(19)
(11) EP 0 996 098 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
31.07.2002 Bulletin 2002/31

(43) Date of publication A2:
26.04.2000 Bulletin 2000/17

(21) Application number: 99204271.3

(22) Date of filing: 17.05.1997
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: G07D 5/02, G07F 5/10
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV RO SI

(30) Priority: 21.05.1996 GB 9610603

(62) Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC:
97918315.9 / 0900431

(71) Applicants:
  • Panzeri, Ezio
    20156 Milan (IT)
  • Al-Hashemi, Burhan
    Dubai (AE)

(72) Inventors:
  • Panzeri, Ezio
    20156 Milan (IT)
  • Al-Hashemi, Burhan
    Dubai (AE)

(74) Representative: Robinson, Nigel Alexander Julian 
D. Young & Co., 21 New Fetter Lane
London EC4A 1DA
London EC4A 1DA (GB)

   


(54) Coin testing apparatus and method


(57) A method of coin testing is provided in which a laser beam (13) is directed onto a face of a coin (4) and a laser detector (3) is used to detect where the laser beam is intercepted by the coin and where the laser beam is not intercepted by the coin, so as to obtain an indication of a characteristic of the face of the coin. The characteristic of the coin is used to identify the coin. The invention also relates to an apparatus for coin testing, which comprises a laser source (11) to direct a laser beam (13) onto a face of a coin (4), a laser detector (3) for detecting where the laser is intercepted by the coin and where the laser is not intercepted by the coin, and a signal-processor (14) which obtains an indication, from an output of the laser detector (3), of a characteristic of the face of the coin which is used to identify the coin.






Search report