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. 26, 2009
Filed:
Nov. 05, 2002
Geoffrey Howells, Salisbury, GB;
Geoffrey Howells, Salisbury, GB;
Scan Coin Industries AB, Malmo, SE;
Abstract
A coin processing machine with a coin discriminator operated by a method is provided. The coin discriminator measures how a coin having an iron core covered by a layer of copper, brass, or bronze affects a coil when the coin is subjected to magnetic fields generated by the coil, external to the coin. Eddy currents induced in the coin are detected external of the coin. The discriminator induces a magnetic field in the coil by driving the coil with time varying drive signals having high frequencies. The coin discriminator receives the coin at precise positions in the magnetic field and detects the eddy currents induced in the coin by measuring the eddy currents through the coil. Then, the coin discriminator compares the measured eddy currents with predetermined values for different types of coils, and determines the structure, materials and type of the coin.