Coin testing apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Apparatus for testing a coin having a metallic content, diameter and a thickness comprising:
- a first source of a first digital signal having a value indicative of a metallic content of a coin;
a second source of a second digital signal having a value indicative of a diameter of said coin;
a third source of a third digital signal having a value indicative of a thickness of said coin;
microprocessor-based control means for identifying said coin as being one of a plurality of known coins in response to said first, second and third digital signals, said control means including memory means for storing a plurality of digital threshold values each said threshold value being respectively indicative of a selected one of metallic content, diameter and thickness of a respective one of said known coins, said control means further including means for comparing said first, second and third digital signals to corresponding ones of said stored threshold values respectively indicative of metallic content, diameter and thickness for identifying said coin;
said memory means storing upper and lower digital threshold values indicative of metallic content for each of said known coins and defining first mutually exclusive ranges for said known coins, and said comparing means determining which of said ranges includes said value of said first digital signal;
said memory means storing upper and lower digital threshold values indicative of diameter for each of said known coins and defining second mutually exclusive ranges for said known coins, said comparing means determining which of said second ranges includes said value of said second digital signal, and said control means determining whether the first and second ranges including the values of said first and second digital signals, respectively, correspond to the same known coin;
said memory means storing upper and lower digital threshold values indicative of double thickness defining a third range for at least a predetermined one of said known coins, said control means determining whether said same known coin is the predetermined known coin, and said comparing means determining whether twice the value of said third digital signal is included in the third range for said known coin; and
input means for inputting said threshold values for storage in said memory means.
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Abstract
An apparatus for testing a coin provides first, second, and third digital signals respectively indicative of the coin'"'"'s metallic content, diameter, and thickness. A microprocessor-based control circuit identifies the coin as being one of a number of known coins in response to the digital signals. If the coin does not match any of the known coins, it is identified as a false coin, for example, a slug or foreign money.
23 Citations
15 Claims
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1. Apparatus for testing a coin having a metallic content, diameter and a thickness comprising:
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a first source of a first digital signal having a value indicative of a metallic content of a coin; a second source of a second digital signal having a value indicative of a diameter of said coin; a third source of a third digital signal having a value indicative of a thickness of said coin; microprocessor-based control means for identifying said coin as being one of a plurality of known coins in response to said first, second and third digital signals, said control means including memory means for storing a plurality of digital threshold values each said threshold value being respectively indicative of a selected one of metallic content, diameter and thickness of a respective one of said known coins, said control means further including means for comparing said first, second and third digital signals to corresponding ones of said stored threshold values respectively indicative of metallic content, diameter and thickness for identifying said coin; said memory means storing upper and lower digital threshold values indicative of metallic content for each of said known coins and defining first mutually exclusive ranges for said known coins, and said comparing means determining which of said ranges includes said value of said first digital signal; said memory means storing upper and lower digital threshold values indicative of diameter for each of said known coins and defining second mutually exclusive ranges for said known coins, said comparing means determining which of said second ranges includes said value of said second digital signal, and said control means determining whether the first and second ranges including the values of said first and second digital signals, respectively, correspond to the same known coin; said memory means storing upper and lower digital threshold values indicative of double thickness defining a third range for at least a predetermined one of said known coins, said control means determining whether said same known coin is the predetermined known coin, and said comparing means determining whether twice the value of said third digital signal is included in the third range for said known coin; and input means for inputting said threshold values for storage in said memory means.
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2. Apparatus for testing a coin having a metallic content, a diameter and a thickness comprising:
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a first source of a first digital signal having a value indicative of a metallic content of a coin; a second source of a second digital signal having a value indicative of a diameter of said coin; a third source of a third digital signal having a value indicative of a thickness of said coin; and microprocessor-based control means for identifying said coin as being one of a plurality of known coins in response to said first, second and third digital signals, said control means generating a first identification of said coin in response to said first digital signal, a second identification of said coin in response to said first identification and a selected one of said second and third digital signals, and a third identification of said coin in response to said second identification and the other of said second and third digital signals. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4)
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5. Apparatus for testing a coin having a metallic content, a diameter and a thickness comprising:
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a first source of a first digital signal having a value indicative of a metallic content of a coin; a second source of a second digital signal having a value indicative of a diameter of said coin; a third source of a third digital signal having a value indicative of a thickness of said coin; and microprocessor-based control means for identifying said coin as being one of a plurality of known coins in response to said first, second and third digital signals, said control means including memory means for storing a plurality of digital windows each being respectively indicative of a range of metallic content values for a respective one of said known coins, said control means further including means for determining which of said windows includes the value of said first digital signal. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. Apparatus for testing a coin having a metallic content, diameter and a thickness comprising:
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a first source of a first digital signal having a value indicative of a metallic content of a coin; a second source of a second digital signal having a value indicative of a diameter of said coin; a third source of a third digital signal having a value indicative of a thickness of said coin; microprocessor-based control means for identifying said coin as being one of a plurality of known coins in response to said first, second and third digital signals, said control means including memory means for storing a plurality of digital threshold values, each said threshold value being respectively indicative of a selected one of metallic content, diameter and thickness of a respective one of said known coins, said control means further including means for comparing said first, second and third digital signals to corresponding ones of said stored threshold values respectively indicative of metallic content, diameter and thickness for identifying said coin; said memory means storing upper and lower digital threshold values indicative of metallic content for each of said known coins and defining first mutually exclusive ranges for said known coins, and said comparing means determining which of said ranges includes said value of said first digital signal; said memory means storing upper and lower digital threshold values indicative of diameter for each of said known coins and defining second mutually exclusive ranges for said known coins, said comparing means determining which of said second ranges includes said value of said second digital signal, and said control means determining whether the first and second ranges including the values of said first and second digital signals, respectively, correspond to the same known coin; and input means for inputting said threshold values for storage in said memory means.
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Specification