Abstract: Techniques for measuring spatial locations. An apparatus for measuring spatial locations includes a first object at a first location, a second object at a second location, and a waveguide-based interferometer coupled between the first object and the second object. The waveguide-based interferometer includes a waveguide material. The waveguide material is adapted to carry at least a reference beam and a measurement beam. The reference beam traverses a first path defined within the waveguide material. The measurement beam traverses a second path defined within the waveguide material and a third path defined outside of the waveguide material. The third path is related to at least one of the first location and the second location.

Abstract: A vault insertable into a coin and/or token collecting device and having a portion which is openable upon such insertion and closeable and lockable upon removal therefrom for storing coins and/or tokens received from the collecting device. The vault includes an electronic memory device for storing information relating to the vault, such as a vault serial number, and for supplying the vault information to the collecting device upon insertion of the vault into the collecting device. While the vault is contained within the collecting device, information from the collecting device may be supplied to the memory device for storage therein and information stored within the memory device may be supplied to the collecting device in response to a request signal from the collecting device.