Patent US6104036A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6104036A
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Apparatus and method for detecting a security feature in a currency note
Assignee: Global Payment Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1998-02-12
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Granted: 2000-08-15
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Expires: 2018-02-12
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method for detecting watermark and security thread in a currency note. Optical sensing circuits positioned from the surface of the currency note rely upon the transmissive and reflective characteristics of the security features and the note itself to determine the authenticity of the note and the security feature. The apparatus and methods determine a difference signal between the transmissive and reflective light signals and compare the difference signal to a series of known difference signals.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas W. Mazowiesky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:51
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10544; G06K7/10821; G06K7/10851
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 60
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for detecting a security feature in a currency note comprising: illuminating an area of the currency note with a light source; receiving a reflected light signal at a first sensor; receiving a transmissive light signal at a second sensor; converting the reflected and transmissive light signals into digital waveforms; and comparing the reflected light signal waveform with the transmissive light signal waveform to detect the presence or absence of a security feature.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for detecting a security feature in a currency note comprising: illuminating an area of the currency note with a light source; receiving a reflected light signal at a first sensor; receiving a transmissive light signal at a second sensor; converting the reflected and transmissive light signals into digital waveforms; and comparing the reflected light signal waveform with the transmissive light signal waveform to detect the presence or absence of a security feature.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is angularly positioned on a side of the currency note, and wherein the step of receiving the reflected light signal includes the substep of receiving the reflective light signal from a surface of the currency note.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the second sensor is angularly positioned on an opposite side of the currency note, and wherein the step of receiving the transmissive light signal includes the substep of receiving the transmissive light signal passing through the currency note.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the light source is angularly positioned on a side from the currency note.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1, the light source including at least one light emitting diode (LED), and the step of illuminating including the substep of projecting, from the at least one LED, an infrared light beam onto an area of the currency note containing the security feature.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 5, the at least one LED emits visible light.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the light source includes at least one laser diode and the step of illuminating includes the substep of: projecting from the at least one light emitting diode a laser light beam onto an area of the currency note containing the security feature.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 5, the substep of projecting further includes the substeps of: receiving the infrared light beam at an aperture; adjusting the aperture to produce a narrow beam of infrared light; and focusing the narrow beam of infrared light with a focusing lens on the area containing the security feature.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method of claim 8, wherein the first sensor includes a photodetector optically coupled to the light source having an output that is connected to an analog to digital (A/D) converter, and wherein the step of receiving, at the first sensor, includes the substeps of: receiving the reflected light signal at the photodetector; converting a signal output from the photodetector to a digital signal; and sampling the digital signal to produce a reflective waveform signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the second sensor includes a photodetector optically coupled to the light source having an output that is connected to the A/D converter, and wherein the step of receiving, at the second sensor, includes the substeps of: receiving the reflected light signal at the photodetector; converting a signal output from the photodetector to a digital signal; and sampling the digital signal to produce a transmissive waveform signal.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
79 words
The method of 10, wherein a polarity of the transmissive waveform signal is opposite a polarity of the reflective waveform signal and the step of comparing includes the substeps of: normalizing the reflective waveform signal and transmissive waveform signal to create two identically scaled waveforms; inverting the polarity of the scaled transmissive waveform signal; and subtracting the inverted and scaled transmissive waveform signal from the scaled reflective waveform signal to obtain a difference signal; and outputting the difference signal.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
79 words
The method of 10, wherein a polarity of the transmissive waveform signal is opposite a polarity of the reflective waveform signal and the step of comparing includes the substeps of: normalizing the reflective waveform signal and transmissive waveform signal to create two identically scaled waveforms; inverting the polarity of the scaled transmissive waveform signal; and subtracting the inverted and scaled transmissive waveform signal from the scaled reflective waveform signal to obtain a difference signal; and outputting the difference signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
98 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the A/D converter is coupled to a processor that includes a plurality of stored difference limits, wherein each difference limit in the plurality of difference limits corresponds to a particular security feature, and wherein the method further includes the steps of: comparing the difference signal to a difference limit in the plurality of difference limits; accepting the currency note if the difference signal is below the difference limit for the particular security feature; and rejecting the currency note if the difference signal is above the difference limit for the particular security feature.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
12 words
The method of 12, wherein the particular security feature is a watermark.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
12 words
The method of 12, wherein the particular security feature is a watermark.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 12, wherein the particular security feature is a security thread embedded within the currency note.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for detecting a security feature in a currency note comprising: illuminating a first area of the currency note with a first light source positioned on one side of the currency note; receiving, at a first sensor, a first reflected light signal positioned on the one side of the currency note; receiving, at a second sensor, a first transmissive light signal positioned on an opposite side of the currency note; illuminating a second area of the currency note with a second light source; receiving a second transmissive light signal at the first sensor; receiving a second reflective light signal at the second sensor; converting the total transmissive light signal and the total reflective light signal into digital waveforms; and comparing a total reflective signal waveform with a total transmissive signal waveform to produce a difference signal.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for detecting a security feature in a currency note comprising: illuminating a first area of the currency note with a first light source positioned on one side of the currency note; receiving, at a first sensor, a first reflected light signal positioned on the one side of the currency note; receiving, at a second sensor, a first transmissive light signal positioned on an opposite side of the currency note; illuminating a second area of the currency note with a second light source; receiving a second transmissive light signal at the first sensor; receiving a second reflective light signal at the second sensor; converting the total transmissive light signal and the total reflective light signal into digital waveforms; and comparing a total reflective signal waveform with a total transmissive signal waveform to produce a difference signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the first sensor is angularly positioned on a side of the currency note, and wherein the step of receiving the first reflected light signal includes the substep of receiving the first reflective light signal from the first area of the currency note.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the second sensor is angularly positioned on an opposite side of the currency note, and wherein the step of receiving the first transmissive light signal includes the substep of receiving the first transmissive light signal passing through the first area of the currency note.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the second area is on the opposite side of the currency note from the first area, wherein the step of receiving the second reflected light signal includes the substep of: receiving the second reflective light signal from the second area of the currency note.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 18, and wherein the step of receiving the second transmissive light signal includes the substep of. receiving the second transmissive light signal passing through the second area of currency note.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 15, wherein first light source is angularly positioned on one side of the currency note and wherein the second light source is angularly positioned on the opposite side of the currency note.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the first light source includes at least one light emitting diode, and wherein the step of illuminating the first area includes the substep of: projecting, from the at least one light emitting diode, an infrared light beam onto the first area.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 21, the at least one LED emits visible light.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 15, wherein at least one of the light sources includes at least one laser diode and the step of illuminating includes the substep of: projecting from the at least one light emitting diode a laser light beam onto an area of the currency note containing the security feature.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 21, wherein the substep of projecting includes the additional substeps of: receiving the infrared light beam at an aperture; adjusting the aperture to produce a narrow beam of infrared light; and focusing the narrow beam of infrared light, with a focusing lens, on the first area, wherein the first area contains the security feature.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 21, wherein the second light source includes at least one light emitting diode, and wherein the step of illuminating includes the substep of: projecting, from the at least one light emitting diode, an infrared light beam onto the second area.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 25, wherein the substep of projecting includes the additional substeps of: receiving the infrared light beam at the aperture; adjusting the aperture to produce a narrow beam of infrared light; and focusing the narrow beam of infrared light, with a focusing lens, on the second area, wherein the second area contains the security feature.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 21, wherein the first sensor includes a photodetector optically coupled to the first light source and the second light source, wherein the step of receiving the first reflective light signal includes the substeps of: receiving the first reflected light signal at the photodetector; and converting the first reflective light signal to a first reflective signal.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 27, wherein the substep of receiving the second reflective light signal includes the additional substeps of: receiving the second reflected light signal at the photodetector; and converting the second reflective light signal to a second reflective voltage signal.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 28, wherein the photodetector is connected to an analog to digital converter (A/D), the method further including the steps of: combining the first reflective voltage signal with the second reflective voltage signal to produce the total reflective signal; converting the total reflective signal to a reflective digital signal; and sampling the reflective digital signal to produce a total reflective waveform signal.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 21, wherein the second sensor includes a photo detector optically coupled to the first light source and the second light source, and wherein the step of receiving the first transmissive light signal includes the substeps of: receiving the first transmissive light signal at the photodetector; and converting the first transmissive light signal to a first transmissive voltage signal.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 30, wherein the substep of receiving the second transmissive light signal includes the additional substeps of: receiving the second transmissive light signal at the photodetector; and converting the second transmissive light signal to a second transmissive voltage signal.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 31, wherein the photodetector is connected to the analog to digital (A/D) converter, and the method further including the steps of: combining the first transmissive voltage signal with the second transmissive voltage signal to produce a total transmissive signal; converting the total reflected signal to a second digital signal; and sampling the digital signal to produce a total reflective waveform signal.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
84 words
The method of 32, wherein a polarity of the total transmissive waveform signal is opposite a polarity of the total reflective waveform signal, and wherein the step of comparing includes the substeps of: normalizing the total reflective waveform signal and total transmissive waveform signal to create two identically scaled waveforms; inverting the polarity of the scaled transmissive waveform signal; and subtracting the inverted and scaled transmissive waveform signal from the scaled reflective waveform signal to obtain a difference signal; and outputting the difference signal.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
84 words
The method of 32, wherein a polarity of the total transmissive waveform signal is opposite a polarity of the total reflective waveform signal, and wherein the step of comparing includes the substeps of: normalizing the total reflective waveform signal and total transmissive waveform signal to create two identically scaled waveforms; inverting the polarity of the scaled transmissive waveform signal; and subtracting the inverted and scaled transmissive waveform signal from the scaled reflective waveform signal to obtain a difference signal; and outputting the difference signal.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
97 words
The method of claim 33, wherein the A/D converter is coupled to a processor that includes a plurality of stored difference limits, wherein each difference limit in the plurality of difference limits corresponds to a particular security feature, and wherein the method further includes the steps of: comparing the difference signal to a difference limit in the plurality of difference limits; accepting the currency note if the difference signal is below the difference limit for the currency note; and rejecting the currency note if the difference signal is above the difference limit for the particular security feature.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
12 words
The method of 34, wherein the particular security feature is a watermark.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
12 words
The method of 34, wherein the particular security feature is a watermark.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 34, wherein the particular security feature is a security thread embedded within the currency note.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
101 words
An apparatus for detecting a security feature in a currency note comprising: a light source for illuminating an area of the currency note; a first sensor, optically coupled to the light source, for receiving a reflected light signal; a second sensor, optically coupled to the light source, for receiving a transmissive light signal; and a processing circuit connected to the first and second sensors for converting the reflective light signal and the transmissive light signal into digital waveforms and comparing the reflected light signal waveform with the transmissive light signal waveform to detect the presence or absence of a security feature.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
101 words
An apparatus for detecting a security feature in a currency note comprising: a light source for illuminating an area of the currency note; a first sensor, optically coupled to the light source, for receiving a reflected light signal; a second sensor, optically coupled to the light source, for receiving a transmissive light signal; and a processing circuit connected to the first and second sensors for converting the reflective light signal and the transmissive light signal into digital waveforms and comparing the reflected light signal waveform with the transmissive light signal waveform to detect the presence or absence of a security feature.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the first sensor is angularly positioned on a one side of the currency note.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the second sensor is angularly positioned on an opposite side of the currency note.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the light source is angularly positioned on from the currency note.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the light source includes a light emitting diode for projecting an infrared light beam; and a focusing lens for focusing the infrared light beam onto an area of the currency note, wherein the area contains the security feature.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the first sensor includes a photodetector optically coupled to the light source.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the photodetector is connected to the processing circuit that includes means for converting the received transmissive light signal to a voltage signal; means for converting the voltage signal to a digital signal; and means for sampling the digital signal to produce a transmissive waveform signal.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the second sensor includes a second photodetector optically coupled to the light source.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the photodetector is a phototransistor.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the photodetector is a photodiode.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the photodetector is connected to the processing circuit that includes means for converting the received reflective light signal to a voltage signal; means for converting the voltage signal to a digital signal, and means for sampling the digital signal to produce a reflective waveform signal.
Claim 55
Independent Claim
83 words
The apparatus of 47, wherein a polarity of the transmissive waveform signal is opposite a polarity of the reflective waveform signal, the processing circuit further including means for normalizing the reflective waveform signal and transmissive waveform signal to create two identically scaled waveforms; means for inverting the polarity of the scaled transmissive waveform signal; and means for subtracting the inverted and scaled transmissive waveform signal from the scaled reflective waveform signal to obtain a difference signal; and means for outputting the difference signal.
Claim 56
Independent Claim
83 words
The apparatus of 47, wherein a polarity of the transmissive waveform signal is opposite a polarity of the reflective waveform signal, the processing circuit further including means for normalizing the reflective waveform signal and transmissive waveform signal to create two identically scaled waveforms; means for inverting the polarity of the scaled transmissive waveform signal; and means for subtracting the inverted and scaled transmissive waveform signal from the scaled reflective waveform signal to obtain a difference signal; and means for outputting the difference signal.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
75 words
The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the processing circuit stores a plurality of stored difference limits, wherein each difference limit in the plurality of difference limits corresponds to a security feature, and the apparatus further including means for accepting the currency note if the difference signal is below the difference limit for the security feature; and means for rejecting the currency note if the difference signal is above the difference limit for the security feature.
Claim 58
Independent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of 49, wherein the security feature is a watermark.
Claim 59
Independent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of 49, wherein the security feature is a watermark.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the security feature is a security thread embedded within the currency note.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-08-15 | 2004-02-14 | 2004-08-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-08-15 | 2008-02-14 | 2008-08-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-08-15 | 2012-02-14 | 2012-08-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |