Magnetic sensor
AssigneeNCR Corporation
InventorsGary Ross, Adam Camilletti, Andrew Nicholas Dames, Edward G Colby
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A magnetic sensor for discriminating between high and low coercivity magnets is disclosed. The sensor comprises a first magnetic field operable to orient high and low coercivity magnets in a first magnetic orientation. The sensor also comprises a second magnetic field, lower in strength than the first magnetic field, and operable to orient only the low coercivity magnets in a second magnetic orientation opposite to the first magnetic orientation. The sensor further comprises a sensor for ascertaining the magnetic orientation of each of the magnets and thereby identifying if a magnet is a high coercivity magnet or a low coercivity magnet.
Claims11
A magnetic sensor for discriminating between high and low coercivity magnets, the sensor comprising:
- (i) a first magnetic field operable to orient high and low coercivity magnets in a first magnetic orientation;
- (ii) a second magnetic field, lower in strength than the first magnetic field, and operable to orient only the low coercivity magnets in a second magnetic orientation opposite to the first magnetic orientation;
- and
- (iii) a sensor for ascertaining the magnetic orientation of each of the magnets and thereby identifying if a magnet is a high coercivity magnet or a low coercivity magnet, wherein the sensor for ascertaining the magnetic orientation of each of the magnets comprises a fluxgate sensor.
A media depository comprising:
- a media validator for recognizing and validating media items;
- a transport arranged to convey a media item from an input to the media validator;
- a magnetic sensor incorporated within the media validator and operable for discriminating between high and low coercivity magnets, the sensor further comprising:
- (i) a first magnetic field operable to orient high and low coercivity magnets in a first magnetic orientation;
- (ii) a second magnetic field, lower in strength than the first magnetic field, and operable to orient only the low coercivity magnets in a second magnetic orientation opposite to the first magnetic orientation;
- and
- (iii) a sensor for ascertaining the magnetic orientation of each of the magnets and thereby identifying if a magnet is a high coercivity magnet of a lower coercivity magnet;
- and
- a banknote validator, and the sensor comprises a fluxgate sensor.
A method of discriminating between high and low coercivity magnets, the method comprising:
- using a first magnetic field to orient high and low coercivity magnets in a first magnetic orientation;
- using a second magnetic field, lower in strength than the first magnetic field, to orient only the low coercivity magnets in a second magnetic orientation opposite to the first magnetic orientation;
- ascertaining the magnetic orientation of each of the magnets using a fluxgate sensor;
- and
- identifying if a magnet is a high coercivity magnet or a low coercivity magnet based on the ascertained magnetic orientation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.