Patent ID: 6298973
Filing Date: 2001-10-09
Classification: G07D

Abstract:
A method of discriminating among a plurality of coin denominations, comprising:sensing the characteristics of a test coin with a test coin sensor and comparing the characteristics of the test coin with characteristics of a plurality of coin denominations thereby producing comparison signals;if said comparing results in a match between the characteristics of the test coin and the characteristics of one of the coin denominations, then declaring the test coin to comprise the one of said coin denominations; andif said comparing results in matches between the characteristics of the test coin and the characteristics of more than one of the coin denominations, then comparing the matches to each other to determine which of said matches represents a valid match and declaring the test coin to comprise the coin denomination which corresponds to said valid match, wherein said comparing the matches to each other comprises determining which of said comparison signals begins first and whether both comparison signals persist substantially throughout the duration that a test coin is juxtaposed with said test coin sensor.