Xeptor Firmware Versions 

X-20 & X-60 Xeptors  [Version 4.0]
Click the title above to view version 4.0 update history.
Note: at this time V4.0 firmware is not available for X-10, X-50 and X-70 Xeptors.
 
X-10, X-50, & X-70 Xeptors  [Version 1.9 to 3.0t]
These Xeptors share the same basic design and firmware feature set throughout. These models only differ in their ability to accommodate different coin sizes. Note that in many cases, if you attempt to enable a feature found in later versions, but on an older version which does not support the new feature, the command may be accepted by the unit and there may be no indication that the feature is not operative, other than that nothing has changed in the operation of the unit. If you require a feature not provided by the firmware version in your unit, upgrade processor chips are available from IDX.

The firmware version may be identified visually by examining the printed label on the processor chip, or by using the "R" command with Hyperterm or Procomm (see Serial Protocol document for details) and examining the first line of the REPORT sent to the screen. Letter suffix changes generally accompany a significant feature change, while minor firmware corrections may only be noted by checking the date indicated on the chip's printed label against the list below. Firmware changes are cumulative; a chip programmed and marked by the factory on a particular date will incorporate all features and corrections up through that date.

The table below identifies the version number and the availability of individual features. More detailed information on the operation and configuration of these features can be found by linking to the Xeptor Features page. 

Version

Firmware Feature Additions And Corrections

 

 

1.9

è 6 Coin Programmable Memory
è 2 Method Metal Measurement
è Optical Diameter Measurement
è X-Mark Code Reading
è Serial Port Reporting Protocol
è Built In Field Test Diagnostics
è Sensor Automatic Gain Control
è Temperature Compensated
è Long Term Drift Compensated

2.0

è Measure Coin Diameters < .90"
è Center Metal Measurement Added

2.1

è Unlucky/Unwanted Shadow Coin Reject

2.2

è Tilt-Time Self Inhibit For Tilt/Error

2.3

è Credit Optics Option Implemented

2.3a,b

è BadCoinCount Defense Implemented
è X-Key Protocol Compatibility Added

2.5

è Tilt Output Implemented

3.0

è Preventative Maintenance Report
è Diverter Output Implemented

3.0a-g
è Minor tweaks of this and that on things you would never probably notice.

3.0h

è Test 9 & A Report Code Strength

3.0m

è Redundant Lead/Trail X-Mark Read
è X-Mark Threshold Tied To BadCoinCount

3.0n
è Nov-30-1999 Improved .880" acceptance, related to small/large coin boundary definition

3.0p

è Dec-24-1999 Unwanted Coin Test Includes Diameter
è X-Mark Higher Threshold, Bit 4 SysConfig
è X-Mark Lead & Trail, Bit 5 SysConfig

3.0q
è Jan-23-1999 Better reverse/slow coin handling and tailgate coin handling for Sigma machines

3.0r

è Nov-17-2000 Green LED winces r 3 times per second if the Xeptor has been secured with the X-Key.
è Jan-08-2001 If TiltTime is set to  $C0 or higher, the Tilt is latched until power cycle or Inhibit line cycle. This assumes a non-credit optics unit. BadCoinCount will not produce a Tilt output  but will inhibit the unit for (TiltTime AND $7F)/3 seconds.
è If SysConfig security bit is set, then M command is disabled

3.0rBC
3.0t

è Jan-08-2003. X-10 & X-50 chips merged back into single X10/50 V3.0-t, no separate X-50 chip.
è Faster gate response for large tokens and/or faster coins with higher drops.
è Fixes version 3.0q and 3.0r Inhibit problem in X-50 for tokens over 1.65" in diameter. Symptoms were that occasionally, when Inhibited, a coin could be accepted, but the machine would give no credit.
è Output only One Pulse for learned coins. During an upgrade bit 1 of SysConfig will be set for One Pulse limitation as will standard production units. (3.0rBC always has One Pulse limitation)
è Feb-14-2003 50% duty factor part of accept gate pulse not important, changed to 100% duty factor.
è Improve Credit Optics initialization on power up so if the bottom optic is blocked from coins backed up the accept chute that goes to the hopper but the top optic is unblocked the unit produces a Tilt error.
è Mar-17-2003 Secondary diverter timing triggers earlier to allow for slower diverter relays. Timing starts when bottom of coin passes bottom diameter optics rather than when the top of the coin passes the mid diameter optics.
è Improved ability to properly detect close piggy back coins from minimum spacing of .25" to minimum spacing of .06"and improved coin accept rate from 15 coins/sec to well over 20 coins/sec. Additionally, closer coins with correct metal and known damaged diameter readings (flagged by value FF) are accepted properly.
è July-17-2003. Produce SENSE and CREDIT pulses for good coins that properly pass the internal Credit Optics (must be installed) even if the acceptor is Inhibited. Ensures proper crediting for good coins no matter how it got through.
è Produce TILT Output if a rejected coin somehow passes the bottom Credit Optic (must be installed installed), even when the acceptor is Inhibited. Improves detection of tricksters.
è Improve logic for cases off known touching coins to conditionally reduce nuisance TILTs.
è Nov--02-2003. Increase accept GateTime so gate does not close on and trap small coins that bounce off the center divider below the acceptor thus delaying their exit. Fairly rare... heavily dependant on machine mechanical details and typically  only coins under .900" in diameter. Symptoms include causing a TILT in acceptors with installed Credit Optics, or appear can appear as coin steals in units without installed Credit Optics. This change does not affect its ability to react in time to reject a bad coin closely following a good coin.
è Feb-08-2006. Clear remaining escrowed coin pulses when returning from Inhibit to Enable, and associate only one escrowed coin pulse per coin if the OnePulse feature is enabled. Normally escrowed pulses are flushed 250ms after a good sensed coin fails to pass the credit optics, but the 250ms timer is restarted when a second fast-fed coin is inserted. Thus, when  fast-fed good coins were inserted during Inhibit, coin pulses accumulated in the escrow and could be released in bulk with a fast fed good coin immediately following the transition from Inhibit to Enable even though the good coins fed just prior to the transition were appropriately physically rejected. Units date coded before the July-03 noted above do not have this characteristic.

X-20 & X-60 Xeptors  [Version 4.0]
Note: Starting with Version 4.0  IDX has implemented a "MakeID" identification method for distinguishing minor firmware changes that do not change any basic functionality or security features, but do improve or correct imperfections in the operation of the Xeptor in some machines or in some circumstances. When new functions are added or they are materially changed, the sub-version number will be incremented (for example, V4.0 to V4.1). When major new functions are added, the version number will be incremented (for example, V3.0 to V4.0). The MakeID is printed on the microcontroller chip label and may be viewed using the "V" command. The MakeID is produced in real time by an algorithm in the Xeptor microcontroller based on the exact contents of its program memory.

Date

 MakeID

Firmware Feature Additions And Corrections

Feb 28 2003
 Release
of V4		 X-20:  8B
X-22:  7A
X-60:  8C
è Multi-frequency sensing for clad metal detection.
è More diameter sensors for wider range of coin diameters in one unit.
è Built-in NRI emulation mode.
è Capable of uploading and downloading coin signatures with compensation for Xeptor differences.
è Coin header descriptors displayed with L command for human description of the coin.
May 21 2003 X-20:  08
X-22:  7A
X-60:  70
è Credit optics presence detection made tolerant of possible blocked bottom credit optic.
è Add OnePulse bit to SysConfig to prevent possibility of accidental multiple credit pulses.
è Sense Pulse is always produced even if the unit is Inhibited and the coin should somehow go through.
è Tighten sensor algorithms to allow proper detection of coins as close as .1" spacing and at a minimum of 20 coins per second (for smaller coins).
è Fix X-60 Field Test modes E and F to cause LED to change color when metal is in font of sensor.
July 8 2003 X-20:  DB
X-22:  42
X-60:  DE
è Do reverse temperature compensation for uploaded coin signatures.
è If the Xeptor is not calibrated with Reference Coins, cause an attached Coin Selector to make its LED flash amber to indicate that coin uploads and downloads are inhibited.
Oct 24 2003 X-20:  82
X-22:  78
X-60:  AA
è Preserve X-Mark code through download process in X-60.
è Improve repeatability of metal readings on really small coins.
è Provide more time for a small coin to get through and clear gate relay. They sometimes will bounce off center dividers and other objects resulting in the need for more time allowance for the accept path.
Nov. 1 2003 X-20:  CB
è Make provision in NRI emulation mode to optionally produce a coin reject code =  7.
è Automatically detect that a coin is bi-metal and provide additional tolerance for the typical poor repeatability of metal bonding between the outer periphery and center metals.
è Improved temperature compensation algorithm to properly account for possible different temperatures during coin learn procedures occurring at much different points in time.
è Fixed compatibility bug preventing proper operation with X-Key.
è Fixed bug where if both the US $1 and UK 2p coins are programmed in, the unit occasionally misreads and rejects the US $1
Dec. 27 2004 X-20:  73
X-21:  F3
X-22:  22
X-60:  CC
è Previously the i, I, P and s commands were inoperable when the Xeptor was Secured. In order to facilitate the ability to reconfigure units in the field to work in other machines, these commands are now available even when the unit is Secured because they do not affect which coins will be accepted... now the same asV3.0 firmware.  The Security and OnePulse bits in SysConfig will remain unaffected by the s command when the unit is Secured.
è When the OnePulse / OneCoin bit is set in SysConfig, the OneCoin test now only requires only a matching diameter to prevent erasure of a prior coin signature in coin memory when learning a new coin. This allows for changes in alloys as are common, for example in Canadian currency, or acceptance of tokens with more than one X-Mark code while still providing protection during a denomination change via the diameter test.
è Reverse the MSB and LSB portions of the Serial Number reported with the R command to be consistent with the order reported in V3.0 and as reported by X-Tracker software.
è The coin signature upload and download commands and algorithms were improved for more accurate translation of the parameters into the reference frame of the Xeptor.
è The L command was updated to provide a cleaner listing of each coin's features in memory.
è The X-21, previously offered only to the Carwash market is now listed for gaming and differs only in that it offers a diameter range between that of the X-20 and X-22 and reports itself as an X-21.