Field of the I nvention

[1] This invention relates generally to donation receiving apparatus, and, more particularly, to handheld mobile comm unication device connected donation receiving apparatus.

Background of the Invention

[2] US 5506393 A (Ziarno) 9 April 1996 discloses a donation kettle accepting credit card, debit card and cash donations.

[3] The kettle comprises a display, keyboard and surface for collecting don ations and the kettle is configured for associating a donation with an account of a contributor.

[4] The present invention seeks to provide im provements to donation receiving devices which will overcome or substantial ly amel iorate at least some of the deficien cies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative.

[5] It is to be understood that, if a ny prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an adm ission that the information forms part of the common general knowledge i n the art, in Australia or any other country.

Summa ry of the Disclosure

[6] There is provided herein a handheld donation receiving appa ratus com prising storage area therein. Coins and notes can be inserted through a denom ination discrim inator into the storage area which senses at least one physical characteristic thereof.

[7] The apparatus further com prises a mobile com m unication device interface for comm unication with a mobile comm unication device and a device controller interfacing the mobile com m unication device and the denom ination discrim inator.

[8] The apparatus may comprise electronical ly controlled locks which inhibit the use of the apparatus until authenticated with the mobile comm unication device and the apparatus may com prises a lockable lid which conceals the denom ination discrim inator thereunderneath.

[9] The apparatus may com prise a cradle holding the mobile com m unication device which displays a graph ical user interface for the operation of the apparatus.

[10] Furthermore, the denom ination discrim inator may com prise rol lers beneath a slotted entrance which accepts both coins and notes. A rotation transducer may detect a length of currency inserted therethrough and a displacement transducer may measure the thickness of the currency.

[11] As such, in use, the user may authe nticate with the mobile comm unication device to unlock the apparatus to receive donations from contributors.

[12] The device control ler may be configured with acceptable denom ination dimension parameters to categorise denom inations and reject currency th at does not meet the acceptable denom ination dimension parameters.

[13] The apparatus may further utilise image processing for verifying denom inations. I n one em bodiment, a view port for a rearward camera of the mobile com munication device is provided for the capturing of image data of cu rrency inserted therethrough. The mobile comm unication device may com prise an application control ler comprising an image processor which recognises at least one of shape, dimension, colour and, in em bodiments, recognises alphanumeric values of the currency.

[14] As such, the mobile com m unication device may be used to verify the currency to cause the device controller to accept or reject a donation.

[15] According to one aspect, there is provided, d onation receiving apparatus com prising a storage area therein, a denom ination discrim inator interfacing the storage area, the denom ination discrim inator com prising at least one sensor for sensing at least one physical characteristic of currency passing therethrough, a mobile comm unication device interface for comm unication with a mobile com m unication device, and a device controller interfacing the mobile com m unication device interface and the denom ination discrim inator wherein, in use, the device controller is configured for establishing com m unica tion with the mobile comm unication device, detecting a denom ination using the at least one physical characteristic and transm itting the denom ination to the mobile com m unication device.

[16] The mobile comm unication device may execute an application control ler a nd wherein the application controller may be configured for displaying a graphical user interface on a digital display thereof and wherein the graphical user interface may be controlled by the application controller to display the denom ination.

[17] The denom ination discriminator may com prise an entrance slot for taking coins and notes.

[18] The sensors may com prise interrupts sensors along the entrance slot and wherein the control ler may be configured for detecting the denom ination according to which of the interrupt sensors are interrupted. [19] The interrupt sensors may com prise a central interrupt sensor and lateral interrupt sensors and wherein the device control ler may be configured for detecting the insertion of a coin when the central interrupt sensor is interrupted and the lateral interrupt sensors are not interrupted.

[20] The device controller may be configured for detecting the insertion of a note when the lateral interrupt sensors are interrupted.

[21] The device control ler may be configured for detecting whether the lat eral interru pt sensors are interrupted substantial ly sim ultaneously.

[22] The denom ination discrim inator may comprise rol lers and a rotation transducer operably coupled thereto and wherein the control ler may be configured for determ ining length of the currency inserted through the slot using the rotation transducer and determ ining the denom ination according to the length.

[23] The rotation transducer may com prise an optic sensor detecting markings on a rotating disc coupled to the rol lers.

[24] The apparatus may further com prise a displacement transducer operably coupled to the rollers to measure displacement therebetween and wherein the device controller may be configured for determ ining thickness of the currency inserted through the slot according to the displacement and determ ining the denom ination according to the thickness.

[25] The apparatus may com prise a fixed frame holding a first of the rollers and a displaceable frame holding a second of the rol lers and wherein the displacement transducer measure displacement of the d isplaceable frame.

[26] The displaceable frame may comprise a moving piece interfering with an optic sensor.

[27] The controller may be configured with acceptable denom ination dimension parameters and wherein the device control ler may be configured for detecting whe ther at least one of measured thickness and length of the currency meets the acceptable denom ination dimension parameters.

[28] The apparatus may further com prise a drive for turning the rollers and wherein the controller may be configured for turning the rol le rs to reject currency from the slot when detecting that the currency does not meet the acceptable nom ination characteristics.

[29] The apparatus may be configured for verifying the denom ination by image processing captured cu rrency image data. [30] The apparatus may comprise a crad le for holding the mobile comm unication device adjacent a viewport for capturing the currency image data using a rearward image sensor thereof.

[31] The mobile comm unication device may execute an application controller com prising an image processing controller which processes the currency image data.

[32] The device control ler may be configured for tra nsm itting the denom ination to the mobile com m unication device and wherein the mobile comm unication device may be configured for verifying the denom inat ion using the image processing controller and, if the image processing controller detect that the currency image data does not meet acceptable image characteristics, the application controller may be configured for causing the device controller to reject the currency.

[33] The image processing may be configured for detecting a shape of the denom ination.

[34] The image processing may be configured for detecting a dimension of the denom ination.

[35] The image processing may be configured for detecting a colour of the denom i nation.

[36] The image processing control ler may be configured for recognising and alpha numeric value of the denom ination.

[37] The apparatus may com prise a lid lockable over the denom ination discriminator and wherein the controller may be configured for allowing t he unlocking of the l id when in comm unication with the mobile com m unication device.

[38] The apparatus may com prise a lid lockable over the denom ination discriminator and wherein the l id may com prise a cover supported at a distal end of a stem slidably engaged within a body of the apparatus.

[39] The apparatus may com prise a cradle com prising an upper and lower offset - adjustable brackets for retaining corresponding upper and lower edges of the mobile comm unication device therebetween.

[40] Other aspects of the invention a re also disclosed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[41] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fal l within the scope of the present invention, preferred em bodiments of the disclosure wil l now be described, by way of exam ple only, with reference to the accom panying drawings in which :

[42] Figure 1 shows a top perspective view of donation receiving apparatus in accordance with an em bodiment; [43] Figure 2 shows an underside perspective view of the apparatus;

[44] Figure 3 shows a top perspective view of the apparatus with a top piece thereof open;

[45] Figure 4 shows a top perspective view of the apparatus with a lid thereof closed;

[46] Figure 5 il l ustrates an exploded view of a denom ination discrim inator of the apparatus;

[47] Figure 6 shows an exploded bottom perspective view of the apparatus;

[48] Figure 7 il lustrates the denom ination discrim inator accepting a note;

[49] Figure 8 il lustrates the denomination discrim inator rejecting a coin;

[50] Figure 9 il lustrates an alternative em bodiment wherein the apparatus com prises an LCD screen;

[51] Figure 10 ill ustrates an alternative em bodiment wherein the denom in ation discrim inator separately accepts notes and coins; and

[52] Figure 11 shows a functional schematic of the controllers of the apparatus and mobile com m unication device.

Description of Em bodiments

[53] Figure 1 shows donation receiving apparatus 100 which may com prise a receptacle 101, base 102 and top part 103.

[54] The receptacle 101 may define a monetary storage area 109 therein and the top part 103 may com prise a denom ination discrim inator 104 configured for discrim inatin g monetary denom inations of currency passing therethrough into the storage area 109.

[55] The apparatus 100 may further com prise a l id 106 for securely covering the denom ination discrim inator 104 as is shown in Figure 4. The lid 106 may com prise a cover 107 engaged by a stem 108 slidably retained by the top part 103. The stem 108 may be raised in the manner shown in Figure 1 to expose the denom ination discrim inator 104 and lowered in the manner shown in Figure 4 to securely enclose the denom ination discrim inator 104. The cover 107 may be substantial ly dome-shaped and may correspond in cross-section with a rim of the top part 103 to securely enclose the denom ination discrim inator 104 and prevent tam pering therewith.

[56] The top part 103 may define a surface for soft counting and may comprise recesses therein for tem porary storage of notes and coins. [57] As is shown in Figure 3, the top part 103 may be removable from the receptacle 101 for access to the storage area 109 therein. I n the manner shown in Figure 3, the top part 103 may pivot about the stem 108. Secu rement latches 110 may lock the top part 103.

[58] The apparatus may com prise a cradle 111 for engaging a mobile com m unication device 112.

[59] The cradle 111 may com prise a top bracket 113 and a bottom bracket 114 which engage the mobile com m unication device 112 th erebetween. I n em bodiments, the base 102 may press against a lower edge of the bracket 114, thereby preventing the removal of the mobile com m unication device 112.

[60] As is shown in Figure 3, the bottom bracket 114 may slide upwardly a long channels 115 to thereby engage mobile com m unication devices 112 of differing lengths.

[61] The cradle 111 may comprise a credit card recess 116 such that contactless payment cards can sl ide behind a rear surface of the mobile comm unication device 112 for contactless payment.

[62] The receptacle 101 may com prise a rearward recess and handle 105 for holding the apparatus 100.

[63] The base 102 may com prise fasteners for fastening the apparatus 100 to a surface. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the undersurface of the base 102 com prises a p lura lity of sucker feet 117 for suction attachment to a smooth surface. The base 102 may com prise physical mechanical interlocks in alternative em bodiments for physical ly locking the base 102 to the surface. In embodiments, the fasteners may extend right u p to the top piece 103, thereby preventing the removal thereof also.

[64] Figure 11 ill ustrates the apparatus 100 com prising a processor 118 for processing digital data. The processor 118 is in operable comm unication with a memory device 119 across a system bus 120. The memory device 119 is configured for storing digital data includ ing com puter program code instructions. In use, the processor 118 fetches these com puter program code instructions and associated data from the memory device 119 for the im plementation of the functional ity of the apparatus 100.

[65] The memory device 119 may com prise a device controller 148 stored therein.

[66] The processor 118 may further be in operable com m unication with the denom ination discrim inator 104 across a system bus 120.

[67] The apparatus 100 may com prise a mobile comm unication device interface for comm unication with a mobile com m unication device 112. In this regard, the apparatus may comprise a data interface 122 for communicating with a corresponding data interface 122 of the mobile communication device 112.

[68] The mobile communication device interface may be a wired or wireless interface. The wide variant thereof may comprise a data port retained within the lower bracket 114 which insert into a corresponding communication port of the mobile communication device 112. Alternatively, the wireless variant may comprise a short-range Bluetooth™ wireless interface such that the mobile communication device 112 may communicate wirelessly with the apparatus 100 when in proximity therewith.

[69] The mobile communication device 112 may similarly comprise a processor 118 in operable communication with a memory device 119 across a system bus 120 and which may similarly comprise an application controller 121 for configuring the functionality of the mobile communication device 112.

[70] The mobile communication device 112 may comprise a digital display 123 which may be controlled by the application controller 121 to implement a user interface 124 thereon.

[71] The mobile communication device 112 may further comprise a GPS receiver 125 for determining the location of the mobile communication device 112 and the apparatus 100. The GPS receiver 125 may be used for restricting the operable location of the apparatus 100.

[72] Furthermore, the mobile communication device 112 may further comprise a wide area network data interface 126 for sending and receiving data across a wide area networks. The data interface 126 may be a Wi-Fi, GSM data interface or the like.

[73] With reference to Figure 5, the denomination discriminator 104 may comprise a slotted entrance 159 retained within a top plate 168 for receiving notes and coins.

[74] The discriminator 104 may comprise rollers 153 beneath the slotted entrance 159.

[75] One of the rollers 153 may be fixed and the other displaceable.

[76] The fixed roller 153 may be statically retained within a fixed frame 162 and the displaceable roller 153 may be retained within a displaceable frame 163.

[77] The discriminator 104 may comprise a displacement transducer 179 operably coupled to the displaceable frame 163 for measuring thickness of currency inserted through the slotted entrance 159. The displacement transducer 179 may comprise a moving piece 173 interfering with a precision optic sensor 174. In alternative embodiments, the displacement transducer 179 may comprise a magnet moving with respect to a magnetic flux sensor. [78] The discrim inator 104 may further com prise a rotation transducer 175 for counting revol utions of the rol lers 153 to determ ine a length of currency inserted through the slotted entrance 159. The rotation transducer 175 may com prise a magnetic sensor 176 sensing an adjacent magnetic disk 151. Alternatively, the rotation transducer 175 may com prise an optic sensor 150 counting revol utions of an adjacent marked disc 151.

[79] Support rollers 170 may support the rol lers 153. Stabil iser rol lers 158 may interface above the rol lers 153 to stabil ise currency entering between the rol lers 153. Figure-of-eight drive belts 161 may interface between the rollers 153 such that the rollers 153 turn oppositely.

[80] Inbuilt image sensors 155 may be orientated towards the slotted entrance 159 for capturing image data of currency inserted therethrough.

[81] A tam per sensor 160 and reflector 167 may detect tam pering within the top piece 103. Additional tam per sensors may be located within the receptacle 101 or base 102.

[82] The discrim inator 104 may com prise interrupts sensors arranged along the slotted entrance 159. These may com prise a central flap 169 extending across the slotted entrance having a displacement arm 165. The interrupts sensors may com prise lateral interrupts sensors 164. The discrim inator 104 may be configured for detecting the insertion of a coin if the displacement arm 165 of the central flap 169 is displaced and detecting the insertion of a note if the lateral interrupts sensors 164 are interrupted. In embodiments, the interrupts sensors may com prise light beam interrupts sensors. In em bodiments, interruption of an interrupt sensor may cause the opening of the cen tral flap 169.

[83] The discrim inator 104 may com prise a rejection solenoid 177 which may push the displacement arm 165 upwardly to open the central flap 124 rejecting a coin from the slotted entrance 159.

[84] In em bodiments the discrim inator 104 may com prise a secondary central flap 156 which may sim ilarly comprise a secondary rejection solenoid 178 for opening the secondary central flap 156.

[85] The slotted entrance 159 may interface with a flue 171 into the storage area 109.

[86] The apparatus 100 may com prise a translucent window 181 through a view port 127 of the top piece 103 al lowing for a rearward image sensor of the mobile com m unication device 112 to capture image data of currency passing through the discrim inator 104.

[87] The stem 108 may be locked in place by a locking solenoid 128 interfering with a peripheral indentation 172 thereof. In the em bodiment shown in Figure 5, the stem 108 com prises an upper piece integrally formed with the cover 107 and a lower shaft which engages the upper piece, thereby al lowing the removal of the upper piece and the cover. In this embodiment, the lower shaft com prises the peripheral indentation 172. In alternative em bodiments, the locking solenoid 128 may be used to lock the top piece 103 to the receptacle 101.

[88] Figure 9 shows an em bodiment wherein the a pparatus 100 com prises an in built controller 130 or an internally housed mobile com m unication device 112 instead of a cradle 112 for the mobile com m unication device 112. The inbuilt control ler 130 or internally housed mobile com munication device 112 may expose a digita l or LCD display. I n accordance with this em bodiment, the inbuilt controller 130 may im plement the functional ity of the application controller 121 of the mobile comm unication device 112. Alternatively, in accordance with this em bodiment, the apparatus 100 may yet com m unicate with the internal ly housed mobile com m unication device 112.

[89] The cover 105 may be translucent for holding advertising material viewably thereunder. The apparatus 100 may com prise a light sensor 131 which may activate a plural ity of LE Ds 132 for il lum inating the slotted entrance 159. LEDs may ill um inate from within the slotted entrance 159. The top piece 103 may com prise a drain aperture 180 therethrough for draining any water collected on the top plate.

[90] With reference to Figure 6, the apparatus 100 may com prise a top piece locking solenoid 182 which may displace a securement latch 110 for opening the top piece 103.

[91] Sides of the receptacle 101 may com prise transl ucent windows 133 which, in em bodiments, may retain advertising material therebehind.

[92] The base 102 may be removable to expose a rechargeable battery 134 or a release mechanism to release the top part 103 from the receptacle 101.

[93] A locking barrel 135 may lock a distal end of the stem 108 in place.

[94] Figure 10 shows an alternative em bodiment wherein the denom ination discrim inator 104 com prises a separate slotted entrance 136 for taking notes and a pl urality of coin slots 137 for taking individual denom inations of coins. I n accordance with this em bodiment, the denom ination discrim inator 104 may com prise a plural ity of interrupts sensors 138 beneath each coin slot 137 to detect passage of individual coins therethrough.

[95] The apparatus 100 in accordance with this em bodiment may comprise a security plate 139 com prising a plural ity of slots 140 therein which correspond with the coin slots 137 thereunderneath. However, to lock the apparatus, the security plate 139 may be rotated about a pivot point 141 thereof by a stem 142 such that the slot 140 m isal ign with the c oin slots 137 thereunderneath. [96] A blanking plate 143 restricting the types of coin denom inations may be overlaid the coin slots 137.

[97] Figure 7 il lustrates a note 144 entering the denom ination discrim inator 104. The width of the note 144 interrupts the lateral interrupts sensors 164. The displacement transducer 179 may measure the thickness of the note 144. The rotation transducer 175 may measure the length of the note 144.

[98] An electric motor 146 may turn cogwheels 145 to drive the rol lers 153 when detecting a note 144 or coin 147. The inbuilt image sensors 155 or the rearward image sensor of the mobile com m unication device 112 may capture image data from the note 144.

[99] Figure 8 il l ustrates a coin 147 entering the discrim inator 104. The coin 147 may displace the central flap 169 and the d isplacement arm 165. The coin 147 may be insufficiently wide to interrupt the lateral interrupts sensors 164. The displacement transducer 179 may measure the thickness of the coin 147 and the rotation transducer 175 may measure the length of the coin 147.

[100] As is further shown in Figure 8, the rejection solenoid 177 may displace the displacement arm 165 upwardly to open the central flap 169. The secondary rejection solenoid 178 may also open the secondary centra l flap 156. The rejection solenoids 177, 178 may be activated when rejecting both coins 147 and notes 144.

[101] Exem plary utilisation of the apparatus 100 will now be described with reference to an exem plary embodiment.

[102] The mobile comm unication device 112 may b e configured with the application controller 121 and the user may authenticate therewith using user account.

[103] Once authenticated, the stem locking solenoid 128 may be disengaged to allow the lifting of the cover 107 to expose the denom ination discrim inator 104.

[104] A contributor may use the user interface 124 to input contact details, such as email or telephone contact details.

[105] The contributor may insert a coin 147 into the discrim inator 104.

[106] The device control ler 148 may detect the displacement of the displacement arm 165 but not interruption of the lateral interrupts sensors 164, thereby detecting the insertion of a coin as opposed to note .

[107] Furthermore, the device controller 148 may detect displacement of the displaceable frame 163, being further confirmation of the insertion of a coin . [108] The controller 148 may activate the motor 146 to turn the rollers 153 to draw in the coin 144. The control ler 148 may turn the rol lers 153 depending on the at least one interrupt sensor.

[109] The control ler 148 may use the rotation transducer 175 to determ ine a length of the coin 147 and the displacement transducer 179 to measure the thickness of the coin 147.

[110] The memory device 119 of the apparatus 100 may be configured with acceptable coin dimension parameters which may com prise at least one of length and thickness to determ ine whether the measured length o r thickness meets the acceptable dimension parameters of the coin 147.

[111] If the measurements do not meet the acceptable coin dimension parameters, the controller 148 may reverse the drive motor 146 to reverse the rollers 153 to reject the coin 147.

[112] An acceptance LED 154 may ill um inate depending on whether an item of currency is accepted or rejected, such as green or red respectively . Alternatively, if the measurements meet the acceptable dimension parameters, the device controller 148 may continue operation of the rollers 146 to draw the coin 147 into the storage area 109.

[113] The control ler 148 may use the measurements to categorise the denom ination o f the coin 147.

[114] The control ler 148 may store the detected denomination within memory 119 and may transm it the denom ination to the mobile comm unication device 112 across the mobile comm unication interface. The mobile comm unication device 112 may transm it th e denom ination to a server across a wide area network using the data interface 126.

[115] The denom ination may be recorded against a contributor profile and receipt data may be sent to the contributor using the contact information provided by the contributor via the user interface 124.

[116] The apparatus 100 may use the inbuilt image sensors 155 or the rearward image sensor of the mobile com m unication device to capture image data of the coin 147.

[117] The application control ler 121 may comprise an image processing controll er to identify visual characteristics of the coin 147.

[118] The image processing controller may be configured for detecting at least one of the shape, dimension and/or colour of the denomination. I n em bodiments, the image processing controller com prises an image recognition controller configu red for recognising an al phanumeric value of the denom ination. [119] As such, the application control ler 121 may verify the classification of the denom ination. Specifically, the device control ler 148 may transm it a detected denomination to the application control ler 121 which then verifies the detected denom ination in accordance with at least one of the shape, dimension colour and value thereon using image processing.

[120] Should the at least one of the shape, dimension, colour or value deviate from the acceptable parameters, the appl ication controller 121 may cause the device controller 148 to reject the coin 147 by reversing the drive of the rollers 153.

[121] The application controller 121 may further store image d ata in relation to each donation for subsequent verification.

[122] The contributor may donate a note 144 which, when inserted through the discrim inator 104 does not deflect the central flap 169 (or does not deflect the central flap 169 substantially) but does interrupt the lateral interrupts sensors 164, thereby indicating to the device controller 148 the insertion of a note. In em bodiments, the controller 148 is configured to detect that the lateral interru pt sensors 164 are triggered substantial ly sim ultaneously.

[123] Sim ilarly, the device controller 148 may use the deflection transducer 179 and rotation transducer 175 to measure the thickness and length of the note 144 and reject the note 144 if the length o r thickness does not match the acceptable note parameters.

[124] If accepting the note, the device controller 148 may pass the detected denom ination of the note 144 to the appl ication controller 121 which may utilise image data obtained from the image sensors 155 or of the mobile com m unication device 112 to verify the note denom ination in accordance with at least one of shape, dimension, colour and/or alphan umeric characters thereon.

[125] In em bodiments, the application controller 121 is configured for reading a serial num ber of the note 144. I n further em bodiments, the application controller 121 or remote server is configured for verifying the serial num ber 144 to detect counterfeit notes.

[126] The foregoing description, for purposes of expla nation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough u nderstanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skil led in the art that specific details are not required in order to practi se the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific em bodiments of the invention are presented for purposes of ill ustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustiv e or to l im it the invention to the precise forms disclosed as obviously many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The em bodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to best util ize the invention and various em bodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contem plated. It is intended that the fol lowing claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.

[127] The term "approximately" or sim ilar as used herein should be construed as being within 10% of the value stated unless otherwise indicated.