US 7,103,206 B2 · Method and apparatus for detecting doubled bills in a currency handling device

Abstract

A doubles detection system for detecting doubled documents. The system comprises one or more light sources disposed on a first side of a test document and one or more reflected light sensors disposed along the first side of the test document. The reflected light sensors are adapted to generate reflected light signals. The system also comprises one or more transmitted light sensors disposed along a second side of the test document which are adapted to generate transmitted light signals. The system also comprises a memory having a master reflected light value and a master transmitted light value stored therein. The system comprises a processor adapted to receive the reflected light signal, generate a reflected light value for the test document, and calculate a reflectance ratio between the reflected light value of the test document and a master reflected light value. The processor is also adapted to receive the transmitted light signal, generate a transmitted light value for the test document, and adjust the transmitted light value for the test document based on the reflectance ratio. The processor is adapted to compare the adjusted transmitted light value for the test document to the master transmitted light value and generate a doubles signal if the comparison of the adjusted transmitted light value for the test document with the master transmitted light value indicates that more than one document is present.

Claims51

Dependent claims

A doubles detection system for detecting doubled documents, the system comprising:

at least one light source disposed on a first side of a test document;
at least one reflected light sensor disposed along the first side of the test document, and adapted to generate at least one reflected light signal;
at least one transmitted light sensor disposed along a second side of the test document, and adapted to generate at least one transmitted light signal;
a memory storing at least one master reflected light value and at least one master transmitted light value;
and
a processor adapted to
(1) receive the reflected light signal,
(2) generate a reflected light value for the test document,
(3) calculate a reflectance ratio between the reflected light value of the test document and the master reflected light value,
(4) receive the transmitted light signal,
(5) generate a transmitted light value for the test document,
(6) adjust the master transmitted light value based on the reflectance ratio,
(7) compare the adjusted master transmitted light value to the transmitted light value for the test document, and
(8) generate a doubles signal if the comparison of the adjusted master transmitted light value with the transmitted light value for the test document indicates that more than one document is present.

11 more elements

A document handling device comprising:

an input receptacle adapted to receive a stack of test documents;
a document transport mechanism adapted to transport the test documents;
a light source disposed along a first side of the document transport mechanism and adapted to direct light toward the document transport mechanism and further adapted to illuminate the test documents from a first side of the test documents;
a reflected light sensor disposed along the first side of the document transport mechanism and adapted to generate an analog reflected light signal corresponding to the amount of light reflected from the first side of a test document;
a transmitted light sensor disposed along a second side of the document transport mechanism and adapted to generate an analog transmitted light signal corresponding to the amount of light transmitted through the test document to a second side of the test;
at least one amplifier electrically coupled to the reflected light sensor and the transmitted light sensor and adapted to amplify the analog light reflected light signal and the analog transmitted light signal;
an analog-to-digital converter electrically coupled to the amplifier and adapted to convert the amplified analog reflected light signal into a digital reflected light signal and further adapted to convert the amplified analog transmitted light signal into a digital transmitted light signal;
a memory adapted to contain a master reflected light value and a master transmitted light value associated with the type of the test document;
a processor electrically coupled to the analog-to-digital converter and to the memory and adapted to:
(1) receive the digital reflected tight signal,
(2) generate at least one reflected light value for the test document
(3) access the memory to retrieve the master reflected light value and the master transmitted light value associated with the type of the test document;
(4) calculate a reflectance ratio based on the reflected light value for the test document and the master reflected light value associated with the type of the test document;
(5) receive the digital transmitted light signal;
(6) generate at least one transmitted light value for the test document;
(7) adjust the master transmitted light value based on the reflectance ratio,
(8) compare the adjusted master transmitted light value to the transmitted light value for the test document, and
(9) generate a doubles signal if the comparison of the adjusted master transmitted light value with the transmitted light value for the test document indicates that more than one document is present;
and
an operator interface electrically coupled to the processor and adapted to receive the doubles signal and indicate the receipt of a doubles signal.

17 more elements

A currency handling device comprising:

an input receptacle adapted to receive a stack of test currency bills;
a currency transport mechanism adapted to transport the test currency bills;
a light source disposed along a first side of the currency transport mechanism and adapted to direct light toward the currency transport mechanism and further adapted to illuminate the test currency bills from a first side of the test currency bills;
a reflected light sensor disposed along the first side of the currency transport mechanism and adapted to generate an analog reflected light signal corresponding to the amount of light reflected from the first side of the test currency bills;
a transmitted light sensor disposed along a second side of the currency transport mechanism and adapted to generate an analog transmitted light signal corresponding to the amount of light transmitted through the test currency bills to a second side of the test currency bills;
at least one amplifier electrically coupled to the reflected light sensor and the transmitted light sensor and adapted to amplify the analog light reflected light signal and the analog transmitted light signal;
an analog-to-digital converter electrically coupled to the amplifier and adapted to convert the amplified analog reflected light signal into a digital reflected light signal and further adapted to convert the amplified analog transmitted light signal into a digital transmitted light signal;
a memory adapted to contain at least one master reflected light value and at least one master transmitted light value associated with at least one type of test currency;
a processor electrically coupled to the analog-to-digital converter and to the memory and adapted to:
(1) receive the digital reflected light signal,
(2) generate at least one reflected light value for a test currency bill,
(3) access the memory to retrieve the master reflected light value and the master transmitted light value associated with the type of the test currency bill;
(4) calculate a reflectance ratio based on the reflected light value for the test currency bill and the master reflected light value associated with the type of the test currency bill;
(5) receive the digital transmitted light signal;
(6) generate at least one transmitted light value for the test currency bill;
(7) adjust the master transmitted light value based on the reflectance ratio,
(8) compare the adjusted master transmitted light value to the transmitted light value for the test currency bill, and
(9) generate a doubles signal if the comparison of the adjusted master transmitted light value with the transmitted light value for the test currency bill indicates that more than one currency bill is present;
and
an operator interface electrically coupled to the processor and adapted to receive the doubles signal and indicate the receipt of a doubles signal.

17 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for detecting doubled bills in a currency handling device

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for detecting doubled bills in a currency handling device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims51