Patent ID: 7806248
Filing Date: 2010-10-05
Classification: G07D

Abstract:
1. A system for validating a coin, the system including: a passageway through which the coin passes; an oscillator having a component positioned relative to the passageway for the frequency and amplitude of oscillation of the oscillator to be varied, by passage of the coin along the passageway; a time feature determining unit for determining a time feature of an oscillating signal provided by the oscillator when influenced by the coin and for supplying a determined time feature value; an amplitude determining unit for determining the amplitude of the oscillating signal provided by the oscillator when influenced by the coin and for supplying a determined amplitude value; and an assessing unit for assessing if the determined time feature and amplitude values lie in a predetermined window of time feature and amplitude values; in which the predetermined window of time feature and amplitude values is defined by straight lines; in which the straight lines define a rectangle; and in which the predetermined window is angled with respect to a set of time feature and amplitude axes.