Coin recognition system and method

Abstract

A coin handling system performs a one or two-part coin handling and recognition process. In the first part of the two-part process, the system images bulk coins, determines the coin types or other attributes, and returns at least some of the coins to the bulk coin receptacle; in the second part, the system re-images the coins and uses the coin types or attributes determined in the first part to efficiently and economically perform machine recognition of attributes of the coins. The output is used to handle the coins and to determine a price to pay for the coins. The images are bright field images suitable for use by people.

1 . A coin recognition method executed in a computer comprising a memory, the method comprising:
 in a first pass, receiving a group of bulk coins in a first bulk coin receptacle in a coin handling machine controlled by the computer;   by the computer, processing the group of bulk coins with the coin handling machine and utilizing a first set of recognition criteria to determine a first set of coin attributes present in the group of coins and returning at least a subset of the group of coins to the first bulk coin receptacle;   by the computer, selecting a second set of recognition criteria according to the determined first set of coin attributes; and   in a second pass,   
       by the computer, processing the subset of the group of coins in the first bulk coin receptacle with the coin handling machine and utilizing the second set of recognition criteria to determine an additional attribute of a coin in the subset of the group of coins, which additional attribute is not in the first set of coin attributes.