Joseph A Simpkins, 61847 Shaumont Dr, West Chester, PA 19382

6819781, Nov 16, 2004

Jun 30, 1998

09/106878

Joseph A. Simpkins - West Chester PA

Mars Incorporated - McLean VA

G06K 900

382112, 356 71, 382135, 382306

An optical sensor system for validating documents transports a document under test between a light source and an optical interface circuit. A photodetector within the optical interface circuit generates an electrical current signal at its output based on the amount of detected light transmitted through and/or reflected by the document. A photodetector interface circuit is connected to the photodetector output and converts the current signal to a signal indicative of the detected light without undesirable electrical offsets, such as manufacturing, production and temperature offsets. In particular embodiments, the current signal is further processed to take advantage of the dynamic range of an associated analog converter.

6896116, May 24, 2005

Jun 18, 2002

10/174182

David C. Deaville - West Chester PA, US
Joseph A. Simpkins - West Chester PA, US
John Snider - West Chester PA, US

Mars Incorporated - McLean VA

G07F007/04

194206, 194350

A bill acceptor module may receive configuration data from at least one of an interface board, a programming tool, a plug-in memory, a memory on a currency cassette, and a host machine, store the configuration data in a memory, and process signals according to the configuration data to enable operation of the bill acceptor module with a host machine. The operation of the bill acceptor module may include communication with a currency cassette.

8373558, Feb 12, 2013

Oct 9, 2009

12/576473

Cary Sagady - Chester Springs PA, US
Joseph Simpkins - West Chester PA, US

USA Technologies, Inc. - Malvern PA

G08B 21/00

340540, 34053922, 700244

Devices and methods for generating an alert for a vending machine are disclosed. A method of generating an alert includes monitoring a bus for at least one communication from the vending machine controller via the bus. The bus is then monitored for a response to the communication from a peripheral device to the vending machine controller via the bus. The response from the peripheral device is then processed. An alert is then generated based on the processed response. A peripheral device for generating the alert includes a bus interface configured to receive data from the bus and to transmit data onto the bus, and a processing unit coupled to the bus interface, the processing unit configured to process data received from the at least one other peripheral device and generate an alert based on the processed data.

2010009, Apr 15, 2010

Oct 10, 2008

12/249163

Joseph Simpkins - West Chester PA, US
Cary Sagady - Chester Springs PA, US

USA Technologies, Inc. - Malvern PA

G07F 9/02
G06F 17/00
G07F 7/00

700236, 700244

A peripheral device for a vending machine, a method of communicating with a vending machine, a vending system, and a computer readable storage medium including software that is adapted to control a computer to implement a method of communicating with a vending machine are provided. The peripheral device includes a bus interface and a processor coupled to the bus interface. The peripheral device, via the bus interface, receives data from a bus and transmits data onto the bus. The processor enables cashless payment and provides diagnostic information for at least one other peripheral device of the vending machine based on data received from the at least one other peripheral device via the bus interface.

5889883, Mar 30, 1999

Jan 23, 1995

8/376784

Joseph A. Simpkins - West Chester PA

Mars Incorporated - McLean VA

G06K 900
G01C 2500

382135

An optical sensor system for validating documents transports a document under test between a light source and an optical interface circuit. A photodetector within the optical interface circuit generates an electrical current signal at its output based on the amount of detected light transmitted through and/or reflected by the document. A photodetector interface circuit is connected to the photodetector output and converts the current signal to a signal indicative of the detected light without undesirable electrical offsets, such as manufacturing, production and temperature offsets. In particular embodiments, the current signal is further processed to take advantage of the dynamic range of an associated analog converter.

5600545, Feb 4, 1997

Jan 23, 1995

8/376932

Joseph A. Simpkins - West Chester PA

Mars, Incorporated - McLean VA

H02M 3335

363 21

A switching power supply having a power steering clamp is disclosed. The power supply may suitably include a pulse width modulator controller which controls a first switch for controlling the flow of energy into and out of a transformer. The power steering clamp suitably includes a second switch, clamp diodes, and circuitry for driving the gate of the second switch. The circuitry for driving the gate of the second switch is preferably controlled by the pulse width modulator controller. Use of the power steering clamp permits leakage energy to be rerouted subsequently to the transformer. This feature may improve the efficiency of the circuit and also avoids the need for heat sinks to prevent overheating of circuit components. Such a switching power supply is particularly suitable for use in high density devices, such as a banknote or bill validator.

5616915, Apr 1, 1997

Jan 23, 1995

8/376781

Joseph A. Simpkins - West Chester PA
Scott Hudis - West Chester PA

Mars Incorporated - McLean VA

G01N 904
G06M 700

250221

A bill validator comprising a removable magazine having reflective surfaces, such as a prism, which reflects light from a light source, such as a light emitting diode, to a photodetector, such as a phototransistor, is disclosed. The prism can include a recess and the magazine can further comprise a blocker with an arm that can be moved into and out of the recess based on movement of a pressure plate within the magazine, to block light from passing across the recess. This arrangement can be used to determine whether the bill validator can go back into service, whether the magazine has been removed from and reattached to the validator, whether bills have been removed from the magazine, whether the magazine is full and whether a bill is in position for stacking, for example.

2015028, Oct 8, 2015

Apr 8, 2015

14/681294

- MALVERN PA, US
JOSEPH A. SIMPKINS - WEST CHESTER PA, US
DENIS KOUZNETSOV - POTTSTOWN PA, US

G06Q 20/32
G06Q 20/10
H04W 4/00
G06Q 20/18
H04W 4/14

Methods for sending information to a mobile payment device, including selecting information to be associated with a particular mobile payment device identifier, receiving an identifier stored in the mobile payment device, determining whether the received identifier corresponds to the particular mobile payment device identifier associated with the information, and transmitting the information to the mobile payment device upon determining the received identifier corresponds to the particular mobile payment device identifier associated with the information.