U.S. patent number 3,807,541 [Application Number 05/345,779] was granted by the patent office on 1974-04-30 for credit storage memory device for jukeboxes, gaming devices and the like.
This patent grant is currently assigned to NSM Apparatebau GmbH Kommanditgesellschaft. Invention is credited to Dieter Kortenhaus.
United States Patent |
3,807,541 |
Kortenhaus |
April 30, 1974 |
CREDIT STORAGE MEMORY DEVICE FOR JUKEBOXES, GAMING DEVICES AND THE
LIKE
Abstract
A credit storage memory device includes encoding means for
producing a coin value signal corresponding to the value of coins
inserted in a coin operated apparatus. The coin value signals are
stored in an intermediate storage device, and then are added to a
coin value storage register. The outputs of the coin value storage
register are decoded, and interrogated as to their highest value,
for application to a conversion device for converting the coin
values to predetermined play unit values. The play unit values from
the conversion device are applied to a play shift register by way
of an intermediate play shift register, with the outputs of the
play shift register being decoded for indication of the
availability of credit in the device for given operations. Values
from the coin value storage are subtracted in response either to
insertion of coins or operation of the apparatus in a given
fashion, and subtraction of units from the play shift register are
accomplished in response to operation of the apparatus. The
circuits for transferring the contents of the intermediate
registers to the storage registers are full adders, the necessary
subtraction being effected by subtraction inputs to the full
adders.
Inventors: |
Kortenhaus; Dieter (Bingen,
DT) |
Assignee: |
NSM Apparatebau GmbH
Kommanditgesellschaft (Bingen, DT)
|
Family
ID: |
27183903 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/345,779 |
Filed: |
March 28, 1973 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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313516 |
Dec 8, 1972 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
Current U.S.
Class: |
194/217 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F
17/305 (20130101); G07F 17/32 (20130101); G07F
5/22 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G07F
5/22 (20060101); G07F 17/32 (20060101); G07F
5/20 (20060101); G07F 17/30 (20060101); G07F
17/00 (20060101); G07f 009/08 () |
Field of
Search: |
;194/1N,9,10,12,15 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Tollberg; Stanley H.
Assistant Examiner: Rolla; Joseph J.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fasse; Wolfgang G.
Parent Case Text
CROSS REFERENCE TO COPENDING APPLICATION
This application is a continuation-in-part application of my
copending earlier application coins No. 313,516 filed Dec. 8, 1972
now abandoned.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A credit storage device for coin operated apparatus, comprising
a coin input device, means responsive to insertion of coins in said
input device for producing an encoded signal corresponding to the
value of coins inserted therein, a coin value storage means for
storing said encoded signal, means for adding said encoded coin
value signals to the contents of said coin value storage means,
conversion means for converting encoded signals corresponding to
coin values to encoded signals corresponding to credit units,
sensing means connected to apply encoded signals stored in said
coin value storage means to said conversion means, credit unit
storage means for storing encoded credit unit signals, means for
adding the encoded credit unit signals from said conversion means
to said credit unit storage means, and sensing means connected to
said credit unit storage means for producing a control signal.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein said conversion means is a diode
matrix.
3. A credit storage device for coin operated apparatus comprising a
coin input device for separately receiving coins of different
value, encoding means responsive to the insertion of coins in said
input device for producing a first encoded signal corresponding to
the value of coins inserted therein, a first shift register, means
adding the contents of said encoding means to said first shift
register, means connected to said first shift register for
producing a second encoded signal, conversion means for converting
signals corresponding to coin values to signals corresponding to
credit units, first sensing means connected to apply signals
corresponding to signals stored in said first shift register to
said conversion means, a second shift register, means for adding
signals corresponding to credit units from said conversion means to
said second shift register, and sensing means connected to said
second shift register for producing an output signal.
4. The device of claim 3, comprising means for subtracting data
from said first register to permit transfer of data to said second
shift register by way of said conversion device, and means for
subtracting data from said second shift register in response to
operation of said apparatus.
5. The device of claim 3, wherein said means adding the contents of
said encoding means to said first shift register comprises a third
shift register connected to receive the output of said encoding
means in parallel, first full adder means connected to receive data
from said third shift register as one input, means applying the sum
output of said first full adder means to said first shift register,
and means connecting the output of said first shift register to a
second input of said first full adder.
6. The device of claim 5, further comprising means responsive to
insertion of coins in said input device for actuating a coin
strobe, and means responsive to said coin strobe for subtracting
data from said first shift register.
7. The device of claim 6, wherein said first sensing means
comprises sequencing switch means for detecting the highest value
signal corresponding to data stored in said first shift register,
and wherein said means for subtracting data comprises means
responsive to said highest value signal and said coin strobe for
applying subtraction pulses to said full adder means, whereby
highest value signals are sequentially applied from said first
sensing means to said conversion means. 9
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said first sensing means
further comprises decoding means connected to apply the data of
said first shift register to said sequencing switch means, said
decoding means converting the code of said first shift register to
a code corresponding to the monetary system of coins to be inserted
in said coin input device.
9. The device of claim 3, wherein said means for adding signals
corresponding to credit units from said conversion means comprises
a fourth shift register connected to receive signals from said
conversion means, and a full adder having a first input connected
to receive data from said fourth shift register, a sum output
connected to apply signals to said second shift register, and means
applying the output of said second shift register to said full
adder as a second input thereof.
10. The device of claim 9, comprising means responsive to operation
of said apparatus for applying pulses to said full adder as
subtraction pulses.
11. The apparatus of claim 3 in which said means adding the
contents of said encoding means to said first shift register
comprises a third shift register connected to receive data from
said encoding means, a full adder having a first input connected to
receive data from said third shift register, a second input
connected to receive data from said first shift register, an output
connected to apply data to said first shift register, and a
subtraction input, and further comprising means selectively
responsive to insertion of a coin in said coin input device and
operation of said apparatus for applying subtraction pulses to said
subtraction input of said full adder.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said means for applying
subtraction pulses to said subtraction inputs further comprises
means for limiting the application of subtraction input in response
to data applied from said sensing means to said conversion means,
whereby said first shift register is read out as signals are stored
in said second shift register.
13. The device of claim 3, wherein said first sensing means
comprises means for selecting highest value signals of said second
encoded signal, and further comprising means responsive to the
selection of a highest value signal for subtracting corresponding
data from said first shift register, whereby second encoder signals
corresponding to the highest value remain in storage in said first
shift register are sequentially applied to said conversion
means.
14. The device of claim 13, wherein said first sensing means
comprises electronic switching means.
15. The device of claim 13, comprising means connected to said coin
input device to produce a pulse upon the insertion of a coin in
said storage device, and switch means for selectively enabling said
pulse to affect said subtraction in said first shift register.
16. The credit storage device of claim 13, comprising manually
operable switch means for enabling said subtraction in said first
shift register.
17. The credit storage device of claim 16, further comprising means
responsive to operation of said external switch means for
subtracting data from said second shift register.
18. The credit storage device of claim 17, comprising external
condition responsive means for controlling the value of data
subtracted in said second shift register.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to credit storage means, and is particularly
directed to the provision of a credit storage device for
controlling the operation of coin operated devices such as
jukeboxes, as well as gaming devices and the like.
In the past, the registering of amount of money inserted in
machines such as jukeboxes in order to ascertain the credits of an
operator, has been accomplished generally by mechanical or
electromechanical means. In such devices it is frequently desirable
to provide means for ascertaining or granting a credit or bonus to
the operator. For example, in jukeboxes, it is frequently desirable
that the operator be given a credit for the insertion of a larger
number of coins than the minimum number. In devices employed in the
past, the ascertaining or granting of such credits or bonuses
generally employ the same mechanical or electromechanical elements
which were used in the summing operation in the device.
Irrespective of the type of system employed, the granting or
crediting of a bonus in such systems depends upon the input of a
single coin having a predetermined value, for example, upon the
insertion of a quarter or half-dollar coin into the device. For
example, in such devices if a unit price were 10 cents, a bonus
price may be three for 25 cents if a 25 cent piece were inserted in
the device, and no other form of credit could be obtained, for
example, by the insertion of smaller coin equivalent of a
quarter.
U. S. Pat. No. 3,548,387, discloses an apparatus in which a credit
or bonus may be ascertained which is not a function of the value of
individual coins. In this system, the credit or bonus may be a
function of the total value of credit which has been accumulated in
the device in any random fashion. In this system the accumulated
credit is increased in accordance with the input of further amounts
of money into the machine, such as a vending machine. Consequently,
a customer who decides to insert a larger amount of money into the
device at one time is given a discount, even though the money is in
the form of a number of separate coins. According to this patent,
this result is accomplished by increasing the total credit in the
device over and above the amount corresponding to the amount of
money inserted in the machine. In this system, an electrical
circuit is provided which counts the individual value units, and
stores the sum of the counted input value units. Whenever the sum
thus stored reaches a predetermined value, the circuit produces a
bonus signal, and the bonus circuit is thereupon automatically
returned to its initial condition. The counting and storage
functions of the bonus circuit occur in parallel, and act
simultaneously with the summing device itself in the coin operated
apparatus. The bonus signal is then supplied to an additional bonus
circuit, which produces a second bonus signal if a predetermined
second value of credit has been reached in the storage circuit.
Thereupon, the bonus circuit is returned to its initial position,
corresponding to the initiation of a vending sequence, or by the
initiation of summing of available credit that occurs upon the
insertion of additional money in the apparatus.
The arrangement of this patent only permits the generation of a
bonus signal in response to the accumulation of a defined
non-adjustable total credit or coin value in the memory. This
result is disadvantageous, since changing of the predetermined
values for affording a discount necessitates complicated changes in
the circuitry of the system. In addition, it is not possible in
this type of circuit to provide a discount, as distinguished from a
credit, in a form such that upon insertion of a larger amount of
money into the vending machine the price of the goods is
correspondingly reduced. In other words, the apparatus of the above
patent cannot reduce the amount of credit required to buy a
particular item from a coin operated vending machine.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above, it is the aim of the present invention to
achieve the following objects singly or in combination:
to provide a credit storage memory which is capable of providing
either a bonus or of giving a discount as a function of the total
amount of money inserted in the apparatus;
to provide a credit storage memory device for a coin operated
apparatus, which is capable of providing a bonus for a discount in
response to the insertion of any individual coins, or any
individual amount of money;
to provide a credit storage memory which is flexible in its
structural features, so that by means of simple modifications, the
machine can be employed with any type of money, for example with
coins of the United States, as well as with foreign coins;
to provide a credit storage memory of the above described type,
which is useful for a number of different discount ranges;
to provide a matrix circuit arrangement capable of receiving at its
input the credit value of inserted coins and providing at its
output a correlated number of different outputs, for example a
number of games or records which may be played, which may represent
the credit granted; and
to revalue and coin value and/or accumulative money value into a
correlated credit value.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, the above objects have been achieved by
providing a coin value input means having a plurality of inputs
which are correlated to each other in steps and in accordance with
a given relationship. The coin value input means are coupled to
encoding means, which provide a binary signal corresponding to the
value of coins inserted in the apparatus. Means are provided for
inserting the encoded binary signals in an intermediate coin value
storage shift register, and a full adder is provided for adding the
contents of the intermediate storage register to a coin value
storage shift register for storage therein of binary data
corresponding to the value of coins inserted in the device.
A decoder circuit is connected to the coin value storage register
for providing a signal related to the monetary sstem of the
inserted coins, with the output of the decoder being applied to an
interrogation device and sequencing switch for sequentially
applying outputs corresponding to the highest values stored in the
coin value storage register to a conversion device. The conversion
device, which may be a diode matrix, converts the signals received
thereby to binary signals corresponding to units of operation of
the apparatus involved. For example, in a jukebox, these units may
be in the form of units corresponding to records which may be
played. These signals are applied by way of an intermediate
register to a "play" shift register, also by way of a full adder.
The outputs of the play shift register are decoded, and means are
provided for indicating the availability of adequate credit in the
play shift register for performing the desired operations in the
coin operated apparatus.
The transfer of the contents of the coin value storage unit may be
effected in one mode of operation in response to the insertion of
coins in the device, and in another mode of operation by the
control of the operator in the utilization of the coin operated
apparatus. The transfer is effected by subtraction of units
corresponding to the highest value signals detected by the
interrogation device from the coin value storage register. For this
purpose, the subtraction is accomplished in the corresponding full
adder. In a similar manner, units are subtracted from the play
shift register in response to operation of the device, by means of
a subtraction input to the full adder corresponding to the play
shift register.
The arrangement of the present invention may also include means for
adapting the operation of the coin operated apparatus to a number
of different value units, so that different valued outputs may be
available to the operator.
The entire circuit arrangement according to the present invention
may be embodied in the form of integrated circuitry, preferably by
MOS techniques so that a very compact structure may be obtained for
the device.
The arrangement according to the invention provides the particular
advantage that the credit storage memory is very variable in its
discount stages, and the individual discount stages may be
correlated as desired to any given type of coin, and/or to any
given desired accumulated credit. In addition, the arrangement
provides the advantage that the coin or credit values are converted
automatically into game or credit units, so that the conversion
device may be readily programmed in any desired manner. For
example, in one type of operation, a half dollar may be converted
into three game units and a dollar may be converted into seven game
units, thereby providing the operator extra credit for the
insertion of a whole dollar coin in the device.
BRIEF FIGURE DESCRIPTION
In order that the invention may be clearly understood, it will now
be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram of a coin value credit system
according to the invention adapted for use in a jukebox;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a timing circuit for use in the
arrangement of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a strobe generator which may be
employed in the circuit of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a strobe control circuit which may be
employed in the circuit of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an indicating and register circuit
which may be employed in combination with the circuit of FIG. 1;
and
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an additional element which may be
employed in combination with the circuit of FIG. 1, and
illustrating the manner in which the circuit of FIG. 1 may be
employed in combination with a jukebox.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS:
Referring now to the drawings, and more in particular to FIG. 1,
therein is illustrated a block diagram of a coin value credit
system for a jukebox comprising the credit storage memory according
to the invention. A plurality of coin operated switches C1 - C7 are
provided with their normally closed circuit in series between a
voltage source 10 and a coin strobe generator circuit 11. The
normally open contacts of the switches are connected as inputs to
separate AND-gates 12, the other inputs of these AND-gates being
connected to a lead 13. The outputs of the AND-gates 12 are
connected by way of separate OR-gates 14 to an encoder 15. The
switches C1 - C7 are coin operated switches, and correspond to
different valued coins which may be inserted in a jukebox. The
number of switches is of course variable dependent upon the
currency employed in the of installation. ofinstallation. When a
coin of a given value is inserted in its respective slot in the
jukebox, the corresponding switch C momentarily changes its
contacts, so that a pulse is applied to the encoder circuit 15 by
way of the corresponding AND-gate 12 and OR-gate 14. The functions
of these gates will be discussed in further detail in the following
paragraphs. Consequently, the insertion of coins in the jukebox
effects the production in the encoder circuit 15 of a binary
parallel code corresponding to the value of the inserted coins.
The binary coded outputs of the encoder 15 are applied in parallel
to the separate stages 16 of a coin value intermediate storage
circuit 17, also referred to as third register, by way of separate
AND-gates 18. The other inputs of the AND-gates 18 are connected in
common to the "C and S" strobe output of the coin strobe generator
circuit 11. In addition, each of the lines between an AND-circuit
12 and OR-circuit 14 is connected to a separate input of an
OR-circuit 19 by way of a separate pulse shaping circuit 20. As
will be described in greater detail in the following paragraph, in
one of the functions of the coin strobe generator circuit 11, a
strobe pulse is produced on the output "C and S" strobe line 21 in
response to an output of the OR-circuit 19 so that, in the simplest
form of operation of the circuit of FIG. 1 it may be said that the
insertion of a coin in the jukebox enables the AND-gates 18 to
permit the passage of the binary coded output of the encoder 15 to
the third or coin value intermediate storage shift register 17. The
passage of the signal to the third register 17 is of course timed
with respect to the operation of the remainder of the circuit, as
will be apparent in the following paragraphs.
As shown in FIG. 2, the arrangement of the present invention is
provided with a clock pulse generator 25 of conventional nature
having a clock pulse output .phi. , which is connected to each of
the inputs denoted .phi. in the circuit diagrams herein. The clock
pulses .phi. are also applied to a divider circuit 26, such as a
ring counter, for producing a signal .tau. synchronized with the
clock pulses. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the
pulse repetition rate of the clock pulses is eight times the pulse
repetition rate of the pulses .tau. , although it will be apparent
that this ratio is dependent upon the particular design and
application of the system according to the invention. The clock
pulse generator 25 may provide clock pulses of opposite phase for
use in the circuit, although for the sake of simplicity in the
description of the invention only a single clock pulse train has
been assumed.
Referring again to FIG. 1, the clock pulses .phi. are applied to
the stages 16 of of the third register 17 to effect the shift of
the binary data therein to one input of a serial full adder 28. The
stage 16 of the register 17 remote from the full adder is connected
to logic 0 to effect the resetting of the register after the data
has been read out therefrom.
The output of the adder 28 is connected to a "coin" terminal 29 for
use in a further circuit of a system in accordance with the
invention, and is also applied to the input stage 30 of a coin
value storage register 31, also referred to as the first register.
The output stage 32 is connected to the second input of the full
adder 28, and the data in the first storage shift register 31 is
shifted at the clock pulse rate. As a consequence, it is apparent
that any data stored in the third or intermediate storage register
17 is continually added to data stored in the storage register 31,
so that the data stored in the storage register 31 corresponds to
the coin values of coins inserted in the jukebox, less any values
that have been subtracted therefrom by means which will be
disclosed in greater detail in the following paragraphs. The carry
circuits of the full adder 28 are synchronized by the .tau. signal,
as illustrated in the drawings. 9
The separate stages of the first storage register 31 are connected
in parallel to a decoder 35 for producing a parallel coded signal
corresponding to the monetary system employed. The output of the
decoder 35 is applied in parallel to a sequencing switch 36 by way
of gate 37 operated by the .tau. pulses. The sequencing switch 36
has a plurality of outputs S1, S2, S3, S5, S10, S20 and S50
corresponding to selected multiples of a basic coin unit of the
monetary system for which the jukebox is adapted. The sequencing
switch 36 includes means for sequentially selecting the highest
value output of the decoder for transfer to a conversion device
38.
As an example, assume that the output S1 corresponds to 5 cents,
the output S3 corresponds to 15 cents, and the output S20
corresponds to 60 cents. Further assume that the costs for playing
a single record in the jukebox is 15 cents and that 80 cents has
been inserted in the machine. By virtue of the decoding circuit 35,
there will be an output thereof corresponding to the line S20 as
well as outputs corresponding to the lines S3 and S1 denoting
storage of 15 cents and 5 cents respectively. The sequencing switch
36 which may be an electronic sequencing switch, scans the outputs
from the decoder from the highest value downward, and thus first
detects the signal corresponding to 60 cents, and applies the
signal to the conversion device 38. Subsequently, the value
corresponding to 15 cents is detected and applied by way of line S3
to the conversion device 38. The signal corresponding to 5 cents is
then detected, but since this value is lower than the amount
required to play a record, and hence does not correspond to a
multiple of plays, a signal in response to detection of a value of
5 cents is applied by way of AND-gate 39 to an indicator 40. The
indicator 40 thus indicates that there is a credit in the jukebox
for coins which are not sufficient, however, to enable the playing
of a record.
The conversion device 38 is employed for the purpose of converting
the signals applied thereto from the sequencing switch to parallel
signals P1, P2, P4, P8 and P16 corresponding to the number of play
units of records to which the operator is entitled. The conversion
device may be, for example, a diode matrix and is preferably
readily replaceable in the unit to enable the rapid and easy
conversion of the control system to any desired correspondence
between coin values and play units. For example, the conversion
device may be programmed so that the greater the amount of money
put in at a given time, the proportionately greater number of
records that may be played, i.e., to give a discount or a credit
depending upon the value of coins inserted. For example, if 15
cents enables an operator to play a single record, the device 38
may be programmed so that two records may be played for 25 cents,
and five records may be played for 50 cents. The decoder 35, which
converts the binary coded signals to a monetary unit related
signal, is employed to facilitate the programming of the device 38
since the use of a binary code at this point would make it
difficult for a person adjusting the machine to readily provide the
desired code.
The sequencing switch may, for example, include a plurality of
comparators, one for each value to be tested, with each comparator
being coupled to inhibit passage of signals through every lower
valued comparator upon the occurrence of a signal in the higher
value comparator. The sequential operation of testing the different
values is, of course, dependent upon the subtraction of the
detected high value from the storage register 4 to enable the
sequencing switch to continue its testing, and this subtraction
will be explained in greater detail in the following
paragraphs.
The output of the conversion device 38 on the terminal P is thus in
the form of a parallel coded signal corresponding to the number of
play units to which the operator is entitled. The outputs of the
conversion device 38 are applied by way of separate AND-gates 42
and separate AND-gates 43 to the separate stages 44 of an
intermediate play shift register 45, also referred to as the fourth
register, the AND-gates 42 are gated by signals on a common line
46, and the AND-gates 43 are gated in common by the .tau. signal.
The data stored in the fourth shift register 45 is shifted out to
one input of a full adder 50, the end of the shift register 45 not
connected to the adder being connected to a logic 0 reference so
that the shift register is reset after being read out.
The sum output of the full adder 50 is applied to one AND-stage 51
of a play shift register 52, also referred to as second register,
the other AND-stage 53 of this register being connected to the full
adder as the second input thereof. The operation in the serial full
adder 50 is gated in the carry circuit thereof by the .tau. signal
as indicated in the drawing. As a consequence, any data in the
fourth or intermediate play shift register 45 is continually added
to the contents of the second or play shift register 52, so that
the play shift register continually stores the number of record
play units to which the operator is entitled. It is apparent that
the operation of the shift registers 45 and 52 and adder 50 is
similar to the operation of the coin value intermediate storage
register 17, coin value storage register 31 and full adder 38 as
above discussed.
The outputs of the stages of the play shift register 52 are applied
in parallel to a decoder circuit 55. The decoder circuit converts
the binary signals applied thereto to a code more adaptable to the
determination of the number of records that can be played.
In a typical jukebox, the records to be played may be assigned
different values, so that it costs more to play one record than
another. In the present instance, we shall denote the lower value
record as a "single" selection and the higher valued record as a
"album" selection. The necessary play units for these different
types of selections are predetermined, and preferably adjustable as
desired. In order to indicate to an operator that he has sufficient
credit to play a single selection, and OR-gate 56 is connected to
selected outputs of the decoder 55, the outputs corresponding to
the minimum value, and the output of the OR-gate 56 is applied to
an indicator 57 visible on the front of the jukebox. If there are
insufficient credits in the jukebox for playing a single record,
this is indicated on an indicator 58 activated from the output of
the OR-gate 56 by way of an invertor 59. Similarly, suitable gates
such as AND-gate 60 and OR-gate 61 are connected to the decoder for
indicating on an indicator 62 that there is adequate credit
registered in the device for an album selection.
In the apparatus according to the invention, several modes of
operation are possible. The apparatus is provided with an "A" or
"B" switch 70 which an operator controls to determine the side of
the record to be played, and the device may also be provided with a
credit option switch 71. In one form of operation, the operator
inserts as many coins as he wishes, which may exceed the minimum
value for single or album selections as much as he desires, and in
this mode of operation the transfer of the contents of the coin
value storage or first register 31 to the play shift or second
register 52 will be effective only upon the operator controlling
the "A" or "B" switch 70, so that the conversion of coin values to
play units will be dependent upon the total value of coins stored
in the coin value storage register 31 at the time the "A" or "B"
switch is operated. In another mode of operation, the credit option
switch 71 will be closed, and in this case, the contents of the
coin value storage register 31 are directly transferred to the play
shift register 52 by way of the conversion device 38, in response
to the insertion of a coin. The circuits employed for enabling
these options of play will now be described.
Referring still to FIG. 1, the credit option switch 71 is connected
from a suitable voltage supply 72 to one input of an AND-gate 73,
the other input of the AND-gate 73 being a coin strobe output of
the coin strobe generator circuit 11 on line 74a. The output of the
AND-gate 73 is applied by way of an OR-gate 74 and an AND-gate 75
to the set terminal of a flip-flop 76. The other input of the
AND-gate 75 is controlled by the .tau. signal for synchronization.
When the flip-flop 76 is toggled by the coin strobe pulse and the
credit option switch in this manner, the resulting signal on the
credit comparison line 77 at one output of the flip-flop 76 is
applied to the subtract terminal of the full adder 28. As a
consequence, digits are subtracted from the coin value storage
register 31. The number of digits subtracted in this matter is
controlled by the reset circuit of the flip-flop 76 which includes
an OR-gate 78 and an AND-gate 79. The inputs of the OR-gate 78
correspond to the signals on the lines S1 - S50 at the output of
the sequencing switch, and each of these signals controls the
OR-gate 78 for a number of clock pulses dependent upon the relative
value of the signal. In other words, the S signals applied to the
OR-gate 78 have durations corresponding to their respective values,
the values being synchronized with the .phi. signal, and since the
flip-flop 76 is set in synchronization with the .tau. signal, the
flip-flop will be reset in dependence upon the duration of the S
signal so that a determinable number of pulses may be applied to
the subtract input of the full adder 28. The AND-gate 79 is opened
by the clock pulse for synchronization. Thus, in this mode of
operation, since the coin strobe pulse on line 74 is responsive to
the insertion of a coin, the detection of a high value by the
sequencing switch 36 effects the subtraction of the related value
from the coin value storage register 31, so that the play units may
be shifted to the play shift register 52 and the coin value storage
register 31 emptied as soon as possible. At this point it is to be
noted that the credit comparison line 77 is connected to the line
46 which effects the opening of the gates 42, thereby permitting
the output of the conversion device 38 to be applied to the
intermediate play shift register 45.
It is to be further noted that the negation of the credit
comparison signal, at the other output of the flip-flop 76, is
connected to line 13 for controlling the opening of the gate 12, so
that these gates, which pass the coin insertion signal to the
encoder, can only be opened when the flip-flop 76 is reset, so that
the device accepts only a single coin at a time. The time of
operation of the flip-flop 76, however, is very short, so that no
sequential insertion of coins in the jukebox will effect the
accurate registering of all coins.
If the credit option above discussed is not employed, the operation
of the device may be dependent upon the control of the A or B
switch 70. As shown in FIG. 1, the A or B switch 70 is connected
from a suitable source of voltage 80 to a strobe generator 81, the
strobe generator producing an output pulse on line 82 which is
applied to the other input of the OR-gate 74. In this case, the
remainder of the operation of the device is the same as above
discussed, the only difference being that the coin value shift
register 31 is not emptied until the switch 70 is operated, so that
the conversion in the conversion device 38 is dependent upon the
total value of coins in the register 31.
The credit comparison line 77 is also applied in common to one
input of each of a plurality of AND-gates 85 connected to the
OR-gates 14, for a purpose that will be described in greater detail
in the following paragraphs. In addition, the line 77 is connected
to supply an input to the coin strobe generator circuit 11.
It is further evident that operation of the device of FIG. 1 is
dependent upon the subtraction of play units from the shift
register 52 as selections are made. For this purpose, the output of
the strobe generator 81 is also connected to one input of a
flip-flop 86, one output of the flip-flop 86 being connected by way
of AND-gate 87 to a flip-flop 88, with one output of the flip-flop
88, i. e. a "subtract" output, on line 89, being applied to the
subtract input of the full adder 50. The flip-flop 86 is reset by a
one bit delay circuit 90 connected from the output of the AND-gate
87 to the other input of the flip-flop. The flip-flop 88 is reset
by a signal from the output of a signal generator 91 connected to
the output of the one bit delay circuit 90, the signal generator 91
providing an alpha output signal for use in the control of the
jukebox itself in the initiation of carriage movement. The output
of the signal generator 91 applied to reset the flip-flop 88
enables the subtraction of a single bit from the play shift
register 52.
As discussed above, the outputs of the AND-gates 85 are applied to
separate inputs of the OR-gates 14, and thence to the encoder 15.
The other terminals 95 may be connected by suitable means, for
example, switches (not shown) to enable the addition of coin value
units in the coin value registers without a necessity for insertion
of coins. For example, such switches may be key operated switches
controllable by an owner, for the purpose of enabling the storage
of more play units than corresponds to the coins actually inserted
in the device. This, of course, is another option in the control of
the system.
In the arrangement as above discussed, an amount was subtracted
from the play shift register corresponding to a single record. When
an album selection is made, however, more units must be subtracted
from the play shift register, but this cannot be done solely on the
basis of the operation of the A or B switch. In order to subtract
the play units from the play shift register corresponding to the
actual album selected, Or-gates 96, 97, and 98 are provided in
three of the lines between the AND-gates 42 and AND-gates 43. The
other inputs of the OR-gates 96 - 98 are connected respectively to
the outputs of AND-gates 99, 100 and 101. The circuit is further
provided with an album value input code circuit 102, with one
output of the circuit 102 being connected to a coding circuit 103
connected to selected inputs of the AND-gates 99 - 101. The
subtract signal, from the flip-flop 88, is also applied to the
coding circuit 103. When an album has been selected, dependent upon
the operation of conventional switches in the jukebox, the
selection of the album is transferred to the circuit of FIG. 1 on
terminal 104, i. e. an indication that an album has been selected.
The terminal 104 is applied to the coding circuit 103 by way of a
pair of shift register stages 105 which are shifted in response to
the selection of the second digit in the jukebox. (In jukeboxes the
operator conventionally selects two digits corresponding to the
different records, as well as A or B signals corresponding to the
sides of the records). Depending upon the selection of the second
digit, the code circuit 103 applies suitable signals to the
AND-gates 99 - 101 and thence to the OR-gates 96 - 98 to effect the
subtraction of the correct number of play units by means of the
intermediate play shift register 45 and the adder/subtractor 50
from the play shift register 52. The output of the input code
circuit 102 is also applied to the gate circuit including gates 60
and 61 which indicate the presence of adequate play units to play
an album, so that the album indicator may be controlled also in
response to the particular album selected, i. e., so that albums of
different values may be employed, and if a higher value album has
been selected, the indicator 62 will indicate whether or not the
higher valued album may be played.
Still referring to FIG. 1, additional functions may be obtained in
the circuit by providing additional inputs 110 connected by way of
suitable pulse filtering circuits 111 to the gate 19. These inputs
may be responsive by a desired means to the insertion of coins in
the apparatus, and may if desired also be connected to effect the
storage of the information relating thereto in the suitable
manner.
The reset input of the coin strobe generator circuit 11 is also
connected to an input of the OR-gate 19, by way of a filtering
circuit 112, although this filtering circuit is adapted to pass
pulses of about one tenth the duration of the pulses applied
thereto by way of the filters 20.
FIG. 3 illustrates a strobe generator which may be employed for the
A-B strobe generator 81, as well as for a portion of the strobe
generator circuit 11. This arrangement comprises a shift register
of a plurality of stages 120 with the last stage being connected to
one input of a half adder 121. The outputs of all but the last
stage of the shift register are applied as inputs to a NOR-gate
122, and the output of the next to the last stage of the shift
register is also applied as a second input of the half adder. The
sum output of the half adder is applied as one input to an OR-gate
123, another input being derived from the output of the NOR-gate
122. The output of the OR-gate 123 is connected to the input stage
of the shift register. The stages of the shift register have common
reset lines and common shift lines. When the circuit is employed as
the strobe generator 81, the switch 70 is connected to energize the
reset line, and the clock pulses energize the shift line. When the
strobe generator is used in the circuit 11, the output of the
OR-gate 19 energizes the reset line, and the clock pulses energize
the shift line. The output terminal 124 of the strobe generator of
FIG. 3 is connected to the output of the NOR-gate 122.
In one embodiment of the coin strobe generator circuits 11, as
illustrated in FIG. 4, the OR-input from the OR-gate 19 is applied
to a strobe generator 130, for example the strobe generator of FIG.
3, the output of the strobe generator 130 being connected to the
set input of a flip-flop 131. The reset input of the flip-flip 131
is synchronized with the .tau. and clock pulses, for example by
means of an AND-gate 132. The output of the flip-flop 131 and a
.tau. pulse are applied to separate inputs of an AND-gate 133. The
output of the AND-gate 133 is connected to one input of an AND-gate
134 and one input of an AND-gate 135. The reset input to the
circuit 11 is connected to the other input of the AND-gate 135. The
output of the AND-gate is applied to one input of a flip-flop 136,
one output of the flip-flop 136 being connected as a second input
to the AND-gate 134. A negated reset input is applied as a third
input to the AND-gate 134 by way of an invertor 137 connected to
the reset inputs of the circuit, and the fourth input of the
AND-gate 134 is connected to the negated credit comparison terminal
138 derived from the flip-flop 76 of FIG. 1. Still referring to
FIG. 4, the output of the AND-gate 134 constitutes the coin strobe
output for application to line 74, this line further being
connected to the other input of the flip-flop 136 and to an input
of an OR-gate 139. The output of the OR-gate 139 constitutes the C
and S strobe output of the circuit applied to line 21. A further
input to the OR-gate 139 is constituted by an AND-gate 140 having
as inputs the credit compensation signal from line 77, the subtract
signal from line 89, and the coincidence of the .tau. and clock
pulses. The circuit according to the invention may be further
provided with a money value counter 150 as illustrated in FIG. 5,
for storing the coin value credit, the circuit 150 being adapted to
be connected externally to a credit memory, for example, for
driving a coin counter or register. As shown in FIG. 5, such
circuit may constitute a divide-by-two divider and control circuit
151 to which a 20Hz strobe signal from source 152 is applied. The
credit compensation signal and coin signal from the circuit of FIG.
1 are applied to an AND-circuit 153, the output of the AND-circuit
153 and an output of the divider circuit 151 being applied as one
input of a full adder 154 by way of an OR-circuit 155. A subtract
input for the full adder is derived from the divider circuit 151.
The sum output of the full adder 154 is applied to one end of a
shift register 156, the other end of the shift register being fed
back to the full adder 154 as the second input thereof. The output
of each of the stages of the shift register are connected by way of
an OR-gate 157 to the divider 151. A negated C and S strobe pulse
is applied to the divider 151 as a further input and the output of
the divider is connected to a sum counter 158 operating at
10Hz.
A further circuit employed in combination with the arrangement of
FIG. 1 is illustrated in FIG. 6. FIG. 6 illustrates a control gate
160 having "single" and "album" inputs 161 and 162 respectively.
These inputs are responsive to the selection by the operator of a
single record or an album record in the jukebox. The system of FIG.
6 is employed to determine, after checking of the play shift
register 62, whether the selection made by the operator is to be
permitted or not. In the event that this comparison indicates that
not enough credit is available in the device to play the selected
record, the control gate 160 provides an inhibit output to prevent
operation of the jukebox. For example, the circuit may inhibit the
operation of the record carrier. If there is a malfunction in the
apparatus, this may be signalled to the control gate 160 as a "not
allowed" input, which also provides an inhibit output to prevent
operation of the device. The "album" input on line 163 may be
derived from the circuit of FIG. 1 for comparison in the control
gate 160. The details of the control gate 160 do not form a part of
the present invention and this system has been presented, primarily
in order to clarify the operation of the system of FIG. 1 when
employed in a jukebox.
While the invention has been disclosed with reference to specific
example embodiments, it is to be understood, that it is intended to
cover all modifications and equivalents within the scope of the
appended claims.
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