Patents by Inventor Eric Strauts

Eric Strauts has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Sensor and method for discriminating coins using fast fourier transform
    Publication number: 20050045450
    Abstract: A coin discrimination sensor having an excitation coil and two detector coils arranged to detect eddy currents in a passing coin. The excitation coil is provided a composite waveform formed by adding a low frequency signal (30 KHz) with a high frequency signal (480 KHz). The two detector coils are arranged at different distances from the passing coin, and are calibrated to eliminate the common-mode voltage when no coin is present. As a coin passes by the sensor, eddy currents are induced in the coin which result in phase and amplitude shifts in the low and high frequency components of the detector signal. The low and high frequency components are separated from the detector signal, and their respective phases and amplitudes are ascertained and compared against values stored in a lookup table. These values represent the composition, thickness, and diameter characteristics of known coins, and if the signature of the processed coin does not appear in the lookup table, it can be flagged as an invalid coin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Publication date: March 3, 2005
    Inventors: Joseph Geib, John Blake, David Wendell, Scott Casanova, David Mecklenburg, Eric Strauts
  • Coin discrimination sensor and coin handling system
    Patent number: 5743373
    Abstract: A coin discrimination sensor for discriminating among desired and undesired coins, comprised of an excitation coil for producing an alternating magnetic field. These alternating magnetic fields couple to said desired and undesired coins to induce eddy-currents. The sensor also is comprised of a detection coil for detecting eddy-currents from desired and undesired coins. The detection coil produces a differential voltage corresponding to the composition of the desired and undesired coins being sensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventor: Eric Strauts
  • Coin discrimination sensor and coin handling system
    Patent number: 5630494
    Abstract: A coin discrimination sensor and coin handling system for discriminating among desired and undesired coins, comprised of an excitation coil for producing an alternating magnetic field. These alternating magnetic fields couple to the desired and undesired coins to induce eddy-currents. The sensor also is comprised of a detection coil for detecting eddy-currents from desired and undesired coins. The detection coil produces a differential voltage corresponding to the composition of the desired and undesired coins being sensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventor: Eric Strauts