Automated banking machine multiple sheet detector apparatus and method

• US 7,290,706 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2005
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Diebold Self-Service Systems (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Laskowski, Edward L., Ma, Songtao
• Primary Examiner(s): CAPUTO, LISA M
• Application Number:
  US11/171,648
• Publication Number:
  US 20060000889A1
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/381, 271/3.14, 705/16
• US Class Current: 235/381
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2553/30 using acoustic or ultrasonic elements
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/1912 Banknotes, bills and cheques or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 7/125 sensing the double feed or separation without contacting the articles
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/08 Acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/183 Detecting folds or doubles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs

Abstract

A detector for a deposit accepting apparatus of an automated banking machine includes an ultrasonic transmitter driven by a driving signal operative to cause the ultrasonic transmitter to transmit an ultrasonic sound signal through a sheet pathway of the detector. The detector also includes an ultrasonic receiver operative to generate a receiver signal responsive to the ultrasonic sound signal. The detector further includes first and second correlation filters. The first and second correlation filters are operative to generate first and second outputs responsive to the receiver signal. At least one processor is operative responsive to the first and second outputs of the correlation filters to determine information associated with changes in phase of the ultrasonic sound signal and to distinguish between single and multiple sheets in the pathway responsive to the information associated with changes in phase.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

a) transmitting a sound wave through sheet media moving in a pathway of an automated banking machine, wherein the automated banking machine comprises a cash dispenser;

b) producing at least one receiver signal responsive to the sound wave, wherein at least a portion of the at least one receiver signal is produced responsive to the wave after having passed through the sheet media;

c) filtering the at least one receiver signal with respect to two reference signals which differ in phase by substantially 90 degrees;

d) through operation of at least one processor in the automated banking machine, responsive to (c) determining data representative of at least one change in phase of the sound wave caused by transmission through the sheet media; and

e) through operation of the at least one processor in the automated banking machine, determining responsive to the data determined in (d) whether the sheet media corresponds to a single sheet or at least two sheets in overlapped relation.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

f) operating at least one transport in the automated banking machine responsive to (e) to move the sheet media.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein in (e) when the sheet media is determined to correspond to at least two sheets in overlapped relation, in (f) the at least one transport moves the sheet media to an opening in the automated banking machine through which the sheet media is accessible to a user.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein in (e) when the sheet media is determined to correspond to a single sheet, in (f) the at least one transport moves the sheet media to a storage location in the automated banking machine.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the single sheet comprises a check, wherein further comprising:

g) through operation of the at least one processor, performing a check depositing transaction which includes reading MICR on the check and causing an account associated with the user of the machine to be credited with an amount of value associated with the check.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein in (a) the sheet media comprises at least three sheets in overlapped relation, wherein the data determined in (d) is representative of the phase of the sound wave changing by more than 180 degrees.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein in (a) the sheet media comprises at least one of a check, a paper sheet, a currency sheet and a paper document.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein in (a) the sound wave has an ultrasonic frequency.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein in (b) at least a portion of the at least one receiver signal is produced responsive to the sound wave after having passed through the pathway without passing through the sheet media.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein in (a) the automated banking machine includes a deposit accepting device operative to receive sheet media from a user through an opening in the automated banking machine, wherein in (d) and (e) the at least one processor includes at least one of a processor in the deposit accepting device and a computer in the automated banking machine.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein (c) includes filtering the at least one receiver signal with two correlation filters, wherein a first one of the two correlation filters is operative responsive to the at least one receiver signal and a first reference signal to generate a first output representative of a difference in phase with respect to the at least one receiver signal and the first reference signal, wherein a second one of the two correlation filters is operative responsive to the at least one receiver signal and a second reference signal to generate a second output representative of a difference in phase with respect to the at least one receiver signal and the second reference signal, wherein the data in (d) is determined responsive to changes in the first and second outputs.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein (d) includes:

determining original phase angle values responsive to the first and second outputs of the correlation filters; and

determining reconstructed phase angle values from the original phase angle values responsive to changes in the first and second outputs, wherein the reconstructed phase angle values are representative of the phase delay of the sound wave;

wherein in (e) the at least one processor is operative to determine whether the sheet media corresponds to a single sheet or at least two sheets in overlapped relation responsive to the reconstructed phase angle values.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein (d) further includes:

generating indexes to a table of precalculated original phase angle values responsive to the first and second outputs of the first and second correlation filters, wherein the original phase angle values are determined from the table using the indexes.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein (d) includes determining that phase angle values in a portion of the original phase angle values sequentially increase from corresponding to a first about ninety degree span of angles to corresponding to a second about ninety degree span of angles which is adjacent to the first span.

15. Computer readable media bearing instructions which are operative to cause the at least one processor in an automated banking machine to cause the machine to carry out the method steps recited in claim 1.

16. An apparatus comprising:

an automated banking machine including a cash dispenser;

a sound transmitter operative to transmit a sound wave through sheet media;

a sound receiver operative to produce at least one receiver signal responsive to the sound wave after having passed through the sheet media;

a filter circuit operative to filter the at least one receiver signal with respect to two reference signals which differ in phase by substantially 90 degrees; and

at least one processor operative responsive to at least one output from the filter circuit to determine data representative of at least one change in the phase of the sound wave caused by the sheet media, wherein the at least one processor is operative responsive to the determined data to determine whether the sheet media corresponds to a single sheet or at least two sheets in overlapped relation.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising at least one transport, wherein the at least one transport is operative responsive to the sheet media being determined by the at least one processor as corresponding to a single sheet or at least two sheets to selectively move the sheet media.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein when the sheet media is determined by the at least one processor to correspond to at least two sheets in overlapped relation, the at least one transport is operative to move the sheet media to an opening in the automated banking machine through which the sheet media is accessible to a user.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein when the sheet media is determined by the at least one processor to correspond to a single sheet, the at least one transport is operative to move the sheet media to a storage location in the automated banking machine.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein when the sheet media comprises a check and when the sheet media is determined by the at least one processor to correspond to a single sheet, the at least one processor is operative to cause the machine to perform a check depositing transaction which includes causing an account associated with the user of the machine to be credited with an amount of value associated with the check.

21. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein when the sheet media comprises at least three sheets in overlapped relation, the at least one processor is operative to determine that the data representative of the at least one change in the phase of the sound wave caused by the sheet media is greater than 180 degrees.

22. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the machine comprises a deposit accepting device operative to receive sheet media from a user through an opening in the automated banking machine, wherein the deposit accepting device includes the sound transmitter, the sound receiver and the filter circuit.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the at least one processor includes at least one of a processor in the deposit accepting device and a computer in the automated banking machine.

24. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the deposit accepting device comprises at least one of a currency receiving device, a currency recycling device and a check depositing device.

25. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the sound transmitter is operative to transmit the sound wave through sheet media, wherein the sound wave has an ultrasonic frequency.

26. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the filtering circuit includes two correlation filters, wherein a first one of the two correlation filters is operative responsive to the at least one receiver signal and a first reference signal to generate a first output representative of a difference in phase with respect to the at least one receiver signal and the first reference signal, wherein a second one of the two correlation filters is operative responsive to the at least one receiver signal and a second reference signal to generate a second output representative of a difference in phase with respect to the at least one receiver signal and the second reference signal, wherein the at least one processor is operative to determine the data representative of the at least one chance in the phase of the sound wave caused by the sheet media responsive to changes in the first and second outputs.

27. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the at least one processor is operative responsive to the first and second outputs to determine original phase information associated with at least one of the correlation filters, wherein the original phase information associated with the at least one of the correlation filters includes a plurality of original phase angle values, wherein the at least one processor is operative to determine reconstructed phase angle values from the plurality of original phase angle values responsive to changes in the first and second outputs, wherein the reconstructed phase angle values are representative of the phase delay of the sound wave, wherein the at least one processor is operative to determine whether the sheet media corresponds to a single sheet or at least two sheets in overlapped relation responsive to the reconstructed phase angle values.

28. The apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising a data store including data representative of a table of precalculated original phase angle values, wherein the at least one processor is operative to determine the original phase angle values from the table using an index to the table, wherein the at least one processor is operative to determine the index responsive to the first and second outputs of the first and second correlation filters.

29. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the at least one processor is operative to determine that a first sample is associated with a first reconstructed phase angle that falls within a first about ninety degree span of angles, wherein the at least one processor is operative to detect a change in at least one of the first and second outputs which indicates that a second subsequent reconstructed phase angle falls within a second about ninety degree span of angles which is adjacent to the first span, wherein the at least one processor is operative responsive to the detected change to determine the second subsequent reconstructed phase angle.

30. A method comprising:

a) transmitting a sound wave through sheet media moving in a pathway of an automated banking machine, wherein the automated banking machine comprises a cash dispenser;

b) producing a receiver signal responsive to the sound wave, wherein at least a portion of the receiver signal is produced responsive to the sound wave after having passed through the sheet media;

c) determining data representative of changes in phase over time in the receiver signal with respect to a first reference signal;

d) determining data representative of changes in phase over time in the receiver signal with respect to a second reference signal, wherein the first reference signal and the second reference signal differ in phase by 90 degrees;

e) through operation of at least one processor in the automated banking machine, responsive to the data determined in (c) and (d) determining data representative of changes in phase of the sound wave over time caused by transmission through the sheet media; and

f) operating at least one transport in the automated banking machine to move the sheet media responsive to the data determined in (e).

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein in (a) the sheet media comprises three sheets in overlapped relation, wherein the data determined in (e) is representative of the phase of the sound wave changing by more than 180 degrees.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein the data determined in (c) does not independently indicate a change in phase of the sound wave that is more than 180 degrees, wherein the data determined in (d) does not independently indicate a change in phase of the sound wave that is more than 180 degrees.

33. The method according to claim 31, further comprising:

g) through operation of the at least one processor, determining responsive to the data determined in (e) that the sheet media corresponds to more than one sheet;

wherein (f) is carried out responsive to (g).

34. The method according to claim 30, wherein in (a) the sheet media comprises three sheets in overlapped relation, wherein the data determined in (e) supplies information usable to determine that the sheet media comprises more than one sheet.

35. The method according to claim 34, wherein the data determined in (c) does not supply information that is independently usable to determine whether the sheet media comprises more than one sheet, and wherein the data determined in (d) does not supply information that is independently usable to determine whether the sheet media comprises more than one sheet.

36. The method according to claim 34, further comprising:

g) through operation of the at least one processor, determining responsive to the data determined in (e) that the sheet media corresponds to more than one sheet;

wherein (f) is carried out responsive to (g).

37. An apparatus comprising:

an automated banking machine including a cash dispenser;

a sound transmitter operative to transmit a sound wave through sheet media;

a sound receiver operative to produce a receiver signal responsive to the sound wave after having passed through the sheet media;

a first filter operative to produce data representative of changes in phase over time in the receiver signal with respect to a first reference signal;

a second filter operative to produce data representative of a changes in phase over time in the receiver signal with respect to a second reference signal, wherein the first reference signal and the second reference signal differ in phase by 90 degrees;

at least one processor operative, responsive to data produced by the first filter and the data produced by the second filter, to determine data representative of changes in the phase of the sound wave over time caused by transmission of the sound wave through the sheet media; and

at least one transport, wherein the at least one transport is operative to move the sheet media responsive to the determined data representative of the changes in the phase of the sound wave caused by transmission through the sheet media.

38. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein when the sheet media comprises three sheets in overlapped relation, the at least one processor is operative, responsive to data produced by the first filter and the data produced by the second filter, to determine data representative changes in phase of the sound wave which is more than 180 degrees.

39. The apparatus according to claim 38, wherein when the sheet media comprises three sheets in overlapped relation, the data produced by the first filter does not independently indicate a change in phase of the sound wave that is more than 180 degrees, and the data produced by the second filter does not independently indicate a change in phase of the sound wave that is more than 180 degrees.

40. The apparatus according to claim 39, wherein when the sheet media comprises three sheets in overlapped relation, the at least one processor is operative to determine that the sheet media corresponds to more than one sheet, responsive to the determined data representative of the changes in the phase of the sound wave caused by transmission through the sheet media, wherein the at least one transport is operative to move the sheet media responsive to a determination by the at least one processor that the sheet media corresponds to more than one sheet.

41. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein when the sheet media comprises three sheets in overlapped relation, the determined data representative of the changes in the phase of the sound wave caused by transmission through the sheet media supplies information usable to determine that the sheet media comprises more than one sheet.

42. The apparatus according to claim 41, wherein when the sheet media comprises three sheets in overlapped relation, the data produced by the first filter does not supply information that is independently usable to determine whether the sheet media comprises more than one sheet, and wherein when the sheet media comprises three sheets in overlapped relation, the data produced by the second filter does not supply information that is independently usable to determine whether the sheet media comprises more than one sheet.

43. The apparatus according to claim 41, wherein when the sheet media comprises three sheets in overlapped relation, the at least one processor is operative to determine that the sheet media corresponds to more than one sheet, responsive to the determined data representative of the changes in the phase of the sound wave caused by transmission through the sheet media, wherein the at least one transport is operative to move the sheet media responsive to a determination by the at least one processor that the sheet media corresponds to more than one sheet.