Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for checking the authenticity of the security element of a value document. For checking the authenticity of the security element, reversed bright/dark modulation is examined. For this purpose, for determining a combination course, the remission course and the transmission course along the longitudinal direction of the security element are set off against each other pixel by pixel and the combination course obtained by setting off pixel by pixel is checked with regard to an intensity modulation along the longitudinal direction of the security element.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for checking value documents, in particular bank notes, and a value document processing system having at least one sensor for capturing an electromagnetic radiation transmitted by a value document and generating corresponding transmission signals, and an evaluation device for checking whether the value document has a foreign object taking into account the transmission signals. From the transmission signals an edge course of the value document is derived and a rectangle is approximated to the edge course. By comparing the edge course of the transmission image with the rectangle, the presence of a foreign object such as an adhesive tape, can be ascertained.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for checking the authenticity of the security element of a value document. For checking the authenticity of the security element, reversed bright/dark modulation is examined. For this purpose, for determining a combination course, the remission course and the transmission course along the longitudinal direction of the security element are set off against each other pixel by pixel and the combination course obtained by setting off pixel by pixel is checked with regard to an intensity modulation along the longitudinal direction of the security element.

Abstract: There is described a method for examining a value document while employing a digital image of the value document which comprises pixels, wherein the image is examined for the presence of at least one irregularity relating to a pre-specified property of the value document, when such an irregularity is found an examination region representing the irregularity is fixed in dependence on the size and/or position and/or form of the irregularity in the image, and for checking the irregularity only a part of those pixels of the digital image that correspond to the examination region is employed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for checking value documents, in particular bank notes, and a value document processing system having at least one sensor for capturing an electromagnetic radiation transmitted by a value document and generating corresponding transmission signals, and an evaluation device for checking whether the value document has a foreign object taking into account the transmission signals. From the transmission signals an edge course of the value document is derived and a rectangle is approximated to the edge course. By comparing the edge course of the transmission image with the rectangle, the presence of a foreign object such as an adhesive tape, can be ascertained.

Abstract: Described is a method for checking a value document having a polymer substrate and at least one see-through window, in which a digital transmission image of the value document is captured, the transmission image comprising pixels, in the image an edge brightness value for the brightness of an edge of the at least one see-through window is ascertained, using the edge brightness value, a threshold value for the recognition of a print removal is ascertained which is smaller than the edge brightness value but greater than the minimal brightness in the image, it is checked whether pixels which lie in at least one specified portion of the image and outside the at least one see-through window and its edge have a brightness which lies above the threshold value.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for checking value documents, in particular bank notes, and a value-document processing system having at least one sensor for capturing an electromagnetic radiation. Transmitted by a value document and generating corresponding first sensor signals and for capturing an electromagnetic radiation remitted by the value document and generating corresponding second sensor signals, and an evaluation device for checking whether the value document has a foreign object. In particular adhesive tape, taking into account the first and second sensor signals which correspond to the electromagnetic radiation respectively transmitted or remitted in the region of the edge of the value document. The apparatus and method prevent a deformation in the region of the edge of a value document from being identified as a foreign object.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a class reference data record for classifying documents of value includes creating a class reference image using a multiplicity of reference images of already classified documents of value in the same class; and creating a class reference data record having at least one class reference parameter using the class reference image. The pixel and intensity values of the respective pixel in the class reference image are a function of the pixel values of the relevant pixels in the multiplicity of reference images of already classified documents of value in the same class. The method includes determining at least one quantitative property of a document of value to be classified; and classifying the document of value to be classified on the basis of a comparison between the quantitative property of the document of value to be classified and the class reference data record.

Abstract: An apparatus and a corresponding method for checking the security element of a value document, as well as to an apparatus for processing value documents involve at least one sensor for capturing electromagnetic radiation emanating from along a dimension of the security element and for generating a corresponding sensor signal pattern along the one dimension of the security element. Also included is an evaluation device for checking the value document with the help of the sensor signal pattern of the security element, from the sensor signal pattern along the one dimension there being generated a binary signal pattern which has only two different signal values and with the help of which the security element of the value document is checked with regard to a microwriting of the security element.

Abstract: There is described a method for examining a value document while employing a digital image of the value document which comprises pixels, wherein the image is examined for the presence of at least one irregularity relating to a pre-specified property of the value document, when such an irregularity is found an examination region representing the irregularity is fixed in dependence on the size and/or position and/or form of the irregularity in the image, and for checking the irregularity only a part of those pixels of the digital image that correspond to the examination region is employed.

Abstract: An apparatus and a corresponding method for checking the security element of a value document, as well as to an apparatus for processing value documents involve at least one sensor for capturing electromagnetic radiation emanating from along a dimension of the security element and for generating a corresponding sensor signal pattern along the one dimension of the security element. Also included is an evaluation device for checking the value document with the help of the sensor signal pattern of the security element, from the sensor signal pattern along the one dimension there being generated a binary signal pattern which has only two different signal values and with the help of which the security element of the value document is checked with regard to a microwriting of the security element.

Abstract: Described is a method for checking a value document having a polymer substrate and at least one see-through window, in which a digital transmission image of the value document is captured, the transmission image comprising pixels, in the image an edge brightness value for the brightness of an edge of the at least one see-through window is ascertained, using the edge brightness value, a threshold value for the recognition of a print removal is ascertained which is smaller than the edge brightness value but greater than the minimal brightness in the image, it is checked whether pixels which lie in at least one specified portion of the image and outside the at least one see-through window and its edge have a brightness which lies above the threshold value.

Abstract: A method for checking the soiling of the windows of a measuring apparatus for checking sheet material, includes having at least two sensor rows oriented transversally to the transport direction of the sheet material. Each of the sensor rows detects the light emanating from the sheet material in a certain spectral channel. For checking the soiling of the window the sensor rows detect the light at several detection times at which no sheet material is present in the capture area of the sensor rows. At least two of the spectral channels are combined with each other and the temporal variation of the intensities of the combined spectral channel is evaluated for the purpose of the soiling check. A small temporal variation of the intensity of the combined spectral channel is employed as an indicator for the presence of a soiling of the window.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for checking value documents, in particular bank notes, and a value-document processing system having at least one sensor for capturing an electromagnetic radiation. Transmitted by a value document and generating corresponding first sensor signals and for capturing an electromagnetic radiation remitted by the value document and generating corresponding second sensor signals, and an evaluation device for checking whether the value document has a foreign object. In particular adhesive tape, taking into account the first and second sensor signals which correspond to the electromagnetic radiation respectively transmitted or remitted in the region of the edge of the value document. The apparatus and method prevent a deformation in the region of the edge of a value document from being identified as a foreign object.

Abstract: A method for checking the production quality of a prescribed optical security feature in or on a prescribed portion of a value document on the basis of pixel data of pixels of an image of the prescribed portion which are respectively associated with places in or on the portion and render optical properties of the value document at the places whether a first number or share of those pixels, whose pixel data, according to a first prescribed criterion, lie within a first reference region prescribed for the security feature exceeds a first minimum hit value, and whether a first scatter of the pixel data of those pixels lying within the first reference region for the pixel data according to the first criterion exceeds a first minimum scatter prescribed for the security feature. A quality signal from the check represents an indication of a sufficient printing quality according to certain criteria.

Abstract: A method for checking a prescribed optical security feature on a prescribed portion of a value document based on pixel data of pixels of an image of the portion which are associated with places on the portion and render optical properties of the value document at the places. A check is made of whether a first number of those pixels whose pixel data, according to a first prescribed criterion, lie within a first reference region prescribed for the security feature exceeds a first minimum hit value prescribed for the security feature, and whether a first scatter of the pixel data of the pixels exceeds a first minimum scatter value prescribed for the security feature. An authenticity signal is formed which represents an indication of authenticity only when the first number exceeds the first minimum hit value, and the scatter the first minimum scatter value.

Abstract: Testing the authenticity of a valuable document, whereby at least one intensity distribution of electromagnetic radiation passing through the valuable document in the dark field is detected in a spatially resolved manner and a spatially resolved dark field characteristic is determined therefrom. The actual authenticity test is then performed by a procedure in which selected test partial regions of the valuable document are assigned respectively to one of a plurality of suspicion classes, an interconnection region is formed from substantially interconnected test partial regions that were assigned to at least one specific suspicion class, and the valuable document, depending on the form and/or position of the interconnection region, is assigned to one of at least two authenticity categories which is linked to the at least one specific suspicion class.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for recognizing forged value documents, for example composed forgeries which are assembled from parts of different value documents. In the inventive method, the signal intensity of a measuring signal is determined at a plurality of measuring points on a value document. For one or more selected groups of measuring points which are disposed in particular along certain directions on the value document there are determined gradient values of the signal intensities. The gradient values of a group are subsequently linked to form a connection strength of the group which provides a quantitative statement about the extent to which a large gradient value exists consistently within the particular group. From a relatively great connection strength there can be inferred the presence of a separating line in the area of the selected group of measuring points.

Abstract: A method for checking the soiling of the windows of a measuring apparatus for checking sheet material, includes having at least two sensor rows oriented transversally to the transport direction of the sheet material. Each of the sensor rows detects the light emanating from the sheet material in a certain spectral channel. For checking the soiling of the window the sensor rows detect the light at several detection times at which no sheet material is present in the capture area of the sensor rows. At least two of the spectral channels are combined with each other and the temporal variation of the intensities of the combined spectral channel is evaluated for the purpose of the soiling check. A small temporal variation of the intensity of the combined spectral channel is employed as an indicator for the presence of a soiling of the window.

Abstract: A method for checking the production quality of a prescribed optical security feature in or on a prescribed portion of a value document on the basis of pixel data of pixels of an image of the prescribed portion which are respectively associated with places in or on the portion and render optical properties of the value document at the places whether a first number or share of those pixels, whose pixel data, according to a first prescribed criterion, lie within a first reference region prescribed for the security feature exceeds a first minimum hit value, and whether a first scatter of the pixel data of those pixels lying within the first reference region for the pixel data according to the first criterion exceeds a first minimum scatter prescribed for the security feature. A quality signal from the check represents an indication of a sufficient printing quality according to certain criteria.