×

Vending machine controller and system

  • US 5,959,869 A
  • Filed: 12/03/1996
  • Issued: 09/28/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A vending-machine controller comprising:

  • a programmable processor controlling operation of the vending machine;

    a first serial port connected to the programmable processor;

    an arbitrator operable in a hunt mode to monitor an input from each of at least two serially-communicating devices, respectively, to determine that a communication session is being initiated by one of the serially-communicating devices if activity is present upon an input, and to connect the first serial port of the programmable processor to the serially-communicating device that first initiates a communication session; and

    a second serial port configured as one of a multi-drop bus interface and a VCCS bus interface for connecting the programmable processor to a multi-drop bus or a VCCS bus, respectively.

View all claims
  • 1 Assignment
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×