METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IDENTIFYING A SECURITY DOCUMENT

• US 20150356805A1
• Filed: 07/01/2013
• Published: 12/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: De La Rue International Limited (De La Rue PLC)
• Original Assignee: De La Rue International Limited (De La Rue PLC)
• Inventors: WHITEMAN, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 9,563,999 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0004 Hybrid readers
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/026 using capacitive sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A method is provided of identifying a security document using an identifying device. The identifying device is provided with a capacitance sensor and a second sensor. The method includes capacitively coupling a first element of the security document with the capacitance sensor and obtaining first data from the first element using the capacitance sensor. Second data is also obtained from the security document using the second sensor. Output data is then generated based upon the first and second data. A corresponding device and system are also presented.

Claims

1. A method of identifying a security document using an identifying device provided with a capacitance sensor and a second sensor, the method comprising:

a) capacitively coupling a first element of the security document with the capacitance sensor;

b) obtaining first data from the first element using the capacitance sensor;

c) obtaining second data from the security document using the second sensor; and

d) generating output data based upon the first and second data.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein step (a) comprises contacting the capacitance sensor with the surface of the security document.

3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first data is obtained as a result of providing relative movement between the first element and the capacitance sensor.

4. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first data comprises spatial information relating to the first element.

5. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first data comprises information relating to the size, shape or position of the first element within the security document.

6. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second data obtained in step (c) relates to a physical characteristic of the security document.

7. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second data is image data and the second sensor is an imaging sensor.

8. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second data is obtained from the security document in respect of a second region, the second region comprising at least a part of a first region comprising the first element.

12. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein step (d) comprises the identifying device transmitting one or each of the first and second data to a remote computer, wherein the remote computer applies the transmitted data to the predetermined relationship thereby generating result data and wherein the remote computer transmits the result data to the identifying device.

13. A method according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising generating an output signal in accordance with the output data.

14. A method according claim 13, wherein the output signal is a signal to a user of the identifying device regarding one or each of the identity or authenticity of the security document.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein when the identifying device is provided in automatic security document processing apparatus, the apparatus is configured to automatically direct the document to a location in dependence upon the output signal.

16. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first element contains an electrically conductive region.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the electrically conductive region is region of metallic foil or conductive ink.

18. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least part of the first element is a one dimensional or matrix barcode.

19. A security document identifying device adapted in use to perform the method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the device comprises a capacitance sensor, a second sensor and an onboard computer, and wherein the step of generating the output data comprises the identifying device providing one or each of the first and second data to the onboard computer, wherein the onboard computer processes the data according to a predetermined relationship thereby generating result data and wherein the onboard computer provides the result data to a recipient.

20. A security document identifying device according to claim 19, wherein the device is a handheld device.

21. A security document identifying device according to claim 19 or claim 20, wherein the capacitance sensor is a capacitive touchscreen, touchpad or trackpad.

22. A security document identifying device according to any of claims 19 to 21, wherein the identifying device is a mobile telephone device.

23. A security document identifying system adapted in use to perform the method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the system comprises:

an identifying device provided with a capacitance sensor and a second sensor; and

,

a computer in selective communication with the identifying device,

wherein the step of generating the output data comprises the identifying device transmitting one or each of the first and second data to the computer, wherein the computer processes the transmitted data according to a predetermined relationship thereby generating result data.

24. A security document identifying system according to claim 23, wherein said system is a banknote authenticating system.

25. A computer program product comprising computer program code adapted in use to perform the method according to any of claims 1 to 18, when the computer program code is executed upon a computer device.

9. A method according to step (d), wherein the step of generating the output data comprises analysing whether the first data and second data are related by a predetermined relationship.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the first data and second data represent substantially the same information.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the first data represents either part of the second data or represents the second data at a lower resolution.