EP0300781B1 - Coin discriminator - Google Patents
Coin discriminator Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0300781B1 EP0300781B1 EP88306690A EP88306690A EP0300781B1 EP 0300781 B1 EP0300781 B1 EP 0300781B1 EP 88306690 A EP88306690 A EP 88306690A EP 88306690 A EP88306690 A EP 88306690A EP 0300781 B1 EP0300781 B1 EP 0300781B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- coin
- coil
- time
- comp
- current detection
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07D—HANDLING OF COINS OR VALUABLE PAPERS, e.g. TESTING, SORTING BY DENOMINATIONS, COUNTING, DISPENSING, CHANGING OR DEPOSITING
- G07D5/00—Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of coins, e.g. for segregating coins which are unacceptable or alien to a currency
- G07D5/08—Testing the magnetic or electric properties
Definitions
- This invention relates to coin discriminators.
- the term "coin” is intended to cover coin-like items such as bogus coins, tokens and circular blanks.
- Discriminators employing one or more coils for inductively linking with the coin under test have been used. It has been proposed in Patent Specification G.B. No. 2 041 532A to subject a coil to a voltage pulse and then to monitor the decay of eddy currents produced in a coin by the pulse, in order to test the electrical characteristics of the coin. The decay signal is sampled at predetermined times and is compared with stored reference values appropriate to those times in order to determine the coin type (cf. also EP-A-0 119 000).
- a coin discriminator comprises a coin path along which a coin under test is arranged to pass, a coil means positioned adjacent to the coin path, electrical means for subjecting the coil means to a voltage pulse, eddy current detection means adapted to detect the decaying eddy currents induced in the coin by pulsing of the coil means, and monitoring means arranged to detect when the output of the eddy current detection means reaches a first predetermined level and then a second predetermined level, and comparison means for comparing at least one time measurement made by the monitoring means with reference times to determine whether or not there is a concordance between the measured time and a corresponding reference time.
- the times at which the output of the eddy current detection means reaches the first and second levels are each compared with respective reference times, and a concordance between both measured times and corresponding reference times is taken as an indication of a coin type.
- a problem with the method of G.B. 2 041 532 is that the proximity of the coin to the test coil/coils affects the magnitude of the eddy currents, and for various reasons some coins may proceed past the test coil/coils at a greater distance from the coil/coils than other coins, for example due to bouncing of the coins. This can lead the discriminator to assign an incorrect value to the coin.
- a coin discriminator comprises a coin path along which a coin under test is arranged to pass, a coil means positioned adjacent to the coin path, electrical means for subjecting the coil means to a voltage pulse, eddy current detection means adapted to detect the decaying eddy currents induced in the coin by pulsing of the coil means, and monitoring means arranged to measure the time taken for the output of the eddy current detection means to fall from a first predetermined level to a second predetermined level, and comparison means for comparing said time with a reference time to determine whether or not there is a concordance between the measured time and the reference time.
- the eddy current detection means may comprise a sampling coil which is additional to the coil means, or the coil means may itself constitute a sampling coil.
- the coil or coils are preferably arranged to be substantially critically damped.
- a single coil 1 is shown mounted in a recess in a non-magnetic support surface or wall 2 defining one side 3 of a coin passage of the discriminator.
- the coil is, for example, of diameter 2mm and is wound on a ferrite core, the axis of the coil being arranged substantially normal to the surface 3.
- FIG 2 the coil voltage of the coil 1 is shown, the decay curves (a) and (b) corresponding to voltages induced in the coil by the magnetic field which is produced by the decaying eddy currents, a coin of a conductive material being present for curve (a) but with no coin for curve (b).
- the flat top 4 to the curve is due to the saturation of the amplifier of the monitoring circuit.
- a coin may proceed along the coin passage in contact with surface 3 as coin 5, or it may be spaced from surface 3, as coin 6.
- Figure 3 shows two superimposed plots (c) and (d) of the coil voltage due to identical coins which are respectively positioned against surface 3 and away from surface 3. It will be seen that the shapes of the decay portions of the curves (c) and (d) are closely similar, but that the curve (c) represents greater induced voltages than curve (d).
- this adjustment is achieved by setting two voltage thresholds levels V1 and v2 and measuring the time T2-T1 for the coil voltage to fall from V1 to V2.
- the time T2-T1 is not significantly different for the two curves (c) and (d), but the corresponding time would be different for a coin of a different type.
- Figure 4 shows how with a window detector a rectangular pulse of length T2-T1 can be generated for the curve (c). The duration of the pulse T2-T1 is then compared with a series of stored reference values of the time difference to determine the conductivity characteristics of the coin.
- the curves of induced coil voltage will have sufficiently consistent parameters to enable the coin types to be characterised by the times T1 and T2 measured separately, the measured times T1,T2 being compared with stored reference sets of T1 and T2 to determine the coin type.
- FIG. 5 is a block circuit diagram of a second discriminator in accordance with the invention in which times T1 and T2 are separately measured.
- a microcomputer applies a drive pulse, signal A ( Figure 6), to an electronic switch 8 to pulse coil 1.
- the detector coil voltage, signal B, is amplified by amplifier 9 and the amplified signal C is compared with two reference voltage levels V1 and V2 by comparators COMP 1 and COMP 2 respectively, the voltage levels V1 and V2 being set on a potential divider.
- the microcomputer 7 incorporates a timing function and is programmed to time the occurrence of the pulse edges produced in the outputs, signals D and E, from the comparators COMP 1 and COMP 2, to provide measurements of the times T1 and T2. The microcomputer then compares the measured times T1 and T2 with stored reference sets to determine the coin type. For each coin type the reference set will comprise maximum and minimum values of T1, and maximum and minimum values of T2.
- Such discriminators are preferably used in conjunction with other discriminators which measure, for example, coin diameter and coin thickness, to provide an accurate determination of the coin type.
Abstract
Description
- This invention relates to coin discriminators. The term "coin" is intended to cover coin-like items such as bogus coins, tokens and circular blanks.
- Discriminators employing one or more coils for inductively linking with the coin under test have been used. It has been proposed in Patent Specification G.B. No. 2 041 532A to subject a coil to a voltage pulse and then to monitor the decay of eddy currents produced in a coin by the pulse, in order to test the electrical characteristics of the coin. The decay signal is sampled at predetermined times and is compared with stored reference values appropriate to those times in order to determine the coin type (cf. also EP-A-0 119 000).
- We have now realised that it is advantageous to set two voltage levels for the eddy current detection means and to measure the times at which the voltage levels are passed, and to use those times to characterise the coin. One advantage is that there is no need to use an analogue to digital converter, thereby leading to a cost saving.
- According to one aspect of the invention a coin discriminator comprises a coin path along which a coin under test is arranged to pass, a coil means positioned adjacent to the coin path, electrical means for subjecting the coil means to a voltage pulse, eddy current detection means adapted to detect the decaying eddy currents induced in the coin by pulsing of the coil means, and monitoring means arranged to detect when the output of the eddy current detection means reaches a first predetermined level and then a second predetermined level, and comparison means for comparing at least one time measurement made by the monitoring means with reference times to determine whether or not there is a concordance between the measured time and a corresponding reference time.
- Preferably the times at which the output of the eddy current detection means reaches the first and second levels are each compared with respective reference times, and a concordance between both measured times and corresponding reference times is taken as an indication of a coin type.
- A problem with the method of G.B. 2 041 532 is that the proximity of the coin to the test coil/coils affects the magnitude of the eddy currents, and for various reasons some coins may proceed past the test coil/coils at a greater distance from the coil/coils than other coins, for example due to bouncing of the coins. This can lead the discriminator to assign an incorrect value to the coin.
- According to a second aspect of the invention a coin discriminator comprises a coin path along which a coin under test is arranged to pass, a coil means positioned adjacent to the coin path, electrical means for subjecting the coil means to a voltage pulse, eddy current detection means adapted to detect the decaying eddy currents induced in the coin by pulsing of the coil means, and monitoring means arranged to measure the time taken for the output of the eddy current detection means to fall from a first predetermined level to a second predetermined level, and comparison means for comparing said time with a reference time to determine whether or not there is a concordance between the measured time and the reference time.
- As is known, the eddy current detection means may comprise a sampling coil which is additional to the coil means, or the coil means may itself constitute a sampling coil.
- The coil or coils are preferably arranged to be substantially critically damped.
- Two coin discriminators in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which:-
- Figure 1 is a cross-section through the coin passage of a first discriminator in accordance with the invention showing the single coil;
- Figure 2 is a graph showing the coil voltage against time;
- Figure 3 is an enlarged version of a graph similar to Figure 2 showing curves produced by a coin at two different distances from the coil;
- Figure 4 is a plot of the timing pulse produced by a window detector from one of the curves in Figure 3;
- Figure 5 is a block circuit diagram of a second discriminator in accordance with the invention; and
- Figure 6 shows plots of signals at various locations in the circuit of Figure 5.
- In Figure 1 a
single coil 1 is shown mounted in a recess in a non-magnetic support surface orwall 2 defining one side 3 of a coin passage of the discriminator. The coil is, for example, of diameter 2mm and is wound on a ferrite core, the axis of the coil being arranged substantially normal to the surface 3. - Only a
single coil 1 is used in this embodiment, thecoil 1 being connected both to a pulse circuit and to a monitoring circuit, not shown. - In Figure 2 the coil voltage of the
coil 1 is shown, the decay curves (a) and (b) corresponding to voltages induced in the coil by the magnetic field which is produced by the decaying eddy currents, a coin of a conductive material being present for curve (a) but with no coin for curve (b). Theflat top 4 to the curve is due to the saturation of the amplifier of the monitoring circuit. - As shown in Figure 1 a coin may proceed along the coin passage in contact with surface 3 as
coin 5, or it may be spaced from surface 3, as coin 6. Figure 3 shows two superimposed plots (c) and (d) of the coil voltage due to identical coins which are respectively positioned against surface 3 and away from surface 3. It will be seen that the shapes of the decay portions of the curves (c) and (d) are closely similar, but that the curve (c) represents greater induced voltages than curve (d). - We have appreciated that if an adjustment can be made for that difference in overall voltage level the position of the coin in relation to surface 3 will not matter to the same degree.
- In accordance with the second aspect of the invention this adjustment is achieved by setting two voltage thresholds levels V₁ and v₂ and measuring the time T₂-T₁ for the coil voltage to fall from V₁ to V₂. The time T₂-T₁ is not significantly different for the two curves (c) and (d), but the corresponding time would be different for a coin of a different type. Figure 4 shows how with a window detector a rectangular pulse of length T₂-T₁ can be generated for the curve (c). The duration of the pulse T₂-T₁ is then compared with a series of stored reference values of the time difference to determine the conductivity characteristics of the coin.
- In situations in which the coins can be kept in close proximity to the surface 3 the curves of induced coil voltage will have sufficiently consistent parameters to enable the coin types to be characterised by the times T₁ and T₂ measured separately, the measured times T₁,T₂ being compared with stored reference sets of T₁ and T₂ to determine the coin type.
- Figure 5 is a block circuit diagram of a second discriminator in accordance with the invention in which times T₁ and T₂ are separately measured.
- A microcomputer applies a drive pulse, signal A (Figure 6), to an
electronic switch 8 topulse coil 1. The detector coil voltage, signal B, is amplified by amplifier 9 and the amplified signal C is compared with two reference voltage levels V₁ and V₂ bycomparators COMP 1 andCOMP 2 respectively, the voltage levels V₁ and V₂ being set on a potential divider. - The
microcomputer 7 incorporates a timing function and is programmed to time the occurrence of the pulse edges produced in the outputs, signals D and E, from thecomparators COMP 1 andCOMP 2, to provide measurements of the times T₁ and T₂. The microcomputer then compares the measured times T₁ and T₂ with stored reference sets to determine the coin type. For each coin type the reference set will comprise maximum and minimum values of T₁, and maximum and minimum values of T₂. - Such discriminators are preferably used in conjunction with other discriminators which measure, for example, coin diameter and coin thickness, to provide an accurate determination of the coin type.
Claims (4)
- A coin discriminator comprising a coin path (3) along which a coin (5) under test is arranged to pass, a coil means (1) positioned adjacent to the coin path, electrical means (8) for subjecting the coil means to a voltage pulse, and eddy current detection means (9) adapted to detect the decaying eddy currents induced in the coin by pulsing of the coil means, characterised by monitoring means (COMP 1, COMP 2, 7) arranged to detect when the output of the eddy current detection means reaches a first predetermined level (V₁) and then a second predetermined level (V₂), and comparison means (7) for comparing at least one time measurement (T₁,T₂) made by the monitoring means with reference times to determine whether or not there is a concordance between the measured time and a corresponding reference time.
- A coin discriminator as claimed in claim 1 in which the times at which the output of the eddy current detection means reaches the first and second levels (V₁,V₂) are each compared with respective reference times, and a concordance between both measured times (T₁,T₂) and corresponding reference times is taken as an indication of a coin type.
- A coin discriminator comprising a coin path (3) along which a coin (5) under test is arranged to pass, a coil means (1) positioned adjacent to the coin path, electrical means (8) for subjecting the coil means to a voltage pulse, and eddy current detection means (9) adapted to detect the decaying eddy currents induced in the coin by pulsing of the coil means, characterised by monitoring means (COMP 1, COMP 2, 7) arranged to measure the time taken (T₂-T₁) for the output of the eddy current detection means to fall from a first predetermined level (V₁) to a second predetermined level (V₂), and comparison means for comparing said time (T₂-T₁) with a reference time to determine whether or not there is a concordance between the measured time and the reference time.
- A coin discriminator as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the coil means is arranged to be substantially critically damped.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AT88306690T ATE83571T1 (en) | 1987-07-23 | 1988-07-21 | COIN DISCRIMINATOR. |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB8717493 | 1987-07-23 | ||
GB878717493A GB8717493D0 (en) | 1987-07-23 | 1987-07-23 | Coin discriminator |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0300781A2 EP0300781A2 (en) | 1989-01-25 |
EP0300781A3 EP0300781A3 (en) | 1990-01-31 |
EP0300781B1 true EP0300781B1 (en) | 1992-12-16 |
Family
ID=10621190
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP88306690A Expired - Lifetime EP0300781B1 (en) | 1987-07-23 | 1988-07-21 | Coin discriminator |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0300781B1 (en) |
AT (1) | ATE83571T1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE3876708T2 (en) |
GB (1) | GB8717493D0 (en) |
Cited By (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO1991017527A1 (en) * | 1990-05-10 | 1991-11-14 | Mars Incorporated | Method and apparatus for testing coins |
EP0537251A1 (en) * | 1990-07-05 | 1993-04-21 | Microsystem Controls Pty Ltd | Coin validator. |
AU660418B2 (en) * | 1990-07-05 | 1995-06-29 | Microsystem Controls Pty Ltd | Coin validator |
AU683972B2 (en) * | 1993-12-17 | 1997-11-27 | Microsystem Controls Pty Ltd | Coin discriminator |
US5988348A (en) | 1996-06-28 | 1999-11-23 | Coinstar, Inc. | Coin discrimination apparatus and method |
US6047808A (en) * | 1996-03-07 | 2000-04-11 | Coinstar, Inc. | Coin sensing apparatus and method |
US6056104A (en) * | 1996-06-28 | 2000-05-02 | Coinstar, Inc. | Coin sensing apparatus and method |
US6766892B2 (en) | 1996-06-28 | 2004-07-27 | Coinstar, Inc. | Coin discrimination apparatus and method |
US8967361B2 (en) | 2013-02-27 | 2015-03-03 | Outerwall Inc. | Coin counting and sorting machines |
US9022841B2 (en) | 2013-05-08 | 2015-05-05 | Outerwall Inc. | Coin counting and/or sorting machines and associated systems and methods |
US9036890B2 (en) | 2012-06-05 | 2015-05-19 | Outerwall Inc. | Optical coin discrimination systems and methods for use with consumer-operated kiosks and the like |
US9443367B2 (en) | 2014-01-17 | 2016-09-13 | Outerwall Inc. | Digital image coin discrimination for use with consumer-operated kiosks and the like |
Families Citing this family (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE4224204C2 (en) * | 1992-07-22 | 1998-08-06 | Nsm Ag | Device for determining the authenticity of coins |
DE4339543C2 (en) * | 1993-11-19 | 1998-07-23 | Nat Rejectors Gmbh | Procedure for checking coins |
AU2003900636A0 (en) * | 2003-02-13 | 2003-02-27 | Microsystem Controls Pty Ltd | Identification of coins, including magnetic characteristics |
CN103971457A (en) * | 2013-01-24 | 2014-08-06 | 鸿富锦精密工业(武汉)有限公司 | Commodity dropping detecting system |
Family Cites Families (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2041532B (en) * | 1979-01-31 | 1983-05-11 | Plessey Co Ltd | Metal detector |
GB8303587D0 (en) * | 1983-02-09 | 1983-03-16 | Chapman Cash Processing Ltd | Coin discriminating apparatus |
GB2135492B (en) * | 1983-02-09 | 1986-06-04 | Chapman Cash Processing Limite | Coin recognition |
-
1987
- 1987-07-23 GB GB878717493A patent/GB8717493D0/en active Pending
-
1988
- 1988-07-21 DE DE8888306690T patent/DE3876708T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1988-07-21 EP EP88306690A patent/EP0300781B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1988-07-21 AT AT88306690T patent/ATE83571T1/en active
Cited By (16)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO1991017527A1 (en) * | 1990-05-10 | 1991-11-14 | Mars Incorporated | Method and apparatus for testing coins |
US5341908A (en) * | 1990-05-10 | 1994-08-30 | Mars Incorporated | Method and apparatus for testing coins |
EP0537251A1 (en) * | 1990-07-05 | 1993-04-21 | Microsystem Controls Pty Ltd | Coin validator. |
AU660418B2 (en) * | 1990-07-05 | 1995-06-29 | Microsystem Controls Pty Ltd | Coin validator |
US5476168A (en) * | 1990-07-05 | 1995-12-19 | Microsystem Controls Pty Ltd | Coin validator |
AU683972B2 (en) * | 1993-12-17 | 1997-11-27 | Microsystem Controls Pty Ltd | Coin discriminator |
US5833042A (en) * | 1993-12-17 | 1998-11-10 | Microsystem Controls Pty Ltd | Coin discriminator |
US6047808A (en) * | 1996-03-07 | 2000-04-11 | Coinstar, Inc. | Coin sensing apparatus and method |
US5988348A (en) | 1996-06-28 | 1999-11-23 | Coinstar, Inc. | Coin discrimination apparatus and method |
US6056104A (en) * | 1996-06-28 | 2000-05-02 | Coinstar, Inc. | Coin sensing apparatus and method |
US6766892B2 (en) | 1996-06-28 | 2004-07-27 | Coinstar, Inc. | Coin discrimination apparatus and method |
US9036890B2 (en) | 2012-06-05 | 2015-05-19 | Outerwall Inc. | Optical coin discrimination systems and methods for use with consumer-operated kiosks and the like |
US9594982B2 (en) | 2012-06-05 | 2017-03-14 | Coinstar, Llc | Optical coin discrimination systems and methods for use with consumer-operated kiosks and the like |
US8967361B2 (en) | 2013-02-27 | 2015-03-03 | Outerwall Inc. | Coin counting and sorting machines |
US9022841B2 (en) | 2013-05-08 | 2015-05-05 | Outerwall Inc. | Coin counting and/or sorting machines and associated systems and methods |
US9443367B2 (en) | 2014-01-17 | 2016-09-13 | Outerwall Inc. | Digital image coin discrimination for use with consumer-operated kiosks and the like |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
ATE83571T1 (en) | 1993-01-15 |
DE3876708D1 (en) | 1993-01-28 |
DE3876708T2 (en) | 1993-04-22 |
EP0300781A2 (en) | 1989-01-25 |
EP0300781A3 (en) | 1990-01-31 |
GB8717493D0 (en) | 1987-08-26 |
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