Patent ID: 6724305
Filing Date: 2004-04-20
Classification: B65F,G01V,Y10S

Abstract:
A receptacle system for detecting at least one metallic object entering therein and alerting a user in response to the detection, the system comprising:a receptacle body forming an interior cavity; a cover engaged by the receptacle body, the cover defining an opening for providing access to the interior cavity; and a continuously-activated metal detector attached to the cover, the metal detector being operative to detect the at least one metallic object entering through the opening of the cover and to alert the user in response to the detection of the at least one metallic object, the metal detector including a pulse induction metal detector further operative to generate a series of pulse and comprising: at least one search coil for receiving the series of pulses and outputting a signal in response thereto; a low pass filter for receiving the signal from the search coil and mitigating outside interferences therefrom; a front-end amplifier circuit for amplifying the signal, the front-end amplifier circuit being in a sleep mode except when the signal is to be amplified; and a microcontroller for performing a first sampling upon the signal and a second sampling upon the signal subsequent to the first sampling, the microcontroller being operative to control the mode of the front-end amplifier circuit and to generate an alarm when a programmed threshold is exceeded.