De La Rue International Limited

Peter Dilwyn Evans

John Alan Skinner

Michael Potter

Peter Alan Pullan

John Buttifant

Barry Clifford Scowen

Bryan James Christophersen

Hansjorg Klock

Joelle Egli

Jeremy Stuart Michael Fox

A method of detecting a coded magnetic thread is provided that includes sensing the response of a magnetic field detector as a thread passes the detector, the response varying from an initial magnitude in first and second senses to exhibit a first peak, and then in the first sense to exhibit a second peak; comparing the response with first and second thresholds disposed about the initial magnitude in the first and second senses respectively; and indicating the passage of a code element of the thread when the response passes the second threshold and then the first threshold in a predetermined manner characterized in that the first threshold is adjusted in accordance with a first predetermined algorithm based on the magnitude of the first peak. The first predetermined algorithm adjusts the first threshold so that the magnitude of the first threshold is the average of a predetermined number of preceding first peaks.

Apparatus for and method of detecting a coded magnetic thread

In an apparatus for processing banknotes or other sheet-like objects, the banknotes are conveyed along a transport path, thereby passing sensor means. A transmission and a reflection image of the banknote are captured by illuminating the banknotes and measuring the transmittive and reflective light intensity of light with a high resolution. Based on these images, a validation of the banknotes is carried out. After the validation, a double feed detection is performed by evaluating the transmission and the reflection intensities for a predefined set of test spots with a two-dimensional evaluation. If it is decided on double feed, the banknotes are rejected. Otherwise the banknotes are accepted and further processed. Because of the additional dimension in the evaluation compared with known double detection methods, the invention enables a more robust double note detection also in cases with different degrees of soiling of the banknotes.

Optical double feed detection

Systems and methods for identifying a coded magnetic thread comprise generating a digital representation of the thread and comparing the digital representation with one or more known digital representations; scanning the digital representation to locate a predetermined code sequence; and rotating the digital representation to locate the predetermined code sequence in a predetermined position corresponding to the position of the predetermined code sequence in a stored version of the or each known digital representation prior to carrying out the comparison.

Magnetic thread reader

A method and apparatus for identifying a document (). The method comprises exposing the document (), such as a banknote, to infrared radiation; detecting infrared radiation reflected from a plurality of regions of the document () to generate at least one test pattern; determining if the or each test pattern satisfies a predetermined relationship with a predetermined pattern or patterns corresponding to a known document; and, if the predetermined relationship is satisfied, identifying the document () as being the same as the known document.

Method and apparatus for identifying documents

A method of detecting a magnetic thread comprises causing relative movement between the thread and an array of magnetic heads, each head generates a signal upon detecting a portion of the thread. The arrival of a thread at one of the heads is detected, that head being denoted a primary head, and the head on each side a secondary head. Output signals from the primary and secondary heads are monitored to generate a representation of the thread, and the magnitude of the signals from the primary and secondary heads are compared such that if the magnitude of the output signal from a secondary head exceeds that from the primary head, the primary and secondary heads are reallocated accordingly.

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Hampshire, United Kingdom

Peter Dilwyn Evans