Measuring a stack of coins in a coin handling device
AssigneeMars, Incorporated
InventorsPhilippe S. Jard, Philip R. Reger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A coin handling apparatus includes a coin storage container having conductive electrodes disposed along sides of the coin storage container. The coin handling apparatus also includes a voltage generator. A processor controls the voltage generator to provide output signals to excite the electrodes at multiple frequencies. The processor is configured to determine a resonant frequency based on levels of reflected power resulting from the output signals and to estimate a number of coins in the container based on the resonant frequency.
Claims20
A method of determining the number of coins in a coin storage container associated with a coin handling apparatus, the method comprising:
- providing output signals to excite a transmission line at a plurality of frequencies, wherein the transmission line includes conductive electrodes disposed along sides of the storage container having a number of coins stored therein;
- determining a resonant frequency of the transmission line based on levels of reflected power resulting from the output signals;
- estimating, in a processor associated with the coin handling apparatus, the number of coins in the coin storage container based on the resonant frequency.
A coin handling apparatus comprising:
- a coin storage container having conductive electrodes disposed along sides of the coin storage container;
- a voltage generator;
- and
- a processor to control the voltage generator to provide output signals to excite a transmission line that includes the electrodes at a plurality of frequencies;
- wherein the processor is configured to determine a resonant frequency based on levels of reflected power resulting from the output signals and to estimate a number of coins in the container based on the resonant frequency.
A coin handling apparatus comprising:
- an opening for receiving coins inserted into the coin mechanism;
- a coin validator including one or more sensors for determining the authenticity and denomination of an inserted coin;
- and
- a plurality of storage containers for storing coins accepted by the coin mechanism, wherein each storage container includes conductive electrodes disposed along sides of the container;
- a voltage generator;
- and
- a processor for controlling the voltage generator to provide output signals to excite a transmission line that includes the electrodes at a plurality of frequencies;
- wherein the processor is configured to determine a resonant frequency based on levels of reflected power resulting from the output signals and to estimate a number of coins in a particular one of the coin storage containers based on the resonant frequency.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.