Coin detection and validation means and method

Abstract

A coin validation circuit and method of operation thereof, including a memory having stored therein a data entry for each acceptable denomination, a validation control circuit, preferably including a microprocessor, operatively connected to the memory, a ringing circuit operatively connected to the validation control circuit and operable to produce damped wave output signals, and a monitor circuit operatively connected to the ringing circuit to respond to a particular predetermined damped wave output signal characteristic, the validation control circuit operable during a coin validation operation with respect to any one of the acceptable denominations to retrieve from the memory a predetermined data entry, to produce a conditioning signal corresponding to the retrieved predetermined data entry to effect a pre-conditioning of the ringing circuit in accordance therewith, and to thereafter produce a ring initiation signal, the ringing circuit responsive to such ring initiation signal to produce during a ringing time interval a damped wave output signal the characteristics of which are dependent, in part, both upon the particular pre-condition of the ringing circuit and upon any coin in the field of the ringing circuit, the damped wave output signal produced in response to such ring initiation signal having associated therewith the particular predetermined damped wave output signal characteristic if a coin of the particular acceptable denomination whose associated data entry was retrieved from memory and utilized to pre-condition the ringing circuit is in the field of the ringing circuit during the ringing time interval, regardless of the denomination of the coin submitted to examination or the particular acceptable denomination with respect to which the coin validation operation is conducted.