JPS61235995A - Coin selector - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a coin sorting device for detecting the authenticity and denomination of coins.

[Conventional technology and its problems]

There is believed to be a significant need for low power coin sorting devices for use in devices such as parking meters, telephones, and vending machines. Many conventional coin sorting devices are mechanical in nature.

There are only a few known electronic devices with reasonable reliability. Traditional electronic devices are often located near power sources, so power consumption has not been a major concern, but there are some locations, such as parking lots, where external power is not available. Therefore, there is a need to develop low power, high precision and extremely rugged devices. Since no conventional device exists that meets these conditions, a need has arisen to invent a device that meets these conditions.

Although the use of piezoelectric elements for coin sorting is not common, a piezoelectric detector used to detect the presence or absence of coins is described in US Pat. No. 3,776,338. The use of rudimentary buffer pads covering the surface of piezoelectric elements has also been described. Another mention of the use of piezoelectric elements is “Poly (vinylidene fluoride) used in piezoelectric coin detectors.
luoride Used For Piez.

Electric Co1n 5 sensors ) J
It can also be found in a paper titled. This paper, written by G.R. Crane of Bell Laboratories, was published in the IEEE report on sound and supersonic speeds.
EEE Transactions on 5o
5 of nics and Ultrasonics)
Volume U25, No. 6 (November 1978), 393-395
posted on the page.

Some prior art systems employ more than one step process to detect coins. For example, U.S. Patent No. 4,082
, No. 099 describes a two-step coin sorting method.

The first stage is coin detection by a metal sensor. Second
The second step utilizes a photoelectric device.

Similarly, US Pat. No. 4,436,196 discloses another two-stage test and describes the use of LEDs and a microprocessor. Also, U.S. Patent No. 3,211゜26
No. 7 describes a double test for determining the weight and diameter of coins.

Some prior art discusses the use of other optoelectronic devices to detect the presence and/or area and/or diameter of coins. Specifically, U.S. Patent No. 3.978,9
No. 62, No. 4.249,648, No. 4.267゜91
No. 6 and No. 4.474,281 contain L used to detect coin parameters such as velocity, area, diameter, etc.
ED arrays are described. Other patents believed to be important in connection with the photoelectric detection scheme of the present invention are US Pat. No. 3,939.954, US Pat. No. 4,436.103 and US Pat. To the best of the inventor's knowledge, none of the above-mentioned or previously known prior art documents has the same structure or function as the present invention described below.

[Means for solving problems]

Briefly described by way of example, the invention comprises a coin sorting device for use in, for example, parking meters, telephones, vending machines, and similar devices. The coin sorting device comprises a piezoelectric transducer for measuring the mass of the coin and preferably a photodetector for detecting the area of the coin. The device's circuitry begins operation from a low power hibernation state. First, a coin is inserted into the meter. Actuation of the coin translation handle activates the activation switch to generate a activation pulse. Following the movement of the handle, the coin is further placed into the chute and falls onto the piezoelectric transducer.

For example, a foamed urethane pad covers the piezoelectric transducer to dampen vibrations caused by coin strikes.

If the shock to the piezoelectric transducer generates a sufficiently large pulse, the infrared LED in the photodetector portion of the circuit is turned on by the controlling microprocessor. Preferably, the photodetector portion of the circuit comprises a photodiode illuminated by an infrared LED. A microprocessor circuit digitally samples the output of the photodiode to determine the point of minimum illumination (point of maximum occlusion) that represents the net area of the coin. Thus, the photodetector is able to distinguish between perforated counterfeits and genuine coins of the same diameter. The signal generated by the coin hitting the piezoelectric transducer is integrated and then sampled by the microprocessor to determine the mass of the coin. The microprocessor preferably first uses the information generated by the photodetector to determine whether the coin is within acceptable area limits.

If this photodetection test passes, the mass information from the piezoelectric transducer is also compared to the corresponding limits as a double accuracy check. The coin sorting device automatically returns to the dormant state after finishing the sorting process. Although the invention is preferably applied to parking meters, it could also be applied to other applications such as telephones and vending machines.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Throughout the description, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding elements in the respective figures illustrating the embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit 10 of a device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 3 to 6 are diagrams showing the structure thereof. Initially, circuit 10 is in a low power sleep state. The user starts the device by inserting a coin 12 into the coin slot 81 shown in FIG. 6A, then moves the translation handle 98 to the right to move the coin inlet transfer block 96 shown in FIG. It collides with the limit type starting switch 44 shown in the figure to activate this starting switch 44. At the same time, coin 12 is in block 96
The box-shaped housing 102 allows the coin to be moved to the edge of the base 114 of the coin inlet frame portion 80 shown in FIG. 6J, and from there drop into the coin chute 52. Enable switch 44 places circuit 10 in a low power pre-operation state for at most about 500 milliseconds. During the 500 ms pre-movement,
Microprocessor 20 is preconditioned to wait for a signal from piezoelectric transducer 14. Also, the 32.768 KHz internal clock 33 controlled by the crystal 34 is automatically turned off and a faster but less accurate 400 KHz clock 35 is activated in its place. The clock rate of 400KHz clock 35 is
Established by resistor/capacitance networks 40 and 42 corresponding to resistor R11 and capacitor C4 of FIG. When the coin 12 strikes the piezoelectric transducer 14, the light emitting diodes (LEDs) of the LED drive circuit 26 are turned on in advance of the coin 12. If no coin strikes piezoelectric transducer 14 within 500 milliseconds, circuit 10 automatically turns off. The output of the piezoelectric transducer 14 is integrated by an amplifier/integrator 16 and the output is provided to an analog/digital converter 18. The output of analog/digital converter 18 is provided to microprocessor 20. The LED drive circuit 26 illuminates a photodetector 28 and the output produced by the photodetector 28 is amplified by an amplifier 30 and provided to the analog/digital converter 18 as a second input thereto.

Activation of piezoelectric transducer 14 generates an enable signal to voltage regulator 22, which lowers voltage v4 to lower voltage v3.
to a voltage v, (5 volts) high enough to drive the light emitting diode D4. Voltage regulator 22 also sends a "low battery" signal back to microprocessor 20 to indicate if the power supply is dropping to a low voltage.

The coin chute 52 shown in FIG.
It is configured to pass between 8 and 8. Microprocessor 20 very briefly monitors the output from analog-to-digital converter 18 to determine whether coin 12 has caused a maximum blockage of light between LED drive circuit 26 and photodetector 28. Sample at intervals.

Coin identification/time programming storage circuit 32 activates microprocessor 20 when a coin 12 of unknown denomination is identified.
programmed to assist. The output of microprocessor 20 serves as an input to LCD drive circuit 36, which drives the LCD and flags of circuit 38.

Note that the circuit 10 may be initialized by manually operating the time clear switch 46.

FIG. 2 is a detailed diagram of one preferred embodiment of the invention showing all important details of circuit 10. See also the parts list below detailing electrical component values and manufacturers.

, el List A, ■Niyikdan No. 1 Rigo No. 1 Manufacturer De-Shuu U
I TLC27M4AIM Texas Instruments) Ciments Operational Amplifier U 2
TLC5411N Texas Instruments A/D Converter U 3
X2443PI Xior
NOVRAMU 4 C0
P324CN Nashi 3-Nal Semiconductor Microphone Ubu ■Sefusa U 7 MM5
483N t'tw Burning Semiconductor LCD F Driver U 8 RV4
193NB k*t:t
54 Separator B1 Capacitor Nitan No. 1 ■-More C1100pf Polystyrene +2.5%G2
0.1 μf Mono CD Bypass C3100pf
DM mica 5%C40゜047 μf poly+
5%C50゜1μf Mono CD Bypass C682pf DM Mica 5%C7470
pf DM mica 5%C850pf D
M mica 5%C950pf DM mica
5%CIO470μf6.3V electrolytic C1l 56pf DM mica 5%C,
5% to Carbon R210 1/4W Carbon R320M5% 1/4W Carbon R410M5% 1/4W Carbon R510KI% RN55[j Type Liver R640
1% RM550 Type MPR71M5% 1
/4W Carbon R81805% 1/4W Carbon R94°7K 5% 1/4W Carbon R104°7K
5% 1/4W Carbon R11IM 5% 1
/4W Carbon R1215K 5% 1/4W Carbon R
131M 5% 1/4W Carbon R14220K
5% 1/4W Carbon R1520M 5% 1/4
W Carbon R164,7K 5% 1/4W Carbon R1
7360K 5% 1/4W Carbon R1851, IK
1% RN550 Type MPR1916,9
K 1% RN55D type hardness, soil ■ plate Masu Wataru Li Masu No. 1 de-plate L 1 300MH inductor, 1/4 style, molded D 2 H5CH100I diode D3
HSC old 001 diode D 4 LD
242-2 Lt! D, Siemens D5 5
FH206 photodiode, Siemens Ql 2
N3906) Transistor Q2 2N3906
) Transistor Q3 2N4401 )
Transistor or LCDI t! xcelix4320 - Xcel Technology, 12PQ-0, 4 Digit Display FIG. 3 shows a coin passing through the coin chute 48. After the coin is inserted into the coin slot 81, it falls into the chute 52 and collides with the urethane foam cushioning material 50. The impact of the coin 12 is softened by the shock absorber 50 and transmitted to the piezoelectric transducer 14. The cushioning material 50 is Rogers
Boron made by Corporation (FORON) Ilh
Preferably, it is formed from urethane foam, such as 4701. The signal produced by piezoelectric transducer 14 is integrated by circuit 10 of FIG. 1, resulting in an output proportional to the mass of coin 12. By strictly controlling the fall of the coin 12 over a predetermined, constant distance, highly reproducible results can be accurately generated. Therefore,
The coin 12 falling down the chute 52 always exerts the same impulse or impact on the piezoelectric transducer 14. Integration of the impulse or pulse signal always produces the same result representing the mass of the coin 12. The piezoelectric transducer 14 is preferably positioned at an angle with respect to the fall of the coin 12 so that the coin 12 advances along the trajectory.

The signals output from piezoelectric transducer 14 are illustrated by curves 67 and 68 in the graph of FIG. 5A. Curve 67 is PvC
It is directly proportional to the impact generated by the dime 12 hitting the buffer 50. Without the cushioning material 50, this impact curve 67 would not be as smooth as it is.

After the coin 12 rolls down, the curve 67 returns to a straight line.

Curve 68 shows the impact of 25 cents 12 for comparison. The peak pulse of voltage produced by the impact of the quarter coin 12 is approximately 8 volts. The 8 volt signal produced by piezoelectric transducer 14 represents the impulse, ie, the momentum of quarter 12.

The signal represented by curve 67 or 68 acts as an input to amplifier/integrator 16 formed by operational amplifier U1, resistor R4, and capacitor C1 of FIG. The output of amplifier/integrator 16 is shown as waveforms 70 and 72 in FIG. 5B. Waveform 70 is 25 cent coin 1
This is the integrated output of the pulses generated by the falling of 2. Waveform 72 is the integrated output of the pulse formed by the falling dime 12. Since the integral value of the pulse, that is, the momentum of the coin, is proportional to the mass, the waveforms 70 and 72 are
It is clear that these characteristics represent the masses of the 5 cent and 10 cent coins 12, respectively.

Analog/digital converter 18 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2
is the amplifier/integrator 1 under the control of the microprocessor 20
The output waveform 70 or 72 from 6 is sampled every 100 microseconds and the peak voltage (P) is stored in memory. When the peak voltage P exceeds the minimum threshold, indicating that the coin is believed to be specie, the microprocessor 20
Prepare to turn on the ED drive circuit 26. However, before actually turning on light emitting diode D4, microprocessor 20 samples the output of amplifier 30 of photodetector 28 and stores that value in storage as voltage v0. Microprocessor 20 then supplies current to infrared light emitting diode D4 and begins sampling the output voltage of photodetector D5, which is amplified by amplifier 30.

As shown in FIG. 3, after passing through the piezoelectric transducer 14, the coin 12 further rolls within the chute 52 and falls near the photodetector area 54. FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating coin 12 as it passes through photodetector area 54. FIG. The infrared beam 56 generated by the light emitting diode D4 illuminates the collimating lens 58. Collimated infrared beam 60 illuminates the path of coin 12. A collimated infrared beam 60 that is not blocked by the coin 12 is incident on a converging lens 62, and a convergent infrared beam 64 generated by the converging lens 62 is incident on a photodetector D5. Centerline 66 indicates the relative alignment of coin 12 with the elements described above.

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view detailing how the coin 12 blocks the collimated infrared beam 60. Fourth
The coin 12 shown in the middle of Figure B is in a position that blocks the most of the collimated infrared beam 60. At this time, the maximum amount of collimated infrared beam 60 is blocked by coin 12, and the minimum amount of focused infrared beam 64 is incident on photodetector (photodiode) D5. The output of photodiode D5 is sampled at very short intervals by microprocessor 20 to determine the point of minimum signal output that corresponds to the maximum coin blocking position of collimated infrared beam 60.

Two representative optically generated waveforms 74 and 76 are shown in Figure 5C. Waveform 74 is 25 cent coin 1
Corresponding to the voltage signal generated by the passage of 2, the waveform 76
represents the signal generated by the passing of a dime 12. The diameter of the 25 cent coin 12 is the diameter of the 12 cent coin.
Because it is larger, the quarter coin 12 blocks more light than the smaller ten cent coin. Therefore, waveform 74 representing a dime exhibits more light blocking and produces a larger voltage change on the output of amplifier 30, so that the peak of waveform 74 is higher than waveform 74 representing a dime.
greater than the peak of 6. The output of amplifier 30 is further sampled by analog-to-digital converter 18 under control of microprocessor 20, which stores the maximum voltage VD and minimum voltage V in a memory device.

The microprocessor 20 then calculates the ratio VD
-V.

The ratio A represents the surface area of the coin 12, and the photodiode D
4 LED strength, photodiode offset current,
or is invariant to changes in the velocity of the coin 12 as it passes through the collimating lens 58 and the converging lens 62. The ratio A and the output peak voltage P from amplifier/integrator 16 are compared to values within a tolerance range stored in coin identification/time programming storage circuit 32. If a match is found within a reasonable small tolerance, the coin 12 is identified as specie and accepted. If no match is found, the coin is identified as counterfeit.According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the coin 12 falls into the coin box regardless of its authenticity; however, in another embodiment, the coin 12 falls into the coin box. Coins can also be rejected as counterfeit and returned to the user.

Microprocessor 20 and its associated electronics are normally in a dormant state during which circuit 10 draws a minimal amount of current vll from the battery.

VD is sufficient to drive the LCD and flag display circuit 38, but insufficient to drive light emitting diode D4. When in hibernation, microprocessor 2
0 is 32. ．． It is controlled by a 768 KHz crystal controlled clock 33. The 32.768 KHz clock rate is internally divided by microprocessor 20 to provide precise timing pulses to internal circuitry. During the sleep state, the remaining time on the meter is displayed by the LCD and flag display circuit 38, details of which are shown in Figures 6H and 6R. The digital output of circuit 10 is
For example, it is updated every minute until the time limit determined by the number of coins inserted into the parking meter has expired. The liquid crystal red flag 120 is activated to indicate a "time out" condition. Yellow flag 122 is preferably used as a time-over function in some meters to indicate that circuit 10 has reached zero time for the parking meter. In that case, the red flag 120 indicates the time over limit (e.g. minus 2
used to indicate the end of time). In the preferred embodiment, it is possible to count down to minus 9 hours and 59 minutes. In meters without a time over function, when the circuit 10 passes through zero minutes, the yellow flag 122 turns on very momentarily, then the red flag 120 turns on, and the LCD display 124 shows the time in the negative direction. Count as a number. Although the above operation is typical of the application of the present invention in the United States, in foreign countries such as the United Kingdom, it is assumed that the yellow flag 122 is turned on between meter zero time and the time over limit. It will be done. After the time over limit is reached, a red flag 120 is turned on to indicate a more serious violation condition.

Since the circuit 10 is capable of measuring up to minus 9 hours and 59 minutes of overtime by means of the LCD display 124, it is believed possible to issue a parking ticket that is directly proportional to the amount of overtime actually incurred.

The internal and external mechanical parts of the invention are shown in Figures 6A to 6■.
It is shown in detail in the figure. A parking meter housing 78, shown in the sixth figure, contains all of the mechanical and electrical components. Coin entrance frame section 8 shown in Figure 6J
0 is the first mechanical element that the user uses when inserting the coin 12 into the parking meter 10. The coin slot 81 is connected to the coin chute 52 as shown in FIG.
Communicate with. Chute 52 is formed by a pair of symmetrical frame pieces 82 (see Figure 6E). As shown in FIG. 6D, the frame piece 82 has an outer track portion 85.
and 87. As shown in FIG. 6E, the opening 84 in the frame piece 82 is positioned perpendicular to the path of the chute 52. Chute 52 comprises two regions: a piezoelectric transducer region 52 and a photodetector region 54. As shown in FIG. 6D, an inner housing 86 for the photodiode (photodetector) 28 and another inner housing 88 for the LED drive circuit 26 are connected to the coin 1.
2 are placed opposite each other on opposite sides of the aperture 84 so as to scan the path of the coin as it falls through the photodetector area 54 of the chute 52.

As shown in FIG. 6C, the piezoelectric element holding bracket 94 is provided upstream of the opening 84 and is positioned to receive the piezoelectric transducer 14 and the foamed urethane cushioning material 50. 6th
A trajectory damper 93, shown in Figure C, is used to minimize the springiness of the coin 12 as it rolls down the piezoelectric transducer area 52 and photodetector area 54 of the chute. A bracket that supports the piezoelectric transducer 14 and the buffer material 50 is attached to the main frame 97. Rate plate bracket 95 shown in FIG. 6B
is similarly attached to main frame 97 and supports a conventional rate card. Rate cards are not shown as they do not assist in further understanding the invention. A return spring 99 (see FIG. 6B) attached to the coin translation box 90 returns the flange 109 to the home position. The return spring 99 also serves to hold the coin translation box 9o away from the limit-type activation switch 44 until the translation handle 98 is operated. As shown in FIG. 6D, a bracket 101 attached to main frame 97 supports outer track sections 85 and 87. As shown in Figure 6c, the circuit board bracket l-
103 attaches an electronic circuit board 107 to the back of the device. Electronic circuit board 107 contains most of the active components of circuit 10 of the present invention, including microprocessor 20. LCD and flag display circuit 38 is attached to the device by spacer 105.

Formed coin inlet transfer block 96 is shown in detail in FIG. 6F. The transfer block 96 each includes a translation handle 98, a flange 109, an extension 100, and a pair of plates forming a box-like housing 102 for translating the coin 12. Flange 109 closes chute 52 during translation after the coin has been inserted.

Translating housing 102 begins dropping coins 12 into chute 52 in response to manipulation of translation handle 98 .

Coin entry frame section 80 is shown in more detail in Figure 6G. Handle slot 106 receives extension 100 of coin transfer block 96.

As the coin transfer block 96 moves along the handle slot 106, the translating box-shaped housing 102 is moved to a position that causes the coins 12 to fall from the coin slot opening 81 into the chute 52. The coin entrance frame part 80 is
A rain cover portion 10 is provided to shield the coin slot 81 and the translation handle 98 from rain, snow and other influences. The tapered base 114 of the entrance frame portion 80 is formed to center the coin 12 before falling into the chute 52. base 114
The parallel grid openings 112 allow moisture to pass through the coin inlet frame portion 80 without damaging the chute 52.
12 increases the resistance of the device 10 of the present invention by preventing the liquid from entering the coin measuring area consisting of a wire or the like in the event that an unscrupulous person injects liquid in an attempt to upset the internal mechanism. enhance

Parking meter 10 which is a preferred embodiment of the present invention
The operation of is summarized as follows. First, assume that the meter time is zero and therefore the meter starts in a low power sleep state.

In such a situation, the red flag 120 is considered to be lit. Starting under the above assumptions, the user first inserts the coin 12 into the coin slot 81. The coin 12 is then captured by the box-shaped housing 102 of the coin inlet transfer block 96. When the user then pushes the translation handle 98 along the length of the handle slot 106, the coin 12 falls off the shelf formed by the tapered base 114 and begins to fall down the chute 52. Movement of the translation handle 98 causes the transfer block 96 to also actuate the activation switch 44 so that the circuit 10 enters the pre-operation state from the low power sleep state.

In the pre-operating state, the microprocessor 20 operates from a slow 32°768 KHz clock 33 to a high frequency 40 clock.
Switch to 0KHz clock 35. The circuit 10 remains in the pre-operating state for 500 milliseconds and returns to the dormant state if no signal is generated by the piezoelectric transducer 14. The coin 12 then strikes a PvC buffer 50 covering the piezoelectric transducer 14. The impact of coin 12 on piezoelectric transducer 14 produces an impact waveform similar to curves 67 and 68 in FIG. 5A.

Shock waveform 67 or 68 is integrated by amplifier/integrator 16 and sampled by analog/digital converter 18 . The maximum value of the integral waveform (70 or 72 in FIG. 5B) is stored by microprocessor 20 in memory as voltage P. The integral signal produced by the coin 12 impacting the piezoelectric transducer 14 is directly proportional to the mass of the coin. If voltage P is greater than the minimum threshold, microprocessor 20 puts circuit 10 into a fully operational state. Next, 1 coin
2 is passed through collimated infrared beam 60 to produce an output signal similar to waveforms 74 and 76 of FIG. 5C. The troughs of optically generated waveforms 74 and 76 represent the net cross-sectional area of coin 12.

Therefore, it is thought that a coin with a hole, such as a silver dime, generates a different waveform than a coin without a hole. The output from photodiode D5 of photodetector 28 is sampled by analog/digital converter 18 and its minimum value is also stored by microprocessor 20. The stored value of the minimum value is converted to the aforementioned ratio A as follows.

VD-V.

The light area ratio A, which represents the net cross-sectional area of the coin 12, is compared to an acceptable ratio A stored in the coin identification/time programming storage circuit 32. If ratio A is an unacceptable value, the coin 12 is rejected by sending it to the coin box or through the reject coin chute. However, if ratio A is acceptable, microprocessor 20 compares the signal P representing the maximum value of integral waveform 70 or 72 shown in FIG. 5B. If the integral signal P is within the tolerance range stored in the coin identification/time programming storage circuit 32, the coin 12 is ultimately considered a specie and is routed to the coin box. Coins 12 that fail the integral test are either sent to a coin box and held there, or sent to a rejected coin chute and returned to the user.

Once the coin 12 has passed both the area ratio test and the integral test, the microprocessor 20 instructs the LCD drive circuit 36 to cause the LCD display 124 to digitally display the amount of time available on the meter.

When more valid coins 12 are placed in parking meter 10, microprocessor 20 registers more time on LCD display 124. Parking meter 10 is 32
．． As we count down the control of the second clock 33 operating at a clock rate of 768kHz, the LCD
The time displayed on the display section 124 decreases. When the display reaches a certain minimum value, for example zero, a yellow flag 122 is activated.

If the meter continues to count time even after it passes zero,
A red flag 120 is activated when the overtime limit is reached. The preferred device has the ability to track overtime up to 9 hours and 59 minutes. On average, it takes approximately 300 milliseconds from the time the coin 12 hits the piezoelectric transducer 14 until the circuit returns to rest.

Above, the case where the circuit 10 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is applied to a parking meter has been described.

However, the device 10 for basic coin sorting could also be used for other applications.

For example, the coin sorting machine may be used in a public telephone 126 as shown in FIG. 7A, or in a conventional vending machine 128 as shown in FIG. 7B.

The coin sorting device 10 described in detail above has several significant advantages over the prior art. First, the amount of power consumed is negligible because the device is in a high power operating state for only a short period of time. Second, by eliminating many of the mechanical parts associated with conventional parking meters, etc., the reliability of the parking meter can be significantly improved since there are fewer parts that wear out. Third, because many of the components are formed from integrable electronic elements, they can be produced in large quantities, significantly reducing costs.

Fourth, the device is extremely accurate because it is controlled by a highly reliable frequency reference. Finally, since the device is capable of sorting coins for authenticity with a high degree of accuracy, the coin sorting capacity is believed to be significantly higher than conventional mechanical coin sorting devices.

There are several configurations of embodiments of the invention that may be modified in accordance with the teachings of the invention. For example, although the preferred embodiment of the invention described above uses activation switch 44 to switch the device from a dormant state to an operating state, activation switch 44
It is also possible to omit the piezoelectric transducer 4 and use the pulse signal generated by the piezoelectric transducer 14 as the activation signal. In other words, the shock signal generated by the coin 12 functions to trigger the microprocessor 20 and the coin causes the piezoelectric transducer 14 to actuate the microprocessor 20.
It electrically measures the collision with the light emitting diode D.
It serves two functions: the function of turning on 4.

The coin sorting device 10 of the above embodiments may be associated with a coin rejection chute that operates to return unaccepted coins to the user in a conventional manner.

Although the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the structure and function of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as a whole.

〔Effect of the invention〕

Since the present invention is configured as described above, the authenticity of coins can be determined with high accuracy despite low power consumption, and the occurrence of failures can be reduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
2 is a detailed circuit diagram of a preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the coin chute showing the coin hitting the piezoelectric transducer; and FIG. 4A is the area of the coin. FIG. 4B is a diagram showing how a coin blocks the light of the optical system shown in FIG. 4A.
Figure 5A shows the waveforms of two different signals generated when different coins hit the piezoelectric transducer, and Figure 5B shows the integral values of the signals shown in Figure 5A for two different denominations of coins. FIG. 5C is a diagram showing the signals output from the photoelectric coin area measuring system of FIGS. 4A and 4B for coins of two different denominations, and FIG. 6A is a diagram showing the assembled coin area measurement system to which the present invention is applied. Figure 6B is a front view of the parking meter in the current condition, Figure 6B is a front view of the parking meter in Figure 6A with the meter hood removed, Figure 6C is the front view of the parking meter in Figure 6A with the meter hood removed.
FIG. 6D is a top view of the parking meter assembly shown in FIG. 6B; FIG. 6E is a side view of one of the track plates defining the coin chute; FIG. Figure 6F is a perspective view of the coin entrance transfer block, Figure 6G is a perspective view of the coin entrance frame, Figure 6H is a front view of the LCD flag assembly, and Figure 6I is a side view of the LCD flag assembly of Figure 6H. , Figure 6J is an exploded view of the coin transfer box and lever combination, Figure 6 is an exploded view showing how a replaceable electronic module is housed in the housing of a parking meter, and Figure 7A is an exploded view of the present invention applied to a telephone. FIG. 7B is a diagram showing an example in which the present invention is applied to a vending machine. In addition, in the symbols used in the drawings, 12.
---1~-------------Piezoelectric transducer 16
−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−1 Amplifier/Integrator 18−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−Analog/digital converter 20−・−・〜−−−−−−−−−
---Microprocessor 26-----------11--------LED drive circuit 28--------
-------・-----One photodetector 30--------One--------Amplifier 32----
1---Coin identification/time programming storage circuit 33---=-==-32,768kHz internal clock 35--------=--40
0kHz 07ri 44-------・---------
-1--Start switch 50...--
−−−−−−−−One buffer stroke 52−−−−−−−−−−−
−−−−−・−・Coin chute 80・−−−−−−−
----------- Coin entrance frame part 81...---
−−−−−−−1・−−−−−−・Coin slot 90−
−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−・− Coin translation box 96 −・−・−・−−−−−・− Coin transfer box 9
8...--------------1--...Translation handle. Figure ward 對 ± Electric Calendar f (G, 7A ri2'5 Vending Dust FIG, 7B /i28 [---

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A dropping means for dropping a coin by a predetermined distance; a piezoelectric converting means for receiving an impact from the coin dropped by the predetermined distance; and coin mass detection means for determining the mass of the coin from an impact on the means. 2. The coin sorting device according to claim 1, further comprising optical area detection means for measuring the area of the coin after the coin contacts the piezoelectric conversion means. 3. A first power supply means that supplies a resting voltage V_D to the main body of the coin sorting device when the coin sorting device is in a rest state, and a first power supply means that supplies a resting voltage V_D to the main body of the coin sorting device when the coin sorting device is in an operating state. second power supply means for supplying an operating voltage V_A to the coin sorting device; and circuit operating means operative in response to said coin being within the coin sorting device, the circuit operating means operative in response to said coin being inserted into the coin sorting device. and a circuit operating means for causing the coin sorting device to assume an operating state by applying the operating voltage V_A higher than the resting voltage V_D to the main body of the coin sorting device. The coin sorting device described in . 4. The optical area detection means is connected to an optical scanning means for scanning the coin and generating an output signal proportional to the area of the coin, and is connected to the optical scanning means and receives an output from the optical scanning means. and microprocessor means for digitally sampling and storing a value proportional to the maximum variation of said output signal as said coin is scanned by said optical scanning means. coin sorting device. 5. The coin sorting device according to claim 4, wherein the coin mass detecting means includes an integrating means for integrating the output from the piezoelectric converting means to generate a signal proportional to the mass of the coin. 6. The invention further comprises a coin impact buffering means provided in contact with the piezoelectric converting means and absorbing part of the impact received from the coin when the coin falls onto the piezoelectric converting means. The coin sorting device according to item 5. 7. A coin sorting device according to claim 6, further comprising switch means for generating an activation signal for placing said microprocessor means into a preliminary operating state in response to insertion of a coin into the coin sorting device. 8. A coin sorting device according to claim 6, wherein the impact of a coin on said piezoelectric transducer means generates an activation signal that causes said microprocessor means to enter a preliminary operating state. 9. A coin sorting device according to claim 6, further comprising first clock means for supplying clock pulses to said microprocessor means when said coin sorting device is in said rest state. 10. further comprising second clock means for providing clock pulses to the microprocessor means when the coin sorting device is in the pre-operating state and the operating state;
10. The coin sorting device according to claim 9, wherein the frequency of the second clock means is higher than the frequency of the first clock means. 11. Further comprising analog/digital conversion means controlled by the microprocessor means for sampling outputs from the coin mass detection means and the optical area detection means and supplying information from this sampling to the microprocessor means. A coin sorting device according to claim 10. 12. The coin sorting device according to claim 11, further comprising storage means connected to the microprocessor means and storing information regarding identification of genuine coins. 13. A coin sorting device according to claim 12, further comprising liquid crystal display means for producing a visual output indicative of genuine coin identification. 14. The coin sorting device according to claim 1, which is incorporated into a parking meter. 15. The coin sorting device according to claim 1, which cooperates with a sales means that sells articles in response to the detection of genuine coins by the coin sorting device. 16. Coin sorting device according to claim 1, connected to telephone means for providing telephone service in response to detection of specie coins. 17. A piezoelectric conversion means receiving an impact from a coin, and an integrating means connected to the piezoelectric conversion means and integrating an output of the piezoelectric conversion means to generate an output proportional to the mass of the coin, a coin mass detection means for determining the mass of the coin from the impact of the coin on the piezoelectric transducer; and scanning the coin after the coin contacts the piezoelectric transducer to generate an output proportional to the area of the coin. an optical area detection means having an optical scanning means for determining the area of the coin; and an optical area detection means connected to the coin mass detection means and the optical area detection means for determining the authenticity of the coin. A coin sorting device comprising coin mass detection means and microprocessor means for comparing the output from said optical area detection means with a range of predetermined values for coin mass and coin area. 18. A first power supply means for supplying voltage V_D to the main body of the coin sorting device when the coin sorting device is in a low power consuming rest state and when the coin sorting device is in an operating state for sorting coins; a second power supply means for supplying a voltage V_A higher than the voltage V_D to the main body of the coin sorting device; and the presence of the coin in the coin sorting device prior to scanning of the coin by the optical scanning means. detect,
18. The coin sorting device according to claim 17, further comprising means for applying the voltage V_A to the main body of the coin sorting device and for cutting off the voltage V_D from the main body of the coin sorting device. 19. It has a piezoelectric conversion means that receives the impact of the coin, and an integration means that is connected to the piezoelectric conversion means and that integrates the output from the piezoelectric conversion means to generate an output voltage P that is proportional to the mass of the coin. a coin mass detection means for determining the mass of the coin from the impact of the coin on the piezoelectric conversion means; and an output proportional to the area of the coin by scanning the coin after the coin contacts the piezoelectric conversion means. an optical scanning means for generating V_P and connected to the optical area detecting means and the coin mass detecting means for determining the area of the coin; V_O is the voltage from the optical area means before operation; V_M is the minimum voltage output from the optical area detection means after operation of the optical area sensing means; microprocessor means for generating a ratio A representing the characteristics of the coin, A=(V_M-V_O)/(V_P-V_O) when the absolute maximum voltage outputted from the means is V_P; A coin sorting device in which processor means compare the values of the ratio A and the output voltage P with a range of values representative of genuine coins in order to determine the authenticity of said coins. 20. Coin receiving means having a slot for receiving a coin; Coin translation means for moving the coin from the coin receiving means to a coin dropping area; Receiving the coin from the coin dropping area and causing the coin to fall by a predetermined distance. a chute means; a piezoelectric converting means disposed inside the chute means and receiving the impact of the coin after the coin has fallen by the predetermined distance; and a piezoelectric converting means attached to the piezoelectric converting means for integrating the output of the piezoelectric converting means. and integrating means for generating a voltage proportional to the mass of the coin. 21. optical area detection means for determining the area of the coin after the coin contacts the piezoelectric conversion means; connected to the integration means and the optical area detection means;
Claim 20, each comprising microprocessor means for comparing outputs from said integrating means and said optical area detection means with predetermined values of coin mass and coin area in order to determine the authenticity of said coin. Coin sorting device as described in section. 22. The coin translation means comprises a handle means, a box-like means for receiving the coin from the coin-accepting means, and an extension means for supplying the handle means to the box-like means, respectively. Coin sorting device as described in section. 23. A front surface of said coin receiving means having said coin receiving slot and further having a slot for receiving said extension means between said handle means and said box-like means of said coin translating means; base means substantially perpendicular to the front surface;
Claim 2: Movement of said handle means causes said box-like means to translate said coin from said slot area to said coin drop area located at an edge of said base means.
The coin sorting device according to item 2. 24. A coin sorting device according to claim 23, wherein said base means of said coin receiving means comprises a grid-like opening for passage of moisture. 25. A coin sorting device according to claim 24, wherein said coin translation means further comprises flange means coupled to said handle means and typically under the influence of spring means for closing said coin receiving slot. . 26. further comprising a switch means attached to the coin sorting device, wherein translational movement of the handle means for dropping the coins into the chute means causes the box-like means to contact and actuate the switch means; 26. A coin sorting device as claimed in claim 25, wherein said switch means generates an activation signal to said microprocessor means. 27. The coin sorting device of claim 26, wherein said coin receiving means further comprises rain cap means attached to said front surface of said coin receiving means to protect said coin receiving slot from precipitation.