Abstract: A subject discriminating apparatus discriminates a subject having an unevenness pattern on a surface of the subject. The subject discriminating apparatus includes: a transparent unit including a supporting surface supporting the subject; a light irradiation unit irradiating illumination light onto the surface of the subject through the transparent unit; an imaging unit imaging an imaging region including at least a part of the transparent unit, and generating image data; and a discrimination processing unit discriminating the subject, using the image data generated by the imaging unit. The discrimination processing unit discriminates the subject based on discrimination image data generated by correcting subject image data using correction image data. The subject image data is generated by imaging the imaging region in a state of the subject presenting in the imaging region. The correction image data is generated by imaging the imaging region free from the subject in the imaging region.

Abstract: An automated banking machine operated responsive to data bearing records includes a card reader that is operative to read data from user cards including financial account identifying data, and to cause financial transfers responsive to the card data. The automated banking machine includes a sheet accepting device. The sheet accepting device is operative to receive a stack of sheets and to separate each sheet from the stack. Each sheet is aligned with a sheet path and analyzed by analysis devices including at least one magnetic read head, an imager, and/or a validation device. Sheets determined to have at least one property of a genuine sheet are processed and stored in the machine.

Abstract: A reference data set used for classifying items of currency is established by obtaining at least one measured response from at least one known item of currency, projecting the measured response data from the known item of currency from a first space to a second space, and applying a reduction technique to the second space thereby reducing the complexity of the second space. The reference data set, which can be used for classifying items of currency, is thus represented by a subset of all measured responses obtained from the known item of currency.

Abstract: A banknote validation arranged to discriminate between real and false banknotes is described. The valuator comprises: a light source arranged to emit light in the non-visible spectrum onto a banknote being validated, the emitted light including an ultraviolet (1O nm to 400 nm) or intra red (800 run-1 00000 nm) wavelength of light; a broadband optical light sensor arranged to sense a relatively broad band of visible light spectrum wavelengths of light emitted by fluorescence from the banknote in response to the banknote being irradiated with the non-visible spectrum wavelengths of light; and an optical filter positioned between the banknote and the sensor and arranged to prevent illumination of the sensor with reflected or transmitted non-fluoresced light from the light source, the optical filter having a ?3 db cut off point selected such that the light emitted from the light source, having a wavelength closest to the visible light spectrum wavelengths of light, is filtered.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of determining completion of coin insertion capable of easily and reliably determining whether or not a number of coins required for purchasing an article has been inserted. A coin holding portion (105) is constructed such that coins are retained in row in the coin holding portion (105) being electrically connected to each other in series. Further, a first electrode (121) that comes into contact with the coin located at one end side of the row is provided in the coin holding portion (105); and a second electrode (123) that comes into contact with the coin located at the other end side of the row is provided in the coin holding portion (105). The coin holding portion (105) is constructed to detect an electric current between the first electrode (121) and the second electrode (123) to determine whether or not the required number of coins has been inserted.

Abstract: A coin discriminator measures both the surface and average electrical conductivity of coins in order to distinguish genuine minted coins from fake or bogus coins such as cast coins which may be nominally of the same material as a minted coin. The conductivities are measured using a coil to induce eddy currents within the coin. The high frequency components of the eddy current are monitored to measure the surface conductivity. The low frequency components are measured to monitor the bulk or average conductivity.

Abstract: A paper sheet recognition apparatus includes a sensor that measures feature amounts of a paper sheet; a recognition unit that recognizes whether the paper sheet is genuine or counterfeit, and fit or unfit, based on the feature amount; a memory unit that stores therein a plurality of pieces of different category classification pattern information prepared for each category for classifying the paper sheets into a plurality of categories, which is obtained by combining the feature amounts; and a category determining unit that determines a category of the recognized paper sheet using a recognition result in the recognition unit and the category classification pattern information.

Abstract: In a discrimination apparatus of the invention, a banknote or another paper as an object of discrimination is irradiated with ultraviolet radiation from an array of multiple ultraviolet-emitting LEDs. The ultraviolet radiation passes through a visible radiation block filter and is focused onto a preset site of the banknote by a lens. Multiple photodiodes are used to measure the transmitted light of ultraviolet radiation and the fluorescence, which is excited by the ultraviolet radiation from the banknote. The discrimination apparatus of the invention discriminates counterfeit banknotes from genuine banknotes, based on the observed pattern of the transmitted light over a preset range of the banknote. The technique of the invention desirably enhances the accuracy of discrimination in the discrimination apparatus that discriminates counterfeit banknotes from genuine banknotes.

Abstract: A coin denomination discriminating device for improving coin dispensing devices which incorporates components formed of non-magnetic material including a non-magnetic rotor having a coin receiving portion and a non-magnetic reference guide to guide coins from a storage coin holding bowl to a coin conveying device capable of selectively releasing coins of various denominations. Magnetic sensor units can be positioned along the coin movement path to provide characteristic signals representative of the coins independent of influence of metallic components in the transporting path. The non-magnetic members can be formed from wear resistant plastic material and relatively inexpensive magnetic sensors with coil and ferrite coils can be utilized adjacent the rotor.

Abstract: A coin sensor is provided including a method and apparatus for providing adaptive operating point (AOP) control. The AOP control is provided using circuits and associated methods and algorithms connected between measurement circuits of the coin sensor and the coin sensor oscillator. The AOP control automatically monitors and controls the quiescent voltage levels of four signals used by the coin sensor to discriminate coins. The four signals represent coin size and coin composition. In addition, the AOP control automatically performs calibration and adjustment functions both during manufacture of the coin sensor system and during its operational life. The automatic monitoring and control functions provided by the AOP control result in a significant increase in the dynamic range of the coin sensor response. This reduces the coin false-reject rate while improving the coin discrimination precision.

Abstract: A method for measuring the diameter of coins in coin validators, comprising the steps below: The coins traverse an electromagnetic field which is formed such as to partially hide the field, at least also by their upper area. The field is generated between at least one transmitter coil and a receiver coil. The transmitter coil is periodically acted on by a short transmission pulse the duration of which is small as compared to the time of coin passage. The maximal attenuation values are determined for different times of the transmission pulse. The attenuation values measured are extrapolated into time 0. The measured value determined by extrapolation is compared to a predetermined acceptance band or a predetermined characteristic line for coin diameters for comparison to a stored setting.

Abstract: A coin selector assembly includes a coin passageway having at least a pair of thickness sensor unit operatively positioned along the coin passageway to provide respective measurements of the thickness of the coin. A comparing unit compares the respective thickness signals with corresponding stored standard values representative of a genuine coin to determine the authenticity of the coin. Additional sensor unit can be positioned along the coin passageway and excited with different frequencies. Thus, a material sensor unit and a diameter sensor unit or a pair of diameter sensor unit can also be utilized.

Abstract: A coin discrimination sensor having an excitation coil and two detector coils arranged to detect eddy currents in a passing coin. The excitation coil is provided a composite waveform formed by adding a low frequency signal (30 KHz) with a high frequency signal (480 KHz). The two detector coils are arranged at different distances from the passing coin, and are calibrated to eliminate the common-mode voltage when no coin is present. As a coin passes by the sensor, eddy currents are induced in the coin which result in phase and amplitude shifts in the low and high frequency components of the detector signal. The low and high frequency components are separated from the detector signal, and their respective phases and amplitudes are ascertained and compared against values stored in a lookup table. These values represent the composition, thickness, and diameter characteristics of known coins, and if the signature of the processed coin does not appear in the lookup table, it can be flagged as an invalid coin.

Abstract: A pattern identification apparatus is used to speedily identify tokens at a game arcade. The apparatus is inexpensive and has an image pickup device (15). The image pickup device has an area sensor (17) consisting of a two-dimensional matrix of photoelectric pixels. Each of the photoelectric pixels has a photodiode (19), a signal comparator (21), and a signal holder (23). The photoelectric pixels are connected to address lines (5), respectively. Required ones of the address lines are specified. Signals are read, to a data line, out of the signal holders of the photoelectric pixels that are connected to the specified address lines in response to addressing signals passed through the specified address lines. The specified address lines correspond to concentric circles (45, 47, 49) defined on a target (39) of disk shape. The target is identified according to the read signals that represent the concentric circles defined on the target.

Abstract: A coin selecting apparatus is set forth which includes detectors adapted to detect a plurality of parameters of diameter, material and thickness of a deposited coin. A processor compares the detected data to stored data for an authentic coin to determine authenticity. The deposited coins are summed and compared to an amount set by a coding switch to be deposited. A display displays the amounts received and authenticated.

Abstract: A coin discriminating apparatus includes a light emitter for illuminating the surface of a coin, a light receiver for receiving reflected light from the surface of the coin and producing pattern data of the coin, a pattern data memory for storing the pattern data of the coin produced by the light receiver, a reference data memory for storing reference pattern data of each denomination, a magnetic sensor for detecting a material of the coin, a first discriminator for determining the denomination of the coin based on the material of the coin detected by the sensor, a second discriminator for determining the denomination of the coin based on the diameter of the coin, a denomination discriminator for determining the denomination of the coin based on the determined results by the first and second discriminators, a data comparator for reading reference pattern data corresponding to the denomination of the coin stored in the reference data memory based on the determined result by the denomination discriminator and c

Abstract: A method of correcting coin data and an apparatus for inspecting coins in which determination data is formed on the basis of data read out from a permanent memory, and authenticity and determination of coins are determined on the basis of the readout data. At the same time, maximum and minimum values corresponding to physical characteristics of coins are obtained. When the number of stored coins reaches a predetermined number or an operating time reaches a predetermined duration, the maximum and minimum values are updated. When such updating is performed a predetermined number of times, a standard deviation is also updated.