Evaluation system

• US 20020043560A1
• Filed: 08/30/2001
• Published: 04/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Woods, Mark J., Hewit, James R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,990,474 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/438
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/185 Detecting holes or pores

Abstract

An evaluation system (10) for evaluating media is described. The system is particularly suitable for evaluating banknotes to determine their suitability for use in an ATM. The system comprises sensing means (12) for sensing properties of media (18) including the location of any imperfection in the media, and an evaluation module (16) for evaluating imperfections in the media(18). The evaluation module (16) includes a classifier (52) comprising an artificial neural network (60) and fuzzy logic (66). The evaluation module (16) may include a plurality of classifiers (52), and a second level classifier (56) for generating a suitability index (20) from the outputs of the first level classifiers (52). A method of evaluating media is also described.

Claims

1. An evaluation system for evaluating media, the system comprising:

sensing means for sensing properties of media including the location of any imperfection in the media; and

an evaluation module for evaluating imperfections in the media, the evaluation module comprising an artificial neural network and a fuzzy system.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation module includes a classifier including first evaluating means for evaluating any imperfections in one or more predefined critical locations on the media and generating a first damage value, second evaluating means for evaluating any imperfections in any non-critical locations on the media and generating a second damage value, and combining means for combining the first and second damage values to generate a single damage index.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the first evaluating means comprises a fuzzy system, and the second evaluating means comprises an artificial neural network.

4. A system according to claim 2, wherein the evaluation module includes a plurality of classifiers, and a second level classifier for receiving the single damage index from each classifier and for generating a suitability index therefrom.

5. A method of evaluating media, the method comprising the steps of:

sensing properties of media including the location of any imperfection in the media;

evaluating any imperfections in one or more predefined critical locations on the media;

generating a first damage value based on the imperfections in the critical locations;

evaluating any imperfections in any non-critical locations on the media;

generating a second damage value based on the imperfections in the non-critical locations; and

combining the first and second damage values to generate a single damage index.

6. An evaluation module for coupling to a sensing arrangement, the evaluation module comprising:

a classifier including first evaluating means for evaluating any imperfections in one or more predefined critical locations on the media and generating a first damage value, second evaluating means for evaluating any imperfections in any non-critical locations on the media and generating a second damage value, and combining means for combining the first and second damage values to generate a single damage index.

7. An evaluation module according to claim 6, further comprising a number of classifiers, and a second level classifier for receiving the single damage index from each classifier and for generating a suitability index therefrom.

8. An evaluation module for coupling to a sensing arrangement, the evaluation module comprising:

evaluating means comprising an artificial neural network and a fuzzy system.

9. A method of evaluating media, the method comprising the steps of:

sensing the media;

detecting one or more physical imperfections in the media;

determining properties of each of the imperfections in the media;

generating a damage index associated with each imperfection based on the determined properties; and

generating a single suitability index based on a combination of each damage index.

10. A method of evaluating media, the method comprising the steps of:

sensing the media;

detecting at least one physical imperfection in the media;

determining properties of each imperfection in the media;

generating a damage index associated with each imperfection based upon the determined properties of the imperfection; and

generating a single suitability index based upon a combination of each damage index.