Security thread verification device

Abstract: A currency paper (104) has a security thread embedded therein (108). The thread (108) comprises a plastic substrate (116) having a plurality of alphanumeric, metallic, electrically conductive characters (112) formed thereon. The characters (112) have predetermined heights and widths and spacings therebetween. The verification device (100) comprises an oscillator electrode (128) and associated horizontal and vertical electrodes (132, 136). A time-varying oscillator signal is coupled to the oscillator electrode (128). The spacing of the horizontal and vertical electrodes (132, 136) in relation to the oscillator electrode (128) is determined by the spacing between the metallized characters (112) on the thread (116). A valid security thread (108) capacitively couples the oscillator signal into the horizontal electrode (132) but not the vertical electrode (136). On the other hand, a counterfeit security thread will couple the oscillator signal into both the horizontal and vertical electrodes (132, 136). Signal processing electronics (140) is provided to sense these valid and counterfeit threads (108).

Description: This invention relates to apparatus for verifying the authenticity of documents, and more particularly, to such apparatus for detecting a security thread of a document. It is known in the art of currency and banknote papers to incorporate a security thread thereinto. The use of such security threads has increased due to the prevalence of high-resolution, true-color photocopying machines. If modern currency or banknote papers do not have an embedded security thread, the currency can be more easily duplicated with a color photocopier. However, if the security thread is embedded within the paper, the characteristics of the thread are harder to illicitly reproduce. The thread may comprise a plastic film having selected aluminum characters formed on a surface. The thread is embedded within the currency paper and is not present on either surface of the paper. Such security threads for use in U.S. currency are described in greater detail in US-A-4652015 and US-A-4761205 to Timothy Crane, both assigned to Crane & Co., Inc. The security thread described in these patents has printed characters thereon of extreme fine-line clarity and high opacity such that human-readability of the printing is possible by means of transmitted light. Yet, the printing remains completely indiscernible under reflected light. If the printing were legible under reflected light, the public could rely upon the presence of the printed matter solely under this reflected light. The printing would then be easily replicated by counterfeit means. The aforementioned patents to Crane insure that the public does not come to rely on such an easily simulated security thread characteristic. This is accomplished by a method of manufacturing currency and banknote paper containing a security thread that is virtually invisible under reflected light with no manifestation on the surface of the currency or banknote that such a security thread is present within the note. Thus, authentification of such a security thread is carried out in a two-fold test; namely, wherein the thread is legible under transmitted light and invisible under reflected light. An easy way of checking the authenticity of such a security thread is to place the currency under an intense light source to observe the characters of the thread by the human eye. However, in commercial situations where such an intense light source is unavailable, thus making a human check for thread presence and authenticity virtually impossible, it is desirable to provide means for automatically determining the thread's presence and authenticity. Various known means for providing verification of the presence and authenticity of the aforementioned security thread are exemplified in US-A-4980569 and US-A-5151607. The '569 patent discloses a verification device comprising two optical light source/detector pairs disposed on opposite sides of a currency paper. The source and detector pairs are arranged for transmission and reception of optical energy through the currency if the thread is not present. Also, the source and detector pairs can determine the presence of a counterfeit thread on the currency surface by checking for light reflected off of the currency surface. Thus, the '569 patent provides a two-fold test wherein the thread, to be genuine, must be detected under transmitted light, and not be detected under reflected light. However, the device in the '569 patent may give a false indication of the authenticity of a counterfeit currency when a pencil line is drawn on the currency surface at the normal thread location. In an attempt to overcome the shortcomings of the '569 patent, the '607 patent discloses a verification device comprising the optical means of the '569 patent in combination with a magnetic detector. The magnetic detector determines the presence of the security thread, while the optical means determines whether the thread is properly within the currency or improperly disposed on either surface. In light of the shortcomings of optical methods of verifying the presence of the security thread within the currency paper, other means have been developed, such as capacitive verification devices. These devices operate on the principal of detecting a change in capacitance of a sensor, such change being due to the dielectric properties of the metallized security thread. The metallized security thread has dielectric properties that are vastly different from those of the paper in which it is embedded. The security thread operates as one plate of a capacitor, and draws charge off of a second plate of the capacitor, the second plate typically being a part of the verification device. Thus, the security thread effectively increases the capacitance that is sensed by the verification device, a detectable feature. However, capacitance verification devices have shortcomings in that they can also be fooled by conductive marks, such as pencil lines, placed on the surface of the currency. This can be especially problematic for currency verification devices that are intended to be used for unattended transactions; for example, in vending machines that incorporate currency acceptors. Automatic vending machines, such as those that dispense soft drinks and cigarettes, are gradually accepting higher denomination currency bills in unattended transactions as payment for the goods. This is due to the inflationary prices of the goods. Also, unattended bill acceptors are expanding into areas such as gaming and other entertainment vending areas, and gas stations. The addition of bill acceptors and/or changers in these vending machines has resulted in a large increase in sales for unattended transactions. For these types of machines, it is imperative that the bill acceptor/changer have some means for reliably discriminating between genuine and counterfeit bills. Document DE-A-32 36 374 discloses a device for verifying the authenticity of a security thread of a document including two or more electrically conductive regions each physically separated from one another by a non-conductive region, the device comprising a plurality of pairs of electrodes, each pair including an oscillator electrode and a sensor electrode disposed adjacent to and physically separate from the oscillator electrode by a predetermined distance; and signal processing means connected to the each pair of electrodes and operative to provide an oscillator signal to the oscillator electrodes and to determine the presence of a valid security thread associated with a document when the oscillator signal is capacitively coupled to the sensor electrode of one or more pairs due to the presence of an electrically conductive region of the thread proximate both the oscillator electrode and the sensor electrode of that pair, and/or when there is a lack of capacitive coupling of the oscillator signal into the sensor electrode of one or more other pairs due to an absence of an electrically conductive region of thread proximate both the oscillator electrode and the sensor electrode of that pair in a predetermined pattern. The present invention seeks to provide improved verification of the authenticity of the security thread of a document. According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for verifying the authenticity of a security thread of a document as specified in claim 1. It is possible with the present invention to provide a capacitive, security thread verification device that differentiates a counterfeit continuous conductive line on a surface of currency paper from a genuine security thread having two or more electrically conductive regions each physically separated from one another by a non-conductive region embedded within the currency paper. It is also possible with preferred embodiments to provide a reliable security thread verification device for use in bill acceptors/changers in markets which require a high level of security in the verification device as these markets add increasingly high denomination capabilities into the acceptor/changer apparatus. Preferably, the device verifies the presence of a genuine security thread embedded within currency paper by utilizing the known physical spacing between the metallized electrically-conductive characters formed on a surface of a non-conductive thread substrate embedded within the currency paper. The device may be used for slower-speed, narrow-end-fed bill acceptor/changer devices that are incorporated into unattended, self-serve vending machines, bill changers, and the like. In a preferred embodiment, it is possible to machine-detect the presence of an advanced counterfeit deterrent thread in currency in a wide array of commercial, unattended cash-handling devices. The counterfeit detection capability provided can be superior to currently available technologies, such as optics and magnetics. It is possible to identify counterfeit currency regardless of the quality of the banknote or the counterfeit. The preferred device is relatively inexpensive and easily incorporated into existing automated, unattended vending machines and can have increased speed and reliability. In the preferred embodiment, the verification device is for use with security threads that comprise a thin plastic non-conductive substrate whose length spans the entire height of the banknote. A surface of the substrate has metallic, electrically-conductive, alphanumeric characters formed thereon. The characters are physically separate from each other so that the metallic material is not continuous across the entire length of the thread. The characters all have a constant predetermined height and varying widths. The width depends upon the particular character. The height of the characters is oriented perpendicular to the major or longitudinal axis of the thread. The preferred verification device comprises a planar circuit board having two or more "sets" of conductive electrodes disposed thereon, all of the electrodes residing in the same plane. Each set of electrodes comprises three different plates: an oscillator, a horizontal sensor and a vertical sensor. The plates in the set comprise planar electrodes physically separate from each other by predetermined distances that are determined by the resulting height and widths of the metallic characters on the thread substrate. The oscillator plate is disposed next to the horizontal sensor plate along the same axis as the height of the security thread characters. The spacing between the oscillator plate and the horizontal sensor plate is smaller than the height of the characters. Further, the vertical sensor plate is disposed to the side of both the oscillator plate and the horizontal sensor plate, and along the major axis of the thread. The spacing between the vertical sensor plate and either the oscillator plate or the horizontal sensor plate is greater than the greatest width of any character. Also, the sets of plates are sequentially disposed across the circuit board at similar spacings therebetween. All of the oscillator plates of the preferred device are electrically connected together and also to an oscillating signal source. Also, all of the horizontal sensor plates are electrically connected together, while all of the vertical sensor plates are electrically connected together. The horizontal and vertical plates are connected to separate channels of signal processing electronics. In operation of the preferred device, a currency banknote is moved across the circuit board with its "narrow" height dimension as the leading edge. That is, the banknote is moved in a direction parallel to the height of the characters on the security thread. The aforementioned spacing of all of the electrode plates is such that a banknote with a valid currency thread embedded therein will have one or more of its metallized characters form part of a capacitor and "bridge" the gap (i.e., physical spacing) between a corresponding oscillator plate and the horizontal sensor plate, thereby capacitively coupling the oscillator signal into the horizontal sensor plate. The coupled oscillator signal is sensed and processed to indicate the presence of a valid security thread. At the same time, the characters of a genuine security thread are not wide enough to "bridge" the gap between any vertical sensor plate and the corresponding nearby oscillator plate. Thus, the oscillator signal is not capacitively coupled into the vertical sensor plate. On the other hand, if a counterfeit note exists, such as an electrically-conductive, continuous pencil mark across the entire length of the thread on the surface of the banknote, then the pencil mark will bridge the spacing between an oscillator plate and one or more of both the horizontal sensor plates and the vertical sensor plates. The signal processing electronics will sense this condition and process it as a counterfeit note. An embodiment of the present invention is described below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of U.S. currency paper having a metallized security thread embedded therein; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the currency paper of FIG. 1, illustrating in greater detail the embedded security thread in a cut-away view; FIG. 3 illustrates the currency paper of FIG. 1 being directed toward a printed circuit board containing a preferred arrangement of electrodes of an embodiment of verification device; FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) illustrate, respectively, first and second positions of the thread with respect to the electrodes; and FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the electrical connection of the electrodes of FIG. 3, together with associated signal processing electronics. In the following description, the term "horizontal" is intended to denote a direction parallel to a security strip of currency paper and/or to characters on security paper, while the term "vertical" is intended to denote a direction orthogonal thereto. Referring to the drawings in detail, a preferred embodiment of a currency paper security thread verification device is shown and generally designated by the reference numeral 100. The verification device 100 is for use with currency paper 104 having a security thread 108 embedded therein. The security thread 108 has a plurality of metallized characters 112 disposed on a surface of a plastic substrate 116. The verification device 100 includes a printed circuit board 120 having an arrangement of one or more "sets" 124 of electrodes, each set 124 of electrodes comprising an oscillator 128, a horizontal sensor 132 and a vertical sensor 136. Signal processing electronics 140 provides an oscillator signal 144 to the oscillator electrodes 128, and determines the presence or absence of a valid security thread 108. A valid security thread 108 is indicated when one of the metallized characters 112 of the thread 108 capacitively couples the oscillator signal 144 into a corresponding horizontal electrode 132, while at the same time there is a lack of any capacitive coupling of the oscillator signal 144 into a vertical electrode 136. A counterfeit thread is determined when the oscillator signal 144 is capacitively coupled into both a horizontal electrode 132 and a vertical electrode 136. FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an example of currency paper 104 of the United States. The currency 104 includes the security thread 108 (illustrated in phantom) embedded entirely within the paper 104, and not disposed on any surface of the paper 104. The thread 108 extends from top to bottom and transversely across the linear extent of the currency paper 104. The thread 108 comprises a polyester or plastic substrate 116 having a plurality of metallized, alphanumeric characters 112 vacuum-deposited onto a surface of the substrate 116. The thread 108 may comprise that described in the aforementioned US-A-4652015 and US-A-4761205 to Crane. As can be seen in greater detail in FIG. 2, the plurality of characters 112 are all separate from each other. Thus, there is a lack of any electrical continuity between any of the characters 112. The characters 112 are all of the same height, while their widths vary depending upon the individual character 112. Typically, the character 112 having the greatest width is that of the letter "W". The characters 112 are arranged height-wise in a direction perpendicular to the major axis or length of the thread 108, and parallel to the "narrow" dimension of the currency paper 104. The thread 108 is completely embedded within the paper 104 and not present on any surface of the paper 104. The thread 108 is visible when exposed to transmitted light, yet invisible in the presence of reflected light. Referring now to FIGS. 3-5, the verification device 100 shown detects the presence of either valid or counterfeit security threads 108 by detecting changes in capacitance which occur when either a valid or counterfeit thread 108 passes over the electrodes 128-136. FIG. 3 illustrates a printed circuit board 120 having a planar, upper surface 148 on which is disposed a plurality of metallic electrodes 128-136 in a predetermined configuration. This configuration can also be seen in greater detail in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b). The circuit board 120 is non electrically-conductive, while the electrodes 128-136 are all electrically-conductive. The figures illustrate four "sets" 124 of electrodes 128-136. Each set 124 comprises three separate electrodes: an oscillator electrode 128, a horizontal electrode 132 and a vertical electrode 136. Further, each set 124 of electrodes is disposed in an alternating sequence in a direction parallel to the major axis of the thread 108. FIGS. 3, 4(a) and 4(b) illustrate the direction of travel of a currency paper 104 with respect to the electrodes 128-136 during verification for the presence or absence of a valid security thread 108. Each oscillator electrode 128 is disposed adjacent to a corresponding horizontal electrode 132 and parallel to the height of the thread characters 112 when the currency paper 104 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrowhead 152. The spacing between any oscillator electrode 128 and a corresponding horizontal electrode 132 is less than the height of the characters 112. On the other hand, each vertical electrode 136 is spaced apart from both the oscillator electrode 128 and horizontal electrode 132 at a predetermined distance that is greater than the width of any of the characters 112. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, all of the oscillator electrodes 128 are electrically connected together. In a similar manner, all of the horizontal electrodes 132 are electrically connected together, and all of the vertical electrodes 136 are electrically connected together. This type of connection provides for better signal-to-noise characteristics in the signal processing electronics 140, described in detail with respect to FIG. 5. In FIG. 5 is illustrated a schematic block diagram of all of the electrodes 128-136, together with signal processing circuitry 140 for ascertaining the presence or absence of valid or counterfeit security threads 108 associated with the currency paper 104. All of this circuitry 140 may be disposed on the printed circuit board 120 in the form of either discrete components or, in a preferred embodiment, the majority of the components illustrated in FIG. 5 may be implemented within an application specific integrated circuit ("ASIC"). It may also be implemented in software form in a manner readily apparent to the skilled reader. The circuitry 140 may be used in conjunction with a bill acceptor or changer that is part of an unattended, self-service vending machine (not shown). The bill acceptor/changer forms the "host" system, comprising its own electronics (not shown) for carrying out the functions associated with that particular vending machine. The circuitry 140 of FIG. 5 interfaces with the host through a number of signals that are connected to the host by a plurality of signal wires 156, illustrated in FIG. 3. The host provides to the circuitry 140 on the circuit board 120 both power ("+ VCC") 160 and ground signals 164, along with the signals "FREQ" 168 and "REF" 172. These latter two signals 168, 172 will be described in detail hereinafter. The circuitry 140 provides to the host system a signal, "AOUT" 176, indicative of the presence or absence of either a valid or counterfeit security thread 108. The circuitry 140 of FIG. 5 includes an oscillator circuit 180 that provides a time-varying, square-wave signal 144 at a frequency of approximately 1-2 MHz. If the capacitor, C12 348, is inserted into the oscillator circuit 180, then the oscillator circuit, comprised of a number of resistors R25-R28 280-292 and an op-amp U1 356, generates the oscillator signal 144. Conversely, if the capacitor C12 348 is deleted from the circuit 180, then the oscillator signal 144 is provided by the host as the signal "FREQ" 168, and the op-amp U1 356 merely acts as a voltage follower. The op-amp U1 356 may comprise the commercially-available Model TL714C, available from Motorola. The values for all of the resistors 184-300 and capacitors 304-352 comprising the circuitry 140 of FIG. 5 are given in Tables I and II, respectively. REFERENCE NO. RESISTOR NO. RESISTANCE VALUE (OHMS) 184 R1 1K 188 R2 1K 192 R3 1K 196 R4 10K 200 R5 6.8K 204 R6 1K 208 R7 33K 212 R8 2.2K 216 R9 750 220 R10 2K 224 R11 2K 228 R12 20K 232 R13 2K 236 R14 10K 240 R15 20K 244 R16 1M 248 R17 1M 252 R18 33K 256 R19 33K 260 R20 500 264 R21 1K 268 R22 10K 272 R23 470 276 R24 10K 280 R25 10K 284 R26 10K 288 R27 10K 292 R28 10K 296 R29 470K 300 R30 470K REFERENCE NO. CAPACITOR NO. CAPACITIVE VALUE 304 C1 0.1 uf 308 C2 0.1 uf 312 C3 0.01 uf 316 C4 0.1 uf 320 C5 0.1 uf 324 C6 10 uf 328 C7 0.1 uf 332 C8 0.1 uf 336 C9 0.01 uf 340 C10 0.1 uf 344 C11 0.01 uf 348 C12 100 pf 352 C13 0.1 uf The oscillator signal 144 is provided to the four oscillator electrodes 128 electrically connected together. The oscillator signal 144 is also provided through resistors R6 204 and R7 208 to a pair of inputs of a Model MC1496 balanced modulator/demodulator integrated circuit 360, provided by Motorola. The function of this demodulator 360 will be described in greater detail hereinafter. The four horizontal electrodes 132, all electrically connected together, are connected to the positive voltage supply (+ VCC 160, which typically equals positive 5 volts) through a resistor, R29 296. The horizontal electrodes 132 are also connected to the base of an NPN transistor, Q2 364, which may comprise the Model 2N2369, commercially available from Motorola. The collector of Q2 364 is connected to the positive voltage supply 160, which provides a charge onto the horizontal electrodes 132 that is sensed by the base of the transistor Q2 364. In a similar manner, the four vertical electrodes 136, all electrically connected together, are connected to the positive voltage supply 160 through a resistor, R30 300, and also to the base of an NPN transistor, Q3 368. This transistor may also comprise the Model 2N2369. The emitter terminals of these transistors, Q2 364 and Q3 368, represent the outputs indicative of the amount of electrical charge on the corresponding horizontal and vertical electrodes 132, 136. These emitters are connected through resistor and capacitor networks to a pair of signal inputs on the demodulator 360. In operation of the verification device 100, a currency paper 104 is directed to pass over the surface 148 of the printed circuit board 120 containing the electrodes 128-136, as illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4(a) and 4(b). FIG. 4(a) is representative of the instance where the metallized characters 112 of the security thread 108 are disposed just before the electrodes 128-136. FIG. 4(b) is illustrative of the instance where the characters 112 are disposed directly above the electrodes 128-136. As can be seen from these figures, the physical spacing between the oscillator electrodes 128, the horizontal electrodes 132 and the vertical electrodes 136 are such that a metallized character 112 will bridge the "gap" or spacing between a horizontal electrode 132 and an oscillator electrode 128. In this instance, the oscillator electrodes 128 and the horizontal electrodes 132 each comprise one plate of a capacitor. The other plate of the capacitor is formed by the metallized character 112 of the thread 108. The character 112 acts to capacitively couple the electrical charge on the oscillator electrode 128, in the form of the time-varying signal 144, over to the horizontal electrode 132. This results in an increased amount of electrical charge on the horizontal electrode 132, which changes the capacitance seen by the base of the transistor, Q2 364. This has the further result of altering the characteristic of the signal at the emitter terminal of Q2 364, and subsequently at the input to the demodulator 360. At the same time, it can be seen from FIG. 4(b) that none of the metallized characters 112 is wide enough to bridge the spacing between an oscillator electrode 128 and any vertical electrode 136. Thus, the oscillator signal 144 is not capacitively coupled into any vertical electrode 136. This has the further result of keeping the charge and, thus, the capacitance, at the base of transistor Q3 368 constant. Therefore, the resulting signal out of the emitter terminal of transistor Q3 368 and fed to a second input of the demodulator 360 remains constant. The output of the demodulator 360 at pin 12 is a signal that has amplitude variations in only one direction when the two signals at its inputs, pins 1 and 4, differ as a result of the capacitive coupling of the oscillator signal 144 into only the horizontal electrodes 132 and not the vertical electrodes 136. The output signal from the demodulator 360 is fed to a PNP transistor, Q1 372, which may comprise the Model 2N2907, available from Motorola. The transistor, Q1 372, functions as a current amplifier and applies its output at the collector to the negative input of an op-amp U2 376, which may comprise the Model LM358, available from Motorola. Op-amp U2 376 is configured as an inverting amplifier, and its output signal "AOUT" 176 is indicative of the demodulator output. The circuitry 140 of FIG. 5 further includes another op-amp, U3 380, which may also comprise the Model LM358, available from Motorola, configured as an amplifier. On the negative input of op-amp U3 380 is fed the voltage value on the capacitor, C7 328, which charges as a function of the DC value of the signal AOUT 176. The capacitor voltage is compared to the signal REF 172 from the host system and any difference therebetween is output from the op-amp U3 380 to the negative terminal of the op-amp U2 376. The op-amp U3 380 removes any DC voltage bias from the signal AOUT 176. Normally, AOUT 176 is an AC signal whose average value is equal to approximately one-half of the positive voltage supply 160. The signal REF 172 is merely a DC voltage of a predetermined value. The signal REF 172 is also fed to the positive input of the op-amp U2 376. The circuitry 140 of FIG. 5 also includes a potentiometer, R20 260, that is adjustable to offset any differences in the gains of the transistors Q2 364 and Q3 368. The remainder of the connections of the components in FIG. 5 should be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. As mentioned earlier, the component values for the resistors and capacitors are given in Tables I and II respectively. Diode D1 384 may comprise a Model 1N914, available from Motorola. The operation of the circuitry 140 of FIG. 5 has been described hereinbefore with respect to a valid security thread 108. However, if currency paper 104 with a counterfeit mark, such as a conductive pencil mark on the surface of the paper 104, is passed over the electrode arrangement described, the signal processing electronics 140 senses this condition and provides an indication thereof. The counterfeit conductive pencil mark will typically bridge the spacing between an oscillator electrode 128 and an horizontal electrode 132, and will also bridge the spacing between an oscillator electrode 128 and a vertical electrode 136. Such "bridging" does not necessarily have to occur within the same set 124 of electrodes. By providing a plurality of sets 124 of electrodes, the ability to detect counterfeit threads is increased. When the oscillator signal 144 is coupled from an oscillator electrode 128 into both a horizontal electrode 132 and a vertical electrode 136, the resulting signals input to the demodulator 360 are equal. The output of the demodulator 360 comprises a signal that transitions both above and below the midpoint of the signal. This condition is indicated at the output of the inverting amplifier U2 376 by the signal AOUT 176. The host system in response to the signal AOUT 176 being indicative of a counterfeit currency paper 104, may then reject acceptance of such currency paper 104 as payment for the goods. A counterfeit currency paper 104 may also be indicated by a condition where there is no coupling of the oscillator signal 144 from the oscillator electrodes 128 into any of either of the horizontal or vertical electrodes 132, 136. Also, a counterfeit currency paper 104 may be indicated by a condition where the oscillator signal 144 is coupled into one or more vertical electrodes 136 but none of the horizontal electrodes 132. The preferred embodiment described has four "sets" 124 of electrodes, although it is to be understood that a single "set" 124 of electrodes could be used. The reasoning behind a plurality of electrode sets 124 was given earlier. Further, the preferred embodiment uses just one example of signal processing circuitry 140, in that it suffices for signal processing means 140 to be provided that can sense signals from both sets of electrodes 132, 136 and interpret the condition where the oscillator signal 144 is coupled into the horizontal electrode 132 and not the vertical electrode 136 as being indicative of a valid security thread 108. Further, the signal processing circuitry 140 interprets the other three possible conditions of coupling of the oscillator signal 144 either into or not into the horizontal and vertical electrodes 132, 136 as indicative of the lack of a valid security thread 108. The verification device 100 has been described for use with a thread 108 that has specific alphanumeric, metallized characters 112 formed on a plastic substrate 112 embedded within the paper 104. However, it is to be understood that it is not limited as such and may be utilized with security threads 108, which may or may not be embedded within the paper 104. Also, the electrically conductive material that is either part of, or disposed on, the thread 108 does not have to take any specific shape. It suffices that an electrically-conductive region 112 be associated with a security thread 108, and such region 112 has a predetermined height and width that can dictate the resulting spacing of the oscillator, horizontal and vertical electrodes 128-136 of the verification device 100. This will enable the signal processing electronics 140 to sense a valid thread 108 when the metallized region 112 bridges the spacing between an oscillator electrode 128 and a horizontal electrode 132, and at the same time, the metallized region 112 does not bridge the spacing between the oscillator electrode 128 and a vertical electrode 136. The terms "horizontal" and "vertical" with respect to labeling of the electrodes 132, 136 are purely exemplary. Other means of distinguishing between the two electrodes 132, 136 may be utilized, without limitation. The preferred embodiment has been described for use with currency paper 104 of the United States, however, it can be used for currency paper of other countries and for other types of documents that have a need for authentification, for example, documents evidencing debt obligations or equity positions. Also, the verification device 100 has been described as being utilized within a host system, such as a bill acceptor or changer that is part of a vending machine. However, these types of application are purely exemplary and it can be utilized in conjunction with a host or as a stand alone device. The host may be a system that accepts currency paper 104 in attended or unattended transactions. Further, the location of the host and its function is not limited herein to vending machines. Other types of machines are contemplated.

Claims: A device (100) for verifying the authenticity of a security thread (108) of a document (104), the security thread (108) having a longitudinal axis and including two or more electrically conductive regions (112) each physically separated from one another by a non-conductive region and having a predetermined height and width, the device comprising an oscillator electrode (128); a first sensor electrode (132) disposed adjacent to and physically separate from the oscillator electrode (128) by a predetermined distance along an axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the thread (108); a second sensor electrode (136) disposed adjacent to and physically separate from the oscillator electrode (128) by a predetermined distance along an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the thread (108); signal processing means (140), connected to the electrodes (128, 132, 136) and operative to provide an oscillator signal (OSC) to the oscillator electrode (128) and to sense when the oscillator signal is capacitively coupled to the first sensor electrode (132) and/or the second sensor electrode (136), and to determine the presence of a valid security thread (108) associated with the document (104) during the passage of the thread (108) over the electrodes (128, 132, 136) when capacitive coupling of the oscillator signal (OSC) into the first sensor electrode (132) occurs due to the presence of an electrically conductive region (112) of the thread proximate both the oscillator electrode (128) and the first sensor electrode (132) and when no capacitive coupling of the oscillator signal (OSC) into the second sensor electrode (136) occurs due to the absence of said electrically conductive region of the thread proximate both the oscillator electrode (128) and the second sensor electrode (136), wherein the predetermined distance separating the oscillator electrode (128) from the first sensor electrode (132), is designed to be less than a height of any of the two or more electrically conductive regions (112) of the security thread (108), whereby any one of the electrically conductive regions (112) of the thread (108) is able to capacitively couple the oscillator signal (OSC) into the first sensor electrode (132) when the region is proximate both the oscillator electrode and the first sensor electrode, and wherein the predetermined distance separating the oscillator electrode (128) from the second sensor electrode (136), is designed to be greater than a width of any one of the electrically conductive regions (112) of the security thread, whereby any one of the electrically conductive regions (112) of the thread (108) cannot capacitively couple the oscillator signal (OSC) to the second sensor electrode (136) due to the lack of the electrically conductive region (112) being proximate both the oscillator electrode (128) and the second sensor electrode (136). A device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the signal processing means comprises determining means for determining a document to be a counterfeit when there is no capacitive coupling of the oscillator signal to both the first and second sensor electrodes (132, 136), when there is capacitive coupling of the oscillator signal to both the first and second sensor electrodes (132, 136), or when there is capacitive coupling of the oscillator signal to the second sensor electrode (136) and no capacitive coupling of the oscillator signal to the first sensor electrode (132). A device (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first and second sensor electrodes (132, 136) are substantially orthogonal to one another. A device (100) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the first sensor electrode (132) is disposed so as to be substantially parallel to the security thread (108) of a document during verification and the second sensor electrode (136) is disposed so as to be substantially orthogonal thereto. A device (100) according to any preceding claim, wherein the electrodes (128, 132, 136) are disposed in a common plane (120). Device (100) according to any preceding claim wherein said oscillator electode (128), said first sensor electrode (132) and said second sensor electrode (136) form a set of electrodes (124), the device (100) including a plurality of said sets of electrodes (124) the signal processing means (140) being operative to sense when the oscillator signal is capacitively coupled to any one of the first sensor electrodes (132) and any one of the second sensor electrodes (136), and to determine the presence of a valid security thread (108) when the oscillator signal is capacitively coupled into any one of the first sensor electrodes (132) and when there is a lack of capacitive coupling of the oscillator signal into the corresponding second sensor electrodes (136). A device (100) according to claim 6, wherein the signal processing means (140) is operative to determine the presence of a counterfeit document when there is capacitive coupling of the oscillator signal to both one of the first sensor electrodes (132) and one of the second sensor electrodes (136). A device (100) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the oscillator electrodes (128) are electrically connected together and/ or the first sensor electrodes (132) are electrically connected together and/or the second sensor electrodes (136) are electrically connected together.

Inventors: HARBAUGH STEVEN K, HARBAUGH, STEVEN K.
Applicants: AUTHENTICATION TECH INC, AUTHENTICATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Application year: 1995
Main classification: G07D7
IPC codes: G07D7