Abstract: Disclosed are various apparatus and methods for discriminating between fake and reject coins. The term ‘coin’ includes any type of monetary token or token that is associated with a value. Various different apparatus and methods are disclosed. These include a method and apparatus of applying multiple input currents of different frequencies to a coin and monitoring the apparent change in impedance of a coil or coils resulting from eddy currents induced in the layers of the coin from the multiple input currents. Other methods and apparatus relate to applying electromagnetic radiation to the coin and measuring various resulting characteristics including the amount of light fluoresced or reflected from the coin, or the absorption characteristic of the coin. Other methods and apparatus relate to measuring vibration of a coin. Other methods and apparatus relate to identifying genuine and bogus coins via particular identifying characteristics of the coins including magnetic codes/serial numbers.

Abstract: A cash deposit apparatus has a user interface module that provides a user interface at a first external side of the apparatus and allows a user to interact with a cash processing transaction of the apparatus. A cash processing module processes cash deposited by the user and determines a value related to the processed cash, and has a service interface for providing access to the cash processing module. A cash storage module stores cash as processed by the cash processing module and has a cash storage interface for providing access to the cash storage module. The cash processing module and the cash storage module are independently configurable.

Abstract: A portable device is provided for configuring a machine of the type which handles coins or valuable papers and which has an interface for connecting an external unit, thereby allowing the machine to be configured from the external unit. The portable device has a control unit; a memory; a first interface adapted to be connected to said external unit; and a second interface adapted to be connected to the interface of said machine. The control unit is adapted, when the portable device is connected to the external unit via the first interface, to emulate said machine and to receive configuration data intended for said machine from the external unit and store it in the memory. The control unit is further adapted, when the portable device is connected to said machine via the second interface, to emulate the external unit and deliver said configuration data stored in the memory to said machine.

Abstract: A coin discriminating device has a sensor electrode and an oscillator. The oscillator is coupled to the sensor electrode. The oscillator generates an output signal with a frequency which is capacitively controllable. A frequency detector detects a frequency deviation in the oscillator output signal, caused by a variation in capacitance at the sensor electrode when a coin is positioned in the vicinity of the sensor electrode. A processing device determines the thickness of the coin from the frequency deviation. The coin discriminating device is arranged such that the variation in capacitance occurs between the sensor electrode and a surface of the coin.