DE10204035A1 - Information device with additional device and method for testing - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an information device with an additional device and method for testing. DOLLAR A In a mobile or stationary information device, for example a mobile device, cell phone, palmtop, organizer, notebook, notepad or a database, which are among the most frequently carried technical devices by consumers, is an additional device for checking security features that are based on and / or are arranged in objects to be tested, integrated. The device includes means for testing for electrical conductivity, preferably via capacitive or inductive coupling, and / or means for checking for magnetic flux or magnetization, preferably via inductive coupling or Hall effect, and / or means for optical testing, preferably for optical reference or geometry, and / or arranged by diffractive structures. The means for optical testing are preferably photodiodes, photocells, laser diodes, CCD lines, lenses and interferrometric sensors. The device and / or the information device preferably detect the security features by means of capacitive and / or inductive coupling and / or optical testing and / or holographic reconstruction.

Description

The invention relates to a mobile and stationary information device with a Additional device and method for testing according to the preambles of claims 1 and 10 Patent application 101 05 019.4.

In connection with an ever increasing quality and quantity of available copy and computer technology continues to be with an increasing number of counterfeit products and imitations of security features. Under security features The following are features that are important for security in and on goods and Products, semi-finished products and spare parts, packaging and outer packaging, tear threads, Seals, securities, banknotes, banderoles, stocks and stamps as well Credit cards, check cards, ID cards, tickets, tickets, Participant ID cards and other certificates, documents and value documents are brought or are included, understood.

For example, counterfeit banknotes cannot be faked using modern copying techniques more easily distinguish visually from real banknotes. Therefore are special Take measures that are not accessible to counterfeiters today and in the future Technologies can be overcome or their overcoming too complex, that is to say is expensive. In addition to special papers for such securities, banknotes are, for example various currencies for a long time with a conductive embedded in the paper Security strips and wooden frames. Also not visually recognizable Security features are increasingly used for counterfeit security of securities and Documents. Testing of such security features requires use of test equipment.

For a better understanding of the invention, those in the description of the invention occurring terms defined here and are intended in the context of this application for Characterization of the invention have no other meaning.

Within the scope of this invention, a mobile information device includes a mobile radio device, Cell phone, palmtop, organizer, notebook, notepad or database as the most common understand the technical devices carried by consumers. It will also include also mobile data acquisition devices, e.g. B. scanner for capturing data in warehouses, Sales facilities, trade fairs, etc. understood the recorded data in a buffer save internally and as a data packet via an air interface to a Base station / central computer transmitted, the data processing in the device or on this receiver can be carried out.

A permanently installed additional device is used as a stationary information device Data acquisition understood that the data recorded in a mobile or fixed data storage stores and for data processing with a fixed or mobile data exchange device communicated.

DE 42 19 303 A1 describes a testing device with a UV light source for checking the authenticity of the Federal identity card as well as credit and check cards, check forms and Paper money. The test device is intended to perform a test by means of illumination and / or fluoroscopy with a enable a minimal UV light dose of the order of 6 watts quickly and safely. In the DE 94 06 154 U1 proposes a UV light source with a storage area, one To couple storage device or clamping device, for example in the checkout area or the cash register itself, in order to enable the cashier to check the authenticity of banknotes facilitate. However, the test is only for the presence of fluorescent Security features not sure. Fluorescent fabrics are freely available and can for example, can be easily applied to falsified products produced using color copiers.

A handheld device, preferably a pliers device for checking counterfeit-proof Documents using light in the infrared range and one reflecting in the infrared range Pigmentation is proposed in DE 295 13 469 U1. This is not about Security features that are already in use. Rather, z. B. Tickets, tickets, tickets and forms related to this particular Test technology can be manufactured or modified.

DE 195 07 653 A1 describes a method and a device for quantitative Determination of securities equipped with magnetizable areas such as banknotes by means of described a resonant circuit. By damping the resonance circuit, as in DE 195 07 654 A1, equipped with a metallic security thread Securities, such as banknotes, are checked for authenticity, changing the manipulated variable of the control loop is evaluated as a measure of conductivity. A disadvantage of this tester is, however, that the resonant circuit is damped even when the metallic security strip is interrupted one or more times or is not closed. The The test device would be falsified with a security strip that is not continuously visible is stuck on by the forger at the places visible on the surface or there conductive Color is applied, do not recognize.

A banknote checking device designed as a handheld device for checking the authenticity of banknotes with a conductive security strip, which the security strip as capacitive Coupling element over one or more coupling electrode (s) and one or more Decoupling electrode / s is described in DE 43 39 417 A1. Between the and coupling-out electrode (s) is a shielding electrode to avoid undesirable ones Coupling effects arranged. The authenticity of the banknote is checked by a subordinate Evaluation circuit recognized.

DE 195 10 303 A1 describes a device consisting of a test device Retaining clips and testing and evaluation unit for metal threads or in the testing device -bands as a characteristic feature for checking the authenticity of banknotes and / or Documents using the capacitive coupling when inserted into an arrangement Electrodes of an alternating electromagnetic field described. In the device in accordance with their basic concept, a test device housing for holding test and Evaluation electronics for banknotes and / or securities in insertion devices or locks Holder feet or machine carrier arranged. The holder feet are as stands, Test object holder with inserts, connecting piece with holder, additional housing for holding test and / or evaluation electronics and / or power supply devices on the test device housing arranged. The testing and evaluation devices and / or arrangements for testing the Authenticity of documents, packaging, banderoles, seals and the like are in differently designed housings in readers or identification devices or Marking devices introduced or associated with them.

All test devices known from the prior art are either stationary or portable test equipment. Stationary test equipment can be found, for example, at checkouts in Retail chains or in banks application. Portable test equipment is for users thought, where the location of the test changes, z. B. for the weekly market dealer or also for the conductor to check tickets.

The last changeover to the current DM banknotes showed that counterfeiters took advantage of this situation and launched counterfeit banknotes. a lot of Although consumers knew the appearance of the new banknotes, they still came many falsifications in circulation. Currency changes always hold great potential in Regarding the spread for counterfeit money. If the false certificates are recognized as such, the the consumer mostly the damage.

With regard to the introduction of new currencies, especially the introduction of euro Banknotes in 2002, but also the planned introduction of new US dollar banknotes until 2005 and the associated exchange of banknotes is an increased rejection of old falsifications and counterfeiting of new banknotes on the money market. Therefore, it is desirable that the consumer can make the authenticity check straightforward at all times and can perform without additional effort.

The object of the invention is therefore to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and a test device that is not only handy, but always and everywhere for the Consumer is available and can be used, and to propose a procedure for testing.

This task is solved according to the invention in that in a mobile and / or stationary information device an additional device according to the features of claims 1 and 10 is integrated.

The mobile and / or stationary information device according to the invention - in the following as Designated information device - with an additional device, comprising essentially one or several keyboards, one or more displays and one or more interfaces for transmitting and / or receiving information, a device for Checking security features arranged on, on and / or in objects to be checked are integrated in the information device or in connection with the information device stands.

Means for testing for electrical conductivity are preferably in the device capacitive or inductive coupling and / or means for testing for magnetic flux or Magnetization preferably via inductive coupling or Hall effect and / or means for optical inspection preferably for optical reference or geometry and / or of arranged diffractive structures. The means for optical inspection are preferred Photodiodes, photocells, laser diodes, CCD lines, lenses and interferrometric sensors.

Means for evaluating are in the device and / or in the information device Measured values from the means for testing electrical conductivity, the means for testing Magnetization, the means for optical testing can be interchanged and optionally can be combined.

In a further embodiment according to the invention, the device and / or the Information device arranged for sending and / or receiving information. The inventive method for testing security elements using the described information device, essentially comprising one or more keyboards or more displays and one or more interfaces for transmission and / or Receipt of information, checks by means of the device described in the information device integrated or related to the information device security features that are arranged on and / or in objects to be checked.

It becomes ohmic and / or capacitive by means of the described information device and / or inductive resistances or changes to these and / or optical reference or Geometry and / or diffractive structures detected.

The device and / or the information device detect the security features preferably by means of capacitive and / or inductive coupling and / or optical testing and / or holographic reconstruction.

In an advantageous modification of the method according to the invention, the Device and / or the information device the security features by means of several frequencies. The frequency-dispersive electrical property change of a measurement signal, caused by the security feature, for example that of a complex capacitive Resistance, such as in the capacitive coupling of transmit and Receiving electrode arises, detected. Because of their frequency selectivity, external influences, for example caused by moisture, kinks and pencil marks, excluded. In a further advantageous modification of the method according to the invention, the The device and / or the information device encodes security features, decodes them and shows them on a display.

A particular advantage of the solution according to the invention is that the evaluation software can be updated. This update is necessary in the event that the Change security features and thus the measurement conditions. The consumer is on vacation or on a business trip, for example in Great Britain, they have Evaluation criteria changed, the security thread in the British pound is different from that in the DM banknote or in euros.

For example, it is also conceivable for security features to progress due to the Technology development are easy to imitate and therefore no longer meet the security criteria suffice. In this case, so-called sleeping security features could be activated which in turn changes the measurement or evaluation process. The Information device with an additional device can in these cases via the appropriate interfaces be updated. In the case of a cell phone / cell phones, the required ones Changes, for example, as a collective message via SMS (short message service) to all relevant Transfer users or get them or request them.

The features of the invention go beyond the claims also from the description and the drawings, the individual features each individually or to represent several protective versions in the form of sub-combinations, for the here Protection is claimed. Embodiments of the invention are in the drawings are shown and are explained in more detail below.

The drawings show:

Fig. 1 mobile phone / cell phone with additional device and document of value with security elements

Fig. 2 block diagram of the architecture of a GSM cell phone

Fig. 3 block diagram of a mobile information device with additional device

Fig. 4 block diagram of a stationary information device with additional device

Fig. 5 mixed signal of different frequencies

Fig. 6 reconstruction of a hologram

Fig. 7 Security thread of the British pound and the DM banknotes

example 1

A specific exemplary embodiment of a mobile information device with an additional device is shown in FIG. 1 using a mobile telephone / cell phone 1 . It consists among other things of a keyboard 2 , a display 3 and an interface 4 for the transmission and reception of information, here designed as a transmitting and receiving antenna. The additional device contains a device 5 for checking security features 6 on or in objects 7 to be checked. In this exemplary embodiment, the device 5 for checking security features 6 on or in objects 7 to be checked is arranged in a side face of the mobile telephone / cell phone 1 . However, the device 5 can also be arranged at any location in, on or on any mobile and / or stationary information device. Preferably, this should be designed as a flat surface, or the device 5 itself is designed flat. In this embodiment variant, means for checking for electrical conductivity are arranged in the device 5 . These means consist, among other things, of a transmitter 8 and two receiver electrodes 9 , each of which is decoupled by a grounded electrode 10 . The test for electrical conductivity by means of transmitter 8 and receiver electrodes 9 is referred to as the "capacitive coupling" method. The additional device uses the GSM system architecture 11 of the cell phone / cell phone 1 , this is shown in FIG. 2. The complex system architecture 11 allows the frequency mixing stages 12 to work in different frequency ranges from kHZ to MHz to GHz. In the case of capacitive coupling, it is advantageous to use the high-frequency range, since the capacitive resistance is inversely proportional to the frequency. In this way, incorrect measurements, such as can arise from inaccuracies in the distance between electrodes 8 , 9 and security feature 6, for example of a metal thread, can be avoided. However, dielectric changes that can arise due to moisture or kinks in security feature 6 are also negligible (robust measurement).

Example 2

In a modification of example 1, the device 5 consists of means for testing for magnetic flux or magnetization, for example magnetic particles. These means consist, among other things, of an oscillating circuit with a capacitor and a coil, but a Hall probe can also be used, for example. Testing for magnetic particles using an oscillating circuit is referred to as the "inductive coupling" method. The inductive coupling also enables testing for electrical conductivity. The block diagram of a mobile information device with an additional device is shown in FIG. 3. The mobile information device with additional device comprises, among other things, a keyboard 2 , a display 3 , an interface 4 , the device 5 , a switcher 14 , a transmitting part 16 with microphone 15 , a receiving part 17 with loudspeaker 18 , a database 19 and a processor 20 ,

Example 3

The device 5 consists of means for testing for magnetic flux or magnetization, for example magnetic particles. These means consist, among other things, of an oscillating circuit with a capacitor and a coil, but a Hall probe can also be used, for example. Testing for magnetic particles using an oscillating circuit is referred to as the "inductive coupling" method. The inductive coupling also enables testing for electrical conductivity. The block diagram of a stationary information device with an additional device is shown in FIG. 4. The stationary information device with additional device comprises, among other things, a keyboard 2 , a display 3 , an interface 4 , the device 5 , a switcher 14 , a transmitting part 16 , a receiving part 17 , a database 19 and a processor 20 .

Example 4

In a modification of one of the preceding Examples 1 or 2, the device 5 consists of means for optical testing, with testing for optical reference or geometry. These means consist among other things of a photodiode and a photocell.

Example 5

In a modification of one or more of the preceding examples, the device 5 consists of means for optical testing, including one or more laser diodes 24 and a CCD line or camera. Via the digital signal processor DSP, for example, an optical 3D reflection image, caused by an optically effective security feature 6 , such as, for example, a diffractive structure, in particular a holographic structure, is detected and, for example, compared with stored patterns.

Example 6

6, the device 5 , consisting of means for optical inspection, including one or more laser diodes 24 , one or more lenses 27 and one or more interferrometric sensors 28 , is shown in FIG. 6. A hologram 23 , designed as a refractive index relief or also as an amplitude hologram, is illuminated with coherent light 25 , as a result of which a virtual 21 and a real 22 object image are generated. The virtual 21 image corresponds to the object, whereas the real 22 conjugate object image is evaluated via a Fourier transformation. Such computing algorithms are in principle implemented in the digital signal processor DSP and can be updated for the respective application. The advantage of this type of evaluation of the security feature 6 is that the interference pattern that has arisen can be reconstructed from every pixel, although the signal / noise ratio decreases as the evaluation area becomes smaller. Even with incomplete / volatile detection of the hologram 23 , the object image can be evaluated well. Another advantage is the high accuracy of the measurement with a resolution of approx. 15 nm.

Example 7

In a modification of one or more of the preceding examples, the device 5 in this embodiment variant comprises means for testing for electrical conductivity and magnetic flux or magnetization, for example magnetic particles, and means for optical testing, for example optical reference.

Example 8

In a modification to one or more of the preceding examples, in a further embodiment variant the device 5 is attached to the mobile and / or stationary information device. It is not necessary for this point to be a flat surface. In this example, it is designed in such a way that it has additionally been attached to the mobile and / or stationary information device, in particular here represents a bracket.

Example 9

In a modification of one or more of the preceding examples, the device 5 is not located on the surface of the information device, but rather inside. The information device has an opening or a slot. The test object is pushed or pulled by the information device by hand or by machine.

Example 10

Procedure for testing using one of one or more of the arrangement described above, wherein in this embodiment, the lower frequency range is used. Because of the high frequency accuracy required GSM itself can also be used in the lower frequency range for more complex evaluation methods implement the digital signal processor DSP using relatively simple algorithms even the slightest changes in the measurement object, e.g. B. the ohmic or capacitive Resistance.

Example 11

Method for testing using an arrangement as described in one or more of the preceding examples, wherein several frequency ranges are used in this exemplary embodiment. An exemplary mixed signal of different frequencies (*, **, ***) for safety-relevant measurement is shown in FIG. 5. The use of several frequencies makes it possible to safely evaluate the phase shift of a complex capacitive resistance of the security feature 6 , as occurs, for example, in the capacitive coupling of transmitter 8 and receiver electrode 9 , and to exclude or exclude any external influences (moisture, kinks, pencil lines) due to their frequency selectivity Detect errors. In addition to the capacitive, the ohmic resistance can also be measured.

Example 12

A method for testing of a security feature 6 using a manner as described in one or more of the preceding examples arrangement, wherein the security feature 6, for example on a package or a label on a product, for example a garment, detected is human visually invisible and encoded. This coding is converted into a lettering in the digital signal processor DSP and shown on a display 3 . The consumer now compares this with the printed lettering and recognizes the authenticity by matching the two.

In the present invention, a mobile was based on specific embodiments and / or stationary information device with an additional device and method for testing explained. The devices described in all their variations allow this Consumers always and everywhere available and usable the testing of security features, without having to carry additional equipment.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the details of the description in the exemplary embodiments is limited because changes within the scope of the claims and variations are claimed.

Claims (17)

1. Information device with an additional device, essentially comprising one or more keyboards ( 2 ), one or more displays ( 3 ) and one or more interfaces ( 4 ) for transmitting and / or receiving information, wherein a device ( 5 ) for Checking security features ( 6 ) which are arranged on and / or in objects to be checked ( 7 ), are integrated in the information device or are connected to the information device, the information device being stationary or mobile. 2. Information device according to claim 1, wherein the device ( 5 ) contains means for testing for electrical conductivity, preferably via capacitive or inductive coupling. 3. Information device according to claim 1, wherein the device ( 5 ) contains means for testing for magnetization, preferably via inductive coupling or Hall effect. 4. Information device according to claim 1, wherein the device ( 5 ) means for optical testing, preferably via one or more photodiodes and / or one or more photocells and / or one or more laser diodes ( 24 ) and / or one or more CCD lines and / or one or more lenses ( 27 ) and / or one or more interferrometric sensors ( 28 ). 5. Information device according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, wherein in the device ( 5 ) means for testing for electrical conductivity, means for testing for magnetization and means for optical testing are optionally interchangeable and combinable. 6. Information device with an additional device according to one or more of claims 1 to 5, wherein the information device is a mobile device and means for transmitting and / or receiving information are arranged in the device ( 5 ) and / or in the information device. 7. Information device according to one or more of the preceding claims with an additional device, wherein the information device is a stationary device and means for transmitting and / or receiving information are arranged in the device ( 5 ) and / or in the information device. 8. Information device according to one or more of the preceding claims with a permanently installed additional device for data acquisition, which can be in a mobile or fixed Data storage stores the recorded data and for data processing with a communicates fixed or mobile data exchange device, the information device stationary device. 9. Information device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein means for evaluating measured values in the device ( 5 ) and / or in the information device
the means for testing for electrical conductivity,
the means for testing for magnetization,
the means for optical inspection
are optionally interchangeable and combinable and a test result can be decoded, preferably shown on a display ( 3 ). 10. A method for testing security elements using a mobile information device, essentially comprising one or more keyboards ( 2 ), one or more displays ( 3 ) and one or more interfaces ( 4 ) for transmitting and / or receiving information, essentially as described in claims 1 to 7, wherein by means of the device ( 5 ) integrated in the information device or in connection with the information device security features ( 6 ) which are arranged on and / or in objects to be checked ( 7 ) are checked. 11. A method for testing security elements according to claim 10, wherein the device ( 5 ) and / or the information device ohmic and / or capacitive and / or inductive resistances or changes in their and / or optical reference and / or optical geometry and / or diffractive Structures detected. 12. The method for testing security elements according to claim 10, wherein the device ( 5 ) and / or the information device detects the security features ( 6 ) by means of capacitive coupling. 13. A method for testing security elements according to one or more of claims 10 to 12, wherein the device ( 5 ) and / or the information device detects the security features ( 6 ) by means of inductive coupling. 14. A method for testing security elements according to one or more of claims 10 to 13, wherein the device ( 5 ) and / or the information device detects the security features ( 6 ) by means of optical testing. 15. A method for testing security elements according to one or more of claims 10 to 14, wherein the device ( 5 ) and / or the information device detects the security features ( 6 ) by means of holographic reconstruction. 16. A method for testing security elements according to one or more of claims 10 to 15, wherein the device ( 5 ) and / or the information device, the security features ( 6 ) by means of several frequencies, the frequency-dispersive electrical property change of a measurement signal caused by the security feature ( 6 ), for example that of a complex capacitive resistance, such as that which arises, for example, in the capacitive coupling of the transmitting ( 8 ) and receiving electrodes ( 9 ), whereby external influences, for example caused by moisture, kinks and pencil marks, are excluded because of their frequency selectivity. 17. A method for testing security elements according to one or more of claims 10 to 16, wherein the device ( 5 ) and / or the information device detects coded security features ( 6 ), decodes them and displays them on the display ( 3 ).