The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 02, 1991
Filed:
Dec. 26, 1989
Eilert J Berg, Ada, MI (US);
Byron D Bowles, Indianapolis, IN (US);
James D York, Indianapolis, IN (US);
AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, NJ (US);
Abstract
An electronic coin chute (ECC) for use in a public telephone station has only a small amount of electrical power available from the telephone line when examining coins for authenticity and denomination. To conserve power during the examination process, a plurality of coin quality sensors are used, each designed to use minimum power. Each sensor generates an oscillating magnetic field that interacts with the coin as it gravitates through the coin chute. By monitoring the output electrical signal from each coin quality sensor, the microprocessor is able to determine when the coin has moved beyond its field and, in response, power is removed from that sensor and applied to the next. After the coin's qualities have been measured, they are compared with stored acceptance limits. Power is removed from the last coin quality sensor and applied to a coin routing apparatus to guide accepable coins into a collection box.