Multi-wavelength currency authentication system and method
First Claim
1. A method of processing documents, comprising:
- receiving a document at an input receptacle;
transporting the document from the input receptacle along a transport path to an output receptacle;
alternately illuminating the transported document with at least two wavelengths of light;
sensing a response from each illumination of the document;
comparing the responses from each illumination against each other; and
generating and outputting a sensed reflection signal indicative of a characteristic of the document based on comparison differences or similarities with respect to illumination response to the at least two wavelengths of light.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A counterfeit determination is made with respect to currency bills by illuminating the currency bill with multiple wavelengths of light. Genuine currency bills include indicia printed with an ink that responds similarly to infra-red illumination at two different wavelengths. To identify a test currency as a suspect counterfeit, the bill is first illuminated with infra-red light at a first wavelength. A measurement is then made of a first reflected light response from the first illumination. The test currency bill is then second illuminated with infra-red light at a second wavelength. A measurement is then made of a second reflected light response from the second illumination. The first and second reflected light responses are then compared, and the test currency bill is identified as a suspect counterfeit if the first and second reflected light responses are not substantially the same.
129 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A method of processing documents, comprising:
receiving a document at an input receptacle; transporting the document from the input receptacle along a transport path to an output receptacle; alternately illuminating the transported document with at least two wavelengths of light; sensing a response from each illumination of the document; comparing the responses from each illumination against each other; and generating and outputting a sensed reflection signal indicative of a characteristic of the document based on comparison differences or similarities with respect to illumination response to the at least two wavelengths of light. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A document processing system, comprising:
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an input receptacle receiving a document; a transport mechanism for conveying the document from the input receptacle along a transport path to an output receptacle; a scanning system including a light source operating to alternately illuminate the transported document with at least two wavelengths of light; a light sensor that senses a response from each illumination of the document; and a processor to compare the responses from each illumination against each other and determine a characteristic of the document based on comparison differences or similarities with respect to illumination response to the at least two wavelengths of light. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of authenticating currency bills, comprising:
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receiving a stack of currency bills in an input receptacle; transporting the stack of currency bills, on an individual bill-by-bill basis, from the input receptacle along a transport path to an output receptacle; alternately illuminating each currency bill with at least two wavelengths of light; sensing, for each illuminated currency bill, a first response associated with illumination at a first wavelength of light and a second response associated with illumination at a second wavelength of light; and generating and outputting a sensed reflection signal indicative of an authentication determination for each currency bill based on a comparison between the first response and the second response. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A currency bill authentication system, comprising:
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an input receptacle receiving a stack of currency bills; a transport mechanism transporting the stack of currency bills, on an individual bill-by-bill basis, from the input receptacle along a transport path to an output receptacle; a scanning system including a light source operating to alternately illuminate each currency bill with at least two wavelengths of light; a light sensor that senses, for each illuminated currency bill, a first response associated with illumination at a first wavelength of light and a second response associated with illumination at a second wavelength of light; and a processor that makes an authentication determination for each currency bill based on a comparison between the first response and the second response. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A method for making a counterfeit determination with respect to currency bills, wherein genuine currency bills include indicia printed with an ink that responds similarly to infra-red illumination at two different wavelengths, comprising:
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first illuminating a test currency bill with infra-red light at a first wavelength; sensing a first reflected light response from the first illumination; second illuminating the test currency bill with infra-red light at a second wavelength; sensing a second reflected light response from the second illumination; comparing the first and second reflected light responses; and generating and outputting a sensed reflection signal indicating the test currency bill to be suspect counterfeit if the compared first and second reflected light responses are not substantially the same. - View Dependent Claims (44)
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45. A system for making a counterfeit determination with respect to currency bills, wherein genuine currency bills include indicia printed with an ink that responds similarly to infra-red illumination at two different wavelengths, comprising:
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a first light source that illuminates a test currency bill with infra-red light at a first wavelength; a detector to sense a first reflected light response from the first illumination; a second light source that illuminates the test currency bill with infra-red light at a second wavelength; the detector sensing a second reflected light response from the second illumination; a processor to compare the first and second reflected light responses, and identify the test currency bill to be suspect counterfeit if the compared first and second reflected light responses are not substantially the same. - View Dependent Claims (46)
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Specification