Image analysis – Applications – Reading paper currency
Reexamination Certificate
1997-08-21
2001-08-21
Patel, Jayanti K. (Department: 2623)
Image analysis
Applications
Reading paper currency
C194S206000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06278795
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of currency handling systems and, more particularly, to a multi-pocket currency handling system for discriminating, authenticating and/or counting currency bills.
2. Background
A variety of techniques and apparatus have been used to satisfy the requirements of automated currency handling machines. At the upper end of sophistication in this area of technology are machines which are capable of rapidly identifying, discriminating and counting multiple currency denominations. This type of machine typically employs either magnetic sensing or optical sensing for identifying the denominations of bills in a stack and discriminating between different currency denominations.
Magnetic sensing is based on detecting the presence or absence of magnetic ink in portions of the printed indicia on the currency by using magnetic sensors, usually ferrite core-based sensors, and using the detected magnetic signals, after undergoing analog or digital processing, as the basis for discrimination. The more commonly used optical sensing technique, on the other hand, is based on detecting and analyzing variations in light reflectance or transmissivity characteristics occurring when a currency bill is illuminated and scanned by a strip of focused light. The subsequent currency discrimination is based on the comparison of sensed optical or magnetic characteristics with prestored parameters relating to different currency denominations, while accounting for adequate tolerances reflecting differences among bills of a given denomination. Similarly, the acceptance or rejection of a bill is based on the comparison of sensed optical or magnetic characteristics with prestored parameters defining an acceptable bill, while accounting for adequate tolerances reflecting differences among bills of a given denomination.
After evaluating the bills, currency handling systems generally deliver the bills to one or more output receptacles or “pockets.” Generally, the pocket to which a particular currency bill is delivered is dependent on the characteristics of the bill such as, for example, the optical or magnetic content of the bill. There is a need for a currency evaluation device offering greater flexibility by permitting the operator to specify which criteria to use in evaluating the bills and how bills meeting or failing to meet the user- selected criteria are to be handled. There is also a need for a currency evaluation device having an input/output means that is simple to operate, flexible and customizable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one embodiment, there is provided a multi-pocket currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills and rapidly evaluating all the bills in the stack. The device has an input receptacle for receiving a stack of bills to be evaluated and a plurality of at least three output receptacles for receiving the bills after the bills have been evaluated. A transport mechanism transports the bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle to one of the plurality of output receptacles along a transport path. A discriminating unit evaluates the bills and determines certain information concerning the bills. A control panel includes a touch screen for displaying the information concerning the bills and for receiving operational instructions from a user. A controller coupled to the touch screen and the discriminating unit causes the discriminating unit to operate in any of several operating modes in response to operational instructions from the user.
According to another embodiment, there is provided a 3-pocket currency evaluation device substantially as described above in which the device flags bills meeting or failing to meet certain criteria and delivers the flagged bills to one of the three output pockets. The pocket(s) to which the flagged bills are delivered, as well as starting and stopping conditions of the device, are determined according to the operating mode selected by the user. For example, depending on the operating mode, the device may “present” the flagged bills (e.g., deliver the bills to a designated output pocket and suspend operation of the device) or “off-sort” the bills (e.g., deliver the bills to a designated output pocket and continue to process other bills).
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Anderson Matthew L.
Mazur Richard A.
Mennie Douglas U.
Munro Mark C.
Cummins-Allison Corp.
Jenkens & Gilchrist
Patel Jayanti K.
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