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:
May. 01, 2001
Filed:
Jul. 29, 1997
Joseph R. McGinty, Madison, AL (US);
Steven Michael Faes, Huntsville, AL (US);
Gregory Lee Distler, Huntsville, AL (US);
Eugene Gray Heathershaw, Hunstsville, AL (US);
Gary Grantland, Huntsville, AL (US);
QVEX, Inc., Madison, AL (US);
Abstract
A coin validation mechanism for evaluating coins and the like inserted therein and for validating acceptable coins includes a coin chute defining a coin path and a sensor for evaluating the type of material of which the object in the coin chute is made of. The sensor for evaluating includes a coil sensor positioned adjacent the coin path and a non-resonant electrical circuit for operation of the coil sensor. The coin validation mechanism also includes a light source for directing light across the coin path and a light sensor for sensing light directed across the coin path. An electronic unit is provided for evaluating an electromagnetic perturbation caused by an object moving past the coil sensor and for determining the amount of light blocked by the object in the coin path by comparing the amount of light sensed by the light sensor with the object in the coin with the amount of light sensed by the light sensor in the absence of an object in the coin path. The electronic unit further compares the amount of light blocked by the object in the coin path and the electromagnetic perturbation with known values for valid coins to evaluate whether the object in the coin path is a valid coin or not.