Compunetics, Inc.

Computerized Security Systems

Stephen G Fraser

Richard O Juengel

Donald R Bernier

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 locking system is disclosed which comprises a microcomputer controlled lock with multiple level keying, i.e. multiple keys having different functions in the locking system. A key reader, for example punch card or magnetic type, reads key code into the microcomputer. A read/write memory has a predetermined number of assigned key codes stored therein and a read-only memory has a control program stored therein for control of the microcomputer. An electrically controlled actuator for the locking means is coupled with an unlocking output of the microcomputer. The control program comprises a main program and a plurality of subroutines each stored at a different location in the read-only memory. A function table has a number of pointers each of which points to the memory address of one of the subroutines. The number of pointers in the function table is equal to the number of locations in the key code memory. Decoding means operative under program control in conjunction with a control code on the key points to selected locations in the key code memory and the function table corresponding to the control code. The microcomputer, under control of the main program, compares the primary and secondary key codes from the selected key with the assigned key code at the location in the key code memory. If there is a match, the microcomputer then operates under the control of the subroutine at the memory address pointed to by the function table to execute the function of the selected key.

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Troy, MI, United States of America

Stephen G Fraser