Abstract:
A completely self-contained, battery-powered flashing coin having a series of three visible-spectrum LEDs flashed in sequence when a flash control IC is triggered by a sufficient force, e.g., the force generated upon impact of the coin on one of its faces or sides from a height of about 50 mm. A cantilever switch contact suspended over a stationary contact on a circuit board closes in response to the sufficient force and triggers the IC. The coin is preferably provided with a decorative design and the LEDs are preferably arranged within or around the design so as to draw attention thereto during flashing action.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/358,186, filed Feb. 20, 2002. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to simulated coins and, more particularly, to coins designed as commemorative pieces or play money or otherwise designed for entertainment, ornamental or promotional purposes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a flashing coin comprising a hollow disc having parallel first and second generally circular plates joined by a rim, at least one plate having a surface bearing an image and including means for allowing light transmission through the image, and an impact-responsive, sequential flasher circuit contained within the disc, the circuit including a timer having a trigger input and a plurality of outputs, a DC power source operatively connected to the timer, an inertial switch connected to the trigger input of the timer, and a plurality of visible-light emitting elements connected to respective outputs of the timer, the light emitting elements being optically coupled to the means for allowing light transmission through the image. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a flashing coin according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-section of an embodiment of a flashing coin according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of a flasher circuit in position in one half of the case of a coin according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is an electrical schematic of the flasher circuit of FIG.  3 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. 
     A perspective view of one embodiment of a flashing coin according to the present invention is illustrated in FIG.  1 . The coin includes a disc-shaped case having two parallel plates or faces  12  and  14 , one of which is visible in the drawing, and a raised rim  16  joining the two plates, both of which are preferably formed with raised images on their outer surfaces, e.g., a wizard&#39;s hat  18  and hand  20  along with a cluster of stars  22  on plate  12  as shown in the drawing. The case may be made of bronze or brass, and may be plated. A plurality of holes  24  in the face of the coin act as a means for allowing light transmission through the image on the face of the coin from an internal plurality of visible-light emitting elements  26  (i.e., elements emitting light of wavelength in the range of 0.4 to 0.7 μm), preferably LEDs, which are mounted such that their lenses extend at least partially into the respective holes  24 . Alternatively, windows of transparent or translucent material may be provided in the case to allow light transmission therethrough. Such windows may be formed of a very thin portion of the case material itself or may be formed of some different material which covers or fills holes  24 , and in such cases the case may be hermetically sealed. The coin may be adapted for use as a keychain ornament as shown in FIG. 1, e.g., with an eyelet  28  for a ring  30  which is in turn connected to a key ring  32 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the coin contains an impact-responsive flasher circuit  40  which in the disclosed embodiment includes three LEDs  26  driven by an integrated circuit timer  42  which is powered by a single CR2016 3V lithium coin or button cell  44  and triggered by an inertial switch  46 , all mounted on a printed circuit (pc) board  48 . The LEDs may be X6361 1.5 mm clear red axial-lead LEDs from American Bright Optoelectronics Corp., Brea, Calif. FIG. 4 is a schematic of the circuit for the disclosed embodiment. 
     IC  42  may be a type A5417 flash driver, in die form, from Hua Ko Electronics Co., Ltd., Hong Kong. The IC is preferably configured to energize the three LEDs sequentially and to operate in one-shot mode, whereby the three LEDs are caused to flash in sequence a predetermined number of times in response to a single trigger input from switch  46 . The IC is configured to provide a ⅓ duty cycle for each LED, e.g., an ON time of approximately 40 msec. and an OFF time of approximately 80 msec. for each LED, with a total cycle length of approximately 12 seconds. The IC is also configured in one embodiment to operate in true one-shot mode, i.e., as a non-retriggerable one-shot, whereby, once triggered, the one-shot is not retriggered by an input from switch  46  and times out at the end of the total timing cycle. Retriggerable one-shot operation is also contemplated, as are alternative timing intervals and duty cycles. It will of course be understood that the flash rate is a function of the value of resistor R osc  connected to the A5417 IC as indicated in FIG.  4 . 
     Switch  46  is suitably a cantilever switch having a flat metal cantilever arm, e.g., of stainless steel or copper, approximately 5 mm wide×9 mm long and approximately 0.1-0.2 mm thick, the arm being soldered or riveted on one end to the pc board such that the arm lies nearly parallel to the board surface with a gap of approximately 0.5 mm between the free end of the arm and a stationary switch contact provided on the pc board surface for contact with the free end of the arm upon deflection thereof in response to force applied perpendicular to the board surface. It will be appreciated that the switch is more sensitive to force applied perpendicular to the faces of the coin than to force applied parallel to the coin faces, and also more sensitive to force applied to the face of the coin that is closer to the stationary switch contact than to the free end of the cantilever arm. The combination of the gap and the thickness of the cantilever arm is preferably such that the switch closes when the coin is dropped, with its more sensitive side down, onto a hard surface from a height of approximately 50 mm. A switch meeting these specifications is available from Kai Tat Metal Factory, Hong Kong, as part number K2001-67. For some applications, a switch of this type with a smaller gap, e.g., in the range of 0.1-0.4 mm, may be suitable. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, in which one example set of dimensions is given in millimeters, one of the plates of the coin and the raised rim  16  may be of unitary, or one-piece construction. In the disclosed embodiment, plates  12  and  14  are stamped, pressed or otherwise formed with rim or flange portions  16  and  17  which mate with each other as illustrated in the drawing. The two plates may be stamped or otherwise formed separately as two halves of the coin case with a desired image on each half, and then, with the circuit board placed between them, the two halves may be rolled together and their edges pressed inwardly to form the rim or flange portions. Preferably, plate  14  is initially slightly larger in diameter than plate  12 , and the outer rim  16  is pressed parallel to rim  17  and further pressed radially inwardly such that it partially encloses and thereby captures rim  17  and thereby holds the two plates securely together. During the process or as a separate step, rim  16  is marked with reeding or corrugations as on the edge of a conventional U.S. dime or quarter. 
     While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected. For example, an inertial switch in the form of a coil spring may be suitable in certain embodiments, with the coil spring suspended over a stationary contact on the circuit board as with the embodiment described above. An example of such a coil spring switch is disclosed in copending patent application Ser. No. 09/534,797, filed Mar. 24, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,419,384, which application is hereby incorporated by reference. It is also contemplated that the coin case may be made of plastic or other materials and may be provided with a decorative design in relief or in a single plane, such as an image of an animate or inanimate object, particularly including an image of a person, animal, or fictional character, and that the LEDs may be arranged within or around the design so as to draw attention thereto during flashing action.