The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 20, 2002
Filed:
Apr. 14, 1999
Applicant:
Inventors:
Ronald Bernardini, Downingtown, PA (US);
John Gorczyca, Lansdale, PA (US);
Phil Skipper, Wallhwil, CH;
Assignee:
Mars Incorporated, McLean, VA (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G06K 9/00 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G06K 9/00 ;
Abstract
Method and apparatus for validating banknotes. In some countries, genuine banknotes are provided with a security thread embedded in the banknote, but partially exposes at regularly spaced regions along its length by windows. The windows have a width greater that the security strip itself. The increased transmissivity of the banknote in the infrared region is utilized to detect the presence of such windows to validate the banknote. If the required variation in transmissivity is not detected, the banknote can be rejected as a countefeit.