Patents by Inventor Douglas Mennie

Douglas Mennie has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20080044077
    Abstract: A document processing system comprises an input receptacle for receiving documents. A transport mechanism receives the documents from the input receptacle and transports the documents past a full image scanner and a discrimination unit. An output receptacle receives the documents from the transport mechanism after being transported past the full image scanner and the discrimination unit. The full image scanner includes means for obtaining a full video image of said documents, means for obtaining a image of a selected area of said documents, and means for obtaining information contained in said selected area of said document. The discrimination unit includes means for determining the authenticity of said document. A system controller directs the flows of documents over the transport mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Inventors: Douglas Mennie, William Jones, Mark Munro
  • Publication number: 20080033829
    Abstract: A document processing system comprises an input receptacle for receiving documents. A transport mechanism receives the documents from the input receptacle and transports the documents past a full image scanner and a discrimination unit. An output receptacle receives the documents from the transport mechanism after being transported past the full image scanner and the discrimination unit. The full image scanner includes means for obtaining a full video image of said documents, means for obtaining a image of a selected area of said documents, and means for obtaining information contained in said selected area of said document. The discrimination unit includes means for determining the authenticity of said document. A system controller directs the flows of documents over the transport mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventors: Douglas Mennie, William Jones, Mark Munro
  • Publication number: 20070258633
    Abstract: A document processing system includes an input receptacle for receiving documents. A transport mechanism receives the documents from the input receptacle and transports the documents past an image scanner and a discrimination unit. An output receptacle receives the documents from the transport mechanism after being transported past the full image scanner and the discrimination unit. The image scanner operates to obtain images of the documents and further operates to obtain images of selected portions of the documents, and further can obtain information contained in the selected portions. The discrimination unit operates to determine document authenticity. A system controller directs the flow of documents over the transport mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Publication date: November 8, 2007
    Inventors: John Jones, Paul Jones, William Jones, Douglas Mennie
  • Publication number: 20070237381
    Abstract: A document processing system comprises an input receptacle for receiving documents. A transport mechanism receives the documents from the input receptacle and transports the documents past a full image scanner and a discrimination unit. An output receptacle receives the documents from the transport mechanism after being transported past the full image scanner and the discrimination unit. The full image scanner includes means for obtaining a full video image of said documents, means for obtaining a image of a selected area of said documents, and means for obtaining information contained in said selected area of said document. The discrimination unit includes means for determining the authenticity of said document. A system controller directs the flows of documents over the transport mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Inventors: Douglas Mennie, William Jones, Mark Munro
  • Publication number: 20070221470
    Abstract: A document processing system comprises an input receptacle for receiving documents. A transport mechanism receives the documents from the input receptacle and transports the documents past a full image scanner and a discrimination unit. An output receptacle receives the documents from the transport mechanism after being transported past the full image scanner and the discrimination unit. The full image scanner includes means for obtaining a full video image of said documents, means for obtaining a image of a selected area of said documents, and means for obtaining information contained in said selected area of said document. The discrimination unit includes means for determining the authenticity of said document. A system controller directs the flows of documents over the transport mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Inventors: Douglas Mennie, William Jones, Mark Munro
  • Publication number: 20070122023
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method of processing currency in a currency processing machine includes the act of retrieving, from a plurality of input currency bills, characteristic information from each of the bills, the characteristic information itself including at least a first characteristic information relating to fitness. The method also includes the act of assigning to each currency bill one of a plurality of fitness types and fitness levels relating to the first characteristic information of the bill, at least one of the fitness types and the fitness levels being defined by a user. The method also includes the act of outputting each currency bill along one of a plurality of output paths designated by the user to receive currency bills, the output path having a fitness type and/or fitness level assigned to the currency bill.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Publication date: May 31, 2007
    Inventors: Charles Jenrick, Douglas Mennie, John Blake, Matthew Anderson, Gary Watts, Curtis Hallowell, Robert Klein, Jeffrey Knoll, Tomasz Jagielinski
  • Publication number: 20070095630
    Abstract: A currency evaluation device for receiving a currency bill having a magnetic attribute and evaluating the currency bill comprises a magnetic scanhead disposed adjacent to a bill evaluation region, a memory adapted to store master magnetic characteristic information corresponding to a plurality of types of currency bills, and an evaluating unit. The scanhead includes a plurality of closely spaced magnetic sensors each adapted to detect the presence of a magnetic attribute of the bill. The plurality of magnetic sensors cover a substantial portion of a dimension of a bill. The scanhead is adapted to retrieve magnetic characteristic information from the currency bill.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2000
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Applicant: CUMMINS-ALLISON CORP.
    Inventors: Douglas Mennie, Richard Mazur, John Radomski, Frederick Chamberlain, Jay Freeman, Kent Gandola
  • Publication number: 20070078560
    Abstract: A document processing device having an evaluation region disposed along a transport path between an input and output receptacle capable of processing both currency bills and identification cards. An evaluation unit enables entry of source identification information before or after processing currency bills. Memory is adapted to store source identification information for multiple batches of currency. Multiple batches are placed in the processing device for multiple batch processing. The evaluation region includes detectors for detecting predetermined characteristics of currency bills and distinguishing identification cards from currency. During processing, the identification card, or other separator card, is sent to a predetermined output receptacle designated as a reject receptacle. Currency that is rejected is sent to the reject receptacle. Rejected currency is separated into batches by the identification cards sent to the reject receptacle during processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Publication date: April 5, 2007
    Inventors: William Jones, Douglas Mennie, Charles Jenrick, Robert Klein, Curtis Hallowell
  • Publication number: 20070076939
    Abstract: A document processing system comprises an input receptacle for receiving documents. A transport mechanism receives the documents from the input receptacle and transports the documents past a full image scanner and a discrimination unit. An output receptacle receives the documents from the transport mechanism after being transported past the full image scanner and the discrimination unit. The full image scanner includes means for obtaining a full video image of said documents, means for obtaining a image of a selected area of said documents, and means for obtaining information contained in said selected area of said document. The discrimination unit includes means for determining the authenticity of said document. A system controller directs the flows of documents over the transport mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Publication date: April 5, 2007
    Applicant: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: John Jones, Paul Jones, William Jones, Douglas Mennie
  • Publication number: 20070071302
    Abstract: An apparatus for currency discrimination comprises first and second stationary scanheads, disposed on opposite sides of a bill transport path, for scanning respective first and second opposing surfaces of a bill traveling along the bill transport path and for producing respective output signals. The bill travels along the transport path in the direction of a predetermined dimension of the bill. A memory stores master characteristic patterns corresponding to associated predetermined surfaces of a plurality of denominations of genuine bills. Sampling circuitry samples the output signals associated with the respective first and second opposing surfaces of the scanned bill. A signal processor is programmed to determine which one of the first and second opposing surfaces corresponds to the associated predetermined surfaces of the plurality of denominations of genuine bills.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Publication date: March 29, 2007
    Inventors: William Jones, Douglas Mennie, Mark Munro
  • Publication number: 20060274929
    Abstract: A document processing system comprises an input receptacle for receiving documents. A transport mechanism receives the documents from the input receptacle and transports the documents past an image scanner and a discrimination unit. An output receptacle receives the documents from the transport mechanism after being transported past the image scanner and the discrimination unit. The image scanner operates to obtain a video image of the transported documents, or the image of a selected area of the documents. The document images are further processed to obtain field information contained in selected areas of the document. The discrimination unit operates to determine the value and authenticity of the document. A system controller directs the flows of documents over the transport mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Publication date: December 7, 2006
    Inventors: John Jones, Paul Jones, William Jones, Douglas Mennie
  • Publication number: 20060010071
    Abstract: A system for tracking currency bills comprises a currency scanning device. The scanning device includes a sensor that retrieves currency identification characteristic information of each bill processed. The currency identification characteristic information permits the unique identification of each bill processed. The system further comprises a customer identification means and means for associating each processed bill with the customer depositing the bill. Means for identifying the customer (or customer account) associated with a particular processed bill after the deposit transaction has been completed is also included in the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Publication date: January 12, 2006
    Inventors: John Jones, William Jones, Douglas Mennie, Paul Jones
  • Publication number: 20050278239
    Abstract: A system for tracking currency bills comprises a currency scanning device. The scanning device includes a sensor that retrieves currency identification characteristic information of each bill processed. The currency identification characteristic information permits the unique identification of each bill processed. The system further comprises a customer identification means and means for associating each processed bill with the customer depositing the bill. Means for identifying the customer (or customer account) associated with a particular processed bill after the deposit transaction has been completed is also included in the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2005
    Publication date: December 15, 2005
    Applicant: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: John Jones, William Jones, Douglas Mennie, Paul Jones
  • Publication number: 20050276458
    Abstract: A document processing system includes an input receptacle for receiving documents. A transport mechanism receives the documents from the input receptacle and transports the documents past an image scanner and a discrimination unit. An output receptacle receives the documents from the transport mechanism after being transported past the full image scanner and the discrimination unit. The image scanner operates to obtain images of the documents and further operates to obtain images of selected portions of the documents, and further can obtain information contained in the selected portions. The discrimination unit operates to determine document authenticity. A system controller directs the flow of documents over the transport mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2004
    Publication date: December 15, 2005
    Applicant: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: John Jones, Paul Jones, William Jones, Douglas Mennie
  • Publication number: 20050265591
    Abstract: A system for tracking currency bills comprises a currency scanning device. The scanning device includes a sensor that retrieves currency identification characteristic information of each bill processed. The currency identification characteristic information permits the unique identification of each bill processed. The system further comprises a customer identification means and means for associating each processed bill with the customer depositing the bill. Means for identifying the customer (or customer account) associated with a particular processed bill after the deposit transaction has been completed is also included in the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Publication date: December 1, 2005
    Inventors: John Jones, William Jones, Douglas Mennie, Paul Jones
  • Publication number: 20050249394
    Abstract: A document processing system comprises an input receptacle for receiving documents. A transport mechanism receives the documents from the input receptacle and transports the documents past a full image scanner and a discrimination unit. An output receptacle receives the documents from the transport mechanism after being transported past the full image scanner and the discrimination unit. The full image scanner includes means for obtaining a full video image of said documents, means for obtaining a image of a selected area of said documents, and means for obtaining information contained in said selected area of said document. The discrimination unit includes means for determining the authenticity of said document. A system controller directs the flows of documents over the transport mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Publication date: November 10, 2005
    Inventors: John Jones, Paul Jones, William Jones, Douglas Mennie
  • Publication number: 20050241909
    Abstract: A currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills and rapidly evaluating all the bills in the stack. The device comprises an input receptacle for receiving a stack of bills to be evaluated and a plurality of output receptacles for receiving the bills after they have been evaluated. A transport mechanism transports the bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle to one of the output receptacles along a transport path. A discriminating unit including a detector positioned along the transport path between the input receptacle and the output receptacle evaluates the bills. The discriminating unit counts and determines the denomination of the bills. A means for flagging bills meeting or failing to meet a certain criteria causes the transport mechanism to halt in response to a determination that a bill meets or fails to meet the criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Publication date: November 3, 2005
    Inventors: Richard Mazur, Douglas Mennie, Mark Munro, Lars Stromme, Bradford Graves, William Jones
  • Publication number: 20050213803
    Abstract: A currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills and rapidly evaluating all the bills in the stack. The device includes an input receptacle for receiving a stack of bills to be evaluated and a single output receptacle for receiving the bills after they have been evaluated. A transport mechanism transports the bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle to the output receptacle along a transport path. The device further includes a discriminating unit that evaluates the bills. The discriminating unit comprises two detectors positioned along the transport path between the input receptacle and the output receptacle. The detectors are disposed on opposite sides of the transport path so that they are disposed adjacent to opposite sides of the bills. The discriminating unit counts and determines the denomination of the bills. The evaluation device also includes means for flagging a bill when the denomination of the bill is not determined by the discriminating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Publication date: September 29, 2005
    Inventor: Douglas Mennie
  • Publication number: 20050207634
    Abstract: A document processing system includes an input receptacle for receiving documents. A transport mechanism receives the documents from the input receptacle and transports the documents past an image scanner and a discrimination unit. An output receptacle receives the documents from the transport mechanism after being transported past the full image scanner and the discrimination unit. The image scanner operates to obtain images of the documents and further operates to obtain images of selected portions of the documents, and further can obtain information contained in the selected portions. The discrimination unit operates to determine document authenticity. A system controller directs the flow of documents over the transport mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Inventors: John Jones, Paul Jones, William Jones, Douglas Mennie
  • Publication number: 20050183928
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a currency processing device for receiving and processing a stack of currency bills is described. The currency processing device comprises an input receptacle for receiving a stack of bills to be processed, a plurality of output receptacles for receiving bills after the bills have been processed, a transport mechanism for transporting the bills from the input receptacle to the output receptacles, and a discriminating unit for examining the bills. The output receptacles are arranged such that a center of at least one output receptacle is laterally offset from a center of the input receptacle. The discriminating unit includes a detector positioned between the input receptacle and the output receptacles and is adapted to determine the denomination of bills.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Publication date: August 25, 2005
    Inventors: William Jones, Douglas Mennie, Ken Maier, Marek Baranowski, Yanmei Chen