US 5,495,929 A · Apparatus and method for validation of bank notes and other valuable documents

Abstract

An apparatus for validating bank notes and other valuable documents having magnetic characteristics which provide a predefined signature. The validator comprises a receptor for receiving a bank note. The bank note is inserted in the receptor and pulled through a passage-way which includes magnetic and optical sensing chambers. The magnetic sensing chamber includes a sensor and a magnetic head for generating a magnetic field. When the bank note passes through the magnetic sensing chamber, the magnetic characteristics of the bank note affect the magnetic field and the sensor produces an output signal corresponding to the magnetic field. The validator includes a processor which processes the output signal to produce a bank note frequency value correlated to the signature of the bank note. The processor validates the bank note by comparing the frequency value to a base-line frequency value and determining the deviation from the base-line value. The base-line frequency value is determined before the bank note enters the magnetic sensing chamber and can be continuously updated to alleviate the effects of temperature and humidity on the magnetic field.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A validator for validating the authenticity of bank notes and other valuable documents having a predefined signature produced by magnetizable material in said document, said validator comprising:

(a) receiving means for receiving the document, including a passage-way for containing the document;
(b) transport means for transporting the document through said passage-way;
(c) signature detector means for detecting the signature of the document, said signature detector means including
(i) sensor means for producing an AC magnetic field in said passage-way,
(ii) oscillator means for producing an oscillator signal, said oscillator means being connected to said sensor means to cause said sensor means to generate said AC field, said oscillator means including inductance means therein, said sensor means forming at least part of said inductance means,
(iii) the presence of a document containing magnetizable material in close proximity to said sensor means causing a variation in the inductance of said inductance means, whether or not said magnetizable material is magnetized, and said oscillator means including means responsive to a change in said inductance for varying a parameter of said oscillator signal dependant on said variation in inductance;
and
(d) processor means for processing said oscillator signal and generating an output validation signal indicative of an authentic document.

5 more elements

A validator for validating the authenticity of bank notes and other valuable documents having a predefined signature which affects a magnetic field, said validator comprising:

(a) receiving means for receiving the document, including a passage-way for containing the document;
(b) transport means for transporting the document through said passage-way;
(c) signature detector means for detecting the signature of the document including magnetic means for producing a magnetic field in said passage-way, and sensing means for sensing change in said magnetic field created by the document and producing a sensor output signal in response thereto;
and
(d) processor means for processing said sensor output signal and generating an output validation signal indicative of an authentic document,
(e) said sensor output signal comprising an electrical signal, and said processor means including means for converting said electrical signal into a pulsed signal comprising a plurality of pulses and pulse counter means for counting the pulses in said pulsed signal,
(f) said means for converting comprising an oscillator having an input for receiving said electrical signal and means responsive to said electrical signal for generating said pulsed signal with the number of pulses being derived from said electrical signal,
(g) said pulse counter means comprising sampling means for sampling the width of each pulse and producing a clocking signal for each sample of said pulse width and counter means responsive to said clocking signal for counting the number of samples and producing a pulse count,
(h) said processor means further including means for reading said pulse count and generating a frequency value from said pulse count, said frequency value being indicative of the frequency of said pulsed signal,
(i) said processor means further including means for comparing said frequency value to a base-line frequency value and producing a deviation value, and means responsive to said deviation value and producing said output validation signal if said deviation value is within a pre-determined range.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus and method for validation of bank notes and other valuable documents

Life of this patent

Apparatus and method for validation of bank notes and other valuable documents

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15