EP2936454A1

EP2936454A1 - A checking apparatus for checking documents, in particular checks and the like

Info

Publication number: EP2936454A1
Application number: EP13820883.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Cristiano TROMBY; Stefano TRINCARD
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-12-19
Filing date: 2013-12-17
Publication date: 2015-10-28
Also published as: WO2014096930A1; ITMI20122178A1

Abstract

A checking apparatus for checking documents, in particular checks and the like, is specifically designed to provide a composite solution for verifying checks compliant with the ABI standards related to credit instruments concerning anti-fraud systems; said apparatus performing a simultaneous verification of all identifying parameters present on each check and a corresponding cross comparison, the indicating parameters being: a MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Recognition) parameter, a bi-dimensional barcode, a micro-perforated string, fluorescent wisps or straw elements and/or an infrared checking ink.

Description

A CHECKING APPARATUS FOR CHECKING DOCUMENTS, IN PARTICULAR CHECKS AND THE LIKE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a checking apparatus for checking documents, in particular checks and the like.

More specifically, the present invention is designed to solve the problem of verifying checks meeting the ABI rules or standards related to credit instruments concerning anti-fraud systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to provide an apparatus adapted to perform a simultaneous verification of all identifying parameters present on each check and a corresponding cross comparison.

Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of the invention is. to provide such an apparatus adapted to read and recognize all quality identifying parameters.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such an apparatus adapted to provide validity information of the checked document, while deriving further information from all the analyzed parameters.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned aim and objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by an apparatus for checking documents, in particular checks and the like, characterized in that said checking apparatus comprises reading means for reading a document to be checked, said reading means being adapted to provide a plurality of read-out data, and processing means for processing said read-out data to simultaneously check one or more indicating parameters on said document.

Said indicating parameters comprising at least one of: a MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Recognition) parameter, a bi-dimensional barcode, a micro-perforated string, fluorescent wisps or straw elements and/or an infrared checking ink.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent hereinafter from the following disclosure of a preferred, though not exclusive, embodiment of the invention which is illustrated, by way of an indicative but not limitative example, in the accompanying drawings, where:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a scanner included in the apparatus according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a kiosk/ATM including an apparatus according to the present invention;

Figure 3 is a schematic front view showing the main components of an optical scanning assembly;

Figure 4 is a schematic side view of the optical scanning assembly;

Figure 5 is a side elevation view of the apparatus;

Figure 6 is a front view of the apparatus;

Figure 7 is another front view of the optical scanning assembly; Figure 8 is yet a further front view of the optical scanning assembly;

Figure 9 is a side elevation view of the apparatus showing in details a magnetic head assembly;

Figure 10 is a more detailed side view of the magnetic head assembly;

Figure 11 shows an example of a screen of a calibrating panel for image files, adapted to optimize an output quality; and

Figure 12 shows a further illustrative screen of a diagnostic and setup interface panel for optimally setting hardware and software components.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The apparatus according to the present invention has been specifically designed to provide an efficient solution for verifying checks meeting ABI rules related to credit titles included in anti-fraud systems.

The operation principle is based on a simultaneous checking of all the identifying parameters which are present on each check, and a corresponding cross comparison.

More specifically, the controlled parameters are as follows:

a MICR read-out and verification; a bi-dimensional "barcode" read-out and verification;

a micro-perforated string read-out and verification;

a verification of a presence of fluorescent wisps and/or of an IR infrared checking ink. According to the present invention, as a physical document is conveyed through a scanner, optical sensor output images are processed and, by a suitable software additional processing, document image details are further analyzed.

Moreover, the invention further provides specifically designed hardware means for collecting further anti-fraud verification information.

The above data and information are so processed as to allow to quickly and precisely recognize if the document, such as credit titles, checks and so on, has been printed and made to meet the ABI rules or standards .

Said scanner comprises a plurality of devices operating in combination to perform the intended control operations.

For verifying the UV and IR ink and physical characteristics, a linear optical sensor (the so called CIS, Contact Image Sensor), as shown in Figures 5-7, is herein provided.

The linear optical sensor according to the present invention has novel characteristics in comparison with prior sensors which detect a visible spectrum only, frequently with different physical dimensions or size.

Prior sensors, moreover, also require a "flex cable" physical connection not always compatible with their different components.

Managing a different CIS requires to properly fit and design a driving software.

Moreover,' for fully verifying the documents, an "on board" image managing must be provided, and, to that end, two possible solutions are herein disclosed.

Solution a) : an electronic card to carry out a plurality of image processing operations such as: edge compression, light spot verifying and image parsing as acquired by a target pixel resolution.

Said electronic card is physically coupled to a scanner unit CPU mainboard, through an interface connector, preferably a parallel connector interface, for acquiring the image; thus, said electronic card, upon having acquired said image, parses and processes said acquired image and then compresses and sends it via USB or Ethernet.

This is substantially a so-called "on-chip system" .

Solution b) : alternatively, it is possible to use libraries, to be loaded on said scanner, for example for compressing said image through a VHDL library assembly, being implemented on a FPGA device, for generating a processed and compressed output.

Said FPGA device comprises a storing space for storing said library assembly therein.

Dedicated image calibrating and adjusting algorithms allow said images to be managed according to target requirements, for saving files and evaluating them for checking and controlling purposes.

The checking apparatus according to the present invention further comprises reading and checking means for reading and checking a MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Recognition) pattern.

Said reading and checking means or system being designed to read-out a codeline string on a portion of the document or check. Said reading and checking means carry out reading methods based on an optical character recognition and being implemented by a neural network technique and comparing techniques based on Golden Sample indicators, and reading methods based on a character magnetic ink principle; for reading the magnetic ink, is herein provided a magnetic head mounted on the apparatus, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, for analyzing or parsing a magnetic signal generated by the document or check printing ink.

For an Italian check, a CMC7 standard should be met, which technology, however, is also valid for other standards, such as the E13B standard.

Thus, in operation, the analogic signal is processed and sampled by the electronic card to provide digital data which are further processed by a DSP based on a dedicated processing algorithm.

The above OCR (Optical Character Recognition) software libraries operate based on the acquired image, while taking desired or target data from a codeline.

The two above mentioned methods are not mutually exclusive and could comprise processing means for comparing and selecting codeline characters.

Moreover, the invention provides to compare the two OCR and magnetic (MICR) codelines in addition to that derived from the micro-perforation analysis, thereby further improving the recognizing and verifying safety.

The present invention further comprises a bidimensional barcode reading and checking system, operating based on an acquired image analysis recognizing method, in which the operating algorithm is applied to the picked and calibrated image.

The information derived from a barcode read-out are controlled and compared with information achieved by other analysis methods which will be further disclosed hereinafter.

At first the information contained in a Datamatrix barcode are adapted or recognized, which method, on the other hand, may be also applied to other mono- or bi-dimensional barcodes.

The present invention further provides means for reading and verifying document or check micro- perforated string information by processing the acquired image according to some special modes of operation .

Thus, because of the small perforation size and the need of verifying the actual hole presence to detect possible false holes on the document, the verifying image is acquired by low-intensity back- illuminating means, thereby showing a micro-perforated arrangement of white dots on a black background.

The light source may comprise any desired light source type, such as an IR/ or UV/invisible light source allowing to easily detect the actual holes.

Moreover, because of the small hole size, an image sensor having a sensing resolution from 300 to 600 dpi, providing a pixel number sufficiently high to detect each said hole, is perfectly used.

A further analysis of said perforated string is performed by processing said images to recognize or detect characters of said string, the decoded or detected characters being then compared with information from other document analyses. To sum up, it is possible to perform three types of controls on the micro-perforated string, as hereinbelow disclosed.

1) A detection of an actual presence of the micro-holes, by acquiring by back-illuminating the image (analysis of the light spectrum passing through the document) and/or verifying a printed or silk-screen printed pattern on a hardware support and acquired through the document holes (for example by a specifically designed silk-screen printing method on the image capture region, thereby scanning a graph or diagram printed on the silk-screen printed or adhesive pattern) .

2) A measurement of the micro-holes by detecting an equivalent pixel diameter.

3) A decoding of the printed codeline, by properly processing a previously acquired image, based on neural networks.

The inventive apparatus card provides an image acquiring system designed to properly drive a linear image sensor detecting visible, infrared and UV light (which can also comprise a cis or ccd sensor) .

The acquiring system further comprises a target illuminating system, to reproduce a light source in its main visible red, green and blue components and in the bands thereof near to the visible band.

Thus, the sensor image is processed by a processing system including new generation DSP and FPGA assemblies, storing data in a dynamic store or memory, and processing the stored image data by compression algorithms .

The communication interface to the outside world is based either on the USB or the Ethernet standard.

The present invention further comprises checking means for detecting fluorescent wisps or straw elements and/or IR ink; said checking means comprising direct lighting means for directly lighting the two sides of said document, by a UV or IR light source and the related acquired image, thereby verifying the document through the UV spectrum.

In fact said checking means comprise UV optic sensors (CIS) or a light source for illuminating said document in the UV spectrum.

An examination of the image thus acquired allowing to detect said wisps or straw elements.

In this connection it should be pointed that it is not substantially possible to derive from the above image any detail information, but only information related to a presence or not of said straw elements.

The IR (infrared) verification is an alternative to the UV verification, if the straw elements should be detected through the UV spectrum by a dedicated optical sensor (CIS) , since at present no optical sensor is available adapted to cover both the spectra .

The IR ink presence is detected by directly illuminating the two sides of the document by an IR light source and a related acquired image.

Thus, the acquired image examination allows to detect the applied IR ink.

In this connection it should be pointed out that only information related to an ink presence can be derived from the image, but not detail information. Said acquired image is compared with a recognizing pattern supplied by the ABI.

Thus, pre-acquired images representing a standard pattern of the document being scanned through the IR spectrum are substantially herein used.

The apparatus according to the present invention comprises moreover an optical scanner, generally indicated by the reference number 1, either in a table embodiment, shown in Figure 1, or a kiosk- ATM embodiment, shown in Figure 2.

Said scanner may be set up by suitable mechanical and firmware/software modifications to be used in a self-service peripheral unit, such as a kiosk or an ATM (Automatic Teller Machine, the so called Bancomat® in Italy) , indicated by the reference number 2 in Figure 2.

The mechanical modifications comprise a different adjustment of the entrainment roller pressure and further corresponding modifications of electromechanical components for providing a firm gripping within the peripheral unit.

The machine firmware drives the document to enter and exit the same slot, to provide a document outlet function to the client.

The software provides moreover a real time processing operation, while managing the processed document inlet or outlet.

The scanner is moreover - modified, in comparison with the table embodiment, to easily clamp the ATM/kiosk metal construction supports, and easily access the paper path of the scanner peripheral unit for performing maintenance and diagnostic operations. The apparatus further comprises an optical scanning assembly, generally indicated by the reference number 3, including a plurality of optical sets (CIS) 4 and 5, arranged in the hardware apparatus so as to minimize an impact on the image acquiring area.

This allows not to modify the main functions from a mechanical driving standpoint.

The hardware card, not shown in the Figures, operates to compress said images, thereby reducing the image size before sending said images to the outside environment.

Said electronic card allows moreover to manage further processing operations on a scanner acquired image: an analysis of pixels and light dots and a reduction of the resolution (dpi) .

Said electronic card allows moreover to manage the imaging processes required for the checking operations, said electronic card comprising main components with a new generation DSP and FPGA for storing data in dedicated dynamic memory means.

In this connection it should be apparent that the card size may be changed depending on the components used and the required functions that can be varied depending on market requirements..

As disclosed, the apparatus according to the present invention operates based on dedicated algorithms and procedures for calibrating and managing the scanner output images to optimize the image files, depending on the requirements for the target verifications and controls.

By way of an example, Figure 11 shows a screen comprising an image file calibration panel to optimize the output quality.

Figure 12 shows a further illustrative screen related to one of the diagnostic and setup interface panels for optimally setting the related hardware and software .

The apparatus according to the present invention comprises moreover a magnetic head assembly 6, shown in Figures 9 and 10, including a reading head and a magnetic sensor; said document (check) being conveyed under said reading head, while slipping against the magnetic sensor.

Thus, by the above contact, a presence of the magnetic field is detected and, accordingly, it will be possible to pick up the information magnetically printed on the document codeline.

It has been found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects.

In fact, the invention has provided an apparatus for verifying documents, and in particular checks compliant with the ABI standards, and physical characteristics of some credit titles, related to .the antifraud systems.

The operation principle of the inventive apparatus is based on a simultaneous verification of all the identifying parameters present on each check and a corresponding cross comparison.

In practicing the invention, the used materials, as well as the contingent size, can be any according to requirements.

Claims

1. A checking apparatus for checking documents, in particular checks and the like, characterized in that said checking apparatus comprises reading means for reading a document to be checked, said reading means being adapted to provide a plurality of read-out data, and processing means for processing said read-out data to simultaneously check one or more indicating parameters present on said documents and provide a corresponding cross control of said parameters, said indicating parameters comprising at least one of: a magnetic ink character recognition parameter, a bi- dimensional barcode, a micro-perforated string, fluorescent wisps and/or a UV or IR ink, said apparatus comprising moreover:

MICR reading and verifying means, said means being adapted to read the codeline string shown on a portion of the document or check; said means comprising reading means based on an optical recognition, being implemented by a neural network method, and comparing and reading means based on a magnetic nature of the character ink; said means comprising a magnetic head analyzing the magnetic signal from the magnetic ink printed on the document;

a system for reading and verifying a bidimensional barcode, based on an acquired image analysis; said system implementing an algorithm on the acquired and calibrated image being available for the displaying thereof; said system processing and controlling information derived from the barcode readout, which information are then controlled and compared with those derived from other analysis methods; reading and checking means for reading and checking a document micro-perforated string, said reading and checking means comprising low intensity back-lighting means, to show a micro-perforated arrangement of white dots on a black background, said means thereby checking an actual presence of said micro-perforated string including very small size holes, to detect possible false holes patterned on said document, said reading and checking means further comprising an IR/ or UV/invisible light source and an image sensor having a sensing resolution from 300 to 600 dpi;

checking means for checking a presence of said fluorescent wisps, said means comprising direct lighting means for directly lighting the two sides of said document, by a UV or IR light source and the related acquired image, said checking means comprising UV optic sensors (CIS) or a light source for illuminating said document in the UV spectrum; and

a scanner, including an optical linear sensor for verifying a presence of UV and IR ink on said document .

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said apparatus comprises moreover means for carrying out a further analysis on said perforated string by processing images to recognize characters in said string; the decoded characters being then compared with information derived from other analyses of said document.

3. An apparatus according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said apparatus further comprises checking means for checking a presence of an IR ink, by directly illuminating the two document sides by an IR light source and a related acquired image; and to compare said acquired image with recognizing patterns.

4. An apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said apparatus comprises moreover an electronic card to carry out a plurality of image processing operations such as: edge compression, light spot verifying and acquired image parsing by a target pixel resolution; said electronic card being physically coupled to a scanner CPU or central processing unit mainboard, through a connector interface, preferably a parallel connector interface, for acquiring, processing and compressing the image and then sending said image via USB or Ethernet.

5. An apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said checking apparatus comprises moreover libraries to be loaded on said scanner for compressing said images through a VHDL library, being implemented on a FPGA device, for generating a processed and compressed output; said FPGA device comprising a storing space for storing said library therein; dedicated image calibrating and adjusting means allowing said images to be managed according to target requirements, for saving files and evaluating the saved files for checking and controlling purposes .

6. An apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said apparatus is arranged in a kiosk, such as an ATM kiosk or the like, said apparatus comprising moreover clamping means for clamping said apparatus to a kiosk structure and adapted to provide an easy access to a paper path region of a scanner peripheral unit for performing related maintenance and diagnostic operations.

7. An apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said apparatus comprises moreover an optical scanning assembly including a plurality of optical sets, arranged in a hardware assembly to minimize an impact on an image acquiring area.

8. An apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said apparatus comprises moreover an electronic card for compressing said images, thereby reducing the image size before sending said images to an outside environment; said electronic card further managing a processing operation on the scanner acquired images: an analysis of pixels and light dots and a reduction of a resolution (dpi) ; said electronic card managing moreover all the imaging processes for said checking operations; said electronic card comprising a DSP and a FPGA for storing data in dedicated dynamic memory means.

9. An apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said apparatus comprises moreover a magnetic head assembly, including a reading head and a magnetic sensor; wherein said document is conveyed under said reading head, while slipping against said magnetic sensor to detect a related magnetic field for picking up information magnetically printed on said document codeline.