Method and apparatus for electronically recognizing and counting coins
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United States of America Patent
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Apr 11, 1995
Grant Date -
N/A
app pub date -
Apr 16, 1993
filing date -
Apr 16, 1993
priority date (Note) -
Expired
status (Latency Note)
Importance
Abstract
A method and apparatus for recognizing and counting coins is disclosed. In one aspect, the apparatus is battery powered and includes a magnet which moves between two positions upon a coin moving along a coin path. Movement of the magnet activates a reed switch that wakes up a microprocessor controlled circuit from a low power quiescent state. The circuit is then operable to count the coin and to then take appropriate action. In another aspect, the apparatus includes a second magnet located near the coin path and opposite a second reed switch. This magnet keeps the contacts of the reed switch closed until a ferromagnetic object passes therebetween and shunts the magnetic field away from the reed switch. A photointerrupter is used to detect U.S. coin currency and other non-ferromagnetic objects not detected via the second reed switch. Thus, the apparatus can distinguish ferromagnetic objects from U.S. coin currency by the method of not detecting opening of the second reed switch, but detecting an object with the photointerrupter. Also disclosed is a method for identifying the particular type of coin moving along the coin path. Further, there is disclosed a battery powered apparatus used with a conventional coin separator to count coins.
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