JP2006293919A - Coin passage detection sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a coin passage detection sensor capable of outputting an output signal showing passage of a coin only in response to the normal passage of the coin in a coin path without sensing an illicit operation such as inserting a wrong light source from the outside. <P>SOLUTION: The coin passage detection sensor 2 includes a light projection part 6 for emitting light toward a coin path 4 and first and second light reception parts 5a and 5b disposed along the coin path 4 adjacently to each other, and the first and second light reception parts 5a and 5b are configured so as to receive the light from one light projection part 6 together through the coin path 4. When the second reception part 5b in a downstream side is switched to the same state as the first light reception part 5a in an upstream side after the first light reception part 5a is switched to a light shielding state or a light incidence state, a signal processing part 10 outputs the output signal showing passage of an object 9 in the coin 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a coin passage detection sensor for detecting coin passage.

  In a gaming machine such as a slot machine, a coin (object to be tested) inserted from a coin insertion slot is detected by a coin passage detection sensor provided in a coin passage path inside the coin insertion slot, and the coin passage detection sensor detects a coin. When it is detected that a coin has passed through the passage, the number of coins inserted managed by the internal memory of the gaming machine is counted up.

  For example, the conventional light transmission type coin passage detection device 100 has a configuration as shown in FIG. That is, the conventional coin passage detection device 100 has a configuration in which two coin passage detection sensors 110 and 120 are provided along the coin passage path 104 through which the inserted coin 9 passes. The sensors 110 and 120 include a light projecting unit 116 and a light receiving unit 117 that are arranged to face each other across the coin passage path 104. The light projecting unit 116 is connected to a DC power source, and always emits constant light toward the coin passing path 104. The light receiving unit 117 generates an output signal indicating that the coin 9 has passed through the coin passing path 104 in response to the incident and shielding of the light emitted from the light projecting unit 116.

  When the coin 9 normally passes through the coin passage path 104, output signals S1 and S2 output from the coin passage detection sensors 110 and 120 are as shown in FIG. That is, in each coin passage detection sensor 110, 120, the light receiving unit 117 satisfactorily receives the light from the light projecting unit 116 before and after coin passing, and the output signals S1, S2 from the light receiving unit 117 are at the L level. Become. When the coin 9 normally passes through the coin passage path 104, the light receiving portion 117 of the coin passage detection sensor 110 disposed on the upstream side is first shielded from light, and then the coin detection sensor 120 disposed on the downstream side. The light receiving unit 117 is shielded from light. Accordingly, the output signals S1 and S2 from the respective light receiving units 117 temporarily become H level in the order in which the coins 9 pass.

  Conventionally, in the determination circuit provided at the subsequent stage of the coin passage detection device 100, for example, when the output signal S2 transitions from the L level to the H level after a predetermined time has elapsed since the output signal S1 transitioned from the L level to the H level. In addition, it is configured to count up the number of coins inserted, assuming that there have been normal coins inserted.

JP-A-8-24434 JP-A-6-63244

By the way, in the case of the conventional light transmission type coin passage detecting device 100 described above, there is a problem that an illegal operation for coin insertion is relatively easily performed by a user of the gaming machine. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, light sources 92 and 93 such as LEDs are arranged on the surface of a substrate 91 formed of a light shielding material so as to coincide with the arrangement interval of the coin passage detection sensors 110 and 120, and the coins are inserted. Insert from the mouth. Then, when the light sources 92 and 93 reach the positions facing the light receiving portions 117 of the coin passage detection sensors 110 and 120, respectively, the substrate 91 is fixed, and the lighting of the light sources 92 and 93 is controlled from the outside. Each light receiving unit 117 is made to detect the same light incident state and light shielding state as when the light passes normally. If such an unauthorized operation by the unauthorized light source is performed, the coin passage detection device 100 outputs the same output signals S1 and S2 as those at the time of normal passage to the subsequent determination circuit.

The present invention has been made for the purpose of solving the above-described conventional problems, and is not sensitive to an unauthorized operation in which an unauthorized light source is inserted from the outside, and when a coin normally passes through a coin passage path. Only a coin passage detection sensor that outputs an output signal indicating the passage of a coin is provided.

  In order to achieve the above object, the coin passage detection sensor according to the present invention employs as a solving means, one light projecting means for irradiating light toward the coin passage path and adjacent to each other along the coin passage path. And the first and second light receiving means are configured to receive both the light from the one light projecting means through the coin passage path. And when the second light receiving means is switched to the same state as the first light receiving means after the first light receiving means is switched to the light shielding state or the light entering state, the coin passing path is An output signal indicating that the coin has passed is output. By adopting such a configuration, even if an unauthorized light source is inserted from the outside and an unauthorized operation is performed, the first and second light receiving means simultaneously detect switching of the blinking of the unauthorized light source. The configuration is insensitive to the operation, and a signal indicating the passage of the coin is output only when the coin normally passes through the coin passage path.

In the above coin passage detection sensor, when the second light receiving means is switched to the light shielding state, the first light receiving means is already in the light shielding state, and the second light receiving means is switched to the light incident state. It is preferable that the output signal is output when the first light receiving means is already in the light incident state. Such a configuration is a specific mode for accurately determining that the coin has normally passed through the coin passage path.

  More preferably, the first and second light receiving means in the above coin passage detection sensor are arranged adjacent to each other on the surface of the one-chip light receiving device. By providing the first and second light receiving means on the surface of the one-chip light receiving device, the arrangement interval of the first and second light receiving means can be minimized, so an illegal light source is inserted from the outside. Thus, it becomes more difficult to switch between the light shielding and the light incident at different timings with respect to the first and second light receiving means, and the structure can prevent unauthorized operation more reliably.

  Further, in the above coin passage detection sensor, the first light receiving means disposed on the upstream side of the coin passage path may be set with higher sensitivity than the second light receiving means disposed on the downstream side. More preferred. Thereby, for example, even when an unauthorized operation is performed in which an unauthorized light source is inserted and the amount of light from the unauthorized light source is gradually reduced, a configuration that does not detect the unauthorized operation is realized.

  According to the coin passage detection sensor according to the present invention, the first and second light receiving means are arranged adjacent to each other along the coin passage path, and the first and second light receiving means are connected via the coin passage path. It is configured to receive both light from the two light projecting means, and after the first light receiving means is switched to the light shielding state or the light incident state, the second light receiving means is in the same state as the first light receiving means. When it is switched to, it outputs an output signal indicating that the coin has passed through the coin passage way, so it does not respond to unauthorized operation such as inserting an unauthorized light source from the outside, and the coin has passed normally through the coin passage way Only at times can an output signal indicating the passing of a coin be output.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The coin passage detection device according to the present embodiment is provided in a coin passage path formed inside a coin insertion slot of a gaming machine such as a slot machine, for example, and when the coin normally passes through the coin passage path, FIG. The output signals S1 and S2 shown in FIG. 2 are output to the determination circuit at the subsequent stage.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a coin passage detection device 1 according to the present embodiment. The coin passage detection device 1 includes two coin passage detection sensors 2 and 3 arranged along a coin passage path 4 through which a coin 9 inserted from a coin insertion slot passes. Arranged upstream of the coin passage 4 and configured to output the output signal S1, the coin passage detection sensor 3 is disposed downstream of the coin passage 4 and configured to output the output signal S2. Has been.

The coin passage detection sensor 2 has a characteristic configuration according to the present invention, and a light projecting unit 6 such as an LED that emits light toward the coin passage 4 and a light projecting unit across the coin passage 4. 6 includes a first light receiving portion 5a and a second light receiving portion 5b arranged to face each other. The first and second light receiving portions 5a and 5b are each constituted by a photoelectric conversion element such as a phototransistor having a high-speed response characteristic. The first light receiving portion 5a is disposed upstream of the coin passage 4 and The second light receiving portion 5b is disposed on the downstream side of the coin passage 4 and the light receiving portions 5a and 5b are adjacent to each other along the coin passage 4 so that the light from the light projecting portion 6 can be received together. Is provided. Each of the light receiving portions 5a and 5b performs photoelectric conversion according to the incident light, and outputs an electric signal obtained thereby to the signal processing portion 10. Based on the input signals from the first and second light receiving units 5a and 5b, the signal processing unit 10 determines whether or not the light receiving state and the light blocking state of the light receiving units 5a and 5b are normally switched. The output signal S1 corresponding to the determination result is output. The light receiving units 5a and 5b and the signal processing unit 10 are constituted by, for example, a light receiving device 8 made into a single chip by a dedicated IC. Is done.

The coin passage detection sensor 3 is a sensor in which the light projecting unit 6 and the light receiving unit 7 are arranged to face each other across the coin passage path 4, and is configured by a coin passage detection sensor similar to the conventional one (see FIG. 5). The output signal S2 is output. That is, before and after the coin 9 passes through the coin passage 4 between the light projecting unit 6 and the light receiving unit 7, the light receiving unit 7 receives light from the light projecting unit 6 and outputs an L level signal. When 9 passes, the light receiving unit 7 is in a light shielding state and outputs an H level signal.

FIG. 1 illustrates the case where the upstream coin passage detection sensor 2 has a characteristic configuration according to the present invention and the downstream coin passage detection sensor 3 has the same configuration as the conventional one. For example, the downstream coin passage detection sensor 3 may be configured to have a characteristic configuration described later, and both the upstream and downstream coin passage detection sensors 2 and 3 may be configured later. You may comprise as follows.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of the coin passage detection sensor 2 having a characteristic configuration according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the light projecting unit 6 is connected to a DC power source + V, and is constantly lit in a DC state in a constant state while power is being supplied to a device body such as a gaming machine. The signal processing circuit 10 includes an amplifier circuit 11 and a signal detection circuit 12 for extracting a signal component from the first light receiving unit 5a, and an amplifier circuit 13 for extracting a signal component from the second light receiving unit 5b and A signal detection circuit 14 is provided. Furthermore, the signal processing unit 10 receives the detection signals Sa and Sb output from the signal detection circuits 12 and 14 and outputs a signal Sc, and the signal Sc from the signal processing circuit 15. And an output circuit 16 for outputting the output signal S1.

Each of the light receiving parts 5a and 5b is turned on when receiving light from the light projecting part 6, and turned off when light is shielded. The amplifier circuits 11 and 13 amplify the signal components input from the respective light receiving portions 5a and 5b, and output the amplified signals to the signal detection circuits 12 and 14, respectively. The signal detection circuits 12 and 14 detect effective signal components from the amplified signals input from the amplification circuits 11 and 13 and output detection signals Sa and Sb. The detection signals Sa and Sb are at the L level when light is incident on the light receiving portions 5a and 5b, and are at the H level when in the light shielding state. Therefore, when the coin 9 normally passes through the coin passage 4, the detection signals Sa and Sb temporarily become H level signals.

The signal processing circuit 15 outputs a signal Sc that evaluates whether or not a coin has normally passed through the coin passage 4 based on the detection signals Sa and Sb. Since the first light receiving unit 5a is arranged on the upstream side of the second light receiving unit 5b, when the coin 9 normally passes through the coin passage 4, the upstream light receiving unit 5a is in a light-shielding state first. Subsequently, the light receiving portion 5b on the downstream side is in a light shielding state. Also, when returning from the light shielding state to the light incident state, the upstream light receiving unit 5a first returns to the light incident state, and subsequently the downstream light receiving unit 5b returns to the light incident state. That is, there is a slight time difference between the timing at which the upstream light receiving unit 5a is switched to the light blocking state and the light entering state and the timing at which the upstream light receiving unit 5a is switched to the light blocking state and the light entering state. Therefore, the signal processing circuit 15 detects the coin when the downstream light receiving unit 5b is switched to the same state as the upstream light receiving unit 5a after the upstream light receiving unit 5a is switched to the light shielding state or the light entering state. A signal Sc indicating that the coin 9 has passed through the passage 4 is output.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating signal states of the respective units in the signal processing unit 10. When the coin 9 normally passes through the coin passage 4 as described above, the detection signal Sa detected from the light receiving unit 5a transitions to the H level before the detection signal Sb detected from the light receiving unit 5b. Therefore, at time T1 when the detection signal Sb of the light receiving unit 5b transitions to the H level, the detection signal Sa already holds the H level. In addition, after the coin 9 passes through the coin passage 4, the detection signal Sa detected from the light receiving unit 5a transitions to the L level before the detection signal Sb detected from the light receiving unit 5b, so that the detection signal Sb At time T2 when the signal transitions to the L level, the detection signal Sa already holds the L level. Therefore, the signal processing circuit 15 transitions the output signal Sc to the H level in response to the detection signal Sb if the detection signal Sa is already at the H level at the time T1 when the detection signal Sb transitions to the H level. If the detection signal Sa is already at the L level at the time T2 when the detection signal Sb transitions to the L level, the output signal Sc is transitioned to the L level in response to the detection signal Sb.

In other words, for example, when the detection signal Sa is at the L level at the time T1 when the detection signal Sb switches to the H level, the signal processing circuit 15 is configured not to transition the output signal Sc to the H level, and the detection signal Sb. When the detection signal Sa is still at the H level at time T2 when the signal is switched to the L level, the signal processing circuit 15 is configured not to transition the output signal Sc to the L level.

Then, the output circuit 16 generates the output signal S1 shown in FIG. 6 based on the output signal Sc of the signal processing circuit 15, and outputs it to the determination circuit at the subsequent stage. Therefore, when the light for the downstream light receiving unit 5b is switched to the light blocking state, the output circuit 16 is already in the light blocking state for the light receiving unit 5a on the downstream side and the light for the light receiving unit 5b on the downstream side is incident. When switching to the state, if the light for the upstream light receiving portion 5a is already in the light incident state, an output signal S1 indicating that the coin 9 has normally passed through the coin passage 4 is output.

3 illustrates the case where the order in which the light receiving units 5a and 5b are turned on and off is evaluated at the timing when the detection signal Sb is switched to the H level and the L level. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It is also possible to evaluate the order in which the light receiving parts 5a and 5b are turned on and off at the timing of switching to the H level and the L level. In this case, when the light for the upstream light receiving unit 5a is switched to the light blocking state, the signal processing unit 10 is in the light incident state for the light receiving unit 5b on the downstream side, and the light for the light receiving unit 5a on the upstream side. When switched to the light entering state, an output signal S1 indicating that the coin 9 has normally passed through the coin passage 4 is output when the light to the downstream light receiving unit 5b is in a light shielding state.

With the operation of the signal processing unit 10 as described above, even if an unauthorized light source is inserted from the outside and an unauthorized operation is performed, the output signal S1 indicating the normal passage of coins is not output. Because the first and second light receiving parts 5a and 5b are arranged adjacent to each other, even if an illegal light source is inserted and blinked from the outside, the light receiving parts 5a and 5b are simultaneously in the light incident state or This is because, since the light is switched to the light-shielding state, there is no time difference as in the case where the coin 9 normally passes. Therefore, as in the present embodiment, the two light receiving portions 5a and 5b are arranged at positions close to each other so that the light from one light projecting portion 6 can be received together, and each light reception when the coin 9 normally passes is received. By configuring so as to determine the normal passage of the coin 9 using the time difference between the light incident state and the light shielding state of the parts 5a and 5b, a sensor that is insensitive to unauthorized operation by inserting an unauthorized light source is realized. Is done.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the light receiving device 8 in which the light receiving units 5a and 5b and the signal processing unit 10 are integrated into one chip. A light receiving surface 5 is provided on the surface of the light receiving device 8, and a first light receiving portion 5 a and a second light receiving portion 5 b are arranged adjacent to each other along the passage direction 4 a of the coin 9. The signal processing unit 10 is provided as an internal circuit of the light receiving device 8. The light receiving device 8 is provided with external connection terminals 8a, 8b, and 8c for supplying power and outputting an output signal S1.

By mounting the first and second light receiving parts 5a and 5b on the one-chip light receiving device 8 in this manner, the arrangement interval between the light receiving parts 5a and 5b can be further reduced, and an illegal light source can be externally provided. It is possible to make the unauthorized operation by insertion more difficult. In the present embodiment, the light receiving units 5a and 5b and the signal processing unit 10 are incorporated in the light receiving device 8. However, if at least the light receiving units 5a and 5b are integrated into one chip, the light receiving units 5a and 5b are provided. The arrangement interval can be reduced, and unauthorized operation can be made difficult.

Further, in the coin passage detection sensor 2, the light receiving part 5a arranged on the upstream side is set with higher sensitivity than the light receiving part 5b arranged on the downstream side. For example, high sensitivity is set by setting the amplification factor of the amplification circuit 11 to a value higher than the amplification factor of the amplification circuit 13.

If the light receiving unit 5a arranged on the upstream side has a lower sensitivity than the light receiving unit 5b arranged on the downstream side, an unauthorized light source is inserted from the outside, and the two light receiving units 5a and 5b are inserted by the unauthorized light source. When an illegal operation is performed to gradually reduce the amount of light of the unauthorized light source when the light incident state is formed, the upstream light receiving unit 5a is first shielded, and then the downstream light receiving unit. 5b is in a light shielding state. Therefore, the output signal S1 is switched from the L level to the H level, and when the subsequent determination circuit monitors only the transition from the L level to the H level of the output signals S1 and S2, the coin 9 is normally passed. If there is, there is a possibility of causing a false determination.

Therefore, in the coin passage detection sensor 2 of the present embodiment, the upstream light-receiving unit 5a is set to have higher sensitivity than the downstream light-receiving unit 5b, thereby preventing erroneous determination due to the above-described unauthorized operation. Configured as follows. That is, when the light amount of the illegal light source gradually decreases, the downstream light receiving unit 5b is in the light shielding state first, and then the upstream light receiving unit 5a is in the light shielding state. The signal S1 is not output.

By disposing at least one coin passing detection sensor 2 as described above along the coin passing path 4 of the coin passing detecting apparatus 1, the coin passing detecting apparatus 1 allows the coin passing path 4 to pass normally. Only, the coin currency detection sensor 2 outputs the output signal S1 shown in FIG. Therefore, even if the other coin passage detection sensor 3 has the same configuration as the conventional one and the output signal S2 is output in response to an unauthorized operation with an unauthorized light source inserted, the coin passage detection sensor 2 Since it does not respond to such an unauthorized operation and does not output the normal output signal S1 (the output signal S1 in FIG. 6), it can be prevented from being erroneously determined that the coin has passed normally in the determination circuit at the subsequent stage. The circuit can count up the number of inserted coins only when there is a normal coin insertion.

It is a figure which shows the structure of a coin passage detection apparatus. It is a figure which shows the detailed structure of a coin passage detection sensor. It is a figure which shows the signal state of each part in the signal processing part of a coin passage detection sensor. It is a figure which shows the example of 1 structure of the light-receiving device by which the light-receiving part and the signal processing part were made into one chip. It is a figure which shows the structure of the conventional light transmission type coin passage detection apparatus. It is a figure which shows the output signal output from each coin passage detection sensor, when a coin passes the coin passage way. It is a figure which shows the one aspect | mode where an unauthorized operation is performed using an unauthorized light source.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Coin passage detection apparatus 2, 3 Coin passage detection sensor 4 Coin passage 5a, 5b Light-receiving part (light-receiving means)
6 Projection part (projection means)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 8 Light receiving device 9 Coin 10 Signal processing part 11, 13 Amplification circuit 12, 14 Signal detection circuit 15 Signal processing circuit 16 Output circuit S1, S2 Output signal

Claims (4)

A first light projecting means for irradiating light toward the coin passing path, and a first and second light receiving means arranged adjacent to each other along the coin passing path; The light receiving means is configured to receive both the light from the one light projecting means through the coin passage path,
After the first light receiving means is switched to the light blocking state or the light entering state, when the second light receiving means is switched to the same state as the first light receiving means, the coin has passed through the coin passage path. A coin passage detection sensor characterized by outputting an output signal indicating that. When the second light receiving means is switched to a light shielding state, the first light receiving means is already in a light shielding state, and when the second light receiving means is switched to a light incident state, the first light receiving means is The coin passage detection sensor according to claim 1, wherein the output signal is output when the light is already incident.   3. The coin passage detection sensor according to claim 1, wherein the first and second light receiving means are arranged adjacent to each other on the surface of the one-chip light receiving device.   The coin according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first light receiving means disposed on the upstream side of the coin passage is set to be more sensitive than the second light receiving means disposed on the downstream side. Pass detection sensor.

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