Security system

Security system for use in co-operation with a media entry slot on a user interface of a self service terminal to control access of objects inserted through the media entry slot to a restricted zone within the self-service terminal, the security system comprising:

• media detection means for detecting the leading edge of an object inserted through the media entry slot, the media detection means comprising three or more profile sensors for detecting the profile of the leading edge of the inserted object at three or more discrete positions such that objects having a leading edge of a predetermined profile only are authorized for access to the restricted zone by a media verification means;
• the media verification means for determining whether the detected object is authorized for access to the restricted zone, the media detection means further comprising a signal generation means for transmitting a signal to the media verification means upon detection of the inserted object and an optical sensor for cooperating with the profile sensors, the optical sensor including a light transmitter and a light receiver and each profile sensor including a vane moveable between a first position in which the vane blocks the path of light between the light transmitter and the light receiver and a second position in which the vane is clear of the path of light between the light transmitter and the light receiver and;
• access control means for allowing an inserted object which is authorized for access to the restricted zone to pass thereto.

A self-service terminal comprising:

• a user interface;
• means defining a media entry slot on the user interface;
• means defining a restricted zone within the self-service terminal;
• media detection means for detecting the leading edge of an object inserted through the media entry slot;
• media verification means for determining whether the detected object is authorized for access to the restricted zone;
• and
• access control means for allowing an inserted object which is authorized for access to the restricted zone to pass thereto;
• the media detection means comprising three or more profile sensors spaced across a path of travel and located adjacent the media entry slot, said sensors cooperating together to detect the profile of the leading edge of the inserted object at three or more positionally related discrete points on the object such that only objects having a leading edge of a predetermined profile defined by the positional relationship of three or more discrete points are authorized for access to the restricted zone by the media verification means.

A self-service terminal comprising:

• a user interface;
• means defining a media entry slot on the user interface;
• means defining a restricted zone within the self-service terminal;
• media detection means for detecting the leading edge of an object inserted through the media entry slot, the media detection means comprising three or more profile sensors for detecting the profile of the leading edge of the inserted object at three or more discrete positions such that objects having a leading edge of a predetermined profile only are authorized for access to the restricted zone by a media verification means, the media detection means further comprising an optical sensor for cooperating with the profile sensors, the optical sensor including a light transmitter and a light receiver and each profile sensor including a vane moveable between a fist position in which the vane blocks the path of light between the light transmitter and the light receiver and a second position in which the vane is clear of the path of light between the light transmitter and the light receiver;
• the media verification means for determining whether the detected object is authorized for access to the restricted zone, the media detection further comprising signal generation means for transmitting a signal to the media verification means upon detection of an inserted object having a leading edge of a predetermined profile;
• and
• access control means for allowing an inserted object which is authorized for access to the restricted zone to pass thereto.

A method of controlling access to a restricted zone within a self-service terminal comprising the steps of:

• receiving an object within a media entry slot on a user interface of the self-service terminal;
• detecting the profile of the leading edge of the object, said detection using three or more profile sensors cooperating with each other to detect the presence of three or more discrete positions on the leading edge;
• determining whether the detected profile corresponds to a predetermined profile defined by three or more points in a plane;
• and
• allowing passage of an object having a leading edge profile corresponding to the predetermined profile to the restricted zone.

A method of operating a self-service terminal, the method comprising:

• detecting a profile of a leading edge of an object received within a media entry slot on a user interface of the self-service terminal, said detection using three or more profile sensors cooperating with each other to detect the presence of three or more discrete positions on the leading edge;
• determining whether the detected profile corresponds to a predetermined profile defined by three or more points in a plane;
• and
• allowing passage of the object to a restricted zone within the self-service terminal when the detected profile corresponds to the predetermined profile.

A security system for restricting access to a self service terminal to ensure access by only an object having a predetermined profile, the security system comprising:

• a shutter enclosure defining a path of travel from a media entry slot to a shutter which controllably allows entry of objects to a restricted area within the self service terminal;
• a media detector having a plurality of three or more profile sensors located between the media entry slot and the shutter in a spaced arrangement across the path of travel to define a predetermined profile, the sensors cooperating with each other to detect at least three discrete points of the leading edge of an inserted object within the shutter enclosure;
• and
• a controller in response to the media detector determines whether the profile of the leading edge of the inserted object matches the predetermined profile;
• upon a successful match the controller authorizes access by controlling the opening of the shutter.