Module for validating deposited media items
AssigneeNCR Corporation
InventorGary A. Ross
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A module (10) for validating deposited media items is described. The module comprises: illuminating means (24) for illuminating a deposited media item (20); directing means (34) for directing illuminations from the illuminating means (24) to an examination area (22); optical detecting means (26) for detecting emissions from the deposited media item (20) at the examination area (22), where the emissions are caused by the illuminations; and processing means (32) for processing the detected emissions. The processing means (32) is operable in either a first mode, in which the deposited media type is known, or in a second mode, in which the deposited media type is not known. The illuminating means (24) includes ultra-violet radiation, infra-red radiation, and discrete primary colours.
Claims12
A module for validating deposited media items, the module comprising:
- illuminating means for illuminating a deposited media item with ultra-violet radiation, infra-red radiation, and discrete primary colours;
- directing means for directing illuminations from the illuminating means to an examination area;
- optical detecting means for detecting emissions from the deposited media item at the examination area, where the emissions are caused by the illuminations;
- and
- processing means for processing the detected emissions, wherein the processing means is operable in either a first mode, in which the deposited media type is known, or in a second mode, in which the deposited media type is not known.
A method of validating deposited media items, the method comprising the steps of:
- conveying a received media item to an examination area extending across the media item;
- illuminating the media item by sequentially activating an ultra-violet radiation source, an infra-red radiation source, and three discrete primary colour sources, so that a portion of the media item in the examination area is illuminated by the ultra-violet radiation alone, by the infra-red radiation alone, and by the three primary colours alone;
- detecting emissions from the deposited media item at the examination area, where the emissions are caused by the illumination sources;
- collating the detected emissions according to the type of source used;
- and
- processing the collated emissions to validate the media item.
A method of validating deposited media items, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a media item to be validated;
- ascertaining if the media item is of a known type;
- if the media item is of a known type, applying a media-specific illumination scheme to the media item, where the media-specific illumination scheme activates only those illumination sources required for validating that media type;
- if the media item is not of a known type, applying a non-media-specific illumination scheme to the media item;
- detecting emissions from the media item, where the emissions are caused by the activated illumination sources;
- collating the detected emissions according to the type of source used;
- and
- processing the collated emissions to validate the media item.
A self-service terminal comprising:
- means for receiving a deposited media item to be validated;
- means for ascertaining if the deposited media item is of a known type;
- means for applying a media-specific illumination scheme to the deposited media item if the media item is of a known type, wherein the media-specific illumination scheme activates only those illumination sources required for validating that media type;
- means for applying a non-media-specific illumination scheme to the deposited media item if the media item is not of a known type;
- means for detecting emissions from the deposited media item, wherein the emissions are caused by activated illumination sources;
- means for collating the detected emissions according to the type of source used;
- and
- means for processing the collated emissions to validate the deposited media item.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.