Patent · US Expired

Electric starting sensor for battery-operated coin acceptors

US5454463A · kind A · utility

1Cited by
14References
24Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJan 21, 1994
Grant dateOct 3, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 21, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG07D5/00
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An inductive starting sensor for a battery powered coin acceptor includes an oscillator whose output signal changes when a coin passes through the area of the starting sensor. The sensor includes a capacitor which can be discharged via a resistor. The capacitor is periodically charged via a transistor connected to the oscillator in an emitter follower circuit. The transistor becomes currentless upon a diminution of the oscillator voltage due to the damping of the inductance of the oscillator on account of a passing coin. A further transistor generates a starting signal for the coin acceptor when the first transistor becomes currentless.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.