JPH05151420A - Coin sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To accurately discriminate a coin by storing minimum values of reception data at the time of passage of plural proper coins of the same kind in a coin passage and determining a maximum allowable range including all of these minimum values and injecting the coin to be discriminated whose minimum value is not within this allowable range. CONSTITUTION:A CPU 60 discriminates whether the minimum value of reception data detected for a coin 70 to be discriminated is deviated from the maximum allowable rage including all of minimum values of reception data for passage of plural proper coins of various kinds in the coin passage or not. If it is deviated, the coin 70 to be discriminated is injected. The CPU 60 checks whether the minimum value of reception data of the coin 70 to be discriminated is within the allowable range including all of minimum values of reception data for passage of plural proper coins of the same kind in the coin passage or not. If it is not within this allowable range, the coin 70 to be discriminated is injected.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coin sensor used in a coin sorter or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional coin sensor used in a coin sorter, a detection coil is installed on the wall of a coin passage, and when a coin approaches the detection coil, the inductance of the detection coil gradually decreases, and This is because the inductance of the detection coil becomes the minimum value when it comes closest to the detection coil, and the minimum value of the inductance varies depending on the coin. Therefore, the minimum value of the inductance is detected in advance for all the coins to be selected (appropriate coins currently used), the upper limit value of the minimum value is calculated for each coin, and the threshold value is set.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a coin determination method in the above conventional example, and is a diagram showing the above threshold value.

In this figure, the minimum value of the inductance in each proper coin is 1 yen, 5 yen, 10 yen, 50 yen.
It is assumed that the yen is getting smaller, 10 yen, and 500 yen in that order. And 1 yen, 5 yen, 10 yen, 50 yen, 100
A value obtained by adding a margin to the maximum inductance value of each appropriate coin of yen and 500 yen is used as a threshold value T1, T2, T3, T4, T.
5 and T6, the minimum inductance of the coin to be judged is I
Let M be, for example, if T1 <IM <T2, the coin is 1 yen, if T3 <IM <T4, the coin is 5 yen, and if T6 <IM, the coin is 500 yen. It is determined to be a circle.

[0005]

However, in the above conventional example, if T1 <IM, it is determined that the coin to be judged is not a proper coin and should be ejected. When the inductance value IM is smaller than the threshold value T6, a coin other than the 500-yen coin (for example, a coin of 500 won) is determined as a 500-yen coin. Therefore, in the above-mentioned conventional example, there is a problem that the coin may not be accurately determined.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a coin sensor which can accurately determine a coin.

[0007]

According to the present invention, when a plurality of proper coins of one type pass through a coin passage, the lowest value of received data is stored, and a maximum allowable range including all of these lowest values is set. The determined coin is ejected when the lowest value of the received data of the determined coin does not belong to the maximum allowable range.

[0008]

The present invention stores the minimum value of received data when a plurality of proper coins of one type pass through the coin passage, and determines the maximum allowable range including all of these minimum values.
When the minimum value of the received data of the coin to be judged does not belong to the maximum allowable range, the coin to be judged is ejected, so the minimum value of the received data of the coin to be judged is larger than the upper limit of the maximum allowable range. Also, if it is smaller than the lower limit, the coin to be judged is ejected, and therefore the coin can be judged accurately.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of an embodiment of the present invention.

The signal generating circuit 10 has 160 kHz and 10
is a circuit that internally generates a sine wave of kHz and whose output frequency is controlled to be switched by a CPU 60 described later,
The transmission coil 20 is a coil that allows a sine wave current of 160 kHz and 10 kHz to flow. The receiving coil 30 is a coil that faces the transmitting coil 20 and receives a signal from the transmitting coil 20, and the transmitting coil 20 and the receiving coil 30 are
The ferrite cores 21 and 31 are wound around bobbin not shown. A coin passage 71 is provided between the transmission coil 20 and the reception coil 30, and the coin 70 rolls in the coin passage 71. The portion (detection region) of the coin passage 71 located between the transmission coil 20 and the reception coil 30 is made of a material other than a conductor, such as plastic.

The differential amplifier circuit 40 amplifies the signal received by the receiving coil 30, the diode 51 rectifies the output signal of the differential amplifier circuit 40, and the capacitor 52 rectifies the signal. Is smoothed and the peak value of the data is held. The electric charge charged in the capacitor 52 is constantly discharged through the resistor 53, but the switch 53 discharges all the electric charge charged in the capacitor 52 at the time of frequency switching. , CPU 60, and is synchronized with the frequency switching between 160 kHz and 10 kHz. The A / D conversion circuit 55 converts an analog signal indicating the voltage across the capacitor 52 into a digital signal.

Although not shown in FIG. 1, a diode connected to the output terminal of the amplifier circuit 40 and connected in the opposite direction to the diode 51, and a capacitor for holding a negative peak value, A resistor similar to the resistor 53, a switch similar to the switch 54, and a subtracter for obtaining a difference between the negative peak value and the positive peak value (that is, peak-peak value) are provided. Then, the peak-peak value is converted into a digital value by the A / D conversion circuit 55, and the CPU 60 takes in the digital value.

The memory 61 is a memory for storing, for each type of coin, an allowable range including all of the minimum values of received data when a plurality of proper coins of one type pass through the coin passage 70. That is, the memory 61 has one
When a plurality of proper coins of one type pass through the coin passage 71 (for example, when a large number of proper 500-yen coins are inserted), the lowest value of received data is stored for each coin, and all of these lowest values are stored. It is a memory that determines the allowable range to be included and stores the value of the determined allowable range, and may store the value of the predetermined allowable range without actually inserting individual coins.

The memory 62 is a memory for storing unshielded data which is received data when the coin to be judged 70 does not pass through the coin passage 71.

The CPU 60 deviates from the maximum permissible range including all of the minimum values of the received data when a plurality of proper coins of a plurality of types have passed through the coin passage, the minimum value of the received data detected for the judgment coin 70. It is determined that the determined coin 70 is ejected when the deviation is made. Also, the CPU 6
0 indicates whether or not the minimum value of the received data of the coin to be judged 70 belongs to the allowable range including all the minimum values of the received data when a plurality of proper coins of one type pass through the coin passage. When the lowest value of the received data of the coin to be judged 70 does not belong to any of the above-mentioned allowable ranges, the coin to be judged 70 is ejected. The ejecting means for ejecting the coin to be judged 70 is a well-known passage switching means for switching the passage to a coin outlet (not shown).

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the operation of the above embodiment.

First, initial setting is performed (S1), 160 k
A Hz signal is sent to the transmitting coil 20 to determine the coin 7 to be judged.
When 0 does not pass through the coin passage 71, 16 samplings are performed, the sampling data is averaged, and unshielded data V0160 at 160 kHz (reception when the coin to be judged 70 does not pass through the coin detection area) (Data) is measured (S2). After measuring the unshielded data, the current received data at 160 kHz is measured (S3).

Next, the unshielded data V016 at 160 kHz is shifted by 2 bits to obtain the unshielded data V016.
A value of 1/4 of 0 is obtained, and this value is used as unshielded data V016
By subtracting from 0, 75% of the unshielded data V0160 at 160 kHz is calculated, and if the current received data V160 is larger than the above 75% value (S
4) Assuming that the coin to be judged 70 has not reached the detection area, or if it has reached the detection area, it is too early to perform the detection operation, so that the current data fetching (S3) is executed again and the current received data V160 is 75. 1 when larger than% value
When the time has passed (S5), the process returns to S2 and the above series of operations is repeated.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation in the above embodiment, and is a diagram showing an input signal of the A / D conversion circuit 55.
In FIG. 3, the reception data V160 at 160 kHz is 100% when there is no shielding, and at this time, 16
Only the signal of 0 kHz flows in the transmission coil 20, and the time t1
At 160 kHz, the received data V160 is reduced to 75% of the value when there is no shielding (S4), and from this time, it is determined that the coin to be judged 70 has reached the detection area, and the judgment operation of the coin to be judged 70 is started. To do. That is, 160 kHz
Signal of 10 kHz and a signal of 10 kHz flow alternately to the transmission coil 20.

That is, returning to the flow chart of FIG. 2, a current of 10 kHz is applied to the transmitting side coil 20, and 10
Measure the current received data V10 at kHz (S1
1) The minimum value Vm10 of the received data V10 is stored (S12), the frequency of the current flowing through the transmitting side coil 20 is switched to 160 kHz, and the current received data V160 at 160 kHz is measured (S13).
The minimum value Vm160 of 160 is stored (S1
4). While repeating the operations of S11 to S14,
When the current reception data V160 starts to increase, the minimum value Vm160 is determined. That is, in FIG.
When the reception data V10 of kHz gradually decreases and the next reception data V10b becomes larger than the reception data V10a for the first time, the reception data V10a is determined as the minimum value Vm10 of the reception data of 10 kHz, and 160 kHz
The received data of z gradually decreases, and the received data V16
When the next reception data V160b becomes larger than 0a for the first time, the reception data V160a is determined as the minimum value Vm160 of the reception data of 160 kHz. afterwards,
Coin determination is performed in the case of measurement at 10 kHz (S20), subsequently coin determination is performed in the case of measurement at 160 kHz (S30), and comprehensive determination is performed based on these determination results (S40).

FIG. 4 is a flow chart specifically showing the determination (S20) at 10 kHz shown in FIG.

First, of the six types of coins,
Set n indicating the number of the type to 1 (H
1) Reset the value CNT1 of the 6-bit register (H2). The 6 bits of the register CNT1 is a bit that indicates which coin the determined coin 70 may be among the 6 types of coins. Then, the lower limit data of the first type proper coin (for example, 1 yen coin) is read from the memory 61, and the value of the lower limit data is set to VmL10.
(H3). At this time, if the minimum value Vm10 of the received data of 10 kHz is equal to or higher than the lower limit data VmL10 (H4) and is equal to or lower than the upper limit data VmU10 (upper limit data of the first type proper coin) ( H
6) Since the to-be-determined coin 70 may be the first coin, bit 0 of CNT1 is set to "1" (H7). When the value of the minimum value Vm10 is equal to or higher than the value of the lower limit data VmL10 (H4), the upper limit data of the proper coin of the first type is read from the memory 61,
The value of the upper limit data is set to VmU10 (H5). On the other hand, the value of the minimum value Vm10 is the lower limit data VmL10.
If the value is less than the value of (H4) or greater than the value of the upper limit data VmU10 (H6), it is not possible that the coin 70 to be judged is the first type of coin, and thus the bit 0 of CNT is set to "0".
(H8). Then, n is incremented by 1 (H9), the value of the register CNT1 is shifted to the left by 1 bit (H11), and preparations are made to check whether or not there is a possibility of being the second type of coin. Then, these series of operations are sequentially performed for the second type coin and the third type coin,
The coins of the sixth type are repeatedly executed (H10) and the process returns.

FIG. 5 shows that in the above embodiment, 10 kHz.
It is a figure which shows the operation | movement of CNT1 at the time of measuring by. In this figure, "-" in CNT1 indicates that it is not input data.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart specifically showing the determination (S30) at 160 kHz shown in FIG.

First, n is set to 1 (H21), and the value CNT2 of the 6-bit register is reset (H2).
2). The 6 bits of the register CNT2 is a bit indicating which of the 6 types of coins the determined coin 70 may be. Then, the lower limit data of the first type proper coin is read from the memory 61, and the value of the lower limit data is set to VmL160 (H23). At this time, the value of the minimum value Vm160 of the reception data of 160 kHz is greater than or equal to the value of the lower limit data VmL160 (H2
4) Moreover, if the value is equal to or less than the value of the upper limit data VmU160 (H26), it is possible that the coin to be judged 70 is the first kind of coin, so the bit 0 of CNT2 is set to "1" (H27). In addition, when the value of the minimum value Vm160 is greater than or equal to the value of the lower limit data VmL160 (H2
In 4), the upper limit data of the first type proper coin is read from the memory 61, and the value of the upper limit data is set to VmU160.
(H25). On the other hand, if the value of the minimum value Vm160 is less than the value of the lower limit data VmL160 (H24) or larger than the value of the upper limit data VmU160 (H26),
Since there is no possibility that the coin 70 to be judged is the first type coin, bit 0 of CNT2 is set to "0" (H
27). Then, n is incremented by 1 (H29),
Shift the value of register CNT2 left by 1 bit (H
31) Prepare to check whether there is a possibility that the coin is the second type. Then, the series of operations is repeatedly executed for the second type coin and the third type coin up to the sixth type coin (H30), and the process returns.

FIG. 7 shows that in the above embodiment, 160 kHz
It is a figure which shows operation | movement of CNT2 at the time of measuring by z.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a relationship between an example of the distribution of the minimum value of the received data of each proper coin and an example of the minimum value of the received data of the coin to be judged in the above embodiment. Figure 8 (1)
Then, at 10 kHz, a proper 1 yen coin and a proper 50
Since the minimum value (Vm10) of the received data of the coin 70 to be judged is included in the range (distribution) of the minimum value of the received data with the 0-yen coin, bit 5 and bit 0 of the register CNT1 are included.
And is set to "1". In FIG. 8 (2), 16
At 0 kHz, the received data minimum value (V) of the coin to be judged 70 is within the range (distribution) of the received data minimum value of the appropriate 1-yen coin, the appropriate 100-yen coin, and the appropriate 500-yen coin.
m160) is included, "1" is set to bit 4, bit 2 and bit 0 of register CNT1. The distribution of the minimum values shown in FIG. 8 is an example, and if the material, diameter, and position of each core around which the transmitter coil 20 and the receiver coil 30 are wound are changed, the distribution shown in FIG. Have different distributions.

FIG. 9 is a detailed flowchart of the comprehensive judgment (S40) shown in FIG.

First, the logical product of the contents of the registers CNT1 and CNT2 is stored in the register CNT (H41). That is, the judgment target coin 70 is obtained by ANDing the judgment result at 10 kHz and the judgment result at 160 kHz.
Specify the type of coin. Then, n is set to 0, and variables D (1) to D (6) are set to 1, 5, 1 respectively.
Substitute 0, 50, 100, and 500 yen (H42). Then, each bit of CNT is sequentially examined from bit 6.
That is, n is incremented by 1 (H43), and if bit 5 of CNT is "0" (H44), the first type (1
Since it is not a yen coin, shift CNT to the left by 1 bit (H45) and prepare to check whether it is the next type (5 yen coin). If CNT bit 5 is "1", If (H44), it is displayed that the coin is the first type (H48). This series of operations is repeated 6 times (H
46), if the bit 5 of the CNT is always "0", the coin to be judged 70 is not a proper coin and is ejected (H47). If bit 5 of CNT is "1", the corresponding amount of money is displayed and the process returns.

According to the above embodiment, the minimum value of the received data is stored when a plurality of proper coins of one type pass through the coin passage 71, and the allowable range including all of these minimum values is set for each coin type. When the lowest value of the received data of the coin to be judged does not belong to any of the above-mentioned allowable ranges, the coin to be judged 70 is ejected, so that the coin can be accurately judged.

In the above embodiment, the ejected data is ejected when the lowest value of the received data of the coin 70 to be judged does not belong to any of the plurality of permissible ranges. The maximum allowable range including all the minimum values of the received data when the coin passes through the coin passage 71 is determined, the maximum allowable range is stored in the memory 61, and the minimum of the received data detected for the coin to be judged is determined. The judgment target coin may be ejected when the value deviates from the maximum allowable range.

In the above embodiment, the transmitting coil 20 and the receiving coil 30 face each other through the coin passage 71, but one detecting coil faces the coin passage, and the receiving coil receives the signal. The above-described embodiment can be applied to the coin sensor that determines the type of the coin to be determined according to the data (for example, the data of the inductance change).

In the above embodiment, the signal generating circuit 10
May output signals of frequencies other than 10 kHz and 160 kHz, or may output signals of three or more different frequencies. Further, in the above embodiment, at least two currents having different frequencies are sequentially supplied to the transmitting coil 20, but instead, a current having only one frequency is supplied to the transmitting coil 20. You may do it.

In the above embodiment, the received data when the proper coin passes through the coin passage 71 is actually measured. However, the received data is not measured by the coin sensor and is set in advance. The received data may be stored in the memory 61.

[0036]

According to the present invention, the coin to be judged can be accurately judged.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the above embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an operation explanatory diagram in the above-described embodiment, which shows an A / D
6 is a diagram showing an input signal of the conversion circuit 55. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a detailed flowchart of determination (S20) at 160 kHz shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an operation of CNT1 when measured at 10 kHz in the above example.

FIG. 6 is a detailed flowchart of determination (S30) at 160 kHz shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an operation of CNT2 when measured at 160 kHz in the above-mentioned embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the relationship between the distribution of the minimum value of the received data of each proper coin and the minimum value of the received data of the coin to be judged in the above embodiment.

9 is a detailed flowchart of comprehensive determination (S40) shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory diagram of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 160 ... Signal generating circuit, 20 ... Transmission coil, 30 ... Reception coil, 60 ... CPU, 61 ... First memory, 62 ... Second memory.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A receiving side coil is provided so as to flow a current having a predetermined frequency to a transmitting side coil and faces the transmitting side coil through a coin passage. According to received data received by the receiving side coil, In the coin sensor that determines the type of coin, the maximum permissible range including all of the minimum values of the received data when a plurality of types of proper coins pass through the coin passage is determined, and the detected coin is detected. A coin sensor, wherein the coin to be judged is ejected when the minimum value of the received data deviates from the maximum allowable range. 2. A receiving side coil is provided so as to flow a current having a predetermined frequency to the transmitting side coil and faces the transmitting side coil through a coin passage, and in accordance with the received data received by the receiving side coil, In a coin sensor for determining the type of coin to be judged, an allowable range including all of the minimum values of the received data when a plurality of proper coins of one type pass through the coin passage is stored for each type of coin. A memory; a comparing means for checking to which one of the allowable ranges the lowest value of the received data of the coin to be judged belongs; and a minimum value of the received data of the coin to be judged which of the allowable ranges. And a ejecting means for ejecting the coin to be judged when the coin sensor does not belong to the coin sensor.