EP0718809A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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A method and apparatus for characterizing and discriminating bank notes and legal currency
Assignee: Azkoyen Industrial SA
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Filing: 1995-12-19
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2015-12-19
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for the characterization and discrimination of bank notes and documents that are legal tender, the method for which is based on break down of the surfaces of documents into different characteristic zones, for the posterior detailed analysis of each zone under special conditions which are determined according to the characteristics of each. The method includes a process for self-calibration of the apparatus together with another for the automatic centering of documents. The apparatus includes an optical system composed of plates (3 and 4) between which the document moves, at least one mirror (11) which directs the image at a lineal photosensor (8), a diaphragm (10) which corrects luminosity and focus, and a meniscus lens (9), there also being a source of infrared illumination (13) and a broad spectrum light source (14).
Inventors
- 👤 Jesus Echapare Ibarrola
- 👤 Angel Ormazabal Aramburu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 09:03
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10544; G06K7/10821; G06K7/10851; G07; G07D; G07D7/00; G07D7/06; G07D7/12; G07D7/121; G06K7/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
A method for characterizing and discriminating bank notes and documents which are legal tender, including transport of the note or document to be analyzed along a route in which the said document is illuminated, and images of the same are acquired by a lineal sensor, while analysis of the colouration of the said images is undertaken, characterized in that it includes the stages of: a) identification of the denomination and position of the note to be analyzed on its entrance into the above-mentioned route; b) the selection of certain characteristic areas of the note depending on its denomination and entrance position, defining these by their dimensions and position within the note by their coordinates respecting the original edges of the note; and c) carrying out individual analysis of the said zones under particular conditions which depend on the characteristics of each zone; having carried out, before images of the note are acquired, a self-calibration process to compensate for tolerances and deviations of the image acquisition system: while during the transport of the note successive measurements are made of its self-centering throughout the image acquisition zone.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the self-calibration process includes the stages of: a) obtaining a first lineal reading without a note and illumination, and storing the values obtained which correspond to each photoelement of the lineal sensor, which serve as reference zero for the signal; and b) obtaining a second lineal reading without a note and with illumination by each of the different available sources of illumination, and storing the values obtained in the memory, these corresponding to each photoelement contained within the lineal sensor and for each one of the sources of illumination, these representing the bottom of the scale of the measuring system or a percentage of the same.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the denomination and position in which notes are introduced are determined by measurement of their width and the identification of those characteristics that are present at the initial zone of the document.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
69 words
A method according to claim 1, characterized in that once the characteristic zones of the document have been selected, each of these is assigned, as particular conditions for undertaking its analysis, the type and intensity of illumination to be used, the resolution and sensitivity of the image capture system, signal processing and the detection of the identifying parameters for each zone, and the speed of transport of the document.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
29 words
A method according to claims 1 and 4, characterized in that zones are defined for multiple analysis, in which two or more image acquisitions are made under different conditions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method according to claim 1, characterized in that analysis of the image of each zone is undertaken by obtaining curves of the colour profiles, on the basis of the colour level distribution matrixes within the said zone, and by the extraction, on the basis of these curves of parameters of interest, such as minimums, absolute maximums and relative maximums, points of inflection, mean value and range.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
96 words
A method according to claim 1, characterized in that during the initial phase of the reading of notes, and by transmission illumination the position of each side of the note in question is detected in the lineal sensor, and the origin of coordinates is then assigned to the sensor element corresponding to the side of the note that is closest to the start of the said sensor; after which successive measurements of the positions of the sides of the note are made, on its passage through the image acquisition zone to check on its being centered.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
75 words
A method according to claim 1, characterized in that during the initial phase of the reading of notes, and by transmission illumination, successive lines are acquired during the advance of the note, and for each line the number of elements of the lineal sensor that are interrupted is analyzed, accepting alignment of the document as correct when this goes above a preestablished minimum number of elements that are interrupted during acquisition of the first lines.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
175 words
Apparatus for the characterization and discrimination of bank notes and documents that are legal tender, which includes means for transport and guiding (1,2,3,4), means of illumination (13, 14), a lineal photosensor (8) and electronic means for the processing of signals (15,16,17,18,19,20) characterized in that it contains an optical system that is composed of: a lower plate (4) which is translucent with a diffusor surface and an upper plate (3) that is transparent, between which notes pass within the observation zone; at least one frontal mirror (12) which directs images to the lineal photosensor (8); a corrective diaphragm (11) for luminosity and focusing control between the mirror (12) and the lineal photosensor (8); and a meniscus lens (9) located immediately behind the diaphragm (11); and in that the means of illumination include an infrared light source (13), formed by a line of photodiodes which are positioned in such a way that they illuminate documents by transmission, and a broad spectrum light source (14) which is positioned in such a way that it illuminates documents by reflection.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the line of photodiodes of the infrared light source (13) is composed of different groupings of photodiodes, each of which is powered by its own source of electricity.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the line of photodiodes presents a higher concentration of photodiodes at its ends than it does in the central zone.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the broad spectrum light source (14) is composed of incandescent lamps, preferentially two halogen lamps located close to the sides of the apparatus.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claims 9 and 12, characterized in that between the broad spectrum light source (14) and the document there is a filter (12) which completely or partially eliminates infrared radiation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the broad spectrum light source (14) is a fluorescent lamp.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the lineal photosensor (8) is a lineal CCD colour sensor with outputs in red, green and blue.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the lineal photosensor (8) is a group of photodiode triads with filters that are red, green and blue.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the lineal photosensor (8) is a monochrome lineal CCD sensor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
79 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the electronic signal processing equipment includes a video amplifier (15), an analogue - digital converter (16), and a microprocessor unit (17) characterized in that it also includes a digital - analogue converter unit (20) the outputs from which control the range of the analogue - digital converter (16), the reference level of the video amplifier (15) and the level of illumination provided by the infrared (13) and white (14) light sources.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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