Method and apparatus for checking the authenticity of documents

Patent 4820912 Issued on April 11, 1989. Estimated Expiration Date:

September 19, 2006. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

High speed electrically responsive indicia detecting apparatus and method
Patent #: 4255652
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Security paper from film-fibril sheets
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Method and apparatus for discriminating between genuine and suspect paper money
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Inventor: Aoyama

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Patent #: 4630845
Issued on: 12/23/1986
Inventor: Sanner

Process and apparatus for authenticating the signature of a signed message
Patent #: 4656474
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Inventor

Samyn, Johan

Assignee

N. V. Bekaert S.A.

Application

No. 06/910153 filed on 09/19/1986

US Classes:

235/449, Magnetic235/482, Hand feed235/492, Conductive283/70, Identifying283/83, And electrically conductive material324/637, Using transmitted or reflected microwaves340/5.86Document authentication

Examiners

Primary: Pellinen, A. D.
Assistant: Gall, Jeffrey A.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Foley & Lardner, Schwartz, Jeffery, Schwaab, Mack, Blumenthal & Evans

International Classes

G07D 7/10 (20060101)
G07D 7/00 (20060101)
G07D 7/20 (20060101)
G07F 7/08 (20060101)
D21H 21/48 (20060101)
D21H 21/40 (20060101)
G06K 19/10 (20060101)

Foreign Application Priority Data

1985-09-19 NL

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for checking the authenticity of documents, such as banknotes or credit-cards. The documents comprise a number of randomly distributed conductive fibres of which the distribution is scanned by microwaves and the response is transformed into a digital coded signal. A digital mark on the document, which is representative for the distribution of an individual document, is read off, transcoded, and compared with said coded signal for producing an approval signal. The use of a microwave scanning system in conjunction with documents having a random distribution of suitable fibres ensures a great repetitivity and security of the system.