserted item and generating characteristic data; comparing the characteristic data to the anti-cheat windows; adjusting the acceptance window of a banknote type to reduce the acceptance of counterfeit banknotes if the characteristic data falls within an anti-cheat window for that banknote type; and utilizing the adjusted acceptance window to test subsequently inserted items.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of operating a self-tuning banknote validator which utilizes at least one acceptance window having an outer limit for each banknote type to be validated, to reduce the acceptance of counterfeit banknotes, comprising: defining an anti-cheat window suitable for sensing counterfeit banknotes which has a parameter falling close to the outer limit of the acceptance criteria for each banknote; testing an inserted item and generating characteristic data; comparing the characteristic data to the anti-cheat windows; adjusting the acceptance window of a banknote type to reduce the acceptance of counterfeit banknotes if the characteristic data falls within an anti-cheat window for that banknote type; and utilizing the adjusted acceptance window to test subsequently inserted items.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 28, further comprising: readjusting the acceptance window after a predetermined consecutive number of banknotes had characteristic data that was outside the anti-cheat window.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 28, further comprising: readjusting the acceptance window when a predetermined amount of time elapses after the acceptance window was adjusted.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 28, wherein each acceptance window has boundary data and the step of adjusting the acceptance window involves modifying the boundary data.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 28, wherein each acceptance window has a center point and the step of adjusting the acceptance window involves modifying the center point.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 28, wherein the anti-cheat window corresponds to a range of values located outside the acceptance window.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
121 words
A self-tuning coin validator, which uses coin acceptance windows having an outer limit to validate different coin types, to reduce the acceptance of counterfeit coins, comprising: means for defining an anti-cheat window for each coin type suitable for sensing counterfeit coins which has a parameter falling close to the outer limit of the acceptance window; sensor means for testing an inserted item and for generating characteristic data; comparison means for comparing the characteristic data to the anti-cheat windows; means for adjusting an acceptance window for a coin type to reduce the acceptance of counterfeit coins if the characteristic data falls within an anti-cheat window for that coin type; and means for utilizing the adjusted acceptance window to test subsequently inserted items.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
121 words
A self-tuning coin validator, which uses coin acceptance windows having an outer limit to validate different coin types, to reduce the acceptance of counterfeit coins, comprising: means for defining an anti-cheat window for each coin type suitable for sensing counterfeit coins which has a parameter falling close to the outer limit of the acceptance window; sensor means for testing an inserted item and for generating characteristic data; comparison means for comparing the characteristic data to the anti-cheat windows; means for adjusting an acceptance window for a coin type to reduce the acceptance of counterfeit coins if the characteristic data falls within an anti-cheat window for that coin type; and means for utilizing the adjusted acceptance window to test subsequently inserted items.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising: a means for readjusting the acceptance window after a predetermined consecutive number of had characteristic data outside the anti-cheat window.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising: a means for readjusting the acceptance window when a predetermined amount of time elapses after the adjustment.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
121 words
A self-tuning banknote validator, which uses banknote acceptance windows having an outer limit to validate different banknote types, to reduce the acceptance of counterfeit banknotes, comprising: means for defining an anti-cheat window for each banknote type suitable for sensing counterfeit banknotes which has a parameter falling close to the outer limit of the acceptance window; sensor means for testing an inserted item and for generating characteristic data; comparison means for comparing the characteristic data to the anti-cheat windows; means for adjusting an acceptance window for a banknote type to reduce the acceptance of counterfeit banknotes if the characteristic data falls within an anti-cheat window for that banknote type; and means for utilizing the adjusted acceptance window to test subsequently inserted items.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
121 words
A self-tuning banknote validator, which uses banknote acceptance windows having an outer limit to validate different banknote types, to reduce the acceptance of counterfeit banknotes, comprising: means for defining an anti-cheat window for each banknote type suitable for sensing counterfeit banknotes which has a parameter falling close to the outer limit of the acceptance window; sensor means for testing an inserted item and for generating characteristic data; comparison means for comparing the characteristic data to the anti-cheat windows; means for adjusting an acceptance window for a banknote type to reduce the acceptance of counterfeit banknotes if the characteristic data falls within an anti-cheat window for that banknote type; and means for utilizing the adjusted acceptance window to test subsequently inserted items.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising: a means for readjusting the acceptance window after a predetermined consecutive number of inserted items had characteristic data outside the anti-cheat window.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising: a means for readjusting the acceptance window when a predetermined amount of time elapses after the adjustment.
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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) | 1997-07-18 | 1998-01-17 | 1998-07-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-07-18 | 2002-01-17 | 2002-07-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-07-18 | 2006-01-17 | 2006-07-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |