Patent Publication Number: US-8531652-B2

Title: Three way desktop UV counterfeit detector

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to currency detectors for detecting counterfeit banknotes and paper currency and is directed, more particularly, to a desktop, UV based counterfeit currency detector that detects counterfeits by selectively exposing the banknotes to ultraviolet and white light for detecting various anti-counterfeit features in the banknotes and/or paper currency, using solely battery powered LED&#39;s as light sources. 
     Ultraviolet (UV) counterfeit currency detection devices are known in the prior art. The production by criminals of counterfeit currency, banknotes, bonds, stocks and the like are continually increasing throughout the world as a result of continuing improvements in printing technology, particularly in color printing equipments and the increased ability to obtain the special currency paper used for banknotes, etc. Counterfeit currency/banknotes are now being made which cannot be detected by the unaided eye, and which are virtually indistinguishable from genuine banknotes and currency. Single test counterfeit detection devices currently exist, but are generally not fully reliable. 
     There remains a need for a desk top/tabletop ultraviolet (UV) counterfeit detector that uses ambient backlight (diffused white light) from an LED to distinguish counterfeit watermarks from genuine watermarks on genuine currency, and which also utilizes ultraviolet (UV) light/radiation from an LED that are more readily detectable by UV light to distinguish certain features on counterfeit currency paper from genuine currency paper. The UV detector should also include a translucent surface for diffusing visible white light and an arrangement for projecting UV light in a manner which assures that it will not strike or be directed toward the eyes of the user, while maintaining the overall detector construction small, portable, battery-operated, and lightweight. 
     The present invention improves upon the construction of the instant inventors&#39; prior UV counterfeit currency detector, which is described in their recently issued U.S. Pat. No. 7,715,613, the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference. 
     As described in that patent, the prior art is acquainted with various counterfeit currency detectors having various designs, configurations, structures and materials of construction, including as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 598,960; 6,603,871; 6,858,856; and in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2006/0010071, the contents of which patents and patent publications are incorporated by reference herein. 
     The instant inventors&#39; prior currency detector described in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 7,715,613 uses a hidden viewing mirror for detection of counterfeit currency and requires the user to carefully focus on a faint image reflected in a minor to discern and differentiate ultraviolet strips or watermarks in the paper currency. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a desktop counterfeit currency detector that overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a desktop counterfeit currency detector, which has a very small desktop footprint, on the order of the size of a U.S. currency bill, and which is battery powered and enables executing multiple tests to detect counterfeit bills. 
     It is yet another object of the invention to provide a triple-test desktop counterfeit currency detector that allows detecting features of genuine currency using white light, UV light, and and/or an ink formulation that tests the genuineness of the paper on which the currency is printed. 
     The foregoing and other objects of the invention are realized with a desktop currency detector, which provides a slim and small footprint, on the order of about 175 by 100 millimeters. The slim desktop counterfeit detector provides white light that can shine from below a currency bill that is placed on its translucent window and also provides an overhead UV lamp which is situated approximately 30 millimeters above the translucent light table. Lastly, the detector also provides a compartment for a counterfeit detector pen which contains a special ink formulation that can apply a color changing test mark to a currency bill to test its reaction with the paper to determine genuineness. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention which refers to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing the desktop counterfeit detector with its overhead UV lamp and counterfeit pen stored internally therein. 
         FIG. 1A  is a side view of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 1B  is a top view of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 1C  is an enlargement of the right side of the counterfeit detector  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 1D  shows the currency detector of  FIG. 1  with the sticker printed with currency strip locations. 
         FIG. 2  shows the overhead lamp disattached from the desktop base of the UV detector  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective view showing internal details of the overhead detachable UV lamp. 
         FIG. 3  shows a translucent light diffusing panel for the base of the currency detector of  FIG. 1 , on which a bill to be tested is placed. 
         FIG. 4  shows internal details of the base of the currency detector  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4A  is a bottom view of the base of the desktop counterfeit currency detector. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the triple-test, desktop counterfeit currency detector  10  of the present invention comprises a generally rectangular base  12  that defines an interior space  14 , which is covered by a backlit translucent panel  16  measuring approximately 160 millimeters in length and 70 millimeters in width, which is roughly equivalent to the dimensions of a standard U.S. currency bill. The base  12  rests on four suction cups, including front suction cups  28   a  and  28   b . Inside the interior  14  are mounted upward facing, white LED&#39;s, which can be turned on by actuating switch  18  to backlight a test currency bill, which is placed on the light diffusing translucent panel  16  as shall be described below. The front sloping panel  15  supports a sticker  17  ( FIG. 10 ) printed with currency strip locations, for the different currency denominations, to allow quick verification of the proper locations of the embedded strips. The illuminated bill  19  ( FIG. 10 ) also allows discerning watermarks in the bill. Preferably, the footprint of the base  12  on a desktop is approximately 180 by 100 millimeters. 
     A UV lamp sub-assembly  20  is detachably connected by means of curved legs  22   a  and  22   b  to the base  12  and comprises on the under wall  30  thereof ( FIG. 2 ) a first bank of UV lamps  32   a  and a second UV lamp bank  32   b . When turned on by switch  18 , the UV lights, preferably LEDs, direct their light from above and onto the currency bill located on the translucent panel  16 . This allows viewing of features which are more discernable with the UV light. Preferably, the switch  18  has a centered portion at which both the white and UV LEDs are turned off to conserve battery power. 
     As a third means of bill testing,  FIG. 1C  shows a marker cavity  26   a  into which a conventional ink marker  26  is insertable and which can be retrieved to apply an ink formulation to a bill to test the paper thereof to assure that it is not a counterfeit bill as described in a prior U.S. patent including in U.S. Pat. No. 5,663,163, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     Preferably, as shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the UV lamp assembly  20  is located approximately centrally over the translucent panel  16  on the base, about 32 millimeters above the currency being examined. The locations of the UV lamps and the carefully selected distance assure that a maximum UV light intensity is spread over the critical locations on the bill being tested, in an orientation and direction that positively protects against the UV light shining in the direction of a person&#39;s face or eyes. That is, as evident from  FIGS. 1 ,  1 A,  1 B,  1 D,  2  and  2 A, the underwall  30  ( FIG. 2 ) extends generally horizontally directly above the translucent panel  16 , the UV LEDs are mounted on this underwall  30 , they are not viable in use and their light cannot shine in the direction of a person&#39;s eyes, as noted above. Internally, the UV lamp assembly  20  comprises a UV printed circuit board  36  ( FIG. 2A ) which supports the aforementioned UV lamps and which conducts electrical power to the UV lights via positive and negative electrical leads  38 , with the UV light being positioned over openings in the rear  34  of the panel  30  of the sub-assembly  20 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , at the bottom of the base  12  is a battery compartment  50  with cutouts  52   a ,  52   b  for two PC boards  54   a ,  54   b  for white LED&#39;s  56   a ,  56   b . The switch body  18   a  directs power to either the white LED&#39;s or to the leads  58  extending to the UV lamp assembly  20 , with the batteries (not shown) for powering the LED&#39;s being insertable through a removable cover  60  accessible through the bottom side, as shown in  FIG. 4A . The base panel also defines half of the cylindrical cavity  26   a  for the marker  26 , as seen in  FIG. 4 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4A , the four suction cups  28   a ,  28   b ,  28   c  and  28   d  assure that the desktop detector  10  is firmly attached to a desktop. However, the wall mount openings  29   a  and  29   b  also allow the tester to be mounted on a wall supported by screw heads so that desktop space need not be utilized. 
     One of the important considerations in the counterfeit detector of the present invention focuses on the selection of the parameter of the UV LEDs, their locations and their height over the currency being tested, in order to maximize the optical power output on the currency being tested while minimizing the number of UV LEDs being used and the battery power consumption. 
     In accordance therewith, the inventors herein have produced an embodiment (which they have reduced to practice), which utilizes UV LEDs made by Nichia Corporation as part number NSPU510CS. The particular UV LEDs have a peak wavelength at 375 nanometers with a range of 370 to 380 nm, with a spectrum half width of 15 nanometers. Typically the directivity, i.e., the radiation angle is in the range of 0-20 degrees, but can be up to 40 degrees. 
     The optical power output is typically in the range of 6800-9600 micro watts at a driving current of 15 milliamps but the invention contemplates that the optical power output can be in the range of 4800 to 13600 microwatts. By selecting four UV LEDs at the left side and two UV LEDs at the right side of the panel  30 , the invention concentrates the UV optical power output advantageously unto the currency being tested, where most needed. Also, by selecting the height of the LEDs above the currency and by taking into account the directivity of the UV light which is typically in the range as described above, further advantages have been realized. 
     Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.