JPH049359B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention is applicable to vending machines, public telephones, etc.
The present invention relates to a coin inspection device used to determine the correctness and type of coins inserted.

[Conventional technology]

Such testing equipment is generally referred to as a "coin testing equipment".
(Japanese Patent Publication No. 59-11554, No. 14798), it is equipped with an analog-to-digital converter (hereinafter referred to as ADC), which converts the analog signal that detects the physical characteristics of the coin into a digital signal. However, in the analog circuit on the input side, there are fluctuations in the analog signal based on temperature characteristics, and for the purpose of correcting this, Utility Application No. 191564, filed separately from the present application, has been proposed. In the same application, the reference voltage of the ADC is changed according to the ambient temperature to compensate for fluctuations in the analog signal occurring on the input side.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, when using the above-mentioned method, there are multiple ADC inputs, and when switching these and sequentially converting them into digital signals, the temperature characteristics of the input side are individual, and in particular, the temperature coefficients are positive and negative. If there is a mixture of , reference voltage sources must be prepared and switched for each of them, which results in a complicated configuration and the drawback that the conversion operation by the ADC is not fast enough. .

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to solve such problems, this invention
Correction data is stored for each address in the memory, the detection output of the temperature sensor is converted to a digital signal by an ADC as an address signal, and correction is performed by accessing the correction data memory using this address signal. This is what I decided to do.

[Effect]

The detection output of the temperature sensor is converted into a digital address signal, the correction data memory is accessed using this address signal, the correction data is read out, and the correction data is used as an address signal to read coin data from the coin data memory. is read out, and the authenticity and type of the coin in terms of the physical characteristics are identified from the logical value of each bit position of the read coin data.

〔Example〕

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be explained in detail below with reference to figures showing embodiments, but prior to that, the basic idea will be explained.

Since the physical properties of coins change depending on temperature, it is necessary to correct the measured data based on the temperature at the time of actual measurement. Therefore, the signal representing the physical characteristics of the coin 52 in FIG. 6 that is actually measured by the detector 53 and converted into a digital signal by the A/D converter 10 needs to be corrected based on the temperature at the time of the actual measurement.

The temperature sensor 12, A/D converter 10, and correction means 55 are used for this purpose, and this correction is performed by the method shown in FIG. That is, the correction means 5
Reference numeral 5 has a correction table and the arithmetic function shown in FIG. In this example, bit B7) is checked and it is ``1''.
Whether to subtract or add is determined depending on whether or not the temperature is corrected, and the temperature is corrected based on the result. This temperature correction is performed for three types of coins: material, thickness, and outer shape.

Since the data that has been temperature-corrected in this way accurately represents the physical characteristics, when the data is supplied as address data to the coin data memory, a signal representing the characteristics of the coin is read therefrom. In this application, coin data is stored as shown in FIG. That is, data is written in which symbol 21 represents the material, symbol 22 represents the thickness, and symbol 23 represents the external shape.

Since these tables are composed of 8 bits, 8 types of coins can be identified by assigning one coin to each bit. However, to avoid complexity, this example assumes only three types, (A), (B), and (C), as described at the bottom of the figure. For example, the coin of (A) has bits.
B7 (this bit is a data bit related to the physical characteristics of the coin, and is different from the data bit for temperature correction described above), and each table shows the allowable variation range of the address signal when measuring a genuine coin. Write "0" as a specific bit. In other words, if a certain physical property, such as the material, is read out from the table 21 and bit B7 is "0", the material can be treated as genuine currency.

However, since the overall judgment of a coin must also take into account the diameter and thickness, it is not appropriate to make a judgment based only on one physical characteristic. Furthermore, even if the coins are different, they may have the same physical properties, such as the material, so it is not possible to determine the type of coin based on only one material.

Therefore, in this application, the data read from the table 21 and the data read from the table 22 are logically summed, and the logical sum and the data read from the table 23 are logically summed, and the final result is a specific bit "0". If the coin remains, it is determined to be a genuine coin, and the "0" bit represents the type of coin.

In the example in Figure 2, the final result (lower right part of the figure) is
01111111, and since 0 remains in bit B7, it is determined that it is a genuine coin and the type of coin is (A). The above explanation is for coin (A), but other coins can be identified in the same way.

Next, specific examples will be described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration, in which oscillating coils L ₁ , L ₂ and receiving coils L ₃ , L ₄ are arranged facing each other through a coin path ₁ .
An oscillation circuit 2 is connected to L ₂ , and these oscillate at a predetermined frequency. Based on this, the magnetic field from the oscillation coils L ₁ and L ₂ is transmitted to the receiver coil.
It is supposed to be received by L ₃ and L ₄ .

Detectors 3a and 3b, each including a light emitting element and a light receiving element, are provided on the coin input port side of the passageway 1, and these detect the insertion of coins and give activation commands to various parts.

Further, the receiver coils L ₃ and L ₄ are individually connected to the inputs of the amplifiers 4 and 5, and the outputs of the oscillation circuit 2 and the amplifiers 4 and 5 are individually detected by the detection circuits 6 to 8, and are detected by the multiplexer 9. selected
is applied to the ADC 10, where, for example, 8
Each bit is converted into a digital signal individually and sequentially, and the output thereof is given to a processor (hereinafter referred to as CPU) 11 such as a microprocessor.

Therefore, when a coin inserted into the passage 1 rolls and passes, the outputs of the oscillation circuit 2 and amplifiers 4 and 5 change depending on the material, thickness, and outer diameter of the coin.
Accordingly, each output of the detection circuits 6 to 8 will also change, and among the outputs via these ADCs 10, the peak value of the output corresponding to the detection circuit 6 will change.
Through the judgment made by the CPU 11, data indicating the material of the coin is obtained, and by similarly judging the peak value of the detector circuit 7, data indicating the thickness of the coin is obtained. Data indicating the outer diameter of the coin can be obtained by similarly determining the values at which the change states of the outputs of the detection circuits 7 and 8 intersect with each other.

The details of the detection of each of these physical characteristics can be found in the "Coin Sorting Device" (patent application published by the applicant), which was filed separately by the applicant.
59-76620).

The multiplexer 9 is also provided with the detection power of a temperature sensor 12 provided inside or outside the device, and each input of the multiplexer 9 is
The CPU 11 is sequentially and repeatedly selected in accordance with the selection signal SEL from the CPU 11, and
1, and an input/output interface (hereinafter referred to as I/F) 13 and ROM (Read Only Memory.) 14 are connected to the CPU 11 via the same data bus 15.
A denomination signal C ₁ to indicate the coin discrimination result via 3
_C4 is sent out, while the contents of the ROM 14 are read out by an address designation signal applied from the CPU 11 via the address bus 16.

However, in ROM14, along with the program,
As described later, signals indicating whether the physical characteristics of the coin are acceptable and data for temperature correction are also stored, while a separate RAM (Random Access
Memory.) 17 is provided, and the CPU 11 is
It executes the program in the ROM 14 and performs predetermined operations while accessing necessary data to the RAM 17.

Figure 2 shows an example of the contents of the ROM14 and the RAM
17. In this case, addresses 800 to 8FF in the ROM 14 are assigned to the material block 21, similar addresses 900 to 9FF are assigned to the thickness block 22, and similar addresses A00 are assigned to the material block 21. ~AFF is the outer diameter block 23, and the positions of bits _B7 to _B5 among the bits _B7 to _B0 for each address are made to correspond to the coin types A to C, and according to the detection data of each physical characteristic. In addition to storing a signal with a specific logical value "0" according to the indicated address,
Similarly, "0" signals are stored in the address range indicated by the detection data according to the allowable deviation of each physical characteristic.

In addition, in blocks 21 and 22, coin type A
Even if ~C are different, the material and thickness data partially overlap due to tolerance, so the "0" signal is also the same, and in block 23, the outer diameter tolerance for coin types A and B is determined. “0” because the deviation is the same
The signal is also the same.

Therefore, each coil L ₁ used as a detector
From the output data of the ADC 10 corresponding to each detection force of ~ _L4 , the CPU 11 specifies the readout address of the block 21 based on the data indicating the material determined, and the readout address of the block 21 is specified using the data indicating the same thickness.
By specifying the read address of the block 23 and specifying the read address of the block 23 using data indicating the same outer diameter, the corresponding contents will be read from the ROM 14.
It is sent to the CPU 11.

Furthermore, if the output of ADC10 is 8 bits,
Since the lower two digits of address numbers 800 to AFF are specified, the most significant digits 8, 9, and A are added by the CPU 11 according to the blocks 21 to 23 to be specified, and the address bus 16 is The data are sent sequentially through the network.

In other words, the material data is D5 (“1101・0101”),
If the thickness data is 9E (“1001・1110”) and the outer diameter data is E7 (“1110・0111”), block 21
8D5 is specified for block 22, 99E is specified for block 22, and AE7 is specified for block 23, and these contents are “01011111”, “00111111”,
Since “00111111” is read out sequentially, the contents of the denomination data area 24 are all cleared to “0”, and the logical match between this contents and the contents from block 21 is determined by logical sum, and the denomination data is read out. It is updated and stored in area 24, then a similar logical sum is calculated for the content from block 22, and stored in the same way in the denomination data area 24, and a similar logical sum is calculated for the content from block 23. Then, if the data is stored in the denomination data area 24 in the same way, the contents of the denomination data area 24 are also changed so that bit _B7 is "0" because the contents of each block 21 to 23 in the above example all have bit _B7 set to "0". “0”
This indicates that each physical characteristic should be accepted as type A of the coin.

Therefore, the denomination signal is sent via a decoder etc.
If the coins are sent as C ₁ to _{C 4} , it can be immediately indicated which type of coin is inserted.

If the address specification of the block 22 is different and, for example, the content "10111111" shown in parentheses is read out, the content of the denomination data area 24 becomes "11111111" and "0" disappears, so there is no error. This indicates that the coin is a genuine coin and should not be accepted.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the above-mentioned operation by the CPU 11. After "initial setting" 101 is performed following "START", "input selection" 102 of the multiplexer 9 is performed by sending a selection signal SEL, If the corresponding “ADC output intake” 103 is performed and the “predetermined value?” 104 of the peak value or crossover value is Y (YES), then
The output data from the ADC 10 is stored in the RAM 17, the peak value or the cross value is "stored as a predetermined value" 105, and the same "temperature data storage" 106 is performed, and then the multiplexer 9 asks "all inputs completed?"
Step 102 and subsequent steps are repeated via N (NO) in step 107, and if step 107 becomes Y, a "correction calculation based on temperature data" 110 is performed, thereby correcting the data in step 105, and then "correction calculation" is performed. 111 is performed to specify a read address based on the completed data, 112 is performed to ``calculate the logical sum with the read contents,'' and 113 is performed to ``store the logical sum in the denomination data area.''

Next, in the denomination data area, "0" indicates "Are there allowed bits?" and via Y of 121, "All data completed?"
While 122 is N, steps 111 and subsequent steps are repeated, and in response to Y in step 122, "send denomination signal" 123 is performed.

FIG. 4 is a lower-level routine showing details of step 110 in FIG.
A correction data area for temperature correction is provided in 14, and “1” indicating subtraction is set in bit _B7 of each address.
Or "0" indicating addition is stored, and correction data is stored in bits _B6 to _B0 , and these are stored as blocks 21 to 21 in Fig. 2 for each material, thickness, and outer diameter. It is provided in correspondence with 23.

Therefore, “read address specification based on temperature data” is possible for a given block in the correction data area.
301, and after performing bit “B ₇ check” 302 of the read content, determine “B ₇ = “1”?” 303, and if this is Y, execute “B ₇ clear” 311. Thereafter, the corrected data D _c is obtained by subtracting the correction data d _c from the physical characteristic detection data d _d by calculating “d _d −d _c =D _c ”312.

Regarding the above, if step 303 is N, “d _d +
d _c =D _c "Calculate the corrected data D _c by 321.

FIG. 5 shows a low-level routine equivalent to FIG. 4 using another method. In this case, a reference value area and a correction data area are provided in the ROM 14, and each reference value in the reference value area is sequentially read out to "temperature". Compare the data with each reference value to find a correction band" 401, and specify the readout address using data indicating the correction band to the correction data area to perform 402 to "obtain correction data according to the correction band.'' , performs the same processing as in FIG.

Therefore, the CPU 11 is
It is sufficient to perform the processing shown in the figure mainly, using the output data of the ADC 10 selected as the value indicating the physical characteristics of the coin as it is, and using the block 2 in the RAM 14.
All you have to do is specify the read address for 1 to 23, and the read contents immediately indicate whether the coin is correct or not and the type, which simplifies the program for coin determination processing and reduces the processing time. This will save time.

However, the type and physical characteristics of the target coin can be selected arbitrarily depending on the situation, and the type of detector and related circuits should be determined accordingly, and correction data should be prepared according to these temperature characteristics. RAM14
The same effect can be achieved by using bit _B7 , which indicates addition and subtraction, as another bit.In some cases, multiple bits can be used.However, as the temperature sensor 12, a thermistor, thermocouple, etc. The installation location may be any location as long as it can detect the temperature that affects the determination result.

In addition, depending on the type and physical characteristics of the coin, a second
In addition to determining the number of blocks and bit positions in the diagram, "0" is used as a signal to indicate permission.
In addition, it is also possible to use "1" or a combination of multiple bits, and depending on the conditions, a logical match may be determined by logical product, etc.
Various modifications are possible.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As is clear from the above explanation, according to the present invention, temperature correction is performed by generating an address signal based on the output signal of the sensor and reading data from the correction memory using the address signal. There is no need to compare the upper and lower limits as in the past, speeding up and simplifying temperature correction, and ensuring reliable coin determination results, making it easier to insert coins into vending machines, public telephones, etc. Remarkable effects can be obtained in various types of equipment that require

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The figures show an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 1 is a block diagram, Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the contents of the ROM and the contents of the denomination data area, Fig. 3 is a flowchart of the operation by the CPU, and Fig. 4 is a block diagram. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of step 110 in FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a flowchart similar to FIG. 4 according to another method, and FIG. 6 is a block diagram corresponding to the claims. 1... Coin passageway, 2... Oscillation circuit, 4, 5...
Amplifier, 6 to 8...Detection circuit, 9...Multiplexer, 10...ADC (analog-digital converter), 11...CPU (processor), 12...Temperature sensor, 13...I/F (interface) ), 1
4...ROM, 15...Data bus, 16...Address bus, 17...RAM, 21...Material block, 22...Thickness block, 23...Outer diameter block, 24...Denomination data area, _L1 , _L2 ...
Oscillator coil (detector), L ₃ , L ₄ ... Receiving coil (detector), SEL ... selection signal.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A detector that detects at least two physical characteristics of a coin as an electrical signal; a temperature sensor that detects a temperature that affects the discrimination result as an electrical signal; and outputs of the detector and temperature sensor. an analog-to-digital converter that converts the temperature sensor into a digital signal; a correction data memory that stores correction data at each address, the contents of which are read out based on the output of the converter corresponding to the output of the temperature sensor; and the correction data memory. a correction means for correcting a digital signal corresponding to each of the physical characteristics based on correction data read from the correction means; and a correction means for correcting a digital signal corresponding to each physical characteristic based on correction data read from the correction means; an identification means for identifying the authenticity and type of the coin from the stored coin data memory and the result of sequential logical operations for each physical characteristic of the plurality of bit signals read from the coin data memory in accordance with the address signal; The coin data memory determines the type of coin in correspondence with each bit of a multi-bit address signal, and a specific value is written within an allowable variation range of the address signal in the case of a genuine coin, and the identification means A coin detection device characterized in that, when a specific value exists in a logical operation result, the coin at the position of the specific value is identified as a genuine coin and a coin of a type to be identified.