Abstract: A method of forming a security device comprises: a) providing an undeveloped photoresist layer on an electrically conductive layer; b) forming a first diffractive pattern in the undeveloped photoresist layer using optical-interferometry; c) forming a second diffractive pattern in the undeveloped photoresist layer using electron beam lithography; and d) thereafter developing the photoresist layer.

Abstract: The current invention relates to a security element for security substrates, such as those used for banknotes and the like, having enhanced public recognition, anti-counterfeit and detection properties. A security element comprising an elongate strip of a light transmitting polymeric substrate, said substrate being provided with a magnetic feature and a metallic design, the metallic design being provided by a combination of metal and non-metallic regions and comprising indicia, characters, patterns, designs, or geometrical shapes or a combination of the aforesaid design comprising at least one repeating pattern or which one or more of the frequency, the instantaneous amplitude and/or the maximum amplitude of the pattern varies along the length of the element, said pattern being positioned relative to the magnetic feature such that it does not overlap therewith.

Abstract: In an apparatus for processing banknotes or other sheet-like objects, the banknotes are conveyed along a transport path, thereby passing sensor means. A transmission and a reflection image of the banknote are captured by illuminating the banknotes and measuring the transmittive and reflective light intensity of light with a high resolution. Based on these images, a validation of the banknotes is carried out. After the validation, a double feed detection is performed by evaluating the transmission and the reflection intensities for a predefined set of test spots with a two-dimensional evaluation. If it is decided on double feed, the banknotes are rejected. Otherwise the banknotes are accepted and further processed. Because of the additional dimension in the evaluation compared with known double detection methods, the invention enables a more robust double note detection also in cases with different degrees of soiling of the banknotes.

Abstract: A method of detecting a coded magnetic thread is provided that includes sensing the response of a magnetic field detector as a thread passes the detector, the response varying from an initial magnitude in first and second senses to exhibit a first peak, and then in the first sense to exhibit a second peak; comparing the response with first and second thresholds disposed about the initial magnitude in the first and second senses respectively; and indicating the passage of a code element of the thread when the response passes the second threshold and then the first threshold in a predetermined manner characterized in that the first threshold is adjusted in accordance with a first predetermined algorithm based on the magnitude of the first peak. The first predetermined algorithm adjusts the first threshold so that the magnitude of the first threshold is the average of a predetermined number of preceding first peaks.

Abstract: A security device comprises a substrate (1) having an array of microlenses (3) on one side and one or more corresponding arrays of microimages (4) on the other side. The microimages (4) are located at a distance from the microlenses (3) substantially equal to the focal length of the microlenses. The substrate (1) is sufficiently transparent to enable light to pass through the microlenses (3) so as to reach the microimages (4). Each microimage (4) is defined by an anti-reflection structure on the substrate (1) formed by a periodic array of identical structural elements, light passing through the substrate and impinging on the microimages being reflected to a different extent than light which does not impinge on the microimages thereby rendering the microimages visible.

Abstract: A method of depositing items of value, the method comprising 1) receiving a tamper evident and coded container holding the items of value, the code relating to the content of the container; 2) verifying that the package has been received in an acceptable manner, and, if it has, 3) either incrementing an account with the value of the items of value in the container by reference to the code and without opening the container, or, if the account has previously been incremented, leaving the account unchanged.

Abstract: A currency bill recycling machine has an input (3) and output (8, 9) for receiving and dispensing currency bills; a transport system (4); and a detection system (5) to which bills are fed by the transport system from the input (3). The detection system (5) is adapted to determine the denomination, authenticity and fitness of each bill. A recycling store (11–14) and an unfit bill store (15) are provided to which bills are fed by the transport system (4). The detection system (5) is adapted to cause genuine fit bills to be fed to the recycling store (11–14), and to cause unfit bills to be fed to the unfit bill store (15), the transport system being operable to withdraw bills from the recycling store for dispensing via the output (8, 9).

Abstract: The present invention relates to improvements in methods of manufacture of substrates which can be used in varying shapes and sizes for various authenticating or security applications, which combine the advantages of indicia formed from metallisation or demetallisation of a security element and the colorshift effects of liquid crystal materials. The invention therefore provides a method of manufacturing a substrate comprising the steps of applying a darkly colored resist to at least a part of a metallic layer on one side of a substantially transparent polymeric film, removing metal from areas not covered by the resist to form demetallised regions and applying a polymeric liquid crystal material over the resist and the demetallised regions.

Abstract: A value token dispensing system comprising a value token dispenser for securely storing value tokens and for dispensing value tokens to a customer in response to a dispense command; a control system for issuing dispense commands when validly authorised to do so; and an input system for inputting a quantity or value of value tokens to be dispensed and including a validation system which enables a dispense command to be issued by the control system when authorised by a supervisor supplying secure data which has been read and validated by the validation system.

Abstract: A sheet accepting apparatus comprises an inlet (210) for receiving one or more sheets. A transport system (217,350) extracts sheets from the inlet. A first detector (222) detects the passage of a foreign object with the transported sheet(s), the transport system being controllable to divert a detected foreign object to a foreign object collection position (215). One or more further detectors monitor sheets fed by the transport system. At least one store (205) is provided for storing accepted sheets. A controller is responsive to the detectors for controlling the transport system.

Abstract: In a method for putting into storage and dispensing sheet-like objects, in particular bank notes, between at least one tension storage belt into or from a storage reel, in time periods between input and dispensing cycles, at least one belt tightening operation (F1-F3), which uses an increased belt tightening tension by comparison with the base belt tension is carried out. This operation is used to tighten up the belt in the belt spool of the storage reel so that the objects in the belt spool are tightened to increase the storage reel capacity and in order preferably to lend the belt spool greater mechanical stability so that the latter remains stable at the sides even when the filling level is high. Advantageously, the belt tightening is carried out in pulsed manner at a repetition frequency in the Hertz range using a pulse duty factor of active tensioning force relative to a base nominal value of between 0.2 and 2.0, preferably in the region of 1.0.

Abstract: The invention relates to improvements in security features in paper and other substrates and in particular to an activatable feature to warn of tampering. The invention further relates to a security feature for a security document comprising at least one activatable layer and at least one visually apparent masking layer, said at least one activatable layer comprising a composition which is generally non-mobile but which becomes mobile when wetted with a liquid, said composition further including at least one detectable component, in which under dry conditions said at least one masking layer wholly covers the activatable layer and renders it non-detectable.

Abstract: A currency note condition recognition apparatus and method uses a programmed microelectronic CPU to execute program instructions stored in a PROM to read in pixel data from an optical imaging section, including LEDs and photodiodes for generating signals which can be converted to a first image of a currency note being transported along the path of travel. The CPU receives position and skew data detected by external sensors for sensing the position and skew of the note.

Abstract: Sheet feed apparatus for supplying sheets such as banknotes from a store (1) to a sheet transport system. The apparatus comprises a feed system (4) for withdrawing sheets from the store (1). A separator system (12) is provided to which sheets are fed by the feed system (1), the separator system being adapted to feed sheets singly to the sheet transport system (22, 23). A controller (29) controls operation of the feed and separator systems (1, 12) independently.