EP1239423B1 - Bill validator - Google Patents

Bill validator Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1239423B1
EP1239423B1 EP02004330A EP02004330A EP1239423B1 EP 1239423 B1 EP1239423 B1 EP 1239423B1 EP 02004330 A EP02004330 A EP 02004330A EP 02004330 A EP02004330 A EP 02004330A EP 1239423 B1 EP1239423 B1 EP 1239423B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
light
bill
guide
pathway
bill validator
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP02004330A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1239423A3 (en
EP1239423A2 (en
Inventor
Yasuo Yoshioka
Shigeru Kakimi
Koichiro Nakashima
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Panasonic Corp
Original Assignee
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd filed Critical Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd
Publication of EP1239423A2 publication Critical patent/EP1239423A2/en
Publication of EP1239423A3 publication Critical patent/EP1239423A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1239423B1 publication Critical patent/EP1239423B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07D—HANDLING OF COINS OR VALUABLE PAPERS, e.g. TESTING, SORTING BY DENOMINATIONS, COUNTING, DISPENSING, CHANGING OR DEPOSITING
    • G07D7/00—Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of valuable papers or for segregating those which are unacceptable, e.g. banknotes that are alien to a currency
    • G07D7/06—Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of valuable papers or for segregating those which are unacceptable, e.g. banknotes that are alien to a currency using wave or particle radiation
    • G07D7/12—Visible light, infrared or ultraviolet radiation
    • G07D7/121—Apparatus characterised by sensor details

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a bill validator for use in various kinds of automated service machines such as automated vending machines, ticket machines or the like.
  • a bill validator used in an automated vending machine has a plurality of transmission type light sensing unit comprising a set of light emitting diode (hereafter referred to as LED) and photodiode. Scanning specific measuring points on a bill by light having different wavelengths, the bill validator detects validity by transmittance and of the bill. Examples of such a technology are disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication of Unexamined Applications No.JP S57-62478 or JP H08-7149 .
  • Fig.13 shows a light sensing unit of a conventional bill validator.
  • red LED 2 and infrared LED 3 are disposed on a wall surface of bill pathway 1
  • photodiode 4 is disposed on an opposite side of wall surfaces of bill pathway 1.
  • a bill validator of this structure validates the bill by transmittance measured for red LED and infrared LED.
  • Fig.14 is a block diagram of a light sensing unit and a validating unit of a conventional bill validator.
  • transport system 6 (constructed by belt and roller) is provided along bill pathway 1.
  • a bill detector 7 is disposed at an inlet of transport system 6 to detect a bill inserting, and is connected to controller 8 to detect bill positioning.
  • Red LED 2 and infrared LED 3 disposed on a side of wall of bill pathway are connected to controller 8 to be ignited at a prescribed timing.
  • Motor 9 drives transport system 6. Motor 9 is energized by controller 8 through motor driving circuit 10. Synchronous pulse generator 11 to detect motor rotation is connected to motor 9 as well as controller 8. Output signal from photodiode 4 is connected to logarithmic amplifier 12, and output signal of logarithmic amplifier 12 is connected to controller 8 through linear amplifier 13 and analog-digital converter 14 (hereafter referred to as AD converter). Moreover, a reference current of logarithmic amplifier 12 is supplied from controller 8 through digital-analog converter 15 (hereafter referred to as DA converter). In addition to this, a reference value storage circuit 16 and an input value storage circuit 17 are connected to controller 8.
  • output value of DA converter 15 is regulated to provide output value of AD converter 14 (input value of controller 8) with a prescribed reference value Xr, by varying reference amplifying ratio of logarithmic amplifier 12.
  • output value of AD converter 14 is provided with a reference value Xir, by varying input value Yir for DA converter 15 to regulate an amplifying ratio of logarithmic amplifier 12.
  • a prescribed sensitivity is set for each wavelength of light for each LED by varying input value of DA converter 15 from controller 8, according to an igniting timing of LED 2 and 3.
  • controller 8 validate values such as AD conversion value Sr for red LED 2, AD conversion value Sir for infrared LED 3 and a difference between Sr - Sir, measured at many points during passage of bill by comparing with a prescribed range of values for valid bill. Moreover, together with output from magnetic sensors, information from other sensors, not shown here, are taken into account to determine total bill validity.
  • US-5255171 discloses a light source providing intensification of the illumunation originally provided by means of a tapered light-guide
  • a bill validator having a light sensing unit to detect bill properties and a validating unit to determine bill authenticity upon signals from the light sensing unit, wherein the light sensing unit comprises followings:
  • Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a light sensing unit of the first exemplary embodiment.
  • first board 22 is disposed on one side of bill pathway 21 of a bill validator.
  • First board 22 carries on surface a plurality of chip formed light sources, red LED 23A, infrared LED 24A and blue LED 25A.
  • Infrared LED 24A is arranged in the center.
  • the validator can test the validity of a bill with high accuracy because the bill is measured for transmittance by a plurality of light sources, red LED 23A, infrared LED 24A and blue LED 25A each having different light wave length. Additionally, surface mount LED having low height can produce a down-sized machine.
  • first light-guide 26A is disposed between bill pathway 21 and first board 22.
  • first light-guide 26A and 26B shown in Fig. 2
  • First light-guide 26A formed from transparent resin has incorporated with fitting-frame 27A and 27B to secure to bill pathway 21.
  • First light-guide 26A and 26B are set in place by locking fitting-frames 27A and 27B, and fitting-hooks 44A and 44B respectively which are incorporated with an upper surface of bill pathway 21.
  • Second board 28 is disposed under a lower surface of bill pathway. Second board 28 carries surface-mount photodiode 29 as a light sensing device. Surface-mount photodiode used here allows an apparatus to be down-sized with its low height.
  • funnel-like shaped second light-guide 30 formed from transparent resin is disposed, facing photodiode 29, between bill pathway 21 and second board 28.
  • second light-guide 30 of this invention have such a shaping, for example, a funnel or wedge like shaping that top surface cross-section against bill pathway 21 is larger than bottom side cross-section facing second board 28.
  • Second light-guide 30 is incorporated with fitting-frame 31A and 31B to be fixed to bill pathway 21. Second light-guide 30 is set in place by locking second board 28 to fitting-hooks 45A and 45B which are incorporated with surface of bill pathway 21. Fitting-frames 31A and 31B are sandwiched between bill pathway 21 and second board 28.
  • Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a light sensing unit of the first exemplary embodiment.
  • First board 22 carries on its surface aforementioned red LED 23A, infrared LED 24A and blue LED 25A being arranged in a line parallel to a bill transportation direction. In addition to this, another one line of red LED, infrared LED and blue LED are provided parallel to the bill transportation direction.
  • a plurality of measurement lines parallel to a bill transportation direction can be arranged in high density, which can improve a bill validity ability.
  • first light-guide 26A housed facing aforementioned LED of 23A, 24A and 25A
  • another first light-guide 26B is housed facing LED of 23B, 24B and 25B.
  • First light-guide 26B is housed parallel to the bill transportation direction but in different position from first light-guide 26A because capacity for bill validity is improved by placing a plurality of measurement lines parallel to bill transportation direction in higher density.
  • first light-guide 26A and 26B are coupled by same fitting-frame 27A and 27B.
  • a plurality of light-guide are assembled into one structure using a common fitting-frame, which provide an improved quality as surface of light-guides are prevented from finger touch during assembly.
  • Second light-guide 30 having a form of tapering to a photodiode 29 or, as aforementioned, a funnel-like shaped, is housed facing light emitting side of first light-guides 26A and 26B.
  • Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a light sensing unit of the first exemplary embodiment from perpendicular view point of Fig. 1 .
  • Barrier 46 to block through-light is provided on wall surface of bill pathway 21, between both first light-guides of 26A and 26B, to prevent mutual light interfere from both light sources of LED's line of 23A-24A-25A, and LED's line of 23B-24B-25B.
  • Fig. 4 is a block diagram of light sensing unit and validating unit for bill validator of this invention and conventional art.
  • transport system 32 (comprising belt and roller) for carrying bill 5 is provided along bill pathway 21.
  • Bill detector 33 is disposed at an inlet of transport system 32, and is connected to controller 34 to detect bill positioning.
  • Red LED's 23A and 23B, infrared LED's 24A and 24B, and blue LED's 25A and 25B are connected to controller 34 to ignite them sequentially at a prescribed timing.
  • Motor 35 drives transport system 32.
  • Motor 35 is energized by controller 34 through motor driving circuit 36.
  • Synchronous pulse generator 37 to detect rotation of the motor is connected to motor 35 as well as controller 34.
  • Output signal of photodiode 29 fed into logarithmic amplifier 38 is amplified in logarithmic value output, which flows through in the order of linear amplifier 39, then analog-digital converter 40 (hereafter referred to as AD converter) and finally to controller 34.
  • AD converter analog-digital converter 40
  • reference current for logarithmic amplifier 38 is supplied from control 34 through digital-analogue converter 41 (hereafter referred to as DA converter).
  • controller 34 Usually, one chip microprocessor having many I/O ports is adopted for controller 34.
  • output signal of DA converter 41 repeats to change reference amplifying ratio of logarithmic amplifier 38, to provide output signal of AD converter 40 (input value of control circuit 34) with the same value as prescribed beforehand.
  • Amended input value Yr1 is stored in relevant input value storage circuit 43.
  • obtained input value Yr2 for red LED 23B, input value Yir2 for infrared LED 24B and input value Yb2 for blue LED 25B are stored in respective input value storage circuit 43.
  • controller 34 reads out relevant input values from input value storage circuit 43, varying respective relevant input value, suitable sensitivity for each spot and each light wave length is determined.
  • controller 34 drives transport system 32 and carries bill 5 into the light sensing unit.
  • Travel distance of bill 5 can be measured by control 34 by counting number of pulse from synchronous pulse generator 37. Therefore, after transported beforehand prescribed distance from end of the bill, AD conversion value Sr1 for red LED 23A, AD conversion value Sir1 for infrared LED 24A and AD conversion value Sb1 for blue LED 25A are determined.
  • Difference in disposing position of LED's on first board 22 has no influence on specific radiation spot because light emitted from red LED 23A, light emitted from infrared LED 24A and light emitted from blue LED 25A are all radiated on a same specific spot through first light-guide 26A. Additionally, since bill transporting speed in current bill validator is, for example, 150 mm/s, if each LED ignites at time interval of not more than 1 ms, the bill travels not more than 0.15 mm during the interval. When opening width of light-guide 26A facing against bill pathway 21 is approx. 2 mm, effect on positioning caused by bill transportation becomes not more than 7.5 %, which brings a marked improvement in resolution and poisoning accuracy for each wavelength of light.
  • Photodiode 29 detects also light emitted from another line of LEDs 23B-24B-25B, through first light-guide 26B and second light-guide 30, to process AD conversion value for different point of the bill in the same circuit.
  • control 34 validates whether values of Sr1, Sir1, Sr1 - Sir1 measured at many points during passage of bill are within a prescribed range of values. Moreover, information from other sensors such as magnetic sensor must also be taken into account for total determination of bill authenticity.
  • a configuration disposed in this invention comprises a function of validating a plurality of line of scanning for a bill by a plurality of light sources by receiving with smaller number of light sensing device. Therefore, by reducing circuit devices such as logarithmic amplifier connected to light receiving devices and surface mounting area for circuit parts on a board, device can be totally down-sized.
  • first light-guide or second light-guide is a molded component filled with transparent material having a funnel-like shape, which can be well manufactured in a mass-production system though having a complex surface form.
  • Fig. 1 planes of refraction 47 and 48 inclined against light of incidence is provided in places facing red LED 23A and blue LED 25A of first light-guide 26A. Moreover, end surface 49 of first light-guide 26A facing bill pathway 21 has a mirror finish formed of continuous fine rugged surface. Effects of such surface form are described as follows.
  • Fig. 5 shows courses of light 56 sent out from red LED 23A when light-guide 26A has no plane of refraction 47. It shows large quantity of light losses such as transmission loss in light runs to left-hand-side wall of first light-guide 26A, and many off-light runs to left side in Fig. 5 and being not enter window portion 55 of second light-guide 30.
  • light receiving wall surface 57 of bill pathway 21, in this figure, is provided with black colored to absorb light or rugged finished to prevent through-light by reflection from wall surfaces 57.
  • Fig. 6 shows courses of light 56 sent out from red LED 23A when light-guide 26A has an inclined plane of refraction 47 to induce the light to emitting side of light-guide 26A.
  • Courses of light passing left hand side wall of light-guide 26A disappears by providing plane of refraction 47. It shows also less light pass off to left side and do not enter window portion 55 of second light-guide 30. The same is for blue LED 25A.
  • Fig. 7 shows an example of shape when first light-guide 26A is provided with 3 cylindrical planes 50 instead of large plane of refraction 47.
  • Fig. 8 shows courses of light 56 sent out from red LED 23A when the cylindrical planes 50 are installed. It shows, in this case, reduced loss by light condensed further.
  • light condenses to a limited point in a testing area partially, it has a fault of difficulty to provide an even quantity of light within the testing area. In such a case light shall necessarily be scattered using fine rugged planes or the like, as described later,
  • Fig. 9 shows a course where light 56 emitted from red LED 23A passes through when, with a plane of refraction 47, a light emission side terminal plane of first light-guide 26A is finished with a mirror surface having a shape of continuous fine, rugged spots. More quantity of light enter a window portion 55 of second light-guide 30 than in the case of Fig. 6 , and a distribution of light quantity within a measuring area and a scattered direction of light incident into second light-guide 30 is observed.
  • first light-guide 26A Whole width of first light-guide 26A is provided with a shape of fine rugged surface shown in Fig. 9 having fine mountain shapes with a vertical angle of 140 degrees and a uniform cross-section arranged in 0.4 mm pitch. Similar effects are expected in so-called micro-prism surface having continuous fine quadrangular pyramid shaped convex plane or irregular rugged surface provided by shot peening or selection etching if it comprises little transmission loss and suitable scattering light.
  • first light-guide 26A and 26B or second light-guide 30 a case of manufacturing using transparent materials is described.
  • Fig. 10 shows second light-guide 30R hollow-shaped with plastic material of high reflectance. Similar effects are expected in a molded component provided with plastic materials including much amount of light reflecting filler such as titanium oxide, or a light-guide having a metal luster in inner surface formed from resin plating such as electroless nickel plating. In this case, an injection molding provides a light-guide with a thinner thickness with less deformation comprising effects of steady product properties.
  • fitting frame 27A and 27B Upon fitting first light-guide 26A and 26B facing bill pathway 21, optically important portion such as terminal surfaces or side surfaces can be free from dirt or cloud due to finger touch by using fitting frame 27A and 27B.
  • fitting method of a fitting frame 27A and 27B is shown in Figs. 11A, 11B and 11C .
  • fitting frame 27A and 27B along guide-ribs 51A and 51B, it is important that fitting frames 27A and 27B are higher than fitting hook 44A and 44B or guide-ribs 51A and 51B.
  • This structure capable of pushing into an end holding fitting-frame 27A and 27B following an arrow mark provides an easy and secure assembling, accordingly.
  • guide-ribs are lower than fitting-frames, first light-guide can be secured on side walls of bill pathway without being obstructed by guide-ribs when holding upper end of fitting-frames and push into fitting-ribs.
  • Fig. 12 shows a cross-sectional view of an sensing unit of the second exemplary embodiment.
  • first board 61 is mounted on which surface mount LED's, red LED 23A and infrared LED 24A, and second photodiode 62 are disposed.
  • First light-guide 63 is disposed between bill pathway 21 and first board 61.
  • First light-guide 63 formed from light transparent materials is assembled into one structure with;
  • the configuration can detect light transmittance of a bill as follows:
  • a bill validator comprises a funnel-like shaped first light-guide to send a condensed light emitted from a plurality of light sources to a bill pathway side, which can improve a resolution capability by reducing an area for measurement of transmittance and reflectance.
  • the validator comprises a function of detecting a plurality of scanning lines on a bill using a plurality of light sources by condensing light to lesser quantity of light receiving device than quantity of light source or scanning line. Therefore, device can be down-sized by cutting down for circuit element components such as logarithmic amplifier connected to light receiving devices and reducing area for mounting circuit elements.
EP02004330A 2001-03-05 2002-03-01 Bill validator Expired - Lifetime EP1239423B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2001059618A JP3518518B2 (ja) 2001-03-05 2001-03-05 紙幣識別装置
JP2001059618 2001-03-05

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1239423A2 EP1239423A2 (en) 2002-09-11
EP1239423A3 EP1239423A3 (en) 2004-06-09
EP1239423B1 true EP1239423B1 (en) 2008-04-09

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ID=18919156

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP02004330A Expired - Lifetime EP1239423B1 (en) 2001-03-05 2002-03-01 Bill validator

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1239423B1 (ja)
JP (1) JP3518518B2 (ja)
CN (1) CN100397426C (ja)
DE (1) DE60225962T2 (ja)
ES (1) ES2302767T3 (ja)

Cited By (1)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
RU2573754C2 (ru) * 2011-08-25 2016-01-27 Глори Лтд. Устройство распознавания бумажного листа, световод и корпус световода для использования в спектрометрическом измерении бумажного листа

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US7154592B2 (en) * 2003-02-11 2006-12-26 Bayer Healthcare Llc. Multiwavelength readhead for use in the determination of analytes in body fluids
JP3960282B2 (ja) * 2003-08-29 2007-08-15 松下電器産業株式会社 紙幣識別装置
JP4872318B2 (ja) * 2005-11-16 2012-02-08 パナソニック株式会社 紙幣識別装置
JP2007249475A (ja) 2006-03-15 2007-09-27 Mitsubishi Electric Corp 画像読取装置及び紙幣読取方法
WO2008156808A1 (en) * 2007-06-19 2008-12-24 Spectra Systems Corporation Near infrared ink security feature
JP5174496B2 (ja) * 2008-03-13 2013-04-03 グローリー株式会社 光学センサモジュール
JP2009294123A (ja) * 2008-06-06 2009-12-17 Advanced Mask Inspection Technology Kk パターン識別装置、パターン識別方法及び試料検査装置
JP4609531B2 (ja) * 2008-06-11 2011-01-12 三菱電機株式会社 画像読取装置
JP4609530B2 (ja) * 2008-06-11 2011-01-12 三菱電機株式会社 画像読取装置
EP2420979B1 (en) * 2009-04-08 2015-12-02 MEI, Inc. Characterizing items of currency
JP5614957B2 (ja) * 2009-08-19 2014-10-29 日本金銭機械株式会社 紙葉類鑑別用光学センサ装置
JP4630945B1 (ja) * 2010-02-19 2011-02-09 株式会社ヒューテック 欠陥検査装置
MD4195C1 (ro) * 2011-05-12 2013-08-31 Сергей Васильев Procedeu de verificare a autenticităţii hârtiilor de valoare şi dispozitiv pentru realizarea acestuia (variante)
KR101554252B1 (ko) * 2011-11-08 2015-09-21 노틸러스효성 주식회사 지폐일련번호 인식을 통한 금융자동화기기의 지폐관리방법 및 그 방법이 적용된 금융자동화기기
JP5857720B2 (ja) * 2011-11-22 2016-02-10 沖電気工業株式会社 センサ及び監視装置
CN104077839B (zh) * 2013-03-29 2016-08-31 深圳贝斯特机械电子有限公司 一种采集纸币变色油墨信号的支架结构
JP5702480B2 (ja) * 2014-02-10 2015-04-15 日本金銭機械株式会社 紙葉類鑑別用光学センサ装置
JPWO2019123898A1 (ja) * 2017-12-18 2020-12-10 ダイキン工業株式会社 冷媒用または冷媒組成物用の冷凍機油、冷凍機油の使用方法、および、冷凍機油としての使用
CN109685966A (zh) * 2018-12-30 2019-04-26 沈阳中钞信达金融设备有限公司 塑料币开窗红外图像检测系统

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
RU2573754C2 (ru) * 2011-08-25 2016-01-27 Глори Лтд. Устройство распознавания бумажного листа, световод и корпус световода для использования в спектрометрическом измерении бумажного листа

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1239423A3 (en) 2004-06-09
CN100397426C (zh) 2008-06-25
CN1374625A (zh) 2002-10-16
DE60225962D1 (de) 2008-05-21
ES2302767T3 (es) 2008-08-01
DE60225962T2 (de) 2009-05-20
EP1239423A2 (en) 2002-09-11
JP3518518B2 (ja) 2004-04-12
JP2002260051A (ja) 2002-09-13

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