Patent watch: Xerox system to prevent banknote copying

Phil Taylor, 14-Jul-2015

Patent file Xerox has been awarded a US patent on an improved system for automatically blocking the reproduction of banknotes on digital printing equipment.

While the Central Bank Counterfeit Deterrence Group (CBCDG) developed a counterfeit deterrence system (CDS) in 2004 to deter the use of personal computers, digital imaging equipment, and software in the counterfeiting of banknotes, this voluntary system has limitations that - according to Xerox - are overcome with its system.

Counterfeit deterrence using full width array scans

Abstract: Systems and methods are described that facilitate counterfeit deterrence in a printer or the like. A final image is scanned from a photoreceptor belt before or after transfer of the image to a print medium or from the print medium itself prior to output, and the scanned image data is assessed using a set of stored criteria to detect counterfeit signatures in the scanned image. Upon a determination that the scanned image includes a restricted image, and therefore contains one or more counterfeit image, the printer is shut down, electronically locked until serviced, and/or caused to damage or mark the printed counterfeit image(s).

For the full patent text see: US Patent No. 9,065,950