Differential detection coin discrimination systems and methods for use with consumer-operated kiosks and the like

A consumer operated coin counting apparatus comprising:

• a coin input region configured to receive a plurality of coins;
• a coin sensor configured to generate a sensor signal corresponding to properties of a coin;
• means for generating a contour signal from the sensor signal;
• means for identifying an active interval in the contour signal;
• means for detecting a coin feature from the active interval;
• means for determining a departure point in the coin feature, wherein the means for determining determines the departure point based on a Boolean logic characterized by:
• idepartures{i:(ai>0)(bi<0)(f<0)(ci<0)(ni≧0)};
• and
• means for comparing the departure point to a corresponding departure point of a known coin denomination.

A consumer operated coin counting apparatus comprising:

• a coin input region configured to receive a plurality of coins;
• a coin sensor configured to generate a sensor signal corresponding to properties of a coin;
• a digital or analog circuit;
• and
• a computer-readable medium, wherein the computer readable medium includes instructions configured to cause the circuit to discriminate a coin by a method comprising:
• generating a contour signal from the sensor signal;
• identifying an active interval in the contour signal;
• detecting a coin feature from the active interval;
• determining an approach point in the coin feature based on a Boolean logic characterized by:
• iarrivals{i:(ai>0)(bi>0)(fi>0)(ci<0)(pi≧0)};
• and
• comparing the approach point to a corresponding approach point of a known coin denomination.