United States Patent m
Troung et al.
[54] CURRENCY NOTE WIDTH DETECTOR
[75] Inventors: Peter Troung, Browns Mills; Michael L. DeFeo, Runnemede, both of N.J.; Paul Hessler, Oreland, Pa.; Kenneth W. Maier, Levittown, Pa.; Martin J. Poloncarz, Oreland, Pa.; William Sherman, III, Medford, N.J.
[73] Assignee: Brandt, Inc., Bensalem, Pa.
[21] Appl. No.: 64,335
[22] Filed: May 20, 1993
Related U.S. Application Data
[63] Continuation of Ser. No. 676,188, Mar. 27, 1991, abandoned.
[51] Int. C1.5 G06K 9/00
[52] U.S. CI 382/7; 382/54;
382/58; 250/560
[58] Field of Search 382/7, 54, 58; 250/556,
250/262, 560; G06K 9/00, 9/40, 9/20, 7/10, 5/00, 11/00; G01V 5/00, 9/04; G01N 21/86
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
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4,298,807 11/1981 Favre 250/262
4,348,656 9/1982 Gorgone et al 340/146.3
4,435.834 3/1984 Pauli et al 382/7
4,473,157 1/1984 Hirose et al 209/534
[ii] Patent Number: 5,309,515 [45] Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
4,479,049 10/1984 Hirose 235/379
4,554,444 11/1985 Hirose 235/379
4.559.451 12/1985 Curl 250/560
4.559.452 12/1985 Igaki et al 250/560
4,590,606 5/1986 Rohrer 382/54
4,710,963 12/1987 Chapman et al 250/556
4,817,804 4/1989 Kawano et al 209/534
4,823,393 4/1989 Kawakami 382/7
4,944,505 7/1990 Sherman, III 250/560
5,006,719 4/1991 Blaser 250/560
Primary Examiner—Yon J. Couso
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Shenier & O'Connor
[57] ABSTRACT
Apparatus for accurately determining the width of a traveling document in which respective groups of LEDs are disposed along a line extending transversely of the path of document travel inwardly from points spaced by a distance greater than the maximum document width. The groups of LEDs and respective strip photodiodes associated therewith are disposed on opposite sides of the path so that a document travelling along the path partially blocks respective LEDs of said groups. The LEDs are sequentially energized one by one from one end of the group to the other. The completely unblocked energized LEDs are counted and the percent blocked of the partially blocked LED is determined to permit an accurate width measurement to be calculated.
20 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets
