JPH04134584A - Paper money discriminator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve accuracy by comparing the change quantity of a physical pattern detected by a detecting means with the reference value of the change quantity of the physical pattern of a money relating to corresponding money specification based on a money specification decision result by a money specification decision means, and performing discrimination for the authenticity of the paper money based on a comparison result. CONSTITUTION:An arithmetic means 18 computes and outputs the change quantity of the physical pattern detected by the detecting means 11, and a selective means 17 selects and outputs the reference value of the change quantity of the physical pattern of the money relating to the corresponding money specification from storage means 16-1 to 16-n based on the money specification decision result by the money specification deciding means 13. A comparing means 19 compares the change quantity from the arithmetic means 18 with the reference value from the selective means 17, and outputs the comparison result to a deciding means 20, and the deciding means 20 discriminates the authenticity of the paper money based on the comparison result. Thereby, it is hard to be affected by the environmental fluctuation of the sensitivity or offset of a detecting element, etc., constituting the detecting means and secular change, which enables the discrimination for the truth/falsehood of the note to be performed with high accuracy.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a banknote validating device used in automatic teller machines, automatic vending machines, and the like.

(Prior Art) When a banknote is inserted by a customer into an automatic deposit/withdrawal machine, vending machine, etc., processing is performed to determine the denomination of the banknote and further determine its authenticity. Banknote validators are used for this purpose.

A banknote identification device detects optical or magnetic patterns such as reflected light or transmitted light from the patterns and shapes of the inserted banknotes, compares this with a preset reference value, and determines the similarity based on the degree of similarity. Alternatively, banknotes have been identified by combining this with the detection results of the external dimensions of banknotes.

Here, light emitting diodes (LEDs), photodiodes, phototransistors, and the like have been used to detect the optical patterns of banknotes, and magnetic heads and the like have been used to detect the magnetic patterns of banknotes.

In addition, the verification of the inserted banknotes was carried out in two stages: determination of the denomination and determination of authenticity.

First, the denomination of the inserted banknote is determined by comparing the detected optical or magnetic pattern with a preset reference value for parts of the detected optical or magnetic pattern that differ greatly depending on the denomination, such as the position of the watermark. Next, all detected patterns are compared with preset reference values for each denomination, and authenticity is determined based on the degree of similarity.

An example of a conventional banknote validating device is shown in FIG. In the figure, 1 is a detection means for detecting an optical or magnetic pattern such as reflected light or transmitted light from the pattern or figure of an inserted banknote, and outputting the detection signal (detection pattern); 3 is a storage means for storing the output signal (detection signal) of the detection means 1, and 3 is a storage means for storing the output signal (detection signal of the optical or magnetic pattern of the bill) from the storage means 2. A denomination determining means that determines the denomination of an inserted banknote by comparing a portion of the pattern with a large difference depending on the denomination, such as the position of a watermark, with a preset reference value. The denomination determining means 3 outputs the result of determining the denomination of the inserted banknote to the authenticity determining means 4 and a host device (not shown). Further, the authenticity determination means 4 includes reference value storage means 5-1 to
5-n, reference value selection means 6, comparison means 7, and comparison result determination means 8. Here, upper and lower limits of the reference pattern are preset in the reference value storage means 5-1 to 5-n for each denomination. The reference value selection means 6 stores the reference value of the corresponding denomination based on the denomination determination result from the denomination determination means 3. The reference value storage means 5-i (i is 1 to
n), retrieves the stored reference value (upper limit, lower limit) of the corresponding denomination, and compares it to the comparison means 7.
This is what is output to. The comparison means 7 compares the reference value from the reference value selection means 6 and the stored result from the storage means 2, and outputs the comparison result to the comparison result determination means 8. The comparison result determination means 8 determines the authenticity of the banknote based on the comparison result, and outputs the authenticity determination result to a host device (not shown).

The operation of the conventional bill validating device configured as described above will be explained below.

The detection means 1 detects an optical or magnetic pattern of the inserted banknote and stores the detected pattern in the storage means 2. The denomination determining means 3 determines, based on the stored content (detection pattern) of the storage means 2, the portions of the detection pattern that have large differences depending on the denomination, such as the watermark position.
The denomination of the inserted banknote is determined by comparing it with a preset reference value, and the denomination determination result is output to the host device and the reference value selection means 6 of the authenticity determination means 4. The reference value selection means 6 is based on the denomination determination result from the denomination determination means 3, and the reference value storage means 5-i (i is the applicable one among l-n) stores the reference value of the corresponding denomination. Then, the reference value (upper limit, lower limit) of the corresponding denomination is extracted and outputted to the comparison means 7. The comparison means 7 compares the reference value supplied from the reference value selection means 6 and the storage result (detection pattern) of the storage means 2, and outputs the comparison result to the comparison result determination means 8. The comparison result determining means 8 determines the authenticity of the banknote based on the comparison result from the comparing means 7, and outputs the authenticity determination result to the host device.

Next, the operation of determining the authenticity of banknotes in the comparing means 7 and the comparison result determining means 8 will be explained using a specific example of the banknote detection pattern and reference value shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, broken lines U and β are the upper limit reference value and lower limit reference value stored in the reference value storage means 5-i that stores the reference value of the corresponding denomination, respectively, and the solid line p indicates the detection of banknotes. showing a pattern,
The upper limit reference value is preset so as to be above the genuine note detection pattern p, and the lower limit reference value is preset so as to be below the genuine note detection pattern p.

The comparison means 7 is supplied with the reference value (the upper limit reference value and the lower limit reference value β) of the corresponding denomination from the reference value selection means 6.

The comparison means 7 compares the detection pattern p read from the storage means 2.
is smaller than the upper limit reference value U and larger than the lower limit reference value ρ, and the comparison result is determined by the comparison result determining means 8.
Output to. In the example of FIG. 3, since the detected pattern p is lower than the lower limit reference value ρ in the e section, the comparison means 7 returns "1" except for the detected pattern 2908 section, and the detected pattern p
Comparing the binary signal of "O" for the e part of
Output to. The comparison result determining means 8 determines the authenticity of banknotes based on the presence or absence of a detection pattern exceeding the upper limit reference value or a detection pattern lower than the lower limit reference value.

Therefore, for example, when determining the authenticity of banknotes based on the presence or absence of a detection pattern that exceeds the upper limit standard value or a detection pattern that falls below the lower limit standard value, in the case shown in FIG. Due to the presence of p, the banknote is determined to be a counterfeit banknote.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the conventional banknote validating device described above, variations in sensitivity of individual components such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), photodiodes, phototransistors, and magnetic heads that constitute the detection means 1, Considering sensitivity changes due to environmental changes such as temperature, changes over time, variations in detection patterns based on offset variations, and variations in the shading of banknote printing, the range of reference values to be set in advance widens significantly. As shown in Figures (a) to (C), the counterfeit banknote patterns ql and q2, which are not similar to the genuine banknote detection pattern p1, are also between the upper limit reference value U and the lower limit reference value β, and the counterfeit banknotes are classified as fake notes. There was a problem in that it was impossible to determine the authenticity and authenticity with high accuracy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to enable highly accurate banknote authenticity determination that is not affected by environmental changes or changes over time, such as the sensitivity or offset of the detection elements (photoelectric conversion elements or m-electric conversion elements) that constitute the detection means. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a bill validating device that is capable of validating banknotes.

(Means for Solving the Problem) The present invention includes a detection means for detecting a physical pattern such as an optical or magnetic pattern on a banknote, and a denomination using the physical pattern detected by the detection means. a banknote discrimination device that determines the authenticity of the banknote based on a physical pattern detected by the detection unit and a denomination determination result by the denomination determination unit; a calculation means for calculating and outputting the amount of change in the physical pattern detected by the detection means; a storage means for storing a reference value for the amount of change in the physical pattern of the banknote for each denomination; a selection means for selecting and outputting the reference value of the corresponding denomination from the storage means based on the denomination determination result by the denomination determination means; and a selection means for selecting and outputting the reference value of the corresponding denomination from the storage means; Comparing means for comparing the amount of change in the output physical pattern and outputting the comparison result, and determining means for determining the authenticity of the banknote based on the comparison result from the comparison means. It is.

(Function) In the bill validating device of the present invention, the calculating means calculates and outputs the amount of change in the physical pattern detected by the detecting means. The selection means selects and outputs a reference value of the amount of change in the physical pattern of the banknote related to the corresponding denomination from the storage means based on the denomination determination result by the denomination determination means. The comparing means compares the amount of change in the physical pattern from the calculating means with the reference value from the selecting means, and outputs the comparison result to the determining means. The determining means determines the authenticity of the banknote based on the comparison result. As a result, the authenticity of banknotes can be determined with high accuracy without being influenced by environmental changes or secular changes such as the sensitivity or offset of the detection elements (photoelectric conversion elements, magnetoelectric conversion elements, etc.) constituting the detection means.

(Example) Next, the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a bill validating device according to the present invention.

In the figure, numeral 11 is a detection means for detecting an optical or magnetic pattern such as reflected light or transmitted light from the pattern or figure of the inserted banknote, and outputting the detection signal (detection pattern). The detection means 11 is composed of a photoelectric conversion element such as an LED, a phototransistor, or a photodiode, or a magnetoelectric conversion element such as a magnetic head. A plurality of detection elements (photoelectric conversion elements or magnetoelectric conversion elements) constituting the detection means 11 are arranged in the sub-scanning direction. Further, 12 is a storage means whose input side is connected to the output side of the detection means 11, and this storage means 12 is
It stores the output signal (optical or magnetic pattern (detection pattern) of the banknote) of the detection means 11.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a denomination determining means whose input side is connected to the output side of the storage means 12, and this denomination determining means 13 uses the detection pattern (optical or magnetic Determination of the denomination of the inserted banknote by comparing some or all of the patterns (for example, areas with large differences depending on the denomination, such as the watermark position) with a preset reference value. It is. here,
As the preset reference value in the denomination determination means 13, a reference value previously stored in a separately provided reference value storage means (not shown) may be used, or the denomination determination means 1
A reference value stored in advance in the memory built into 3 may be used. The denomination determination means 13 has an output terminal connected to an input terminal of the reference value selection means 17 of the authenticity determination means 15 and a host device (not shown), and sends the denomination determination result to the reference value selection means 17 and the host device. It is designed to be output. Also,
Reference numeral 14 denotes a reading means, and after the detecting means 11 detects an optical or magnetic pattern (detection pattern) of the inserted banknote, the reading means 14 reads the storage means 12 based on the output from the detecting means 11. The stored optical or magnetic detection pattern is read out and sent to the change amount calculation means 18. In addition, reading means 1
4 sends a readout signal to each reference value storage means 16-1-16-n to notify which detection pattern associated with which detection element has been read out from the storage means 12. The upper limit reference value and the lower limit reference value of the amount of change in the detection pattern related to the element are output.

The authenticity determination means 15 includes reference value storage means 16-1 to 16-n as storage means of the present invention, reference value selection means 17, change amount calculation means 18 as a calculation means of the invention, and The comparison means 19 is a comparison means of the present invention, and the comparison result determination means 20 is a determination means of the present invention.

This authenticity determining means 15 includes storage means 12. A detection pattern,
The denomination determination result and the readout signal are inputted, the bill authenticity determination process is performed, and the authenticity determination result is output to a host device (not shown).

Here, the reference value storage means 16-1 to 16-n each contain a detection pattern of a different type of denomination (a plurality of detection elements (photoelectric conversion elements or The upper limit reference value and the lower limit reference value of the amount of change in the detection pattern) by each of the magnetoelectric conversion elements) are stored in advance for each detection element.

Further, the reference value selection means 17 has an output end connected to one input end of the comparison means 19, and based on the denomination determination result from the denomination determination means 13, the reference value storage means 16-1 to 16-1.
6-n, select the reference value storage means 16-i (i is the appropriate one from 1 to n) for the applicable denomination, and store the reference value ( (upper limit reference value and lower limit reference value) are taken out and outputted to the comparison means 19.

Further, the change amount calculation means 18 has an input end connected to the output side of the storage means 12 and an output end connected to the other input end of the comparison means 19, and the change amount of the detected pattern from the storage means 12. It calculates and outputs.

Further, the comparison means 19 has an output terminal connected to the comparison result determination means 20.
is connected to the input end of the reference value selection means 17 and compares the amount of change in the detected pattern from the amount of change calculation means 18, and outputs the comparison result to the comparison result determination means 20. It has become.

The comparison result determination means 20 has an output end connected to a host device (not shown) of the banknote validating device, and determines the authenticity of the banknote based on the input comparison result, and determines the authenticity of the banknote. is output to the host device.

The operation of the bill validating device configured as described above will be explained.

By output from a banknote detection means (not shown) that detects the arrival of inserted banknotes, or by a host device (not shown)
When the detecting means 11 is notified of the arrival of banknotes by a signal from the detecting means 11, the detecting means 11 enters the operating state.

The detection means 11 detects a pattern of transmitted light or reflected light that changes depending on the density of the pattern or figure of the banknote using a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in the sub-scanning direction, or The density pattern (magnetic pattern) of the magnetic ink on the banknote is detected by a plurality of arranged magneto-electric conversion elements (for example, magnetic heads, etc.), and the storage means 12
to be memorized.

Here, transmitted light patterns and magnetic patterns can be handled in the same way as reflected light patterns, so below,
Descriptions of the transmitted light pattern and magnetic pattern will be omitted.

An example of a reflected light pattern p detected by a certain photoelectric conversion element constituting the detection means 11 is shown in FIG.

The storage means 12 stores the detected reflected light pattern as one of the banknotes.
Store one or more images. Next, denomination determination means 13
compares part or all of the reflection pattern stored in the storage means 12 with a preset reference value to determine the denomination of the inserted banknote. This denomination determination means 13 includes a host device (not shown) that displays denomination determination results, and an authenticity determination means 15.
output to the reference value selection means 17.

On the other hand, after the detection means 11 detects the optical pattern (reflected light pattern in the following explanation) of the banknote, the reading means 14 reads the information from the storage means 1 based on the output from the detection means 11.
From 2, for example, a reflected light pattern detected by a certain photoelectric conversion element is read out and outputted to the change amount calculation means 18, and a readout signal (photoelectric conversion with one of the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements of the detection means 11) is outputted to the change amount calculation means 18. ) is used as a signal to notify whether the reflected light pattern by the element has been read out and sent to the change amount calculating means 18.
1 to 16-n. The reference value storage means 16-1 to 16-n provided for each denomination set the upper limit reference value and the lower limit reference value of the amount of change in the reflected light pattern related to the one photoelectric conversion element to the reference value based on the readout signal. It becomes possible to output to the selection means 17.

Next, the change amount calculating means 18 calculates the change in the scanning direction for the light pattern reflected by the one photoelectric conversion element, which is read out from the storage means 12 and supplied. This operation can be expressed as the following equation (1), which is a pattern differential operation.

p'=dp/dx (1) where p means the detected reflected light pattern, X is the distance in the scanning direction of the banknote, and p' is the change in the reflected light pattern.

For the example of the reflected light pattern shown in FIG. 5 mentioned above, the amount of change p' in the reflected light pattern is calculated by the change amount calculating means 18 and displayed in a graph as shown in FIG. 6.

Therefore, the variation calculation means 18 outputs p in FIG.
Means 1 for sequentially comparing the amount of change (digital value) corresponding to '
Output to 9. The reference value selection means 17 is the denomination determination means 1.
Based on the denomination determination result in step 3, the reference value storage means 16-1 to
16-n, the reference value storage means 16-i (i is the applicable one from 1 to n) for the corresponding denomination is selected, and the detection pattern for the corresponding denomination (here, the reflected light pattern) is selected. ) (upper limit reference value U' and lower limit reference value β') are sequentially taken out and output to the comparison means 19. An example of the upper limit reference value U' and lower limit reference value β' of the amount of change in the reflected light pattern p shown in FIG. 5 is graphically displayed in broken lines in FIG. The amount of change p' in the scanning direction of the reflected light pattern p in FIG.
As shown in the figure, it is between the upper limit reference value U' and the lower limit reference value β'. Therefore, the comparison means 19 outputs "true" when the amount of change p' is between the upper limit reference value U' and the lower limit reference value β', and outputs "false" otherwise.

Next, the comparison result determination means 20 determines that if the number of times the comparison result "false" is output from the comparison means 19 is less than the comparison result reference value stored in the comparison result reference value storage means (not shown), the comparison result determination means 20 determines that the note is "genuine". Otherwise, it is determined to be a "counterfeit ticket."

Here, the reflected light pattern of a counterfeit bill that is determined to be a genuine bill in the conventional bill validating device will be explained using FIG. 7. In addition, FIGS. 7(a) and (b) show examples of reflected light patterns q3 and q4 of counterfeit notes, and FIGS. 7(C) and (d) show
It is an explanatory view showing an example of change amount q3' and q4' of reflected light patterns q3 and q4 of a counterfeit note.

Reflected light pattern q3 of counterfeit notes shown in FIGS. 7(a) and (b)
and q4 are determined to be genuine notes by a conventional banknote discrimination device, but in the present invention, the change amount calculation means 18 calculates the change amounts q3' and q4' of each reflected light pattern q3q4 and displays them in a graph. The state is as shown in FIGS. The amounts of change q3' and q4' are C+ + 821 e from the upper limit reference value u' and the lower limit reference value β'.
s.

It protrudes at the e4 part. For this reason, comparison means 19
In the example of FIG. 7(C), for example, the reflected light pattern q3
"1" (true) in the er and 82 parts of the reflected light pattern q3, and "O" in the er and ex parts of the reflected light pattern q3 (
A binary signal of false) is output to the comparison result determination means 20.

In addition, in the example of FIG. 4(d), the comparing means 19 calculates that "
1” (true) and “0” (false) in the 63 + 84 portion of the reflected light pattern q4.
Output to 0. The comparison result determining means 20 can determine that a banknote corresponding to a change amount q3' in the reflected light pattern q3 or a banknote corresponding to a change amount q4' in the reflected light pattern q4 is a counterfeit banknote.

Although the operation has been explained above focusing on the photoelectric conversion elements mentioned above that constitute the detection means 11, the same operation as described above is performed for the other photoelectric conversion elements. That is, the readout means 14 reads out the reflected light pattern related to the one photoelectric conversion element from the storage means 12, and sends the readout signal to the change amount calculation means 18, and sends the readout signal to the reference value storage means 16.
-1 to 16-n, the reflected light pattern related to another photoelectric conversion element is then read out from the storage means 12 and sent to the change amount calculation means 18, and the read signal is sent to the reference value storage means 16-1 to 16-n. 16-n. As a result, the authenticity determination means 15 performs authenticity determination processing on each of the reflected light patterns supplied one after another. Thereafter, the same process as described above is performed on the reflected light pattern by yet another photoelectric conversion element.

From the above, when the comparison result determination means 20 focuses on one photoelectric conversion element constituting the detection means 11 for the inserted banknote, it determines that it is a "genuine bill," for example, and when it focuses on another photoelectric conversion element. For example, if the ticket is determined to be a “counterfeit”,
Furthermore, when focusing on other photoelectric conversion elements, for example, "genuine banknotes"
Among the multiple photoelectric conversion elements, as in the case where it is determined that
If at least one photoelectric conversion element is determined to be a "counterfeit note", the overall judgment is determined as a "counterfeit note" (if all photoelectric conversion elements are focused on, each If it is determined that the ticket is a genuine ticket, the overall judgment is that it is a genuine ticket.
It is judged as. ), and outputs the overall judgment result to the host device as a truth/false judgment result.

As can be seen from the above description, a plurality of detection elements constituting the comparison means 11 are arranged in the sub-scanning direction, and the amount of change in the detection pattern of these plurality of detection elements in the same scanning direction is set in advance. Since the banknotes are compared with each standard value and the authenticity of the banknote is judged (overall judgment) based on the comparison results, it is less affected by environmental changes and aging changes such as the sensitivity and offset of the detection element, and it is stable. The authenticity of banknotes can be determined with higher accuracy than when the authenticity of banknotes is determined by focusing on two detection elements.

It is clear that the banknote validating device shown in FIG. 1 can be constructed from a logic circuit, but it is also obvious that it can be constructed from a combination of a microcomputer program and a logic circuit.

In addition, in this example, the amount of change in each detection pattern of a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements in the same scanning direction is compared with each preset reference value, and based on the comparison result, a comprehensive judgment is made to determine whether the banknote is Although the present invention is not limited to this, the present invention compares the amount of change in the detection pattern of one photoelectric conversion element in the scanning direction with a preset reference value, and based on the comparison result. The authenticity of banknotes may also be determined without relying on the comprehensive determination described above.

Further, in this embodiment, a case has been described in which a plurality of detection elements constituting the detection means 11 are arranged in the sub-scanning direction, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the detection elements constituting the detection means 11 are arranged in the sub-scanning direction. Of course, the present invention can be similarly applied even when a plurality of detecting elements constituting the detecting means 11 are arranged.

The present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and various applications and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, if the present invention is used, the comparison means can detect the banknotes of the corresponding denomination based on the amount of change in the physical pattern detected by the detection means and the denomination determination result by the denomination determination means. is compared with a reference value of the amount of change in the physical pattern of the banknote, and the determining means determines the authenticity of the banknote based on the comparison result from the comparing means.
This method is less susceptible to environmental changes such as the sensitivity and offset of photoelectric conversion elements, magnetoelectric conversion elements, etc., and changes over time, and has the advantage of being able to accurately determine the authenticity of banknotes.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a banknote validating device according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a conventional banknote validating device, and Fig. 3 explains a conventional method for determining authenticity of banknotes. Figure 4 is a diagram to explain the conventional problem.
FIG. 5 to FIG. 7 are diagrams for explaining the present invention in detail. 11...Detection means, 12...Storage means, 13...
Denomination determining means, 14... Reading means, 15... Authenticity determining means, 16-1 to 16-n... Reference value storage means, 17...
Reference value selection means, 18... Change amount calculation means, 19...
- Comparison means, 20... Comparison result determination means. Fig. 5 Fig. 6 (b) Busy) (d) False f5 anti-agent light pakun and tO change bJlo example Fig. 7

Claims (1)

[Claims] Detection means for detecting physical patterns such as optical or magnetic patterns on banknotes, and denomination determination means for determining denominations using the physical patterns detected by the detection means. In a banknote validating device that determines the authenticity of the banknote based on the physical pattern detected by the detection means and the denomination determination result by the denomination determination means, the detection means a calculation means for calculating and outputting the amount of change in the detected physical pattern; a storage means for storing a reference value for the amount of change in the physical pattern of the banknote for each denomination; a selection means for selecting and outputting the reference value of the corresponding denomination from the storage means based on the type determination result; and a selection means for selecting and outputting the reference value of the corresponding denomination from the storage means; A banknote validating device comprising a comparing means for comparing the amount of change in patterns and outputting the comparison result, and a determining means for determining the authenticity of the banknote based on the comparison result from the comparing means.