Abstract: Systems and techniques for providing an improved electronic safe are described. In one aspect, an electronic safe is provided with enhanced security, increased functionality and ease of use. The electronic safe may accept both cash and non-cash deposits, identifying tags and envelopes or folders. A wireless tag may be used to identify the person making deposits. A plurality of electronic safes may be networked together in a wireless local area network. The wireless local area network of electronic safes may be wirelessly networked with an off site host system. In another aspect, an electronic safe is provided with a wireless communications link for communicating with a handheld terminal which may be used to update the electronic safe and initiate the generation of automatic reports. In another aspect, an electronic safe automatically generates reports detailing the operation of the safe. The electronic safe may predict the time when a cassette for storing deposits will be full.

Abstract: Methods and validation apparatus for achieving improved acceptance and rejection for coins, bills and other currency items. One aspect includes modifying item acceptance criteria by creating and defining three-dimensional acceptance clusters, the data for which are stored in look-up tables in memory associated with a microprocessor. A second aspect involves fraud prevention by temporarily tightening or readjusting item acceptance criteria when a potential fraud attempt is detected. A third aspect relates to minimizing the effects of counterfeit items such as slugs on the self-adjustment process for the item acceptance criteria. A final aspect relates to calculation of a relative value of the acceptance criteria in order to conserve memory space and minimize computation time.

Abstract: Methods and validation apparatus for achieving improved acceptance and rejection for coins, bills and other currency items. One aspect includes modifying item acceptance criteria by creating and defining three-dimensional acceptance clusters, the data for which are stored in look-up tables in memory associated with a microprocessor. A second aspect involves fraud prevention by temporarily tightening or readjusting item acceptance criteria when a potential fraud attempt is detected. A third aspect relates to minimizing the effects of counterfeit items such as slugs on the self-adjustment process for the item acceptance criteria. A final aspect relates to calculation of a relative value of the acceptance criteria in order to conserve memory space and minimize computation time.

Abstract: Methods and validation apparatus for achieving improved acceptance and rejection for coins, bills and other currency items. One aspect includes modifying item acceptance criteria by creating and defining three-dimensional acceptance clusters, the data for which are stored in look-up tables in memory associated with a microprocessor. A second aspect involves fraud prevention by temporarily tightening or readjusting item acceptance criteria when a potential fraud attempt is detected. A third aspect relates to minimizing the effects of counterfeit items such as slugs on the self-adjustment process for the item acceptance criteria. A final aspect relates to calculation of a relative value of the acceptance criteria in order to conserve memory space and minimize computation time.

Abstract: Methods and validation apparatus for achieving improved acceptance and rejection for coins, bills and other currency items. One aspect includes modifying item acceptance criteria by creating and defining three-dimensional acceptance clusters, the data for which are stored in look-up tables in memory associated with a microprocessor. A second aspect involves fraud prevention by temporarily tightening or readjusting item acceptance criteria when a potential fraud attempt is detected. A third aspect relates to minimizing the effects of counterfeit items such as slugs on the self-adjustment process for the item acceptance criteria. A final aspect relates to calculation of a relative value of the acceptance criteria in order to conserve memory space and minimize computation time.

Abstract: Methods and validation apparatus for achieving improved acceptance and rejection for coins, bills and other currency items. One aspect includes modifying item acceptance criteria by creating and defining three-dimensional acceptance clusters, the data for which are stored in look-up tables in memory associated with a micorprocessor. A second aspect involves fraud prevention by temporarily tightening or readjusting item acceptance criteria when a potential fraud attempt is detected. A third aspect relates to minimizing the effects of couterfeit items such as slugs on the self-adjustment process for the item acceptance criteria. A final aspect relates to calculation of a relative value of the acceptance criteria in order to conserve memory space and minimize computation time.

Abstract: Jam reducing apparatus for use in coin operated machines, such as telephones, acts to prevent the insertion of coins when the entryway is obstructed by foreign matter, assists in dislodging jammed coins and discourages vandals. The apparatus comprises a coin entryway which includes an inclined surface as part of a flared end of a lid. An entry slot in an entrance blocker, which is an integral part of the lid, as in substantial alignment with the coin insert slot of the front panel of the machine in normal operation. The lid is connected to a torsion spring and is associated with a coin reject lever. The inclined surface of the entryway lies opposite the blocker slot and is angled toward an exit of the coin entryway, which directs a coin into the machine. In normal use, inserted coins pass through the entryway and are directed into a coin mechanism for coin testing. Foreign matter inserted into the machine hits the inclined surface and exerts a camming force on the lid, rotating the lid about a torsion spring.

Abstract: A vending machine control with an improved vendor selector switch detection and decoding circuit is described which detects and decodes the closure of selector switches in a vending machine utilizing a low cost decoding arrangement. Each selector switch is associated with a corresponding impedance in a keyboard network so that a unique impedance is presented on a keyboard decode line from the keyboard network. Decode circuitry and a decode algorithm are also disclosed for a period based decoding scheme which compensates for various tolerances and environmental affects.

Abstract: Improved radar apparatus includes a rotatable antenna structure which includes an antenna disposed within a housing which is rotatably driven. Also disposed within the rotatable housing are a unitary magnetron, microwave circulator and microwave limiter device which rotates when the housing is rotatably driven. Additionally, a transmitter, such as a modulator coupled to the unitary device and a receiver also coupled to the unitary device are disposed within the rotatable housing. Preferably, the antenna is formed as a slotted wave guide antenna. Radar signals transmitted from and reflected to the antenna pass through a slotted filter which is mounted in front of the antenna. A commutator, preferably formed of slip rings and brushes, serves to electronically connect the transmitter and receiver within the housing to signal processing circuitry fixedly disposed externally of the housing, thereby permitting the housing to rotate while coupling electrical signals to and from the transmitter and receiver.

Abstract: A vending machine control apparatus has a product delivery motor home circuit and a DC power supply modulated in response to varying line voltage and/or load by a pulse width modulation circuit. The modulated DC power signal supplies power to one or more DC product delivery motors in a vending machine. Each product delivery motor has an associated switch which passes pulses, resulting from the modulation of the power supply, when the delivery motor is in its home position. A simple motor home detection circuit detects these pulses, and preferably a microprocessor control circuit connected to the detection circuit determines that a home condition exists.

Abstract: An improved motor cntrol for banknote handling apparatus is described. An improved stacker pusher motor arrangement has a defined cycle of operation. The time it takes the stacker pusher motor to complete a predetermined portion of this cycle is measured. A braking time is computed from the measured time, and a braking control signal dependent thereon is applied to the stacker pusher motor to stop the stacker pusher motor at the appropriate position. An improved banknote transporting arrangement measures the time needed for a banknote to travel from a first point to a second point. A braking time is computed from the measured time and an appropriate braking control signal is applied to stop the banknote at the appropriate position.

Abstract: A printer module for ready attachability to a portable data scanner to form an integrated portable unit is described. The printer module includes a symmetrical printer cartridge, having a printer mechanism, a printer mechanism control circuit and a paper supply. The symmetrical printer cartridge being readily removable and rotatable to facilitate lefthanded and righthanded usage. The printer module further including a bayonet configured locking arrangement to facilitate mechanical and electrical connection of the printer module with the portable data scanner.

Abstract: An improved currency validator having an electrical signal generating sensor for scanning an area of a bank note and generating a sequence of electrical signals in response to the currency identifying characteristics detected by the sensor in the area scanned is described. Circuitry is provided for measuring the intervals between the generated signals, classifying each of the measured intervals into one of a plurality of sets and determining the difference between the number of intervals in one of said sets and the number of intervals in another of said sets. By comparing the above difference with a constant, information concerning the validity or denomination of the bank note is obtained. Additional circuitry is described for normalizing measured intervals and set bounds to take into effect variations in the speed of transport of banknotes which are to be discriminated.