Patent ID: 6044952
Filing Date: 2000-04-04
Classification: G07D

Abstract:
A document acceptor comprising:a document transport path;an optical sensor disposed adjacent the transport path, wherein the optical sensor includes at least first and second light emitting devices and an optical receiver, wherein the optical receiver receives optical signals originating from the first light emitting device when the sensor is operated in a first mode, and wherein the optical receiver receives optical signals originating from the second light emitting device when the sensor is operated in a second mode; anda controller for controlling the sensor to operate in at least either the first mode or the second mode and for processing signals based on an output from the sensor, wherein when the sensor is operated in the first mode electrical signals originating from the optical receiver are used to determine an absence or presence of the document at a position along the path, and wherein when the sensor is operated in the second mode electrical signals originating from the optical receiver are indicative of whether the document includes a predetermined pattern.