US6405929B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Material detection systems for security documents
Assignee: Oberthur Gaming Technologies Inc
•
Filing: 1998-06-02
•
Granted: 2002-06-18
•
Expires: 2018-06-02
Abstract
Abstract In a first embodiment of a material detection system according to the invention, a security document is disposed in an optical path between an infrared light source and image sensor so that the imaging system comprising the infrared light source, image sensor and associated controller determines characteristics of material compositions of a document based on transmissivity characteristics of a document. In a second embodiment, a radiation wavelength sensitive additive which emits energy in a second band of wavelengths when radiated in a first band of wavelengths is incorporated in a security document and detected for by an imaging system which detects for emitted radiant energy in the second band of wavelengths. In a third embodiment of a material detection system, the manufacturing of documents of various styles is controlled so that the various styles of documents exhibit similar reflectance characteristics under illumination by a predetermined narrow band source despite exhibiting dissimilar reflectance characteristics under white light.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael A. Ehrhart
- 👤 Robert M. Hussey
- 👤 Todd A. Dueker
- 👤 Cayetano Sanchez III
- 👤 Walter Szrek
- 👤 John C. Abraitis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:14
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/067; G06K19/07; G06K19/073; A; A63; A63F; A63F3/00; A63F3/06; A63F3/065; G06K17/00; G06K17/0032; A63F9/00; A63F9/24; A63F2009/2401; A63F2009/2411; A63F2009/2419; A63F2009/242; A63F2009/2436; A63F2009/2442; A63F2009/2444; A63F2250/00; A63F2250/28; A63F2250/287; A63F3/0665
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 47
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
An apparatus for detecting scratch-off material on a game ticket of the type comprising at least one play area having scratch-off material comprised of light blocking material formed thereon when said game ticket is manufactured, said apparatus comprising: a light source selected so that light rays emanating from said source transmit substantially through all material present in said document except for said light blocking material; an image sensor assembly positioned to generate image signals corresponding to said at least one play area, said image sensor assembly including an image sensor and imaging optic means for imaging said play area onto said image sensor, and a controller in communication with said imaging assembly adapted to capture an image representation of said at least one play area which indicates contrast between areas of said at least one play area covered by said scratch-off material and areas of said play area not covered by said scratch-off material; and means for positioning said ticket in an optical path between said light source and said image sensor.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
172 words
An apparatus for detecting scratch-off material on a game ticket of the type comprising at least one play area having scratch-off material comprised of light blocking material formed thereon when said game ticket is manufactured, said apparatus comprising: a light source selected so that light rays emanating from said source transmit substantially through all material present in said document except for said light blocking material; an image sensor assembly positioned to generate image signals corresponding to said at least one play area, said image sensor assembly including an image sensor and imaging optic means for imaging said play area onto said image sensor, and a controller in communication with said imaging assembly adapted to capture an image representation of said at least one play area which indicates contrast between areas of said at least one play area covered by said scratch-off material and areas of said play area not covered by said scratch-off material; and means for positioning said ticket in an optical path between said light source and said image sensor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said light source is an infrared light source.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said light source is selected to generate light in the energy spectrum range of from about 0.75 μm to about 1000 μm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said image sensor is a photodetector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said apparatus further includes a controller for capturing image data from said image signals, wherein said image sensor is a 1D linear image sensor, wherein said positioning means is adapted to transport said document across a field of view of said image sensor, and wherein said controller is adapted to capture successive slices of image data representing said play area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said image sensor is a 2D image sensor.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
134 words
A system for detecting scratch-off material on a game ticket of the type comprising at least one play area having scratch-off material formed thereon, said system comprising: a game ticket having scratch-off material formed on a play area, wherein said scratch-off material has a light sensitive additive incorporated therein, wherein said additive is a material that emits light in a second band of wavelengths when illuminated by light in a first band of wavelengths; imaging means including imaging optic means responsive to said light in said second wavelength band for imaging said game ticket to capture image data representing said at least one play area, wherein said image data indicates contrast between areas of said play area covered by said scratch-off material and areas of said play area not covered by said scratch-off material.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
134 words
A system for detecting scratch-off material on a game ticket of the type comprising at least one play area having scratch-off material formed thereon, said system comprising: a game ticket having scratch-off material formed on a play area, wherein said scratch-off material has a light sensitive additive incorporated therein, wherein said additive is a material that emits light in a second band of wavelengths when illuminated by light in a first band of wavelengths; imaging means including imaging optic means responsive to said light in said second wavelength band for imaging said game ticket to capture image data representing said at least one play area, wherein said image data indicates contrast between areas of said play area covered by said scratch-off material and areas of said play area not covered by said scratch-off material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 7 , wherein said additive is selected from the group consisting of luminophor additives and phosphor additives.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 7 , wherein said imaging means includes a light source selected to emit light in said first band of wavelengths.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 7 , wherein said imaging means is adapted to capture a 2D image representation of a surface of said document.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
245 words
A system for processing a lottery game ticket of the type comprising a topside and bottomside surface, at least one identification code symbol formed on one of said surfaces, at least one play area defined on one of said surfaces, and scratch-off material formed on said play area, said system including an apparatus adapted to receive said lottery game ticket, said system comprising: a ticket adapted for use in said system, wherein said at least one play area of said ticket includes an outer surface and an indicia icon surface exposed when said scratch-off material is removed, and wherein said ticket is adapted so that said outer surface and said indicia icon surface reflect light according to predetermined reflectance characteristics when illuminated at a predetermined narrow band of wavelengths; a controller in communication with a memory space, operating under the control of a main program stored in said memory space; and an imaging subsystem including at least one imaging assembly having imaging optic means and an illumination source selected to emit light at about said predetermined narrow wavelength band configured in said apparatus to generate image signals corresponding to a surface of said document which includes said at least one play area, said controller being adapted to capture an image representation corresponding to said play area which indicates contrast between areas of said at least one play area covered by said scratch-off material and areas of said play area not covered by said scratch-off material.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
245 words
A system for processing a lottery game ticket of the type comprising a topside and bottomside surface, at least one identification code symbol formed on one of said surfaces, at least one play area defined on one of said surfaces, and scratch-off material formed on said play area, said system including an apparatus adapted to receive said lottery game ticket, said system comprising: a ticket adapted for use in said system, wherein said at least one play area of said ticket includes an outer surface and an indicia icon surface exposed when said scratch-off material is removed, and wherein said ticket is adapted so that said outer surface and said indicia icon surface reflect light according to predetermined reflectance characteristics when illuminated at a predetermined narrow band of wavelengths; a controller in communication with a memory space, operating under the control of a main program stored in said memory space; and an imaging subsystem including at least one imaging assembly having imaging optic means and an illumination source selected to emit light at about said predetermined narrow wavelength band configured in said apparatus to generate image signals corresponding to a surface of said document which includes said at least one play area, said controller being adapted to capture an image representation corresponding to said play area which indicates contrast between areas of said at least one play area covered by said scratch-off material and areas of said play area not covered by said scratch-off material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
72 words
The system of claim 11 , wherein said outer surface exhibits a first reflectance characteristic under illumination in said predetermined narrow band of wavelengths and wherein said indicia icon surface exhibits a second reflectance characteristic under illumination in said predetermined narrow band of wavelengths so that said image data corresponding to said outer surface captured by said imaging subsystem is in contrast with said image data corresponding to said indicia icon layer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 12 , wherein said first and second reflectance characteristics are ranges of reflectance measurements.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
81 words
The system of claim 11 , wherein at least one of said outer surface and said indicia icon surface includes a background portion and a pattern portion, wherein said indicia icon surface and said outer surface exhibit distinguishable reflectance characteristics under illumination in said predetermined narrow band of wavelengths, and wherein said background and pattern portion of said at least either of said outer and indicia icon surface exhibit distinguishable reflectance characteristics under illumination in said predetermined narrow band of wavelengths.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
142 words
The system of claim 11 , wherein said outer surface includes a background portion and a pattern portion, and wherein said indicia icon surface includes a background portion and a pattern portion, and wherein said pattern portion of said outer surface exhibits a first reflectance characteristic, said background portion of said indicia icon surface exhibits a second reflectance characteristic, said pattern portion of said icon layer exhibits a third reflectance characteristic, and said background portion exhibits a fourth reflectance characteristic under illumination in said predetermined narrow band of wavelengths so that in said image data, said image data corresponding to said outer surface is in contrast with image data corresponding to said icon surface, and said image data corresponding to said background portion is in contrast with image data corresponding to said pattern portion of both of said outer and icon surfaces.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
109 words
The system of claim 11 , wherein said illumination source emitting light in said predetermined narrow band of wavelengths is a first illumination source of said imaging subsystem and wherein said imaging subsystem includes a second illumination source emitting light in a second narrow band of wavelengths different from that of said first illumination source, wherein at least one of said outer and icon surfaces includes both a background portion and a pattern portion, wherein said background and pattern portion exhibit distinguishable reflectance characteristics under illumination by said second illumination source, and wherein said outer and icon surfaces exhibit distinguishable reflectance characteristics under illumination by said first illumination source.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
97 words
The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said controller is adapted to determine a present identification code corresponding to said code symbol for each ticket received in said apparatus, wherein said apparatus further includes an identification code to game data correlation table in communication with said controller correlating a plurality of identification codes with at least either of physical characteristic game data or flag status indicator game data, wherein said controller is adapted to read data from said correlation means while processing a ticket so that operation of said apparatus is dependent on said present identification code.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said controller is further adapted to analyze said image data to determine whether said game ticket has been played based on whether said image data satisfies a predetermined criteria indicative of said ticket being played.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein said determination of said controller of whether said ticket has been played depends on a percentage ratio of light pixels to dark pixels in said image data.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said controller is further adapted to analyze said image data to determine whether said game ticket has been tampered with based on whether said image data satisfies a predetermined criteria indicative of said ticket being tampered with.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein said determination of said controller of whether said ticket has been tampered with depends on a percentage ratio of light pixels to dark pixels in said image data.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said apparatus further includes a brander, and wherein said controller is adapted to operate said brander so that each ticket received in said apparatus is marked by a predetermined pattern indicating that said ticket is received in said apparatus.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein said controller is adapted to analyze said image data to determine if said ticket has been previously played based on whether said image data includes a pattern corresponding to said predetermined brand pattern.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
139 words
A system for detecting scratch-off material of a lottery game ticket of the type comprising a play area having an outer surface and an indicia icon surface, said outer surface including a pattern and a background, said indicia icon surface including a pattern and a background, said system comprising: a game ticket adapted for use in said system so that said outer surface of said game ticket exhibits a plurality of colors under white light, said outer surface exhibits at least one first predetermined reflectance characteristic under illumination at a predetermined narrow band of wavelengths and said indicia icon surface exhibits at least one second predetermined reflectance characteristic when illuminated at a predetermined narrow wavelength band; and an imaging subsystem for imaging said play area, wherein said imaging subsystem illuminates said game ticket at said predetermined narrow wavelength band.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
139 words
A system for detecting scratch-off material of a lottery game ticket of the type comprising a play area having an outer surface and an indicia icon surface, said outer surface including a pattern and a background, said indicia icon surface including a pattern and a background, said system comprising: a game ticket adapted for use in said system so that said outer surface of said game ticket exhibits a plurality of colors under white light, said outer surface exhibits at least one first predetermined reflectance characteristic under illumination at a predetermined narrow band of wavelengths and said indicia icon surface exhibits at least one second predetermined reflectance characteristic when illuminated at a predetermined narrow wavelength band; and an imaging subsystem for imaging said play area, wherein said imaging subsystem illuminates said game ticket at said predetermined narrow wavelength band.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
80 words
The system of claim 24 , wherein said at least one first predetermined reflectance characteristic is that a reflectance measurement of said outer surface is substantially uniform when illuminated at said predetermined narrow wavelength band, and wherein said second predetermined reflectance characteristic is that a reflectance measurement of said indicia icon surface is substantially uniform when illuminated at a said narrow wavelength band, and wherein said uniform reflectances of said outer and indicia icon surfaces are distinguishable from one another.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
92 words
The system of claim 24 , wherein said at least one first predetermined reflectance characteristic is that a reflectance measurement of said outer surface is substantially uniform within a first predetermined range of reflectance measurements when illuminated at said predetermined narrow wavelength band, and wherein said second predetermined reflectance characteristic is that a reflectance measurement of said indicia icon surface is substantially uniform within a second predetermined range of reflectance measurements when illuminated at a said narrow wavelength band, and wherein said first and second predetermined ranges of reflectances do not overlap.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
145 words
The system of claim 24 , wherein said first at least one predetermined reflectance characteristic is that a pattern of said outer surface exhibits a substantially uniform reflectance within a first predetermined reflectances range when illuminated at said predetermined narrow wavelength band, and a background of said outer surface exhibits substantially uniform reflectance within a second predetermined reflectance range when illuminated at said predetermined narrow wavelength band, and wherein said second at least one predetermined reflectance characteristic is that a pattern of said indicia icon surface exhibits a substantially uniform reflectance within a third predetermined reflectances range when illuminated at said predetermined narrow wavelength band, and a background of said indicia icon surface exhibits a substantially uniform reflectance within a fourth predetermined reflectance range when illuminated at said predetermined narrow wavelength band, wherein said first, second, third and fourth predetermined reflectance ranges do not overlap.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
165 words
An apparatus for processing a lottery game ticket of the type comprising a topside and bottomside surface, at least one identification code symbol formed on one of said surfaces, at least one play area defined on one of said surfaces, and scratch-off material formed on said play area, said apparatus adapted to receive said lottery game ticket and being characterized in that said apparatus includes: a controller in communication with a memory, operating under the control of a main program stored in said memory; and an imaging subsystem including at least one imaging assembly configured in said apparatus so that said imaging subsystem generates image signals corresponding to at least one surface of said ticket which includes said at least one play area, said controller being adapted to capture an image representation of said play area which indicates contrast between areas of said at least one play area covered by said scratch-off material and areas of said play area not covered by said scratch-off material.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
165 words
An apparatus for processing a lottery game ticket of the type comprising a topside and bottomside surface, at least one identification code symbol formed on one of said surfaces, at least one play area defined on one of said surfaces, and scratch-off material formed on said play area, said apparatus adapted to receive said lottery game ticket and being characterized in that said apparatus includes: a controller in communication with a memory, operating under the control of a main program stored in said memory; and an imaging subsystem including at least one imaging assembly configured in said apparatus so that said imaging subsystem generates image signals corresponding to at least one surface of said ticket which includes said at least one play area, said controller being adapted to capture an image representation of said play area which indicates contrast between areas of said at least one play area covered by said scratch-off material and areas of said play area not covered by said scratch-off material.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein said image data captured by said controller corresponds to substantially at least one entire surface of said game ticket.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of 28 , wherein said imaging subsystem includes means for detecting transmissivity characteristics of said game ticket.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of 28 , wherein said imaging subsystem includes means for detecting transmissivity characteristics of said game ticket.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein said imaging subsystem is adapted to sense the presence of a radiation-wavelength sensitive additive on said game ticket when said game ticket is of a type having a wavelength sensitive additive incorporated therein.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 28 , further comprising a brander for causing an indicator to be formed on said game ticket that indicates that said ticket has been received in said apparatus.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus of claim 28 , further comprising: a topside brander for causing an indicator to be formed on a topside of said game ticket that indicates that said ticket has been processed; and a bottomside brander for causing an indicator to be formed on a bottomside of said game ticket that indicates that said ticket has been received in said apparatus.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein said imaging subsystem includes a 1D image sensor, and wherein said apparatus further includes a transport for moving said ticket relative to said 1D image sensor so that said controller captures a 2D image representing said play area from slice 1D image data corresponding to said image signals.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein said controller further searches said image data for a representation of said identification code symbol and decodes said symbol.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein said controller further searches said image data for said identification code symbol, decodes said symbol, and controls at least one operational aspect of said apparatus based on an identification of said identification code symbol.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein said controller determines if said game ticket has been played by analyzing said image data.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein said controller determines if said game ticket has been tampered with by analyzing said image data.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein said controller determines if said game ticket has been played by analyzing said image data to determine an amount of scratch-off material which has been removed from said play area.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein said controller determines if said game ticket has been tampered with by analyzing said image data to determine an amount of said scratch-off material which has been removed from said play area.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein said controller determines if said game ticket has been tampered with by analyzing said image data to determine if a tamper-indicating pattern is represented in said image map.
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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) | 2005-06-17 | 2005-12-17 | 2006-06-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-06-17 | 2009-12-17 | 2010-06-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-06-17 | 2013-12-17 | 2014-06-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |