JPS58144703A - Method for judging diameter of circular body - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To judge the diameter of the body accurately, by scanning a photoelectric transducer device periodically, and measuring the scanning times during the period the device is shielded by the circular body. CONSTITUTION:The circular body such as a coin 5 and the like, which is conveyed on a path, is detected by a pair of image sensors 2 and 2'. The image sensors 2 and 2' comprise a photodiode array arranged on a straight line, and serially outputs an electric signal corresponding to the amount of received light in the order of scanning. Said output has the signal corresponding to the shielded part of the light corresponding to the diameter of the coin. The scanning times of the image sensors during the period the light is shielded by the coinis counted. Thus the diameter of the coin is measured. When abnormality is found in said measured value, the coin is judged as abnormal, and the abnormal signal is outputted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a diameter determination method for determining the diameter of a circular object, such as a coin.

By the way, when classifying circular objects by their diameters, it is necessary to determine the diameters. An example is the classification of coins of different denominations with different diameters. Traditionally,
In a coin sorting machine that sorts coins of many denominations using sorting holes provided for each denomination according to their diameter, the coins of each denomination are counted in the vicinity of each sorting hole. , in the passage before reaching the nearest sorting hole,
A method is known in which the diameter is determined optically.

This is done by installing a light source and a charge conversion chick between the passages, and checking how much light is emitted by the coins at the moment when L coins are supplied at a time. This is to detect the diameter of.

However, such a device has the disadvantage that it is necessary to use a position sensor to accurately detect the point at which the coin moves from the detection position, and it also has the disadvantage that it is necessary to use a position sensor to accurately detect the point at which the coin moves from the detection position. There is a drawback that it cannot be detected if it occurs. To solve this problem, several position sensors must be arranged and the diameter must be detected each time each position sensor detects the diameter, which results in the inconvenience of complicating the apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a diameter determination method that can detect objects having a shape other than circular, such as counterfeit coins, even if they are transported.

This invention will be explained below.

The present invention relates to a method for determining the diameter of a circular object based on an electric signal KM output from a photoelectric conversion means corresponding to a partial amount of 11 elements formed by the circular object, the method comprising periodically scanning the photoelectric conversion means, When the photoelectric conversion means is continuously illuminated for a predetermined amount or more, it is determined that it is normal if it is within a certain range based on the number of times it scans one period, and if it is outside the certain range and the photoelectric conversion means is not converted. If the means is continuously illuminated by a predetermined amount or more, the circular object is determined to be an abnormal object.

Examples will be described below using a coin as an example of a circular object.

WJIFIA with reference to the drawings regarding an embodiment using a one-dimensional image sensor as a photoelectric conversion means shows that in Figs. A coin 5 as a circular object is continuously and forcibly conveyed in the direction of the arrow by a conveyor belt (not shown) or the like along the passage P. In the passage bottom plate IK, rectangular holes 6 and 6' are provided in a straight line,
A light source 7 such as a light bulb and a lens system 8 are provided below the 66.6'. Also, above the holes 6, 6/, a light source 7 is provided.
A pair of image sensors 2, 2/ is provided to receive the light emerging from the lens system 8 and passing through the hole 6.6'. The image centers t2, 2' are attached to the board 9,
They are arranged so as to extend by kW in a direction perpendicular to the coin conveyance direction from the passage side walls 4, 4' toward the center of the passage P, and to be aligned with each other.

Note that the substrate 9 is held Il! 10 and 10', and the image sensors 2 and 2' are provided at a distance of 5K to avoid a position facing the center of the coin. When a coin with a hole in the center passes through it, like the 5 yen coin and Father's Day coin, is this the light that passes through the hole in the coin?Is this an image sensor? 2.
This is to prevent the light from being received by 5PIc. Each of the image sensors 2.2' consists of a photodiode array (hereinafter referred to as PNX) in which, for example, 512 photodiodes are arranged in a straight line. When the light is shielded, a signal at the rLJ level, for example, and when the light is not shielded, a signal at the rHJ level, for example, is output serially in the scanning order. In this embodiment, scanning is performed in the order from the central end of the image sensor 2.2' toward the outer edge. The ends of the image sensors 2, 2' are buried in the side walls 4, 4' of the first passage so that at least eight photodiodes are illuminated by light when coins are conveyed.

On the other hand, regarding the flow direction of the coin 5, the image sensor 2
, 2', a well-known material sensor 3 is disposed slightly upstream of the passing coins, and this material sensor 3 has, for example, a primary coil and a secondary coil disposed close to passing coins. It outputs a voltage signal that varies depending on the material of the coin (impairing property) and the area of the coin facing the primary and secondary coils. In other words, even if the coins are made of the same material, the difference shown in Figure 1 is the same! When the area surrounded by 3 is completely occupied by coins, the output voltage value differs between t and when it is only partially occupied. The output voltage value also differs when the region indicated by the broken line 3 is occupied entirely or partially by the hole. Therefore, the material of the coin is determined at the timing when the diameter of the coin is determined by the image sensors 2 and 2I.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the control system of the present invention, in which the basic clock generation circuit 11 outputs the basic tarock signal CP, and the timing pulse generation circuit 12 outputs the basic clock signal CP to the image sensor section 25, 25'. A four-phase clock signal φ1. -2. φ people.

Outputs φB and start pulse SP. Also, CPU
(Centraj Processing Unit
or Micro-Processor Unit)
13 is basically ys ivy signal cp < based on ROM
Based on the input signals from each input/output port, which will be described later, according to the program stored in the RAM 14, data is written to or read from the RAM 15, various arithmetic operations are performed, and various signals are output from the output port. There is.

Here, the image sensor 52B, 25' receives clock signals -1, - from the timing pulse generation circuit 12.
2. Input φA, φB and start pulse 8F to detect the light reception of the photodiode.
i!5i+ will be explained with reference to the configuration diagram in FIG.
is a self-scanning image sensor, and the start pulse S
P and a shift register 201 as one scanning circuit driven by clock pulses -1 and -2, and a shifter that temporally shifts the scanning pulses generated at each stage of this shift register 201 by clock pulses φA and φB. A switch 202, a capacitor 203 made of an MDS transistor for noise compensation, and an address switch 204.
and Pi) A205. The operation is such that each photodiode is automatically scanned by applying a start pulse SP to the shift register 201, and after converting the input voltage of each photodiode into an electrical signal, it is transmitted to the video line V8K as a continuous pulse train. The signal is taken out and input to the differential amplifier 206.

This motion amplifier 206 is for removing noise components from the pulse signal flowing through the video line VS and obtaining an appropriate signal level. In addition, image center t2
(2') and differential amplification 11206 (206') constitute the image sensor section 25 (25'), and the video signals VDS and VDS/ output from the image sensor section 25 and 25' are as follows, respectively. It is input to the light absorption part length measuring circuit 24.24/ of the stage.

These light-shielded portion length measuring circuits 24 and 24' receive the video signal from the image sensor section 25 and 25'.

It outputs a signal corresponding to the length of the part of the image sensor s25.251 that is shielded from light by the coin.The circuit configuration is explained in detail as follows.
The counting circuit 17 counts the basic clock signal CP from the basic fleck generation circuit 11. Further, the counting circuit 16 counts the rHJ level video signals of the five image sensor units, and when the counted value is the required value (for example, %sl>rtc, it generates a coincidence signal S indicating this, and the subsequent The video signal VD8 from the image sensor section 6 is not inputted, and the coincidence signal LU8 is given as a control input to the LD terminal of the launch circuit.When the latch circuit 18 receives the coincidence signal cLJ8, the counting circuit 17 at that time The count value (-IJD is memorized, and before the output of the latch circuit 18, the output signal is the output of the light-shielded portion length measuring circuit. The output signal MCD is equal to the number of photodiodes in the lotus light portion, for example, '8'. In principle, when a rHJ level signal appears for the first time in each scan,
Although it may be recognized that the light-shielding part is finished, considering noise, etc., the key 9 part is only finished when the "H" level signal is input a predetermined number of times (8@ in this example). We are planning to disclose this information. However, 1
When one scan is completed, the counting circuits 16 and 17 are reset by the reset signal RAT from the output port. In addition,
The shaded portion length measuring circuit M' is also constructed in the same manner as the circuit. However, since the coin does not necessarily pass directly between the image sensors 2 and 2', the output M of the circuit M'? D/ is not necessarily the same as before the output of circuit U. but,
If the diameters of the coins are the same, the coins are connected to the image sensors 2 and 2.
The sum of the outputs of the measuring circuits M and S' when passing under ' changes according to the same pattern, and their maximum values are also the same. In addition, input capos) 19 and 19' are light-shielded portion length measuring circuits u.

Input the outputs from Sae', that is, the latch outputs 1fl and MCD/ from the latch circuits 18 and 18', respectively,
Integrate the half-wave signal, compare it with a predetermined reference voltage level for each denomination, and output the material signal edge Φ. Note that this material signal M8D is, for example, the following cost 1
As shown in the figure, a 4-bit signal increases the output.

Further, the material sensor 3 and the material detection circuit 21 can be constructed using a known technique, and the material sensor 3 and the material detection circuit 21 can be constructed using a known technique.
The material quality signal M8D is also input to the key 15 via the input port η.

And output capo) Z3 is the denomination signal m1 (1 yen coin),
m2 (50 yen coin), m3 (5 yen coin), m4 (1
00 yen coin), m5 (10 yen coin), m6 (500 yen coin)
yen coin) and m? , m8 (counterfeit currency) and outputs an abnormality signal AL.

The ROM 14 and RAM 15 are connected to each other by an address bus J, a data bus DB, and a control path CB.

Next, the principle of denomination discrimination based on one image will be explained.

By the way, the MO8 image sensor has photodiodes arranged in units of, for example, 28IIxn on a straight line, and as shown in FIG.
By irradiating the light and collecting the light with a slit, there are areas on the image sensor 2 that are exposed to light and areas that are not illuminated. The image sensor 2 converts the one-dimensional positional information generated by this light into a temporal electrical signal VDSK, and one bit of this electrical signal has a length of 2B+mlC. The principle of measuring the diameter of a coin using this image sensor 2 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The image sensor 2
, 2' is a light receiving window 207° 207 at the upper part of the coin passage section P.
′ is placed downward, and parallel light @PL from the lens system 8 is irradiated from below. Then, when the coin 5 passes through the light receiving holes 6, 6' of the image sensors 2, 2', it receives parallel light @PL. Find the number of bits n1 and nl of the video signal VD8 in the part where this light was received.To Kn1=a+part [Cape]×010f12)...
...(1) is the length that the light has traveled! can be found. Then, nl +12=maximum value Kusunoki α・river・・・・
・When (2) is satisfied, the length l can be regarded as the diameter of the coin. This measuring method makes it possible to determine the denomination based on the diameter when the coin 5 passes through the lines of the light receiving holes 6, 6I of the image sensors 2, 2'.

Here, the diameter! , it is easier to calculate if all the length 1 is expressed by the number of bits, so in the following, the straight 111 and length 1 are expressed by the number of bits L [bit] and mu [bit] converted by l bit 2B [gn], L [bit) - AC bit) + (al + n2) - a - (31) By the way, regarding the A bit, the distance step between the image sensors 2 and 2' is attached to the board 9, and it is possible to avoid assembly variations and The value of the kA bit must be determined before using the device, as it differs from device to device due to variations in the arrangement of photodiodes in the image sensor 2.2', etc. Therefore, the setting mode for the initial reference value BIA8 is described below. We will explain how to determine the A bit as follows.

First, three 1-yen coins are run as samples, and the average value of (ni + n2), which can be regarded as the diameter, is calculated.

Here, since the diameter of a 1 yen coin is n-20 (s + s), the number of bits corresponding to this diameter is + [proverb] + ff1 (m)
Proverb 7 Since there are 14 bits, find the A bit as ゛, and calculate the A bit value) LAM
15 initial reference value memories HIA8K are stored. Then, A stored in this initial reference value memory BIA8
If the bit value is determined and the maximum value MAX of formula (2) for each coin can be measured, L [bit) = All of BIA8 + (nl±n2)ma
+c (5) The diameter of the coin can be measured as K. Note that the hardness (1 yen) and the number of sump λ (8 times) shown here can be changed arbitrarily.

Here, if the relationship between the basic number of bits of each coin and the denomination identification bit range is shown in a table, it will be K as shown in Table 2 below.

In addition, the lower value of the basic bit value in Table 2 (ml
) indicates the diameter of the coin, and the CN column is for 5 yen coins and 10 yen coins.
Since the diameters of 0 yen coins are close to each other and it is difficult to distinguish between the two due to wear etc., the coins are identified by their material.

Further, the CPU 13 performs image processing using the coin 5.
It is assumed that the coin is passing from the time when the light shielding amount bit CAD (-nl + n2) of 2' reaches the scanning start value '250', and the maximum value of the light transmitting amount bit a■ is measured. C/Φ decreases and the scan end value '20
The scanned image aPFG until it becomes 0' is also measured.

However, if the number of scans PFG is 100 or more, the coin is not determined to be normal and an abnormal signal AL is output, and if the number of scans PFG is 3 or less, it is not determined to be a normal coin and the next coin is Let's move on to measuring the diameter. On the other hand, image sensor 2,
The scanning time of 2' is, for example, 512 (js), and if the passing speed of the coin is 800 (W/l), the distance that the coin moves in one scanning time interval is approximately 0.4 [ss+]. The material signal M8D is always read into the CP013 at intervals of S12 (S number) in synchronization with the scanning time of the image sensor 2#2'. That is, the material signal M8D is read by the CPU 13K every time the coin moves 0.4 [■] along the passage. Then, the read material signal M8D is written to the material detection menus 49m1 to tr1sKl of the RAM 15, and when a new material signal is written to the material detection menus 11 to m15, the previous material signal is erased. .

Here, the coin first passes over the material sensor 3, moves a certain distance, and reaches the light receiving line of the image sensor 2.2'. And image center t2゜2! When the number of bits of the video signal becomes 250 on the light receiving line of ', the material signal n with the largest number among the material signals stored in the 15 material detection memories n1 to n15 is selected. -m
■ The material of the coin is determined to be 5K. Incidentally, the distance that the coin 5 travels from passing over the material sensor 3 to reaching 250 bits on the light receiving line of the image center t2.2/ can be considered to be approximately 6 [■]. Therefore, the material detection memories r11 to n15 are set to 610.4-115.
It would be good if it was a skillful piece.

Next, an example of the memory map of the ROM 14 is shown in FIG. 7 and explained. The memory of the ROM 14 is designed to store the bit data corresponding to Table 2, and the minimum bit value and K is configured to store the maximum bit value. Note that the reason why the minimum value and the large amount value are provided with an allowable range is to cope with coin wear, variation, etc.

A scan start value memory sets and stores a bit value ('250' in this example) for starting scanning by the image sensors 2, 2', and a bit value ('250' in this example) for ending scanning.
200'), and a scanning number setting memory that stores the maximum value ('100' in this example) and minimum value (13' in this example) of the number of scans PFG. There is. In addition, the RAM 15 includes a material detection memory, an initial reference value memory (13IA8), a light shielding amount memory (CAD), a scanning number memory (PFG), an addition memory (MAD), and a maximum coin diameter memory (L). The material detection memory has 15 memory areas n1 to
It has an area for storing n15 and the maximum number of n*m numbers among these.

Here, the overall operation will be described with reference to the 7 μm charts shown in FIGS. 9(A) and (B)K. j! do.

First, when the coin discriminating operation starts, the image sensor 2.2' is driven by the basic ripple signal CPK from the ripple pitter generating circuit 11, and scanning of 1 bit is performed first (step 81). , 82), and the video signals ■凋, ■凋' output from the image sensor sections 25, 25' are counted by the counting circuits 16, 16' (step 8).
3). In addition, the counting circuits 17 and 17' count the basic star prize signal CP (step S4), and the counting circuits 16 and 1
It is determined whether the count value of 6' is 18' (step 85
), and the count value of the counting circuits 16 and 16' is '81
If not, the above operation is repeated, and if the count value is 18', the coincidence signal αJ8 is output from the counting circuits 16 and 16'.
, CU8/ is output (step 86), and the relatching circuits 18 and 18' latch the count values αJD and c[JDt of the counting circuits 17 and 17' (step 8).
7), the CPU 13 determines whether one scan is completed or not (step 88), and increments the scan number memory PFG in the RAM 15 by "+1" (steps 88, 89).
).

The material of the coin is detected by the material sensor 3, and the material signal Φ from the material detection circuit 21 is stored in the material detection memories f11 to n15 of the CRAM 15 via the input port η and the CPU 13. Step 510).

Furthermore, ttl is latched by the latch circuit 18 and 18'.
[[McD, McD/)! Enter 7JyN -) 1
9.1911 and RAM via CPU 13
15 of the addition memory MAD&C is added and stored (step 811), and it is determined whether the value of the addition memory MAD is '250' set in the scan start value memory of M14 (step 512), and the scan is started. If the value is not '250', each part is reset (step 813) and the process returns to the original state.

Thus, the scan start value set to the value of the addition memory W■ is 2! So ', the material signal M8D which is the most common among the material detection memories n1zn15 is stored in the memory n
``store in rtutx (step 514), determine whether the amount of light blocking O is greater than or equal to the addition giMAD (step 815), and if it is smaller, add the amount of light transmission CAD to the addition value MAD
(step 816).

Next, the value of the scanning number memory PPG is set to the maximum value 'Zoo' stored in the scanning number setting memory of ROhl14.
In order to judge whether or not it is above the maximum value '16G' (X step 817), if it is the maximum value '16G' or more, an abnormal signal L is output from the output capo-2B (step 819), and each part is reset ( In step 831), if the number of scans PFG is less than '100', it is further determined whether the set minimum value % S is greater than 1. In step 818), if the number of scans PFG is less than '3' In this case, the added value leg is 10M
The scan end value of 14 is stored in the message 200.
' (step 82))
Then, if the added value Φ is ``20G'' or more, each part is adjusted to step 813), and if it is smaller than ``200'', an initial standard indicating the interval a between the image sensors 2 and 2' is set. The value BIA8 and the bell light part (nx+a2
) and the amount of light transmitted QΦ indicating the length of the coin.
tlf le (xfy]8E1). Ioli14 K i
! The maximum and minimum values for each coin are stored, and the RA
It is compared with the maximum coin diameter ωL stored in M15 (step 822). In this case, first, it is determined whether or not the value is in the CN column (step 823), and if this is not the case, it is determined whether there is an equivalent value for 1 yen coin to 500 yen coin kll) (step 524), If there is a denomination in WIx, it is further compared with the denomination detected by the material sensor 3 (step 825).
). When the identification based on the diameter and the identification based on the material match, the corresponding denomination signals m1 to m
6 is output (step 526), and if they do not match, a counterfeit currency signal m8 is output (step 830). In addition, in step 824, if there is no corresponding value, output capo)
A counterfeit currency signal m7 is output from the city.

On the other hand, if the diameter in the CN column is determined in step 823, it is determined whether the material of the n-wax in the material detection memory is a 5 yen coin (CuZn) or a 100 yen coin (CmNi) in step S28. 529), 5 yen, or 100 yen, the output capo Z3 outputs the corresponding denomination signal m3 or ~4 (step 826). In addition, if the material does not correspond to the material of 5 yen or 100 yen, the output boat outputs the okara counterfeit coin signal m8 (
step 830).

As described above, according to the diameter determination method of the present invention, by setting an appropriate number of scans in accordance with the gold sk of coins in circulation, the coin diameter can be determined more accurately.

Note that the contents of the ROM mentioned above can be changed arbitrarily.
The type and size of the coin are also arbitrary. Moreover, although a coin was taken as an example of the circular object in the above description, the same applies to other circular objects (for example, tokens) K.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a mechanism diagram for measuring the coin diameter of this invention, and Figure 2 is a diagram of the mechanism for measuring the coin diameter of this invention.
Figure H-1 is a sectional view, and Figure 3 is a diagram showing the circuit system of this invention.
Figure 4 is a configuration diagram of the image sensor used in this invention, Figures 59 (a) to 0 are time charts showing the state of the drive signal, and Figure 6 is a diagram showing the constant principle of the image sensor. A diagram for explanation, Figure 7 is a memory map of a pigeon,
Figure 8 is the memory map of SHN, Figure 9 (5) and (b)
is a flowchart showing an example of operation. 1... Passage bottom plate, 2.2'... Image sensor, 3
...Material sensor, 4, 4'...Aisle side wall, 5...
Coin, 6.6'...hole, 7...light source, 8...lens system, 13...CPU, 14...R (Oh, 1
5... Kakeru-Jshi, 16, 16',
1), 17'... Counting circuit, 24'... Happy light part length measuring circuit, 5.251... Image sensor section. Applicant's agent Yu Angata Three procedural amendments (
Method) July 2, 1980 Mr. Kazuo Wakasugi, Commissioner of the Japan Patent Office 1! 4 indications 1983 Patent Application No. 28363 2 Name of the invention Method for determining the diameter of a circular object 3 Relationship with the case of the person who submitted the amendment Patent Applicant (143) Glory Industries Co., Ltd. 4. Agent 5. Date of amendment order (2) The drawings attached to this application are corrected as shown in the attached sheet.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a method for determining the diameter of a circular object based on an electrical signal output from a photoelectric conversion means corresponding to the amount of light blocked by the circular object, the photoelectric conversion means is periodically scanned, Obtain the detection amount of the photoelectric conversion means when the light is shielded, and measure the number of periodic scans. If it is within a certain range, it is considered normal, and if it is outside the certain range and the photoelectric conversion means exceeds a predetermined amount. A method for determining the diameter of a circular object, characterized in that the circular object is determined to be an abnormal object if it is blocked by light.