Acoustic coin sensor

US9279716B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Crane Payment Innovations, Inc. · US

Inventors

• John D. Snider · West Chester, US
• Edward M. Zoladz, Jr. · West Chester, US
• Christopher Stephen Carmine · Thornton, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 6, 2013
• Grant date: Mar 8, 2016
• Expiry date: May 8, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G07D9/04
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The present subject matter relates to a capacity detector, a waveguide and a manifold for use with a coin sensor as well as methods for sensing a capacity of a coin receptacle. In one aspect, the waveguide for use with a coin sensor comprises an excitation end for receiving an acoustic signal, a horn end for disposition adjacent to a coin receptacle, and a conduit interconnecting the horn end and the excitation end. In embodiments, the horn end of the waveguide may define a horn selected from a tapered horn, an exponential horn, a tractrix horn, or a modified tractrix horn.