GB2268610A - Timing circuit for coin operated apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A timing apparatus for controlling the duration of operation of equipment, comprises means for identifying pulse format data representing any one of a series of values of money or aggregates thereof fed to the apparatus and for producing an output signal of a predetermined duration relative to said one value, and/or output signals to effect respectively switching on of the equipment and, after a predetermined period which is related to said one value fed, switching off the equipment. The timing apparatus may be used to control the electrical supply to a children's ride, a drier in a launderette, or lighting for squash of snooker. The amount of time per monetary unit may be selectively variable.

Description

TIMING CIRCUIT This invention relates to a timing circuit for determining the duration of operation of coin controlled equipment such as childrens' rides.

The invention is particularly, but not exclusively, concerned with the provision of a timing device which may be used for new equipment, but also.retro-fitted to existing equipment with existing obsolete timing devices.

According to the invention there is provided a timing apparatus for controlling the duration of operation of equipment, comprising means for identifying pulse format data representing any one of a series of values of money or aggregates thereof fed to the apparatus -and for producing an output signal of a predetermined duration relative to said one value, and/or output signals to effect respectively switching on of the equipment and, after a predetermined period which is related to said one value fed, switching off the equipment.

The means for identifying the pulse format data may be capable of being set or re-set to selected durations of the operation of the equipment in accordance with the series of money values as determined by the operator.

Further according to the Invention there is provided a coin controlled apparatus for determining the duration of operation of equipment in accordance with the value of money fed to the equipment, comprising coin validation means which generates pulse format data representing any one of a series of values of money or aggregates thereof fed to the coin validating means, and means for identifying pulse coded data representing any one of said series of values and for producing an output signal of a predetermined duration which is related to said dne value fed, and/or output signals to effect respectively switching on of the equipment and, after a predetermined period which is related to said one value, switching off the equipment.

The coin controlled apparatus of .the invention is especially suitable for adaptation of existing children's rides commonly installed in supermarkets and amusement arcades but may readily be adapted for use in controlling driers in launderettes, battery operated cars (bumper cars) or for lighting in snooker halls or squash courts.

In order to promote a fuller understanding of the above and other aspects of the present invention, an embodiment for controlling a childrens' fairground ride will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a part schematic and part circuit diagram.

Mounted on a printed circuit board (not shown) are the integrated circuit components of a timing arrangement comprising a micro-processor unit IC2 (e g Z0868108PSC), two data peripheral communication units IC1 and IC3 (e g 74HC574 and Z074J6574), a memory unit, more especially an erasable programmed read only memory (EPROM) IC4 (available as an ST8884AS, M2764AFI or 27128), and a power supply supervisor IC5 (e g TL7705APC (649-510)) which with transistor T4, provides a stable power supply. The micro-processor IC2 includes an on chip clock oscillator which is timed by a crystal XL with associated capacitors IC2.Printed circuit busses B1, B2, B3, and B4 serve to interconnect the pins of the integrated circuits IC1 - IC4, a further printed bus B5 providing an input connection to the micro-processor IC2 from one of the box headers PL5 and PL6 which permit connection to a coin receipt and validator mechanism of known type per se, such as a MARS validator, a National Rejectors Inc (NRI) validator or an Australian Micro-Mech validator, whichever is to be used on a new equipment or is present on an existing equipment, i.e. a ride to which the circuit is to be retrofitted.

A control relay RY2, is mounted on the circuit board and has contact outputs for connection to a switch-off relay and a switch-on circuit (normally controlled by a microswitch) and included in, known manner per se, the solid state control circuit CC of an existing ride (10) (shown in the drawing as a mechanical horse).

A control relay RY1 is mounted on the board and has contact outputs for connection in the mains supply to the ride (10) by means of terminals PL9 (for the connection of the mains supply) and terminals PL8 (for connection to the ride).

The contacts of the relay RY1 are normally closed whereby mains input connected at input terminals PL9 provides a live feed to the output terminals PL8 which receive the mains input leads to the ride on installation of the timer.

Operation of the relay RY1 is arranged therefore to interrupt the supply to the ride only at the end of a ride.

A further relay RY3 is provided on the board for the purpose of switching on and off the switch of an ride in which no timing mechanism such as that indicated at CC is provided. Thus the timer of the present invention is universal in that it can be retro-fitted to the power circuit of a virtually any type of existing ride whichever is applicable.

The relays RY1, RY2, RY3, are supplied with current to be driven from the transistor T4 under the control of respective transistors T3, T1, T5 which in turn are controlled by outputs of the micro-processor IC2.

A further relay (not shown) can be provided in a similar manner to the relays R1, R2, R3 to operate a pulse operated counter, under the control of the micro-processor, to provide an accumulated figure of money taken.

A 5 volt DC supply circuit, shown generally at LVS, including a transformer, bridge rectifier and smoothing components, is connected permanently to the live and neutral terminals of the mains input and provided power for operating all of the integrated circuit components mounted on the board. Additionally a 12v rail (not shown) in the supply LVS may be provided to feed the coin validators (NRI or MARS).

A smaller circuit as indicated at 11, and a 'suppressor as indicated at 12, may be provided in the mains supply.

The EPROM IC4 is programmed for the control of the micro-processor IC2 to read data and operate upon it, and to provide basic control data. The processor IC2 receives pulse format data from the coin validator, which may be a different repeating sequence of pulses representing a series of yalues of coins (or tokens) or aggregates thereof fed to the equipment and for producing an output signal dependent upon the coin value fed.

The processor identifies pulsed data from the validator representing a series of values of coins (or aggregates thereof) fed to the equipment and for producing an output start signal to effect switching on of a ride and, after a predetermined period relative to the value fed, providing an output stop signal to cause switching off the equipment.

The predetermined periods of the ride according to the value of the coin inserted, or the aggregate of coins inserted, may be selected by the operator by means of a seriestof.dip switches DS connected to the processor IC2 the significance of which is recognised by the micro-processor under the control of the EPROM IC4.

If, for example, a 10p coin were to be inserted, a short single negative pulse would occur on pin 20 (IC2), and the ride would start. If now, a 1 coin were to be inserted a few moments later, the processor would receive a short single negative pulse on pin 17 (IC2). The processor would then read the EPROM and dip switches and apportion a ride to the value of 1.10. Whatever coin is inserted, the same short negative pulse occurs. Different coins pulse different pins on the processor, enabling the processor to determine the coin denomination.

The EPROM IC4 is also programmed so that an enabling output signal is provided only after a minimum value of coin has been deposited in the ride, the minimum value being settable by appropriate selection of the dip switches.

The start and stop signals to the relays RY2 and RY3 will each have a predetermined duration as selected by suitable programming of the EPROM. The duration of these start and stop signals may be altered by re-programming the EPROM. In the present example the start pulse is of 0.1 second and the stop pulse is 3 seconds, the function of these pulses being further explained below.

Operation of the timing circuit as connected to the existing control circuit of a ride will now be described.

The existing time device of the control circuit is adjusted to a maximum duration of ride.

On deposit of a coin or several coins into the coin slot of the ride the validator (MARS or NRI) will generate a negative pulse signal, representing the value or aggregate value, which is fed by bus B5 to the micro-processor IC2.

The function of the processor IC2 is to sense the input information signal, obtain basic data from the EPROM IC4 and to operate relays RY2 and RY3 in a sequentially correct order in accordance with the duration of and interval data fed back to the processor IC2 by the EPROM.

The purpose of operating the relay RY2 for 0.1 second pulse is to simulate the pulse which a coin microswitch in the existing equipment would produce. Therefore it is compatible with any micro-switch start activated equipment. The control circuit of the ride receiving this pulse and believing it to have come from the micro-switch, starts to operate. The pulse is originated in the microprocessor under the control of the EPROM, which in turn directly operates the relay RY2 through transistor T1.

The relay RY1 is energised for 3 seconds to enable the stop sequence. This is achieved by removing the power to the ride, and consequently shutting down any integrated circuits within the machine still running. The stop signal is generated by the micro-processor IC2 under the control of the EPROM. Micro-processor IC2, then directly operates the relay RY1 through transistor T3.

Referring now to application of the timer in a ride which does not have a timer circuit such as that shown at CC; when the timer relay RY3 is energised, it allows the facility for either normally open or normally closed relay contacts, for a pre-settable duration.. The majority of older equipment which employ relays do so to start their ride and stay energised throughout the duration of the ride. Thus in the older equipment, it is possible to use the present timer circuit in place of theirs, or optionally, use the relay to energise the existing relay. The ride is started because whichever system 1S employed 240v AC can be carried on the relay contacts to the ride motor and sound and light circuits.

The timing circuit of the present invention may be suitably compact for insertion into known rides without necessitating additional housing, the overall dimensions being suitably 215 mm x 95 mm x 25 mm.

It will be appreciated that both the NRI and MARS validators may be programmed to accommodate coins of foreign currencies. For the United Kingdom the validator program will be pre-set to accept lop, 20p, 50p and 1 coins.

Claims (5)

1. A timing apparatus for controlling the duration of operation of equipment, comprising means for identifying pulse format data representing any one of a series of values of money or aggregates thereof fed to the apparatus and for producing an output signal of a predetermined duration relative to said one value, and/or output signals to effect respectively switching on of the equipment and, after a predetermined period which is related to said one value fed, switching off the equipment.

2. A coin controlled apparatus for determining the duration of operation of.equipment in accordance with the value of money fed to the equipment, comprising coin validation means which generates pulse format data representing any one of a series of values of money or aggregates thereof fed to the coin validating means, and means for identifying pulse coded data representing any one of said series of values and for producing an output signal of a predetermined duration which is related to said one value fed, and/or output signals to effect respectively switching on of the equipment and,'after a predetermined period which is related to said one value, switching off the equipment.

3. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, in which said identifying means comprises a micro-processor with an associated EPROM device which is programmed to control the micro-processor and provided basic data thereto.

4. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the relationship between said one value and said predetermined period is select ably variable.

5. A timing apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.