Patent ID: 8181853

Claim:
Apparatus comprising: an automated banking machine operative responsive at least in part to data bearing records, including: a housing; a card reader in operatively supported connection with the housing, wherein the card reader is operative to read indicia on user cards corresponding to financial accounts; a display in operatively supported connection with the housing; a cash dispenser in operatively supported connection with the housing; a deposit accepting device in operatively supported connection with the housing, wherein the deposit accepting device includes a magnetic sensing subsystem including magnetic sensing circuitry and at least one magnetic read head operative to read magnetic micr line data on checks, and wherein the magnetic sensing circuitry is in operative connection with the at least one magnetic read head; at least one electromagnetic radiation source within the housing, wherein operation of the at least one electromagnetic radiation source causes at least some electromagnetic radiation to reach the magnetic sensing subsystem, which is positioned relative to the at least one electromagnetic radiation source; at least one processor within the housing, wherein the at least one processor is in operative connection with the card reader, the display, the cash dispenser, the deposit accepting device, the magnetic sensing subsystem, and the at least one electromagnetic radiation source; wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause the automated banking machine to operate to carry out financial transactions associated with financial accounts corresponding to data read from the user cards through operation of the card reader; wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause operation of the at least one electromagnetic radiation source during both when the automated banking machine is carrying out a financial transaction, and when the automated banking machine is not carrying out a financial transaction; wherein the at least one processor is operative to analyze at least one level of electromagnetic radiation that was caused by operation of the at least one electromagnetic radiation source when the automated banking machine was not carrying out a financial transaction, and that was positively sensed through operation of the magnetic sensing subsystem, in determining whether the magnetic sensing subsystem has a reduced ability to sense electromagnetic radiation caused by operation of the at least one electromagnetic radiation source.