Banknote validator

Abstract

Banknote validator that identifies banknote denomination from a specific color luminescence under appropriate ultraviolet light. Includes housing with banknote passageway; first UV source to irradiate test zone of banknote in passageway with UV light in a first wavelength range to create first excited luminescence light transmitted through and/or reflected from test zone; first color sensor to receive first excited luminescence light and to allow determining mean wavelength and amplitude of detected first excited luminescence light; second UV source to irradiate test zone of banknote with UV light in second wavelength range, distinct from first wavelength range, to create second excited luminescence light transmitted through and/or reflected from test zone; second color sensor to receive corresponding second excited luminescence light and to allow determining a mean wavelength and an amplitude of detected second excited luminescence light; a communicator to indicate a denomination of the banknote; and processor to determines banknote denomination.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A banknote validator for identifying a denomination of a banknote having a test zone including a marking operable to glow with a specific color luminescence according to the denomination under appropriate ultraviolet (UV) light illumination, the banknote validator comprising:
 a housing provided with a banknote passageway;   a first UV light source structured and arranged to irradiate in the passageway the test zone of the banknote with UV light in a first wavelength range to create a first excited luminescence light at least one of transmitted through and reflected from the test zone;   a first color sensor structured and arranged to receive the first excited luminescence light and to allow determining both a mean wavelength and an amplitude of a detected first excited luminescence light;   a second UV light source structured and arranged to irradiate the test zone of the banknote with UV light in a second wavelength range, distinct from the first wavelength range, to create a second excited luminescence light at least one of transmitted through and reflected from the test zone;   a second color sensor structured and arranged to receive corresponding second excited luminescence light and to allow determining both a mean wavelength and an amplitude of a detected second excited luminescence light;   a communicator structured and arranged indicate a denomination of the banknote; and   a processor configured to control the first and second UV light sources, the first and second color sensors and the communicator, the processor comprising a memory,   wherein the processor is further configured to:   determine a first color value of the first excited luminescence light from a first signal received from the first color sensor;   determine a second color value of the second excited luminescence light from a second signal received from the second color sensor;   compare the first and second color values with respective stored reference color values associated with luminescence under UV light in one of the first and second wavelength ranges;   determine a denomination of the banknote from reference color values corresponding to the first and second color values; and   control the communicator to indicate the determined denomination.   
     
     
         2 . The banknote validator according to  claim 1 , wherein the first UV light source is structured and arranged to irradiate in the passageway one side of the test zone of the banknote in the passageway with UV light in the first wavelength range, and wherein the second UV light source is structured and arranged to irradiate one of the one side or the other side of the test zone of the banknote in the passageway with UV light in the second wavelength range. 
     
     
         3 . The banknote validator according to  claim 1 , wherein the reference color values corresponding to the first and second color values are distinct for each denomination. 
     
     
         4 . The banknote validator according to  claim 1 , wherein, when at least one of the first and second color values does not match any of the stored reference color values, the processor is further configured to control the communicator to indicate that the banknote denomination is not identifiable. 
     
     
         5 . The banknote validator according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 control one of the first light source and the first color sensor or the second light source and the second color sensor to detect a presence of a dominant blue color, based on color values determined from signals received from the one of the first or second color sensor corresponding to light emitted from a plurality of parts of the test zone having passed in the passageway; and   when a presence of a dominant blue color is detected, control the communicator to indicate that the banknote is not valid.   
     
     
         6 . The banknote validator according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third light source structured and arranged to irradiate in the passageway the test zone of the banknote with a third light having a blue light component to create a third excited luminescence light at least one of transmitted through and reflected from the test zone;   a third color sensor structured and arranged to receive corresponding third excited luminescence light,   wherein the processor is further configured to:   control the third light source and the third color sensor to detect a presence of a corresponding luminescence color, based on test zone luminescence color values determined from signals received from the third color sensor corresponding to light emitted from a plurality of parts of the test zone having passed in the passageway in response to the third light illumination; and   when a presence of the corresponding luminescence color is detected, control the communicator to indicate the banknote is not valid.   
     
     
         7 . The banknote validator according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second light sources comprises a light emitting diode (LED). 
     
     
         8 . The banknote validator according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the color sensors comprises an RGB photodiode. 
     
     
         9 . The banknote validator according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second color sensors are arranged in a same RGB photodiode. 
     
     
         10 . The banknote validator according to  claim 6 , wherein the first, second and third color sensors are arranged in a same RGB photodiode. 
     
     
         11 . The banknote validator according to  claim 1 , wherein the passageway is structured to allow the banknote to be moved in a scanning direction corresponding to a least one of a length and a width of the banknote;
 wherein the first and second light sources and the corresponding first and second color sensors are distinct from one another and are aligned in a direction approximately transverse to the scanning direction; and   the processor is further configured to:   control the first and second two light sources and the corresponding first and second color sensors to determine a color profile along the scanning direction relating to each of the first and second light sources;   compare the determined color profiles with stored distinct reference color profiles corresponding to distinct denominations, and   when the determined color profiles match reference color profiles, determine that the denomination of the banknote corresponds to a denomination associated with the reference color profiles.   
     
     
         12 . The banknote validator according to  claim 1  being a hand-held device. 
     
     
         13 . A method for identifying a denomination of a banknote having a test zone including a marking operable to glow with a specific color luminescence according to the denomination under appropriate ultraviolet (UV) light illumination, the method comprising:
 irradiating the test zone of the banknote with UV light in a first wavelength range to generate a first excited luminescence light at least one of transmitted through and reflected by the test zone;   determining a first color value of a received first excited luminescence light that corresponds to both a mean wavelength and amplitude of the first excited luminescence light;   irradiating the test zone of the banknote with UV light in a second wavelength range to generate a second excited luminescence light at least one of transmitted through and reflected from the test zone;   determining a second color value of the second excited luminescence light that corresponds to both a mean wavelength and amplitude of the second excited luminescence light;   comparing the determined color values with respective distinct reference color values for luminescence under UV light in the first and second wavelength ranges, respectively;   determining a denomination of the banknote based upon reference color values corresponding to the first and second color values; and   communicating the determined denomination.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein:
 when a determined color value does not match any of the stored reference color values, the method further comprises communicating that the banknote denomination is not identified.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 controlling at least one of the first light source and the first color sensor or the second light source and the second color sensor to detect a presence of a dominant blue color, based on color values determined from signals received from the at least one of the first or second color sensor corresponding to light emitted from a plurality of parts of the test zone; and   when a presence of the dominant blue color is detected, communicating that the banknote is not valid.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 controlling a third light source to irradiate the test zone of the banknote with a third light having a blue light component, to generate a third excited luminescence light at least one of transmitted through and reflected from the test zone;   detecting a presence of a corresponding luminescence color, based on test zone luminescence color values determined from signals received corresponding to light emitted from a plurality of parts of the test zone in response to the third light illumination; and   when the corresponding luminescence color is detected, communicating that the banknote is not valid.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein a passageway is structured to pass the banknote in a scanning direction corresponding to a length or a width of the banknote, and two light sources and respective color sensors are aligned approximately transverse to the scanning direction, the method further comprising:
 controlling the two light sources and the respective color sensors to determine a color profile along the scanning direction relating to each of the light sources;   comparing the determined color profiles with stored distinct reference color profiles corresponding to distinct denominations; and   when the determined color profiles match reference color profiles, determining the denomination of the banknote corresponds to that associated with the reference color profiles.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein a first light source is arranged to irradiate with UV light in the first wavelength range and a first color sensor is arranged to determine the first color value, and
 wherein a second light source is arranged to irradiate with UV light in the second wavelength range and a second color sensor is arranged to determine a second color value of the second excited luminescence light.