Patent US6234294B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6234294B1
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US
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Method and system for recognition of currency by denomination
Assignee: Glory Global Solutions Holdings Ltd
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Filing: 1999-12-22
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Granted: 2001-05-22
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Expires: 2019-12-22
Abstract
Abstract A currency note condition recognition apparatus and method uses a programmed microelectronic CPU to execute program instructions stored in a PROM to read in pixel data from an optical imaging section, including LEDs and photodiodes for generating signals which can be converted to a first image of a currency note being transported along the path of travel. The CPU receives position and skew data detected by external sensors for sensing the position and skew of the note. The CPU executes the program instructions, first to assemble a first data image of pixel data representing a two-dimensional image of substantially all of the note while averaging the pixel data in groups for further processing; second, to correct the first data image based on the skew data to eliminate skew; third, to relate the first data image to a plurality of predefined data images according to a mathematical function to determine whether the first data image can be classified as matching any one of the predefined data images corresponding to a specific currency denomination; and fourth to test the note for missing material and transmissivity in order to determine note fitness.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael L. Defeo
- 👤 Jack Denison
- 👤 John M. Mikkelsen
- 👤 Peter Truong
- 👤 Kenneth W. Maier
- 👤 Bo Xu
- 👤 Robert J. Burgert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 12:04
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07D; G07D7/00; G07D7/06; G07D7/12; G07D7/121; G07D7/17; G07D7/181; G07D7/185; G07D7/20; G07D7/202; G07D7/206
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of detecting the condition of a currency note transported along a path of travel, the method comprising: obtaining data from regions expected to define pixels of the note; testing each pixel to detect absence of note material, and when an absence of note material is detected, setting the pixel data to a neutral value; and computing the total area of all pixels set to a neutral value set to the neutral value, wherein if the total area of all pixels is greater than a first predetermined value, the note is rejected.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of detecting the condition of a currency note transported along a path of travel, the method comprising: obtaining data from regions expected to define pixels of the note; testing each pixel to detect absence of note material, and when an absence of note material is detected, setting the pixel data to a neutral value; and computing the total area of all pixels set to a neutral value set to the neutral value, wherein if the total area of all pixels is greater than a first predetermined value, the note is rejected.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method according to claim 1 , further comprising: detecting the amount of light passing through or reflected by the note; and adjusting the value of the amount of light detected based on a specific currency denomination, wherein if the adjusted value is less than a second predetermined value, the note is rejected.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
112 words
A method of detecting the denomination of a currency note transported along a path of travel, the method comprising: the method of detecting the condition of a currency note transported along the path of travel, according to claim 1 ; assembling a first data image of pixel data representing a two-dimensional image of substantially all of the note while averaging the pixel data in groups for further processing; relating the first data image to a plurality of predefined data images according to a mathematical function to determine whether the first data image can be classified as matching any one of the predefined plurality of data images corresponding to a specific currency denomination.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 3 , wherein the adjusting step adjusts the value of the amount of light detected based on the relating step.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method according to claim 3 , further comprising the step of adjusting light emitters and light detectors prior to assembling a first data image, wherein electrical power to the light emitters is adjusted and power to amplifiers for transmitting signals from the light detectors are adjusted, in response to light transmissivity or reflectivity scaling factors, such that the light emitters and light detectors are calibrated to operate in a predetermined range of operation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method according to claim 3 , further comprising: receiving position and skew data detected by external sensors for sensing the position and skew of the note; and correcting the first data image based on the skew data to eliminate skew.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 3 , wherein the first data image and the plurality of predefined data images comprise big pixels, each of which is at least a 3×3 array of small pixels.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 3 , further comprising the step of adjusting the first data image to account for anomalies in the pixel data in the first data image.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method according to claim 3 , wherein the relating step utilizes a neural network function to compare the first data image to each of the plurality of predefined data images to determine a denomination of the note.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method according to claim 9 , wherein a relative entropy is calculated for the denomination resulting from application of the neural network function, and wherein a comparison is made between the relative entropy and a minimum threshold to determine if a tentative match determined by the neural network function is an acceptable match.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method according to claim 6 , wherein the correction step includes testing for positive skew or negative skew, and wherein upon detecting positive skew, the data for the first image is assembled by scanning the note from left to right, and wherein upon detecting negative skew of the note, the data image for the first data image is assembled by right to left scanning of the note.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
62 words
A method of detecting the condition of a currency note transported along a path of travel, the method comprising: detecting an amount of light passing through or reflected by the note; and adjusting the value of the amount of light detected based on a specific currency denomination, wherein if the adjusted value is less than a predetermined value, the note is rejected.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
62 words
A method of detecting the condition of a currency note transported along a path of travel, the method comprising: detecting an amount of light passing through or reflected by the note; and adjusting the value of the amount of light detected based on a specific currency denomination, wherein if the adjusted value is less than a predetermined value, the note is rejected.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
146 words
An apparatus for detecting the condition of a currency note transported along a path of travel, the apparatus comprising: an imaging section for generating signals which can be converted to image data for assembling a first image of the note when transported along the path of travel; and a processor connected for reading and assembling a first data image of pixel data representing a two-dimensional image of substantially all of the note while averaging the pixel data in groups for further processing, wherein the processor tests each pixel to detect absence of note material, such that when an absence of note material is detected, the pixel data is set to a neutral value, the processor computes the total area of all pixels set to the neutral value, and if the total area of all pixels is greater than a first predetermined value, the note is rejected.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
146 words
An apparatus for detecting the condition of a currency note transported along a path of travel, the apparatus comprising: an imaging section for generating signals which can be converted to image data for assembling a first image of the note when transported along the path of travel; and a processor connected for reading and assembling a first data image of pixel data representing a two-dimensional image of substantially all of the note while averaging the pixel data in groups for further processing, wherein the processor tests each pixel to detect absence of note material, such that when an absence of note material is detected, the pixel data is set to a neutral value, the processor computes the total area of all pixels set to the neutral value, and if the total area of all pixels is greater than a first predetermined value, the note is rejected.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the processor detects an amount of light passing through or reflected by the note and adjusts the amount of light detected based on a specific currency denomination, such that if the adjusted amount of light passing through or reflected by the note is less than a second predetermined value, the note is rejected.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
112 words
An apparatus for detecting the denomination of a currency note transported along a path of travel, the apparatus comprising: the condition detecting apparatus according to claim 13 ; and an interface for receiving position data and skew data detected by external sensors for sensing the position and skew of the note, wherein the processor corrects the first data image based on the skew data to eliminate skew, and relates the first data image to a plurality of predefined data images according to a mathematical function to determine whether the first data image can be classified as matching any one of the plurality of predetermined data images corresponding to a specific currency denomination.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the processor detects an amount of light passing through or reflected by the note and adjusts the amount of light detected based on the specific currency denomination determined, such that if the adjusted amount of light passing through or reflected by the note is less than a second predetermined value, the note is rejected.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the first data image and the plurality of predetermined data images comprise big pixels, each of which is a 3×3 array of small pixels.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the processor adjusts the first data image to account for anomalies in the first data image.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the processor utilizes a neural network function to compare the first data image to each of the plurality of predetermined data images to determine a denomination of the note.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein the processor calculates a relative entropy for the denomination resulting from the application of the neural network function, and wherein a comparison is made by the processor between the relative entropy and a minimum threshold to determine if a tentative match determined by the neural network function is an acceptable match.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
71 words
The apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the processor tests for positive skew or negative skew, and wherein upon detecting positive skew, the processor assembles the data for the first image by scanning the note from left to right, and wherein upon detecting negative skew of the note, the processor executes further instructions for assembling the data for the first image by scanning of the note from right to left.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
71 words
The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the imaging section includes light emitters and light detectors, and wherein the processor adjusts power to the light emitters and adjusts power of the signals from the light detectors prior to assembling a first data image, in response to light transmissivity or reflectivity scaling factors, such that the light emitters and light detectors are calibrated to operate in a predetermined range of operation.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
129 words
An apparatus for detecting the condition of a currency note transported along a path of travel, the apparatus comprising: an imaging section for generating signals which can be converted to image data for assembling a first image of the note when transported along the path of travel; and a processor connected for reading and assembling a first data image of pixel data representing a two-dimensional image of substantially all of the note while averaging the pixel data in groups for further processing, wherein the processor detects an amount of light passing through or reflected by the note and adjusts the value of the amount of light detected based on a specific currency denomination, such that if the adjusted value is less than a predetermined value, the note is rejected.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
129 words
An apparatus for detecting the condition of a currency note transported along a path of travel, the apparatus comprising: an imaging section for generating signals which can be converted to image data for assembling a first image of the note when transported along the path of travel; and a processor connected for reading and assembling a first data image of pixel data representing a two-dimensional image of substantially all of the note while averaging the pixel data in groups for further processing, wherein the processor detects an amount of light passing through or reflected by the note and adjusts the value of the amount of light detected based on a specific currency denomination, such that if the adjusted value is less than a predetermined value, the note is rejected.
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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) | 2004-05-21 | 2004-11-20 | 2005-05-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-05-21 | 2008-11-20 | 2009-05-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-05-21 | 2012-11-20 | 2013-05-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |