Oscillator circuit for a validator
AssigneeMars, Incorporated
InventorDavid Michael Furneaux
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A coin validator tests a coin using a pair of coils coupled in an oscillator circuit which is arranged to drive both the coils concurrently at two separate frequencies without interference therebetween, each frequency signal being influenced by the presence of a coin. Preferably, the coils are connected in series in a feedback loop to form a first oscillator, and the second oscillator is coupled to the interconnection between the coils the other ends of which are effectively short circuited at the frequency of the second oscillator.
Claims16
An oscillator circuit comprising a plurality of resonant circuits having at least two common inductors, the resonant frequency of each resonant circuit being at least determined by the inductance of the common inductors and respective frequency-determining components of the resonant circuits, the oscillator circuit being arranged so that the common inductors are driven concurrently at a plurality of frequencies corresponding to the respective resonant frequencies of the resonant circuits.
A coin validator comprising:
- an oscillator circuit having a plurality of resonant circuits having at least one common inductor, wherein the resonant frequency of each resonant circuit is at least determined by the inductance of the common inductor and respective frequency-determining components of the resonant circuit, the oscillator circuit being arranged so that the inductor is driven concurrently at a plurality of frequencies corresponding to the respective resonant frequencies of the resonant circuits;
- and
- wherein the oscillator circuit has outputs at at least two different frequencies, the outputs being influenced by the passage of a coin being tested by the coin validator.
A coin validator comprising:
- an oscillator circuit having a plurality of resonant circuits said resonant circuits having at least one common inductor influencing a respective resonant frequency of each resonant circuit, the oscillator circuit being arranged so that the inductor is driven concurrently at a plurality of frequencies corresponding to the respective resonant frequencies of the resonant circuits;
- and
- wherein the oscillator circuit has outputs at least two different frequencies, the outputs being influenced by the passage of a coin being tested by the coin validator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.