Multiple sheet detector apparatus and method

• US 7,293,702 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2005
• Issued: 11/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Diebold Self-Service Systems (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ma, Songtao, Laskowski, Edward L.
• Primary Examiner(s): CAPUTO, LISA M
• Application Number:
  US11/171,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20060000887A1
• Time in Patent Office: 866 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 transmit 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. An apparatus comprising:

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 the sound wave has passed through 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 phase of the sound wave caused by passage through sheet media;

wherein the at least one processor is operative, responsive to the determined data, to determine whether sheet media through which the sound wave has passed comprises at least one of a single sheet and multiple sheets.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, and further comprising sheet media including at least three sheets in overlapped relation, wherein 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.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, and further comprising a cash dispensing automated banking machine, wherein the automated banking machine includes the sound transmitter, the sound receiver, the filter circuit, the at least one processor, and a cash dispenser.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the automated banking machine includes a transport operative to move sheet media, wherein the at least one processor causes the transport to operate responsive to the determination as to whether the sheet media comprises at least one of a single sheet and multiple sheets.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, and further comprising a sheet handling apparatus, wherein the sheet handling apparatus includes the sound transmitter, the sound receiver, the filter circuit, and the at least one processor.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the sheet handling apparatus comprises at least one of a currency recycling device, a check handling device, a cash dispenser, a printer, a copier, a scanner, and an ATM.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sound transmitter is operative to transmit a sound wave through sheet media, wherein the sound wave has an ultrasonic frequency.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is operative, responsive to the first and second outputs, to determine original phase information, wherein the original phase information 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 change in phase of the sound wave;

wherein the at least one processor is operative to determine whether the sheet media corresponds to at least one of a single sheet and multiple sheets in overlapped relation responsive to the reconstructed phase angle values.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a data store, wherein the data store includes data corresponding to a table of precalculated original phase angle values, wherein the at least one processor is operative to determine the original phase angle values responsive to data corresponding to 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.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, 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.

11. A method comprising:

a) transmitting a sound wave through sheet media moving in a pathway, which sheet media comprises either a single sheet or at least two sheets in overlapped relation;

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, 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, determining responsive to the data determined in (d) that the sheet media comprises a single sheet or at least two sheets.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein in (a) the sheet media comprises at least three sheets in overlapped relation, wherein the data determined in (d) is representative of phase of the sound wave changing by more than 180 degrees.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein in (a) an automated banking machine includes the pathway, wherein the automated banking machine includes a cash dispenser.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein in (a) the sheet media comprises at least one of a check, a paper sheet, a currency sheet, and a paper document.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein in (a) the sound wave has an ultrasonic frequency.

16. The method according to claim 11 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.

17. The method according to claim 11, 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 the first reference signal, to generate a first output representative of a difference in phase with respect to the at least one receiver signal and a 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.

18. The method according to claim 17, 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 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.

19. The method according to claim 18, 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.

20. The method according to claim 18, 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.

21. Computer readable media bearing instructions which are operative to cause the at least one processor in a sheet media handling apparatus to cause the apparatus to carry out the method steps recited in claim 11.

22. A method comprising:

a) transmitting a sound wave through sheet media moving in a pathway;

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, 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;

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

23. The method according to claim 22, 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.

24. The method according to claim 23, 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.

25. The method according to claim 23, 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).

26. The method according to claim 22, 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.

27. The method according to claim 26, 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.

28. The method according to claim 26, 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).

29. An apparatus comprising:

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.

30. The apparatus according to claim 29, 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.

31. The apparatus according to claim 30, 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.

32. The apparatus according to claim 30, 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.

33. The apparatus according to claim 29, 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.

34. The apparatus according to claim 33, 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.

35. The apparatus according to claim 33, 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.

36. Apparatus comprising:

a transmitter, wherein the transmitter is operative to generate at least one sound wave;

a receiver, wherein the receiver is operative to sense the at least one sound wave generated by the transmitter, and wherein the receiver is operative to generate at least one signal responsive to the at least one sensed sound wave;

a sheet path, wherein the sheet path extends operatively intermediate of the transmitter and receiver, wherein the at least one sound wave sensed by the receiver passes through at least one sheet in the sheet path; and

circuitry in operative connection with the receiver, wherein the circuitry includes at least one processor, wherein the circuitry is operative to filter the at least one signal with respect to the reference signals, wherein the two reference signals differ in phase by 90 degrees, and wherein the circuitry is operative responsive to the filtered at least one signal to generate at least one output, wherein the at least one output corresponds to a quantity of sheets operatively intermediate of the transmitter and the receiver in the sheet path.

37. A method comprising:

a) generating through operation of at least one transmitter, at least one sound wave;

b) sensing the at least one sound wave subsequent to the at least one sound wave having passed through at least one sheet in a sheet path, through operation of at least one sensor;

c) generating responsive to the at least one sensor, at least one signal corresponding to the at least one sound wave sensed in (b);

d) filtering the at least one signal relative to two reference signals through operation of circuitry in operative connection with the at least one sensor, wherein the two reference signals differ in phase by 90 degrees;

e) generating through operation of circuitry including at least one processor, responsive to (d), at least one output, wherein the at least one output corresponds to a quantity of sheets operatively intermediate of the at least one transmitter and the at least one sensor in the sheet path.