ATM currency cassette with RFID tag

• US 6,976,634 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2004
• Issued: 12/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Diebold Self-Service Systems (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Graef, H. Thomas, Turocy, Kenneth, Ma, Songtao, Blackford, Damon J., Washington, Jon
• Primary Examiner(s): PAIK, STEVEN SANGYUL
• Application Number:
  US10/788,611
• Publication Number:
  US 20040169075A1
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/380, 235/492, 235/385, 235/435, 235/486, 902 8- 10, 902 13- 15, 271/147, 705/39, 705/43
• US Class Current: 235/486
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/12 Containers for valuable papers
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/13 with internal means for handling valuable papers
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/205 Housing aspects of ATMs

Abstract

An ATM currency cassette includes an RFID tag. The tag includes information about the cassette, such as the cassette serial number and the currency denomination. An ATM includes a tag reader that can interrogate the tag to receive the information. The history of a particular cassette can be tracked via the cassette serial number. Problem cassettes can be identified.

Claims

1. An apparatus including:

a cassette,

wherein the cassette is adapted for use in an automated banking machine,

wherein the cassette is operative to hold media therein,

wherein the cassette includes a biasing mechanism that is operative to move media in the cassette in a first direction,

wherein the cassette includes at least one indicator member,

wherein the at least one indicator member includes indicator data therewith regarding the cassette,

wherein the at least one indicator member comprises at least one radio frequency identification IRFDI tag,

wherein the at least one RFID tag includes identification data representative of a cassette identification number,

wherein the identification data is adapted to be remotely read by a RFID tag reader of an automated banking machine.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the cassette identification number pertains to a unique cassette identification number.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the indicator data includes data representative of cassette content information.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the cassette content information pertains to at least one media characteristic.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the media comprises currency, and wherein the cassette content information pertains to at least one currency characteristic.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the at least one currency characteristic relates to currency nationality, currency denomination, currency length, currency height, currency thickness, currency code, amount of currency loaded in the cassette, time the cassette was loaded with currency, date the cassette was loaded with currency, identifying information pertaining to the currency loading entity, or any combination thereof.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one RFID tag comprises a non-contact transponder.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the a RFD tag is embedded in the cassette.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the a RFID tag is removably attached to the cassette.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the cassette identification number has a length of at least 32 bits.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the a RFID tag includes a programmable memory.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus further includes an automated banking machine.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the automated banking machine comprises an ATM.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the ATM includes the cassette therein.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the ATM includes a RFD tag reader with circuitry operative to interrogate the a RFID tag to receive information about the cassette from the RFID tag.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the RFID tag reader circuitry comprise a circuit card assembly.

17. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the RFID tag lacks a power source, and wherein the RFID tag reader is operative to receive information about the cassette via RF energy provided by the RFID tag reader.

18. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the RFID tag reader is operative to receive encrypted information about the cassette.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the RFID tag reader comprises a decoder in decoding circuitry.

20. An apparatus including:

a cassette,

wherein the cassette includes currency,

wherein the cassette includes at least one radio frequency identification (RF1D) tag,

wherein the at least one tag includes data representative of a characteristic of the currency,

an automated banking machine,

wherein the automated banking machine comprises a dispenser feed channel,

wherein the dispenser feed channel includes a cassette reader,

wherein the reader is operative to remotely read the, tag data.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the cassette includes a biasing mechanism that is operative to move the currency in a first direction.

22. The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the reader is operative to read the tag data while the tag is in physically contactless relationship with the machine.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the reader is spaced from the tag.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the reader is operative to read the tag data via RF energy provided by the reader.

25. The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the tag includes a programmable memory.

26. The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the reader comprise a circuit card assembly.

27. The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the apparatus further includes an automated banking machine network, wherein the network includes a plurality of automated banking machines, wherein each automated banking machine includes a plurality of currency cassettes.

28. The apparatus according to claim 27 wherein the network can track the amount of currency in an automated banking machine.

29. The apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the network can track the amount of currency in each automated banking machine in the network.

30. The apparatus according to claim 29 wherein the network can determine the amount of currency in the network.

31. The apparatus according to claim 30 wherein the network is operative to provide currency information in real time.

32. An apparatus including:

an automated banking machine cassette,

wherein the cassette is operative to hold media therein,

wherein the cassette includes at least one cassette target,

an automated banking machine,

wherein the automated banking machine comprises a distance determining device,

wherein the distance determining device is operative to determine a distance between a cassette target and a component of the automated banking machine without the cassette target contacting the machine.

33. The apparatus according to claim 32 wherein the cassette includes a biasing mechanism that is operative to move media in the cassette in a first direction.

34. The apparatus according to claim 32 wherein the cassette includes at least one indicator member wherein the at least one indicator member is operative to provide information representative of cassette content.

35. The apparatus according to claim 34 wherein the cassette contains media therein, wherein the at least one indicator member is operative to provide information representative of a characteristic of the cassette media.

36. The apparatus according to claim 35 wherein an indicator member comprises a cassette target.

37. The apparatus according to claim 36 wherein the target is operative to provide information representative of a cassette position in a machine.

38. The apparatus according to claim 36 wherein the target comprises a metal, and wherein the metal is attached to or embedded into the cassette.

39. The apparatus according to claim 32 wherein the machine has the cassette therein.

40. The apparatus according to claim 32 wherein the automated banking machine is operative to determine a position of the cassette relative to the machine based on the determined distance.

41. The apparatus according to claim 32 wherein the determining device comprises a sensor, wherein the sensor is operative to measure the distance between the target and the sensor.

43. The apparatus according to claim 41 wherein the automated banking machine comprises a dispenser feed channel, wherein the sensor is part of a sensor circuit associated with the dispenser feed channel.

42. Apparatus including:

an automated banking machine,

wherein the automated banking machine includes a cassette,

wherein the cassette contains media therein,

wherein the cassette includes at least one indicator member,

wherein the at least one indicator member is operative to provide information representative of characteristic of the media,

wherein the information is operative to be remotely accessed by a disposed component of an automated banking machine,

wherein the at least one indicator member includes a target,

wherein the target is operative to provide information representative of a cassette position in a machine,

wherein the automated banking machine includes a distance determining device,

wherein the distance determining device includes a sensor,

wherein the sensor is operative to measure a distance between the target and the sensor,

wherein the sensor comprises an Eddy current type distance sensor.

44. Apparatus including:

an automated banking machine cassette,

wherein the cassette contains media therein,

wherein the cassette includes at least one indicator member,

wherein the at least one indicator member is operative to provide information representative of a characteristic of the media,

wherein the information is operative to be remotely accessed by a component of an automated banking machine,

wherein the at least one indicator member includes a target,

wherein the target includes a metal,

wherein the metal is attached to or embedded into the cassette,

wherein the target comprises Ferrite.

45. A method including:

(a) providing a media cassette in an automated banking machine, wherein the cassette includes at least one cassette target;

(b) measuring a distance between a cassette target and a component of the machine without the cassette target contacting the machine.

46. The method according to claim 45 wherein the machine includes a sensor, and wherein (b) includes remotely measuring the distance with the sensor.

47. The method according to claim 45 and further including

(c) determining the position of the cassette relative to the machine based on the distance measured in (b).