Method and apparatus for improved coin, bill and other currency acceptance and slug or counterfeit rejection

A method in an item validation apparatus having a sensor circuit and a processing and control circuit, for discriminating genuine items from counterfeit items, comprising the steps of:

• sensing data characteristic of at least two characteristics from a plurality of genuine items of different item types;
• converting the sensed data into a plurality of data points for each item type;
• selecting data points to form clusters of data representing an acceptance criteria for each genuine item type;
• storing the clusters;
• defining a center data point for each cluster;
• setting a deviation limit which is small in comparison to the distance from the center data point to a cluster boundary data point;
• testing an item and generating a data point for the item;
• accepting the item as being a particular type if the data point is within a cluster corresponding to that type;
• and
• modifying the acceptance criteria by incrementing or decrementing the center data point of a cluster if enough accepted items of that type had data points within the deviation limit.

An item validation apparatus for discriminating genuine items from counterfeit items, comprising:

• means for sensing data characteristic of at least two characteristics from a plurality of genuine items of different item types;
• means for converting the sensed data into a plurality of data points for each item type;
• means for selecting data points to form clusters of data representing an acceptance criteria for each genuine item type;
• means for storing the clusters;
• means for defining a center data point for each cluster;
• means for setting a deviation limit which is small in comparison to the distance from the center data point to a cluster boundary data point;
• means for testing an item and generating a data point for the item;
• and
• means for accepting the item if the data point is within a cluster and for modifying the acceptance criteria if enough accepted items of that type had data points within the deviation limit.

A method of operating a money validation apparatus having at least one sensor circuit and a processing and control circuit, for discriminating genuine items from counterfeit items, comprising:

• sensing data characteristics of at least two characteristics from a plurality of genuine items of different item types;
• converting the sensed data into a plurality of data points for each item type;
• selecting data points to form clusters of data points representing each item type;
• storing the clusters;
• measuring a rest value for each sensor;
• testing an item by measuring shift values for each sensor corresponding to said at least two characteristics;
• calculating exponentially weighted moving averages based on the rest values;
• calculating relative values for the item based on the shift values, the rest values, and the exponentially weighted moving averages;
• generating a data point based on the relative values;
• comparing the data point of the item to the stored clusters;
• and
• accepting the item as an item of a particular type if its data point matches that in a cluster corresponding to that type item.

A money validation apparatus for discriminating genuine items from counterfeit items, comprising:

• means for sensing data characteristic of at least two characteristics from a plurality of genuine items of different item types;
• means for converting the sensed data into a plurality of data points for each item type;
• means for selecting data points to form clusters of data points representing each item type;
• means for storing the clusters;
• means for measuring a rest value for each sensor;
• means for testing an item by measuring shift values for each sensor;
• means for calculating exponentially weighted moving averages, and for calculating relative values for the item based on the shift values, the rest values, and the exponentially weighted moving averages;
• means for generating a data point based on the relative values;
• and
• means for comparing the data point of the item to the stored clusters and for accepting the item if a particular type if its data point matches that in a cluster.

A method of operating a money validation apparatus having at least one sensor circuit and a processing and control circuit, for discriminating genuine items from counterfeit items, comprising:

• sensing data characteristic of at least two characteristics of each of a plurality of genuine items of different item types;
• converting the sensed data into a plurality of data points for each item type;
• selecting data points to form clusters of data points representing an acceptance criteria for each genuine item type;
• storing the clusters;
• defining a center data point for each cluster;
• defining a deviation limit which is small in comparison to the distance from the center data point to a cluster boundary data point;
• defining an anti-cheat criteria for each item type;
• testing an item and generating a data point for the item;
• comparing the item data point to the clusters;
• rejecting the item if its data point does not match any of the clusters and restricting the acceptance criteria by a predetermined amount if the rejected item data point is within the anti-cheat criteria;
• accepting the item if its data point is within a cluster;
• and
• modifying the acceptance criteria by incrementing or decrementing the center data point of a cluster if enough accepted items had data points within the deviation limit.

A money validation apparatus for discriminating genuine items from counterfeit items, comprising:

• means for sensing data characteristic of at least two characteristics of each of a plurality of genuine items of different item types;
• means for converting the sensed data into a plurality of data points for each item type;
• means for selecting data points to form clusters of data points representing an acceptance criteria for each genuine item type;
• means for storing the clusters;
• means for defining a center data point, a deviation limit, and an anti-cheat criteria for each item type;
• means for testing an item and generating a data point for the item;
• means for comparing the item data point to the clusters;
• means for rejecting the item if its data point does not match any of the clusters and restricting the acceptance criteria by a predetermined amount a predetermined amount if the rejected item data point is within the anti-cheat criteria;
• means for accepting the item if its data point is within a cluster;
• and
• means for modifying the acceptance criteria by incrementing or decrementing the center data point of a cluster if enough accepted items had data points within the deviation limit.

A method of operating a money validation apparatus having a sensor circuit and a processing and control circuit, for discriminating genuine items from counterfeit items, comprising the steps of:

• sensing data characteristic of at least two characteristics from a plurality of genuine items of different item types;
• converting the sensed data into a plurality of data points for each item type;
• selecting data points to form clusters of data points representing an acceptance criteria for each genuine item type;
• storing the clusters;
• defining an anti-cheat criteria for each genuine item type;
• measuring a rest value for each sensor;
• testing an item by measuring shift values for each sensor corresponding to said at least two characteristics;
• calculating exponentially weighted moving average based on the rest values;
• calculating relative values for the item based on the shift values, the rest values, and the exponentially weighted moving averages;
• generating a data point for the item based on the relative values;
• comparing the data point of the item to the stored clusters;
• accepting the item if its data point matches a cluster, or rejecting the item if no match is found;
• and
• restricting the acceptance criteria for an item type by a predetermined amount if a rejected item data point is within the anti-cheat criteria for that item type.

A money validation apparatus for discriminating genuine items from counterfeit items, comprising:

• means for sensing data characteristic of at least two characteristics from a plurality of genuine items of different item types;
• means for converting the sensed data into a plurality of data points for each item type;
• means for selecting data points to form clusters of data points representing an acceptance criteria for each genuine item type;
• means for storing the clusters;
• means for defining anti-cheat criteria;
• means for measuring a rest value for each sensor;
• means for testing an item by measuring shift values for each sensor corresponding to said at least two characteristics;
• means for calculating exponentially weighted moving averages based on the rest values;
• means for calculating relative values and for generating a data point for the item based on the relative values;
• means for comparing the data point of the item to the stored clusters;
• means for accepting the item if its data point matches a cluster, or rejecting the item if no match is found;
• and
• means for restricting the acceptance criteria for an item type if a rejecting item data point is within the anti-cheat criteria.

A method in an item validation apparatus having a sensor circuit and a processing and control circuit, for discriminating genuine items from counterfeit items, comprising the steps of:

• sensing data characteristic of at least two characteristics from a plurality of genuine items of different item types;
• converting the sensed data into a plurality of data points for each item type;
• selecting data points to form clusters of data representing an acceptance criteria for each genuine item type;
• storing the clusters;
• defining a center data point for each cluster;
• setting a deviation limit which is small in comparison to the distance from the center data point to a cluster boundary data point;
• measuring a rest value for each sensor;
• testing an item by measuring shift values for each sensor corresponding to said at least two characteristics;
• calculating exponentially weighted moving averages based on the rest values;
• calculating relative values for the item based on the shift values, the rest values, and the exponentially weighted moving averages;
• generating a data point for the item based on the relative values;
• accepting the item as being a particular type if its data point is within a cluster corresponding to that type;
• and
• modifying the acceptance criteria by incrementing or decrementing the center data point of a cluster if enough accepted items of that type had data points within the deviation limit.

An item validation apparatus for discriminating genuine items from counterfeit items, comprising:

• means for sensing data characteristic of at least two characteristics from a plurality of genuine items of different item types;
• means for converting the sensed data into a plurality of data points for each item type;
• means for selecting data points to form clusters of data representing an acceptance criteria for each genuine item type;
• means for storing the clusters;
• means for defining a center data point and for setting a deviation limit for each cluster;
• means for measuring a rest value for each sensor;
• means for testing an item by measuring shift values for each sensor corresponding to said at least two characteristics;
• means for calculating exponentially weighted moving averages based on the rest values and for calculating relative values for the item based on the shift values, the rest values, and the exponentially weighted moving averages;
• means for generating a data point for the item based on the relative values;
• means for accepting the item as being a particular type if its data point is within a cluster corresponding to that type;
• and
• means for modifying the acceptance criteria by incrementing or decrementing the center data point of a cluster if enough accepted items of that type had data points within the deviation limit.

A method of operating a money validation apparatus having at least one sensor circuit and a processing and control circuit, for discriminating genuine items from counterfeit items, comprising:

• sensing data characteristic of at least two characteristics of each of a plurality of genuine items of different item types;
• converting the sensed data into a plurality of data points for each item type;
• selecting data points to form clusters of data points representing an acceptance criteria for each genuine item;
• storing the clusters;
• defining a center data point and an anti-cheat criteria for each cluster;
• setting a deviation limit which is small in comparison to the distance from the center data point to a cluster boundary data point;
• measuring a rest value for each sensor;
• testing an item by measuring shift values for each sensor corresponding to said at least two characteristics;
• calculating exponentially weighted moving averages based on rest values;
• calculating relative values for the unknown item based on the shift values, the rest values, and the exponentially weighted moving averages;
• generating a data point for the item based on the relative values;
• comparing the item data point to the stored clusters;
• rejecting the item if its data point does not match any of the clusters and restricting the acceptance criteria of an item type by a predetermined amount if the rejected item data point is within the anti-cheat criteria for that item type;
• accepting the item if its data point is within a cluster;
• and
• modifying the acceptance criteria for incrementing or decrementing the center data point of a cluster if enough accepted items of that type had data points within the deviation limit.

A money validation apparatus for discriminating genuine items from counterfeit items, comprising:

• means for sensing data characteristic of at least two characteristics of each of a plurality of genuine items of different item types;
• means for converting the sensed data into a plurality of data points for each item type;
• means for selecting data points to form clusters of data points representing an acceptance criteria for each genuine item;
• means for storing the clusters;
• means for defining a center data point, an anti-cheat criteria and a deviation limit for each cluster;
• means for measuring a rest value for each sensor;
• means for testing an item by measuring shift values for each sensor corresponding to said at least two characteristics;
• means for calculating exponentially weighted moving averages based on rest values;
• means for calculating relative values for the unknown item based on the shift values, the rest values, and the exponentially weighted moving averages;
• means for generating a data point for the item based on the relative values;
• means for comparing the item data point to the stored clusters;
• means for rejecting the item if its data point does not match any of the clusters and for restricting the acceptance criteria if the rejected item data point is within the anti-cheat criteria;
• and
• means for accepting the item if its data point is within a cluster and for modifying the acceptance criteria if enough accepted items of that type had data points within the deviation limit.

A method of operating a money validation apparatus having at least one sensor circuit and a processing and control circuit, which utilizes acceptance criteria corresponding to genuine items of different types, wherein the acceptance criteria is comprised of characteristic data having a center point, comprising:

• setting a deviation limit which is small in comparison to the distance from the center point to a boundary of the acceptance criteria;
• defining an anti-cheat criteria;
• measuring a rest value for each sensor;
• testing an item by measuring shift values of the sensors;
• calculating exponentially weighted moving averages based on the rest values;
• calculating relative values for the item based on the shift values, the rest values, and the exponentially weighted moving averages;
• generating characteristic data for the item based on the relative values;
• comparing the characteristic data of the item to the acceptance criteria;
• rejecting the item if its characteristic data is outside the acceptance criteria, and restricting acceptance criteria for an item type by a predetermined amount if the rejected item characteristic data is within the anti-cheat criteria;
• and
• accepting the item if its characteristic data is within an acceptance criteria and modifying the acceptance criteria by incrementing or decrementing the center point if enough accepted items had characteristic data within the anti-cheat criteria.

A money validation apparatus which utilizes acceptance criteria corresponding to genuine items of different types, wherein the acceptance criteria is comprised of characteristic data having a center point, comprising:

• means for setting a deviation limit and anti-cheat criteria;
• means for measuring a rest value;
• means for testing an item by measuring shift values;
• means for calculating exponentially weighted moving averages based on the rest values and means for calculating relative values for the item based on the shift values, the rest values, and the exponentially weighted moving averages;
• means for generating characteristic data for the item based on the relative values;
• means for comparing the characteristic data of the item to the acceptance criteria;
• means for rejecting the item if its characteristic data is outside the acceptance criteria, and restricting the acceptance criteria for an item type if the rejected item characteristic data is within the anti-cheat criteria;
• and
• means for accepting the item if its characteristic data is within an acceptance criteria and for modifying the acceptance criteria by incrementing or decrementing the center point if enough accepted items had characteristic data within the anti-cheat criteria.

A method of operating a money validation apparatus which utilizes acceptance criteria corresponding to genuine items of different types, wherein the acceptance criteria is comprised of characteristic data having a center point, comprising:

• setting a deviation limit which is small in comparison to the distance from the center point to a boundary of the acceptance criteria;
• testing an item and generating characteristic data for the item;
• accepting the item as being of a particular type if its characteristic data is within the acceptance criteria corresponding to that type;
• calculating the absolute difference between the characteristic data of the accepted item and the center point of the acceptance criteria;
• adding the difference of the center point and the data of the accepted item to a cumulative sum if the absolute difference is less than or equal to the deviation limit;
• incrementing the center point of the acceptance criteria by a preset amount when the cumulative sum exceeds a predetermined limit, or decrementing the center point by a preset amount when the cumulative sum is less than a predetermined negative limit;
• and
• resetting the cumulative sum.

A money validation apparatus having a means for comparing tested item data to item acceptance criteria corresponding to genuine items of different types, wherein each item acceptance criteria has a center point, comprising:

• means for setting a deviation limit which is smaller than the distance from the center point to a boundary of the acceptance criteria;
• means for testing an item and generating characteristic data;
• means for accepting the item if its characteristic data is within the acceptance criteria;
• means for calculating the absolute difference between the accepted characteristic data and the center point;
• means for adding the difference of the accepted item characteristic data and the center point to a cumulative sum if the absolute difference is less than or equal to the deviation limit;
• means for incrementing the center point by a preset amount when the cumulative sum is greater than a predetermined limit, or decrementing the center point by a preset amount when the cumulative sum is less than a predetermined limit;
• and
• means for resetting the cumulative sum.

A method of operating a money validation apparatus having at least one sensor circuit and a processing and control circuit, which utilizes acceptance criteria corresponding to genuine items of different types, wherein the acceptance criteria is comprised of characteristic data having a center point, comprising:

• setting a deviation limit which is small in comparison to the distance from the center point to a boundary point of the acceptance criteria;
• measuring a rest value for each sensor;
• testing an item by measuring shift values of the sensors;
• calculating exponentially weighted moving averages based on the rest values;
• calculating relative values for the item based on the shift values, the rest values and the exponentially weighted moving average;
• generating characteristic data for the item based on the relative values;
• accepting the item as being of a particular type if its characteristic data is within the acceptance criteria corresponding to that type;
• calculating the absolute difference between the characteristic data of an accepted item and the center point of the acceptance criteria;
• adding the difference of the center point and the characteristic data of the accepted item to a cumulative sum if the absolute difference is less than or equal to the deviation limit;
• incrementing the center point by a preset amount if the cumulative sum exceeds a predetermined limit, or decrementing the center point by a preset amount when the cumulative sum is less than a predetermined negative limit;
• and
• resetting the cumulative sum.