U.S. patent number 3,583,237 [Application Number 04/815,926] was granted by the patent office on 1971-06-08 for paper document validation apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to ARDAC/USA Incorporated. Invention is credited to Jack E. Bayha.
United States Patent |
3,583,237 |
Bayha |
June 8, 1971 |
PAPER DOCUMENT VALIDATION APPARATUS
Abstract
An apparatus for detecting authenticity of paper currency or
documents being printed with intaglio type printing so that the
printing raises bumps or contours on the surface of the document.
Authentication is made by detecting a predetermined section of the
document which has uniformly spaced bumps or contours from the
surface thereof commonly formed by parallel uniformly spaced lines
by some type of mechanical transducer, normally in the
configuration of a vertically sensitive phonograph needle. Relative
movement is provided between the needle and the document at a
uniform speed so that an audio frequency is detected by the needle
moving over the bumps or contours. If the audio frequency is within
a proper band, it actuates an audio sensitive reed. The vibration
of the reed closes a circuit that indicates authentication and
payout, or any other output signal is then generated.
Inventors: |
Bayha; Jack E. (Chesterland,
OH) |
Assignee: |
ARDAC/USA Incorporated (Geauga
County, OH)
|
Family
ID: |
25219201 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/815,926 |
Filed: |
April 14, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
73/865.9;
194/206; 340/5.86 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07D
7/181 (20170501) |
Current International
Class: |
G07D
7/00 (20060101); G07f 001/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;73/432,105 ;194/4
;340/149 ;209/80,80.5 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Swisher; S. Clement
Claims
What I claim is:
1. Apparatus to detect authenticity of paper documents having at
least one section of uniformly spaced surface bumps or contours,
which apparatus comprises
a frame defining a testing area,
electromechanical transducer means positioned within the testing
area adapted to engage the surface of a document entering therein
and produce a signal indication thereof,
means to carry a document and effect relative uniform movement
between the document and the transducer means in the testing
area,
means to generate an audio frequency signal from the signal
indication of the transducer means, and
an electromechanical filter including an audio frequency sensitive
switch actuated by a proper frequency signal from the last said
means to indicate an authentication.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 where the means to carry the
document and effect relative uniform movement comprises a
document-carrying frame, a screw threadably received by the frame,
motor means to rotatably drive the screw to effect translational
uniform movement of the frame relative to the screw, and means to
effect reversible control and stopping action of the motor
occasioned by the movement of the frame.
3. An apparatus according to claim 1 where the electromechanical
transducer means is a piezoelectric needle pickup which includes an
amplifier to effect amplification of the electrical signal from the
piezoelectric needle pickup.
4. Apparatus to detect authenticity of paper documents having at
least one section of uniformly spaced surface bumps or contours,
which apparatus comprises
a frame defining a testing area,
electromechanical transducer means positioned within the testing
area adapted to engage the surface of a document entering therein
and produce a signal indication thereof,
means to carry a document and effect relative uniform movement
between the document and the transducer means in the testing
area,
means to generate a frequency signal from the signal indication of
the transducer means, and
a frequency sensitive switch actuated by a proper frequency signal
from the last said means to indicate an authentication, the
frequency-sensitive switch being a reed which has a mechanical
resonant period so as to be readily excited into resonance by a
proper frequency signal.
5. An apparatus according to claim 4 where the reed is made of
spring steel, and its natural predetermined period of resonance is
determined by the rate of relative movement between the document
and the piezoelectric pickup needle, and the spacing of the lines
in the portrait background section of the type document which is to
be engaged by the pickup needle.
6. Apparatus to detect authenticity of a test article having at
least one section of uniformly spaced bumps or contours on the
surface thereof which are at least slightly raised with respect to
the surface thereof which comprises a frame to carry a test
article, an electromechanical transducer means having a pickup
needle adapted to engage the surface of the test article, means to
effect relative uniform movement between the frame and the
transducer means to have the pickup needle pass over the uniformly
spaced bumps or contours on the surface of the test article to
generate an electrical frequency signal indication of the lines,
means to amplify the frequency signal, and a filter actuated only
by a proper frequency signal from the signal amplification
generation means operatively connected thereto to indicate an
authentication.
7. Apparatus according to claim 6 and where said filter includes a
coil means receiving said amplified signal, and a frequency
selective switch operatively connected to said coil means.
8. Apparatus according to claim 6 where the filter includes a metal
reed which has a mechanical resonant period so as to be readily
excited into resonance by a proper frequency signal.
Description
PRIOR ART
There are many ways now in use to establish the validity of paper
currency or documents, and they range from the use of magnetics, to
actual measurement by infrared radiation of ink thickness, which is
the technique described in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,457,421. In the
course of experimentation in the field of paper currency
validation, my efforts have been directed to the end of
establishing that the document has been printed by the intaglio
process, and has a thick layer of ink. In this intaglio process,
the ink is carried beneath the surface of the printing plate, in
grooves cut by hand or machine, and thus is capable of providing a
heavy layer of ink on the document or currency, and hence a bump or
measurable contour. This is in direct contrast to the type of
printing obtained with reproducing machines, or by letter press or
offset processes, where there is no appreciable or measurable ink
buildup.
Attempts have been made in the past by the petitioner to utilize
the printed information on the surface of the document by scanning
it or scratching it, or the like. My prior art techniques suffer
from their complete inability to differentiate the signal from the
noise of scratching the paper, relative movement of the parts, etc.
In other words, proper signal to noise ratios to obtain any
worthwhile signal information has been substantially impossible. To
the best of my knowledge, no one has ever provided a successful
electromechanical transducer readout to indicate validation of U.S.
paper currency, or any document printed by the intaglio printing
process.
Therefore, it is the general object of my invention to provide an
apparatus utilizing an electromechanical transducer to provide
document validation for documents printed with the intaglio
printing process, or having sufficiently raised ink characteristics
on the surface of the document that such characteristics can be
detected with a suitable electromechanical transducer.
These and other objects of my invention are achieved by providing
an apparatus to detect authenticity of paper documents having at
least one section of uniformly spaced surface unevenness which
comprises a frame defining a testing area, electromechanical
transducer means positioned within the testing area adapted to
engage the document entering therein, means to carry a document and
effect relative uniform movement between the document and the
transducer means in the testing area, means to generate an audio
frequency signal from the engagement of the document by the
transducer means during the relative movement therebetween, and an
audio frequency sensitive switch actuated by the proper signal from
the transducer means to indicate an authentication.
For a better understanding of the invention reference should be had
to the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematic illustration of the structural
and circuit components necessary to achieve operation of the
preferred embodiment of my invention;
FIG. 2 is a greatly enlarged illustration of the surface area of a
document printed by the intaglio process and showing the
relationship of the electromechanical transducer to the bumps and
contours on the surface thereof; and
FIG. 3 is a view of a piece of paper currency illustrating the
probable areas of the currency where the electromechanical
transducer will engage the document to measure uniformly spaced
lines.
In effect, the objects of the invention are achieved by combining a
simple phonograph cartridge with a predetermined uniform relative
motion of the paper currency being examined to the cartridge, with
an extremely high "Q" electromechanical filter, known as a resonant
reed relay. Utilizing these elements as described hereinbelow, I
find it possible to determine accurately that a document is of the
precise design, and is printed by the intaglio process, and may be
assumed to be genuine with a high order of security. The device
described hereinafter with relation to the drawings is of value in
many instances where my infrared technique defined in my U.S. Pat.
No. 3,457,421 may lack definition due to an absence of absorption
of infrared radiation in some transparent inks. My device described
hereinbelow is applicable to well over 95 percent of higher
denominations of paper currency now in use throughout the
world.
With reference to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1
of the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a document-carrying frame
which is driven between fixed stops 12 and 14 by engagement with a
screw 16 rotatably driven by a motor 18. Any other suitable
mechanism to effect relative movement of the frame 10 would meet
the objects of the invention. Appropriate microswitches 20 and 22
engage with the stops 12 and 14, respectively, upon movement of the
frame 10 to either stop or reverse the drive of motor 18 as
selectively desired to control the translating movement of frame 10
with respect to the screw 16. The motor 18 is preferably of the
synchronous type and is driven from an appropriate alternating
current source 24 so that the movement of frame 10 is as nearly
uniform as possible between the stops 12 and 14.
I contemplate that any suitable structure to support a document 30
on the top of frame 10 as by engaging with a suitable bed 32, for
example, would be satisfactory. However, a tray, slide, or other
bill-accepting mechanism to be carried by frame 10 would work quite
satisfactorily.
The objects of the invention are achieved by mounting an
electromechanical transducer 34, such as a phonograph cartridge,
for example, which is of the vertical responsive type, or one for
playing hill and dale recordings so that a transducer pickup 36
carried on arm 38 will engage with the surface of document 30
lightly in the manner of a phonograph needle with a record, as the
document 30 moves beneath it upon the translation of frame 10
between stops 12 and 14.
For the purposes of illustration, assume a speed of frame 10 of
about 3 inches per second, and a line repetition rate on the
document 30 of 100 lines per lineal inch, the cartridge 34 will
present a signal to an amplifier 40 of 300 Hz. This signal upon
proper amplification drives a relay coil 42. A reed of spring steel
or other magnetically affected material, which has a mechanically
resonant period of 300 Hz., and is indicated by numeral 44, is
appropriately suspended near coil 42 as illustrated. Due to its
natural predetermined period of 300 Hz., the reed 44 will be
readily excited into resonance by a 300 Hz. signal induced into
coil 42. This type of reed 44 is not readily effected by any other
frequency, except frequencies of extremely high amplitude.
Typically, such a reed can be made to resonate at a center
frequency of plus or minus 1 Hz. It can also reject other
frequencies of extreme amplitudes, when they are displaced as
little as 3 to 5 Hz. from the center frequency. A reed of this type
is available to the public, and a typical reed would be one made by
W. S. Deans Co. of Gardena, Calif.
This resonant vibration of reed 44 then causes reed 44 to impinge
on contact 46 closing an electrical circuit through lines 48 and 50
to properly actuate a payout or authentication apparatus indicated
by block 52. It should be understood that any suitable device can
be actuated by the closing of the circuit between wires 48 and 50
by the vibration of reed 44 and its engagement with contact 46.
FIG. 2 illustrates a greatly enlarged view of the security 30
showing the raised bumps or contours 30a on the surface thereof.
Preferably, the measurement of these raised bumps is in the
portrait background section indicated by numeral 31 in FIG. 3 as
the bumps caused by the lines in this background section are
uniformly spaced and parallel to each other. I have found that the
needle of the electrotransducer pickup 36 very easily slides over
the contours or bumps 30a and because of its vertical responsive
characteristics, will provide pronounced peak signals and an
extremely accurate frequency determination as the document 30 is
moved at a uniform speed with relation thereto. I have also found
that I can measure either the vertical or horizontal lines in the
portrait background section of U.S. paper currency, for example, by
effecting the relative movement in either the vertical or
horizontal direction between the document and the transducer needle
pickup. I have found that exact registration with a particular path
with respect to the document is not necessary as I allow some
floating relationship of the cartridge 34 and needle 36 so that it
tends to center itself between the lines which run parallel to the
direction of movement of frame 10 so as not to be disturbed by
those lines, but to center itself and only read those lines which
extend transversely to the direction of movement of the needle 36
with respect to the document 30.
Thus, it should be seen that the objects of my invention have been
achieved by providing a frequency pickup with an electromechanical
transducer achieved by the uniform movement of a document with
respect to the transducer, or vice versa. An extremely high signal
to noise ratio is possible because the tone causes resonant
vibration of a predetermined reed of steel suspended near the coil.
The vibration of the reed of steel will only occur if the frequency
generated is within a predetermined bandwidth. Hence, an extremely
high signal to noise ratio is achieved. The vibration of the reed
closes the circuit and indicates an authentication.
While in accordance with the patent statutes only the best known
embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in
detail, it is to be particularly understood that the invention is
not limited thereto or thereby, but that the inventive scope is
defined in the appended claims.
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