Ultrasonic Document Examination for Adhesive Connection Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for detecting counterfeit documents, particularly denomination forgery, face challenges in recognizing adhesive connections between parts of a document, as these connections are difficult to identify with certainty using existing machine checking devices.

Innovation Solution

A method utilizing ultrasonic sensors to measure and spatially resolve ultrasonic properties of documents, forming location-dependent measurement data to identify differences in surface areas, which can indicate counterfeiting by differing ultrasonic properties, and an evaluation device processes this data to form an authenticity signal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If adhesive connections between document parts are examined using conventional checking devices, then the detection of denomination forgery is attempted, but the adhesive connections cannot be recognized easily and with certainty

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracy of adhesive connectionsVSAvoidcomplexity of checking device
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional mechanical/optical checking devices with ultrasonic sensing technology. Ultrasonic sensors emit sound waves that interact with adhesive connections differently than genuine document materials, enabling detection through acoustic property variations rather than visual or tactile examination. This substitution achieves reliable adhesive connection detection while maintaining reasonable device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes changes in ultrasonic wave parameters (such as attenuation, velocity, or reflection characteristics) when passing through or reflecting off adhesive connections versus genuine document materials. By measuring these parameter variations, the system can distinguish between authentic and forged documents with high precision without requiring complex mechanical inspection mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If document parts are joined by gluing to create denomination forgery, then the forged document becomes difficult to detect with simple checking devices, but ultrasonic sensing can identify the differences in ultrasonic properties

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of counterfeit detectionVSAvoiddifficulty of detecting adhesive connections
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces difficult visual or tactile detection methods with ultrasonic sensing that exploits fundamental differences in acoustic properties between adhesive materials and genuine document substrates. This substitution transforms a difficult detection problem into a reliable measurement process based on physical property differences.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

Analogous to color changes, the patent detects differences in ultrasonic wave characteristics (such as attenuation coefficients or propagation velocity) that serve as acoustic 'signatures' for different materials. Adhesive connections exhibit distinct ultrasonic properties compared to genuine document materials, enabling reliable detection through these acoustic variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

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

Effectively detects counterfeiting by identifying variations in ultrasonic properties across a document's surface, allowing for robust and reliable authentication of documents without requiring recognition of adhesive connections, thereby preventing the use of counterfeit denominations.

Implementation Method 1

at least one ultrasonic property of the document of value is measured by means of an ultrasonic sensor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUltrasound: Ultrasound

Data Source

PatentEP2795590B1Method and device for examining a document of value
Publication Date: 2020.04.15 GIESECKE & DEVRIENT CURRENCY TECHNOLOGY GMBH
  • EP2795590B1 patent drawingFigure 1~6d
  • EP2795590B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP2795590B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7c

AI summary

Described is a method for examining a document of value of a predefined type for the purpose of identifying a suspected forgery, in particular, an assembled forged document, in which at least one ultrasonic property of the document of value is detected in a spatially resolved manner by generating location-dependent measurement data, in which the location-dependent measurement data are used to examine whether a predefined examination area of the document of value contains two sections that have ultrasonic properties that differ from one another according to a predefined distinguishing criterion, and in which an authenticity signal is generated to indicate the results of the examination. A corresponding examination device is also described.