# US 2014/0151183 A1 · Differential detection coin discrimination systems and methods for use with consumer-operated kiosks and the like > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0151183 A1 - Document ID: US20140151183A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/161,020 - Filed: 2014-01-22 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30 - Assignees: Outerwall Inc. - Applicants: Outerwall Inc. - Inventors: Daniel D. Everhart - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140151183A1 ## CPC - G07D 5/00: Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of coins, e.g. for segregating coins which are unacceptable or alien to a currency - G07D 5/005: {Testing the surface pattern, e.g. relief} - G07D 5/08: Testing the magnetic or electric properties - G07D 9/00: Counting coins (in combination with coin-sorting G07D3/16); Handling of coins not provided for in the other groups of this subclass - G07D: HANDLING OF COINS OR VALUABLE PAPERS, e.g. TESTING, SORTING BY DENOMINATIONS, COUNTING, DISPENSING, CHANGING OR DEPOSITING ## Abstract Systems and associated methods for coin discrimination are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method for discriminating coins includes obtaining an electromagnetic sensor signal of a coin, generating a contour signal by digitizing the sensor signal, identifying an active interval in the contour signal by eliminating the segments of the contour signal which are close to zero, and detecting the coin approach, pivot and departure points (coin features) from the contour signal in the active interval. The coin features can be compared to known values for different coins to discriminate the coin. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-46. (canceled) ### Claim 47 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. ### Claim 48 (depends on 47) The apparatus of claim 47 wherein the coin is a first coin, wherein the sensor signal is a first sensor signal, wherein the active interval is a first active interval, and wherein: the means for identifying an active interval identifies a second active interval in the contour signal, the second active interval corresponding to a second sensor signal of a second coin; the means for detecting a coin feature detects a second coin feature from the second active interval; and the means for comparing compares the second coin feature to a corresponding feature of a known coin denomination. ### Claim 49 (depends on 47) The apparatus of claim 47 wherein means for generating the contour signal generates a digitized combination of at least two sensor signals. ### Claim 50 (depends on 47) The apparatus of claim 47, further comprising means for determining a pivot point, wherein the means for determining a pivot point determines the pivot point based on the Boolean logic characterized by: ipivots{i:(ai>0)(bi>0)(fi≦0)(ci<0)}. ### Claim 51 (depends on 47) The apparatus of claim 47, further comprising means for detecting a slope of the contour signal being zero or close to zero. ### Claim 52 (depends on 47) The apparatus of claim 47, further comprising means for determining an approach point, wherein the means for determining an approach point determines the approach point based on the Boolean logic characterized by: iarrivals{i:(ai>0)(bi>0)(fi>0)(ci<0)(pi≧0)}. ### Claim 53 (depends on 47) The apparatus of claim 47 wherein the contour signal is a digital signal, the apparatus further comprising means for filtering the contour signal using a digital filter. ### Claim 54 (depends on 53) The apparatus of claim 53 wherein the digital filter is based on a Hanning filter or a Gaussian filter. ### Claim 55 (depends on 47) The apparatus of claim 47 wherein the means for identifying an active interval in the contour signal identifies the active interval based on detecting the contour signal being above a threshold signal. ### Claim 56 (depends on 47) The apparatus of claim 47 wherein the means for generating a contour signal include summing an LD signal and an HD signal. ### Claim 57 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. ### Claim 58 (depends on 57) The apparatus of claim 57 wherein the computer readable medium comprises instructions configured to cause the circuit to discriminate a coin by detecting a slope of the contour signal being zero or close to zero. ### Claim 59 (depends on 58) The apparatus of claim 58 wherein the computer readable medium comprises instructions configured to cause the circuit to discriminate a coin by detecting a second derivative of the contour signal being zero or close to zero. ### Claim 60 (depends on 57) The apparatus of claim 57 wherein the coin is a first coin, wherein the sensor signal is a first sensor signal, wherein the active interval is a first active interval, and wherein the computer readable medium comprises instructions configured to cause the circuit to discriminate a coin by: identifying a second active interval in the contour signal, the second active interval corresponding to a second sensor signal of a second coin; detecting a second approach point of the second coin based on the Boolean logic characterized by: iarrivals{i:(ai>0)(bi>0)(fi>0)(ci<0)(pi≧0)}; and comparing the second approach point to a corresponding approach point of a known coin denomination. ### Claim 61 (depends on 57) The apparatus of claim 57 wherein the computer readable medium comprises instructions configured to cause the circuit to discriminate a coin by determining an acceleration of the coin using at least three coin features. ### Claim 62 (depends on 57) The apparatus of claim 57 wherein generating the contour signal includes generating a digitized combination of at least two sensor signals. ### Claim 63 (depends on 57) The apparatus of claim 57 wherein the coin is a first coin, wherein the sensor signal is a first sensor signal, wherein the active interval is a first active interval, and wherein the computer readable medium comprises instructions configured to cause the circuit to discriminate a coin by: identifying a second active interval in the contour signal, the second active interval corresponding to a second sensor signal of a second coin; detecting a second pivot point of the second coin based on the Boolean logic characterized by: ipivots{i:(ai>0)(bi>0)(fi≦0)(ci<0)}; and comparing the second pivot point to a corresponding pivot point of a known coin denomination. ### Claim 64 (depends on 57) The apparatus of claim 57 wherein the contour signal is a digital signal, wherein the computer readable medium comprises instructions configured to cause the circuit to discriminate a coin by filtering the contour signal using a digital filter.