TODAY’S PATENT – DETERMINING DOCUMENT FITNESS USING ILLUMINATION

The invention pertains to currency processing machines and introduces a system and method to evaluate the quality of notes using various modes of illumination for optimal imaging of specific features. The proposed method involves capturing multiple images of a document at different wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation and assembling them to form one or more images of the document, allowing the detection of various features such as counterfeit notes.

The invention was created by Ronald Bruce Blair and was granted a patent by the USPTO on July 15th, 2014, with the serial number US8781176B2. The apparatus for detecting a document in one embodiment includes an electromagnetic radiation source that emits one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation towards the document, an imaging device that captures two or more pluralities of images of the document, and a processor that assembles these images to form a more detailed representation of the document.

This invention provides an efficient and accurate method for assessing the fitness of notes, which can help prevent financial losses due to counterfeit currency. By utilizing multiple modes of illumination for imaging, the proposed method can provide a more detailed representation of the document and detect any irregularities that might be missed by conventional methods.