BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0001] This invention relates to a method and an apparatus for testing banknotes.
Description of Related Art
[0002] Many techniques are known for determining the denomination and authenticity of a
received banknote. Banknote validating devices may be incorporated in apparatus which
is capable of both receiving and dispensing banknotes, and in some cases the apparatus
includes a store for banknotes to be dispensed which is replenished by received banknotes.
[0003] It is known to perform a fitness test on received banknotes to determine whether
or not they are in good condition, and to prevent the dispensing of banknotes found
to be in a poor condition. See
WO-A-95/00932.
[0004] In order to assist the apprehension of thieves, or to deter theft, it is known to
provide devices which, in certain circumstances, release ink which stains the banknotes.
For example, banknotes may be transported in housings which, when opened in an unauthorised
manner, automatically trigger a device which explosively releases the ink to stain
the banknotes.
[0005] If such stained banknotes were introduced into banknote validators, for example housed
in automatic vending machines, the banknote will either be accepted as a genuine banknote
or rejected, in dependence upon the extent to which it is stained, and in dependence
upon the extent to which the measurements performed upon the banknote are influenced
by presence of the ink.
[0006] It would be desirable to provide a better way of handling banknotes which may have
been stained.
[0007] Banknote validators tend to store large quantities of data to permit accurate recognition
of multiple denominations. This data is of course dependent on the particular denominations
expected to be handled by the validator. Because there is a limit to the amount of
data which can be stored, it is necessary to use different validators, storing different
sets of data, in areas where different denominations are expected, for example in
different countries where different currencies are in use. Furthermore, because of
the limited data capacity, it is sometimes not possible to arrange for the validator
to recognise a sufficiently large variety of banknotes. These factors can result in
customers finding unexpectedly that a validator will reject a genuine banknote, because
the validator does not store data enabling recognition of that particular denomination.
[0008] It would be further desirable to provide a validator which mitigates this problem.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Aspects of the invention are set out in the accompanying claims.
[0010] According to the invention, a banknote validator stores data representative of banknotes
of at least one denomination, and further data indicative of characteristics of ink
used for staining banknotes, the validator being operable to perform measurements
on a received banknote in order to classify the banknote into at least the following
categories:
- (a) genuine non-stained bills of said denomination;
- (b) bills which have been stained; and
- (c) other bills, including non-genuine banknotes; and
to perform different operations in dependence upon the categorisation.
[0011] In the preferred embodiment, the validator separately stores data representative
of (a) a plurality of different banknote denominations and (b) at least one type of
stain ink. This permits recognition of stained banknotes of each of the denominations,
by using a combination of the stain ink data and the relevant banknote denomination
data.
[0012] In response to the detection of a stained banknote, a predetermined operation may
be performed upon the banknote. For example, the banknote could be refunded to the
user, or could be sent to a different store from the one which would normally be used
for banknotes of the same denomination, and/or the apparatus could be arranged so
that the banknote is retained but no credit for the banknote is provided.
[0013] Preferably, bills which are genuine but unfit for re-circulation because of ageing
or soiling (but not staining) are also separately categorised.
[0014] According to a preferred aspect, of the invention, the banknote validator stores
data representative of characteristics of at least one target class (i.e. banknote
denomination), and is operable to measure a banknote and to use the measurements and
the stored data to determine whether the banknote belongs to the target class; the
banknote validator is further operable to compare the measurements of a banknote with
data representative of the target class to which the banknote has been found to belong,
and to determine from said comparison whether the measurements have predetermined
characteristics indicative of an ink used for staining.
[0015] According to this aspect of the invention, a banknote may be recognised irrespective
of the presence of a stain, for example if the stain occupies only a small area of
the banknote or by using banknote measurements which are not significantly influenced
by the presence of a stain. Having determined the banknote denomination, it is then
possible to assess the extent to which the measurements of the banknote depart from
expected measurements, so that any differences can be compared to the properties of
ink of a type known to be used for staining, thereby to determine whether the banknote
has been stained. This enables the detection of stained banknotes even when the amount
of stain is relatively small.
[0016] According to a yet further preferred aspect of the invention, the banknote apparatus
is operable to take measurements of a banknote, to generate adjusted measurements
to compensate for the possible existence of stains on the banknote, the adjusted measurements
being generated in accordance with data representative of predetermined characteristics
associated with ink used for staining, and then to use data representative of a target
class (i.e. a banknote denomination) to determine whether the adjusted measurements
are representative of that target class.
[0017] According to this aspect of the invention, banknotes may be recognised despite the
presence of significant areas of stain, by compensating for the presence of the stain.
Furthermore, the thus-recognised banknote can be handled differently from banknotes
which are not stained.
[0018] Preferably, the arrangement is such that the banknote is first analysed to determine
those areas where staining is suspected, and the measurements relating to those areas
are adjusted appropriately.
[0019] The last-mentioned two aspects are preferably combined in an apparatus which:
- (a) first measures a banknote and determines from stored data whether it belongs to
a predetermined target class;
- (b) if so, examines the banknote to determine discrepancies between the measured characteristics
of the banknote and the expected characteristics for that target class, and then assesses
those differences to determine whether they are representative of a stain; and
- (c) if not, checks the banknote to determine whether there are areas which could be
representative of a stain, adjusts the measurements to take into account the stains
in those areas and then processes the adjusted measurements with stored data to determine
whether the banknote belongs to a target class.
[0020] Preferably, the stained banknotes are retained in one or more stores which differ
from other stores used to retain non-stained banknotes.
[0021] The features of the invention assist in removing from circulation banknotes which
have been stained as a consequence of criminal activity. It is also possible to control
whether the user of a machine is credited for deposited stained banknotes.
[0022] According to a still further preferred aspect of the invention, the banknote validator
is operable to perform a classification operation to classify a banknote into one
of a relatively large number of types, and is thereafter operable to authenticate
the banknote only if the banknote is classified as one of a relatively small sub-group
of said types. The validator can be arranged to grant a credit amount to a customer
only if the banknote is successfully authenticated. If the banknote does not belong
to the sub-group, and is thus not authenticated, the validator can instead be arranged
to perform a different predetermined operation, such as to cause a particular message
to be displayed to the customer.
[0023] It has been found that authentication of banknotes requires substantially larger
quantities of data than a preliminary classification operation. The preliminary classification
operation preferably serves to eliminate all except (at most) one of the banknote
classes as possible candidates, but does not guarantee that the banknote belongs to
any remaining candidate class. Because this requires substantially less data than
authentication, it is possible to arrange for the validator to be capable of classifying
a banknote into any of a very large number of types (for example, the majority of
the World's banknote types) without requiring excessive amounts of data storage. Thus,
the validator can be arranged so that, upon classifying a banknote as (possibly) belonging
to a type which it is not capable of authenticating, appropriate action is taken,
such as refunding the note, possibly while causing a message such as "This currency
not accepted" to be displayed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference
to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 shows an automatic transaction machine incorporating a banknote validator in
accordance with the invention;
Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating the contents of a memory of the banknote validator
of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a flowchart of the operation of the banknote validator; and
Fig. 4 is a flowchart of an acceptance routine used in the operation of the banknote
validator
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0025] Fig. 1 shows diagrammatically an automatic transaction system (such as a vending
machine) 3 including a banknote validator 1 according to the invention. The validator
has at least one receiving opening 11 and at least one dispensing opening 12 for receiving
and returning banknotes, and further comprises a measuring unit 13, a decision unit
14 with a data store 30, a control unit 15, a plurality of one-way stores 16 ... 16i
and a plurality of two-way stores 17 ... 17i. These units are connected by transport
means 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and a common routing element 18.
[0026] After a banknote 2 has been inserted into the receiving opening 11 it is taken by
a first transport means 20 to the measuring unit 13 which contains the measuring apparatus
required for checking acceptability. The measurements made there are passed to the
decision unit 14 which processes them with data, such as tolerance ranges, stored
in the data store 30 and decides whether the banknote is acceptable and, if so, whether
it is of a type assigned for re-use. The control unit 15 is instructed to control
the common routing element 18 of the transport system accordingly: upon leaving the
measuring unit 13 a non-acceptable banknote is transported directly back to the dispensing
opening 12; an acceptable banknote that is not to be re-used is directed by the routing
element 18 onto transport means 23 and is transported to one of several one-way stores
16 ... 16i; an acceptable banknote that is to be available for re-use is directed
by the routing element 18 onto transport means 24 and is taken to one of several two-way
stores 17 ... 17i and stored.
[0027] The two-way stores 17 ... 17i can be controlled by the unit 15 to supply the desired
type and number of banknotes 2 to the dispensing opening 12 via transport means 25.
[0028] The banknote validator 1 as described so far corresponds to prior art arrangements,
and may operate as follows. Each banknote received at the receiving opening 11 is
measured in unit 13, for example using an optical test, preferably involving determining
the reflectivity and/or transmissivity of the banknote in different areas and in different
spectral regions. The banknote is preferably scanned in areas distributed over at
least one entire surface, and preferably both surfaces, in order to derive multiple
measurements.
[0029] Unit 14 then processes those measurements with stored data representative of a number
of different target classes, each target class corresponding to a respective authentic
denomination, and possibly using other target classes corresponding to known counterfeit
banknotes. Many suitable processing techniques are known to those skilled in the art.
[0030] If the decision unit 14 determines, within a certain level of certainty, that the
received banknote belongs to a genuine denomination, an appropriate signal is sent
to the control unit 15. This in turn sends a signal to a control section (not shown)
of the automatic transaction machine 3 via a bidirectional path 19. The transmitted
signal is representative of the amount of credit to be granted to the user in return
for the received banknote.
[0031] The automatic transaction system 3 preferably incorporates a display 32, and is arranged
to cause the display 32 to display the amount of credit granted to the user.
[0032] The genuine banknote is caused to be sent to an appropriate one of the stores 16
... 16i, or if the banknote is of a denomination that is replenishable and dispensable,
to one of the two-way stores 17 ... 17i.
[0033] After a transaction, e.g. a vending operation, the machine 3 can send on path 19
signals to cause the control unit 15 to refund a predetermined amount from two-way
stores 17 ... 17i.
[0034] The decision unit 14 may also be arranged to perform an additional fitness test to
determine whether a received genuine banknote is suitable for re-circulation. The
additional test may be similar to the first-mentioned test, but use tighter acceptance
criteria. The fitness test is intended to distinguish between genuine banknotes in
good condition, and banknotes which are either in poor condition or have a greater
chance of having been mis-classified as genuine. In such situations, any banknotes
which would normally be sent to one of the two-way stores 17 ... 17i is instead sent
to a one-way store 16 ... 16i.
[0035] Although, in the preferred embodiment, each separate storage device contains only
a single denomination, it would be possible to provide a single storage device for
multiple denominations. In the case of a two-way store, the position of each banknote
within that storage device would be known so that they can be dispensed selectively.
[0036] Although separate receiving and dispensing openings have been described, it is possible
to provide a single opening for performing both functions.
[0037] The apparatus as described above is enhanced to provide additional functionality,
in accordance with the present invention, as will be described below.
[0038] The data store 30 additionally stores data representing the characteristics (for
example the spectral characteristics) of one or more types of ink used for staining
banknotes. The data store further stores data enabling it to classify (but not authenticate)
a large number of additional denominations.
[0039] Figure 2 schematically represents the contents of the data store. A first denomination
region DEN stores separately data representing the characteristics of a large quantity
(several hundred) of banknotes. The amount of data stored in respect of each banknote
is relatively small, and enables the decision unit 14 merely to determine which of
the denominations most closely matches the measurements of the received banknote.
Within the denomination region DEN each denomination is represented by classification
data D001, D002, ... D800. Each denomination also has stored therewith operation data
1001, 1002, ... 1800. The operation data indicates what kind of operation should be
performed in response to detecting that the tested banknote belongs to the corresponding
denomination. Examples of stored operation data include: whether the denomination
can be authenticated, the value of the denomination, the currency of the denomination,
whether the denomination should be refunded, whether the denomination should be stored
in a two-way store for recycling (which may be combined with more specific routing
data), and any message to be displayed on recognition of the denomination.
[0040] The store 30 also has an authentication region AUT storing separately data used for
authenticating a relatively small sub-group of denominations (e.g. less than 12).
The data A01, A02, ...A10 for the respective denominations is sufficient to allow
those denominations to be authenticated with a high degree of reliability. The data
for each denomination may be several times, e.g. at least 10 times, the quantity of
data stored in respect of each denomination within the denomination region DEN.
[0041] The store 30 also has a stain characteristic storage region STA, which stores separately
data S01, ...S04 representing the spectral characteristics of a number of different
ink.
[0042] The data stored in the store 30 enables an enhanced validation routine, as shown
in Figs. 3 and 4, to be performed.
[0043] Referring to Fig. 3, which represents the recognition and validation procedure performed
by the decision unit 14, this process starts at step 100.
[0044] At step 101, the measurements of the banknote are processed in turn with respective
sets of ink stain data S01, ... S04 to determine whether the colour of the banknote
effectively matches that of one of the ink stains. This will happen only if the banknote
has been stained with large quantities of the ink. If so, the program proceeds immediately
to step 124, where the banknote is delivered to one of the one-way stores 16 ...,
16i. This store is reserved for stained banknotes.
[0045] Normally, however, such gross stains are not recognised at step 101. The program
then proceeds to step 102.
[0046] Here, the measurements of the banknote are processed, in turn, with respective sets
of data from the denomination and authentication regions DEN and AUT, each set of
data corresponding to a respective denomination, or target class. If the banknote
is recognised as a genuine denomination, a credit value is incremented by an amount
corresponding to the banknote denomination.
[0047] The process then proceeds to step 112. As will be explained further below, the purpose
of this step is to determine whether the banknote is potentially stained. It is assumed
for the present that the banknote is not found to be stained.
[0048] The process then proceeds to step 120, where the operational data 1001, 1002, ...1800
associated with the relevant denomination is checked to determine whether that note
is of a type that should be recycled. If so, the process then proceeds to step 126
where a fitness test is performed. (This may be similar to the procedure performed
in
WO-A-95/00932, which is incorporated herein by reference.) If the banknote is determined to be
fit, the process proceeds to step 122, where the banknote is routed to one of the
two-way stores 17 ... 17i. Otherwise, or if the banknote is found at step 120 not
to be of a recyclable type, the process passes to step 118, where the banknote is
routed to one of the one-way stores 16 ... 16i.
[0049] At step 102, if the banknote is not recognised, the process proceeds to step 104.
Here, as will be described below, the decision unit 14 determines whether the banknote
is potentially stained. If not, the process proceeds from step 104 to step 110, where
the note is rejected by being delivered along transport path 22 to the dispensing
opening 12.
[0050] Thus, the non-stained banknotes can be treated in the same way as in prior art arrangements.
[0051] Returning to step 112, the process of checking for stains on recognised banknotes
is as follows. First, the measurements relating to individual areas of the banknote
are compared with expected measurements as defined by the stored data representative
of the denomination. Preferably, this is done by comparing the recognised areas of
the note with a template or model of the note (e.g. the relevant one of the sets of
data A01, A02,...A10 in the authentication region AUT), and using the differences
and the model to predict the characteristics in other areas. The prediction is then
compared point-by-point with the actual measurements, and it is determined where the
difference exceeds a threshold. If there are significant differences in one or more
individual areas, or if the cumulative differences are significant, it is determined
that the banknote is potentially stained, and the program proceeds to step 114. Here,
the measurements in those areas exhibiting differences from the expected measurements
are processed with the expected measurements in order to derive values representing
the differences in respective areas. Thus, the characteristics due to the determined
denomination are effectively cancelled from the measurements.
[0052] The program then proceeds to step 116, where the difference values are compared,
in turn, with multiple sets of data S01, S02, .. S04 from the stain characteristic
storage region STA, each set of data representing the spectral characteristics of
a respective type of ink used for staining. If no match is found, it is determined
that the detected differences are a result of soiling (not staining) of the banknote,
and the program proceeds to step 118 to ensure that the banknote is delivered to a
one-way store 16 ... 16i, and therefore will not be subsequently dispensed.
[0053] However, if a match is found at step 116, the program proceeds to step 124 where
the banknote is delivered to the one of the one-way stores 16 ... 16i which is reserved
for stained banknotes. There may be a single such store, or separate stores for stained
banknotes of respective different denominations. Preferably, the credit value incremented
at step 102 is cancelled if step 124 is reached.
[0054] As an alternative to steps 114 and 116, a stain may be detected just by correlating
the banknote measurements (in the areas which do not conform to the prediction) with
data characteristic of the ink (which would be acceptable if the stain is strong)
or with a template corresponding to a stained banknote of appropriate denomination.
[0055] Assuming that the banknote is not recognised at step 102, then the stain detection
procedure of step 104 is carried out. In this case, measurements relating to respective
areas of the banknote are examined to determine whether they contain spectral characteristics
corresponding to the characteristics of known inks used for staining, again using
data stored in the data store 30. If there is a match, the program proceeds to step
106; otherwise the program proceeds to reject the banknote at step 110. At step 106,
each of the measurements relating to an area where there is a possible stain is adjusted
to mitigate the effect of the stain. The extent of the adjustment will be dependent
upon the data representing the characteristics of the ink found at step 104.
[0056] Then, at step 108, the adjusted measurements are processed in a similar way to the
way the original measurements were processed at step 102, to determine whether they
are representative of a genuine banknote. If not, the program proceeds to step 110
where the banknote is rejected. Otherwise, the program assumes that the banknote is
a genuine banknote which has been stained to such a degree that it was not recognised
at step 102. Accordingly, the step proceeds to step 124, where the stained banknote
is stored in a one-way store 16 ... 16i. Preferably, no credit is given, because the
stain will reduce the reliability of the testing.
[0057] The stain detection processes in steps 112 and 104, the derivation of the measurement
differences at step 104 and the adjustment of the measurements at step 106 are all
done on an area-by-area basis, to take into account the fact that the stain may occur
in an unknown number of areas each occupying an unknown portion of the banknote.
[0058] The control unit 15 issues the signal representative of the credit value when either
step 118 or step 122 is reached. Thus, preferably, credit is only given in return
for non-stained genuine banknotes.
[0059] Any unfit banknotes which have been recognised are likely to exhibit significant
differences in their measurements as compared with expected measurements. Accordingly,
they are likely to result in the program proceeding from step 112 to step 114. Therefore,
it might be possible to omit the fitness test at step 126 without significantly affecting
functionality.
[0060] As a further alternative, the steps 106 and 108 may be omitted, and all banknotes
which are not recognised at step 102 and found to be stained may be sent to the stained
banknote store at step 124.
[0061] The procedure for recognising the banknote at step 102 or step 108 is illustrated
in more detail in Figure 4.
[0062] The measurements of the banknote are first checked, at step 402, against the data
stored in the denomination area DEN of the store 30. The data relating to each of
the denominations is checked in turn, to find the closest match. If there is no close
match, the recognition routine exits at step 404, indicating that the banknote has
not been recognised.
[0063] Otherwise, the program checks the associated operation data 1001, 1002 ... 1800 for
the recognised class of banknotes to determine whether this belongs to a sub-group
for which authentication is possible. This checking process takes place at step 406.
If authentication is not possible, because the appropriate data is not stored within
the authentication region AUT, then the program proceeds to step 408. Here, the validator
issues a signal to the transaction machine 3, causing a suitable message (dependent
on the operation data) to be displayed on the display 32 to inform the customer that
his note is not of a type that is acceptable to this machine. The program then proceeds
to step 404.
[0064] If the banknote is of type for which authentication is possible, the program proceeds
from step 406 to step 410. Here, the banknote measurements are checked against the
appropriate data A01, A02, ... A10 from the authentication section AUT of the store
30 to determine whether the banknote is genuine. If so, the recognition route exits
at step 412, indicating that the banknote has been recognised. Otherwise, the program
exits at step 404.
[0065] Accordingly, the recognition routine shown in Figure 4 will produce a result indicating
that a banknote has been recognised only if it has first been classified and then
authenticated. Otherwise, the routine will indicate that the banknote has not been
recognised. Additionally, if the banknote has been classified as a type that cannot
be authenticated, the host machine will issue a predetermined display, dependent on
the classification, to the customer, and refund the note.
[0066] Instead of, or in addition to, producing this display, the validator can be arranged
to keep a record of the articles which have been classified as types which cannot
be authenticated. This can be of use to the machine operator for statistical evaluation
and determination of whether the machine should be adjusted to authenticate different
denominations.
1. A banknote validator which stores data representative of banknotes of at least one
denomination, and further data indicative of characteristics of ink used for staining
banknotes, the validator being operable to perform measurements on a received banknote
in order to classify the banknote into at least the following categories:
(a) genuine non-stained bills of said denomination;
(b) bills which have been stained; and
(c) other bills, including non-genuine banknotes; and
to perform different operations in dependence upon the categorisation.
2. A banknote validator as claimed in claim 1, the validator being further operable to
compare the measurements of a banknote which is found to belong to said denomination
with data representative of that denomination to determine from said comparison whether
the measurements have predetermined characteristics indicative of an ink used for
staining.
3. A banknote validator as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, which is operable to generate
adjusted measurements to compensate for the possible existence of a stain of predetermined
characteristics on the banknote, the adjusted measurements being generated in accordance
with data representative of said stain characteristics, and then to use the data representative
of said banknote denomination to determine whether the adjusted measurements are representative
of that denomination.
4. A banknote validator as claimed in claim 3, wherein the banknote is analysed to determine
possible stained areas, so as to define those measurements which are adjusted.
5. A banknote validator as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, the banknote validator also
being operable to determine whether non-adjusted measurements are representative of
the banknote denomination.
6. A banknote validator as claimed in claim 5, wherein, when the non-adjusted measurements
are deemed representative of a banknote denomination, the banknote validator is operable
to compare banknote measurements with data representative of said denomination to
determine from said comparison whether the measurements have predetermined characteristics
indicative of an ink used for staining.
7. A banknote validator as claimed in any preceding claim, including at least one store,
the banknote validator having control means arranged to direct only banknotes which
have been found to be stained to that store.
8. A banknote validator as claimed in any preceding claim, the banknote validator being
operable to issue a signal indicative of a credit amount associated with a banknote
of a predetermined denomination in dependence on whether the banknote is determined
to be stained.
9. A banknote validator as claimed in any preceding claim, arranged to store separately
data representing characteristics of a plurality of different banknote denominations
and data relating to at least one type of ink, and to use a combination of the stored
data for recognising that banknotes of the respective denominations have been stained.
10. A banknote validator as claimed in any preceding claim, which is operable to classify
a measured banknote into one of a plurality of banknote types, and is thereafter operable
to authenticate the banknote only if the banknote is classified as one of a sub-group
of said types.
11. A banknote validator as claimed in claim 10, the validator storing, for each of said
plurality of banknote types, characteristic data permitting denomination of banknotes
of that type, and, for banknotes belonging to said sub-group of types, to store a
sub-set of data permitting authentication thereof.
12. A banknote validator as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the validator is
arranged to issue a signal representing a credit value only if the banknote is successfully
authenticated.
13. A banknote handling machine comprising a banknote validator as claimed in claim 12
and a display, wherein the credit signal represents a value which is dependent upon
the denomination of the authenticated banknote, the validator being operable to cause
the display to display a predetermined message in response to classifying a banknote
as belonging to a type which does not fall within said sub-group.
14. A method of classifying banknotes, the method comprising taking measurements of a
banknote which may or may not have been stained, and processing the measurements,
data representing the characteristics of a plurality of banknote denominations and
data representing the characteristics of at least one predetermined stain ink to classify
the banknote into one of at least the following categories:
(a) genuine non-stained bills of one of said denominations;
(b) bills which have been stained; and
(c) other bills, including non-genuine banknotes.
1. Banknotenprüfer, in dem Daten gespeichert sind, die Banknoten mindestens eines Nennwertes
repräsentieren, sowie Daten, die Eigenschaften einer zum Einfärben von Banknoten benutzten
Farbe repräsentieren, wobei der Banknotenprüfer so betätigbar ist, dass er an einer
empfangenen Banknote Messungen durchführt, um diese nach mindestens folgenden Kategorien
zu klassifizieren:
(a) echte, nicht eingefärbte Banknoten des besagten Nennwertes,
(b) eingefärbte Banknoten und
(c) sonstige, auch unechte Banknoten,
und je nach der Kategorie unterschiedliche Operationen durchführt.
2. Banknotenprüfer nach Anspruch 1, der ferner so betätigbar ist, dass er die Messwerte
einer Banknote, die als zu dem Nennwert gehörig festgestellt worden ist, mit diesen
Nennwert repräsentierenden Daten vergleicht, um aus dem Vergleich zu ermitteln, ob
die Messwerte vorgegebene Eigenschaften aufweisen, die eine zum Einfärben benutzte
Farbe angeben.
3. Banknotenprüfer nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, der ferner so betätigbar ist, dass er justierte
Messwerte zum Kompensieren des möglichen Vorhandenseins einer Farbe vorgegebener Eigenschaften
auf der Banknote erzeugt, wobei die justierten Messwerte entsprechend Daten erzeugt
werden, die die Farbeigenschaften repräsentieren, und sodann die den Banknoten-Nennwert
repräsentierenden Daten dazu verwendet zu ermitteln, ob die justierten Messwerte den
Nennwert repräsentieren.
4. Banknotenprüfer nach Anspruch 3, wobei die Banknote analysiert wird, um mögliche eingefärbte
Bereiche zu ermitteln und so um diejenigen Messwerte zu definieren, die justiert sind.
5. Banknotenprüfer nach Anspruch 3 oder 4, der so betätigbar ist, dass er ermittelt,
ob nicht-justierte Messwerte den Banknoten-Nennwert repräsentieren.
6. Banknotenprüfer nach Anspruch 5, der dann, wenn nicht-justierte Messwerte als repräsentativ
für einen Banknoten-Nennwert angenommen werden, so betätigbar ist, dass er Banknoten-Messwerte
mit den Nennwert repräsentierenden Daten vergleicht, um aus dem Vergleich zu ermitteln,
ob die Messwerte vorgegebene Eigenschaften aufweisen, die eine zum Einfärben benutzte
Farbe anzeigen.
7. Banknotenprüfer nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche mit mindestens einem Speicher,
wobei der Banknotenprüfer eine Steuereinrichtung aufweist, die nur solche Banknoten
dem Speicher zuführt, die als eingefärbt festgestellt werden.
8. Banknotenprüfer nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, der so betätigbar ist, dass
er in Abhängigkeit davon, ob die Banknote als eingefärbt festgestellt wird, ein Signal
erzeugt, das einen einer Banknote vorgegebenen Nennwertes zugeordneten Kreditbetrag
anzeigt.
9. Banknotenprüfer nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, der so ausgelegt ist, dass
er Daten, die Eigenschaften mehrerer unterschiedlicher Banknoten-Nennwerte repräsentieren,
sowie Daten, die sich auf mindestens einen Farbtyp beziehen, separat speichert und
eine Kombination aus den gespeicherten Daten dazu benutzt zu erkennen, dass Banknoten
der betreffenden Nennwerte eingefärbt sind.
10. Banknotenprüfer nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, der so betätigbar ist, dass
er eine geprüfte Banknote in einen von mehreren Banknotentypen klassifiziert und sodann
die Banknote nur dann als echt bestätigt, wenn sie als eine einer Untergruppe der
Typen klassifiziert wird.
11. Banknotenprüfer nach Anspruch 10, der für jeden der mehreren Banknotentypen charakteristische
Daten, die die Nennwertbestimmung von Banknoten dieses Typs gestatten, und für Banknoten,
die zu der besagten Untergruppe von Typen gehören, eine Untergruppe von Daten, die
deren Echtheitsbestätigung gestatten, speichert.
12. Banknotenprüfer nach Anspruch 10 oder 11, der so ausgelegt ist, dass er ein Signal
ausgibt, das einen Kreditwert nur dann darstellt, wenn die Banknote erfolgreich als
echt bestätigt ist.
13. Banknotenautomat mit einem Banknotenprüfer nach Anspruch 12 und einem Display, wobei
das Kreditsignal einen Wert repräsentiert, der vom Nennwert der als echt bestätigten
Banknote abhängt, wobei der Banknotenprüfer bewirkt, dass das Display eine vorgegebene
Nachricht anzeigt, wenn eine Banknote als zu einem Typ gehörig klassifiziert wird,
der nicht in die besagte Untergruppe fällt.
14. Verfahren zum Klassifizieren von Banknoten, wobei an einer möglicherweise eingefärbten
Banknote Messungen vorgenommen und diese Messwerte, Daten, die Eigenschaften mehrerer
Banknoten-Nennwerte repräsentieren, sowie Daten, die die Eigenschaften mindestens
einer vorgegebenen, zum Einfärben benutzten Farbe repräsentieren, verarbeitet werden,
um die Banknote in mindestens eine der folgenden Kategorien zu klassifizieren:
(a) echte, nicht eingefärbte Banknoten des besagten Nennwertes,
(b) eingefärbte Banknoten und
(c) sonstige, auch unechte Banknoten.
1. Dispositif de validation de billets de banque qui stocke des données représentatives
de billets de banque d'au moins une coupure, et des données supplémentaires indiquant
des caractéristiques d'une encre utilisée pour maculer des billets de banque, le dispositif
de validation étant utilisable pour prendre des mesures sur un billet de banque reçu,
afin de classer le billet de banque dans au moins les catégories suivantes :
(a) billets non maculés authentiques de ladite coupure ;
(b) billets qui ont été maculés ; et
(c) autres billets, y compris des billets de banque non authentiques ; et
afin d'effectuer différentes opérations, en fonction de la catégorisation.
2. Dispositif de validation de billets de banque selon la revendication 1, le dispositif
de validation étant utilisable, en outre, pour comparer les mesures d'un billet de
banque qui est déterminé comme appartenant à ladite coupure, avec des données représentatives
de cette coupure, afin de déterminer, à partir de ladite comparaison, si les mesures
ont des caractéristiques prédéterminées qui indiquent une encre utilisée pour le maculage.
3. Dispositif de validation de billets de banque selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication
2, qui est utilisable pour engendrer des mesures ajustées, afin de compenser l'existence
éventuelle d'un maculage de caractéristiques prédéterminées sur le billet de banque,
les mesures ajustées étant engendrées conformément à des données représentatives desdites
caractéristiques de maculage, puis pour utiliser les données représentatives de ladite
coupure de billet de banque pour déterminer si les mesures ajustées sont représentatives
de cette coupure.
4. Dispositif de validation de billets de banque selon la revendication 3, dans lequel
le billet de banque est analysé pour déterminer des surfaces maculées éventuelles,
de façon à définir celles des mesures qui sont ajustées.
5. Dispositif de validation de billets de banque selon la revendication 3 ou la revendication
4, le dispositif de validation de billets de banque étant également utilisable pour
déterminer si des mesures non ajustées sont représentatives de la coupure de billet
de banque.
6. Dispositif de validation de billets de banque selon la revendication 5, dans lequel,
lorsque les mesures non ajustées sont considérées comme représentatives d'une coupure
de billet de banque, le dispositif de validation de billets de banque est utilisable
pour comparer des mesures de billet de banque avec des données représentatives de
ladite coupure, afin de déterminer, à partir de ladite comparaison, si les mesures
ont des caractéristiques prédéterminées qui indiquent une encre utilisée pour le maculage.
7. Dispositif de validation de billets de banque selon l'une quelconque des revendications
précédentes, comprenant au moins une réserve, le dispositif de validation de billets
de banque ayant des moyens de commande conçus pour ne diriger que des billets de banque
qui ont été déterminés comme étant maculés, vers cette réserve.
8. Dispositif de validation de billets de banque selon l'une quelconque des revendications
précédentes, le dispositif de validation de billets de banque étant utilisable pour
délivrer un signal qui indique une quantité de crédit associée à un billet de banque
d'une coupure prédéterminée, en fonction de ce que le billet de banque est déterminé
comme étant maculé ou non.
9. Dispositif de validation de billets de banque selon l'une quelconque des revendications
précédentes, agencé pour stocker séparément des données représentant des caractéristiques
d'une pluralité de coupures différentes de billets de banque et des données relatives
à au moins un type d'encre, et pour stocker une combinaison des données stockées,
afin de reconnaître que des billets de banque des coupures respectives ont été maculés.
10. Dispositif de validation de billets de banque selon l'une quelconque des revendications
précédentes, qui est utilisable pour classer un billet de banque mesuré dans un type
parmi une pluralité de types de billets de banque, et qui est utilisable par la suite,
pour authentifier le billet de banque, seulement si le billet de banque est classé
comme étant l'un d'un sous-groupe des desdits types.
11. Dispositif de validation de billets de banque selon la revendication 10, le dispositif
de validation stockant, pour chaque type de ladite pluralité de types de billets de
banque, des données de caractéristiques autorisant une coupure de billets de banque
de ce type et, pour des billets de banque appartenant audit sous-groupe de types,
stockant un sous-ensemble de données autorisant l'authentification de ceux-ci.
12. Dispositif de validation de billets de banque selon la revendication 10 ou la revendication
11, le dispositif de validation étant agencé pour délivrer un signal représentant
une valeur de crédit, seulement si le billet de banque est authentifié avec succès.
13. Machine de manipulation de billets de banque comprenant un dispositif de validation
de billets de banque selon la revendication 12 et un dispositif d'affichage, dans
laquelle le signal de crédit représente un valeur qui est fonction de la coupure du
billet de banque authentifié, le dispositif de validation étant utilisable pour faire
en sorte que le dispositif d'affichage affiche un message prédéterminé, en réponse
au classement d'un billet de banque comme appartenant à un type qui ne fait pas partie
dudit sous-groupe.
14. Procédé pour classer des billets de banque, le procédé comprenant les étapes consistant
à : prendre des mesures d'un billet de banque qui peut avoir été maculé ou non ; et
traiter les mesures, des données représentant les caractéristiques d'une pluralité
de coupures de billets de banque et des données représentant les caractéristiques
d'au moins une encre de maculage prédéterminée, afin de classer le billet de banque
dans une d' au moins les catégories suivantes :
(a) billets non maculés authentiques de l'une desdites coupures ;
(b) billets qui ont été maculés ; et
(c) autres billets, y compris des billets non authentiques.