JPH03168893A - Coin passage detector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To stabilize the detection level of coin passage and to remove misdetection by always counting the number of pulse outputs in a waiting time, updating and storing the count value as a waiting value data, comparing the number of pulse outputs at the time of passing a coin with a comparing reference value using the waiting value data to detect the passage of the coin. CONSTITUTION:A control system for a coin passage sensor circuit 02 is provided with a counter 03 for counting up an pulse output 16a from the circuit 02 and a microprocessor(MPU) 01 for controlling the whole coin mechanism and a waiting value data updating means 04 takes partial charge a part of the function of the MPU 01. At the no passage of a coin, oscillation frequency is always found out and updated/stored as waiting value data, and when the oscillation frequency is less than the value obtained by subtracting a prescribed value determined by the sort of the coin from the waiting value data, the passage of the coin is decided. Thus, the detection level can be stabilized and the generation of misdetection can be reduced.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field]

This invention relates to a coin passage detection device that detects the passage of a collected coin in a coin mechanism, for example, within the magnetic field of a coil, by the number of damped vibrations of an LRC resonant circuit consisting of a capacitor in parallel with this coil. In particular, the present invention relates to a coin passage detection device that can accurately detect the passage of a coin without being affected by dispersion of parts or changes in ambient temperature. Note that in the following figures, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, in this type of coin passage detection device, when a coin passes, a counter value as the number of vibrations until the magnitude of the damped vibration of the LRC resonance circuit attenuates from a predetermined level to a predetermined level is stored as fixed data. As a comparison, the passage of coins was determined.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in the above coin passing detection device, due to fluctuations in ambient temperature, variations in electrical characteristics of parts, etc.
Detection ξ is likely to occur, and the sensor mounting position is also strictly regulated. For example, with conventional coin passing detection devices, when the temperature is high or the internal resistance of the switch is low, the count value during standby increases, making the detection device less sensitive. There was a problem in that the sensitivity of the detection device became too sensitive because the count value of the hour became small. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a coin passage detection device that can always maintain a detection level that is not affected by the surrounding environment or variations in electronic components.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the device of the present invention includes a coil (such as L) arranged so that the coin (passing through the collection path 4, etc.) passes through its magnetic field, and a capacitor (such as C).
an LRC resonant circuit (coin passing sensor 11, etc.) connected in parallel with the coil or capacitor, and repeats the operation of attenuating and extinguishing the energy in the resonant circuit after previously applying a predetermined energization to the coil or capacitor, The number of oscillations (count 0
3) is different between when the coin is passing and when the coin is not passing.
The number of vibrations is determined and updated and stored as standby value data (such as 21A to 24A), and the number of vibrations is less than the value obtained by subtracting a predetermined value (such as "5") determined by the denomination of the coin from this standby value data. 1 so that it is determined that the coin in question has passed (provided with MPUOI, etc.).
It shall be.

[For use]

The standard value to be compared with the counter value when coins are passed is "fluctuation data", and the counter value (standby value data) that is the basis of this standard value is always detected and stored in memory, except when coins are accepted. This is what I did.

【Example】

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on FIGS. 1 to 9. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the coin mechanism for sorting and dispensing coins.
B) is a side sectional view thereof. In both figures (A) and (B), 1 is a coin sorter, and 2 is a coin sorted by this sorter 1.
A coin storage tube holds coins for change, 3 is a coin slot, and 4 is a collection channel leading to a safe (not shown). In this example, holding tube 2 costs 10 yen, 50 yen, 100 yen,
There are four coins for each denomination of 500 yen. 5 is a piece of overflow port for changing the passage of coins flowing from the sorting machine 1 side to the tube 2 side to the collection passage 4 side (that is, causing the coins to overflow) when the holding tube 2 is full of coins; I1 is this This is a coin passing sensor that detects coins (collected coins) passing through the collecting passage 4. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the principle of operation of the overflow piece 5. The same figure (^) shows the state before overflow, and the coins 7 sorted by the coin sorter 1 fall into the holding tube 2 without being changed in direction by the overflow piece 7. Eventually, when the holding tube is filled with coins, the overflow piece 5 is rotated around its axis 8 by the topmost coin in the holding tube 2, resulting in the state shown in FIG. . In this state, the falling direction of the coins 7 flowing from the sorter 1 side to the holding tube 2 side is changed by the overflow piece, and the coins 7 are dropped into the collection path 4.
guided to the side. FIG. 6 shows an example of the structure of a coin passage sensor circuit. In the same figure, 02 is a coin passing sensor circuit, which indicates the whole of FIG. 6. 11 (11-1 to 11-4) are coin passing sensors for each channel (in other words, for each denomination);
5 is the decoded signal 01A. According to 01B, sensor l1
An analog multiplexer which selects one of -1 to l1-4 and applies a constant voltage VE input via the buffer l7 to the selected sensor l1 by the switching signal OIC, Rl and R2 are damped vibrations of the sensor II. A voltage dividing resistor that divides the voltage, 16 is the detection voltage V of this sensor 11
This is a comparator that compares s with the constant voltage 6 and outputs the comparison result as a pulse output 16a. FIG. 7 shows decoded signal 01A. 3 is a diagram showing the correspondence between OIB and the "ON" sensor, that is, the coin passing sensor 11 selected by the analog multiplexer 15. FIG. That is, four denominations of 10 yen, 50 yen, ■00 yen, respectively, are generated according to the four combinations of decoded signals 01A and OIB. Sensor 11-1.11-2.11 corresponding to 500 yen
-3.11-4 is selected. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of a system that controls this coin passage sensor circuit 02. In the figure, 03 is a counter that counts the pulse output 16a from the sensor circuit 02, and 01 is a microprocessor that controls the entire coin mechanism in addition to the sensor circuit 02 and counter 03.
(also abbreviated as MPU). Note that the standby value data update stage 04 is a partial functional unit that is considered to share a part of the function of the MPUOI, and is the main body of the present invention as will be described later. Next, the basic operation of the coin passage sensor circuit 02 will be explained using FIG. 1 and FIG. 6. Outputs decode signals 01^ and OIB for selecting an arbitrary channel from MPUOI to sensor circuit 02, and outputs switching signal 01
C is ONL, and the coil L of the selected sensor 11 is energized with constant voltage 2. As a result, when the switching signal 01C is turned off with the current in the coil L established to a predetermined value, the LRC@ path consisting of the coil L and capacitor C starts to vibrate, and the sensor circuit 02 converts this vibration into a pulse as described later. The converted pulse output 16a is sent to the counter 03. The counter 03 calculates the count value of the pulse output 16a by M
Feedback is sent to the PUOI, and the MPUOI performs processing to determine whether or not a coin has passed. Figures 8 and 9 are waveform diagrams showing the relationship between the sensor detection voltage Vs in Figure 6 and the pulse output 16a. Figure 8 shows the waveform when the coin does not pass, and Figure 9 shows the waveform when the coin passes. The waveforms are shown respectively. The principle of generation of the pulse 16a is based on the sensor l shown in FIG.
The damped oscillating voltage (that is, the sensor detection voltage) Vs in the LRC circuit No. 1 is input to one terminal of the comparator 16 in the figure, and on the other hand, the constant voltage Vt obtained by dividing 5V to a certain potential (for example, 4.5V) is input to one terminal of the comparator 16 in the same figure. It is input to the ten terminal of the comparator 16 and the voltage Vs and ■,
are compared. As a result, when the vibration waveform Vs falls below the constant voltage vE of 4.5V, the output of the comparator 16 becomes “H”.
The voltage becomes I1 level, and a pulse 16a as shown in the lower waveforms of FIGS. 8 and 9 is generated. FIG. 2 shows a memory map of the setting data area in the MPUOI, and FIG. 3 shows the procedure for the operation of the main part of the MPUOI. Here, FIG. 3(A) shows the flow of the sensor driving process, and FIG. 3(B) shows the flow of the coin insertion process. Hereinafter, the symbols S1 to S25 indicate steps in FIG. 3. Next, Figure 3 will be explained with reference to other figures. M P
First, during standby, the UOI repeatedly performs the process shown in FIG. 3(A) as follows. Switching signal QIC in FIG. 6 is set to "H" /L/ (S1), and the currently set decode signal 01A
, OIB value (currently 01A="0", OIB =
“O” outputs (selection of 10 yen sensor) (
S2). Next, for 1 msec, the 10 yen sensor 11-
1 coil L is energized (S3). Next, in order to count the number of pulses 16a, the counter 03 is reset (S4), the counter 03 is set to a reading permission state (S5), and the switching signal QIC is set to the "L" level (S6). Next, the number of pulse outputs 16a is counted for 1 msec (S7). Next, the counted number of pulse outputs 16a is compared with the temporary data 21B of the 10 yen standby value in the memory, and if they match, the counted value of this pulse output 16a is used as the 10 yen standby value data 21A.
Update. The temporary data 21B is constantly updated with the count of the pulse output 16a. Like this, twice. Alternatively, if only the temporary data 21B and the data that has failed three times in a row are valid and set as the standby value data 21^, it is possible to obtain the latest standby value data 21^ while preventing the influence of external noise as much as possible (S8 →S9→S14). Finally, the 2-bit numerical value consisting of the decoded signals 01A and OIB is added to prepare for driving the sensor 11 of the next channel (S12→S15 or S12→S13). Now, it is assumed that the standby value data 21A to 24A of each channel are continued to be updated according to the procedure shown in FIG. 3(A) until just before the coin is inserted, and "40" is set in the 10 yen standby value data 21A. Next, an example of the operation of the MPUOI when a 10 yen coin is inserted will be explained. When a coin is inserted, the third
The process shown in Figure (B) is performed. As long as coins are inserted within one second intervals, a "coin insertion flag" is set (S21 to S25). As a result, in the sensor drive process shown in FIG. 3 (8), passage of a coin is always detected in step S9. Here, the criterion for coin passage is the 6th
The characteristic of the metal sensor shown in the figure is that as metal approaches the coil L, its loss increases, so the damped oscillation voltage Vs of the coil L decays more quickly on the top of Figure 7 than on the top of Figure 8. Become. Therefore, the number of output pulses 16a of the comparator 16 is reduced, and the difference with the standby value is compared to determine whether the coin has passed. Now, a 10 yen coin is inserted, and the number of output pulses 16a of the lO yen sensor 11-1 is compared with the 10 yen standby value data 21A for 1 second, and the number of output pulses is determined by the value of the standby value data 21A (in this example ) r40J-predetermined value (in this example) r5J-35 If it becomes less than that, it is determined that the inserted coin has overflowed and has been collected (S9→SIO→Sll). However, the predetermined value ("5" in the above example) subtracted from the standby value data (21A to 248) is a value that may vary depending on the denomination of the coin. The time of 1 second is the time required to determine whether the inserted coin enters the holding tube 2 shown in FIG. 4 or passes through the collection passage 4 and is led to a safe or the like not shown. When the coin insertion stops, the screen returns to Figure 3 (A).
), the standby value data 21A to 24A for each channel (that is, for each denomination) is updated in step S14. Note that this step S14 corresponds to the main function of the standby value data updating means 04 in FIG.

【Effect of the invention】

In reality, this type of coin passing detection device is designed so that the number of pulses output when a coin passes is about 10 less than the value during standby, but according to the conventional technology, the number of pulses output when a coin passes is about 10.
For example, the criterion for passing a yen coin is fixed at "35 pulses or less," so when the standby value fluctuates due to variations in sensor components or changes in ambient temperature, the detection level becomes unstable and detection errors occur. It is not uncommon to do this. According to the present invention, the number of pulse outputs during standby of a device that detects the passage of a coin is constantly counted and updated and stored as standby value data, and a comparison reference value using this standby value data and the pulse output of the coin passing detection device Since the passage of a coin is detected by comparing the number of coins with
・Since this is done, the difference between this standby value data and the number of pulse outputs (counter value) when the coin passes becomes constant, and the detection level becomes stable. Therefore, there are no detection errors, and the number of coins can be managed accurately. By accurately counting the collected coins in this way, it is possible to keep track of the coins in the safe and, conversely, to manage the number of coins in the holding tube. Furthermore, because the precision of the components of the coin passage detection device is not required to be very high, the cost of the device can be reduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the main structure of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a memory map in the MPU in FIG. 1, and FIG. A flowchart showing the operation of the main parts of the MPU, Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the schematic structure of the coin mechanism, Fig. 5 is a diagram of the operating principle of the overflow piece of the coin holding tube, and Fig. 6 is an example of the structure of the coin passage sensor circuit. Figure 7 is a diagram showing an example of the correspondence between the decoded signal in Figure 6 and the ON channel, Figures 8 and 9 are examples of the correspondence between the damped vibration output and pulse output of the coin passing sensor. FIG. 01: MPU, 02: Coin passing sensor circuit, 03: Counter circuit, 04: Standby value data updating means, 1: Coin sorting machine, 2: Coin holding tube, 3: Coin slot, 4: Payment passageway, 5; Overflow piece, 11: Coin passage sensor, 21A: 10 yen standby value data, 228: 50 yen standby value data, 23A: 100 yen standby value data,
248: 500 yen standby value data, L: coil, C: capacitor, Vs: sensor detection voltage, V6: constant voltage. Kau〉ta Wholesaler mark O1 Figure O2 Figure Stone L acquisition 801 (A) (B) Fang 6 Figure 17 Cross 7A4 7 Figure O9

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) An LRC resonant circuit comprising a coil arranged so that the coin passes through its magnetic field and a capacitor are connected in parallel, and the coil or capacitor is biased to a predetermined value in advance. After that, the operation of attenuating and extinguishing the energy in the resonant circuit is repeated, and the number of vibrations until the magnitude of the damped vibration is attenuated to a predetermined level is different between when the coin passes and when the coin does not pass. In a coin passage detection device that detects passage of the coin using A coin passage detection device characterized in that it is determined that the coin has passed when the number of vibrations is less than a value obtained by subtracting a predetermined value.