DE102008032553A1 - License verifying device for use in vending machine that sells e.g. tobacco, for verifying e.g. water-mark, has image recording module for recording image of characteristics and character data of license by optical character recognition - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a sensor module (2) with photo sensors (22) arranged adjacent to elastic re-guiding devices (21), and a light source module (3) with light emitting devices (31). The re-guiding devices are actuated for covering the photo sensors, and the light emitting devices are operated for emitting light of different wavelengths at a license in a preset sequence, when the license is inserted into a card chamber (13) through an inserting slot (11). An image recording module (4) records an image of characteristics and character data of the license by an optical character recognition (OCR).

Description

The The present invention relates to a license checking device.

in the Course of rapid development of technology has become our way of life changed, and different vending machines are used everywhere to make different Products without operator to sell. These vending machines are very much accepted because of their advantage that they work a lot spare and bring comfort to people. For example the so-called Q-shops the advantage of scientific intelligence, fast service and the fast execution of a payment transaction. A Q-Shop can provide vending machines for drinks, cigarettes, Tickets, tickets, ice cream, commemorative coins, key rings or even hamburgers and pasta for sale. There are many virtual stores today, to enable online shopping what are buyers allowed to choose among millions of products when buying.

ordinary Vending machines do not limit the sales to persons of any kind Age. Therefore, you can ordinary Vending machines generally only popular goods such as fruit juice drinks, carbonated Beverages, Sell food etc. These vending machines can not age-controlled goods such. As cigarettes or alcoholic beverages sell, or other controlled goods such. Food, strong acidic / alkaline detergent or other dangerous objects to sell. To prevent children from using age-controlled goods for sale, or to prevent unqualified people from To buy controlled goods, must be a vending machine for age-controlled or otherwise controlled goods are equipped with a security system, about age or identity of the consumer.

in the Course of rapid development of technology and the introduction of License systems can People will be forced to different licenses for different To obtain qualifications. A person can be many different Carry licenses. ordinary Licenses can however easily copied. To prevent counterfeiting are Techniques against counterfeiting been developed and applied to the field of licenses. There is a license verification facility for vending machines, the authenticity of the license by means of the license test with light of two or more different wavelengths and then the change the amplitude checks, which is generated so as to compare this with reference data, against counterfeiting are directed.

at the construction of a vending machine for the sale of age-controlled or specially controlled goods, therefore, the detection of the actual Age of the buyer or his identity considered become. The buyer must be a personal one Identification card (eg a driver's license, an ID card, an IC card, etc.) in the machine to the actual Age and / or identity to consider. The vending machine allows the transaction only if the identity of the buyer is checked and it is checked whether the buyer the legal age has, for. B. at least 18 years old. The Problem of fake However, licenses must be considered be, the use of counterfeit Licenses must be prevented. In the course of rapid development the computer technology can malicious People computer scanning, copying and printing technology use to fake Make licenses to fraudulently sell money or merchandise from sellers to acquire. A vending machine for sale from age-controlled or specially controlled goods must therefore be accompanied by a license test facility be equipped with high performance, to different characteristics (watermarks, paper quality, personal data etc.), whereby security is achieved.

at The construction of a vending machine for controlled items must therefore the following points are taken into account become.

One Vending machine for sale of age-controlled items must be able to identify the identity and the age of the buyer to consider, thereby preventing controlled objects (tobacco or spirits) to young people or children. To the Selling controlled dangerous Goods must a vending machine recognize the identity of the buyer and the so related Data for the subsequent Trace the persecution.

in the Course of the rapid development of computer technology can be malicious People techniques of computer scanning, copying and printing use to fake Create licenses to fraudulently use money or Goods from sellers to acquire. A vending machine must therefore be able to different against counterfeiting directed characteristics of a license, thus reducing fraud by a fake License is prevented.

It is therefore desirable a license testing facility for vending machines to verify the authenticity of the inserted license and the identity and that Age of the license holder of the inserted license checks.

The present invention has been described in Be consideration of these circumstances. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a license checker which verifies the authenticity of the inserted license and at the same time verifies the identity and age of the license holder of the inserted license.

Around to achieve this and other objects of the present invention, has the license exam facility a housing, a sensor module, a light source module, and an image pickup module on. The housing limits an insertion slot and a card room to record the license for the exam. The sensor module is in the housing attached and has a plurality of elastic return means and a plurality of photosensors attached to the elastic return means are adjacent. The elastic return devices are forced the photo sensors at insertion the license through the introductory slot to cover in the card room. The light source module is inside of the housing attached and has a plurality of light-emitting devices which are controllable to light different wavelengths Card room to emit. The image pickup module has an image pickup device on, which is directed to the card room, the image of the counterfeiting directed characteristics and the character data of an inserted license to take up. If a license through the insertion slot in the card room added and positioned, the elastic return means become forced to cover the photosensors, and the light-emitting Devices of the light source module are operated to light different wavelength to emit on the license in a predetermined order so that the image acquisition module the image of the counterfeiting characteristics and Character data of the license through an optical character recognition technique (OCR) for exam the authenticity of the license and recognition of the character data.

If the license tester in one Vending machines for selling controlled items or dangerous objects is used, checks the license testing facility the authenticity of an inserted License and recognizes identity and Age of the license holder of the license.

Further the invention can also be used in a vending machine, to sell medicines, leaving any person under one Chronic illness suffers, special medicines from the vending machine Can buy directly and not visit a hospital or pharmacy to get the same medicines.

Further also draws the license exam facility the date of birth, photo, license number, transaction time and others transaction-related data for further examination on. The recorded data can also be used to help police officers, criminal acts to investigate and prosecute criminals.

By Thus, the invention is intended to create a license checking device, the one light source, the light of different wavelengths in one emitted predetermined order and uses a light receiving module with the image of the counterfeiting directed characteristics and character data of the inserted license for exam with Reference data and recognition by an optical character recognition method (OCR) is recorded, so the authenticity of the license and the Age of the license holder of the inserted license.

The Invention will be described below with reference to an advantageous embodiment with reference to the attached Drawings, for example, described. Show it:

1 a perspective view of a license checking device in accordance with the present invention;

2 an exploded view of the license checking device of the present invention;

3 a schematic side view of the license checking device of the invention, showing the state of the license checking device in a first state (I);

4 a schematic side view of the license checking device of the invention, showing the state of the license checking device in a second state (II);

5 a schematic side view of the license testing device of the invention, showing the state of the license testing device in a third state (III);

6 a schematic cross-sectional view of the license inspection device of the invention, in which the image acquisition module of the license check device is shown in operation;

7 FIG. 4 is an operational flowchart of the license verification procedure of the license review device of the present invention; FIG. and

8th an operational flow chart of the character recognition method of the invention Lizenzprüfeinrichtung.

Referring to the 1 to 5 there is shown a license testing device in accordance with the present invention which includes a housing 1 , a sensor module 2 , a light source module 3 and an image capture module 4 having. In the case 1 is the sensor module 2 , the light source module 3 and the image capture module 4 accommodated.

The housing 1 has an insertion slot 11 for inserting a license, a rack 12 Stuck firmly in it, a card room 13 in the frame 12 is formed and with the insertion slot 11 communicates, and a transparent dust cover 14 on, on one side of the map room 13 is arranged.

The sensor module 2 is in the frame 11 around the map room 13 arranged around and has a plurality of elastic return means 21 and photosensors 22 on, on two sides relative to the elastic return means 21 are arranged.

The light source module 3 is in the frame 12 attached to a lateral side and has a plurality of light-emitting devices 31 which are controllable to light of different wavelength to the map space 13 to emit. The light-emitting devices 31 may be infrared and / or ultraviolet LEDs, white LEDs, or other LEDs of different wavelengths.

The image acquisition module 4 is adjacent to the light source module 3 arranged and has an image pickup device 41 up to the card room 13 opposite the transparent dust cover 14 is arranged.

The license checker is installed for use in a vending machine to verify the authenticity of a license 5 (Passport, driver's license, ID card or health insurance card). If a user has a license 5 through the insertion slot 11 in the map room 13 has inserted, the elastic return means 21 through the inserted license 5 brought to the photosensors 22 cover, which causes the photosensors 22 emit a signal, and therefore the light-emitting devices 31 brought to light different wavelengths of ultraviolet, infrared or visible light on the license 5 to emit, and the image pickup device 41 of the image acquisition module 4 is operated to get pictures of the license 5 take.

• 101 Systeminitialisierung
• 102 Das Sensormodul 2 beurteilt, ob eine Lizenz 5 an ihre Position gebracht worden ist oder nicht. Das System fährt dann mit Schritt 103 fort, wenn dies der Fall ist, oder kehrt zu Schritt 101 zurück, wenn dies nicht der Fall ist.
• 103 Die lichtemittierenden Einrichtungen 31 des Lichtquellenmoduls 3 werden gesteuert, Licht in der richtigen Reihenfolge zu emittieren, und die Bildaufnahmeeinrichtung 41 des Bildaufnahmemoduls 4 wird betrieben, Bilddaten von der Lizenz 5 aufzunehmen.
• 104 Das System vergleicht die aufgenommenen Bilddaten mit Bezugsdaten, die sie von der Bilddatenbank erhälten, und beurteilt dann die Echtheit der Lizenz 5, und fährt dann mit Schritt 105 fort, wenn die Lizenz 5 als Fälschung erkannt worden ist, oder mit Schritt 106, wenn die Lizenz 5 eine echte Lizenz ist.
• 105 Das System beendet alle Aktionen.
• 106 Das System durchläuft eine Zeichenerkennungsprozedur.

Referring to the 6 and 7 and again 3 works when a license 5 through the insertion slot 11 in the map room 13 is inserted, the license examiner with the following steps:

• 101 system initialization
• 102 The sensor module 2 judges whether a license 5 has been moved to their position or not. The system then moves to step 103 if this is the case, or returns to step 101 back if this is not the case.
• 103 The light-emitting devices 31 of the light source module 3 are controlled to emit light in the correct order, and the image capture device 41 of the image acquisition module 4 is operated, image data from the license 5 take.
• 104 The system compares the captured image data with reference data obtained from the image database, and then assesses the authenticity of the license 5 , and then moves to step 105 if the license 5 has been identified as a forgery, or with a step 106 if the license 5 a real license is.
• 105 The system stops all actions.
• 106 The system goes through a character recognition procedure.

According to the present invention, when a light-emitting device 31 Infrared light on the surface of the inserted license 5 emitted, the ink of the license 5 a reflection. At this time, the image acquisition module is taking 4 the picture of the license 5 from the reflected light through the image pickup device 41 and then converts the image into image data. Thereafter, the system turns off the infrared red light emitting device and then operates the light source module 3 that there is ultraviolet light on the license 5 emitted so that the image acquisition module 4 the image data of the fluorescent fiber of the license 5 can record. The system then compares the image data of the ink and the fluorescent fiber with relevant reference data stored in the database and then judges the authenticity of the license 5 based on the comparison result.

The aforesaid image pickup device 41 may be a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor), CIS (Contact Image Sensor), or any other image pickup device. In addition to infrared and ultraviolet light, the image acquisition module 4 With other different wavelengths of light used to verify the authenticity of the license 5 to consider.

With the help of the application of the aforementioned infrared and ultraviolet light, the counterfeiting characteristics (watermark, steel stamping, concealed bar code, laser marking, etc.) of the license 5 to irradiate receives the image acquisition module 4 the image data of the anti-counterfeit characteristics of the license 5 to check the authenticity of the license. If the license is found to be a forgery as a result of the check, the system immediately issues a corresponding sig At the vending machines, this causes the vending machine to terminate the transaction. If the license 5 was detected as a genuine license, the system immediately goes through a character recognition procedure.

• 201 Zuerst emittieren die lichtemittierenden Einrichtungen 31 weißes Licht auf die Lizenz 5, und dann nimmt die Bildaufnahmeeinrichtung 41 das Bild der Zeichendaten von der Lizenz 5 auf.
• 202 Die Lizenzprüfeinrichtung (Steuerschaltung der Lizenzprüfeinrichtung) prüft die Zeichendaten, die durch die Bildaufnahmeeinrichtung 41 erhalten sind und beurteilt die Einfügungsrichtung (Vorderseite oder Rückseite).
• 203 Die Lizenzprüfeinrichtung (Steuerschaltung der Lizenzprüfeinrichtung) dekodiert die erhaltenen Zeichendaten mit Hilfe einer OCR-Technik (optische Zeichenerkennung), wodurch die Geburtsdaten des Lizenzhalters erhalten werden.
• 204 Die Lizenzprüfeinrichtung (Steuerschaltung der Lizenzprüfeinrichtung) beurteilt, ob der Lizenzhalter das gesetzliche Alter hat oder nicht. Und das System (Steuerschaltung der Lizenzprüfeinrichtung) fährt dann mit Schritt 206 weiter, wenn der Lizenzhalter das gesetzliche Alter hat, oder fährt mit Schritt 205 fort, wenn dies nicht der Fall ist.
• 205 Die Lizenzprüfeinrichtung (Steuerschaltung der Lizenzprüfeinrichtung) beendet den Betrieb.
• 206 Die Lizenzprüfeinrichtung (Steuerschaltung der Lizenzprüfeinrichtung) gibt ein Genehmigungssignal zum Steuersystem des Verkaufsautomaten, damit der Verkaufsautomat mit der Transaktion beginnen kann.

Referring to 8th and again 2 and 6 goes through if the license 5 has been detected as a genuine license, the license examiner immediately recognizes the character recognition process to recognize the birth dates on the license by the following steps:

• 201 First, the light-emitting devices emit 31 white light on the license 5 , and then pick up the image capture device 41 the image of the character data from the license 5 on.
• 202 The license checker (license checker control circuit) checks the character data passing through the image pickup device 41 are received and judged the insertion direction (front or back).
• 203 The license checker (license checker control circuit) decodes the obtained character data by means of OCR (optical character recognition) technique, whereby the license holder's birth data is obtained.
• 204 The license checking device (control circuit of the license checking device) judges whether the license holder has the legal age or not. And the system (control circuit of the license checker) then moves to step 206 continue if the license holder has the legal age or move to step 205 if this is not the case.
• 205 The license checker (control circuit of the license checker) stops the operation.
• 206 The license checker (License Checker Control Circuit) sends an approval signal to the vending machine control system to allow the vending machine to begin the transaction.

After validation of the license 5 Therefore, the image acquisition module starts 4 with the recognition of the birth data data zone on the license 5 At the same time, the light-emitting devices become 31 controlled to white light on the zone of birth dates of the license 5 to emit, hence the image capture device 41 of the image acquisition module 4 the image of birth dates from the license 5 positive for accurate detection by optical character recognition (OCR) technology. The birth data thus obtained are then compared to the current date, which determines whether the age of the license holder is below or above the legal age. Thereafter, the license checker sends the recognition result to the vending machine so that the vending machine can start or finish the transaction based on the comparison result signal from the license checker.

The The aforementioned recognition method simply recognizes the birth data of the license holder. About that In addition, this recognition method is simply an example of the present Invention, but no limitation. For example, the license review facility be constructed so that they have the dates of the name, the birthday and the ID number of the customer and also the transaction item each transaction recognizes and records. If the vending machine designed to sell controlled dangerous goods, The recorded data is also useful for storage and searches.

If either the license exam, the exam to the legal age and the identity of the license holder not with complies with the requirements, becomes the license examiner immediately stop the transaction, and all hanging together Data of the transaction, either successful or unsuccessful for further Storage and searches recorded.

The light-emitting devices 31 of the light source module 3 are controlled and are adapted to visible light, such. As blue light or green light, or invisible light such as ultraviolet light depending on the nature of the anti-counterfeiting characteristics and depending on the data zone on the lit license 5 to emit, reducing image acquisition and detection by the image acquisition module 4 is relieved.

In summary let yourself say that the license examiner The present device has the following features and advantages Has.

The invention uses the image capture module 4 to verify the authenticity of the license and recognize the age and identity information of the license holder. With the help of the control of the light source module 3 , Different wavelengths of light on the various counterfeit characteristics of the license 5 to emit, takes the image acquisition module 4 reliable the image data of the anti-counterfeiting characteristics of the license 5 for authenticity checking on. After recognizing the authenticity of the license 5 For example, the license's birth data is recognized by means of an optical character recognition (OCR) technique, and therefore the license checker can determine whether or not the license holder has the legal age and can control the vending machine to start or end the transaction based on the recognition result Prevent tobacco, spirits or other controlled dangerous goods from being sold to young people or children and thus preventing the violation of local laws. If the license checker in a vending machine for selling medicine and other controlled dangerous goods, the license review facility may store both the license holder (customer) name, birthday and ID number data (customer) and the transaction goods and the time of each transaction for storage and subsequent investigations. The invention therefore protects vendors of vending machines or vendors from disadvantages resulting from other people selling directly controlled items. The machine displays are thus preserved from damage. The invention can be used in a vending machine for selling medicines so that any person suffering from a chronic disease can buy special medicines directly from the vending machine and does not need to go to a hospital or pharmacy to obtain the same medicines. Further, a vending machine embodying the present invention may record the date of birth, photograph, license number, transaction time and other transaction related data for further investigation and use. The recorded data can also be used to assist the police in investigating and prosecuting crimes.

As mentioned above, the main feature of the present invention is the use of the light source module 3 , the light of different wavelengths on various counterfeiting characteristics and character zones of the license 5 which is to be tested, so that the image pickup device 4 positively the image of the counterfeiting characteristics and character data of the license 5 adopts the authenticity of the license 5 and the identity and age of the holder of the license 5 to consider. A vending machine equipped with a license checking device of the present invention can therefore sell controlled or dangerous items. The license validator of the present invention may also record transactional data of each transaction for further storage and investigation. Further, the license checking device of the present invention can also be used in a coin changing machine, a cash machine, a card issuing device, or the like.

Even though a particular embodiment of Invention detailed for For illustration purposes, various modifications may be made and improvements are made without mind and scope to deviate from the invention. Accordingly, the invention is only by the attached claims limited.

1

casing

11

insertion slot

12

frame

13

map room

14

transparent dust cover

2

sensor module

21

elastic Return means

22

photosensor

3

Light source module

31

light Facility

4

Image Capture Module

41

Image recording device

5

license

Claims (6)

License testing device with a housing ( 1 ) and an insertion slot ( 11 ), through which the license in the housing ( 1 ) is insertable for testing, characterized in that the housing ( 1 ) a built-in frame ( 12 ) and a map space ( 13 ), which in the frame ( 12 ) and in conjunction with the insertion slot ( 11 ) stands; and that it further comprises: a sensor module ( 2 ), which in the frame ( 12 ) around the map space ( 13 ) is arranged around and a plurality of elastic return means ( 21 ) and a plurality of photosensors ( 22 ), the elastic return means ( 21 ) are adjacent to the elastic return means ( 21 ) when inserting a license through the insertion slot ( 11 ) in the map space ( 13 ) Pressure, the photosensors ( 22 ) to cover; a light source module ( 3 ), which in the frame ( 12 ) is mounted on a lateral side and a plurality of light-emitting devices ( 31 ), which are controllable to light different wavelengths to the map space ( 13 ) to emit; and an image capture module ( 4 ), which is the light source module ( 3 ) is arranged adjacent and an image pickup device ( 41 ) to the card room ( 13 ) in order to obtain the image of the counterfeiting characteristics and the character data of a license ( 5 ) inserted through the insertion slot ( 11 ) in the map space ( 13 ) is inserted; where if a license ( 5 ) through the insertion slot ( 11 ) in the map space ( 13 ), the elastic return means ( 21 ), the photosensors ( 22 ) and the light-emitting devices ( 31 ) of the light source module ( 3 ) are operated to transfer light of different wavelengths to the license ( 5 ) in a predetermined order, so that the image acquisition module ( 4 ) the image of the anti-counterfeit characteristics and character data of the license ( 5 ) to verify the authenticity of the license ( 5 ) and to recognize character data. License testing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing ( 1 ) a transparent dust cover ( 14 ) in the frame ( 12 ) and on one side of the card space ( 13 ) is arranged. License testing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the light-emitting devices ( 31 ) of the light source module ( 3 ) are light-emitting diodes which can emit infrared, ultraviolet and / or white light. License testing device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the image recording device ( 41 ) is a charge coupled device. License testing device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the image recording device ( 41 ) is a complementary metal oxide semiconductor. Lizenzprüfeinrichtung according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the image pickup device is a contact image sensor.