WO2006027466A1

WO2006027466A1 - Method for checking the authenticity of a document, and corresponding installation

Info

Publication number: WO2006027466A1
Application number: PCT/FR2005/002149
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean Tenenbaum
Original assignee: Jean Tenenbaum
Priority date: 2004-08-31
Filing date: 2005-08-26
Publication date: 2006-03-16
Also published as: FR2874725B1; FR2874725A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for checking the authenticity of a document. According to said method: (i) a magnetic reading head (20<sub

Description

The present invention relates to a method for verifying the authenticity of a document, as well as an installation for implementing this method.

The invention aims more particularly at verifying the authenticity of documents which are generally flat, having two opposite main faces, which are provided with an element of authenticity integrated in their thickness. Such an element of authenticity, called security thread, supports among other things information of optical and magnetic natures.

By way of non-limiting examples, illustrating the documents referred to by the invention, mention will in particular be made of banknotes, as well as other official documents.

A device for verifying the authenticity of bank notes, using a solenoid, associated with a capacitor and a resistor, is known from US Pat. No. 5,151,607. This arrangement is well known in the context of the detection of metals in general. It does not tell us anything about the exclusive presence of ferrous metals which is our goal.

On the other hand, the use of transmit and receive diodes, working exclusively in the infrared band, ensures a great simplification of the analysis and processing systems of the received signals.

That being said, the invention proposes to implement a method making it possible to verify, reliably and quickly, the authenticity of such a document, through a simple installation and a relatively low cost.

For this purpose, it relates to a method of verifying the authenticity of a document, in particular, a bank note or other, this document having two opposite sides, this document being provided, when it is of nature authentic, an element of authenticity, such as a security thread, which carries information of an optical and magnetic nature, and is integrated in the thickness of this document, characterized in that it comprises the following steps :

(i) the presence of magnetizable elements at the level of the authenticity element is verified by means of at least one magnetic reading head;

(ii) it is verified, by means of a first optical sensor, adapted to receive waves in the infra-red band, that this element of authenticity is not disposed on the first face;

(iii) it is verified, by means of a second optical sensor, suitable for receiving waves in the infra-red band, that this element of authenticity is not present on the second face;

(iv) it is verified, by means of at least one additional optical sensor, suitable for receiving waves in the infra-red band, that this element of authenticity is indeed present at the level of the entire document. The invention also relates to an installation for implementing the method as defined above, comprising: at least one magnetic read head, adapted to detect magnetizable elements in the element of authenticity; a first optical sensor adapted to receive waves in the infra-red band, able to determine the existence of the element of authenticity on the first face; a second optical sensor adapted to receive waves in the infra-red band, able to determine the existence of the element of authenticity on the second face; at least one additional optical sensor adapted to receive waves in the infra-red band, able to determine the overall existence of the element of authenticity at said document; means for transferring data from these different optical sensors; and,

warning means capable of delivering information that is significant to the authenticity of the document, as a function of the values of said data.

According to other features of the invention:

at least two magnetic read heads are arranged one behind the other in a direction of circulation of the document; the

the warning means comprise a central unit, able to process said data, and a light, the visual state of which depends on the value of said data; first and second additional sensors are provided, first and second lighting means are also provided, capable of emitting waves in the infra-red band, each lighting means being able to illuminate, by reflection, the first or the second sensor, and being able to illuminate, by transparency, the first or the second additional sensor; the first sensor, the second additional sensor, as well as the first lighting means are integrated within the same first support, while the second sensor, the first additional sensor, and the second lighting means are integrated into the first one; within the same second support.

The invention will be better understood and other advantages will appear more clearly in the light of the description which follows, given solely by way of nonlimiting example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which: FIG. schematic, in perspective, illustrating a bank note whose present invention proposes to verify authenticity; - Figure 2 is a schematic side view, illustrating an installation for verifying the authenticity of the banknote of Figure 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic front view, more particularly illustrating magnetic read heads belonging to the installation of FIG. 2; and Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view, illustrating an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 illustrates a bank note, generally designated by reference 2, the authenticity of which can be verified by means of the invention. This bank note, which has a generally rectangular shape, has two opposite main faces, denoted 4i and 4 ₂ .

Typically, an element of authenticity, which is in this case a security thread 6, is integrated in the thickness e_ of the ticket 2, a thickness whose size is exaggerated in this figure 1, for the sake of clarity. This security thread 6, which extends transversely over the entire width of the note, is secured to the bill body by a method known per se, which is described for example in FR-A-2,676,295.

Figures 2 to 4 illustrate an installation for verifying the authenticity of the ticket 2. It will be assumed that this ticket circulates from back to front, in its longitudinal direction, as illustrated by the arrow F in Figure 1. It will also be assumed that in FIG. 2, the note is cut transversely at the level of the security thread 6, so that the latter is visible therein, integrated in the thickness e_ of this note 2.

Two optical sensors, adapted to receive the waves in the infra-red band, are first provided in a first region of the ticket 2, in this case in its the

upper part 2i in Figure 2. It will be recalled that the infra-red band corresponds to a wavelength of between about 700 nanometers and 20 micrometers. More precisely, an 8χ sensor placed in the vicinity of the first face 4χ of this note makes it possible to detect the possible presence of the security thread 6 on. this face 4i, in the presence of a light source.

It is important to emphasize that such a sensor can only detect such a surface presence, since it is not able to detect the possible presence of the security thread, nor in the thickness of the note itself, nor at the other side 4 ₂ . Such an 8 capteur optical sensor, which is known as such, is for example a photodiode or a phototransistor.

An optical sensor 1O ₃ , also adapted to receive the waves in the infra-red band, is arranged opposite that 8 _% , in the vicinity of the other face 4 ₂ of the ticket 2. In addition, a light source 12i, it is adapted to emit waves in the infra-red band, is arranged in the vicinity of the sensor Bx, so that it is adapted to illuminate the latter by reflection on the face 4χ, and the sensor 10χ by transparency.

When this light source 12i is actuated, this sensor 10i is thus able to detect the presence of the security thread 6, by transparency. It should be noted that, unlike the sensor 8i, this sensor 10i is able to detect the presence of the security thread 6 at the whole of the ticket 2, namely that the wire is placed on the surface or in the thickness of 2. Such a sensor 10i, of a type known per se, is for example a photodiode or a phototransistor of standard manufacture, available from suppliers of so-called "active" components.

In the other region of the ticket 2, namely in this case at its lower part 2 ₂ , a sensor 82 is disposed in the vicinity of the other face 4 ₂ . Such a sensor 8 ₂ is similar to that 8 ₁ , so that it can only detect the possible presence of the security wire 6 at the surface of the ticket, in this case on the other face 4 ₂ , in the presence a light source.

It is also planned, next to this sensor 82, an additional sensor 1O ₂ , in the vicinity of the first face 4χ. This sensor 1O ₂ , which is similar to that 10i, is able to detect the possible presence of the security thread, both on the surface and in the thickness of the note.

Finally, a light source 12 ₂ , similar to that 12χ, is arranged in the vicinity of the sensor 82. As mentioned above, this source 12 ₂ is able to illuminate the sensor 82 by reflection on the face 4 ₂ , as well as the sensor 1O ₂ by transparency.

The installation for verifying the authenticity of the ticket 2 also comprises magnetic means, which are in this case two read heads 20i and 2O2, conforming for example to those described in EP-A-0 882 272. These heads 2Oi and 2O ₂ are arranged one behind the other along the longitudinal axis of the ticket 2, corresponding to the circulation direction of the ticket, during its authentication.

In addition, four 8'I lines, 8 _'2, 10'i and 10' ₂ extend from a respective sensor 8 _1, 8 _2, 10i 1O and _2, in the direction of a CPU 14 Two additional lines, of which only one 20 '1 is shown in FIG. 2, further extend read heads 20i and 2O2 in the direction of the central unit 14. The latter, which is able to analyze the data received said sensors, is connected to an indicator 16, via a line 14 '.

As shown in FIG. 4, the sensor 8 ₁ , the sensor 1O ₂ , the lamp 12i and the magnetic heads 2O ₁ and ₂ O ₂ can be integrated within a first plate 13i, from which extend the corresponding lines, not shown in this figure. Similarly, the sensors 8 ₂ and 10 _3. and the lamp 122 may be integrated within a same plate ₂ , which is disposed opposite the ticket, relative to. the plate 13i.

Note that the distance d (Figure 3) separating the two heads 2Oi and 2O ₂ is greater than the width 3. of the various optical sensors 8i, 8 ₂ , 1Oi and 1O ₂ . The advantage conferred by this particular arrangement will appear more clearly in the following.

The use of the installation, described in FIGS. 2 to 4, will now be explained.

When circulating an authentic note according to the aforementioned arrow F, the security thread 6 first passes next to the first magnetic head 2Oi. This then detects the presence of magnetizable elements in this safety wire 6, according to the teaching of EP-A-0 882 272.

Furthermore, this passage defines the beginning of a search area belonging to the ticket 2, within which the optical elements will be implemented. In other words, before the passage of the security wire 6 opposite the magnetic head 2O _x , the various optical elements are not activated.

Then, as the circulation of this authentic note, the sensors 8 ₁ and 82 detect no presence of the security thread 6 at the faces 4i and 4 ₂ . Moreover, the sensors 10 ₁ and 10 ₂ detect the overall existence of this security thread 6 at this note.

Therefore, this means that the security thread is indeed present, without being placed on any of the faces of the note, so it is necessarily integrated in the thickness e_. The authenticity of this ticket is therefore guaranteed.

Thus, the sensors 81 and 8 ₂ , which have detected nothing, transmit to the central unit 14 values "0", by the lines 8'i and 8'2- Moreover, the sensors 10i and IO2, which have detected the presence of the safety wire, deliver values "1" by lines 10 '1 and 10'2.

Under these conditions, the central unit 14 generates the emission, at the level of the indicator 16, a visual information signifying the authenticity of the ticket, for example a green light.

When the security wire 6 passes next to the second magnetic reading head 2O2, the latter first detects the presence of magnetizable elements, as had been done by the first head 2Q ₁ . However, this second head 2O ₂ provides an additional function, in that it defines the end of the search area of the optical elements. In other words, when the security wire 6 passes in the vicinity of this second head 2O ₂ , the latter delivers a corresponding information, so that all the optical elements are then deactivated.

Thus, the arrangement of these two heads 2O ₁ and ₂ O ₂ , one behind the other, allows delimiting a search area of the note, noted Z in Figure 3. This area has a width L, corresponding to the spacing between these two heads, and a height h substantially corresponding to the distance separating the opposite ends of the sensors of the same plate.

The existence of this search area is advantageous, insofar as it prevents the optical elements from processing the entire ticket. This allows a significant reduction in the number of information to be taken into account, so that the processing time overall, the costs of the entire installation are significantly reduced.

In addition, the presence of these two read heads 20χ and 2θ ₂ allows the flow of the ticket indifferently in one or the other direction, which is particularly convenient for the user. In this case. head 2O ₂ defines the beginning of the search area, in order to activate the optical elements, while the head 2Oi defines the end of this zone, in order to disable these elements.

As a further alternative, the first and second heads are combined into a single magnetic head, which defines both the beginning and the end of the search area. In this case, this single head is in alignment with the optical elements.

Suppose now that a falsified bill crosses the area of the various sensors 81, 82, 10i and 10 ₂ , as well as magnetic heads 20i and 20 ₂ .

This means that the security thread of this note is devoid of magnetizable elements, or that this thread is arranged, not in the thickness, but on any of the faces of this note, or while the latter is lacking of such a security thread.

In the first hypothesis, none of the magnetic heads 2O ₁ and ₂ O ₂ detects the presence of magnetizable elements at the level of the security thread. Under these conditions, these magnetic heads deliver to the central unit values "0", and no longer "1" as in the previous case. The central unit thus notified reports this anomaly to the user, for example by means of the display of a red light at the indicator 16.

In the second hypothesis, one of the two sensors 81 or 82 detects the presence of the security thread on a corresponding face of the note, so that it delivers to the central unit 14 a value "1", by the lines 8 'i and / or 8' ₂ , and no longer "0" as in the previous case. This central unit then means this anomaly to the user, for example in the same way as that mentioned immediately above, namely via the emission of a red light.

Moreover, in the third hypothesis, the sensors 10i and IO2 detect the overall absence of security thread, at the level of the whole ticket. They thus deliver to the central unit 14 a value "0", by the lines 10 ' ₁ and / or 10'2, and no longer "1" as in the case of an authentic ticket. This unit 14 then signals such an absence to the user, for example in the same way as those mentioned above.

Using optical elements working in the infra-red band is advantageous. Indeed, on an authentic ticket, only some elements are deposited infra¬ red, while the other elements are printed with ink in the visible. The invention thus makes it possible to substantially reduce the number of information to be processed, which is advantageous in economic terms.

The invention is not limited to the example described and shown.

Thus, it can be provided that the facing walls of the plates 13χ and 13 ₂ are not flat, as shown in the figures. It is also possible that the lamps 12i and 12 ₂ are disposed at different locations from those shown in Figure 3, while remaining in the vicinity of the sensors 8 ₁ and 8 ₂ .

Claims

1. A method for verifying the authenticity of a document, in particular a banknote (2) or the like, this document having two opposite faces (4χ, 4 ₂ ), this document being provided, when it is of authentic nature, an element of authenticity, such as a security thread (6), which carries information of optical and magnetic natures and is integrated in the thickness (e_) of this document, characterized in that it has the following steps:

(i) the presence of magnetizable elements at the level of the authenticity element (6) is verified by means of at least one magnetic read head (20i, 2O ₂ );

(ii) it is verified, by means of a first optical sensor (8i), adapted to receive waves in the infra-red band, that this element of authenticity (6) is not arranged on the first face (4χ );

(iii) it is verified, by means of a second optical sensor (8 ₂ ), adapted to receive waves in the infra-red band, that this element of authenticity (6) is not present on the second face ( 4 ₂ );

(iv) it is verified, by means of at least one additional optical sensor (10i, 10 2), adapted to receive waves in the infra-red band, that this authenticity element (6) is indeed present at the level of the whole document (2).

2. A method of verifying the authenticity of a document according to claim 1, characterized in that step (i) is carried out by passing the authenticity element (6) opposite a first head. magnetic reading device (20i, 20 ₂ ), which then activates the first optical sensor (81), the second optical sensor (8 ₂ ) and the or each additional optical sensor (10χ, 10 ₂ ) in order to perform the steps (ii) , (iii) and (iv), and finally disables first sensor, this second sensor and the or each additional sensor during the passage of the authenticity element (6) facing a second magnetic reading head (2Û2, 2O ₁ ).

3. A method of verifying the authenticity of a document according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that step (ii) is carried out at a first region (2χ) of said document, whereas step (iii) is simultaneously performed at another region (22) of this document (2).

4. A method of verifying the authenticity of a document according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that simultaneously performs steps (ii), (iii) and (iv).

5. Method for verifying the authenticity of a document according to claims 3 and 4, characterized in that step (ii) is carried out at the level of the first region.

(2χ) placing the first optical sensor (8 ₁ ) on one side of the ticket, in that step (iii) is carried out in the other region (2 ₂ ) by placing the second optical sensor

(8 ₂ ) on the other side of the banknote, and in that step (iv) is performed by means of a first (10i) and a second

(IO2) additional optical sensors, the first additional sensor (10i) being placed in the first region

(2 ₁ ), on the other side of the document, while the second additional sensor (IO ₂ ) is placed in the other region

(2 ₂ ) of the document, at the first side of it.

6. A method of verifying the authenticity of a document according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it has first (12i) and second (I2 ₂ ) lighting means, suitable for emitting waves in the infra band. -red, which are respectively placed in the vicinity of the first (8 ₁ ) and second (8 ₂ ) sensors, each lighting means being able to illuminate, by reflection, the first (8χ) or the second (8 ₂ ) sensor, and being able to illuminate, by transparency, the first (10i) or second (IO2) additional sensor.

7. A method of verifying the authenticity of a document according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in. this. that a user is warned, in particular by a light (16), in the case where at least one of the steps (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) is not performed.

8. Installation for carrying out the method according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising:

at least one magnetic read head (20 1, 2 O 2) capable of detecting the presence of magnetizable elements in the authenticity element (6); a first optical sensor (8 ₁ ) adapted to receive waves in the infra-red band, able to determine the existence of the authenticity element (6) on the first face (4χ); a second optical sensor (82) adapted to receive waves in the infra-red band, able to determine the existence of the authenticity element (6) on the second face (4 ₂ );

at least one additional optical sensor (10χ, 10 2) capable of receiving waves in the infra-red band, able to determine the overall existence of the authenticity element (6) at the level of said document (2);

means (8'i, 8 ' ₂ , 10'1, 10' ₂ / 2O'i) for transferring data from these different optical sensors; and

warning means (14, 16) capable of delivering information that is significant to the authenticity of the document, as a function of the values of said data.

9. Installation according to the preceding claim, for carrying out the method according to any one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that there are provided at least two magnetic read heads (20i, 2O ₂ ), placed one behind the other in a direction (F) of circulation of the document (2).

10. Installation according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the warning means comprise a central unit (14), able to process said data, and a light (16), whose visual state depends on the value of said data.

11. Installation according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that there are provided first (10i) and second (IO ₂ ) additional sensors, and in that it is also provided first (12i) and second (I22) lighting means, adapted to emit waves in the infra-red band, each lighting means being able to illuminate, by reflection, the first (8 ₁ ) or the second (82) sensor, and being capable of illuminating, by transparency, the first (10i) or the second (10 ₂ ) additional sensor.

12. Installation according to claim 11, characterized in that the first sensor (8 ₁ ), the second additional sensor (IO ₂ ) and the first lighting means (12χ) are integrated within the same first support ( 13χ), while the second sensor (82), the first additional sensor (10χ) and the second lighting means (12a) are integrated within a same second support (13a).