GB2368709A

GB2368709A - Method and apparatus for identifying tokens

Info

Publication number: GB2368709A
Application number: GB0026794A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wante Lee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-11-02
Filing date: 2000-11-02
Publication date: 2002-05-08
Also published as: GB0026794D0

Abstract

A method for identifying a token includes the steps of sensing characteristics of the token, e.g. arcuate slots (21, fig 5), generating a digital signal corresponding to the characteristics of the token, and comparing the generated digital signal with a pre-stored digital sequence in a comparator. The apparatus includes a sensor 1 with multiple sensing elements 110 arranged in a cross-shape 121.

Description

METHOD OF IDENTIFYING A TOKEN AND THE DEVICE TO IDENTIFY A TOKEN 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for identifying a token, and more particularly to a method using multiple optical sensors and a comparator to match the signals generated by the optical sensors with a reference when the token passes the optical sensors. The present invention further relates to a token identification device equipped with a cross-shaped window across the path of the token to use the previously mentioned method to identify the authenticity of the token.

2. Description of Related Art Many entertainment facilities use tokens to activate games, turnstiles, vending machines and the like, particularly in amusement parks so managers of the amusement parks can effectively control the income. The tokens used in one park are different from those used in another park, so customers must use a specific token in a specific park. However, since the size of the tokens is the same, some customers often use tokens from one park in another park, which causes income to be lost to the park owners. Because the tokens are not legal tender, the park owners do not have any way to collect the money for the tokens from another source.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a method to identify a specific token and a device that uses the method in accordance with the present invention to mitigate and obviate the aforementioned problems.

The main objective of the invention is to provide a method to identify a specific token so it can activate a game or device and reject all other tokens. The steps of the method include sensing the characteristics of the token, generating a digital signal based on the sensed data, comparing the digital signal with a reference signal and activating the game or device or rejecting the token. Optical sensors are used to sense the characteristics of the token and generate a digital signal based on the characteristics of the token inserted into the device. A comparator is used to determine whether the digital signal representing the sensed token matches the digital reference pre-stored in the comparator.

A further objective of the invention is to provide an improved token device that has sensors mounted on the path of the token to sense the token characteristics and generate the corresponding digital signal and a comparator to determine whether the generated signal matches the pre-stored digital sequence in the comparator.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a flow chart of the method of identifying a token in accordance with the present invention for determining whether the generated digital signal based on the characteristics of the token corresponds to the pre-stored digital sequence in the comparator; Fig. 2 is a flow chart of the method of identifying a token in accordance with the present invention in combination with multiple sensors and a comparator; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a token device that uses the method in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the token device in Fig. 3, wherein corresponding cross-shaped windows are defined in the token device to allow the token to pass between the windows; and Figs 5A-5C are side plan views of the relative positions of a token the crossshaped window and optical sensors.

With reference to Fig. 1, the method for identifying a specific token used to activate a game or other device in an amusement park comprises the steps of sensing the token characteristics, generating corresponding digital signal, and comparing the generated signal with the reference sequence pre-stored in a comparator. The attached devices can be video games, turnstiles, vending machines and the like. If the signal generated by sensors mounted in a token device matches the reference sequence prestored in the comparator, the comparator will send out a signal to the token device to activate the game. If the signal generated by the sensors does not match the reference sequence pre-stored in the comparator, the comparator will send out a signal to the token device to reject the token and the game or device will not be activated.

With reference to Fig. 2, the method of identifying a specific token uses multiple sensors (1) mounted in a token device (not shown) to generate a digital signal based on the characteristics of the token, i. e. a combination of 0's and Fs. After the signal is generated by the sensors (1), the signal is sent to a comparator (2) for comparison with the reference sequence pre-stored in the comparator (2). If the digital signal generated by the sensors (1) mounted in the token device matches the reference sequence prestored in the comparator (2), the comparator (2) will send out a signal to an activator (3) in the token device to activate the attached game or device. If the digital signal generated by the sensors (1) does not match the reference sequence pre-stored in the comparator (2), the comparator (2) will send out a signal to an extractor (4) in the token device to reject the token and the attached game or device will not be activated.

With reference to Figs. 3 and 4, the general structure and operation of a token device (10) are conventional and are not included in the detailed description. However, a pair of side plates (11,12) with corresponding cross-shaped windows (111, 121) is mounted in the token device (10) so that the cross-shaped windows (111, 121) are respectively defined on each side of the token path (not numbered) before the extractor slot (31).

With reference to Fig. 4 and 5, the method to identify a specific token (20) uses a sample taken when the token is positioned between the windows (111, 121). The sensor (1) has multiple sensing elements (110) arranged in two lines perpendicular to each other (X, Y). A token (20) generally has multiple unique arcuate slots (21). The method and device in accordance with the present invention use the arcuate slots (21) to identify a specific token (20) when the token (20) passes between the cross-shaped windows (111, 121) in the side plates (11, 12) of the token device (10). The sensing elements (110) are arranged on the X-axis and the Y-axis of the sensor (1) and the sensor (1) mounted on the outside of the cross-shaped windows (111, 121) so the sensing elements (110) correspond to the openings in the window (111, 121). When the token (20) passes the sensing elements (110), different areas of the token (20) will cause the sensor elements (110) to generate different signals, i. e. 0 & 1. In this example, the solid area of the token will generate a"0"and the open area with the arcuate slot (21) will generate a"I". After the token (20) passes the cross-shaped windows (111, 121), a signal representing the configuration of the sensed token (20) will be sent to the comparator (2) for comparison with the reference sequence. Using Fig. 5 as an example with reference to Fig. 2, the sensed signal sent to the comparator (2) by the sensor (1) would be"100101011". If the signal matches the pre-stored reference sequence in the comparator (2), the comparator will thus send a signal to activator (3) to activate the attached game or device. Otherwise, the token (20) will be rejected.

With such an arrangement, tokens able to activate games and devices in a specific amusement park are ensured to be the specific one that is chosen by the park owner, and the income is thus also ensured.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method for identifying a token having arcuate slots, the method comprising the steps of : sensing the arcuate slot characteristics of the token; generating a digital signal based on the configuration of the arcuate slots in the token; and comparing the generated digital signal to a pre-stored reference sequence to determine if the generated digital signal matches the pre-stored sequence.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein an optical sensor is used to detect the configuration of a given token and generate a digital signal based on the configuration of the token.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein a comparator is used to store the reference sequence.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sensor has multiple sensing elements arranged in cross.

5. A token identifying device comprising a sensor with multiple sensing elements defined in the X-axis and the Y-axis of the sensor for generating a digital signal based on the configuration of the token; and a comparator connected to the sensor to receive and match the generated digital signal against the reference sequence to determine whether the token is authentic.

6. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the sensing elements are arranged in cross.

7. The structure as claimed in claim 6, wherein the sensing elements are arranged along a path taken by the token.