DOCUMENT VERIFIER

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a cover for a document checking device, in particular for a document checking device which is intended for checking documents of different formats.

[0002] When using a document verification device designed to verify documents of different formats, there is usually a difficulty in correctly positioning or laying out the document to be verified.

[0003] A document inspection device is typically equipped with a glass plate onto which the document to be inspected is placed or pressed against, allowing a camera located inside the document inspection device behind the glass plate to optically capture the side of the document being inspected. The camera is typically connected to a computer, which uses a database to compare the optically captured document with reference data contained in the database and then displays the result of the comparison on a display connected to the computer.

[0004] For example, if the document inspection device is to be able to inspect documents in the so-called ID-1 format with dimensions of 85.60 mm x 53.98 mm as well as in the ID-3 format with dimensions of 125 mm x 88 mm, it is difficult to determine in which area of ​​the glass plate the smaller document should be placed if rapid handling is desired.

[0005] The format specifications ID-1 format, ID-2 format, and ID-3 format are defined in document EP 1 324 283 A1. This document discloses a document authentication device that can distinguish authenticity with high accuracy at the time of authentication of a presented document by capturing images using wavelength characteristics related to the transmittance and reflectance of light. The captured images are numerically converted to find feature sets.

[0006] Document WO 2010 / 038329 A1 discloses a reading device comprising: an imaging element that optically reads a recording medium, i.e., a book or a card; a reading surface for locating the recording medium; a positioning element configured to determine the position of the recording medium on adjacent leg sides of the reading surface; a light-blocking portion disposed on the positioning element; and an ejection tunnel disposed near a corner, i.e., an intersection point of the two adjacent sides of the reading surface. The ejection tunnel is covered with the light-blocking portion for blocking external light and is disposed on a surface adjacent to the reading surface.

[0007] EP 2 980 761 A1 discloses a terminal unit for the machine verification of a security document, the terminal unit comprising: a feed opening; feed means for automatically feeding the security document in the unfolded state into the feed opening; an RFID card reader configured to read data from an RFID chip of the fed security document, provided the RFID card reader and the RFID chip are each in a reading position; a type recognition module for recognizing a document type and for determining a document-type-specific position of the RFID chip within the unfolded security document based on the recognized document type;a drive that, based on the determined position of the RFID chip, automatically moves the RFID card reader and the retracted, unfolded security document relative to each other so that both the RFID card reader and the RFID chip are in their respective reading positions; and a verification module for reading the data from the security document using the card reader after reaching the respective reading position and for verifying the security document based on the read data.

[0008] DE 43 33 667 A1 relates to a method for detecting counterfeit money using the security strip and a mobile device. The security metal strip is tested inductively, capacitively, and / or optically for the presence and arrangement of the visible sections and / or electrically for continuity, and the result is indicated visually or acoustically. The testing device consists of a power source, a switch, a testing unit, an electronic evaluator, and an optical or acoustic signal generator.

[0009] A particular problem is that ambient light adversely affects the camera's optical recording of the document.

[0010] The present invention therefore aims to improve devices from the prior art.

[0011] The problem underlying the invention is solved by the features of the independent claims. The dependent claims describe embodiments.

[0012] Embodiments relate to a document verification device for verifying documents in different document formats, the cover of which is provided with a recess corresponding to a first document format. Thus, this cover can also be considered a type of template for documents in the first document format.

[0013] For example, the document verification device may be provided for verifying documents in a first document format, which may correspond to an ID-1 format, and also for verifying documents in a second document format that is larger than the ID-1 format, for example an ID-2 format or an ID-3 format.

[0014] The recess in the lid corresponds to the smaller document format of the document formats that can be checked by the document checking device.

[0015] If the lid is closed or folded shut, a camera provided in the document inspection device only optically records the area of ​​the recess, while the area of ​​the lid around the recess, for example, does not contain any information and is black, for example.

[0016] In this state, a check of a document in the first document format can be easily carried out by simply placing the document in the first document format, which can thus also be referred to as a first, smaller document format, on the recess.

[0017] This ensures that no disturbing ambient light is picked up by the camera, allowing for more reliable document review. Comparison with a document reference database is also accelerated, as no position transformations are performed to perform the otherwise potentially necessary position normalization.

[0018] It is possible that in the area of ​​the recess, the thickness of the cover tapers around it in the direction of the recess.

[0019] For example, the cutout may be rectangular in shape according to the first document format. In the cover area surrounding the cutout, the thickness of the cover may decrease or taper from the outer edge of the cover to the cutout.

[0020] In this way, it is possible for a document in the first document format to be quickly placed on the document verification device, or more precisely: on the closed lid of the device, to slide precisely into the recess, almost driven by gravity.

[0021] This allows for a particularly rapid review of a document in the first document format, as the care that would otherwise be required when printing a document in the first document format can be omitted.

[0022] The cutout is in exact registration with the first document format. It is possible that the cutout is at least substantially in exact registration with the first document format.

[0023] In this case, "precise registration" specifically means that a document in the first document format fits snugly into the recess with a clearance of approximately 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm to a maximum of 1.0 mm, so that the document in the first document format fits comfortably and / or smoothly into the recess, in particular without the need for additional force beyond gravity. The clearance must not be too large, as otherwise, excessive ambient light would be disruptive.

[0024] In this way, the incidence of disturbing ambient light is significantly reduced.

[0025] The cover surface of the cover can correspond in terms of its dimensions to at least one surface of a second document format.

[0026] In this way, it is possible for a document placed on the scanner with the lid open to be captured and checked in the second document format after the lid is closed, without disturbing ambient light.

[0027] The lid is designed as a hinged lid.

[0028] Furthermore, the cover can be designed such that the first document format is the document format ID1 and the second document format is the document format ID2 and / or ID3.

[0029] Embodiments of the invention will be explained below with reference to the accompanying drawing. It shows: Figure: a document validator with a lid.

[0030] The figure is for illustrative purposes only and is neither restrictive nor to scale.

[0031] The figure shows a document verification device 1 for verifying documents in different document formats, for example, a first document format that is smaller than a second document format. The document verification device has a cover 5 provided with a recess 11. The recess 11 corresponds to the first, smaller document format.

[0032] In the area of ​​the recess, surrounding it, the thickness of the cover 5 tapers in the direction of the recess 11, as illustrated by the tapers or edge sections 7 and / or 9. More precisely, the thickness of the cover tapers toward the center of the recess 11, with the taper 7 and / or 9 being designed exclusively perpendicular to the edge direction.

[0033] It can be provided that the tapers 7 and 9 are formed at different angles: For example, the taper 9 arranged further out, outside the recess 11, can have a flatter angle of inclination than the taper 7 formed directly at the edge, so that a document in the first document format moved toward the recess 11 initially corrects its position due to gravity during the slide, and then, as soon as it is almost in the recess, moves more quickly into the final position due to the steeper angle of inclination of the taper 7. As soon as the document then rests firmly on the glass plate 13, the document inspection can begin.

[0034] The recess 11 can be precisely aligned to the first document format, so that disturbing ambient light is largely eliminated.

[0035] On the cover 5 it can be provided that the cover surface corresponds in terms of its dimensions to at least one surface of a second document format which is larger than the first document format.

[0036] Thus, a document in the second document format can be placed directly onto the glass plate 13 after opening the lid 5. After closing the lid, ambient light neither penetrates the housing 3 of the document verification device at the edge around the document in the second document format nor through the recess 11, since the document in the second document itself excludes the ambient light.

[0037] It is clear to the person skilled in the art that the lid 5 can be designed as a hinged lid.

[0038] Furthermore, the cover 5 can be designed such that the first document format is the document format ID1 and the second document format is the document format ID2 and / or ID3.

[0039] Furthermore, a document checking device 1 for checking documents in different document formats with a cover 5 as described above is provided. List of reference symbols

[0040] 1Document verifier for checking documents in different formats 3Document verifier housing 5Cover for a document verifier 7Tapering of the cover towards the recess 9Further tapering of the cover towards the recess 11Recess of the cover 13Glass plate

Claims

1. A document testing device (1) for testing documents in different document formats, comprising a camera and a lid (5), wherein - the lid (5) is provided with a recess (11), which corresponds to a first document format, characterized in that - the recess (11) is configured in such a way that the document in the first document format fits into the recess (11) with a tolerance of about 0,1 mm to 0,5 mm, up to a maximum of 1,0 mm, and - the lid (5) is configured as a hinged lid, wherein the recess (11) corresponds to the document in the first document format in an accurately fitting manner and the camera is configured to optically capture solely the area of the recess (11) when the lid (5) is closed, so that no disturbing ambient light is recorded by the camera when the document in the first document format is placed on the recess (11).

2. The document testing device (1) of claim 1, wherein in the area of the recess (11), running circumferentially around the latter, the thickness of the lid (5) tapers (7; 9) in the direction of the recess (11).

3. The document testing device (1) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the lid surface, with regard to its dimensions, corresponds at least to a surface of a second document format.

4. The document testing device (1) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the first document format is the document format ID1 and the second document format is the document format ID2 and / or ID3.