Reading Paper Currency Patents (Class 382/135)
  • Patent number: 8509515
    Abstract: A bill identification apparatus accurately identifying an authenticity with a folding line formed in a watermark. The bill identification apparatus includes: bill reading means; a converter which converts the watermarked image read by the bill reading means for each pixel containing color information having brightness; a image correction processing part which calculates an average density value for each pixel array in one direction, an average density value for each pixel array in the other direction, and an average density value of an entire watermarked image and corrects density values of respective pixels so as to approximate or match the average density value of the entire watermarked image; a reference data storage part which stores a reference watermarked image; an identification processing part which compares the corrected image by the image correction processing part with the reference watermarked image and identifies an authenticity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventor: Kunihiro Manabe
  • Publication number: 20130200606
    Abstract: A method of creating an optical security element in a value document using a low-cost printing device of a data processing terminal is described. The method comprises: providing a flexible substrate having a pre-printed ink portion; wherein the pre-printed ink portion is provided in an unexposed state which does not provide an optical security function of the security element; configuring a variable laser irradiation device to determine a part of the unexposed pre-printed ink portion to be exposed to laser radiation in a machine-controlled manner, and exposing the unexposed pre-printed ink portion to laser radiation in the machine-controlled manner to create from the pre-printed ink portion a predefined pattern, wherein the optical characteristics of the pattern provide the optical security element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Inventor: Ralph Mahmoud Omar
  • Patent number: 8499918
    Abstract: A paper sheet processing apparatus capable of preventing conveyance failure. A bill processing apparatus includes a bill insertion slot, a bill conveyance mechanism capable of conveying the bill inserted from the bill insertion slot, a bill reader reading the conveyed bill, a converter which converts an image read by the bill reader into data for each pixel as a unit of a predetermined size including color information having brightness, an authenticity judging mechanism determining an authenticity based on a density value for each pixel converted by the converter and a density value for each pixel of a reference bill, a bill determination processing part for determining a damage of the bill, before the bill reader completes reading, and a controller controlling the conveyance of the bill based on a determination result by the bill determination processing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventor: Takao Nireki
  • Patent number: 8496246
    Abstract: A paper-sheet-thickness detecting device includes a reference roller provided on a fixed rotation shaft; a detection roller provided to face and come into contact with the reference roller; a detection block in which the detection roller is provided at one end and the other end is rotatably fixed around a fulcrum shaft so that the detection block is turned and displaced according to a thickness of a paper sheet passing through between the reference and detection rollers; a holding block that holds the fulcrum shaft; a first pressing member fixed to the holding block to maintain contact between the detection and reference rollers by pressing the detection block, the first pressing member being displaced according to rotation and displacement of the detection block when the paper sheet passes through between the reference and detection rollers; and a displacement detector that detects a displacement amount of the first pressing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Glory Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiko Muranaka, Kazuhito Ogawa
  • Patent number: 8494249
    Abstract: A paper sheet recognition apparatus recognizes a type of a paper sheet in an input image by matching the input image of the paper sheet with reference images of a plurality of paper sheets. The apparatus includes a candidate selecting unit that selects a predetermined number of candidate types of the paper sheet based on a density feature and direction features of each block acquired by uniformly dividing the input image and the reference images; and a detailed judgment unit that adaptively divides the input image into blocks according to features of a reference image corresponding to each type of paper sheets selected by the candidate selecting unit, and performs a detailed judgment based on matching values between corresponding blocks of the divided input image and each of the reference images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Glory Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Yonezawa, Kazuhiro Ohmatsu, Hirofumi Kameyama
  • Patent number: 8483472
    Abstract: A paper sheet identification apparatus capable of identifying an authenticity of a watermark area formed on a paper sheet is provided without increasing the cost. The paper sheet identification apparatus includes: a light receiving part receiving reflected light from a watermarked image formed on a paper sheet to be conveyed, a converter converting the reflected light from the watermarked image received by the light receiving part for each pixel as a unit of a predetermined size including color information having brightness; and an identification processing part identifying the authenticity of the watermarked image based on a correlation coefficient, which is calculated from a density value for each pixel converted by the converter and a density value for each pixel by the transmitted light from the watermarked image of the bill serving as a reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventor: Kunihiro Manabe
  • Patent number: 8478019
    Abstract: A first plurality of documents is received, transported, and imaged to produce image data. Identifying information is extracted from the image data for each of the first plurality of documents. The document processing device determines whether each of the first plurality of documents satisfies a flag criterion. In response to one of the first plurality of documents satisfying the flag criterion, a visually readable image of at least a portion of the flagged document is displayed using the image data associated with a flagged document and a find document element is displayed. An activation of the find document element is received and the flagged document is designated as a find document by storing the extracted identifying information associated with the find document in a find document queue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: Frank M. Csulits, William J. Jones, Douglas U. Mennie, Matthew L. Anderson, Robert J. Klein, Ralf H. Jaeger, David R. Badalamenti
  • Patent number: 8472719
    Abstract: A method of identifying stricken-out characters in handwriting, comprising parsing a scanned image into regions and objects, defining objects containing handwritten characters, applying structural or feature classifiers for primary character recognition, applying one or more supplemental feature classifiers preliminarily trained by strike-out characters, and identifying a stricken-out character if any. The stricken-out character may be further examined by special procedures, either automated or manual.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: ABBYY Software Ltd.
    Inventors: Diar Tuganbaev, Dmitri Deriaguine
  • Patent number: 8472092
    Abstract: A document scanner (10) includes an input tray (30) for holding documents (20) prior to imaging; an output tray (150) for holding documents after the documents exit the scanner; an output image capture device (140) for capturing images of the output tray; an image processor for determining characteristics of the output tray or characteristic of the documents after the documents exit the scanner; and scanner functions are modified based on the output tray characteristics or the document characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: David M. Schaertel, Daniel P. Phinney, Marybeth Schmidt, Bruce A. Link, Bruce A. Holroyd
  • Publication number: 20130156288
    Abstract: Systems and methods for locating characters on a document are provided. In one embodiment, a method for locating characters on a document includes receiving an image of a document, identifying a set of character candidate forms in the image based on image intensity data, identifying a set of characters from the set of character candidate forms based on spatial characteristics of the set of character candidate forms, and outputting a location of the set of characters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: DE LA RUE NORTH AMERICA INC.
    Inventor: DE LA RUE NORTH AMERICA INC.
  • Patent number: 8467591
    Abstract: A batch of currency bills is received, transported, and imaged to produce image data that is reproducible as a visually readable image of at least a portion of each of the currency bills. Serial numbers are extracted from the image data for each of the currency bills. Each extracted serial number is compared with a plurality of serial numbers in a first currency bill database to determine if a currency bill associated with an extracted serial number is a suspect currency bill. Each extracted serial number is further compared with a plurality of serial numbers in a second currency bill database to determine if one of the plurality of currency bills associated with an extracted serial number is a suspect currency bill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: Frank M. Csulits, William J. Jones, Douglas U. Mennie, Matthew L. Anderson, Robert J. Klein, Ralf H. Jaeger, David R. Badalamenti
  • Patent number: 8464875
    Abstract: We provide an apparatus and method for analysing a security document. An x-ray source is adapted to illuminate at least one inspection region of the security document when located at an inspection position. An x-ray detector adapted to receive x-rays from the at least one inspection region of the document and to generate a corresponding detector response. A processor analyses the detector response and generates an output signal indicative of the structure of the document in the at least one inspection region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: De la Rue International Limited
    Inventors: Ronald Bruce Blair, Alexandre Gret
  • Patent number: 8467566
    Abstract: A method is provided for authenticating an image printed at a predefined print resolution or in accordance with a predetermined print grid. The method includes the steps of scanning the image to produce digital data and segmenting the data into first and second groups corresponding, respectively, to first and second predefined sections of the image. Next, a determination is made concerning the anticipated spatial position of select columns of digital data from each of the first and second groups of data. By examining the data, differences may be identified between the anticipated and actual spatial position of the columns, to determine the authenticity of the image. The identified differences which may include (i) a rotary/linear displacement in the actual spatial position of the select columns. (ii) a change in beat frequency between sections of the image, and/or (iii) a phase shift in a beat frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick W. Ryan, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20130148874
    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: February 6, 2013
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: CUMMINS-ALLISON CORP.
    Inventor: CUMMINS-ALLISON CORP.
  • Publication number: 20130142414
    Abstract: An exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a light detection device including a first detecting portion to detect fluorescence from a first detection position on a conveyor path along which a sheet is conveyed, a second detecting portion to detect afterglow from a second detection position on the conveyor path along which the sheet is conveyed, a lighting portion to apply excitation light over a range including the first detection position and not including the second detection position, a first reference member which includes fluorescent material that emits fluorescence by being excited by the lighting portion and which emits reference light toward the first detecting portion, a second reference member to emit reference light toward the second detecting portion when the sheet is present at the second detection position, the reference light not influencing a result of detection by the second detecting portion, and a correction controller to correct a result of detection by the first dete
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
  • Patent number: 8452071
    Abstract: A self-service terminal for storing currency, includes a detection unit, an image capturing unit, a database, and a serial number reading unit. The detection unit detects the currency. The image capturing unit is connected to the detection unit, and captures an image of a side of the currency on which a string of serial numbers are printed. The database is connected to the image capturing unit. The database includes depositor's information stored therein. The database saves the image therein. The serial number reading unit is connected to the database. The serial number reading unit captures the string of serial numbers from image. The database saves the string of serial numbers therein, and associates the string of serial numbers with the information of the depositor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Kun Shih, Wan-Cheng Luo, Xiao-Mao Xie, Wei Xu, Xiang-Xiong Xiao
  • Patent number: 8447094
    Abstract: Techniques and systems are disclosed to perform, in some examples, the steps of receiving a note or an image of a note, imaging at least a portion of the note, determining a value of at least one field indicated by a predetermined identifier of the note through character and mark recognition, and storing information regarding the note in a memory. The information regarding the note that may be stored in a memory may be forwarded to a regulatory agency or an external entity for reporting or record-keeping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Bank of America Corporation
    Inventor: Matthew Alexander Calman
  • Patent number: 8447093
    Abstract: A bill processing apparatus capable of conducting accurately an authenticity judgment of a bill, which is caused to expand or contract, and an authenticity judgment process method employed therein. The bill processing apparatus includes a bill reader reading a bill, a reference data storage part storing an allowable range acceptable from a reference value as a standard length of a printed area on each surface thereof; and a comparison judgment part executing an authenticity judgment process by comparing the corrected data with an allowable ranged for the other surface stored in the storage part, the actual measurement data on the other surface being corrected based on a correction value calculated with respect to the actual measurement data for the one surface, when the actual measurement data of the length of the printed area of the one surface is out of the allowable range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventor: Takao Nireki
  • Patent number: 8442295
    Abstract: A system includes an imager that images an object, which includes a marker that is visually obscured, a marker identifier that identifies markers in the image of the object, and an image processor that combines the image of the object and a visual representation for the identified marker into a combined image, wherein a presence of a visual representation for the marker included with the object in the combined image indicates the object is authentic. A method includes imaging an object that includes a visually obscured marker and generating an image of the object, identifying the marker in the image of the object, generating a combined image that includes the image of the object and a visual representation of the identified marker, presenting the combined image, wherein the object is authenticated as not counterfeit in response to the visual representation of the marker corresponding to a reference authentication marker for the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Analogic Corporation
    Inventor: Jonathan Sam
  • Publication number: 20130114876
    Abstract: The present invention proposes a method for generating a security bi-level image used to form one of the inks of a banknote, said image comprising an original bi-level image and a security pattern, said security pattern being obtained in the spatial domain by the inverse Fourier transform of the combination in the frequency domain between the Fourier transform of an auxiliary image and a two-dimensional sweep, said two-dimensional sweep being a circularly symmetric, two-dimensional pattern created by sweeping a self-similar, one-dimensional function along a 360-degree arc, such as said security pattern being detectable from the maximum value of the cross-correlation of said one-dimensional function with the Fourier transform of one line of said banknote, said method comprising the step of:—determining a distance map of the original bi-level image,—generating a merged image by linearly interpolating at least a part of said distance map with said security pattern,—thresholding the merged image to obtain the sec
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventors: Nicolas Rudaz, Martin Kutter, Frederic Jordan, Jean-Claude Gilles, Pierre Durant
  • Patent number: 8437530
    Abstract: A stack of a stack of currency bills is received, transported, and imaged. Image data reproducible as a visually readable image of one or more portions of at least one side of each currency bill in the stack is obtained. A serial number and at least one or more additional characters are extracted from the image data for each currency bill. A processor compares the extracted serial number and corresponding extracted one or more additional characters with stored serial number information and corresponding stored additional character information associated with the serial number information of genuine currency bills. The stored serial number information and corresponding stored additional character information uniquely identify a genuine currency bill. Any currency bill that does not have one or more extracted additional characters matching the stored serial number information and corresponding stored additional character information is flagged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: Douglas U. Mennie, William J. Jones, Frank M. Csulits, Matthew L. Anderson, Robert J. Klein, Ralf H. Jaeger, David R. Badalamenti
  • Patent number: 8437528
    Abstract: A stack of documents is received, transported, and imaged to produce image data. The image data associated with each document is reproducible as a visually readable image of at least a portion of a respective document. The document processing device determines whether each document satisfies one or more certain flag criteria. A document that satisfies one or more of the certain flag criteria is a flagged document. In response to one of the documents satisfying one of the certain flag criteria, the document processing device continues to transport subsequent documents in the stack of documents and displays on a display unit of the document processing device a visually readable image of at least a portion of the flagged document using the image data associated with the flagged document and a positional locator associated with the location of the flagged document in the output receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: Frank M. Csulits, William J. Jones, Douglas U. Mennie, Matthew L. Anderson, Robert J. Klein, Ralf H. Jaeger, David R. Badalamenti
  • Patent number: 8437529
    Abstract: A stack of currency bills is received, transported, and imaged via an image scanner to produce image data that is reproducible as a visually readable image for each currency bill. Each of the currency bills has an associated serial number and additional identifying character information. The associated currency bill serial number and the additional identifying character information are extracted from the image data of each currency bill. Each currency bill is denominated. A suspect determination is made for each currency bill and upon a determination that a currency bill is a suspect bill, A suspect note report is automatically generated. Fields in the report are populated with information associated with the suspect bill including the extracted serial number, the extracted additional identifying character information, and the denomination of the suspect bill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: Douglas U. Mennie, Antony D. Susai, William J. Jones, Frank M. Csulits, Matthew L. Anderson, Robert J. Klein, Ralf H. Jaeger, David R. Badalamenti, Dale E. Beutel
  • Publication number: 20130108142
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for tracing bank notes, wherein bank notes are inserted into an automated teller machine having a deposit function and are checked for authenticity, wherein a serial number of the bank note is detected and is stored as text together with transaction data. In addition, a serial number image of the bank notes is detected which forms an image detail of the bank note in an area of the bank note intended for the serial number, the detected serial number image with the serial number and the transaction data are stored and the serial number images are compared with the forged bank note if the serial number of the forged bank note has not been completely identified and/or if a comparison of the serial number of the forged bank note does not produce an agreement with the at least one stored serial number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: WINCOR NIXDORF INTERNATIONAL GMBH
    Inventor: Werner Klein
  • Patent number: 8433126
    Abstract: A check and U.S. bank note processing device configured to process both checks and U.S. bank notes. The device comprises an input receptacle configured to receive checks and U.S. bank notes and an output receptacle. The device further comprises a transport mechanism configured to transport the checks and U.S. bank notes from the input receptacle past an image scanner. The image scanner is configured to obtain an image of each check and U.S. bank note transported past the image scanner. The device is configured to determine the serial numbers of U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner. The device further comprises a memory configured to store the determined serial numbers of U.S. bank notes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: John E. Jones, Paul A. Jones, William J. Jones, Douglas U. Mennie
  • Patent number: 8433123
    Abstract: A document processing system includes a communications port and a controller. The communications port is configured to communicatively couple the document processing system to a network and to receive a data file associated with a deposit amount. The data file includes customer deposit information associated with documents. The controller is configured to determine if any of the first plurality of documents are suspect documents based on a comparison of the customer deposit information with suspect information. The controller is configured to generate a credit instruction for an amount equal to a percentage of the deposit amount minus an amount associated with ones of the documents determined to be suspect documents. In response to the controller determining that one of the first plurality of documents is a suspect document, the controller is configured to transmit a notice over the network. The notice includes image data associated with the determined suspect document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: Frank M. Csulits, William J. Jones, Douglas U. Mennie, Matthew L. Anderson, Robert J. Klein, Gary P. Watts, John E. Jones, Paul A. Jones, Ralf H. Jaeger, David R. Badalamenti
  • Patent number: 8433124
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting an optically variable material are provided. According to an illustrative embodiment, a method for detecting an optically variable material includes capturing a first image of at least a portion of a document while the at least a portion of the document is subjected to a first electromagnetic radiation from a first angle of incidence, and capturing a second image of at least a portion of the document while the at least a portion of the document is subjected to a second electromagnetic radiation from a second angle of incidence. The first angle of incidence is different from the second angle of incidence. The first and second images are captured by an imaging device that has substantially fixed position. The method also includes comparing the first image to the second image to determine whether an optically variable material is present on the document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: De La Rue North America Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Bruce Blair, Alexander Parkov
  • Patent number: 8433125
    Abstract: A method and apparatus authenticating a bill. The method irradiates infrared light having a predetermined wavelength onto a print area of a genuine bill, stores transmitted light data of light transmitted through the genuine bill as reference data, irradiates infrared light having the predetermined wavelength onto a print area of the bill to be authenticated, and compares transmitted light data of infrared light transmitted through the bill with the reference data. The method further determines in advance at least two specific regions having different invisibility under different lights of different wavelengths in a print area of the bill, applies a predetermined weighting to the transmitted light data of light in the specific regions of the bill to be authenticated and the genuine bill, and compares the weighted data with each other. Based on comparison results the bill is authenticated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventor: Takao Nireki
  • Patent number: 8428332
    Abstract: A batch of bills is received, transported, and imaged to produce image data. The image data is reproducible as a visually readable image of at least a portion of each of the plurality of currency bills. Each currency bill includes a respective serial number. The serial numbers are extracted from the image data for each of the currency bills. Each extracted serial number is compared with a plurality of serial numbers in a currency bill database to determine if a currency bill associated with an extracted serial number is a suspect currency bill. One of the plurality of currency bills is determined to be a suspect currency bill based on the comparing. In response to determining the suspect currency bill, at least a portion of the produced image data is displayed as a visually readable image of the suspect currency bill on a display unit of the document processing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: Frank M. Csulits, William J. Jones, Douglas U. Mennie, Matthew L. Anderson, Robert J. Klein, Gary P. Watts, John E. Jones, Ralf H. Jaeger, David R. Badalamenti
  • Patent number: 8422732
    Abstract: An apparatus and method specify the presence/absence of an alteration and an alteration position of an image. A block-division unit divides image data into image data of a first unit including a predetermined number of pixels. A block calculation unit calculates an image data coefficient of the first unit. A cell-division unit divides one image data of the first unit into image data of a second unit. A cell calculation unit calculates an image data coefficient of the second unit. First verification data is generated by selecting two image data coefficients of the first unit and generating, for one pair, data representing the magnitude relation of the image data coefficients of the first unit. Second verification data is generated by selecting two image data coefficients of the second unit and generating, for one pair, data representing the magnitude relation of the image data coefficients of the second unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichi Okihara, Koji Harada, Junichi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8417017
    Abstract: A method of using a document processing system includes receiving a target serial number via an input device communicatively connected to a document processing system and determining if the target serial number exactly matches one of a plurality of stored serial numbers residing in a memory. Each stored serial number is associated with a record. Each record includes customer account identification information that can be used to identify a customer account previously credited for a deposit of a currency bill having the stored serial number. In response to the target serial number not exactly matching any of the stored serial numbers, the method further includes displaying a wildcard search element on a display of the document processing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: Dale E. Beutel, Frank M. Csulits, Douglas U. Mennie, Matthew L. Anderson, Robert J. Klein, Ralf H. Jaeger, David R. Badalamenti
  • Patent number: 8417016
    Abstract: An acceptor device for sheet objects such as banknotes, comprises a sensor to derive data corresponding to a spatial array of data samples from a face of a sheet object, said data being configured in a sampling frame that lies within a range of positional relationships to a reference frame. The acceptor device also comprises a processor operable to process the data to determine the relationship between the reference frame and the sampling frame for the sensed data, and being operable to transform pre-selected regions of the sensed data from the sampling frame so as to correspond to data in the reference frame, and to make a comparison of the transformed data with reference data corresponding to the pre-selected regions in the reference frame and to the sheet object depending on the outcome of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Money Controls Limited
    Inventors: Malcolm Reginald Hallas Bell, Kevin Charles Mulvey, Andrew William Barson, John Ashby
  • Patent number: 8406499
    Abstract: A counterfeit currency detector including a tubular body having a forward end and a rearward end, a contact assembly mounted at the forward end of the tubular body, and a counterfeit solution applicator mounted at the rearward end of the tubular body. The contact assembly includes an ultraviolet light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Dri-Mark Products
    Inventor: Mark Dobbs
  • Patent number: 8405881
    Abstract: An image processing device includes an additional image formation unit configured to form an additional image having a first predetermined density. At least a part of the additional image is overlaid with a main image having a second predetermined density, the main image being formed on an image formation medium. A boundary image formation unit is configured to form a boundary image which is formed in an area defined in the vicinity of an overlaid area where the additional image is overlaid with the main image. A density of the boundary image is lower than both the first predetermined density and the second predetermined density. A synthesized image formation unit is configured to synthesize the main image, additional image and the boundary image to form a synthesized image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akihiro Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8403207
    Abstract: A method of recording a transaction relating to a security document is disclosed. Coded data portions are provided on the security document, with each coded data portion encoding an identity of the security document and part of a signature. The signature is a digital signature of the identity. A sensing device senses at least one coded data portion. From the coded data portion sensed by the sensing device a determined identity and a determined signature part are determined. The security document is authenticated using the determined identity and the determined signature part. Transaction data associated with the security document, stored in a data store, is updated upon successful authentication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Paul Lapstun
  • Patent number: 8400509
    Abstract: A value document authentication apparatus and system that includes value document substrates having a uniform distribution of one or more phosphors that emit infrared radiation in one or more wavelengths, which can be measured at the same location on the value document that is illuminated by a phosphor exciting light source when the document passes the light source with a uniform velocity. The illumination and measurement locations on the value document can be offset. The measured infrared radiation as a series of overlapped measurements along a pre-selected track in the value document represents an intensity profile, which can be normalized after removing high variations. The normalized intensity profile of a test value document can be compared with normalized intensity profile from valid reference documents to authenticate the test value document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: William Ross Rapoport, Kwong Wing Au, James Kane, Carsten Lau
  • Patent number: 8401268
    Abstract: A document processing device includes a controller and a sensor arrangement. The sensor arrangement illuminates a surface of documents. The gradient index lens array collects light reflected from the documents and transmits at least a portion of the collected reflected light onto a photodetector array. The photodetector array generates one or more electrical signals in response to a gradient index lens transmitting light thereon. The controller derives data including image data from the one or more electrical signals. The image data is reproducible as a visually readable image of the surface of the documents. The visually readable image has a resolution such that alphanumeric characters can be extracted from the visually readable image in response to the document remaining within a depth of field of the gradient index lens array while being transported via the transport mechanism. The depth of field is at least about 0.03 inches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: Araz Yacoubian, Frank M. Csulits, Danny D. Yang, Douglas U. Mennie, Tomasz M. Jagielinski
  • Patent number: 8396278
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: John E. Jones, William J. Jones, Douglas U. Mennie, Paul A. Jones
  • Patent number: 8391609
    Abstract: A method of pattern and image recognition and identification includes building a data store of known patterns or images having known attributes and comparing those patterns to unknown patterns. The data store and comparison processing may be distributed across processors. A digital pattern recognition engine on each of the processors has the ability to compare a known pattern from the data store and an unknown pattern and compare the two patterns to determine whether the patterns constitute a match based on match criteria. If the comparison indicates a match, the match may be communicated to the data store and added as a known pattern with detected attributes to the data store. If the comparison does not indicate a match, the pattern may be flagged, transmitted to manual recognition, or further processed using character thresholding or cutting or slicing the pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Inventors: Stephen G. Huntington, Bevan Rowley, E Derek Rowley
  • Patent number: 8387867
    Abstract: An automated banking machine controlled responsive to data bearing records includes a card reader that reads identifying data from a user card. A host banking system authorizes operation of an automated banking machine responsive to computer verification of the identifying data. The automated banking machine can dispense cash to an authorized machine user in a cash dispensing transaction, and have the user's bank account charged for the cash amount dispensed. The automated banking machine can acquire image and magnetic data from deposited checks to determine the genuineness of checks and the authority of a user to receive cash for the checks. Cash can be dispensed from the machine to a user in exchange for a deposited check.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Diebold Self-Service Systems division of Diebold, Incorporated
    Inventors: Songtao Ma, David A. Peters
  • Patent number: 8391583
    Abstract: Currency bills are received, transported, and imaged to produce image data from which a visually readable image of each currency bill can be reproduced. Each of the currency bills includes a denomination, a serial number, and a set of secondary identifiers. One of the currency bills is determined to be a suspect bill. The suspect bill serial number is attempted to be extracted from the image data associated with the suspect bill. In response to failing to extract a complete serial number of the suspect bill, a serial number field in a suspect report is populated with a serial number snippet image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: Douglas U. Mennie, Antony D. Susai, William J. Jones, Frank M. Csulits, Matthew L. Anderson, Robert J. Klein, Ralf H. Jaeger, David R. Badalamenti, Dale E. Beutel
  • Publication number: 20130044934
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a detection device for detecting a detectable property of currency, wherein the detection device has a detection surface at least one of embedded into the detection device and within a handheld portion is provided. Furthermore, a method of detecting counterfeit currency is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Inventor: Trent Alan Tolene
  • Publication number: 20130044935
    Abstract: The method may be used in the devices for banknote detecting, counting or sorting; it may be used to determine the banknote main characteristics: its currency type and denomination. The method is based on a computational processing of the banknote digital image formed in the device during scanning. Increase in the banknote processing speed is the technical result. The first variant of the method envisages a preliminary classification and further checking of correspondence to selected possible classes according to several criteria typical for each particular class. For checking of correspondence, an admissibility of the value of interrelation characteristic for two areas is validated. According to the second variant, there is made classification on the base of a banknote digital image and for each possible class the measure of the banknote correspondence to the image is calculated and used for ranking, the banknote is referred to the class closest to it by the measure of correspondence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: Obshhestvo S Ogranichennoj Otvetstvennost JU "Kons trucktorskoe Bjurd Dors
    Inventors: Petr Valer'evich Minin, Vladislav Igorevich Korotenko, Dmitry Evgen'evich Sheshukov, Dmitry Gennadievich Pis'Menny
  • Publication number: 20130034290
    Abstract: A method and a portable terminal for identifying a counterfeit bill. The method includes receiving, by the portable terminal, an image of a bill photographed using visible rays and an image of the bill photographed using infrared rays; determining a denomination of the bill by comparing the image photographed using the visible rays with a denomination database; obtaining correction information for making the image photographed using the visible rays correspond to a corresponding bill image in the denomination database; forming a corrected image by correcting the image photographed using the infrared rays using the correction information; binary-coding the corrected image; and determining whether the bill is counterfeit by comparing the binary-coded corrected image with an image of the corresponding bill pre-stored in a genuine bill database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-Hyuk LEE, Jung-Kee LEE, Seong-Taek HWANG, Do-Hyeon KIM
  • Patent number: 8358825
    Abstract: In order to intuitively inform a reject reason, a money handling system 100 includes: a reception unit configured to take banknotes one by one thereinto; a recognition unit configured to recognize the banknotes taken by the reception unit; a stacking unit configured to stack banknotes; a reject unit configured to stack rejected banknotes; a reject light-emitting unit configured to emit light in a plurality of manners; a transport unit configured to transport the banknotes taken by the reception unit to the stacking unit or the reject unit; and a control unit configured to control the reject light-emitting unit to emit light in a manner that differs from one reject reason to another reject reason of a rejected banknote, when the rejected banknote is recognized by the recognition unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Glory Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Matsuura, Masanori Nose
  • Patent number: 8355558
    Abstract: A money handling system includes: a sort pattern setting unit 107 configured to set a sort pattern showing one or more denominations of the banknotes to be sorted into the stacking units 103; a storage unit 109 configured to store the sort pattern set by the sort pattern setting unit 107, and to store a recognition result and a count result by the recognition unit 102 on the banknotes stacked in the stacking units 103; and a control unit 108 configured to control the transport unit 105 so as to transport the banknotes respectively to the stacking units 103 and the reject unit 104, based on the recognition result by the recognition unit 102 and the sort pattern stored in the storage unit 109.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Glory Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Matsuura, Hajime Morino, Osamu Ito
  • Publication number: 20130004054
    Abstract: A method and apparatus authenticating a bill. The method irradiates infrared light having a predetermined wavelength onto a print area of a genuine bill, stores transmitted light data of light transmitted through the genuine bill as reference data, irradiates infrared light having the predetermined wavelength onto a print area of the bill to be authenticated, and compares transmitted light data of infrared light transmitted through the bill with the reference data. The method further determines in advance at least two specific regions having different invisibility under different lights of different wavelengths in a print area of the bill, applies a predetermined weighting to the transmitted light data of light in the specific regions of the bill to be authenticated and the genuine bill, and compares the weighted data with each other. Based on comparison results the bill is authenticated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takao NIREKI
  • Patent number: 8345326
    Abstract: A bill processing machine according to the present invention includes an element array portion and a light guiding member. The element array portion is arranged so as to face one side of a conveyance path of a bill, and includes a light receiving element group, a light emitting element and an other side light receiving element. The light receiving element group includes a plurality of light receiving elements, and an arrangement direction of the light receiving elements is perpendicular to a conveyance direction of a bill. The light emitting element is arranged on one side of the arrangement direction of the light receiving elements. The other side light receiving element is arranged on an other side of the arrangement direction of the light receiving elements. The light guiding member is arranged opposite to the element array portion with respect to the conveyance path so that the light guiding member and the element array portion sandwiches the conveyance path therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Laurel Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriaki Kitagaki, Akio Funato
  • Publication number: 20120328179
    Abstract: There is described a method for checking the authenticity of security documents, in particular banknotes, wherein authentic security documents comprise security features (41-49; 30; 10; 51, 52) printed, applied or otherwise provided on the security documents, which security features comprise characteristic visual features intrinsic to the processes used for producing the security documents. The method comprises the step of digitally processing a sample image of at least one region of interest (R.o.I.) of the surface of a candidate document to be authenticated, which region of interest encompasses at least part of the security features, the digital processing including performing a decomposition of the sample image by means of wavelet transform (WT) of the sample image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: KBA-NOTASYS SA
    Inventors: Stefan Glock, Eugen Gillich, Johannes Georg Scheade, Volker Lohweg
  • Patent number: 8339678
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for image processing are disclosed, each of which obtains a mark from image data, detects additional information in the mark, determines whether the mark is detected in the mark to generate a determination result, and controls processing performed by an image processing apparatus with respect to the image data based on the determination result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Ishikawa, Hiroshi Shimura