Abstract: A penetration screen is disclosed which comprises a substantially planar substrate with, at least, one electrical circuit disposed thereon. The electrical circuit is configured such that, at least, one section of the circuit is electrically isolatable from the remainder of the circuit without causing a fault condition in said remainder of the circuit.

Abstract: A substitute check is created for an original check which has an encode line printed thereon. Check image data which is representative of an image of the original check is received and analyzed to establish positioning of MICR characters within the encode line of the original check. An encode line of the substitute check is formatted based upon the positioning of MICR characters within the encode line of the original check such that the formatted encode line of the substitute check matches the encode line of the original check. The formatted encode line of the substitute check is printed to create at least a portion of the substitute check.

Abstract: A self-service deposit terminal for bank notes, in the deposited notes are subjected to an acceptance procedure in which the deposited notes are passed through a note validator and a decision is made regarding the validity of the notes, so as to differentiate between: a) authentic notes; b) counterfeit notes; and c) suspect notes. Reject notes are then separated from authentic notes and diverted to a purge bin. On route to the purge bin counterfeit notes are marked, so as to render them unusable and suspect notes are marked without rendering them unusable.

Abstract: A method is provided of an institution creating a substitute check using check image data from a remote check image capture device. The method comprises receiving from the remote check image capture device binary image data which is representative of a binary image of a check, receiving from the remote check image capture device grayscale image data which is representative of a grayscale image of the check, determining if the binary image of the check is usable, and creating a substitute check based upon the grayscale image data if the binary image of the check is determined to be unusable.

Abstract: A method of controlling an inkjet mechanism having an inkjet head movable between a capped position and a print position comprises the steps of receiving a first switch signal indicative of the inkjet head moving into the vicinity of one of the positions of the inkjet head as the inkjet head is moving towards the one of the positions of the inkjet head, and moving the inkjet head a learned amount towards the one of the positions of the inkjet head after the first switch signal has been received. The method may further comprise the steps of receiving a second switch signal indicative of the inkjet head moving into the vicinity of the other one of the positions of the inkjet head as the inkjet head is moving towards the other one of the positions of the inkjet head, and moving the inkjet head another learned amount towards the other one of the positions of the inkjet head after the second switch signal has been received. The learned amounts may be substantially the same.

Abstract: A self-service terminal that is adapted to: receive a text message, in particular an SMS message, from a mobile telecommunications device; interpret the received text message, and provide information or a service in response to the received text message. Preferably, the information is printed out and the print out is provided to the customer.

Abstract: A security means comprises a spray tray; a dispenser slot positioned so as to dispense media into the spray tray; and a security cover positioned to cover said spray tray and slot. The cover is arranged so as to cause a sweep member to sweep past the dispenser slot and thus dislodge any foreign body adjacent the slot, when the cover is moved between closed and opened positions.

Abstract: A card reader comprises a mouth region for receiving a card having stored data to be read and a data reader region for reading the stored data. The reader is arranged to deliver a card received at the mouth region to the data reader region via a delivery path. The delivery path is arranged to maintain the card in a predetermined plane during transportation. A signal source is arranged to produce an output signal which is projected across the delivery path in the plane which a card passes when in use. A detector is also arranged to receive the output signal and to detect the presence of an object in the delivery path in response to the object interfering with the output signal.

Abstract: An encrypting keypad module (30) comprising a keypad (40) and an encryption unit (42) is described. The encryption unit (42) includes an interpreter (56) for receiving a file (150) containing data and instructions for processing the data. The encryption unit (42) is operable to process the data in the file (150) by interpreting the instructions in the file (150). This enables a file (150) to be used to instruct the encryption unit (42) about the data that is to be operated on and the type of operations to be performed on the data.

Abstract: The invention is a keypad for securely entering personal identification numbers onto automated teller machines (ATM) or similar devices. A frame secures a flexible keypad to a printed circuit board. The front of the circuit includes a set of tamper detection contacts whose electrical circuit is completed by conductive material on the keypad surface. A moat of conductive material surrounds the tamper detection contact. Opening the circuit by removing the keypad or shorting the circuit to the moat initiates a tamper response. Attached to the reverse side of the printed circuit board are security sensitive electrical components. These security sensitive components include a static random access memory storing cryptographic information and a crypto processor. A plastic cover imprinted with a tamper detection grid forming multiple electrical circuits coupled to a tamper detection circuit covers these components. A border of conductive material on the printed circuit board also surrounds these components.

Abstract: A method of providing an indication of quality of an image of a document comprises the steps of (a) storing apriori data which is representative of a line contained in at least one field associated with the document, (b) receiving image data which is representative of the image of the document, (c) retrieving the stored apriori data based upon a first portion of the document image data, (d) comparing a second portion of the document image data with the retrieved apriori data, (e) providing an indication of quality of the image of the document based upon the comparison of the second portion of the document image data with the retrieved apriori data, and (f) processing the status signal to alert an operator of quality of the image of the document being below a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A note skew detector, for use in a note transport mechanism of an Automated teller Machine (ATM) is described. The detector comprises a light source and a single optical sensor, optically coupled via a pair of optical wave-guides arranged to have an air gap there between so as to provide a note transport path between the said wave-guides. The wave-guides are further arranged to provide a first optical path and a second, distinct, optical path between said light source and said sensor.

Abstract: A plunger moves from a retracted position to an extended position to engage a document which is on a receiving platform to push the document through an opening in the receiving platform and towards a stacking platform to stack the document on the stacking platform. The plunger moves from the extended position back to the retracted position to allow a biasing force which is acting on the stacking platform to press the document which has just been stacked on the stacking platform against the receiving platform.

Abstract: A document is cupped at a first time to stiffen and straighten the document before the document is stacked in the interior chamber of a document stacker. The cupped document is cupped at a second time which is different from the first time to maintain the document stiff and straight as the document is being stacked in the interior chamber of the document stacker so as to reduce the chance of a stacking defect from occurring when a succeeding document is subsequently stacked on top of the document. A trailing edge of the document is engaged to urge the trailing edge of the document in a direction away from direction of movement of the document into the interior chamber of the document stacker so as to prevent a succeeding document which is to be subsequently stack on top of the document from stacking out of sequence relative to the document.

Abstract: To enable the payment of charges, for example those for mobile telephones, with cash there is provided an automated terminal for receiving payments including an input for currency notes, an acceptor for such currency notes and an input for information on an account for charges to which payment is required together with a control arrangement to record said account information and the value of acceptable currency notes fed in, to relate said information to said value as payment to said account and to hold said related information and value and acceptable currency notes available for retrieval. In this way a user need not have a bank account to make a payment to an account with a service provider.

Abstract: A self-service terminal (10 or 200 or 300) comprises a plurality of intercommunicating modules (114 to 126, or 214 to 226, or 314 to 326). Each module includes a transceiver for wireless communication with another module. In one embodiment, the wireless communication is directed between two modules so that only those two modules can participate in the communication. In another embodiment, the wireless communication may be implemented by a transceiver broadcasting information to all of the modules.

Abstract: A self-service terminal, such as an ATM (10), comprises a speech generator (31) and loudspeaker (30) for producing natural language operating instructions for a user, and a user interface (12) permitting the user to interact with the terminal (10) in response to the spoken instructions. The user interface may include a microphone (32) and a speech recognition module (33).

Abstract: An automated teller machine (10) comprises a fascia (12) having a check entry/exit slot (56), and a check processing module (60) for processing checks entered via the slot (56). The terminal (10) includes a control means (86), biometric data capture means (112, 156, 158), a printer (74) and a check transport mechanism (70) for transporting checks between the slot (56) and the printer (74). The control means is arranged to cause the printer (74) to print a representation of a biometric characteristic of a user onto a check during an attempt to deposit the check in the terminal (10).

Abstract: A method of creating an image replacement document (IRD) for use in a check truncation environment comprises building a print file having a magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) portion and a non-MICR portion based upon IRD data, printing with non-magnetic ink a front portion of the IRD based upon the non-MICR portion of the print file, printing with non-magnetic ink a machine-readable code onto at least one of the front and back portions of the IRD, reading the machine-readable code from the at least one of the front and back portions of the IRD, and printing with magnetic ink an encoded MICR codeline onto at least one of the front and back portions of the IRD based upon the machine-readable code.

Abstract: A self-service terminal (SST), such as an ATM includes apparatus for producing images containing instructions for users of the terminal, and an arrangement for projecting the images onto a screen forming part of a terminal user interface.