(19)
(11) EP 0 883 094 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
30.06.1999 Bulletin 1999/26

(43) Date of publication A2:
09.12.1998 Bulletin 1998/50

(21) Application number: 98115458.6

(22) Date of filing: 14.01.1991
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)6: G07D 7/00
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE FR GB IT NL

(30) Priority: 05.02.1990 US 475111

(62) Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC:
95116745.1 / 0706156
91903057.7 / 0466869

(71) Applicant: CUMMINS-ALLISON CORPORATION
Mount Prospect Illinois 60056 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Raterman, Donald E.
    Deerfield, Illinois 60015 (US)
  • Graves, Bradford T.
    Arlington Heights, Illinois 60004 (US)

(74) Representative: Grünecker, Kinkeldey, Stockmair & Schwanhäusser Anwaltssozietät 
Maximilianstrasse 58
80538 München
80538 München (DE)

 
Remarks:
This application was filed on 17 - 08 - 1998 as a divisional application to the application mentioned under INID code 62.
 


(54) Method and apparatus for currency discrimination and counting


(57) An improved method and apparatus for discriminating between currency bills of different denominations uses an optical sensing and correlation technique based on the sensing of bill reflectance characteristics obtained by illuminating and scanning a bill. A series of detected reflectance signals are obtained by sampling and processing the reflected light as the currency bill is moved across a light strip. The sample data is subjected to processing, whereby the reflectance data represents a characteristic pattern that is unique for a given bill denomination and incorporates sufficient distinguishing features between characteristic patterns for discriminating between different currency denominations.
A plurality of master characteristic patterns are generated and stored using original bills for each denomination of currency to be detected. The characteristic pattern for a scanned currency bill is compared to each of said stored master patterns to determine the degree of correlation therebetween, and thereby to identify the denomination of said currency bill.






Search report