# US 2010/0166264 A1 · Apparatus and method for analysing a security document > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0166264 A1 - Document ID: US20100166264A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/451,766 - Filed: 2007-06-06 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2007-06-06 - Assignees: De La Rue International Limited - Inventors: Ronald Bruce Blair; Alexandre Gret - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100166264A1 ## CPC - G07D 7/06: using wave or particle radiation - G07D: HANDLING OF COINS OR VALUABLE PAPERS, e.g. TESTING, SORTING BY DENOMINATIONS, COUNTING, DISPENSING, CHANGING OR DEPOSITING ## Abstract We provide an apparatus and method for analysing a security document. An x-ray source is adapted to illuminate at least one inspection region of the security document when located at an inspection position. An x-ray detector adapted to receive x-rays from the at least one inspection region of the document and to generate a corresponding detector response. A processor analyses the detector response and generates an output signal indicative of the structure of the document in the at least one inspection region. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-33. (canceled) ### Claim 34 Apparatus for analysing a security document, comprising: an x-ray source adapted to illuminate at least one inspection region of the security document when located at an inspection position; an x-ray detector adapted to receive x-rays from the at least one inspection region of the document and to generate a corresponding detector response; and a processor adapted to analyse the detector response and to generate an output signal indicative of the structure of the document in the at least one inspection region. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) Apparatus according to claim 34, further comprising a transport path for transporting the document through the inspection position, wherein the apparatus is arranged such that the x-ray source illuminates the document when in the transport path. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) Apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the security document is fed along the transport path by a leading edge and wherein the length of the detector is equal to at least that of the leading edge. ### Claim 37 (depends on 34) Apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the x-ray source and x-ray detector are located upon opposite sides of the transport path according to a transmissive arrangement. ### Claim 38 (depends on 34) Apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the x-ray source and/or detector are positioned approximately normally to a face of the document as it passes along the transport path. ### Claim 39 (depends on 34) Apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the apparatus is adapted to locate one or more discontinuities in the structure of the document within the inspection region. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) Apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the discontinuities include interfaces present within the structure of the document. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) Apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the interfaces are between material of a similar type. ### Claim 42 (depends on 40) Apparatus according to claim 40 wherein the interfaces include an adhesive. ### Claim 43 (depends on 39) Apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the interfaces comprise cuts within the document. ### Claim 44 (depends on 39) Apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the x-ray source and detector are adapted to generate sufficient x-ray contrast so as to locate the position of the said discontinuities. ### Claim 45 (depends on 34) Apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the x-ray detector is a line scan detector. ### Claim 46 (depends on 34) Apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the processor is adapted to analyse the detector response by comparing the obtained response with a predetermined response. ### Claim 47 (depends on 46) Apparatus according to claim 46, wherein the processor is adapted to generate an image of the inspection region formed from a number of detector responses generated at different locations for each document. ### Claim 48 (depends on 47) Apparatus according to claim 47, wherein the processor is adapted to compare the image with one or more predetermined master images. ### Claim 49 (depends on 48) Apparatus according to claim 48, wherein the comparison comprises using an image analysis process and wherein the output signal is dependent upon the result of the image analysis process. ### Claim 50 (depends on 46) Apparatus according to claim 46, wherein the output signal is dependent upon the degree of correspondence between the obtained and predetermined responses. ### Claim 51 (depends on 34) Apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the apparatus is a document sorter for sorting documents according to their type. ### Claim 52 (depends on 34) Apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the apparatus is a document authenticator for sorting genuine documents from counterfeit documents. ### Claim 53 (depends on 34) Apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the apparatus is banknote processing apparatus and wherein the documents are banknotes. ### Claim 54 (depends on 34) Apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the documents are processed at a rate of 600 per minute or more. ### Claim 55 A method of analysing a security document, the method comprising: illuminating at least one inspection region of the security document with x-rays from an x-ray source, whilst the document is in an inspection position; receiving x-rays from the at least one inspection region at an x-ray detector adapted to generate a corresponding detector response; and analysing the detector response so as to generate an output signal indicative of the structure of the document within the at least one inspection region. ### Claim 56 (depends on 55) A method according to claim 55, further comprising transporting the security document to and from the inspection position along a transport path. ### Claim 57 (depends on 56) A method according to claim 56, wherein the document is in motion whilst the x-rays are received. ### Claim 58 (depends on 55) A method according to claim 55, further comprising processing data representative of the detector response so as to modify the intensity contrast. ### Claim 59 (depends on 55) A method according to claim 55, further comprising processing data representative of the detector response so as to reduce noise. ### Claim 60 (depends on 55) A method according to claim 55, wherein the structure is analysed by locating one or more discontinuities in the document structure in the said at least one inspection region. ### Claim 61 (depends on 60) A method according to claim 60, wherein the discontinuities are interfaces. ### Claim 62 (depends on 61) A method according to claim 61, wherein the method comprises detecting an adhesive present at the interfaces. ### Claim 63 (depends on 55) A method according to claim 55, wherein the analysis comprises comparing the detector response with a threshold intensity level. ### Claim 64 (depends on 55) A method according to claim 55, wherein the analysis comprises comparing the detector response with one or more master patterns corresponding to expected document types. ### Claim 65 (depends on 55) A method according to claim 55, wherein the output signal is indicative of whether the document is of an expected type or an unexpected type. ### Claim 66 (depends on 65) A method according to claim 65, further comprising diverting documents of an expected type along a first transport path and those of an unexpected type along a second document path.