Patents by Inventor Hiroshi Ohtomo

Hiroshi Ohtomo 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).

  • Patent number: 11574516
    Abstract: A method for setting discrimination criterion information pieces for one or more additional denominations in a coin discrimination apparatus is provided, which eliminates the task of visiting the installation location of an existing coin discrimination apparatus to exchange this apparatus for a new one including discrimination criterion information pieces for one or more additional denominations and the task of setting discrimination criterion information pieces for the one or more additional denominations manually in the apparatus. A target denomination is designated from current denominations whose discrimination criterion information pieces are stored in a coin discrimination apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: ASAHI SEIKO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Sano, Hiroshi Banno, Hiroshi Ohtomo
  • Publication number: 20200302723
    Abstract: A method for setting discrimination criterion information pieces for one or more additional denominations in a coin discrimination apparatus is provided, which eliminates the task of visiting the installation location of an existing coin discrimination apparatus to exchange this apparatus for a new one including discrimination criterion information pieces for one or more additional denominations and the task of setting discrimination criterion information pieces for the one or more additional denominations manually in the apparatus. A target denomination is designated from current denominations whose discrimination criterion information pieces are stored in a coin discrimination apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Applicant: ASAHI SEIKO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji SANO, Hiroshi BANNO, Hiroshi OHTOMO
  • Publication number: 20190311565
    Abstract: A coin discrimination system eliminates the task of visiting the location of an existing coin depositing/dispensing machine to exchange an existing coin discrimination apparatus incorporated in the machine for a new one and the task of additionally setting a new coin discrimination criterion manually to the existing apparatus. Pieces of specific information from pieces of sensor information are compared with pieces of current discrimination criterion information, conducting authenticity and denomination discrimination of coins. New discrimination criterion information setting coins are selected through judgement on whether the denomination of each coin is consistent with a target denomination and judgement on whether each coin is suitable for generating new discrimination criterion information while conducting the authentication and denomination discrimination. A piece of new specific information is extracted from the pieces of sensor information about the setting coins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Applicant: ASAHI SEIKO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi OHTOMO, Koji SANO
  • Patent number: 9704323
    Abstract: A coin discrimination apparatus capable of discriminating the denomination and authenticity of coins including bimetallic coins. A first coin detection sensor, located near a guide, obtains a physical characteristic of a peripheral part of a coin moved on a carrying path. A second coin detection sensor, located apart from the guide, obtains a physical characteristic about a central part of the coin. A third coin detection sensor, located on a downstream side of respect to the first sensor, obtains a physical characteristic about the peripheral part of a coin. A fourth coin detection sensor, located downstream of the second sensor and apart from the guide, obtains a physical characteristic about a central part of the coin. An additional physical characteristic about the peripheral part of the coin is obtained by cooperation of the second and third sensors when the coin reaches the third sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: ASAHI SEIKO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Ohtomo
  • Publication number: 20160171809
    Abstract: A coin discrimination apparatus capable of discriminating the denomination and authenticity of coins including bimetallic coins. A first coin detection sensor, located near a guide, obtains a physical characteristic of a peripheral part of a coin moved on a carrying path. A second coin detection sensor, located apart from the guide, obtains a physical characteristic about a central part of the coin. A third coin detection sensor, located on a downstream side of respect to the first sensor, obtains a physical characteristic about the peripheral part of a coin. A fourth coin detection sensor, located downstream of the second sensor and apart from the guide, obtains a physical characteristic about a central part of the coin. An additional physical characteristic about the peripheral part of the coin is obtained by cooperation of the second and third sensors when the coin reaches the third sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventor: Hiroshi Ohtomo
  • Patent number: 7549526
    Abstract: A coin identifying sensor and a coin identifying apparatus has coin detecting sections (25X and 25Z) that are formed by relatively disposing a group of coin identifying sensors (21A, 21B, 21C and 21D) with each group provided with three aligned and integrated coin sensors. Each, of the sensors has a core wound with a coil. The sensors are disposed in a coin path in a direction crossing a movement direction of a coin. The first and second coin detecting sections are sequentially disposed on a coin path (4) to determine whether a coin is real or not using detection data of diameter, material and thickness of the coin based upon detection outputs sequentially obtained from the coin detecting sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Asahi Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Ohtomo
  • Publication number: 20080000751
    Abstract: A coin identifying sensor and a coin identifying apparatus has coin detecting sections (25X and 25Z) that are formed by relatively disposing a group of coin identifying sensors (21A, 21B, 21C and 21D) with each group provided with three aligned and integrated coin sensors. Each, of the sensors has a core wound with a coil. The sensors are disposed in a coin path in a direction crossing a movement direction of a coin. The first and second coin detecting sections are sequentially disposed on a coin path (4) to determine whether a coin is real or not using detection data of diameter, material and thickness of the coin based upon detection outputs sequentially obtained from the coin detecting sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Inventor: Hiroshi OHTOMO
  • Publication number: 20070251799
    Abstract: A token input device of a game machine is provided in which a token input from an input port is allowed to roll on a rolling rail and drop on a predetermine position of a game machine. A selecting device of the token is disposed in the midst of the rolling rail, wherein the selecting device includes at least a material sensor of the token. A canceling device removes the rolling token from the rolling rail based on the signal from the material sensor. The canceling device is disposed downstream of the material sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Inventors: Hiroshi ABE, Nobuo Yano, Hiroshi Ohtomo
  • Patent number: 7073654
    Abstract: A coin selector assembly includes a coin passageway having at least a pair of thickness sensor unit operatively positioned along the coin passageway to provide respective measurements of the thickness of the coin. A comparing unit compares the respective thickness signals with corresponding stored standard values representative of a genuine coin to determine the authenticity of the coin. Additional sensor unit can be positioned along the coin passageway and excited with different frequencies. Thus, a material sensor unit and a diameter sensor unit or a pair of diameter sensor unit can also be utilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Asahi Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukinari Matubara, Hiroshi Ohtomo
  • Patent number: 6668999
    Abstract: A coin sensor is provided for more accurately assessing the authenticity of a coin passing through a vertical channel where the channel is sized to accommodate different diameter coins. In the present invention, magnetic coils are deployed on the side of the channel to measure magnetic flux, which is converted to digital signals and compared to stored values to assess the diameter, thickness, and material of the coin. To reduce the tolerances associated with the varying path of the coin, the sensors have been provided with cores having generally straight and parallel upper and lower surfaces aligned perpendicular to the path of the coin to remove the variances in the overlapping coin area as the coin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Asahi Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Ohtomo
  • Publication number: 20030209402
    Abstract: A coin selector assembly includes a coin passageway having at least a pair of thickness sensor unit operatively positioned along the coin passageway to provide respective measurements of the thickness of the coin. A comparing unit compares the respective thickness signals with corresponding stored standard values representative of a genuine coin to determine the authenticity of the coin. Additional sensor unit can be positioned along the coin passageway and excited with different frequencies. Thus, a material sensor unit and a diameter sensor unit or a pair of diameter sensor unit can also be utilized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Inventors: Yukinari Matubara, Hiroshi Ohtomo
  • Publication number: 20020060123
    Abstract: A coin sensor is provided for more accurately assessing the authenticity of a coin passing through a vertical channel where the channel is sized to accommodate different diameter coins. In the present invention, magnetic coils are deployed on the side of the channel to measure magnetic flux, which is converted to digital signals and compared to stored values to assess the diameter, thickness, and material of the coin. To reduce the tolerances associated with the varying path of the coin, the sensors have been provided with cores having generally straight and parallel upper and lower surfaces aligned perpendicular to the path of the coin to remove the variances in the overlapping coin area as the coin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventor: Hiroshi Ohtomo
  • Patent number: 6182255
    Abstract: An IC tester enabling the performance of the decision of the conditions of output signals of the device under test in a period of time having a predetermined time interval between two decision trigger signals, thereby providing the IC tester capable of deciding the conditions of output signals of the device under test in a scope wider than that of the conventional IC tester. If the output voltage of each device under test is higher than a high reference voltage, it is decided that each device under test outputs a high signal while if the output voltage of the each device under test is lower than a low reference voltage, it is decided that each device under test outputs a low signal. If the output voltage of each device under test is lower than the high reference voltage but higher than the low reference voltage, it is decided that the output of each device under test is in high impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Ando Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Ohtomo
  • Patent number: 6056105
    Abstract: A device and method are set forth for determining the authenticity of a coin or token which includes a housing defining a passageway to pass the coin to be tested. Coils are disposed about the housing to generate magnetic flux lines at the passageway. Detection circuits detect changes in amplitudes of the frequencies generating the flux and signals are created corresponding thereto. These signals are compared at a processor to stored data corresponding to amplitude changes for an authentic coin to determine if the coin is authentic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Asahi Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Ohtomo
  • Patent number: 5871075
    Abstract: A low-cost, high-performance coin sorting machine is provided by providing a plurality of coils which sense coins concurrently and using a simple oscillation circuit to provide oscillation signals at different frequencies, thereby reducing the size of the coin sorting machine. Right and left pairs of sensor coils are composed of inner and outer coils. When either of the connections between one inner coil and other inner coil, and between one outer coil and the other outer coil, is made in a cumulative mode, the other connection is made in a differential mode. The relationship between the oscillation frequencies is set so that one of the frequencies is greater than twice the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Asahi Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeki Takayama, Hiroshi Ohtomo