CA2045732C - Universal bank note reader - Google Patents
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- CA2045732C CA2045732C CA 2045732 CA2045732A CA2045732C CA 2045732 C CA2045732 C CA 2045732C CA 2045732 CA2045732 CA 2045732 CA 2045732 A CA2045732 A CA 2045732A CA 2045732 C CA2045732 C CA 2045732C
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Abstract
A method and apparatus of reading bank notes comprising storing signals in a memory corresponding to at least a portion of an array of pixels defined by a printed pattern on the face of a bank note, raster scanning the face of the bank note with a charge coupled device (CCD) to obtain a serial signal representing the pattern, searching the memory for the serial signal, comparing the serial signal with the stored signals, and indicating the correct presence of the bank note in the event the comparison correlates to a predetermined degree.
Description
_1_ 24~~
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONS
This invention relates to a bank note reader which can also be used to read printed or written material.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS
Bank note readers and readers of material carrying expected indicia have in the past used photosensors to detect the density of the print or markings at base points on a target object such as a l0 bank note, and have compared the density with stored density data for the particular base points. This has served satisfactorily in the past, but with the increasing sophistication of counterfeiters, such readers have been found to be limited in their ability to correctly identify bank notes.
A typical bank note reader, as described :in Canadian Patent 1,282,171 issued March 26th, 191 to E.L. Bryenton & Associates Inc., uses 8 photocells which are located at specific base point positions over an illuminated symmetrically coded bank note. The print density is determined by the photocells, which transmit their signals to individual comparators. The comparators compare the signals from the photocells with reference voltages, and the result is applied to an arbitrator. Correct comparisons of a valid coding on both ends of the note detected by the arbitrator result in ''correct bank note°° indication signals output from the arbitrator. These signals can be sent to a bank note aCCept relay, or the like, to facilitate the provision of change, the vending of a product, etc.
With legal bank notes having increased resolution of print and with the use of other means 'to alert vendors to the legality of bank notes, such as by the use of holographic images on bank notes, the bank '2' note reader described above has proven to be limited in its capability and sometimes rejects legal bank notes.
SUN~IARY OF THE INVENTTON:
The present invention overcomes most or all of the deficiencies of the bank note reader described in the above-noted patent. Rather than detecting the density of only 8 locations on a bank note as in the above-noted patent, in a preferred embodiment specific calling of 31,680 pixel sensors within a given area are to used, and the bank note or part of the bank note is scanned with these sensors in an imager. The result is a high resolution electronic scanning of the bank mote.
The resulting signal is digitized and is compared with pattern information signals stored in a memory. The detection of a match between the scanned image and the stored image signals results in the output of a signal which can cause the announcement of the value of the bank note, 'the provision of a digital signal to a change maker, a vending machine acceptor, a video display, a tactile interface, etc.
With the high resolution of the imager, and the prestorage of desired images with equivalent resolution in a memory, a bank note reader of high accuracy for fine printed bank notes, including those carrying holographic images can be produced.
Indeed due to the high resolution of the reader, it can be used to read other printed and signature material including graphics, alphanumeric and other coded inscriptions. It can also be used as a reader fox the blind, reading letters or words and after finding the letters or words in the memory, generating an acoustic signal such as letter or word sounds for reproduction in a loudspeaker. However, for ease of description, in this disclosure the embodiment described will be restricted ~to the bank note reader application.
A parson skilled in the art could easily adapt the design, using the principles described, to such other applications as noted above.
According to an embodiment of the invention, a reader is comprised of apparatus for storing signals in a memory corresponding to at least a portion of a pattern of pixels defined by indicia expected to be carried on the face of a correct carrier object, apparatus for scanning of a carrier object and providing to output signals, apparatus for comparing groups of said output signals wuth the stored signals, and apparatus for indicating the presence of the correct carrier object in the event a comparison is correct above a predetermined level of error.
According to another embodiment a method of reading bank notes is comprised of storing signals in a memory corresponding to at least a portion of a pattern of pixels defined by a printed pattern on the face of bank note, raster scanning 'the face of the bank note with a charge coupled device (CCD) to obtain a serial signal representing each of the pixels, searching the memory for the serial signal, comparing the serial signal with the stored signals, and indicating the correct presence of the bank note in the event the comparison correlates to a predetermined degree.
BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO THE DRAWINGS:
A better understanding of the invention will be obtained by reference to the detailed description below of a preferred embodiment, in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a cross~section of a physical layout of a bank note reader in accordance withvthe present invention, Figure 2 is a block diagram of a bank note reader in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 is a more detailed block diagram of a bank note reader in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, and Figures 4A and ~B together, with Figure 4A
above Figure 4B, form a flow chart describing how the microprocessor in an embodiment of the present invention l0 operates to perform the correlation function described.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:
Figure 1 illustrates in vertical section a preferred physical layout of the present invention. The face of an object such as a bank note 1 is illuminated by means of an array of light emitting diodes or other source of light 2 through the rear of an inclined half silvered mirror 3. The resulting image reflected from the front of the mirror is passed 'through an optical lens 4 which focuses the image of the face of the object on a charge coupled device (CCD) 5. Alternatively a different lighting arrangement can be made.
The CCD is connected to an electronic circuit mounted on a printed circuit board 6 or other suitable support. The entire apparatus is contained within a housing within which a speaker 8, if used, is connected to the electronic circuit.
A block diagram of the circuit is shown in Figure 2. The CCD is connected in a raster scanning subsystem 15. The signal output of the CCD in a subsystem 15 is connected to the input of a digitizer 17 which has its output connected to the bus of a microprocessor 19. Also connected to 'the microprocessor is a memory subsystem 21 in one successful prototype formed of an 8 Kbyte scratch pad memory and a 128 Kbyte erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM).
Also connected to the processor by means of a bus is a user interface 23, which can be comprised of one or more of a bank note receiver, a voice synthesizer and speaker, a display etc.
Data signals corresponding ~:o patterns on the faces of legitimate bank notes or parka of bank notes are stored in the EPROM of the memory subsystem. When a bank note is moved into the slot of a bank note receiver in the user interface, it triggers a microswitch (not shown) or interrupts a light beam received by a photocell when it assumes a reading position as shown in Figure 1. It should be noted that in contrast to the bank note reader of the prior art, this position need not be accurate. In the past, inaccurate positioning would result in reading of points on the bank note which were incorrect and off the intended base points, which would result in the rejection of a legal bank note.
This does not occur or at least is minimized in the present invention.
Operation of the microswitch upon the entry of a bank note to the reading position causes the microprocessor to be triggered, starting a reading cycle. The processor, by a link to the scanning subsystem, causes the illumination of the object. The reflected light from the bank note is focussed on the CCD. At the same time the CCD is rapidly electronically read to provide a raster scanned electronic signal output. As a typical CCD preferred to be used has 31,680 pixels, the raster scanned serial outpwt signal from the CCD results having a horizontal resolution of about 200 pixels, with as many shades of grey as the CCD
and driving circuity is capable of.
The output signal is applied to the digitizer/com~arator l7. The digitized signal is also received by the microprocessor 19, which stores at least w _6_ portions of the received signal, resulting from a portion of the image of the face of the object in the scratch pad memory in memory subsystem 21, and performs best fit search attempts to locate the portions of the image from the EPROM, as will be described below.
Pattern recognition algorithms such as were developed by the Department of Communications of the Government of Canada and Copyright registered in 1990, were used in a successful prototype of this invention, l0 although other algorithms which can perform the method described herein may be used.
When a match of the signals in the scratch pad memory has been found to a stored pattern signals, the microprocessor operates the user interface to provide a synthesized voice indication of the denomination of the bank note or of a resection and/or a signal to a vending machine acceptor mechanism, etc.
Figure 3 is a more detailed block diagram of tYbe electronic partian of the invention. The CCD and lens mechanical movement scanning subsystem 15 (which can be referred to as an imagery is connected to the microprocessor 19 through a signal conditioner 30. A
microprocessor that can be used to implement the invention is type 80C31. Also connected to the microprocessor 19 is the 128 K EPROM and 8 K RAM, in memory subsystem 2~..
Connected to the microprocessor is a digital to analog converter 32, having its output connected to one input of a comparator 34. The other input of the comparator 34 is connected to the output of 'the CCD.
The output of the comparator is connected to an input of microprocessor 19.
The output of the digital to analog converter is also connected through an electronic switch 36 to the input of an audio filter and amplifier 38, which has its ~_ ~~'~
output connected to a loudspeaker 40. Of course in the application of a reader for the blind or for others, the speakers can be replaced by a tactile device or other suitable owtput device.
In operation, after being triggered to start a cycle, the microprocessor 19 applies ;signals to the lens scanning motor or other scanning mechanism and clock signals to the CCD 15, which signals are conditioned in signal conditioner 30 to shapes which will drive the CCD
and scanning motor error free. In addition, the LED
driving power is applied to the LED array 12. As a result a raster scan output signal from the CCD
corresponding to the image printed on the face of the bank note appears at an input of comparator 34. The other input of the comparator 34 is supplied with d.c.
from the digital to analog converter 32. The output signal of comparator 34 is thus a pixel by pixel sequence representation of the face of the bank note, which output signal is provided to miaroprocess~or 19.
When the compara~tor is to be inhibited, an opposite polarity d.c. signal is presented to 'the input of the comparator 34 from digital to analog converter 32, under control of microprocessor 19.
The microprocessor l9 stores seria3 sequences of the pixel by pixel representation in the RAM portion of memory 21, and accesses such portions, comparing them with patterns of data signals corresponding to correct pixel pattern representations stored in the EPROM. When --it has found such a match, finding successive serial pixel sequences that correlate in the correct locations (in the correct sequence) with what is stored in the EPROM, the microprocessor can signal a correct comparison. Since there are normally several different denominations of bank note pixel sequsncs representations stored in the EPROM, the processor can _8_ signal the one that correlates most closely. The microprocessor then outputs a signal via digital to analog converter 32 indicating the denomination, or, if a time out or predetermined number of vertical scans have resulted in no correct bank note correlation findings, a signal is generated which rejects the bank note.
In order to provide a voiced indication to the user as to the denomination or rejection, the processor locates a signal to synthesize a preds~termined word or ser~uence of words in the EPROM corresponding to the aforenoted result of the memory search, enables the closing of switch 36, and outputs the synthesized digital signal to digital to analog converter 32. This signal is converted to analog form in converter 32, is passed through filter and amplifier 32, and is reproduced as an audio signal in speaker 9:0, thus informing the user of the acceptance and/or its denomination or rejection of the bank note.
Figures 4A and 4B placed together with Figure 4A above Figure 4B, form a flow chart describing operation of the microprocessor l9 processing the date from the CCD. Once the cycle has been enabled by triggering by the bank note sensing microswitch, the microprocessor clears the CCD imager. It then causes illumination of the image by the LEDs, and waits for the CCD image integration time. The image is then read into the array.
It should be noted that while mechanical driving of the lens system with the CCD to pr~vide a vertical scan has been described above, instead a row of LEDs for illuminating the object face can be moved to pravide the scanning, as is done in some phatocopiers.
The output of the CCD is received by the microprocessor after digitisation, the row and column data is calculated and the result smoothed by means of a digital algorithmic filter, the result stored in the RAM. The start of the rows and columns are then digitally located to lOCate a Garner position of the scanned image. Row and column errors are then calculated, for example 24 scans of the image.
The EPROM is then accessed to find the best row and beat column match. If one is found, the number of errors of the read CCD data from the memory row and l0 column data is determined, and if the number of errors is smaller than a predetermined arbitrary maximum, the voice synthesizing signal for generating a denomination accept announcement is retrieved from 'the EPROM and sent to the loudspeaker as described above.
If there is no match found, or if the error rate described above is too high, a comparison is made of the pixel sequence data with special feature data stared in the EPROM, such as defining a holographic image. The best match is determined and if the feature error rate is below a predetermined maximum, the denomination accept step is followed, as described above. If there is no match of the special feature, or if the error rate is too large; a synthesized announcement signal is retrieved from the EPROM to announce acoustically in a manner as described above of the type such as "Bill Rejected°°, or °°Turn >3i11 Over".
Once the above sequence has been concluded with an acoustic signal (and/or a signal to a vending machine, change maker, etc. to accept the bill), the cycle is concluded and the microprocessor waits for the next trigger signal to repeat the cycle.
A person understanding this invention may now conceive of alternative structures and embodiments or variations of the above. All of those which fall within the scope of the claims appended hereto ere considered to be part of the present invention.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONS
This invention relates to a bank note reader which can also be used to read printed or written material.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS
Bank note readers and readers of material carrying expected indicia have in the past used photosensors to detect the density of the print or markings at base points on a target object such as a l0 bank note, and have compared the density with stored density data for the particular base points. This has served satisfactorily in the past, but with the increasing sophistication of counterfeiters, such readers have been found to be limited in their ability to correctly identify bank notes.
A typical bank note reader, as described :in Canadian Patent 1,282,171 issued March 26th, 191 to E.L. Bryenton & Associates Inc., uses 8 photocells which are located at specific base point positions over an illuminated symmetrically coded bank note. The print density is determined by the photocells, which transmit their signals to individual comparators. The comparators compare the signals from the photocells with reference voltages, and the result is applied to an arbitrator. Correct comparisons of a valid coding on both ends of the note detected by the arbitrator result in ''correct bank note°° indication signals output from the arbitrator. These signals can be sent to a bank note aCCept relay, or the like, to facilitate the provision of change, the vending of a product, etc.
With legal bank notes having increased resolution of print and with the use of other means 'to alert vendors to the legality of bank notes, such as by the use of holographic images on bank notes, the bank '2' note reader described above has proven to be limited in its capability and sometimes rejects legal bank notes.
SUN~IARY OF THE INVENTTON:
The present invention overcomes most or all of the deficiencies of the bank note reader described in the above-noted patent. Rather than detecting the density of only 8 locations on a bank note as in the above-noted patent, in a preferred embodiment specific calling of 31,680 pixel sensors within a given area are to used, and the bank note or part of the bank note is scanned with these sensors in an imager. The result is a high resolution electronic scanning of the bank mote.
The resulting signal is digitized and is compared with pattern information signals stored in a memory. The detection of a match between the scanned image and the stored image signals results in the output of a signal which can cause the announcement of the value of the bank note, 'the provision of a digital signal to a change maker, a vending machine acceptor, a video display, a tactile interface, etc.
With the high resolution of the imager, and the prestorage of desired images with equivalent resolution in a memory, a bank note reader of high accuracy for fine printed bank notes, including those carrying holographic images can be produced.
Indeed due to the high resolution of the reader, it can be used to read other printed and signature material including graphics, alphanumeric and other coded inscriptions. It can also be used as a reader fox the blind, reading letters or words and after finding the letters or words in the memory, generating an acoustic signal such as letter or word sounds for reproduction in a loudspeaker. However, for ease of description, in this disclosure the embodiment described will be restricted ~to the bank note reader application.
A parson skilled in the art could easily adapt the design, using the principles described, to such other applications as noted above.
According to an embodiment of the invention, a reader is comprised of apparatus for storing signals in a memory corresponding to at least a portion of a pattern of pixels defined by indicia expected to be carried on the face of a correct carrier object, apparatus for scanning of a carrier object and providing to output signals, apparatus for comparing groups of said output signals wuth the stored signals, and apparatus for indicating the presence of the correct carrier object in the event a comparison is correct above a predetermined level of error.
According to another embodiment a method of reading bank notes is comprised of storing signals in a memory corresponding to at least a portion of a pattern of pixels defined by a printed pattern on the face of bank note, raster scanning 'the face of the bank note with a charge coupled device (CCD) to obtain a serial signal representing each of the pixels, searching the memory for the serial signal, comparing the serial signal with the stored signals, and indicating the correct presence of the bank note in the event the comparison correlates to a predetermined degree.
BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO THE DRAWINGS:
A better understanding of the invention will be obtained by reference to the detailed description below of a preferred embodiment, in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a cross~section of a physical layout of a bank note reader in accordance withvthe present invention, Figure 2 is a block diagram of a bank note reader in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 is a more detailed block diagram of a bank note reader in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, and Figures 4A and ~B together, with Figure 4A
above Figure 4B, form a flow chart describing how the microprocessor in an embodiment of the present invention l0 operates to perform the correlation function described.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:
Figure 1 illustrates in vertical section a preferred physical layout of the present invention. The face of an object such as a bank note 1 is illuminated by means of an array of light emitting diodes or other source of light 2 through the rear of an inclined half silvered mirror 3. The resulting image reflected from the front of the mirror is passed 'through an optical lens 4 which focuses the image of the face of the object on a charge coupled device (CCD) 5. Alternatively a different lighting arrangement can be made.
The CCD is connected to an electronic circuit mounted on a printed circuit board 6 or other suitable support. The entire apparatus is contained within a housing within which a speaker 8, if used, is connected to the electronic circuit.
A block diagram of the circuit is shown in Figure 2. The CCD is connected in a raster scanning subsystem 15. The signal output of the CCD in a subsystem 15 is connected to the input of a digitizer 17 which has its output connected to the bus of a microprocessor 19. Also connected to 'the microprocessor is a memory subsystem 21 in one successful prototype formed of an 8 Kbyte scratch pad memory and a 128 Kbyte erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM).
Also connected to the processor by means of a bus is a user interface 23, which can be comprised of one or more of a bank note receiver, a voice synthesizer and speaker, a display etc.
Data signals corresponding ~:o patterns on the faces of legitimate bank notes or parka of bank notes are stored in the EPROM of the memory subsystem. When a bank note is moved into the slot of a bank note receiver in the user interface, it triggers a microswitch (not shown) or interrupts a light beam received by a photocell when it assumes a reading position as shown in Figure 1. It should be noted that in contrast to the bank note reader of the prior art, this position need not be accurate. In the past, inaccurate positioning would result in reading of points on the bank note which were incorrect and off the intended base points, which would result in the rejection of a legal bank note.
This does not occur or at least is minimized in the present invention.
Operation of the microswitch upon the entry of a bank note to the reading position causes the microprocessor to be triggered, starting a reading cycle. The processor, by a link to the scanning subsystem, causes the illumination of the object. The reflected light from the bank note is focussed on the CCD. At the same time the CCD is rapidly electronically read to provide a raster scanned electronic signal output. As a typical CCD preferred to be used has 31,680 pixels, the raster scanned serial outpwt signal from the CCD results having a horizontal resolution of about 200 pixels, with as many shades of grey as the CCD
and driving circuity is capable of.
The output signal is applied to the digitizer/com~arator l7. The digitized signal is also received by the microprocessor 19, which stores at least w _6_ portions of the received signal, resulting from a portion of the image of the face of the object in the scratch pad memory in memory subsystem 21, and performs best fit search attempts to locate the portions of the image from the EPROM, as will be described below.
Pattern recognition algorithms such as were developed by the Department of Communications of the Government of Canada and Copyright registered in 1990, were used in a successful prototype of this invention, l0 although other algorithms which can perform the method described herein may be used.
When a match of the signals in the scratch pad memory has been found to a stored pattern signals, the microprocessor operates the user interface to provide a synthesized voice indication of the denomination of the bank note or of a resection and/or a signal to a vending machine acceptor mechanism, etc.
Figure 3 is a more detailed block diagram of tYbe electronic partian of the invention. The CCD and lens mechanical movement scanning subsystem 15 (which can be referred to as an imagery is connected to the microprocessor 19 through a signal conditioner 30. A
microprocessor that can be used to implement the invention is type 80C31. Also connected to the microprocessor 19 is the 128 K EPROM and 8 K RAM, in memory subsystem 2~..
Connected to the microprocessor is a digital to analog converter 32, having its output connected to one input of a comparator 34. The other input of the comparator 34 is connected to the output of 'the CCD.
The output of the comparator is connected to an input of microprocessor 19.
The output of the digital to analog converter is also connected through an electronic switch 36 to the input of an audio filter and amplifier 38, which has its ~_ ~~'~
output connected to a loudspeaker 40. Of course in the application of a reader for the blind or for others, the speakers can be replaced by a tactile device or other suitable owtput device.
In operation, after being triggered to start a cycle, the microprocessor 19 applies ;signals to the lens scanning motor or other scanning mechanism and clock signals to the CCD 15, which signals are conditioned in signal conditioner 30 to shapes which will drive the CCD
and scanning motor error free. In addition, the LED
driving power is applied to the LED array 12. As a result a raster scan output signal from the CCD
corresponding to the image printed on the face of the bank note appears at an input of comparator 34. The other input of the comparator 34 is supplied with d.c.
from the digital to analog converter 32. The output signal of comparator 34 is thus a pixel by pixel sequence representation of the face of the bank note, which output signal is provided to miaroprocess~or 19.
When the compara~tor is to be inhibited, an opposite polarity d.c. signal is presented to 'the input of the comparator 34 from digital to analog converter 32, under control of microprocessor 19.
The microprocessor l9 stores seria3 sequences of the pixel by pixel representation in the RAM portion of memory 21, and accesses such portions, comparing them with patterns of data signals corresponding to correct pixel pattern representations stored in the EPROM. When --it has found such a match, finding successive serial pixel sequences that correlate in the correct locations (in the correct sequence) with what is stored in the EPROM, the microprocessor can signal a correct comparison. Since there are normally several different denominations of bank note pixel sequsncs representations stored in the EPROM, the processor can _8_ signal the one that correlates most closely. The microprocessor then outputs a signal via digital to analog converter 32 indicating the denomination, or, if a time out or predetermined number of vertical scans have resulted in no correct bank note correlation findings, a signal is generated which rejects the bank note.
In order to provide a voiced indication to the user as to the denomination or rejection, the processor locates a signal to synthesize a preds~termined word or ser~uence of words in the EPROM corresponding to the aforenoted result of the memory search, enables the closing of switch 36, and outputs the synthesized digital signal to digital to analog converter 32. This signal is converted to analog form in converter 32, is passed through filter and amplifier 32, and is reproduced as an audio signal in speaker 9:0, thus informing the user of the acceptance and/or its denomination or rejection of the bank note.
Figures 4A and 4B placed together with Figure 4A above Figure 4B, form a flow chart describing operation of the microprocessor l9 processing the date from the CCD. Once the cycle has been enabled by triggering by the bank note sensing microswitch, the microprocessor clears the CCD imager. It then causes illumination of the image by the LEDs, and waits for the CCD image integration time. The image is then read into the array.
It should be noted that while mechanical driving of the lens system with the CCD to pr~vide a vertical scan has been described above, instead a row of LEDs for illuminating the object face can be moved to pravide the scanning, as is done in some phatocopiers.
The output of the CCD is received by the microprocessor after digitisation, the row and column data is calculated and the result smoothed by means of a digital algorithmic filter, the result stored in the RAM. The start of the rows and columns are then digitally located to lOCate a Garner position of the scanned image. Row and column errors are then calculated, for example 24 scans of the image.
The EPROM is then accessed to find the best row and beat column match. If one is found, the number of errors of the read CCD data from the memory row and l0 column data is determined, and if the number of errors is smaller than a predetermined arbitrary maximum, the voice synthesizing signal for generating a denomination accept announcement is retrieved from 'the EPROM and sent to the loudspeaker as described above.
If there is no match found, or if the error rate described above is too high, a comparison is made of the pixel sequence data with special feature data stared in the EPROM, such as defining a holographic image. The best match is determined and if the feature error rate is below a predetermined maximum, the denomination accept step is followed, as described above. If there is no match of the special feature, or if the error rate is too large; a synthesized announcement signal is retrieved from the EPROM to announce acoustically in a manner as described above of the type such as "Bill Rejected°°, or °°Turn >3i11 Over".
Once the above sequence has been concluded with an acoustic signal (and/or a signal to a vending machine, change maker, etc. to accept the bill), the cycle is concluded and the microprocessor waits for the next trigger signal to repeat the cycle.
A person understanding this invention may now conceive of alternative structures and embodiments or variations of the above. All of those which fall within the scope of the claims appended hereto ere considered to be part of the present invention.
Claims (14)
1. A reader comprising means for storing signals in a memory corresponding to at least a portion of a pattern of pixels defined by indicia expected to be carried on the face of a correct carrier object, means for scanning of a carrier object and providing output signals, means for comparing groups of said output signals with said stored signals, and means for indicating the presence of said correct carrier object in the event a comparison is correct above a predetermined level of error.
2. A reader as defined in claim 1 in which the scanning means is comprised of a semiconductor charge coupled device (CCD).
3. A reader as defined in claim 2 including an array of light emitting diodes for illuminating said face of the correct carrier object, a means for scanning said array across said dace whereby reflected light from said face is received by said CCD.
4. A reader as defined in claim 2 including means for raster scanning said face, whereby an output signal can be produced by said CCD which corresponds to a sequence of pixels related to the pattern of said indicia over at least a portion of said face.
5. A reader as defined in claim 4 in which said indicating means is comprised of a voice synthesizer means, an audio filter and amplifier and electro-acoustic translation means for announcing the presence of said correct carrier or the lack of presence of said correct courier.
6. A reader as defined in claim 4 in which said memory means stores a plurality of signals corresponding to patterns on the surface of correct carriers, in which said correct carriers are different.
7. A reader as defined in claim 6 in which said different correct carriers are bank notes of different denominations.
8. A reader as defined in claim 4 in which said memory means stores a plurality of signals each corresponding to at least a different portion of an array of indicia relating to a correct carrier.
9. A reader as defined in claim 8 in which said correct carrier is a bank note.
10. A reader as defined in claim 7 in which said indicating means is comprised of a voice synthesizer means, an audio filter, amplifier and electro-acoustic translation means for announcing the presence of said correct carrier or the lack of presence of said correct carrier.
11. A reader as defined in claim 9 in which said indicating means is comprised of a voice synthesizer means, an audio filter, amplifier and electro-acoustic translation means for announcing the presence of said correct carrier or the lack of presence of said correct carrier.
12. A method of reading bank notes comprising storing signals in a memory corresponding to at least a portion of an array of pixels defined by a printed pattern on the face of a bank note, raster scanning the face of the bank note with a charge coupled device (CCD) to obtain a serial signal representing said pattern, searching the memory for said serial signal, comparing said serial signal with said stored signals, and indicating the correct presence of said bank note in the event the comparison correlates to a predetermined degree.
13. A method as defined in claim 12 in which the searching and comparing steps are performed by using a pattern recognizing algorithm performed by a microprocessor.
14. A method as defined in claim 12 including the step of synthesizing a speech signal to announce tie denomination of the bank note upon finding the correct presence of a bank note by correlation of said serial signal with a predetermined stored signal in the memory.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2045732 CA2045732C (en) | 1991-06-26 | 1991-06-26 | Universal bank note reader |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2045732 CA2045732C (en) | 1991-06-26 | 1991-06-26 | Universal bank note reader |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2045732A1 CA2045732A1 (en) | 1992-12-27 |
| CA2045732C true CA2045732C (en) | 2001-12-11 |
Family
ID=4147915
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2045732 Expired - Fee Related CA2045732C (en) | 1991-06-26 | 1991-06-26 | Universal bank note reader |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2045732C (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE4227613A1 (en) * | 1992-08-20 | 1994-02-24 | Gao Ges Automation Org | Method and device for recognizing printed images on documents |
| US8332230B2 (en) * | 2004-07-28 | 2012-12-11 | Pitney Bowes Inc. | Fraud detection mechanism adapted for inconsistent data collection |
-
1991
- 1991-06-26 CA CA 2045732 patent/CA2045732C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2045732A1 (en) | 1992-12-27 |
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