Patent ID: 8232867

Claim:
A banknote acceptor for authenticating a banknote under test presented thereto by a user, comprising: a sensing station to receive the banknote under test, including a detector to provide image signals corresponding to the banknote, a processor programmed to make a comparison of image data corresponding to at least some of the image signals from the detector, with stored reference data corresponding to an acceptable banknote, for determining the authenticity of the banknote under test, and to provide a first acceptance signal for the banknote under test in dependence on the outcome of the comparison, a display device operable to provide the user with a display of a visual image of the banknote under test, such as to allow the user to perform a visual check that the banknote detected at the sensing station corresponds to the banknote under test presented thereto by the user, a user operable device having circuitry for enabling the user to generate a second acceptance signal signifying the user's agreement that the visual image of the banknote under test provided by the display device corresponds with the banknote presented by the user, and a controller programmed to accept the banknote under test in dependence on said first acceptance signal and the second acceptance signal generated by said user operable device.