Protel, Inc.

Patrick R Gorman

Stephen J Hayes

An item discriminating method and apparatus are provided for discriminating between an acceptable and unacceptable item. An apparatus for item discriminating preferably includes characteristics for determining selected characteristics of an item under test and a deviation value determiner responsive to the characteristic determiner for determining a deviation value between the item under test and predetermined statistical variables for the selected characteristics of a plurality of acceptable items. An accepting or rejecting device responsive to the deviation value determiner accepts or rejects the item under test based upon whether the deviation value falls within a predetermined range.

Item discrimination apparatus and method

An electronic coin detector and method for sensing the presence of a valid coin and for providing an indication of the valid coin's type. A coin is guided into position between a first set of inductor coils. The coin is then guided through a channel surrounded by a second inductor coil. A first oscillating signal is then fed to the first set of inductor coils and a second higher frequency oscillating signal is fed to a second inductor coil. An altered signal is then provided in response to the effect of the coin passing through the inductor coils. After the coin has passed adjacent one of the inductor coils, the inductor coils are fed a calibration signal to produce a calibrated signal. This calibrated signal is then used to scale the altered signal. The frequency, amplitude, and amplitude-time characteristics of the scaled altered signal for the first set of inductor coils and the second inductor coil are combined with prestored statistical variables corresponding to frequency, amplitude, and amplitude-time characteristic values of a sample of valid coins. The combined results are then compared to determine if the deposited coin is valid. If the coin is valid, the combined results are compared with the prestored statistical variables to determine the coin's type.

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Lakeland, FL, United States of America

Patrick R Gorman