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Optical Mice Used To Detect Counterfeit Coins

JimXugle writes "El Mundo reports that Spanish researchers at The University of Lleida have used a modified optical mouse to detect counterfeit €2 coins (Original article, in Spanish) with a success rate comparable to that of an expert trained to do so. Details are to be published freely in the journal Sensors."

8 of 123 comments (clear)

  1. Genius you see... by Monkeedude1212 · · Score: 5, Funny

    The laser from the mouse will heat up the chocolate inside of counterfeit coins, thus exposing the fakes and creating a mess.

  2. Who counterfiets 2-Euro coins anyways? by davidwr · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Geesh, can you get me a mouse that detects North Korean bogus US$100 bills?

    --
    Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.
    1. Re:Who counterfiets 2-Euro coins anyways? by von_rick · · Score: 4, Funny

      I can get you a mouse, but you will need to write the algorithm yourself.

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      Face your daemons!

  3. Fun fact #65 by dvh.tosomja · · Score: 4, Informative

    Did you know that there are more than 260 different euro coins from 19 countries to present day!

  4. Re:How does it compare to a vending machine? by BKX · · Score: 4, Informative

    Vending machine detectors are usually just magnets (at least in the US). Very few countries make their coins with enough iron, nickel, or cobalt to be magnetic, so a magnet can pick out most slugs (the usual form of counterfeiting used on vending machines). I know; I own vending machines.

    Also, it's OT, but your sig annoys the crap out of me. I use whom correctly all the time, "intensive purposes" is retarded. Begging the question, though, seems to have actually changed meanings over the years, so, being a descriptivist, I'll give you that one.

  5. Re:How does it compare to a vending machine? by uglyMood · · Score: 5, Funny

    Complement: to make complete.

    Compliment: to tell a falsehood.

    --
    "No matter where you go, there you probably are." -- Buckaroo Heisenberg
  6. Re:How does it compare to a vending machine? by Drishmung · · Score: 5, Informative
    Are they just magnets?

    My understanding was that the coin falls into a balanced cradle that measures the diameter and weight. If it's the wrong size it is rejected (and can fall through to another cradle that tests for a different value coin---and so on). If it is the right size but the wrong weight the cradle tips too far or not far enough and deposits it in the reject slot.

    If it's the right size and weight then the coin drops between two magnets onto a little anvil. If the metallic composition is right the coin will slow just enough passing through the magnets to hit the anvil at the right place and speed to bounce into the accept slot. Anything else and it misses.

    The end result is a very quick, accurate but cheap analysis of the coin's weight, size and metallic composition.

    I know that's the way it used to work. Have they dumbed down the machines recently?

    --
    Protoplasm. Quiet Protoplasm. I like quiet protoplasm.
  7. Re:who would go through the trouble? by belmolis · · Score: 4, Funny

    Counterfeit $100s can be identified by the absence of cocaine residue.:)