Coin Discrimination Criteria Setting for Remote Denomination Updates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing coin discrimination apparatuses require cumbersome and costly firmware updates to expand the range of discriminable coin denominations, necessitating manual intervention and increasing service costs, which can be inefficient and unsatisfactory for users.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for calculating discrimination criterion information pieces for additional coin denominations based on existing denominations, using target and additional denomination standard information pieces, allowing for remote updates without physical exchange or manual intervention, and reducing errors due to individual differences in coin discrimination performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manual firmware updating and teaching operations are conducted to expand discriminable denominations, then the range of discriminable denominations is improved, but service cost and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverange of discriminable denominationsVSAvoidservice time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The coin discrimination apparatus automatically calculates discrimination criterion information for additional denominations using its own existing resources (current denomination data, sensor information) without requiring external service engineer intervention. The system performs self-updating by designating target denominations, calculating new criterion information through comparison operations, and storing results automatically.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The apparatus pre-calculates and stores discrimination criterion information for potential additional denominations by utilizing existing current denomination data. When new denominations need to be added, the system can quickly generate the necessary criterion information by comparing sensor information of designated target denominations with stored standard information, avoiding time-consuming manual teaching operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If service engineer manually updates control firmware to add additional denominations, then discrimination capability is improved, but service cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediscrimination capabilityVSAvoidservice cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system eliminates dependency on service engineers for firmware updates by implementing automatic calculation and storage of discrimination criterion information. The apparatus uses its built-in processing capabilities to compute new criterion information from existing data, completely removing the need for external technical intervention and associated costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The apparatus expands discrimination capability by dynamically generating new parameter sets (discrimination criterion information) for additional denominations. By changing the stored criterion parameters rather than requiring complete firmware replacement, the system achieves enhanced functionality at minimal cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If existing coin discrimination apparatus is used with limited storage capacity, then hardware cost is reduced, but ability to store additional denomination data is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidability to store additional denomination data

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system stores compact parameter representations (discrimination criterion information) rather than complete denomination datasets. By calculating and storing only the essential criterion parameters needed for discrimination, the apparatus maximizes the utilization of limited storage capacity while maintaining the ability to support multiple denominations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The apparatus extracts only the necessary discrimination criterion information from complete denomination data. By separating and storing only the essential parameters required for coin discrimination rather than entire denomination profiles, the system reduces storage requirements while preserving full discrimination functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3712863B1Method, system and computer readable medium for setting discrimination criterion information

Publication Date: 2026.05.20 ASAHI SEIKO CO LTD

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AI summary

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. Then, discrimination criterion information pieces for an additional denomination are calculated based on discrimination criterion information pieces for the target denomination, target denomination standard information pieces corresponding to the discrimination criterion information pieces for the target denomination, and additional denomination standard information pieces corresponding to the discrimination criterion information pieces for the additional denomination.