Apparatus for analysing a security document
AssigneeDe La Rue International Limited
InventorsRonald Bruce Blair, Alexandre Gret
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims32
An apparatus for analysing a security document, the apparatus 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 security document and to generate a detector response;
- a processor adapted to analyse the detector response by forming the detector response into x-ray image data, and using an image analysis process upon the x-ray image data to generate an output signal indicative of a structure of the security document in the at least one inspection region;
- and
- a transport path comprising a driven roller and a guide configured to transport the security document through the inspection position, without user input, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the x-ray source illuminates the security document when in the inspection position, wherein
- said image analysis process compares the security document to four master patterns of genuine security documents, the four master patterns corresponding to each of four ways in which the security document may be fed along the transport path.
A method of analysing a security document, the method comprising:
- transporting, without user input, the security document to and from an inspection position along a transport path, which comprises a driven roller and a guide;
- illuminating at least one inspection region of the security document with x-rays from an x-ray source, whilst the document is in the inspection position;
- receiving x-rays from the at least one inspection region at an x-ray detector adapted to generate a corresponding detector response;
- analysing the detector response by forming the detector response into x-ray image data and using an image analysis process upon the x-ray image data so as to generate an output signal indicative of the structure of the document within the at least one inspection region;
- and
- comparing the security document to four master patterns of genuine security documents, the four master patterns corresponding to each of four ways in which the security document may be fed along the transport path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.