Patent ID: 7650027

Claim:
A method for automatic discrimination of the authenticity of currency notes, security instruments, security documents and similar documents in a processor-based apparatus having at least a radiation emission structure, a radiation sensing structure and a document transport mechanism, said method comprising: a) acquiring with said radiation emission structure and radiation sensing structure spatially integrated and simultaneously integrated data in time domain over a broad spectral band transmitted data through the document under inspection, kept in a stationary condition by said document transport mechanism, in each of a plurality of separate wavebands covering a UV visible through near infra red spectrum; b) acquiring with said radiation emission structure and radiation sensing structure spatially integrated and simultaneously integrated data in time domain over a broad spectral band reflected/fluoresced data from approximately half or more of the area of the document under inspection, kept in a static condition by said transport mechanism, in each of a plurality of separate wavebands covering the UV visible through near infra red spectrum; c) defining with said processor a first set of ratios using the measured transmitted data signals and defining a second set of ratios using the measured reflected/fluoresced data signals; and d) comparing with said processor said first and second sets of ratios with the corresponding stored reference values; and e) on the basis of said comparing, judging authenticity of the currency notes, security instruments, security documents and similar documents.