초록 ▼

A sensing arrangement (11) for sensing objects at a plurality of sensing sites (64) is described herein. In one embodiment the arrangement comprises: an imaging device (60) having an array of light-detecting elements; a light guide arrangement (62) extending from the sensing sites (64) to the imagin

A sensing arrangement (11) for sensing objects at a plurality of sensing sites (64) is described herein. In one embodiment the arrangement comprises: an imaging device (60) having an array of light-detecting elements; a light guide arrangement (62) extending from the sensing sites (64) to the imaging device (60); a mount (79) for maintaining the light guide arrangement (62) and the imaging device (60) in a fixed spatial relation so that each sensing site (64) illuminates a zone (60a,b) of different elements on the array; and a processor (72), in communication with the imaging device (60), for analyzing image data captured by each zone. A method of sensing an object is also described herein.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus, comprising: a) an Automated Teller Machine, ATM; b) an image sensor (60) which comprises an array of pixels; c) a currency sheet pick module (12) located at a first sensing site (64a) within the ATM, the module (12) comprising pick components which include i) a

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus, comprising: a) an Automated Teller Machine, ATM; b) an image sensor (60) which comprises an array of pixels; c) a currency sheet pick module (12) located at a first sensing site (64a) within the ATM, the module (12) comprising pick components which include i) a pick arm (24), ii) a pick wheel (26), and iii) a pressure wheel (28), the pick components functioning collectively to i) pick currency sheets from storage and ii) transport the currency sheets from the first sensing site (64a) to a transport (30) at a second sensing site (64b) within the ATM; d) a first elongated light pipe (62a) which extends between the image sensor (60) and the first sensing site (64a), e) a first objective lens (66a) located at the first sensing site (64a), which focuses at least partial images of i) one or more pick components, and ii) a currency sheet, if present at the first sensing site (64a) into the first light pipe (62a), which pipe (62a) transmits the images to the image sensor (60). 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, and further comprising: f) a currency sheet presenter module (14) located at the second sensing site (64b) within the ATM, which module (14) comprises presenter components which include i) a stacking transport (34) which cooperates with the transport (30) to transport a picked banknote (22) to a stacking wheel (36) which stacks banknotes into a stack; ii) a clamping transport (44) which accepts the stack; and iii) a presenting transport (46) which delivers the stack of banknotes (22) to an exit aperture (48) for retrieval by a customer; g) a second elongated light pipe (62b) which extends between the image sensor (60) and the second sensing site (64b), h) a second objective lens (66b) located at the second sensing site (64b), which focuses at least partial images of i) one or more presenter components, and ii) a currency sheet, if present at the second sensing site (64b) into the second light pipe (62b), which pipe (62a) transmits the images to the image sensor (60). 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which the second elongated light pipe (62b) comprises one or more optical fibers. 4. Apparatus according to claim 2, and further comprising a second collecting lens adjacent the second elongated light pipe (62b), for focusing light onto the image sensor (60). 5. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the first objective (66a) lens provides a viewing angle of 120 degrees or more of the first sensing site (64a). 6. Apparatus according to claim 5, in which the second objective lens (66b) provides a viewing angle of 120 degrees or more of the second sensing site (64b). 7. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which 1) a first zone of pixels in the image sensor (60) receives images of the first sensing site (64a), and 2) a second zone of pixels in the image sensor (60) receives images of the second sensing site (64b). 8. Apparatus according to claim 1, and further comprising a system which transmits images captured by the image sensor (60) to a remote location. 9. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the distance between the image sensor (60) and the first sensing site (64a) exceeds 10 centimeters. 10. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the first elongated light pipe (62a) comprises one or more optical fibers. 11. Apparatus according to claim 1, and further comprising a first collecting lens adjacent the first elongated light pipe (62a), for focusing light onto the image sensor (60). 12. A method of operating an Automated Teller Machine, ATM, which contains a currency sheet pick module (12) and a presenter module (14), comprising: a) at a first sensing site (64a) within the ATM, capturing first images of i) at least some components of the pick module, and ii) a currency sheet, if present at the first sensing site (64a) b) at a second sensing site (64b) within the ATM, which is different from the first sensing site (64a), capturing second images of i) at least some components of the presenter module, and ii) a currency sheet, if present at the second sensing site (64(b) c) delivering captured first images via a first light pipe (62a) to an image sensor (60); d) delivering captured second images via a second light pipe (62b) to the image sensor (60); and e) processing either or both of the images to ascertain whether a component within the images deviates from a predetermined position. 13. Method according to claim 12, and further comprising: f) transmitting some or all of the images to a remote diagnostic facility. 14. An apparatus, comprising: a) an Automated Teller Machine, ATM, which contains i) a pick module (12) which includes A) a cassette (18) which stores banknotes (22); B) a pick arm (24) which removes banknotes (22) from the cassette (18); and C) a pick wheel (26) and pressure wheel (28) which cooperate to transfer a picked banknote (22) from the pick arm (24) to a transport (30); ii) a presenter module (24) which includes A) a stacking transport (34) which cooperates with the transport (30) to transport a picked banknote (22) to a stacking wheel (36) which stacks banknotes into a stack; B) a clamping transport (44) which accepts the stack; C) a presenting transport (46) which delivers the stack of banknotes (22) to an exit aperture (48) for retrieval by a customer; and D) a purge transport (40) which transports a rejected banknote (22) to a purge bin (42); b) within the ATM, i) an image sensor (60) which comprises an array of pixels; ii) a first objective lens (66a) which receives an image of A) part or all of the pick arm (24); B) part or all of the cassette (18); C) part or all of the pick wheel (26); D) part or all of the pressure wheel (28); E) part or all of the transport (30); and F) part or all of a banknote (22) if present; iii) a first elongated light pipe (62a) which receives an image focused by the first objective lens (66a) and transmits the image to the image sensor (60); iv) a second objective lens (66b) which receives an image of A) part or all of the a stacking transport (34); B) part or all of the stacking wheel (36); C) part or all of the clamping transport (44); D) part or all of the presenting transport (46); and E) part or all of a banknote if present; v) a second elongated light pipe (62b) which receives an image focused by the second objective lens (66b) and transmits the image to the image sensor (60). 15. Apparatus according to claim 14, and further comprising: c) a reference template (330) within the ATM which is adjacent to A) the pick arm (24); or B) the cassette (18); or C) the pick wheel (26); or D) the pressure wheel (28); or E) the transport (30); or F) a combination of (A) through (E) d) an imaging system which uses the first objective lens (66a) to capture an image of the reference template (330) when the first objective lens (66a) also captures an image of A) part or all of the pick arm (24); B) part or all of the cassette (18); C) part or all of the pick wheel (26); D) part or all of the pressure wheel (28); and E) part or all of the transport (30); e) a processing system which processes the image of paragraph (d) and ascertains whether A) the pick arm (24); B) the cassette (18); C) the pick wheel (26); D) the pressure wheel (28); or E) or the transport (30) are in a predetermined position when the image was captured and f) a transmitter which transmits the image of paragraph (d) to a remote diagnostic center. 16. Apparatus according to claim 14, in which the ATM contains A) no sensors which detect position of the pick arm (24); B) no sensors which detect position of the cassette (18); C) no sensors which detect position of the pick wheel (26); D) no sensors which detect position of the pressure wheel (28); and E) no sensors which detect position of the transport (30). 17. Method according to claim 14 and further comprising: c) a system which ascertains whether A) the pick arm (24); B) the cassette (18); C) the pick wheel (26); D) the pressure wheel (28); or E) or the transport (30) are in a predetermined respective position when the image was captured, and, if not, causes the ATM to take corrective action.