Abstract: A device for examining an object, preferably a document of value, by using optical radiation, having an optical waveguide which has an anisotropic retro-reflector section, which is formed along a surface curved in a plane of curvature and which reflects radiation components specularly in a first plane of incidence parallel to the plane of curvature but retro-reflects radiation components orthogonally with respect to the first plane of incidence, so that at least a proportion of the optical radiation falling in a glancing manner on the retro-reflector section is at least partly guided on the convex side of the surface by reflection on the retro-reflector section.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for testing of sensors for documents of value and a pertinent test medium. A test medium (1) having an electronic data memory (7) for data is provided, the data being used for testing the sensor (11). The data are transmitted from the test medium to a test device (12), which tests the sensor in dependence on the transmitted data.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for checking the usage state of a document of value. The document of value is illuminated with illumination light and with the help of an image sensor there is detected the light intensity of the light reflected from the document of value in order to take an image of the document of value. Of the taken image there is chosen an image detail in which there is imaged an opaque, reflective section of the document of value. The chosen image detail is examined for signs of creases which are possibly present in the opaque, reflective section of the document of value. The results of the examination for creases are used to evaluate the usage state of the document of value.

Abstract: An optical system having a plane anisotropic retroreflector portion which specularly reflects radiation components in a first plane of incidence, but retroreflects radiation components in a second plane of incidence, a first imaging portion which produces on the retroreflector portion a line-shaped intermediate image of an object point in an object plane in a specified position relative to the system, the image extending along a line in the second plane of incidence, and a second imaging portion by means of which the line-shaped intermediate image is imaged into an image point.

Abstract: Scanning apparatuses for scanning bar codes applied to documents have a reflector arrangement having either a variable reflection element or a light guide system. The reflection element or light guide system serves to deflect the beam path of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by a radiation source or an illumination device in the document plane along a line substantially perpendicular to the feed direction of the document, or to capture it, and to relay it to a detector.

Abstract: A device for examining an object, preferably a document of value, by using optical radiation, having an optical waveguide which has an anisotropic retro-reflector section, which is formed along a surface curved in a plane of curvature and which reflects radiation components specularly in a first plane of incidence parallel to the plane of curvature but retro-reflects radiation components orthogonally with respect to the first plane of incidence, so that at least a proportion of the optical radiation falling in a glancing manner on the retro-reflector section is at least partly guided on the convex side of the surface by reflection on the retro-reflector section.

Abstract: An optical system having a plane anisotropic retroreflector portion which specularly reflects radiation components in a first plane of incidence, but retroreflects radiation components in a second plane of incidence, a first imaging portion which produces on the retroreflector portion a line-shaped intermediate image of an object point in an object plane in a specified position relative to the system, the image extending along a line in the second plane of incidence, and a second imaging portion by means of which the line-shaped intermediate image is imaged into an image point.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for checking the usage state of a document of value. The document of value is illuminated with illumination light and with the help of an image sensor there is detected the light intensity of the light reflected from the document of value in order to take an image of the document of value. Of the taken image there is chosen an image detail in which there is imaged an opaque, reflective section of the document of value. The chosen image detail is examined for signs of creases which are possibly present in the opaque, reflective section of the document of value. The results of the examination for creases are used to evaluate the usage state of the document of value.

Abstract: The invention relates to an object of value with a security element, which has at least one liquid-crystalline material, the liquid-crystalline material effecting a linear polarization of light.

Abstract: The invention relates to sheet material having an electrical circuit and to apparatuses and methods for processing said sheet material. The present invention describes sheet material having an electrical circuit as well as apparatuses and methods for processing same, which reduce the effort required for processing the sheet material and/or facilitate processing and/or improve it and/or make it more reliable. For this purpose, the sheet material has at least one electrical circuit, with energy and/or data being transmitted from the apparatus to the electrical circuit and/or from the electrical circuit to the apparatus and at least part of the transmitted data being used for processing.

Abstract: In an apparatus for testing value documents, such as for example bank notes, an area of the bank note is captured from different directions with the help of two optical sensors aligned symmetrically to each other. The measured values supplied by the sensors on the one hand are added up in order to obtain a total measured value which is insensitive to asymmetric effects of the value document, and on the other hand the measured values are subtracted in order to capture exactly these asymmetric effects. In this way with the help of one single apparatus there can be tested authenticity features as well as the quality of the actual state of the value document.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus (1) for examining documents (2), in particular banknotes. Therein the apparatus (1) comprises at least one light source (3), at least one spectral device (8) and at least two detection devices (9, 10, 11, 24). By means of the light source (3) the document (2) is irradiated and the light emitted and/or reflected and/or transmitted by the document (2) is subsequently divided into spectral components by means of the spectral device (8). The spectral components are separately detected by the detection devices. The spectral division of the light (4) emanating from the light source (3) can also be carried out before the light impinges on the document (2). The apparatus (1) is designed so as to individually weight the spectral components to be detected respectively by the detection devices (9, 10, 11, 24).

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for checking bank notes, in which data from at least two different measurings of the bank notes to be checked are evaluated. Bank notes are checked, whereby data from at least two different measurings of bank notes to be checked are evaluated, a first property of the bank note to be checked being derived from the data of at least one first measuring, at least one second property of the bank note to be checked being derived from the data of at least one second measuring. A correlation between the first and the second property for the same places on the bank note to be checked is determined, and the first property is derived once again. For the places of the bank note to be checked, for which a correlation between first and at least second property has been determined, an altered derivation of the first property from the data of the at least first measuring is performed.

Abstract: An illuminating device for linearly illuminating a flat object, in particular a bank note, includes at least one or a plurality of linearly disposed light sources, a mirror arrangement serving as a reflector that extends in parallel to the linearly disposed light sources, with an optical axis perpendicular thereto. The mirror arrangement includes plane mirrors, with at least one first mirror having a structure, which images the light source to form at least one linear image in parallel to the mirror arrangement. At least one second mirror images the at least one linear image to form a linear illumination in parallel to the mirror arrangement on the optical axis or in the proximity of the optical axis.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for testing of sensors for documents of value and a pertinent test medium. A test medium (1) having an electronic data memory (7) for data is provided, the data being used for testing the sensor (11). The data are transmitted from the test medium to a test device (12), which tests the sensor in dependence on the transmitted data.

Abstract: An apparatus for checking bank notes which scans the bank notes to be checked by means of a semiconductor array, including two linear semiconductor arrays formed of at least three layers which are sensitive to light of different wave-lengths, a first linear semiconductor array scanning the bank notes in a defined range of spectral sensitivity of the semiconductor (e.g. in the visible range), and a second linear semiconductor array scanning the bank notes in a range different therefrom (e.g. of invisible infrared light). From the signals of the two arrays a color image of the bank note and at least one image in the range of invisible light are obtained by suitable combination.

Abstract: Scanning apparatuses (100; 200) are proposed for scanning bar codes (120; 220) applied to documents (110; 210), which in each case have a reflector arrangement (140, 150, 160, 170; 141, 151, 161; 152, 162; 165; 142, 143) which comprise either a variable reflection element (140; 141; 142, 143) or a light guide system (250, 251, 252; 253, 255; 254) which serves to deflect the beam path of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by a radiation source (130) or an illumination device (230, 231; 232, 233), in the document plane along a line substantially perpendicular to the feed direction of the document (110; 210), or to capture it, and to relay it to a detector (280).

Abstract: In an apparatus for testing value documents, such as for example bank notes, an area of the bank note is captured from different directions with the help of two optical sensors aligned symmetrically to each other. The measured values supplied by the sensors on the one hand are added up in order to obtain a total measured value which is insensitive to asymmetric effects of the value document, and on the other hand the measured values are subtracted in order to capture exactly these asymmetric effects. In this way with the help of one single apparatus there can be tested authenticity features as well as the quality of the actual state of the value document.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for checking bank notes, having a linear sensor and a linear light source wherein the bank notes are moved past between the sensor and the light source for the check, and the sensor detects light from the light source transmitted by the bank notes. The invention starts out from the consideration of equipping the linear sensor and the linear light source each with an aperture such that the aperture of the light source is equal to or smaller than the aperture of the sensor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus (1) for examining documents (2), in particular banknotes. Therein the apparatus (1) comprises at least one light source (3), at least one spectral device (8) and at least two detection devices (9, 10, 11, 24). By means of the light source (3) the document (2) is irradiated and the light emitted and/or reflected and/or transmitted by the document (2) is subsequently divided into spectral components by means of the spectral device (8). The spectral components are separately detected by the detection devices. The spectral division of the light (4) emanating from the light source (3) can also be carried out before the light impinges on the document (2). The apparatus (1) is designed so as to individually weight the spectral components to be detected respectively by the detection devices (9, 10, 11, 24).