# US 9,003,861 B2 · Auto-calibration systems for coin counting devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,003,861 B2 - Document ID: US9003861B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/269,121 - Filed: 2011-10-07 - Published: 2013-04-11 - Granted: 2015-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2011-10-07 - Assignees: Outerwall Inc. - Applicants: Douglas A. Martin; Michael A. Stoy - Inventors: Douglas A. Martin; Michael A. Stoy - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9003861B2 ## CPC - G07D 5/00: Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of coins, e.g. for segregating coins which are unacceptable or alien to a currency - G07D 2205/0012: automatic adjustment, e.g. self-calibration - G07D: HANDLING OF COINS OR VALUABLE PAPERS, e.g. TESTING, SORTING BY DENOMINATIONS, COUNTING, DISPENSING, CHANGING OR DEPOSITING ## Abstract Systems and methods for calibrating a coin sensor are disclosed herein. An auto-calibrating coin sensor configured in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure includes a movable carrier holding at least one test coin or other test object. The carrier can move the test object past or through the coin sensor to calibrate the coin sensor. Embodiments of the present technology can include rotatable and linearly moveable carriers that are configured to move an attached test object through a coin sensor. Additionally, auto-calibrating coin sensors in accordance with the present technology can be configured to initiate an auto-calibration based on the commencement of a coin counting session, a set schedule, a temperature change, and/or other events. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for automatically calibrating a coin sensor in a coin counting machine, the system comprising: at least one test object; and a carrier, wherein— the at least one test object is attached to the carrier, and the carrier is configured to automatically move the at least one test object from a first position spaced apart from the coin sensor to a second position proximate the coin sensor to calibrate the coin sensor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the carrier is further configured to rotate the at least one test object from the first position to the second position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the carrier is further configured to translate the at least one test object from the first position to the second position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the carrier is further configured to move the at least one test object from the first position to the second position in a linear path. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the carrier is further configured to move the at least one test object along a path that is substantially similar to a portion of a path traveled by a coin deposited in the coin counting machine. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the carrier is further configured to move the at least one test object through a gap in the coin sensor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one test object comprises at least one calibration coin, and wherein the system further comprises a motor operably coupled to the carrier, wherein the motor is configured to rotate the carrier in a first direction, to move the at least one calibration coin from the first position to the second position, and wherein the motor is further configured to rotate the carrier in a second direction, opposite the first direction, to return the calibration coin from the second position to the first position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a motor operably coupled to the carrier; and a controller operably coupled to the coin sensor and the motor, wherein— the controller is configured to send a first signal to the motor to move the carrier, and the controller is further configured to receive a second signal from the coin sensor, wherein the second signal comprises data generated as a result of the at least one test object being positioned proximate the coin sensor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, further comprising computer readable memory operably coupled to the controller, wherein the computer readable memory contains a calibration file, and wherein the controller is further configured to update the calibration file if the data from the second signal differs from a stored value by a predetermined amount. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a driver operably coupled to the carrier; and a controller operably coupled to the coin sensor and the driver, wherein the controller is configured to automatically move the test object from the first position to the second position to execute an automatic calibration cycle according to a preset time schedule. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a driver operably coupled to the carrier; and a controller operably coupled to the coin sensor and the driver, wherein the controller is configured to automatically move the test object from the first position to the second position to execute an automatic calibration cycle prior to counting a batch of coins submitted to the coin counting machine. ### Claim 12 A coin counting machine comprising: a coin sensor a test object movable from a first position spaced apart from the coin sensor to a second position proximate the coin sensor; and means for automatically moving the test object from the first position to the second position to calibrate the coin sensor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The coin counting machine of claim 12 wherein the test object is fixedly attached to a carrier, and wherein the means for automatically moving the test object includes a controller that automatically initiates movement of the carrier according to a preset time schedule. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The coin counting machine of claim 12 wherein the test object is fixedly attached to a carrier, and wherein the means for automatically initiating movement of the test object includes a controller that automatically initiates movement of the carrier upon a detection of an ambient temperature change greater than a predetermined amount. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The coin counting machine of claim 12, further comprising a carrier, and wherein the test object is attached to the carrier. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The coin counting machine of claim 12 wherein movement of the test object from the first position to the second position includes movement in a radial path. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The coin counting machine of claim 16 wherein at least a portion of the radial path is substantially similar to a portion of a path traveled by a coin deposited in the coin counting machine. ### Claim 18 A method for calibrating a coin sensor, the method comprising: automatically moving at least one calibration object from a first position to a second position, wherein moving the at least one calibration object from the first position to the second position includes moving the at least one calibration object toward the coin sensor; measuring an electronic output of the coin sensor in response to the calibration object being moved to the second position; and automatically moving the at least one calibration object from the second position back to the first position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein automatically moving the at least one calibration object includes activating a driver, wherein the driver is operably coupled to a carrier, and wherein the at least one calibration object is fixedly attached to the carrier. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein the coin sensor is mounted in a coin counting machine, and wherein automatically moving the at least one calibration object includes automatically moving the at least one calibration object in response to a user depositing a batch of coins into the coin counting machine. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein automatically moving the least one calibration object includes automatically moving the at least one calibration object in response to an ambient temperature change greater than a predetermined value. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein measuring an electronic output of the coin sensor includes comparing an electronic output of the coin sensor to a stored value and updating the stored value if the output differs from the stored value by an amount greater than a predetermined amount. ### Claim 23 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein automatically moving the at least one calibration object from the first position to the second position Iincludes moving the at least one calibration object in a circular path. ### Claim 24 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein moving the at least one calibration object toward the second position includes moving the at least one calibration object through a gap defined by the coin sensor. ### Claim 25 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein automatically moving the at least one calibration object from the first position to the second position includes moving the at least one calibration object in a linear path.