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:
Dec. 21, 1999
Applicant:
Inventors:
Thomas J. Cattani, King of Prussia, PA (US);
Stephen John Dillon, Reading, GB;
Assignee:
Mars Incorporated, McLean, VA (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G07D 5/08 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G07D 5/08 ;
Abstract
A coin validator is arranged to sample the outputs of electromagnetic sensors in order to derive measurements for use in testing coins. Frequency measurements are made by counting a predetermined number of oscillator cycles, terminating the sample period in response to this count being reached, and taking into account the duration of the sampling period and the number of cycles of the oscillator during the sampling period, including any cycles which may have occurred following the predetermined number. The predetermined number is altered in order to change the sampling period.