Mars, Incorporated

American Manufacturing Company, Inc.

Mars Electronics

Philip R Reger

Patrick J McGarry

Bob M Dobbins

Philippe S Jard

Craig A Lewis

A coin handling apparatus includes a coin storage container having conductive electrodes disposed along sides of the coin storage container. The coin handling apparatus also includes a voltage generator. A processor controls the voltage generator to provide output signals to excite the electrodes at multiple frequencies. The processor is configured to determine a resonant frequency based on levels of reflected power resulting from the output signals and to estimate a number of coins in the container based on the resonant frequency.

Measuring a stack of coins in a coin handling device

A vending machine capable of communicating with a central station using any one of multiple cellular carriers includes a telemetry device. The telemetry device includes a cellular transceiver, a digital signal processor-based modem, and memory storing software corresponding to protocols for each of the cellular carriers. The telemetry device can be reconfigured, in response to signals received from the central station using a first one of the cellular carriers, to transmit and receive signals subsequently using a second one of the cellular carriers. Software code residing in memory associated with a sub-unit of a vending machine can also be upgraded or otherwise modified by transmitting segments of software code from a remote station to a telemetry device in the vending machine using a cellular carrier, assembling the segments of software code in the telemetry device, and routing the assembled software code to a designated one of the sub-units of the vending machine.

Monitoring and reporting system using cellular carriers

A low power control apparatus for a coin operated telephone controls a full range of phone functions as well as an electronic coin acceptor. The control utilizes phone line power. Power for all the normal operations of the coin operated telephone and its coin acceptor is also supplied from the phone line. The control is preferably microcontroller based and designed utilizing low power components. In the control, an interface circuit serves to connect the phone tip and ring lines to either a power supply circuit or to a totalizer and escrow control circuit. The power supply also provides power to an audio network including a variety of fraud prevention circuits, a modem, and several time generator circuits. A monitor system monitors the status of several security switches to monitor the phone's condition. Hardware and software design features control the application of power to circuits only when needed.

Low power control apparatus for a coin operated telephone

Improved radar apparatus includes a rotatable antenna structure which includes an antenna disposed within a housing which is rotatably driven. Also disposed within the rotatable housing are a unitary magnetron, microwave circulator and microwave limiter device which rotates when the housing is rotatably driven. Additionally, a transmitter, such as a modulator coupled to the unitary device and a receiver also coupled to the unitary device are disposed within the rotatable housing. Preferably, the antenna is formed as a slotted wave guide antenna. Radar signals transmitted from and reflected to the antenna pass through a slotted filter which is mounted in front of the antenna. A commutator, preferably formed of slip rings and brushes, serves to electronically connect the transmitter and receiver within the housing to signal processing circuitry fixedly disposed externally of the housing, thereby permitting the housing to rotate while coupling electrical signals to and from the transmitter and receiver.

Radar apparatus

This circuit includes a DC source in series with a load to be energized, the DC source also being coupled to a constant-current circuit coupled to the input of an output-signal-generating means. The latter produces an output signal in response to the detection by an associated sensor of a changing condition monitored by the sensor. When the signal-generating means detects a change, an SCR coupled to the DC source is turned on thereby by-passing all of the DC from said source around said constant current source. Simultaneously, the signal-generating means causes an associated LED to emit a light signal.

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Newtown Square, PA, United States of America

Philip R Reger