EP1479050A2

EP1479050A2 - Portable electronic coin holder for a facilitated withdrawal of coins up to a desired amount

Info

Publication number: EP1479050A2
Application number: EP03737434A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Fabio Topani
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-02-08
Filing date: 2003-02-07
Publication date: 2004-11-24
Also published as: WO2003067529A3; ITRM20020066A1; AU2003209696A1; AU2003209696A8; WO2003067529A2; ITRM20020066A0

Abstract

A portable electronic coin holder for a facilitated withdrawal of coins up to a desired amount is constituted by a rigid container (1), in which the coins (M1...8) are in rows set face down on the bottom of distinct loading and withdrawal channels (11) comprising a thrust organ (15) and elastic holding means to position the last coin of the row projecting from the open end (13) of the channel (11). The roof (9) of each channel (11) is constituted by a printed circuit board, to detect, by means of a scan by rows, the position of the thrust organ (15) and hence the humber of coins contained in the channel (11). On the roof (9) is present an electronic circuit with a microprocessor, whereto are connected, in addition to conductive tracks of each channel (11), a keypad, a liquid crystal display, and a series of light emitting diodes.

Description

Portable Electronic Coin Holder for a Facilitated Withdrawal of Coins up to a Desired Amount

The present invention relates to a portable electronic coin holder for a facilitated withdrawal of coins up to a desired amount.

The shift to the Euro as the currency in European Union countries led to the circulation of a considerable mass of coins, due on one hand to the introduction of small denomination, and on the other to the minting of coins of a value that previously had been covered by banknotes.

As expected, this is causing difficulties in the use of such coins. Some are too small to be handled with ease; moreover, we are still not used to recognise them, and in the final analysis drawing them from more ore less large coin pouches, where they are stored in random fashion, entails considerable time wastage.

In Countries outside Europe, especially in the United States of America where cents have always been used, the problem has been tackled in several ways. For instance, coin holders that resemble cash register holders are common. In such coin holders, normally made of plastic material, coins having the same value are housed stacked in respective columns and holding means enable to extract the coins one at a time from the respective stacks in the number the user of the coin holder has to quantify for each operation.

A similar operation must be performed when using a similar coin holder called

EuroMoneyCard®, recently made available on the market. This coin holder is a rigid flattened container, in whose interior the coins are set face down on the bottom of distinct loading and withdrawal channels provided with side boards of such height as to separate a respective row of coins of the same value from an adjacent row of coins of different value. The loading and withdrawal channels are distributed in two ranks symmetrically facing each other. Each loading and withdrawal channel is provided with a single open end suitable both for the introduction and the extraction of the coins. The user, for the extraction of the coins, must act with the fingers tangentially on the coins, through a through slot obtained in the rigid container superiorly to each loading and withdrawal channel. The slot has such dimensions as not to allow the coins to exit superiorly from the loading and withdrawal channel. Moreover, in proximity to the open end are provided elastic means to hold the row of coins so that they remain inside the rigid container. The coin holder described above also has the drawback whereby the user must count number and value of the coins to be extracted until reaching the desired amount on each occasion.

An aim of the present invention is not to require the user of the coin holder to act on the row of coins assorted in the various loading and withdrawal channels of the coin holder to make the exit from its open end.

Another aim of the invention is to aid the user, eliminating the need to count the coins to withdraw from his/her coin holder until obtaining the desired sum.

Yet another aim of the invention is to indicate the insufficiency of coins necessary to reach a determined amount desired by the user. A further aim of the invention is to operate as a EURO/LIRA converter.

Therefore, according to the invention, a portable electronic coin holder is provided for a facilitated withdrawal of coins up to a desired amount, constituted by a flattened rigid container comprising at least a rank of distinct parallel loading and withdrawal channels; each channel, provided with a bottom and with a roof, having an organ for thrusting the row of coins positioned in its interior, able to thrust the row of coins in the direction of the open end; said thrust organ sustaining an electric contact bridge; elastic means for holding the row of coins, located in proximity to the open of the channel in such a way as to position the last coin of the row partially projecting from said open end; and the roof of the channel being constituted by a printed circuit board, having a side for solders, oriented towards the coins, and provided, in correspondence with each loading and withdrawal channel, with a succession of contacts, one for each coin of the row in the loading and withdrawal channel, and a conductive track set side by side and destined to be contacted by said contact bridge of the thrust organ, to detect, with a scan by row, the position of said organ and hence the number of coins contained in the respective loading and withdrawal channel; the roof of the highest rank of the distinct parallel loading and withdrawal channels bearing, on the side opposite its solder side, an electronic circuit, appropriately powered, including a microprocessor, whereto are connected, in addition to the conductive tracks of each channel for loading and withdrawal rows of coins, a keypad, a liquid crystal display, a series of light emitting diodes, a diode for each loading and withdrawal channel; said microprocessor, which in its operating program comprises the breakdown of the desired amount according to the different values of coins present in the coin holder into a number of coins counted in each row, being operatively connected to the conductive tracks of each loading and withdrawal channel of coin rows to calculate he number of coins contained in the coin holder through a scan by rows and their total value, to the keypad for entering the desired amount of coins to be withdrawn, to the light emitting diodes to keep them lighted until the number of coins selected for the withdrawal is extracted from the respective loading and withdrawal channel, or until the operation is reset; an upper panel for closing the container, located above said roof for using the keys of said keypad, of the liquid crystal display, of the series of light emitting diodes. The present invention will now be described with reference to its preferred embodiments, considered together with the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic top plan view of an electronic coin holder according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows a schematic exploded perspective view of the coin holder of Figure 1; - Figure 3 shows a partial enlarged exploded view of Figure 2;

Figure 4 shows a partial combined view of the view of Figure 3 ;

Figure 5 shows a block diagram of the main components of an electronic circuit of the coin holder according to the invention;

Figure 6 shows an exemplifying diagram relating to the operation of the matrices of the keypad and of coin presence sensors;

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of a variation of the coin holder of Figure 1 , having a dual rank of loading and withdrawal channels; and

Figure 8 shows a plan view of a variation of the profile of the coin holder according to the invention. With reference to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a plan top view of the coin holder according to the invention, which is constituted by a rigid container 1, shown in the form of an exploded perspective view in Figure 2 and described hereafter. In Figure 1, the reference number 2 designates a numeric keypad with twelve keys, including a key

C for resetting all temporary counters and the settings made through the keypad. Also added are keys such as a key 3 for the Euro-Lira conversion and a calculation key 4.

Each key has the corresponding digit or symbol both printed and represented in raised symbols according to the Braille code. The reference number 5 designates a numeric display with four, or more, digits whereof two decimals, whilst the reference number

6 generically indicates light emitting diodes. The reference number 7 designates a piezoelectric acoustic signalling device as an aid to the sight impaired. The references

M_{j 8} designate coins introduced into the coin holder, each having a different value, as shown in serigraph reproduction R_{t 8} in correspondence with the respective coin (in Euro and cents thereof) represented frontally next to the respective light emitting diode. The coins M_1---8 are inserted in loading and withdrawal channels shown in an exploded perspective view, globally and individually in Figures 2 and 3 respectively. As shown in Figure 2, according to an embodiment the container 1 has a bottom

8, a roof 9 and a top closure panel 10 provided with a housing for flat batteries, designated with the reference number 100.

The bottom 8 has a rank of parallel loading and withdrawal generically designated with the reference 11 and shown in greater detail in Figure 3. The coins (for instance M_j) are set face down on the bottom of the loading and withdrawal channels 11, provided with side boards 12 of such a height as to separate a respective row of coins of the same value from an adjacent row of coins of different value. As shown in Figure 2, the loading and withdrawal channels 11 are located on a same plane, to form a rank, but multiple ranks can be provided as shown hereafter. Each loading and withdrawal channel 11 is provided with a single open end, generically indicated as 13. The open end 13 is suitable both for the introduction and the extraction of the coins. As shown in Figure 3, elastic means are provided for holding the row of coins against their accidental escape. Said elastic holding means, in the form, for instance, of conducting clips 14, are situated on the side boards 12 in proximity to the open end 13. Though not shown, the conducting clips 14 are connected to the electronic circuit described hereafter.

Inside each loading and withdrawal channel 11 is provided an organ 15 for thrusting on the row of coins positioned in its interior towards the open end 13. The thrust organ 15, able to thrust the row of coins towards the open end 13 of the loading and withdrawal 11, conveniently comprises an abutment element 16, preferably with concave shape, with a semi-cylindrical surface 19 oriented towards the first coin of the row and a traction spring 17, set below the bearing plane of the coins in the channel 11. The spring, connected on one side to the abutment element 16 and on the other side to the bottom wall 8, in correspondence with the open end 13, constantly maintains the abutment element 16 in contact with the coin (in the figure it is shown separate, only for the sake of clarity). The thrusting organ 15 supports an electric contact bridge 18.

The bridge 18 has a side 20 bent to a U shape, described in greater detail hereafter.

Thanks to the presence of the conducting clips 14, the last coin in the row of coins inside a loading and withdrawal channel 11 is always partially projecting from the lateral profile of the container 1, as shown in Figure 1. It is obvious that the lateral profile of the coin holder according to the invention can be appropriately shaped, as shown hereafter, for instance provided with recesses in correspondence with each loading and withdrawal channel. In this way, the coins can be reached and gripped by the user, whilst still being protected by the profile of the coin holder. In any case, equivalent systems for holding and releasing the coins can be provided.

The roof 9 of the rank of loading and withdrawal channels 11 is constituted by a printed circuit board 21. In the embodiment of Figures 1 through 3, which has a single rank of parallel loading and withdrawal channels 11, on the printed circuit board 21 is positioned an electronic circuit whereto are connected the numeric keypad 2, the Euro- Lira conversion key 3, the calculation key 4, the numeric display 5, the light emitting diodes 6 and the acoustic signalling device 7. The electronic circuit shall be described with reference to Figure 5.

The printed circuit board 21 of the roof 9, in its lower side, i.e. the one oriented towards the coins, or solder side, has, in correspondence with each loading and withdrawal channel, a succession of contacts generically indicated as 22, one for each coin of the row in the loading and withdrawal channel 11, and conductive track 23 set side by side therewith. The coins are conveniently insulated both from the succession of contacts 22 and from the conductive track.

As shown in the assembled detail of Figure 4, the conductive track 23 is destined to be contacted by the side 20 of the contact bridge 18 of the thrust organ 15 to detect, with a scan by row, the position of the abutment element 16 and hence the number of coins contained in the respective loading and withdrawal channel 11.

The printed circuit board 21 of the roof 9 bears, on the side opposite its solder side, the electronic circuit shown in the block diagram of Figure 5. The electronic circuit includes a microprocessor 24, whereto are comiected the conductive tracks 23 of each loading and withdrawal channel 11 of coin rows through a matrix 25. To the microprocessor 24 are also operatively connected a matrix 26 relating to the keypad 2, to the key 3, to the calculation key 4, the liquid crystal display 4-27 by means of a related driver 28, if provided, the series of light emitting diodes 6-29, i.e. a diode for each loading and withdrawal channel, through a related driver 30, if provided, a detection amplifier 31 connected to the conducting clips 14 for holding the coin row, and the acoustic signalling device 7-32 through a related driver 33, if provided. A block 34 designates the power supply for the entire electronic circuit, preferably in the form of a battery.

Above the roof 9 is the upper panel 10 for closing the container 1. The upper panel 10 is positioned above the roof 9 and made lighter with slots (not further designated with numbers) in correspondence with the keys of the keypad 2, with the key 3, with the calculation key 4, with the liquid crystal display 5, with the series of light emitting diodes 6, and with the acoustic signalling device 7. Alternatively, and depending on the process employed to manufacture the coin holder according to the present invention, the upper panel 10 can totally or partially lack slots since the various components such as keys, displays, acoustic signalling device, can be incorporated in a highly integrated pre-assembled element (not shown in the drawings).

The microprocessor 24 is provided with at least a ROM in which the application program is stored, a RAM in which are stored the values of the variables necessary for the calculations and for the operation of the device in general, and with other resources such a process arithmetic unit (ALU), timers, counters, interrupts, necessary to implement the functions of the device.

The microprocessor 24 periodically scans the matrix 26 of the keypad to determine whether numeric or functional keys have been pressed and scans the coin matrix 25 to determine the quantity and type of coins present in the device. The matrices 25 and 27 can be obtained with a single optimised matrix as shown schematically in Figure 6, where the inclined bars indicate the closure of the row- column contact, h the same figure, the arrow F indicates the input signal into the sole matrix 25, 26 coming from the microprocessor 24, whilst the arrow G indicates the output signal from the sole matrix 25, 26 towards the same microprocessor 24. The output signal through the arrow G could be represented by a single analogue electrical line that assumes a voltage value that is proportional to the pressed keys through appropriate and known resistor networks and through an analogue-digital converter, not shown in the figures, internal or external to the microprocessor 24.

The microprocessor 24 also reads the detection amplifier to determine which type of coin is touched by the user and consequently performs specific events:

- the display of digits and/or symbols on the liquid crystal display 5-27 when a key of the matrix 26 of the keypad is pressed or a coin is extracted;

- the emission of differentiated sounds when keys of the matrix 26 of the keypad are pressed or a coin is touched; and - the lighting / extinguishing of one or more light emitting diodes when keys of the matrix 26 of the keypad are pressed or a coin is extracted. Naturally, the microprocessor 24 can perform all other allowed functions, such as that of clock, date keeper, and other typical functions.

The operation of the electronic coin holder according to the invention is as follows. After being loaded with the assorted coins in the various denominations, the microprocessor is able to provide on the display 5 the quantity of coins present and the amount available.

When the user has to make a withdrawal from the coin holder, (s)he enters the desired amount on the keypad 2, which will appear on the display 5. The euro-lira conversion can be performed by pressing the key 3.

The desired amount, set through the keypad 2, is compared with the amount of coins present in the coin holder.

If the desired amount exceeds the coins present, its breakdown is limited to the available coins, but the light emitting diodes can be made to blink to signal that the coins are insufficient. The blinking may be associated with an acoustic warning.

If it is available, the desired amount is broken down into the various denominations of coins that can cover it. In correspondence with the coins, the light emitting diodes will be lighted. These diodes will be extinguished as the counted coins are extracted from the respective loading and withdrawal channel, or when the key C is pressed, resetting all temporary counters and settings made through the keypad.

When a coin is extracted from a row, the amount shown by the display is reduced according to denomination of the extracted coin. The quantity of coins still available in the coin holder is re-determined by the microprocessor based on the displacement of the abutment element of the coin thrusting organ. The detection amplifier has the function of signalling to the microprocessor that the user's fingers have touched the coins, so that it is possible consequently to emit an acoustic signal to aid the sight impaired. In regard to the detection amplifier, it can be constituted by operational amplifiers or by logic ports in CMOS technology (for instance Schmidt triggers) appropriately polarised and able to assure the logic levels necessary for the microprocessor. The polarisations depend on the characteristics of the electronic components used.

When all light emitting diodes are extinguished, the user has withdrawn the desired amount.

To summarise, the electronic coin holder according to the invention allows: to contain coins in various denominations; - to perform the optimised calculation of the coin denominations necessary to reach a determined amount pre-set by the user; to distribute, in semiautomatic fashion, the coins necessary to reach a determined amount pre-set by the user, as per the optimised calculation; to dispense the coins partially, possibly signalling their insufficiency. The coin holder can be used by the sight impaired. All keys, including the digit keys, bear the corresponding Braille symbol. A sight impaired user can lightly touch all coins and, through the detection amplification, those to be extracted will emit a sound signal replacing the lighting of the light emitting diode. When no sound signal is emitted, the sight impaired user is sure of having extracted the number of coins corresponding to the desired amount.

An equal number of different sound signals can indicate other moments of the operation to the user, for example:

- the selection of the representation of the digit on the display in Lire or Euro;

- the typing of each digit set by the user; - the start of the calculation of the coins (in euro) necessary to withdraw the amount pre-set by the user. With reference to Figure 7, a variation of the electronic coin holder according to the invention is shown in which the channels for the loading and withdrawal of rows of coins of different values are arranged in superposed ranks. In this case the electronic circuit is situated on the top roof 9, and to the same electronic circuit are brought also the electrical connections of the printed circuit board of the underlying roof 90 of the ranks of channels for loading and withdrawing the coins. The reference numbers 8 and 80 designate the related bottoms. Such an arrangement allows to obtain a more compact coin holder, more easily transportable in a pocket or a handbag.

With reference to Figure 8, a variation of the lateral profile of the coin holder according to the invention is shown, in the part where the open ends of the loading and withdrawal channels are located. This profile has half-waves that create indentations designated with the references 35_1---8 and facilitate the extraction of a coin from the related row independently from the rank whereto it belongs.

Claims

1. Portable electronic coin holder for a facilitated withdrawal of coins up to a desired amount, in which, inside a flattened rigid container (1), the coins (M_{! 8}) are set face down on the bottom of distinct loading and withdrawal channels (11) provided with sideboards (12) of such height as to separate a respective row of coins of the same value from an adjacent row of coins of different value, said loading and withdrawal channel

(11) being located on at least a plane, each loading and withdrawal channel (11) being provided with a single open end (13) suited both for the introduction and the extraction of the coins, elastic means for holding the row of coins against their accidental escape being provided in proximity to said open end (13) characterised in that said flattened rigid container (11) comprises : at least a rank of distinct parallel loading and withdrawal channels (11); each channel (11), provided with a bottom (8) and with a roof (9), having

- an organ (15) for thrusting the row of coins positioned inside it, able to thrust the row of coins in the direction of the open end (13); said thrust organ (15) supporting an electrical contact bridge (18);

- elastic means for holding the row of coins, located in proximity to the open end of the channel (11) in such a way as to position the last coin in the row to project partially from said open end (13); and

- the roof (9) of the channel being constituted by a printed circuit board, having a side for solders, oriented towards the coins, and provided, in correspondence with each loading and withdrawal channel (11), with a succession of contacts (22), one for each coin of the row in the loading and withdrawal channel (11), and a conductive track (23) set side by side therewith, destined to be contacted by said contact bridge (18) of the thrust organ (15), to detect, by means of a scan by rows, the position of said thrust organ (15) and hence the number of coins contained in the respective loading and withdrawal channel (11); the roof (9) of the highest rank of the distinct parallel loading and withdrawal channels (11) bearing, on the side opposite its solder side, an electronic circuit, appropriately powered, including a microprocessor (24), whereto are connected, in addition to the conductive tracks of each channel (11) for loading and withdrawing rows of coins, a keypad (2, 3, 4; 26), a liquid crystal display (5, 27), a series of light emitting diodes (6, 29), a diode for each loading and withdrawal channel; said microprocessor (24), which in its operating program comprises the break-down of the desired amount according to the different values of coins present in the coin holder into a number of coins counted in each row, being operatively connected:

- to the conductive tracks (23, 22) of each channel (11) for loading and withdrawing rows of coins to calculate the number of coins contained in the coin holder by means of a scan by rows and their total value, - to the keypad (2, 3, 4; 26) for entering the desired amount of coins to be withdrawn,

- to the light emitting diodes (6, 29) to keep them lighted until the number of coins selected for the withdrawal is extracted from the respective loading and withdrawal channel (11), or until the operation is reset; an upper panel (10) for closing the container (1), located above said roof (9) for use of the keys of said keypad (2, 3, 4), of the liquid crystal display (5), of the series of light emitting diodes (6).

2. Portable electronic coin holder as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said electronic circuit comprises an acoustic signalling device (7, 32).

3. Portable electronic coin holder as claimed in claim 1 and 2, characterised in that said elastic holding means are conductive elastic means (14).

4. Portable electronic coin holder as claimed in claims 1 through 3, characterised in that said electronic circuit comprises an electrical connection with said acoustic signalling device (7, 32), by means of a detection amplifier (31), with said conductive elastic means (14) of each row of coins, to signal to a sight impaired person that the coin selected for withdrawal has been touched.