Claims
- 1. A sensor for discriminating coins, comprising:
a magnetic core having first and second legs, each leg having a free end and a second end, said legs defining, respectively first and second generally opposed and spaced-apart faces and a bight region connecting said second ends of said first and second legs; a low frequency winding coupled to a first portion of said bight region; and a high frequency winding coupled to said core, wherein said high frequency winding is closer to at least one of said free ends than is said low frequency winding.
- 2. A sensor, as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second faces includes a generally flat region.
- 3. A sensor, as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second faces is curved.
- 4. A sensor as claimed in claim 1 wherein a tapered region is defined between said spaced-apart faces.
- 5. A sensor as claimed in claim 4 wherein said core has a longitudinal axis and wherein said tapered region tapers to a narrower dimension along said longitudinal axis in a direction away from said free ends.
- 6. A sensor as claimed in claim 4 wherein said core has a longitudinal axis and wherein said zapered region tapers to a narrower dimension along said longitudinal axis in a direction toward said free ends.
- 7. A sensor as claimed in claim 4 wherein said core has a longitudinal axis and wherein said tapered region tapers to a narrower dimension in a direction which is at an angle to said longitudinal axis.
- 8. A sensor, as claimed in claim 1 wherein said core has a longitudinal axis and wherein turns of said high-frequency winding are substantially parallel to a plane orthogonal to said longitudinal axis.
- 9. A sensor, as claimed in claim 1 wherein said core has a longitudinal axis and wherein turns of said high-frequency winding are substantially parallel to a plane which is at a non-orthogonal angle to said longitudinal axis.
- 10. A sensor, as claimed in claim 1 wherein said high-frequency winding is closer to at least one of said second ends than to said low-frequency winding.
- 11. A sensor, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said low-frequency winding is provided substantially in the absence of any turn of said low-frequency winding crossing over another turn of said low-frequency winding.
- 12. A sensor, as claimed in claim 1 wherein said core has a shape selected from the group consisting of:
a U-shape; a V-shape; a C-shape; a G-shape; a triangular shape; a square shape; a rectangular shape a polygonal shape; a circular shape; an elliptical shape; and an oval shape.
- 13. A sensor, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sensor is configured to sense characteristics of a plurality of coins ranging from a minimum diameter coin to a maximum diameter coin and wherein said legs have a longitudinal extent at least equal to said maximum diameter.
- 14. A sensor, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sensor is configured to sense characteristics of coins moving along a first coin flow direction and wherein said sensor has a thickness, in a dimension parallel to the direction of coin flow, of greater than about 0.5 inches.
- 15. A coin-handling apparatus comprising:
a first region for receiving a plurality of coins of a plurality of denominations in random orientation; means for singulating at least some of said plurality of coins and transporting along a path toward at least a first sensing location; at least a first sensor for receiving at least a first driving signal, for driving said sensor and providing sensor output, said sensor output inducing at least a first signal, said output being indicative of at least a first low-frequency coin characteristic and a second high-frequency coin characteristic; circuitry coupled to said at least first sensor for receiving at least said sensor output and outputting at least a second signal indicative of whether a sensed object is an acceptable coin.
- 16. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 15, wherein said driving signal is selected from the group consisting of:
a sinusoidal signal; a triangle signal; a sawtooth signal; a pulse signal; and a squarewave signal.
- 17. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 15, further comprising means for providing a second sensor driving signal in a predefined relationship with said first driving signal
- 18. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 17 wherein said means for providing a second sensor driving signal in a predefined relationship with said first driving signal is selected from the group consisting of:
a phase locked loop circuit; a frequency divider circuit; and means for combining first and second frequencies.
- 19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 15 further comprising means for separating at least first and second components of said sensor output.
- 20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein said means for separating comprises at least first and second filters.
- 21. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein said sensor includes a magnetic core and first and second windings and wherein said first driving signal provides a signal at a first frequency to said first winding and further comprising means for providing a second driving signal, at a second frequency to said second winding.
- 22. Apparatus for sensing coins moving along a coin path comprising:
magnetic core means adjacent said coin path; winding means coupled to said magnetic core means; means for providing at least a first signal with a first frequency to said winding means; means for tuning said means for providing; and means for using said winding means for frequency determination.
- 23. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 22 wherein said means for tuning is selected from the group consisting of a varactor and a variable inductor.
- 24. Coin-handling apparatus comprising:
An input tray for receiving a plurality of coins of a plurality of denominations in random orientations; means for transporting coins from said input tray to a coin pickup device; said coin pickup device having a hopper for receiving coins in a random orientation and at least a first rail for delivering coins at an exit region of said first rail, with said coins in a substantially coplanar attitude and in single file; at least a first sensor, spaced from said exit region, for providing at least a first signal indicative of at least a first coin characteristic; means for providing kinetic energy to said hopper to assist in movement of sticky coins.
- 25. Apparatus as claimed in claim 24 wherein said means for providing kinetic energy comprises means for providing vibration to said hopper.
- 26. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 25 further comprising a motor for use in moving coins in said hopper and wherein said motor is controlled to provide said vibration.
Parent Case Info
[0001] The present application is a continuation-in-part of, and claims priority in, U.S. application Ser. No. 08/883,780 filed Jun. 27, 1997, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 08/807,046 filed Feb. 24, 1997 which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 08/672,639 filed Jun. 28, 1996, all incorporated by reference.
Continuations (3)
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09703946 |
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10336617 |
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09105403 |
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09703946 |
Oct 2000 |
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08672639 |
Jun 1996 |
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08807046 |
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Continuation in Parts (2)
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08883780 |
Jun 1997 |
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09105403 |
Jun 1998 |
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08807046 |
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08883780 |
Jun 1997 |
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