Document Handler Facial Recognition for Repeat User Rewards

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing document handlers lack the ability to identify repeat users and provide personalized rewards or services based on their investment history, failing to promote usage and enhance user engagement.

Innovation Solution

A document handler equipped with a camera for facial image capture, a validation memory to store user images and investment records, and a retrieval comparator to compare and provide personalized rewards or services based on user history.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If facial image capture and user identification functions are added to the document handler, then user engagement and personalized service capability are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepersonalized service capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The camera device is integrated into the document handler to perform multiple functions: capturing facial images for user identification, detecting flash timing, and coordinating with document processing. This multi-functional integration allows the system to provide personalized services while managing device complexity through shared hardware resources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The control device acts as an intermediary that coordinates between the camera device, flash device, and document processing components. It manages the timing and coordination of flash activation relative to document insertion and facial image capture, simplifying the control logic by centralizing the mediation function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If flash timing is precisely controlled based on document insertion detection, then facial image quality is improved, but measurement precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefacial image capture timing precisionVSAvoidtiming synchronization difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback from the document sensor that detects when a document is inserted into the handler. This detection signal triggers the control device to activate the flash at the appropriate timing, creating a feedback loop that automatically synchronizes flash timing with document insertion events without requiring complex manual timing adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The flash device is prepared and positioned in advance within the document handler, and the control device is pre-programmed with the timing logic to activate the flash immediately upon detecting document insertion. This preliminary preparation ensures that the flash fires at the correct moment for capturing facial images without requiring real-time complex calculations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables personalized rewards and services for repeat users, promoting engagement and usage while also aiding in identifying missing persons or criminals through facial recognition.

Implementation Method 1

a camera (4) for photoelectrically taking facial images of a user to produce the facial image signals

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoelectric conversion: Photoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

a document sensor (16) for photoelectrically taking print images on the document moving along the passageway (15) of the validator (1) to produce the print image signals

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoelectric conversion: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP4679393A1Paper sheet handling device provided with camera device for photographing face of person who charges paper sheet
Publication Date: 2026.01.14 JAPAN CASH MASCH CO LTD
  • EP4679393A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4679393A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4679393A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

[Problem] The document handler provides a different special prize for each of users who have invested valuable documents into validators of the document handler in response to the user's investment records. [Solution to Problem] The document handler comprises a validation memory (18) for storing print images of a document output from a document sensor (16), facial images output from a camera (4) and control codes commonly assigned to the print and facial images, and a retrieval comparator (20) for comparing facial images stored in validation memory (18) with the facial images output from camera (4) to display print images, facial images of the user and user's investment history and to provide different special treatment for the user in response to the user's investment records when agreement is made between two kinds of facial images stored in validation memory (18) and output from camera (4).