Abstract

A review on electronic coin detection technologies currently in use in coin selection devices is presented. Starting from conventional techniques employed in the last few decades, recent methods which exploit innovative sensors and signal processing techniques are presented which allow high-performance coin discrimination with low-cost electronics for the sensors and data processing. Some of the most relevant patents in the field of electronic coin detection are discussed in this article, ranging from foundational patents to recent proposals from the authors and other researchers.

Keywords: Coin selectors, coin discriminators, coin detectors, coin acceptors, inductive sensors, optical sensors, acoustic sensors, impact sensors, electromagnetic sensors