Gte Valeron Corporation

The Valeron Corporation

Compunetics, Inc.

Gte Valenite Corporation

Adac Plastics, Inc.

Richard O Juengel

Kenneth J Cook

Donald R Bernier

Stephen G Fraser

John D Begin

John Khalaf

Kurt W Bailey

Richard T Young

Robert Dault

Seymour Bell

Paul A Manns

A coin identification apparatus includes a pair of series connected coils driven by an oscillator. Frequency and/or amplitude characteristics of the oscillator output generated by the passage of a distinct token between the pair of coils are compared with prestored characteristics of acceptable tokens. A processor, upon detecting a match between the detected and pre-stored frequency and amplitude characteristics, activates a motor to rotate a coin receptacle to a coin return position discharging the token to the user, simultaneously causes a door latch pin to separate from a door latch allowing opening of the door to permit access to the interior of the enclosure in which the coin identification apparatus is mounted and selects a new total vend value from memory associated with a detected token.

Coin identification apparatus

A coin identification apparatus includes a pair of spaced series connected elongated, planar coils driven by an oscillator. Maximum frequency and amplitude values of the oscillator output generated by the passage of a coin between the pair of coils are compared with prestored frequency and amplitude values of acceptable coins. A processor, upon detecting a match between the detected and pre-stored frequency and amplitude values, activates a motor to rotate a coin receptacle to a position discharging coins into a storage receptacle and simultaneously causing a door latch pin to separate from a door latch allowing opening of the door to permit vending of an article from the enclosure in which the coin identification apparatus is mounted.

A circuit for use in providing high voltage power to a neon bulb positioned on the vehicle utilizing the vehicle DC battery as the power source. The circuit includes an invertor, a transformer, and a rectifier. The invertor receives low voltage DC from the vehicle battery, converts the low voltage DC to a low voltage AC drive voltage, and delivers the AC drive voltage to the transformer primary for conversion to a high voltage AC at the transformer secondary. The rectifier receives the high voltage AC from the transformer secondary, converts the high voltage AC to high voltage DC, and delivers the high voltage DC to the neon bulb. Since the power delivered to the neon tube is DC there is less need to shield the tube with respect to electro magnetic emissions and parasitic losses in the wire runs between the battery and the neon tube are significantly reduced.

Power supply for vehicular neon light

Various techniques are disclosed for controlling the operation of a workpiece inspection procedure using a battery operated probe to contact the workpiece and transmit information back to a controller in a machine tool system. In one embodiment, battery power is applied to the probe transmission circuitry in response to a flash of infrared radiation. In another embodiment, the probe is turned on by touching the probe against a reference surface. In both embodiments, a timer is provided to automatically disconnect the batteries after a predetermined time period. In such manner battery life is prolonged.

Optical data system having flash/receiver head for energizing/receiving

This invention relates to a digital communication circuit which is particularly adapted to be used in factories employing flexible machining systems where pallets supporting workpieces are moved from one work station to another. An identification transponder in accordance with this invention is powered by a battery supply and travels on the pallet. Once the pallet is in close proximity to a work station, a flash of light is provided by an interrogator which is received by a transponder. The transponder is then activated to transmit a light signal modulated by a stored binary coded identification word which is received by the interrogator. The identification code is transmitted by the transponder through the use of frequency shift keying modulation. The circuit according to this invention features low battery current draw during the normally unenergized condition and further provides a battery voltage monitoring circuit.

Industrial identification transponder

Method and apparatus for performing workpiece inspection with a probe

Provision is made for identifying tools used in an automated machine tool system. A module or transponder is mounted to the tool and interrogated by a transceiver which, in the preferred embodiments, has read/write capabilities. The transponder uses energy from the transmitted signal to power itself and send information stored in its memory back to the transceiver. In one embodiment, electromagnetic energy is transmitted from the transceiver to the transponder while the transponder to transceiver communication link is provided by way of capacitive coupling.

Tool identification system

The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method of testing the operability of probes used in performing workpiece probing operations. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the probe has a first circuit for generating a first signal, the first signal inducing the probe to generate a second signal. A second circuit is provided for receiving the second signal. The second circuit is adapted to generate a third signal indicative of the operability of the probe when the second signal is received. In the preferred embodiment, an infrared signal is delivered by the apparatus to the probe causing the probe to emit an infrared signal. The infrared signal emitted by the probe is then used by the apparatus to generate an electrical signal indicative of the operability of the probe.

Method and apparatus for testing the operability of a probe

Automated gaging apparatus for use with a machine tool system is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus is adapted for use with a touch probe and includes circuitry for frequency shift keying a subcarrier signal responsive to contact occurring between the touch probe and a workpiece. The subcarrier is used to switch a source of microwave radiation, such as a Gunn diode oscillator, on and off at the shifted frequency. The microwave signal is detected by a remote receiver, and the detected signal is coupled to the controller for the machine tool system for use in gaging the workpiece.

Touch probe using microwave transmission

Provision is made in a battery operated probe for detecting and wirelessly transmitting information to a remote receiver indicating that the battery power in the probe is low. In the preferred embodiment, both probe stylus position information and low battery information are transmitted by way of at least one infrared optical transmission device in the probe. A pair of phase locked loop circuits in the remote receiver are used to discriminate stylus position information from low battery condition information in the optical transmission.

Probe having low battery detection/transmission feature

A touch probe construction that enables it to be used in place of tool holders used in existing turning centers to perform workpiece inspection operations without requiring modification of the machine. The probe housing is designed to generally correspond in shape to the tool holders and includes a self-contained battery power supply and transmission circuitry for radiating an infrared signal to a remote receiver head when the probe stylus contacts an object such as a workpiece surface. The probe circuitry is designed so that current drain on the battery is minimized.

Probe

A data communication system for machine performing operations on a workpiece is disclosed. A battery operated transmitter supplies power to electrical components adapted to transmit a plurality of different infrared signals to a remote receiver. The remote receiver includes a timer that is energized by the detection of any of the received signals from the transmitter and is operative to display to the user an indication of battery usage in the transmitter.

Low battery detector for a machine system using infrared telemetry

Apparatus for detecting the position of a probe relative to a workpiece, for example probe contact with the workpiece, is disclosed. The apparatus includes a transducer for converting probe contact to an electrical signal and a plurality of light emitting semiconductors for wirelessly transmitting an indication of the occurrence of the signal via infrared radiation. The apparatus is particularly suitable for operation with a mechanical switch type probe transducer. The apparatus is easily adapted to transmit the occurrence of probe contact by either amplitude modulation or frequency modulation of the emitted infrared radiation.

Growing community of inventors

Romeo, MI, United States of America

Richard O Juengel