Coin sensing apparatus and method

Apparatus, usable for discriminating among coins and other discrete objects, comprising:

• a sensor having a first integral magnetic core, said first core having first and second substantially opposed end faces defining a first gap, to define magnetic flux lines in the vicinity of said first gap;
• first circuitry which initiates at least a first action in response to discrimination of an object using said sensor;
• and
• at least a first communications link coupling said sensor to said first circuitry to provide an output signal from said sensor to said first circuitry
• at least a first conductive coil coupled to said first core;
• second circuitry which provides, to said first coil, current which simultaneously defines at least first and second different frequencies.

Apparatus, usable for discriminating among coins and other discrete objects, comprising:

• a sensor having a first integral magnetic core, said first core having first and second substantially opposed end faces defining a first gap, to define magnetic flux lines in the vicinity of said first gap;
• first circuitry which initiates at least a first action in response to discrimination of an object using said sensor;
• at least a first communications link coupling said sensor to said first circuitry to provide an output signal from said sensor to said first circuitry;
• at least a first conductive coil coupled to said first core;
• a second magnetic core which is non-linear over at least a portion thereof, said second core defining a second gap to define magnetic flux lines in the vicinity of said second gap and;
• second circuitry which provides current defining at least first and second different frequencies to said first coil.

Apparatus usable for discriminating among coins and other discrete objects, comprising:

• a sensor having a first integral magnetic core, said first core having first and second substantially opposed end faces defining a first gap to define magnetic flux lines in the vicinity of said first gap;
• first circuitry which initiates at least a first action in response to discrimination of an object using said sensor;
• at least a first communications link coupling said sensor to said first circuitry to provide an output signal from said sensor to said first circuitry;
• at least a first conductive coil coupled to said first core;
• second circuitry which provides current defining at least a first frequency to said first coil;
• a second magnetic core which is non-linear over at least a portion thereof, said second core defining a second gap to define magnetic flux lines in the vicinity of said second gap;
• and
• at least a second conductive coil coupled to said second core and third circuitry which provides current defining at least a second frequency, different from said first frequency, to said second coil.

A method, usable for discriminating among coins and other discrete objects, comprising the steps of:

• providing at least a first sensor having a first magnetic core which is non-linear over at least a portion thereof, said first core defining a first gap to define magnetic flux lines in the vicinity of said first gap;
• providing a first periodic reference signal;
• providing a first periodic waveform to induce a magnetic flux on said first magnetic core wherein said first periodic waveform is phase-locked to said reference signal
• measuring the amplitude and a phase locked loop error signal of the voltage induced in said first magnetic core as said object moves past said first gap.

A method, usable for discriminating among coins and other discrete objects, comprising the steps of:

• providing at least a first sensor having a first magnetic core which is non-linear over at least a portion thereof, said first core defining a first gap to define magnetic flux lines in the vicinity of said first gap;
• providing a first periodic reference signal;
• providing a first periodic waveform to induce a magnetic flux on said first magnetic core wherein said first periodic waveform is phase-locked to said reference signal;
• applying a second periodic waveform, having a frequency different from said first periodic waveform, to said magnetic core.

A method, usable for discriminating among coins and other discrete objects, comprising the steps of:

• providing at least a first sensor having a first magnetic core which is non-linear over at least a portion thereof, said first core defining a first gap to define magnetic flux lines in the vicinity of said first gap;
• providing a first periodic reference signal;
• providing a first periodic waveform to induce a magnetic flux on said first magnetic core wherein said first periodic waveform is phase-locked to said reference signal
• providing a second coil coupled to said first magnetic core and applying a second periodic waveform to said second coil, said second periodic waveform having a frequency different from said first periodic waveform;
• wherein said first and second periodic waveforms are both phase locked to a common reference to maintain a fixed phase relationship between the first and second periodic waveforms.

In a coin counting device that receives a plurality of coins in a first location and moves coins past a discriminator region for determining the denomination of the coins, calculating the total value of said plurality of coins and outputting an indication of said value, a sensor for measuring coin parameters in said discriminator region, the sensor comprising:

• a ferrite core substantially in the shape of a section of a torroid and defining a gap, positioned so that a coin conveyed by said counting device will move through the vicinity of said gap;
• at least a first coil of conductive material wound about a first portion of said core, defining an inductor;
• an oscillator coupled to said inductor configured to provide current defining at least first and second different frequencies simultaneously on said first coil wherein, when a coin is conveyed past said gap, the signal in said inductor undergoes at least a first frequency shift and a first change in the quality factor of said inductor at said first frequency and a second frequency shift and a second change in quality factor of said inductor at said second frequency;
• a processor configured to identify the denomination of said coin by comparing at least some of said frequency shifts and changes in quality factor to stored data indicative of frequency shift and quality factor values for a plurality of coins of different denomination.