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 an apparatus for checking bank notes which scans the bank notes to be checked by means of a semiconductor array. The inventive apparatus for checking bank notes has two linear semiconductor arrays formed of at least three layers which are sensitive to light of different wavelengths, 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. The inventive apparatus has the advantage that it can be realized simply and economically, and provides good check results since it avoids artifacts which can be caused for example by parallactic errors.

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 illuminating device for linearly illuminating a flat object, in particular a bank note. The illuminating device according to the invention for linearly illuminating a flat object, in particular a bank note, with 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, characterized in that the mirror arrangement consists of plane mirrors, that at least one first mirror has a structure, which images the light source to form at least one linear image in parallel to the mirror arrangement, and that 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: The present invention relates to 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. The invention starts out from a checking of bank notes, with which 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 first and at least second property for the same places on the bank note to be checked being determined, and the first property being 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 being performed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sheet-shaped value document, such as a bank note. An authenticity feature which can be reliably verified by machine or by humans and which can moreover not be deceptively imitated by copying technology is realized by an electro-optical and/or acoustic display device integrated in the value document.

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: A method and apparatus for recognizing foreign material (2), in particular adhesive objects, glue or joints, on or in bank notes (1), including detecting the thermal radiation (5) emanating from at least a partial area of the bank note (1): and recognizing foreign material (2) located on the bank note (1) on the basis of the detected thermal radiation (5). The invention is especially suitable for recognizing adhesive objects, in particular adhesive tape and joints, on bank notes since areas of a bank note with adhesive tape or joints differ very distinctly in their thermal properties from other areas of the bank note without adhesive tape.

Abstract: A camera system (2) for strip-shaped exposure of a bank note (BN) having good optical properties as well as a compact construction has, symmetrically to an optical axis (OA), mirror assemblies (4a, 4b) of elliptical cross section each extending in the direction of the illuminated strip, light sources formed by LED arrays (6a, 6b), an imaging optic in the form of a SELFOC® lens assembly (8), and a photodetector array (12) onto which the illuminated strip of the bank note (BN) is imaged by the SELFOC® lens assembly (8) in a 1:1 ratio.

Abstract: For examining defects in sheet material, in particular bank notes, the sheet material is convexly curved and tested in the area of the convex curvature. A detector is disposed tangentially to an apex line of the convex curvature for detecting elevations on the bank note surface due to bank note defects against a light background. A suitable optic is used to image this silhouette onto the detector. The detector is formed as a pixel array, and the number and height of shaded pixels are assessed as measures of defect density and size and nature of defects.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for verifying thickness modulations, in particular watermarks, in or on sheet material. To diminish the influence of disturbances from the surroundings and reduce the adjustment effort during production and maintenance of corresponding measuring systems, the sheet material is subjected to sound, in particular ultrasound, the sound transmitted through the sheet material and/or reflected on the sheet material is measured at a plurality of places on the sheet material, at least one value characteristic of the transmitted and/or reflected sound is generated for each of the places, and the thickness modulations are verified by comparing the values with predetermined reference values.

Abstract: A method is described for testing thin material wherein the material is irradiated with ultrasonic waves at least in certain areas and transmission of the ultrasonic waves through the material is determined and evaluated. The transmission of ultrasonic waves of different frequencies is thereby determined. The differences of the transmission at the different frequencies are then used to determine a criterion for evaluating the quality, in particular the porosity, of the irradiated material. Furthermore, a corresponding test device is described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and corresponding apparatus for recognizing foreign material (2), in particular adhesive objects, glue or joints, on or in bank notes (1).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for verifying thickness modulations, in particular watermarks, in or on sheet material. To diminish the influence of disturbances from the surroundings and reduce the adjustment effort during production and maintenance of corresponding measuring systems, the sheet material is subjected to sound, in particular ultrasound, the sound transmitted through the sheet material and/or reflected on the sheet material is measured at a plurality of places on the sheet material, at least one value characteristic of the transmitted and/or reflected sound is generated for each of the places, and the thickness modulations are verified by comparing the values with predetermined reference values.

Abstract: A method for determining structural inhomogeneities in sheet material including exposing sheet material to ultrasonic waves, measuring ultrasonic waves transmitted through the sheet material and ultrasonic waves reflected from the sheet material at a plurality of predetermined portions located linearly along at least one track disposed on the sheet material and producing at least one value characteristic based on at least the transmitted or reflected ultrasonic waves from each of the predetermined portions on the at least one track. The method further includes forming a first mean based on the at least one value characteristic and a second mean based on the first mean to determine the structural inhomogeneities in the sheet material representative of the at least one track.

Abstract: A camera system (2) for strip-shaped exposure of a bank note (BN) having good optical properties as well as a compact construction has, symmetrically to an optical axis (OA), mirror assemblies (4a, 4b) of elliptical cross section each extending in the direction of the illuminated strip, light sources formed by LED arrays (6a, 6b), an imaging optic in the form of a SELFOC® lens assembly (8), and a photodetector array (12) onto which the illuminated strip of the bank note (BN) is imaged by the SELFOC® lens assembly (8) in a 1:1 ratio.

Abstract: For examining defects in sheet material, in particular bank notes, the sheet material is convexly curved and tested in the area of the convex curvature. A detector is disposed tangentially to an apex line of the convex curvature for detecting elevations on the bank note surface due to bank note defects against a light background. A suitable optic is used to image this silhouette onto the detector. The detector is formed as a pixel array, and the number and height of shaded pixels are assessed as measures of defect density and size and nature of defects.

Abstract: A method is described for testing thin material wherein the material is irradiated with ultrasonic waves at least in certain areas and transmission of the ultrasonic waves through the material is determined and evaluated. The transmission of ultrasonic waves of different frequencies is thereby determined. The differences of the transmission at the different frequencies are then used to determine a criterion for evaluating the quality, in particular the porosity, of the irradiated material. Furthermore, a corresponding test device is described.

Abstract: The apparatus has an imaging device which converts light emitted by an illuminating device into a substantially parallel light pencil which illuminates a line in a line plane parallel to the sheet material and falls in a first illumination plane at a fixed angle of incidence, the first illumination plane forming with the line plane a first illumination angle and intersecting the line plane along the line. Light reflected along the line in a first detection plane at a fixed angle of reflection is imaged onto a detecting device, the detection plane forming with the sheet material a first detection angle and intersecting the line plane along the line. The angle of incidence is selected equal to the angle of reflection, and the first illumination angle equal to the first detection angle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining structural inhomogeneities in sheet material, in particular due to creases or tears in bank notes.