EP2473979B1 - Verification device for double-sided value and/or security documents - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a verification device for value and / or security documents, in which at least one optical check of security features is performed, which are arranged at least partially on the opposite surfaces of the value and / or security document to be verified.

A security document is understood as meaning a document which has at least one security element which is intended to make unauthorized duplication, copying or falsification more difficult. A value document is understood to mean a specific security document to which a value is assigned. By way of example only, as value and / or security documents are listed: passports, identity cards, identification cards, driver's licenses, visas, documents, securities, banknotes, postage stamps, bank cards, credit cards, etc.

A security feature is understood to be any feature that makes it difficult or simply impossible to simply copy, copy or falsify. A variety of security features are known in the art. Some of these security features, as well as a portion of the information stored in a security and / or security document, such as personalization information characterizing and / or identifying a person to whom the document is associated, or a value of a value document, can be optically read and be verified. In addition, visually perceptible security features are known, which can usually only be evaluated by means of mechanical support. These include, for example, one or two-dimensional bar or dot codes.

Many modern value and / or security documents also include security features that can only be read out and / or verified by machine. For example, modern personal documents usually include a microchip, which can be read out without contact. Such value and / or security documents which have a microchip which are provided with an antenna are known, for example, by the term smartcard. For example, these systems can be contactless be read by the value and / or security document is brought into the vicinity of a readout device which generates an electromagnetic field. Via the antenna of the microchip, a voltage is induced by the alternating field, which on the one hand can supply the Mirkochip with energy and on the other hand can transmit information to the microchip. This can actively modify the circuit coupled to the antenna to thereby modify the electromagnetic field generated by the readout device. These modifications can be evaluated by the read-out device and information about this can be transmitted from the microchip to the read-out device. In order to make it difficult to read such microchips in value and / or security documents, it is known to configure a used communication protocol such that certain information stored on the security and / or security document, which are, for example, visually perceptible, is used as a Type password or key to be used for encryption.

Verification devices are known in the prior art that optically detect a value and / or security document. In this case, scattered, reflected, diffracted and / or light emitted by the surface on the surface of the value and / or security document is imaged onto a detection unit and detected by it. In order to enable a timely verification and a computer-aided evaluation, the detection is usually done by means of a digitizing image acquisition unit. For example, it may be a CCD camera.

However, if the information to be optically read from the value and / or security document for verification is applied to opposite sides of the document, i. From the opposite sides perceivable, so either multiple detection units or a time sequential detecting the document front page and the back of the document necessary.

From the EP 0675 466 A2 For example, a method and an arrangement for checking the surface condition of objects are known in which the object is imaged onto a line scan camera with at least one image acquisition unit, wherein an image processing and evaluation unit is connected to the line scan camera. It is provided that with the image pickup unit having a plurality of image channels, one and the same subject area is mapped multiple times, wherein the individual transmitted via the respective image channels channels of this subject area are mapped to one and the same line sensor. In this case, it is provided in particular to image the front and back of a document simultaneously on a sensor. The invention is based on the technical problem of simplifying and / or speeding up the acquisition of visually perceptible information of a value and / or security document that can be perceived from opposite sides of the value and / or security document.

The invention is based on the idea of using a detection unit on which both the front side and at least parts of a back side of the document are simultaneously imaged and jointly detected. In particular, a verification device for verifying double-sided value and / or security documents is provided which comprises: a document holder, a detection device arranged relative to the document holder for capturing image signals in digitized form of a value and / or security document arranged on or in the document holder and an evaluation device which evaluates the acquired image signals and derives verification information, wherein according to the invention it is provided that the detection device comprises a detection unit for detecting a planar image and the detection unit and an imaging device are arranged relative to the document recording such that a double-sided value and / or security document which is arranged on, at or in the document holder, at least parts of a front side and a backside of the double-sided value and / or security document in common sam on the registration unit. It is thereby achieved that visually perceptible information of the front side of the security and / or security document and the back of the security and / or security document can be recorded jointly at the same time with a unitary registration unit and evaluated via a uniform evaluation. For example, because closely juxtaposed positions of the front and the back of the value and / or security document are mapped at a predefined distance (and preferably with exact positioning on the document receiver at predefined positions) of the detection unit, it is easily and with high accuracy possible, To examine information that is perceivable from the front and from the back, with regard to a register accuracy of their arrangement in the value and / or security document. Moreover, it is possible to detect in a detection process substantially all of the optically perceptible information content of the security and / or security document.
Optical detection is understood here to be a visual detection. This is not limited to a range of wavelengths visible to a human. Rather, a visual detection, which detects the radiation in the infrared or ultraviolet range, considered as optical detection. To electromagnetic radiation, which in the value and / or security document optically perceptible information between the value and / or security document and the detection unit "transported" to lead so that both the front and the back are simultaneously displayed side by side on the detection unit, it is provided according to the invention that the imaging device comprises at least one reflection unit and the front side without a reflection and the back side are imaged on at least one reflection on the detection unit. As a reflection unit here every unit is considered, which is able to redirect directed electromagnetic radiation targeted. Particularly advantageous for this mirror or prisms are suitable. If the optical information is encoded in a narrow wavelength range, then embodiments are also conceivable in which, for example, a hologram or grating are used as a reflection unit.

A major problem in simultaneously and jointly detecting the front and back of a value and / or security document with a detection unit is that the path lengths of the light "transporting" the information from the front to the detection unit and the light the information from the back to the detection unit "transported", are usually different lengths. This applies in particular if the light scattered, diffracted, reflected or emitted by the front side is imaged without reflection on the detection unit and the light scattered, diffracted, reflected or emitted by the back is imaged onto the detection unit via a reflection unit , According to the invention, this problem is addressed by the fact that path length differences between the light scattered, diffracted, reflected or emitted at the front side, and the light scattered, diffracted, reflected or emitted at the rear, with regard to a sharpness of image on the detection unit via at least one optical element the imaging device to be compensated. Of course, the sharpness of image refers to the information carried by the light, which is stored on the front or back of the value and / or security document in an optically perceptible manner. A picture sharpness is the higher, the better arranged close to each other on the front and / or rear side graphical information on the detection unit also as separate information and recorded by this. As a sharp image is thus considered information whose information content can be reliably extracted from the displayed information.

In some value and / or security documents, the information stored in the security and / or security document is designed to scatter, diffract, reflect, and / or emit light in different wavelength ranges. For example, value and / or security documents are known which comprise information coded on a front side substantially in the wavelength range visible to humans and comprise on a rear side information intended specifically for machine detection, for example a so-called machine-readable line which transmits light in the infrared Wavelength range scatters and / or reflects or diffracts or emits. If information is collected from the different sides of the double-sided value and / or security document, which are coded in each case in a specific wavelength range, an embodiment of the invention is advantageous in which the at least one optical element comprises an imaging optic which is arranged in two different Wavelength ranges having a different focal length, so that in an evaluation, the information stored on the front and the back are mapped together sharply on the detection unit when the one wavelength range and the other wavelength range are shown from the front of the front.

In order to achieve such a mapping, it is provided in one embodiment of the invention that at least two illumination units which emit light in different wavelength ranges are arranged relative to the document receptacle, that the front with the light of a lighting unit and the back with the light the other lighting unit to be illuminated. For example, the front is illuminated with visible light and the back with infrared light. As an alternative or in addition to an imaging optics having different focal lengths for different wavelengths, it is provided in one embodiment that the at least one optical element comprises one or more non-planar imaging mirrors over which the light scattered, diffracted, reflected or emitted by the backside is imaged , Imaging, for example, curved, mirrors can be used to reflect the light emanating from the back image. For example, it may be a focusing mirror.

Yet another embodiment provides, alternatively or additionally, that the imaging device comprises a diaphragm which is selected so that a depth of field is sufficient to image the front side and the back side or the optically perceptible information on the detection unit so that the one to be evaluated Security features and / or other graphical information to be resolved. The smaller the aperture is selected, the greater the depth of field. On the other hand, however, this has the disadvantage that the amount of light that is imaged on the detection unit is significantly reduced. In such an embodiment, therefore very intensive lighting units are required. An aperture can be used with a focusing lens arrangement or without such a lens arrangement.
Another way to compensate for the path length differences is to design the imaging device with two mirrors, between which a lens is arranged. About the one or more lenses then the light of one side, for example, the light of the back, can be displayed.
In yet another embodiment, the imaging device comprises a mirror on which a Fresnel lens is arranged. Such a Fresnel lens also has the properties of imaging the light image diffracted at the corresponding mirror. Often it will be the case that with regard to the graphic reproduction of the information perceivable on the one side, for example the back side, lower demands are made than on the information reproduction of the front side. Thus, embodiments are acceptable in which the information stored on the back side is distorted on the detection unit in addition to the information of the front side. In such an embodiment of the invention, preferably, the evaluation device is designed to equalize the detected image of the back arithmetically.
If, on the other hand, it is necessary to record both sides of the value and / or security document in the same quality, ie with the same resolution, unclaimed embodiments are preferred in which the imaging device comprises a plurality of reflection units which are arranged relative to the document reception and detection unit in that the light scattered, diffracted, reflected and / or emitted at the front side and the light scattered, diffracted, reflected or emitted at the back are respectively are or are imaged on the detection unit via an equal number of reflections.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung einer Verifikationsvorrichtung;

Fig. 2

eine weitere schematische Ausführungsform einer Verifikationsvorrichtung;

Fig. 3

noch eine weitere schematische Darstellung einer Verifikationsvorrichtung; und

Fig. 4

eine schematische Darstellung einer nicht beanspruchten Verifikationsvorrichtung, bei der die Vorder- und die Rückseite identisch auf einer Erfassungseinheit abgebildet werden.

In Fig. 1 ist schematische eine Verifikationsvorrichtung 1 dargestellt. Diese umfasst eine Dokumentaufnahme 2, auf der, an der oder in der ein doppelseitiges Wert- und/oder Sicherheitsdokument 3 angeordnet werden kann. Die Dokumentenaufnahme 2 ist beispielsweise als transparente Substratplatte, beispielsweise aus Glas oder Kunststoff, ausgebildet. Das Wert- und/oder Sicherheitsdokument 3, beispielsweise ein Personalausweis, wird flächig auf der Dokumentaufnahme 2 angeordnet. Über eine Beleuchtungseinrichtung 4 wird eine Vorderseite 5 des Wert- und/oder Sicherheitsdokuments 3 beleuchtet. Über eine weitere Beleuchtungseinheit 6 wird durch die Dokumentaufnahme 2 eine Rückseite 7 des Wert- und/oder Sicherheitsdokuments 3 beleuchtet. Das an der Vorderseite 5 reflektierte, gebeugte, gestreute oder von der Vorderseite emittierte Licht 10 wird auf eine Erfassungseinheit 8 einer Erfassungsvorrichtung 9 flächig abgebildet. Die Erfassungseinheit 8 ist ausgebildet, eine flächige Abbildung zu erfassen und in digitalisierte Bildsignale zu überführen. Bei der Erfassungseinheit 8 kann es sich beispielsweise um einen CCD-Chip, ein CMOS-Array oder einen beliebigen RGB-Sensor handeln. Die erfassten Bildsignale werden einer Auswerteeinrichtung 11 zugeführt, die die Bildsignale auswerten und verifizieren kann und in der Regel eine Verifikationsinformation bereitstellt und/oder ausgibt. Eine Ausgabe kann über eine Ausgabeeinheit 12 erfolgen, die beispielsweise eine Anzeigevorrichtung oder eine Schnittstelle sein kann.
An der Rückseite 7 gestreutes, gebeugtes, reflektiertes oder von der Rückseite 7 emittiertes Licht 13 wird ebenfalls auf die Erfassungseinheit 8 abgebildet. Dieses an der Rückseite gestreute, gebeugte, reflektierte und/oder von dieser emittiertes Licht 13 wird mittels einer Abbildungseinrichtung 14 zu der Erfassungseinheit 8 geführt. Die Abbildungseinrichtung 14 umfasst hierfür eine Reflektionseinheit 15. Die Reflektionseinheit 15 kann beispielsweise ein Spiegel oder ein Prisma oder jede beliebige andere optische Einheit sein, die Licht gezielt umlenkt.
Die Beleuchtungseinheit 4 und die weitere Beleuchtungseinheit 6 sind bei einer Ausführungsform so ausgebildet, dass sie Licht in unterschiedlichen Wellenlängenbereichen emittieren. Beispielsweise emittiert die Beleuchtungseinheit 4 Licht im sichtbaren Wellenlängenbereich. Die weitere Beleuchtungseinheit 6 emittiert hingegen Licht im infraroten Wellenlängenbereich. Somit wird die im sichtbaren Wellenlängenbereich reflektierende, beugende oder streuende Information der Vorderseite 5 und die im infraroten Wellenlängenbereich beugende, streuende, reflektierende Information der Rückseite 7 auf die Erfassungseinheit 8 abgebildet. In der Regel legt das von der Vorderseite 5 gestreute, gebeugte, reflektierte und/oder hiervon emittierte Licht 10 einen kürzen Weg zur Erfassungseinheit 8 zurück als das entsprechende an der Rückseite 7 gestreute, gebeugte, reflektierte oder emittierte Licht der Rückseite 13. Um diese unterschiedlichen Weglängen im Hinblick auf eine Fokussierung oder auflösende Abbildung zu kompensieren, umfasst die Abbildungseinrichtung 14 beispielsweise eine Abbildungsoptik 16, die unterschiedliche optische Eigenschaften für Licht unterschiedlicher Wellenlängenbereiche aufweist, beispielsweise unterschiedliche Brennweiten. Über eine geeignete Anpassung ist es somit möglich, dass sowohl das die Informationen der Rückseite 7 transportierende Licht 13 als auch das die Informationen der Vorderseite 5 transportierende Licht 10 scharf auf die Erfassungseinheit 8 abgebildet werden, d.h. so abgebildet werden, dass die notwendigen Informationen mit einer ausreichenden optischen Auflösung für deren Wahrnehmung und Auswertung abgebildet werden.An unclaimed embodiment of such a verification device provides that the surface of the detection unit to be detected is oriented perpendicular and centered to a document plane defined by the document receiver, and the reflection units are arranged symmetrically relative to the detection unit, so that the diffracted at the front diffracted , reflected light or light emitted therefrom and the light scattered, diffracted, reflected or emitted by the back side are conducted substantially identically to the imaging unit. Means substantially identical to the imaging unit here means that the light scattered, diffracted, reflected or emitted from this point at diametrically opposite points on the front and the back is guided over an equal number of reflection units and identical path lengths.
The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to preferred embodiments with reference to a drawing. Hereby show:

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of a verification device;

Fig. 2

another schematic embodiment of a verification device;

Fig. 3

yet another schematic representation of a verification device; and

Fig. 4

a schematic representation of an unclaimed verification device, in which the front and the back are imaged identically on a detection unit.

In Fig. 1 schematically a verification device 1 is shown. This comprises a document holder 2, on which, on or in which a double-sided value and / or security document 3 can be arranged. The document holder 2 is designed, for example, as a transparent substrate plate, for example made of glass or plastic. The value and / or security document 3, for example an identity card, is arranged flat on the document holder 2. Over a Lighting device 4, a front side 5 of the value and / or security document 3 is illuminated. A further illumination unit 6 illuminates a rear side 7 of the value and / or security document 3 by the document receiver 2. The light 10 reflected, diffracted, scattered or emitted from the front side 5 is imaged flat on a detection unit 8 of a detection device 9. The detection unit 8 is designed to detect a planar image and to convert it into digitized image signals. The detection unit 8 may be, for example, a CCD chip, a CMOS array or any RGB sensor. The detected image signals are supplied to an evaluation device 11, which can evaluate and verify the image signals and usually provides and / or outputs verification information. An output may be via an output unit 12, which may be, for example, a display device or an interface.
At the back 7 scattered, diffracted, reflected or emitted from the back 7 light 13 is also imaged on the detection unit 8. This light 13, which is scattered, diffracted, reflected and / or emitted by the rear side, is guided to the detection unit 8 by means of an imaging device 14. The imaging device 14 comprises a reflection unit 15 for this purpose. The reflection unit 15 can be, for example, a mirror or a prism or any other optical unit which deflects light in a targeted manner.
The illumination unit 4 and the further illumination unit 6 are formed in one embodiment so that they emit light in different wavelength ranges. For example, the lighting unit 4 emits light in the visible wavelength range. By contrast, the further illumination unit 6 emits light in the infrared wavelength range. Thus, the information reflecting the visible wavelength range, diffractive or scattering information of the front side 5 and diffracting in the infrared wavelength range, scattering, reflective information of the back 7 is mapped to the detection unit 8. As a rule, the light 10 diffused, diffracted, reflected and / or emitted by the front side 5 travels a shorter distance back to the detection unit 8 than the corresponding light diffused, diffracted, reflected or emitted at the rear side 7 To compensate for path lengths with regard to focusing or resolution imaging includes Imaging device 14, for example, an imaging optical system 16 having different optical properties for light of different wavelength ranges, for example, different focal lengths. By means of a suitable adaptation, it is thus possible for both the light 13 conveying the information of the rear side 7 and the light 10 conveying the information of the front side 5 to be imaged sharply onto the detection unit 8, ie to be imaged so that the necessary information is provided with a sufficient optical resolution for their perception and evaluation are mapped.

Alternatively or additionally, the imaging device may have a diaphragm 17. The smaller the aperture, the greater is a depth of field, i. the larger path length differences on the object side can be, without a predetermined resolution of the information imaged on the detection unit is exceeded.

Alternatively or additionally, a Fresnel lens 20 may be arranged on the reflection units 15, which effects the detection unit for optimum imaging of the light 13 scattered, diffracted, reflected or emitted by the back 7 on the rear side 7.

In some embodiments, it is provided that the illumination unit 4 and the further illumination device 6 emit light in the same wavelength range.

In Fig. 2 a further verification device is shown schematically. In this embodiment, the document receiver is designed as a prism and thus at the same time represents a reflection device of the imaging device. The same technical features are provided with the same reference numerals in all figures. The other technical elements correspond to those of the embodiment according to Fig. 1 ,

In Fig. 3 a further embodiment of a verification device 1 is shown, in which the imaging device 14 comprises two reflection units 15, 15 ', between which a lens 19 is arranged, the path length compensation with regard to an optimal image of the information of the back transporting light 13 relative to causes the information of the front transporting light 10.

Of course, instead of one lens 19, a plurality of lenses can also be inserted between the mirrors or elsewhere in the beam path.
Alternatively or in addition to the lens 19, a Fresnel lens 20 may be arranged on one of the reflection units 15, 15 '.

In Fig. 4 is still an unclaimed embodiment of a verification device 1 shown schematically. In this embodiment, both the front side 5 and the rear side 7 are imaged on the detection unit 8 substantially identically via the imaging device 14. In this embodiment, the detection unit 8 is aligned perpendicular to a plane 23 defined by the document receiver 2 and substantially centered to this plane 23. Via several reflection units 21a to 21c and 22a to 22c, the light scattered, diffracted, reflected or emitted by the front 10 as well as the diffused, diffracted, reflected or emitted light 13 are imaged on the detection unit 8 such that the front side 5 and the back 7 at different locations of the detection unit 8 are shown side by side. This embodiment is particularly suitable for evaluating a register-accurate arrangement of security features on the front 5 and back 7 of the double-sided security document 3. Furthermore, such an embodiment is suitable for cases in which the front and the back should be equally well resolved.
For all embodiments, the evaluation device 11 is preferably adapted so that it computationally compensates for any distortions caused by the imaging device 14. In all embodiments is also common that the front and the back of the double-sided value and / or security document 3 are mapped to different areas of the detection unit, so that they can be detected simultaneously with the detection unit 8 and then evaluated.
It will be understood by those skilled in the art that in the embodiments described above, the illumination units used may illuminate the dual-sided security document with light-identical wavelength ranges. It is also possible to use light for excitation, which lies in the non-visible wavelength range, for example in the UV range, to produce an emission of Trigger luminescence radiation. The choice of the illumination unit or the wavelength or wavelength ranges used for illumination is selected as a function of the security features to be detected. In order to selectively detect only security features that are visible in certain wavelength ranges, filters may additionally be in the beam path of the scattered, diffracted, reflected and / or emitted light 10, 13 of the front or the back.

The term detection unit is here understood in each case as a device which can detect an optical image areally. In this case, the detection unit may comprise a plurality of laterally arranged in a plane relative to each other sensors or sensor units.

reference numeral

1

verification device

2

document recording

3

Value and / or security document

4

lighting unit

5

front

6

additional lighting unit

7

back

8th

acquisition unit

9

detection device

10

at the front scattered, diffracted or reflected or emitted light

11

evaluation

12

output unit

13

scattered at the back, diffracted or reflected or emitted light

14

imaging device

15, 15 '

reflection means

16

imaging optics

17

cover

18

prism

19

lens

20

Fresnel lens

21a-21c

reflectance units

22a-22c

reflectance units

23

level

Claims (8)

1. Verification device (1) for verifying double-sided value and/or security documents (3), comprising:

   a document receptacle (2),

   a detection device (9) arranged relative to the document receptacle (2) for detecting image signals in digitalised form of a value and/or security document (3) arranged on, at, or in the document receptacle (2), and an evaluation unit (11) that evaluates the detected image signals and derives verification information,

   wherein

   the detection device (9) comprises a detecting unit (8) for detecting a flat image, and the detecting unit (8) and an imaging apparatus (14) are arranged relative to the document receptacle (2) in such a way that, of a double-sided value and/or security document (3), which is arranged on, at, or in the document receptacle (2), at least sections of a front side (5) and of a back side (7) of the double-sided value and/or security document (3), are imaged together on the detecting unit (8),

   characterised in that

   the imaging device (14) comprises at least one reflection unit (15), and the front side (5) is imaged without a reflection and the back side (7) is imaged by at least one reflection onto the detecting unit (8), and path length differences between the light (10) which is scattered, diffracted, or reflected at the front side (5), or emitted from it, and the light (13) which is scattered, diffracted, or reflected at the back side (7), or emitted from it, are compensated in respect of the sharpness of the image onto the detecting unit (8) by at least one optical element of the imaging apparatus (14).
2. Verification device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least two lighting units (4, 6), which emit light in different wavelength ranges, are arranged relative to the document receptacle (2) in such a way that the front side (5) is illuminated with the light from one lighting unit (4), and the rear side (7) is illuminated with the light from the other lighting unit (6).
3. Verification device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one optical element comprises an imaging optic (16), which comprises a different focal length in two different wavelength ranges, such that, at an evaluation, the front side (5) and the back side (7) are imaged together sharply on the detecting unit (8) when information is imaged from the front side (5), which is perceivable in one of the two different wavelength ranges, and information is imaged from the back side (7) which is perceivable in the other of the two wavelength ranges.
4. Verification device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the at least one optical element comprises one or more non-planar imaging mirrors, by means of which the light (13) is imaged which is scattered, diffracted, or reflected at the rear side (7) or emitted from it.
5. Verification device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the imaging apparatus (14) comprises a diaphragm, which is selected in such a way that a depth of focus is sufficient to image the front side (5) and the back side (7) on the detecting unit (8) in such a way that the security features which are to be evaluated are resolved.
6. Verification device (1) according to claim 5, characterised in that the imaging apparatus (14) comprises two mirrors, between which a lens (19) is arranged.
7. Verification device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the imaging apparatus (14) comprises a mirror, arranged on which is a Fresnel lens (20).
8. Verification device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the evaluation device (11) is configured such as to rectify by computing means the imaging detected from the back side (7).

Images