GB2281800A

GB2281800A - Coin tester using slow-speed ADC

Info

Publication number: GB2281800A
Application number: GB9415270A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ibarrola Jesus Echapare
Original assignee: Azkoyen Industrial SA
Current assignee: Azkoyen Industrial SA
Priority date: 1993-08-30
Filing date: 1994-07-28
Publication date: 1995-03-15
Anticipated expiration: 2014-07-28
Also published as: MX9406587A; DE4429749A1; GB2281800B; GB9415270D0

Description

2281800 ANALOGUE SIGNAL ANALYSIS METHOD AND ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT OBJECT OF

THE INVENTION The present invention relates, as stated in the title to this specification, to an analogue signal analysis method and electronic circuit, applicable in the field of coin feature electronic measurement, above all in applications where the constructive elements must be very simple.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Spanish patent of invention 9000252 shows how the is analogue signal AS breaks down into as many measurement areas as there are grade changes (+) to (-) or (-) to (+) in such signal. The digital signal DS obtained, according to f igure 1 of the said patent, has its upward and downward edges related to such grade changes, which edges define points of interest in the analogue signal SA such as the maxima and minima of each signal.

In the prior art there are measurement processes that define the significant amplitude values of the signal (maxima and minima) but these are complex and hence expensive, for a large number of analogue signal AS values must be established in order tzo allow a precise discrimination of the values matching the maxima or minima.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The improvement subject hereof comprises providing an additional analogue system AS measurement in order to better characterise the signal given by the sensors contemporaneously requiring a minimum number of elements and therefore a low production cost.

Using the analysis process of patent of invention 9000252 it is very simple and cheap to establish the analogue signal AS-value at points at which the digital signal DS changes level from high to low or low to high.

It is sufficient to include a simple analogue-to-digital converter, of any known type, for high conversion speed is not required. In the case of figure 1 of the aforesaid patent 9000252, four analogue signal AS samples would be established.

The values obtained would be characteristic analogue signal AS values together with the time and frequency values already defined in Spanish patent of invention 9000252.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to provide a fuller description and contribute to the complete understanding of the characteristics of this invention, a set of drawings is attached to the specification which, while purely illustrative and not fully comprehensive, shows the following:

Figure 1 shows the electronic diagram of the basic circuit to put the process developed in patent of invention 9000252 into practice, duly implemented in the general signal processing circuit, which includes the improvement introduced in the said patent.

Figure 2 shows a different embodiment of the circuit of f igure 1, in which the circuit is further provided with two photodiode-phototransistor pairs f or a more precise measurement, in addition to the said improvement.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION It is in the light of the f igures, clear that the improvements introduced to patent of invention 9000252 subject hereof comprise providing the signal processing circuit with an analogue-to-digital converter (9) capable of establishing the analogue signal (AS) value at points at which the digital signal (DS) changes level from high to low or low to high. Since a high conversion speed is not required, the converter of the invention can be of any known type.

Both f igure 1 and figure 2 show the connection of this new element and the interaction of the signal processing circuit in the two cases foreseen in the analogue signal analysis method and electronic circuit embodiment contained in patent of invention 9000252.

It will of course be understood that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and that modifications of detail can be made within the scope of the invention.

Claims

C L A I M S

I.- An analogue signal analysis method and electronic circuit, designed to provide an additional measurement for the analogue signal given by the coin sensors, to better characterise the same, with a minimum number of elements and hence a low production cost, essentially characterised in comprising providing the signal processing circuit with an analogue-to-digital 10 converter (9) capable of establishing the analogue signal (AS) value at points at which the digital signal (DS) changes level f rom high to low or low to high, being particular in that since a high conversion speed is not required, the said converter can be of any known type.
2.- An analogue signal analysis method and electronic circuit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.