EP2656327A1 - Verfahren und vorrichtung zur untersuchung des optischen zustands von wertdokumenten - Google Patents
Verfahren und vorrichtung zur untersuchung des optischen zustands von wertdokumentenInfo
- Publication number
- EP2656327A1 EP2656327A1 EP11801614.6A EP11801614A EP2656327A1 EP 2656327 A1 EP2656327 A1 EP 2656327A1 EP 11801614 A EP11801614 A EP 11801614A EP 2656327 A1 EP2656327 A1 EP 2656327A1
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- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- pixels
- error
- pixel
- digital image
- distance
- 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.)
- Granted
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- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 68
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 61
- 238000011156 evaluation Methods 0.000 claims description 68
- 238000012360 testing method Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000000875 corresponding effect Effects 0.000 description 17
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 description 12
- 230000007547 defect Effects 0.000 description 9
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- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 description 7
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- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000005286 illumination Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000003086 colorant Substances 0.000 description 2
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- 238000012935 Averaging Methods 0.000 description 1
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- 238000013475 authorization Methods 0.000 description 1
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Classifications
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- 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
- G07D7/003—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 security elements
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- 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
- G07D7/005—Testing security markings invisible to the naked eye, e.g. verifying thickened lines or unobtrusive markings or alterations
- G07D7/0054—Testing security markings invisible to the naked eye, e.g. verifying thickened lines or unobtrusive markings or alterations involving markings the properties of which are altered from original properties
-
- 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
- G07D7/20—Testing patterns thereon
- G07D7/2008—Testing patterns thereon using pre-processing, e.g. de-blurring, averaging, normalisation or rotation
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a method for examining the optical state of value documents, an evaluation device for carrying out the method and a device for carrying out the method.
- Value documents are understood leaf-shaped objects that represent, for example, a monetary value or an authorization and should therefore not be produced by unauthorized persons. They therefore have features which are not easy to manufacture, in particular to be copied, whose presence is an indication of the authenticity, i. the manufacture by an authorized agency.
- Important examples of such value documents are chip cards, coupons, vouchers, checks and in particular banknotes.
- Value documents often have an optical design specific to the particular type of value documents, i. a specific look, which may or may not include security features.
- the optical design can be given for example by a printed image on the value document.
- the printed image can be a printed image in the region of the optical radiation or the optical wavelength range, which is understood below to mean infrared radiation, ultraviolet radiation and radiation in the visible wavelength range.
- the optical design in particular the print image, may deviate from the given design, for example because the value document has been contaminated by use or manipulation.
- the nature and extent of the deviations in the optical design essentially determine the optical state of a value document. which, in turn, represents an essential aspect of the overall state of a value document. In particular, the state of the value document can determine whether a value document can still be used as such, that is, whether it is fit for circulation or not.
- the deviations in particular in the printed image, for example, depending on the nature and extent, may impair or even preclude the recognition of the value or the authenticity of a value document.
- the object is achieved by a method for examining the optical state of a value document on the basis of a digital image of at least one predetermined region of the value document, wherein the digital image comprises pixels in which pixels of the digital image are searched for sets of error pixels, respectively Given that the error pixels meet a predetermined deviation criterion for an impermissible deviation of at least one predetermined pixel property and the distance of each error pixel of the respective amount to at least one other error pixel of the same amount does not exceed a predetermined distance which is greater than the distance immediately adjacent Pixels of the digital image, and a number in searching found quantities and / or a value for at least one property of at least one of the amounts found during the search is determined. Then, a signal representing the number or the value may be output, and / or the number or the value may be stored in a memory device.
- the object is further achieved by an evaluation device for examining the optical state of a value document on the basis of a digital image of at least one predetermined region of the value document, wherein the digital image comprises pixels, the evaluation device having an interface for receiving a digital image of at least one predetermined value Having area of the value document and is adapted to perform a method according to the invention on the basis of the digital image received by means of the Sdinittstelle at least one predetermined area of the value document.
- the evaluation device is configured to search in the pixels of the digital image received by the interface quantities of error pixels, which are given by the fact that the error pixels meet a predetermined deviation criterion for an impermissible deviation of at least one predetermined Pixelei- genschaft and the distance each Error pixels of the respective amount to at least one other error pixel of the same amount does not exceed a predetermined distance, which is greater than the distance of immediately adjacent pixels of the digital image, and a number looking for found quantities and / or a value for at least one property of at least one to determine the quantities found during the search. Further, it may be configured to then issue a signal representing the number or value and / or to store the number or value.
- the object is further achieved by a device for examining the optical state of a document of value, having an optical sensor for detecting a digital image of at least one region of the document of value, and an evaluation device according to the invention, the interface of which is connected via a signal connection to the sensor, so that a detected by the sensor digital image of the evaluation device is receivable.
- Another object of the invention is a method for examining the optical state of a document of value, wherein by means of an optical sensor, a digital image of at least a predetermined portion of the document of value is detected, wherein the digital image comprises pixels, and the above-mentioned inventive method with the digital image is carried out.
- the starting point of the solution mentioned are therefore digital images of at least one predetermined region of a value document.
- the area can be predetermined as desired, for example it can comprise the entire value document or only areas which are predetermined as relevant for the assessment of the state. In the latter case, the range for each type of document of value, for banknotes in particular for each denomination or denomination can be specified.
- the digital image is detected by an optical sensor which detects spatially resolved characteristics of optical radiation emanating from the document of value, optionally filtered by the sensor, producing signals representing the detected property associated with the locations.
- the digital image comprises, in a known manner, pixels each corresponding to the resolution of the
- the optical sensor used in the present invention correspond to an extended pixel on the document of value and to which pixel data are reproduced, the properties of the pixels, in particular properties of the optical radiation emanating from the respective pixel and thus, given illumination, optical properties of the region of the document of value.
- the digital image of the sensor may, but need not, be preprocessed prior to use for the method, for example, corrections of the image's characteristics, such as colors, or filtering, in particular a low-pass filter, for example, by averaging over a pixel and its nearest neighboring pixels. This can be done by a corresponding device of the sensor or by the evaluation.
- the resulting digital image is then used to perform the method.
- the evaluation device can be used, which has the interface for receiving the digital image and is designed to carry out the method according to the invention with the digital image received by means of the interface.
- the interface may include hardware and / or software components.
- a computer may be used with at least one processor, which may be part of the evaluation device in particular.
- a processor will be understood to mean a suitable controller, an FPG A, a signal processor or a general-purpose processor or a combination of at least two of these elements.
- a memory which is connected to the at least one processor and possibly integrated therein may be provided in which instructions of a computer program are stored, in the execution of which the method according to the invention is carried out.
- quantities of error pixels are searched for under the pixels of the digital image by means of the processor. Error pixels are those pixels of the digital image which fulfill the predetermined deviation criterion, which determines when a deviation of the at least one given pixel property from a predetermined value is to be regarded as inadmissible.
- the deviation criterion can be given, for example, by checking whether the pixel data for one or more pixels of a given evaluation range deviates from a reference distribution for permissible pixel data predetermined for the pixel or pixels depending on the value document type, according to a predetermined criterion, for example, outside the reference distribution.
- a predetermined criterion for example, outside the reference distribution.
- WO 2008/058742 AI is described, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference into the description. It is also possible to compare the digital image with a reference image for the value document type and, after an alignment of the images, determine pixel by pixel the deviations of the pixel data of the digital image and the reference image and to check a predetermined criterion for a maximum permissible deviation. In the case of color images, for example, the deviation may be given by a distance or a square of a distance.
- the amounts of error pixels are characterized in that the distance of each error pixel of the respective quantity to at least one other error pixel of the same quantity does not exceed a predetermined distance which is greater than the distance of immediately adjacent pixels of the digital one Image.
- immediately adjacent pixels are meant pixels that touch each other at least at one point; in the case of pixels arranged on a square grid, therefore, for a given pixel, the next eight pixels for this next pixel are the immediately adjacent pixels.
- the distance between two pixels is understood to mean the distance of the geometric center of gravity of the pixels. Due to this property of the sets, an error pixel can only belong to a single set or, in other words, be assigned only to this single set.
- the error pixels of a set do not necessarily form a contiguous area in the image, but may be given by nearby adjacent areas.
- the predetermined distance it is determined how far the areas may be apart from each other to belong to the same amount.
- the distance expressed in units of the smallest distance of immediately adjacent pixels, is between 2 and 10, preferably 3 and 6.
- the deviation criterion and the predetermined distance no quantities, only a quantity or even several quantities can be used Searches are found.
- the number of sets found during the search is then determined and / or a value for at least one property of at least one of the quantities found during the search is determined.
- a differentiated statement about the optical state of the value document is possible.
- irregularly distributed spots for example sprayed drops, can be easily detected.
- pixel errors occurring in sensors of very high spatial resolution have less of an effect on the state examination.
- a signal representing it can be output, or a corresponding value can be stored, which can be done in the memory or in another memory device.
- results i. the number and / or the value can either be used alone to characterize the overall state or used to determine an overall state in which further parameters are received.
- error pixels may be assigned to the set such that a next error pixel which satisfies the deviation criterion and which is not yet assigned to the set and whose distance is searched for an error pixel already assigned to the set to the already assigned pixel does not exceed the predetermined distance, and when finding such a next error pixel this is assigned to the amount.
- the evaluation device can be designed in such a way that error pixels are assigned to the quantity in such a way that an error pixel already assigned to the quantity is searched for a next error pixel which satisfies the deviation criterion and which is not yet assigned to the quantity and whose distance from the already assigned pixel does not exceed the predetermined distance, and when such a next error pixel is found, it is assigned to the quantity.
- An advantage of this approach is that it allows a quick location of the quantities sought.
- the search for the next error pixel and its assignment can be carried out repeatedly, with the error pixel last assigned to the set being used in each case as the error pixel already assigned to the set.
- the evaluation device is then designed to repeat the search for the next error pixel and its assignment when searching for a set, with the error pixel last assigned to the set being used as the error pixel already assigned to the set. This procedure offers the advantage that the quantities can be determined easily and quickly.
- the error pixels can be searched arbitrarily. However, it is preferred in the method that in order to search for the next error pixel, a respective error pixel in a search list of pixels is searched for, at least by the last error pixel associated with the set and the predetermined distance or by the last error pixel associated with the set and a predetermined list is determined.
- the evaluation device may preferably be designed such that in each case one error pixel in a search list of pixels is searched for searching the next error pixel, at least by the error pixel last allocated to the set and the predetermined distance or by the error pixel last assigned to the set and a predetermined error pixel List is determined. This embodiment offers the advantage that only a list of pixels needs to be searched, but a distance calculation is not required.
- the search list and / or the list given in dependence on the predetermined distance is determined so that this contains depending on the embodiment all pixels or only all the deviation criterion-fulfilling pixels within the predetermined distance
- the search list only needs to be traversed until, until an error pixel is found.
- the search list can be determined in particular by the fact that the predetermined list indicates only the position relative to a pixel, and the search list is determined by converting the predetermined list to the position of the last associated error pixel.
- error pixels are searched for along a search beam starting from the error pixel last assigned to the set and rotated stepwise in a predetermined direction of rotation.
- the evaluation device is then preferably configured such that, in order to search for the next error pixel, error pixels along a search beam starting from the last assigned error pixel and progressively rotated in a predetermined direction of rotation are searched for.
- the search beam is an imaginary path in a plane in which pixels are arranged ; it begins in the error pixel assigned last to the set or starts from it, for example its geometric center of gravity, and can preferably have the length of the predetermined distance.
- the search beam may have an arbitrarily predetermined initial direction, with an arrangement of the pixels in a square matrix, for example along one of the lines.
- the search between the rotations can be searched either always in the order of increasing distance from the last assigned error pixel, or always in the order of decreasing distance from the last assigned error pixel, or alternately in the order of increasing distance and decreasing distance.
- This method makes it possible to find error pixels in a particularly efficient way and assign them to a set, since even in unfavorable constellations only a few distances are to be determined.
- this type of search covers all pixels whose distance from the last assigned error pixel does not exceed the predetermined distance If a search list is used to search, it may be selected to search the pixels in the order corresponding to the order described in the last paragraph.
- the method according to the invention includes the examination of the deviation criterion and, on the other hand, the check as to whether the distance between two error pixels falls below the predetermined distance.
- these examinations can be carried out arbitrarily.
- the pixels that satisfy the deviation criterion may first be determined, and then these pixels may be assigned to the sets as error pixels.
- the evaluation device can then be designed so that the pixels that satisfy the deviation criterion are first determined when searching for the quantities, and then these pixels can be assigned to the quantities as error pixels. This method is particularly advantageous if the examination of the deviation criterion can be carried out quickly in comparison to the examination of the distance between two pixels.
- the evaluation device can preferably be further designed such that, when searching for the quantities starting from an error pixel of a set of pixels whose distance from the error pixel does not exceed the predetermined distance, they are then checked as to whether they satisfy the deviation criterion. This procedure It is advantageous, inter alia, if checking the deviation criterion is not very fast
- Another advantage of the embodiment is that the following preferred development can be easily realized. This provides that in the method the deviation criterion depends on the distance between the error pixel and the pixel currently being tested. The evaluation device is then designed so that the deviation criterion depends on the distance between the error pixel and the currently tested pixel.
- the method it is preferred that, to find a set of error pixels, first search for groups of error pixels each comprising error pixels that satisfied the deviation criterion and which are immediately adjacent to the method for checking whether the distance is at least of an error pixel of one of the groups of at least one error pixel of another of the groups whose error pixels are not yet assigned to a set, does not exceed the predetermined distance, and if so, the error pixels of the two groups are assigned to the same set.
- the evaluation device can preferably be further configured to first search for groups of defect pixels, each comprising defect pixels that met the deviation criterion and which are immediately adjacent, in order to check whether the distance is at least of an error pixel of one of the groups of at least one error pixel of another of the groups whose error pixels are not yet assigned to a set, does not exceed the predetermined distance, and if so, the error pixels of the two groups are assigned to the same set.
- This embodiment is particularly suitable for cases where large groups immediately adjacent error pixels are present.
- it is also preferred that in the method when searching for the quantities first the pixels are determined which satisfy the deviation criterion, and then these pixels are first assigned to the groups as error pixels. This procedure can considerably accelerate the identification of the groups.
- the determined number and / or the determined value for at least one property of at least one of the amounts found during the search can preferably be used to determine a value representing the optical state.
- the evaluation device can then preferably be designed to determine a value representing the optical state using the determined number and / or the determined value for at least one property of at least one of the amounts found during the search.
- the amount of their number of defect pixels can be used as properties of the set.
- the evaluation device can be designed accordingly.
- the method uses as a property of the set a function of the number of error pixels of the set and the length of a line through the error pixels of the set forming its edge.
- the evaluation device can then be designed to be a function of the number as a property of the quantity
- the inventive method can be carried out for each value document to be sorted, wherein depending on the determined optical state, preferably in dependence on an overall state determined using the optical state, the value document in one for the determined optical State or overall state provided recording is transported.
- the invention is therefore an apparatus for processing, in particular sorting, value documents, with a device according to the invention for the examination of documents of value and a Trarisport raised for transporting isolated documents of value to the examination device over, which is designed, depending on signals of the examination device value documents as a function of the optical state, preferably a total state determined as a function of the optical state, of transporting a device provided for value documents predetermined optical state or overall state recording of the device.
- the invention further provides a computer-readable data carrier with program code that can be executed by a computer, so that the computer carries out a method according to the invention.
- FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a value-document processing device in the form of a banknote sorting device
- FIG. 2a, b are schematic representations of an optical sensor of the device in Fig. 1 in the transport direction of a value document and in Bkckraum to a transport level, in which documents of value are transported past this,
- FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a digital image of a value document and of a few pixels of the image
- FIG. 4 shows a flow chart for a first method for examining a state of a value document by means of the device in FIG. 1, FIG.
- FIG. 5 is a flow chart for a search of sets of error pixels in a step S14 of the method in FIG. 4, FIG.
- Fig. 6 is a schematic representation of a portion of a digital image to
- FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of the portion of the digital image in FIG.
- FIG. 9 is a flowchart for searching sets of error pixels in a step S14 'of a second method for examining a state of a value document by means of the apparatus in FIG
- 10a, b show a flow chart for a search of sets of defect pixels in a step S14 "of a fourth method for investigating a number of defect pixels. state of a value document by means of the device in FIG. 1.
- a device 10 for processing value documents 12, in the example a banknote processing device, in FIG. 1 is used inter alia for checking the authenticity and the overall state of value documents 12 in the form of banknotes and for sorting depending on the result of the authenticity and overall condition check.
- the apparatus 10 has an input area 14, in the example an input pocket, for input of value documents 12 to be processed, a separator 16, which can access value documents 12 in the input compartment 14 in order to separate them, and one leading to an output device 18 Transport device 20 for transporting documents of value separated from the singler 16 along a transport path 22 to the output device 18.
- the output device 18 has at least two, in this example three, output areas 24, 24 'and 24 ", in the example stacking compartments for optional transport
- the transport direction 20 includes points arranged successively along the transport path 22, in the example two points 26 and 26 ', so that value documents can optionally be fed to one of the output areas by actuation of the points after the verzeier 16 and v
- a sensor arrangement 28, which serves to detect the characteristics of individually supplied value documents 12 and to form sensor signals representing the properties, is arranged on the switches.
- a control device 30 is at least connected to the sensor arrangement 28 and the switches 26 and 26 'via signal connections and is used to evaluate sensor signals of the sensor arrangement 28, in particular for checking the authenticity and the state of value documents, and for controlling at least the switches 26 and 26'. depending on the Result of the evaluation of the sensor signals, ie in particular the results of the test for authenticity and condition.
- the sensor arrangement 24 comprises at least one sensor;
- an optical sensor 32 for the spatially resolved detection of color properties and ER properties is provided, which detects optical radiation remitted by the value document.
- the sensor arrangement 28 has an optional further sensor 33 for detecting ultrasonic properties of a value document transported past it.
- the sensor 33 is used to test a value document on whether an adhesive strip is recognizable on it.
- the sensor 33 outputs a signal to the control device 30 for each value document detected by it, which represents whether an adhesive strip has been recognized or not.
- the optical sensor 32 acquires an overall digital image of the value document in four spectral ranges corresponding to the three color channels red, green and blue and in the infrared spectral range (IR channel), which is represented by corresponding sensor signals.
- the overall digital image captured by the optical sensor 32 includes pixels whose characteristics are given by pixel data relevant to checking the bills for their optical state and authenticity.
- control device 30 For evaluating the sensor signals, the control device 30 has an evaluation device 34, which in the example is incorporated into the control device 30. is tegriert, in other embodiments, but also part of the sensor assembly 28 itself may be.
- the control device 30 has, in addition to corresponding interfaces 36 for the sensor 32 for receiving the digital image detected by this and the sensor 33 via a processor connected to the interfaces 34 and a processor 38 connected to the memory 40, in which at least one computer program with program code In its execution, the processor 38, in a first function as part of the evaluation device 34, evaluates the sensor signals, in particular for checking the authenticity and the determination of an optical state and on the basis of a total state of a checked value document, and among other things The method described below is carried out using the sensor signals or the pixel data.
- the evaluation device 34 also includes the interfaces 36. In a second function, the processor controls the device or, according to the evaluation, the transport device 20. The evaluation device 34 therefore forms a computer in the sense of the present invention.
- the evaluation device 34 checks for each value document detected by the sensor arrangement 28 by means of the processor 38 on the basis of the digital image of the value document at least one predetermined criterion for the authenticity of the value document. Furthermore, the evaluation device 34 examines the optical state of the value document on the basis of the digital image, and determines a state value which represents the optical state of the value document. The evaluation device 34 then uses the state value and the signal of the ultrasonic sensor 33 to determine, according to a predetermined criterion, a total state value representing an overall state of the value document.
- the control device 30, in particular the processor 38 controls the transport device 20, more precisely the points, so that the checked value document is transported to corresponding output areas for storage in accordance with its ascertained authenticity and overall state.
- the control device 30 controls the transport device 20, more precisely the points, so that the checked value document is transported to corresponding output areas for storage in accordance with its ascertained authenticity and overall state.
- a value document capable of being used for further use can be included in the area 24 "and recognized as genuine, but not for further use appropriate value documents in the area 24 "output.
- For processing documents of value 12 are separated into the input tray 14 as a stack or individually inserted value documents 12 of the verzeier 16 and occasionally fed to the transport device 18, which supplies the isolated value documents 12 of the sensor assembly 24.
- This captures optical properties of the value documents 12, in the example the color image with additional IR channel, and forms a digital image whose pixels represent the corresponding properties of the value document. Further, it detects the ultrasonic properties.
- the control device 30 detects the sensor signals, determined in dependence on these a state and the authenticity of the respective value document and controls depending on the result, the switches so that the examined value documents are fed according to their detected authenticity of the output compartments.
- the optical sensor 32 is designed to acquire images for three colors and ⁇ radiation
- it is designed as a line sensor which, during the transport of a value document past the sensor 32, comprises a sequence of line images which produce a line image of the value document in a direction transverse to the direction of the line.
- a lighting device 42 for illuminating a transversely to the transport direction T extending strip in a transport plane E (in Fig. 2b parallel to the plane) for the document of value 12 and in a plane of the value document 12 with convergent, white light during the passage of the value document over its entire extent transversely to the transport direction T.
- the illumination device 42 has two sources of optical radiation.
- the senor 32 comprises a detection device 44 arranged in the radiation beam emitted by the illumination device 42.
- a detection device 44 arranged in the radiation beam emitted by the illumination device 42.
- Each of the line scan cameras has a respective detector row with cell-shaped photodetection elements 48, in front of which the filter is arranged. which corresponds to the color fraction of the remitted optical radiation to be detected by the respective line scan camera.
- the sensor 32 may include further optical elements, in particular for imaging or focusing, which are not shown here.
- the detector lines of photodetection elements are arranged parallel to each other.
- the sensor 32 comprises a signal processing device, not shown in the figures, which generates a digital image from the signals of the photo-detection elements In order to acquire a color image of a value document 12, it is conveyed past the sensor 32 at constant speed in the transport direction T.
- Intensity data are recorded at constant time intervals with the line scan cameras 46, 46 'and 46 "in a spatially resolved and color-resolved manner Describing the properties of pixels of a line image representing the cell-shaped area of the value document 12 detected by the sensor 32
- a digital overall image of the value document with pixels is then obtained each of which is associated with pixel data representing optical properties of the value document, namely, red, green and blue color values. Therefore, a digital image captured by the sensor 32 is composed of pixels 50 arranged in a rectangular matrix and becomes described by the pixel data.
- the resolution of the sensor 32 is at least so great that a pixel corresponds to an area of at most 0.3 mm ⁇ 0.3 mm on the value document.
- Each of the pixels is associated with pixel values ri, gi, bi for red, green and blue as pixel data next to a number i representing the position in the image.
- a sensor 32 is used, which represents the said pixel data as a vector in a three-dimensional, device-independent color space, here the CIE-Lab color space.
- a program is stored with program code which, when executed by the evaluation device 34, ie here the processor 38, performs the steps of a method for examining the optical state of value documents, which are illustrated schematically in FIG.
- step S10 a digital image of a value document is detected by means of the optical sensor 32 from the evaluation device 34 or the processor 34, which comprises pixels.
- the evaluation device 34 determines from the digital image the type of the value document in the case of banknotes, for example the denomination or denomination and currency, and the position and orientation of the value document, for example the front or back of the banknote and upright orientation or not, and store corresponding values.
- step S14 the evaluator 34 then searches in the pixels of the digital image sets of error pixels respectively given by the error pixels satisfying a predetermined deviation criterion for undue deviation of at least one predetermined pixel property and the distance of each error pixel of the respective set to at least one other error pixels of the same amount does not exceed a predetermined distance that is greater than the distance of immediately adjacent pixels of the digital image, and that are not associated with any other set.
- the evaluation device 34 determines thereon in step S14 a number of search found quantities and at least one value for at least one Property of at least one of the amounts found during the search and stores corresponding values.
- step S18 the evaluation device 34, depending on the determined number and the at least one value for the property of at least one of the amounts found in the search, forms a signal representing an evaluation for the optical state of the value document and stores a corresponding state value for the optical document Status.
- the evaluation device 34 determines, in accordance with a predetermined criterion for the overall state as a function of the signal or the stored state value and the signal of the ultrasonic sensor 33, a value for an overall state of the value document which it makes available for controlling the transport device 20.
- Fig. 5 shows in greater detail the substeps of step 14 in this embodiment.
- the evaluator 34 examines, among other things, whether a pixel satisfies the predetermined deviation criterion. For this purpose, in the present exemplary embodiment, it determines from the type of the value document determined in step S12 the position of the detected digital image relative to a reference image specified for the type for the position and orientation of the value document determined in step S12.
- the reference image has the same resolution or pixel number as the digital image, and the pixel data for the pixels of the reference image include coordinates in the color space of the digital image.
- the evaluation device 34 can assign 34 pixels of the digital image corresponding pixels of the reference image. Each pixel of the reference image is assigned a color reference distribution in the color space used.
- the evaluation device can now check pixel by pixel, ie pixels of the two images assigned to one another, as a deviation criterion as to whether the pixel data lies outside the color reference distribution. If this is the case, the deviation criterion is considered fulfilled, otherwise not.
- the color reference distribution can in particular be given by a region of the color space enclosed by a reference surface.
- a method can be used to determine the deviation or to check the deviation criterion, as described in the
- WO 2008/058742 AI is described, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference into the description. If a pixel is detected whose pixel data meets the deviation criterion, it is identified by storing at least one corresponding indicator.
- the evaluation device 34 checks whether the distance between a pixel and an error pixel does not exceed a predetermined distance.
- the length unit is the length of the sides of the cells of the square grid formed by the pixels.
- the distance used is the distance of the centers or geometric centroids of the cells or pixels of the square grid whose distance is to be determined.
- a predetermined distance a distance of 5 units is used in the present embodiment.
- the evaluation device 34 searches in step S14.2 among the pixels of the digital image, a pixel that meets the predetermined deviation criterion, but is not yet associated with a set of error pixels In step S14.3, it is checked if such a pixel could be found. If the evaluation device 34 has not found one, the step S14 is ended.
- the evaluation device 34 forms a new set in step S14.4, to which it assigns the found pixel as a current error pixel, ie, last assigned to the set. To associate pixels, the pixel is assigned a number that identifies the quantities found.
- the evaluation device 34 searches among those pixels of the digital image that are not yet assigned to a set, that is also not the last set, a pixel that fulfills the deviation criterion and whose distance from the current, ie last error pixel assigned to the set does not exceed the predetermined distance.
- a search list of pixels represented by the current i. the last of the set associated error pixels and a predetermined list or order of pixels to be examined is determined.
- the given list is obtained in the present example by iteratively on a path 56 from the last of the set associated error pixel 58 with the length of the predetermined distance in a given Searching direction is searched starting from the nearest pixel to the last associated error pixel on the route to further pixels on the route with increasing distances, and if no pixels are found, the search direction and the distance are rotated in a given search direction until a pixel is on the rotated track and the search direction is chosen as a new given search direction.
- the procedure is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. In this example, a pixel is considered to be on. lying the track when a given reference point of the pixel is on the track.
- An ordered list of relative coordinates is thereby created which, in the order of finding, represents the coordinates of the respectively found pixel relative to the error pixel.
- the relative coordinates are respectively assigned a natural number which represents the position in the list or sequence. In the example, this is the center or geometric center of gravity of the pixel.
- the following sub-steps are carried out iteratively, or repeated, until all pixels in a circular disk with the radius of the specified distance were found to the reference point of the last of the set associated error pixel, or the direction of the distance after further rotation is again in the predetermined direction.
- the distance is rotated in a predetermined direction of rotation, in the example counterclockwise, until, for the first time, there is at least one further pixel on the route whose relative coordinates are added to the list with a corresponding number. If, after the rotation, at least two pixels are on the path, the pixel is first added to the list which is closest to the last error pixel assigned to the set.
- a second sub-step further pixels become on the line in the direction of increasing distances from the last error pixel assigned to the set If found, they or their relative coordinates and a number are added to the list according to the order of finding them. If no further pixels are found on the route in the current position or direction, the first sub-step is carried out again.
- the list thus found is stored in the memory of the evaluation device in order to be used in the method.
- Fig. 6 the order of the pixels for a given distance of 5 on a square grid is represented by numbers indicated in the pixels, Fig. 6 shows the corresponding value
- the search list of the pixels to be searched results from the stored list in that the coordinates of the last error pixel assigned to the set are added to the relative coordinates of the stored list.
- the pixels of the search list ie the pixels whose coordinates are contained in this search list, are structurally spaced from the last error pixel allocated to the set that does not exceed the predetermined distance.
- the pixels are searched in the order of the list and the search list, respectively.
- the search list does not necessarily have to be created beforehand, it is sufficient that the coordinates of the next pixel to be examined are not determined until the examination of the current pixel has been completed.
- the pixels of the search list are thus checked in the order of the search list to see whether they meet the deviation criterion and whether the pixel has not yet been assigned to a quantity.
- step S14.6 If such a pixel is found in step S14.6, it is assigned to the set as error pixel in step S14.7 and assigned as the last one assigned to the set, i. current error pixel set. Otherwise, the evaluation device continues the method with step S14.2.
- sets of error pixels are found whose error pixels have at least one other error pixel of the set at a distance which does not exceed the predetermined distance and which fulfill the deviation criterion.
- the evaluation device determines in step S16 the number of sets found in step S14 and a value for at least one predetermined property of at least one of the sets, in the example a value for two predetermined properties of all found sets.
- the number of error pixels and thus a measure of the area with color deviations is determined in accordance with the deviation criterion for each of the quantities found.
- the quotient is formed from the length of the edge of the area formed by error pixels or the areas formed by the error pixels and the number of error pixels.
- edge error pixels are searched, ie error pixels having at least one next adjacent pixel that is not an error pixel. For each edge defect pixel, two next adjacent edge defect pixels are then determined and one line is drawn in each case between the edge defect pixel and the two adjacent edge defect pixels.
- the length of the edge is the sum of the lines for a set.
- the evaluation device forms a signal in step S18 and stores a state value which characterizes the state of the value document.
- the state value is calculated in particular as a function of the number of sets, the number of pixels of the sets, and the determined quotients. For example, a state value for a good state allowing further use or circulation is determined if the largest number of pixels of the sets is less than a predetermined first threshold or the largest number of pixels of the sets is greater than that is first and less than a predetermined second threshold and the quotient for the set is greater than a third and less than a fourth threshold
- FIGS. 8a and 8b show the appearance of second value documents of the same type with different soiling.
- a spot 52 on a value document in FIG. 8a has the same area as the speckled spot 54 as measured in number of pixels the value document of the same type in Fig. 8b. If one used to determine the state only the largest amount of error pixels that are immediately adjacent, and a threshold criterion for the maximum number of error pixels of the amount depending on the threshold value document in Fig. 8a would not be fit, but in Fig. 8b but, because in this only small spots would be recognized. In the present example, however, taking the quotient into account, a more differentiated statement is possible if the threshold values are selected accordingly.
- a second embodiment differs from the embodiment only in that the step S14 illustrated in FIG. 4 is replaced by a step S14 1 illustrated in FIG. 9.
- the step S14 1 differs from the step S14 only in that, firstly, the determination of the pixels satisfying the deviation criterion is performed in a step S14.1 1 at the beginning of the step S14 ', and as a result, the step S14 .2 are replaced by the step S14.2 1 and the step S14.5 by the step S14.5 1 .
- the other steps are unchanged, so that the explanations to these can be referenced in the first embodiment.
- the evaluation device of the second exemplary embodiment is modified accordingly with respect to the evaluation device of the first exemplary embodiment, but otherwise the device including the evaluation device remains unchanged.
- step S14.1 1 it is checked systematically for each pixel of the digital image whether it meets the deviation criterion mentioned in the first embodiment. If so, the pixel data for the pixel will be indexed. Encoder that indicates that the pixel meets the deviation criterion.
- step S14.2 'differs from step S14.2 only in that when searching for a pixel not yet allocated a set that satisfies the roll-over criterion, the criterion itself no longer needs to be checked, but at the Searching for the pixel is only checked if its pixel data contain the indicator.
- step S14.5 'differs from step S14.5 in that when searching for pixels that are not yet assigned to a set and satisfy the deviation criterion and whose distance from the current error pixel does not exceed the predetermined distance, the fulfillment of the Deviation criterion is checked by only checking if the pixel data contains the indicator.
- a third and fourth exemplary embodiment differ from the first and second exemplary embodiments only in that, when searching for sets of error pixels, firstly groups of error pixels are searched whose error pixels are immediately adjacent to at least one other error pixel; In the present example of an arrangement of rectangular pixels forming a square grid, this means that each error pixel adjacent to at least one other error pixel of the set.
- the other steps are unchanged, so that the explanations apply to these in the first embodiment also here.
- the evaluation device is then modified according to the evaluation device in the first and second embodiments, the device including the evaluation each otherwise unchanged. Concretely, in the fourth embodiment, step S14 1 is replaced by step S14 "illustrated in Figs. 10a and 10b
- the evaluation unit performs step S14.1 1 as in the second embodiment.
- the evaluation device then executes the steps S14.2 "to S14.4", which are executed like the steps S14.2 1 , S14.3 and S14.4, except that groups are formed instead of the sets.
- the step S14.3 in the case that no further pixel can be found, the step S14 is not terminated, but proceeds to step S14.8".
- the step S14.5 "differs from the step S14.5 'only in that the evaluation only searches for the deviation criterion fulfilling pixels, which are not yet assigned to a group instead of a set and on the other to the current error pixel immediately adjacent are, ie have a common page with this.
- the steps S14.6 “and S14.7” differ from the steps S14.6 and S14.7 only in that the evaluation device performs an assignment to a group instead of a set or to step S14.2 "or
- Step S14.5 "jumps.
- step S14.3 If no further pixel is found in step S14.3 ", the evaluation device in the following sub-steps of step S14" forms quantities of error pixels from the groups found.
- step S14.8 it searches for a group whose error pixels are not yet assigned to a set of error pixels, as described in the second paragraph.
- ten exemplary embodiment is determined, ie error pixels that meet the deviation criterion are not assigned to any other quantity and their distance to at least one other error pixel of the same amount does not exceed the predetermined distance.
- step S14 If the evaluation device does not find such a group in step S14.9 ", it ends step S14".
- step S1 .10 it forms a new set from the error pixels of the group analogously to step S14.4.
- the evaluation device first searches in step S14.ll "among the found groups whose error pixels are not yet assigned to a set, one which has the one error pixel whose distance from at least one error pixel of the set does not exceed the predetermined distance exceeds
- step S14.12 determines in step S14.12 "that no group has been found, it returns to step S14.8.
- step S14.ll it may be sufficient to only check, when searching the group, whether, among its edge pixels, ie error pixels that have at least one neighboring pixel that is not an error pixel, one has a distance to an edge pixel of the current set that contains the does not exceed the specified distance.
- a fifth embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that a different deviation criterion is used, otherwise all steps and devices are unchanged, so that the descriptions of these apply unchanged here as well.
- the deviation criterion in this embodiment additionally depends on the distance of the pixel from the last error pixel assigned to the set.
- the area enclosed by the reference area can be reduced with increasing distance, i. scaled with a scaling factor smaller than 1, but its position in the color space remains unchanged. For example, starting at a value of 1, the scaling factor may linearly decrease to a value of 0.75 at a distance of 5 at a distance of 1.
- This procedure has the advantage that uneven spots, for example coffee stains, on a value document are detected more easily than a large spot.
- two small spots instead of one larger spot might be detected.
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Abstract
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Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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DE102010055427A DE102010055427A1 (de) | 2010-12-21 | 2010-12-21 | Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Untersuchung des optischen Zustandes von Wertdokumenten |
PCT/EP2011/006452 WO2012084210A1 (de) | 2010-12-21 | 2011-12-20 | Verfahren und vorrichtung zur untersuchung des optischen zustands von wertdokumenten |
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EP2656327A1 true EP2656327A1 (de) | 2013-10-30 |
EP2656327B1 EP2656327B1 (de) | 2018-05-16 |
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EP11801614.6A Active EP2656327B1 (de) | 2010-12-21 | 2011-12-20 | Verfahren und vorrichtung zur untersuchung des optischen zustands von wertdokumenten |
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US (1) | US9547949B2 (de) |
EP (1) | EP2656327B1 (de) |
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DE102012016828A1 (de) * | 2012-08-24 | 2014-02-27 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Prüfung von Wertdokumenten |
DE102014002273A1 (de) * | 2014-02-19 | 2015-08-20 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | Verfahren zum Untersuchen eines Wertdokuments und Mittel zur Durchführung des Verfahrens |
CN111915792B (zh) * | 2020-05-19 | 2022-06-07 | 武汉卓目科技有限公司 | 一种图像斑马线图文的识别方法及装置 |
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US8162125B1 (en) * | 1996-05-29 | 2012-04-24 | Cummins-Allison Corp. | Apparatus and system for imaging currency bills and financial documents and method for using the same |
WO2000026861A1 (en) * | 1998-10-29 | 2000-05-11 | De La Rue International Limited | Method and system for recognition of currency by denomination |
US6343204B1 (en) | 1999-08-25 | 2002-01-29 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Detection and deterrence of counterfeiting of documents with tokens characteristic color and spacing |
GB0106817D0 (en) * | 2001-03-19 | 2001-05-09 | Rue De Int Ltd | Monitoring method |
US20030081826A1 (en) * | 2001-10-29 | 2003-05-01 | Tokyo Seimitsu (Israel) Ltd. | Tilted scan for Die-to-Die and Cell-to-Cell detection |
DE10335660A1 (de) * | 2003-08-04 | 2005-03-17 | Siemens Ag | Erkennen und Zählen von farbigen Objekten |
US20050100204A1 (en) | 2003-11-06 | 2005-05-12 | Spectra Systems Corporation | Method and apparatus for detecting fluorescent particles contained in a substrate |
AT502810B1 (de) * | 2005-11-17 | 2007-06-15 | Arc Seibersdorf Res Gmbh | Verfahren zur optischen prüfung von gegenständen |
US20070140551A1 (en) * | 2005-12-16 | 2007-06-21 | Chao He | Banknote validation |
US8103087B2 (en) * | 2006-01-20 | 2012-01-24 | Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation | Fault inspection method |
FR2916678B1 (fr) * | 2007-06-01 | 2021-07-16 | Advanced Track & Trace | Procede et dispositif de securisation de documents |
DE102006053788A1 (de) * | 2006-11-15 | 2008-05-21 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | Verfahren zur Erkennung von Verschmutzungen im Bereich von Farbübergängen auf Wertdokumenten und Mittel zur Durchführung des Verfahrens |
JP5174513B2 (ja) * | 2008-04-03 | 2013-04-03 | グローリー株式会社 | 紙葉類の汚れ検出装置及び汚れ検出方法 |
US7995196B1 (en) * | 2008-04-23 | 2011-08-09 | Tracer Detection Technology Corp. | Authentication method and system |
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WO2012084210A1 (de) | 2012-06-28 |
EP2656327B1 (de) | 2018-05-16 |
DE102010055427A1 (de) | 2012-06-21 |
US9547949B2 (en) | 2017-01-17 |
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