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WO1996006414A1 - Dispositif de signalisation pour appareil electromecanique - Google Patents

Dispositif de signalisation pour appareil electromecanique Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1996006414A1
WO1996006414A1 PCT/GB1995/001552 GB9501552W WO9606414A1 WO 1996006414 A1 WO1996006414 A1 WO 1996006414A1 GB 9501552 W GB9501552 W GB 9501552W WO 9606414 A1 WO9606414 A1 WO 9606414A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
aαuator
period
signalling
symbols
represented
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB1995/001552
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Andrew William Barson
Original Assignee
Coin Controls Ltd.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Coin Controls Ltd. filed Critical Coin Controls Ltd.
Priority to AU28022/95A priority Critical patent/AU2802295A/en
Publication of WO1996006414A1 publication Critical patent/WO1996006414A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07D—HANDLING OF COINS OR VALUABLE PAPERS, e.g. TESTING, SORTING BY DENOMINATIONS, COUNTING, DISPENSING, CHANGING OR DEPOSITING
    • G07D5/00—Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of coins, e.g. for segregating coins which are unacceptable or alien to a currency
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07C—TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • G07C3/00—Registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus, other than vehicles
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F9/00—Details other than those peculiar to special kinds or types of apparatus
    • G07F9/02—Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for signalling from ; an ele ⁇ romechanical apparatus.
  • an ele ⁇ romechanical apparatus comprising control means , monitoring means to O determine an operational parameter of the apparatus, and an ele ⁇ romechanical a ⁇ uator, the control means producing a control signal according to a first criteria to operate the a ⁇ uator to perform a primary fun ⁇ ion, chara ⁇ erized in that the control means is arranged to be operable to produce said control signal according to an operational parameter, determined by the monitoring means, so as to operate the a ⁇ uator to perform a secondary, signalling fun ⁇ ion.
  • the el ⁇ romechanical a ⁇ uator may be a relay, a stepper motor or the like
  • the operation of the a ⁇ uator is audible.
  • a service technician for instance, can simply count the operations of the a ⁇ uator. This is reliable up to about twenty operations. However, the risk of miscounts increases greatly if there are more than twenty a ⁇ uator operations.
  • More complex messages may be signalled by using a code such as Morse code. Although Morse code is based on combinations of long and short signal elements, early telegraph operators learnt to read Morse code transmissions from the rhythm of the relay used to control the marking pen.
  • apparatus preferably comprises a separate receiver where more complex messages are to be signalled.
  • the preferred receiver includes a microphone, a processing circuit and a display means, wherein the processing means processes a ⁇ uator signalling dete ⁇ ed by the microphone and drives the display to display a message in dependence on the a ⁇ uator signalling.
  • the receiver could be arranged to recognise Morse code and methods of doing this are well known in the field of radio communication.
  • a code in which different symbols are represented by different periods between a ⁇ uator operations is used and the same number of symbols is used to represent each chara ⁇ er.
  • a suitable code comprises four symbols, a first symbol represented by a first period, a second symbol represented by a second period twice the first period, a third symbol represented by a third period four times the first period and a fourth symbol represented by a fourth period eight time the first period. It will be appreciated that codes with different numbers of symbols could be used. Different combinations of the symbols can be used to represent different predetermined data items.
  • the chara ⁇ ers of the chara ⁇ er set known as ASCII in which case j four symbols would be required for each chara ⁇ er.
  • the chara ⁇ ers of a message e.g. ID 20101
  • ID 20101 can be represented by predetermined combinations of the symbols.
  • a suitable application for the present invention is in a coin validator.
  • the accept gate a ⁇ uator could be used to perform the signalling.
  • Coin validators often employ indu ⁇ ive sensors to determine the validity and value of a coin.
  • the coils used in such sensors are prone to ele ⁇ rical noise or ele ⁇ romagnetic interference (EMI) and it is important for support staff to know the level of this noise in the coils.
  • EMI ele ⁇ rical noise
  • EMI ele ⁇ romagnetic interference
  • s measurement of noise can be affe ⁇ ed by making ele ⁇ rical conne ⁇ ions to an apparatus.
  • the present invention is particularly suited to coin validators where the operational parameter of interest is the level of noise in the sense coils.
  • the present invention could be used to signal other information.
  • a method of signalling from an apparatus comprising the steps of: determining an operational parameter of an ele ⁇ romechanical apparatus (16); operating an ele ⁇ romechanical a ⁇ uator (5), having a primary fun ⁇ ion other than signalling, in a controlled manner in dependence on the determined O operational parameter.
  • Figure 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention
  • Figure 2 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention
  • Figure 3 shows an operator using the second embodiment
  • Figure 4 illustrates the signalling protocol used by the second embodiment.
  • a coin validator comprises a controller 1 whose main fun ⁇ ion is to determine the validity and value of coins 2, sensed by four sensing coils 3 which are mounted in a unit 4 defining a coin path. Only one coil 3 is shown for the sake of clarity.
  • the controller 1 includes a microcomputer, programmed to control the operation of the validator and is I/O devices. If the controller 1 determines that a coin 2 is valid, it outputs a signal to a relay 5. The relay 5 operates a coin accept gate in the unit 4 in response to these signals and the coin 2 emerges at B. If the coin 2 is not valid, the relay 5 is not operated and the coin emerges at A.
  • a switch 6 is also coupled to the controller 1.
  • the microcomputer of the controller 1 is programmed to respond to operation of the switch 6 to put the validator in a diagnostic mode.
  • the controller 1 outputs signals to operate the relay 5 in dependence on an operational parameter of the validator; in the present case the level of noise in the sensor coils 3.
  • the operation of the relay 5 produces a clapping sound which can be heard outside of the cabinet, in which the validator is mounted.
  • the controller 1 takes readings from each of the coils 3 repeatedly for 30 seconds.
  • the maximum and minimum values for each coil 3 are stored.
  • the measured maxima and minima might be:
  • the controller 1 determines the difference between the maximum and minimum for each coil 3. In the present example, this gives: 0
  • the controller 1 takes the largest of these difference values (i.e. 3) to be the measure of noise in the coils 3 and outputs three pulses to the relay 5. An s operator then hears three claps and can note that the noise level in the coils 3 is three.
  • the coin validator includes the same main elements: a controller 1, sensing coils 3 and an accept gate relay 5, as in the first embodiment described above.
  • the switch 6 is replaced by a rotary HEX switch 6a and a jumper 6b.
  • the software controlling the system is also different. These differences will become apparent from the description s of the operation of the system below.
  • a handheld unit 7 is provided to dete ⁇ signalling claps from the relay 5 and display a message.
  • the handheld unit 7 comprises a microphone 8, an amplifier 9 for amplifying the microphone output, a low-pass filter 10 coupled O to the output of the amplifier 9, a comparator 11 for producing a pulse signal from the signal output by the filter 10, a processor 12 arranged to receive the pulse signal from the comparator 11, an LCD display 13 driven by the processor 12 and a sounder 14 also driven by the processor 12.
  • the handheld unit 7 is conveniently housed in a gun- 5 shaped housing, having a pistol grip.
  • the controller 1 measures the noise in the sensing coils 3 at predetermined intervals and stores the most recent values. However, coin validation has priority. Therefore, when a coin 2 enters the o validator, the controller 1 handles the validation of the coin 2 before returning to its noise measuring routine. In this mode, the HEX switch 6a is used to sele ⁇ the tokens which the validator will accept.
  • the validator also has a diagnostic mode which is sele ⁇ ed by inserting the s jumper 6b and then powering up the validator.
  • the controller 1 dete ⁇ s any operation of the HEX switch 6a and initiates signalling in response thereto.
  • the controller 1 obtains the stored noise value and sends a corresponding pulse code to the relay 5 which then claps out the coded message.
  • the controller 1 may also send further 0 pulse codes to the relay 5, representing additional operational parameters, for example percentage of coins reje ⁇ ed or an indication of a subsystem failure, e.g. an open circuit sensing coil.
  • the coin accept gate of the validator is able to open and close in about 20ms, s producing as it does so a single clap.
  • the pulse code used by the controller 1 represents different symbols by different inter-pulse periods as shown in Table 1.
  • the symbols are represented by periods which are multiples of the shortest inter-pulse period, i.e. 40ms. Since the symbols are distinguished by ratios rather than absolute values, the handheld unit can be self-calibrating to take account of variations in components, temperature etc.
  • the messages signalled by the controller 1 make use of the ASCII chara ⁇ er set.
  • Each of the 256 ASCII chara ⁇ ers is represented by a predetermined combination of the four symbols.
  • 127 represent the letters of the alphabet, pun ⁇ uation marks and certain control codes and 2 are reserved for start-of-message and end-of-message markers. The remaining 127 chara ⁇ ers are undefined.
  • the symbol combinations used to represent the ASCII chara ⁇ er set are shown in Table 2.
  • Each message signalled by the controller 1 has the following form:
  • start-of-message message : end-of-message : checksum
  • the message itself may comprise one or more groups of symbols.
  • the 0 checksum is represented by an appropriate combination of symbols, e.g. ⁇ 0 ⁇ 0 ⁇ 0 ⁇ 0 ⁇ 0 (checksum - 0) to ⁇ 3 ⁇ 3 ⁇ 3 ⁇ 3 (checksum - 255).
  • the handheld unit 7 When a message is to be signalled by the controller 1 of the validator, an operator 15 points the handheld unit 7 at the validator.
  • the validator In the present case, the validator is in a typical installation in a vending machine 16.
  • the microphone 8 dete ⁇ s each clap from the accept gate of the validator and outputs a complex waveform containing high and low frequencies.
  • the amplifier 9 amplifies this complex waveform and applies it to the filter 10.
  • the filter 10 is arranged such that the complex waveform is transformed into a single pule.
  • the comparator 11 converts the pulse from the filter 10 into a substantially square pulse, suitable for processing by the processor 12.
  • a series of claps produced by the accept gate are represented at the input to the processor 12 as a train of square pulses (see Figure 4).
  • the processor 11 is initially in a sta ⁇ of message dete ⁇ ion and self-calibration mode wherein it performs the following algorithm:
  • Step 1 wait for first pulse (pulse 1) start timing tO wait for second pulse (pulse 2) stop timing tO and save time as TO calculate t «- TO / 32 where 32 is a tolerance fa ⁇ or calculate wl - (TO / 2) - 1 calculate w2 - (TO / 2) + t
  • Step 2 start timing 11 wait for third pulse (pulse 3) stop timing tl if (tl ⁇ wl) or (tl > w2) then error : restart save tl as Tl calculate wl - (Tl / 2) - 1 calculate w2 - (Tl / 2) + t
  • Step 3 start timing t2 wait for fourth pulse (pulse 4) stop timing t2 s if (t2 ⁇ wl) or (t2 > w2) then error : restart save t2 as T2 calculate wl - (T2 / 2) - 1 calculate w2 - fT2 / 2) + t
  • Step 4 start timing t3 wait for fifth pulse (pulse 5) stop timing t3 if (t3 ⁇ wl) or (t3 > w2) then error : restart s save t3 as T3
  • Dividing by 32 is easy to do on most low-cost microcontrollers as it merely involve right-shifting a number by five places. Likewise, dividing by 2 merely involves right-shifting a number by one place. 0
  • This algorithm checks for a valid start-of-message marker (t3 - l At2, x.2 - Vitl, tl - VitO) and stores the periods for the symbols (Tl, T2, T3, T4) for future comparison with incoming pulse gaps.
  • the tolerance fa ⁇ or for a valid symbol is defined as ⁇ TO / 32. If a pulse gap does not lie within this S tolerance on TO, Tl, T2, or T3 then the symbol is invalid and the start-of- message marker dete ⁇ ion and self-calibration routine is returned to after a short delay.
  • the absolute timing of pulses is not the most important fa ⁇ or as the symbol identification relies primarily on the ratios of the inter-pulse periods.
  • the undefined symbol combinations may be used as message tokens to indicate certain standard events, e.g. ⁇ 0 ⁇ 0 ⁇ 0 ⁇ 0 ⁇ 0 coin validator operating corre ⁇ ly ⁇ 0 ⁇ 0 ⁇ 0 ⁇ . fault dete ⁇ ed in indu ⁇ ive sensors o ⁇ 0 ⁇ 0 ⁇ 0 ⁇ 2 more than 10 strimming frauds dete ⁇ ed ⁇ 0 ⁇ 0 ⁇ 0 ⁇ 3 more than 10 lead slugs dete ⁇ ed
  • the processor 12 applies the appropriate message to the display 13. However, if the s checksum indicates that the message has been corrupted, the processor 12 returns to the wait for start of message and self-calibration routine.
  • the processor 12 Once the processor 12 has determined that a valid message has been received, it operates the sounder 14 to alert an operator that a message is being 0 displayed on the display 13.
  • the processor 12 is provided with some form of non-volatile storage, for example RAM with a continuous power supply, and all received messages are stored there so that they may be transferred to a computer or redisplayed, in s case the operator 15 missed a message when it was displayed on reception.
  • non-volatile storage for example RAM with a continuous power supply
  • the claps from the acceptor gate may be transmitted by telephone to a central station.
  • the claps could then be interpreted at the central station either by ear or a device similar to the handheld unit described above, such a unit need O not be handheld.
  • the handheld unit 7 responds solely to coded signalling.
  • the unit could be provided with a switch to sele ⁇ between a mode where coded signalling is processed to a mode where the processor merely counts dete ⁇ ed claps.
  • a simplified handheld unit, employing a counter with a simple 7-segment LED display could be used with the first embodiment.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Selective Calling Equipment (AREA)

Abstract

La transmission de signaux relatifs à un paramètre de fonctionnement provenant d'un appareil électromécanique, un système de vérification des piéces de monnaie (4), par exemple, se fait par actionnement d'un organe de commande électromécanique sonore ou à affichage, doté d'une autre fonction de base. La description donne des exemples où une information relative à un bruit dans des bobines de détection (3) est transmise par l'actionnement d'un relais d'autorisation (5) de façon qu'il produise une série de claquements. L'information peut être reçue, soit par un opérateur comptant le nombre de claquements, soit, si l'on utilise des signaux codés, par le truchement d'un récepteur portatif (7) qui décode l'information relative au paramètre de fonctionnement à partir de la série de claquements et affiche un message.
PCT/GB1995/001552 1994-08-23 1995-07-03 Dispositif de signalisation pour appareil electromecanique WO1996006414A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU28022/95A AU2802295A (en) 1994-08-23 1995-07-03 Signalling system for electromechanical apparatus

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9416995A GB9416995D0 (en) 1994-08-23 1994-08-23 Signaling system for electromechanical apparatus
GB9416995.0 1994-08-23

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1996006414A1 true WO1996006414A1 (fr) 1996-02-29

Family

ID=10760252

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1995/001552 WO1996006414A1 (fr) 1994-08-23 1995-07-03 Dispositif de signalisation pour appareil electromecanique

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AU2802295A (fr)
GB (1) GB9416995D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO1996006414A1 (fr)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3496300A (en) * 1967-06-28 1970-02-17 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Remote test arrangement for coin telephones
GB2183116A (en) * 1985-11-18 1987-05-28 Sanden Corp Data exchange system
US4845484A (en) * 1987-10-09 1989-07-04 Bellatrix Systems, Inc. Retrofit, newspaper tracking audit system for newspaper rack machines
WO1994004998A1 (fr) * 1992-08-13 1994-03-03 Landis & Gyr Business Support Ag Etalonnage de verificateurs de pieces de monnaie

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3496300A (en) * 1967-06-28 1970-02-17 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Remote test arrangement for coin telephones
GB2183116A (en) * 1985-11-18 1987-05-28 Sanden Corp Data exchange system
US4845484A (en) * 1987-10-09 1989-07-04 Bellatrix Systems, Inc. Retrofit, newspaper tracking audit system for newspaper rack machines
WO1994004998A1 (fr) * 1992-08-13 1994-03-03 Landis & Gyr Business Support Ag Etalonnage de verificateurs de pieces de monnaie

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2802295A (en) 1996-03-14
GB9416995D0 (en) 1994-10-12

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