NL9002071A - A BANKNOTE WITH BAR CODE. - Google Patents

Description

A banknote with barcode.

The invention relates to a banknote provided with an identification number which is stated in a bar code.

Such a banknote is known from Dutch patent application 79.06934 which has led to Dutch patent 184.635. In the known patent application, the identification number is provided as a watermark in special paper prepared for printing banknotes. In any case, the bar code number gives the banknote a security feature by its watermark character, while the bar code number may also be part of a machine-readable number of a banknote.

Assigning an individual identification number to a banknote is common practice. The individual identification number makes it possible to manage the banknote, as it were. With an identification number with thirteen characters, four of the characters can represent a serial number, five characters a banknote number, a character the denomination of the banknote, a character the issue model, and finally two characters a modulocheck that checks the correctness of the reading when the characters are machine-read. can yield. By adding one or two more characters, the identification number can also be the geographical area, for example the country of issue and in that case indicate the currency.

According to the invention, the banknote provided with a barcode identification number is characterized by the barcode number being applied to the banknote in full print and at least for the most part and also in print in an alphanumeric human readable code.

Preferably, the bar code is a 2-out-5 binary code.

Two of the five stripes are both in a fixed ratio wider than the three other equally wide stripes, seen in the direction of movement of a detector over the banknote upon successful detection.

In particular, of the binary formatted barcode characters, three stripes may be applied to the banknote against a contrasting background, the first and fifth bars always being applied within a fixed size and adjacent a fixed space between barcode characters.

The invention is explained below in a description of a number of exemplary embodiments, which description refers to a drawing.

Figure 1 shows a banknote with a specific surface area for an identification number; Figure 2 gives two examples of the format of a banknote identification number; Figures 3A and 3B show a manner of classifying an identification number according to the invention, respectively; Figure 4 gives some examples of formats of the banknote identification according to the invention; Figure 5 shows different relationships between the detector-readable code and the human-readable code in a banknote identification; and Figure 6 gives examples of a banknote identification using a country code in the form of a currency code.

The use of banknote identification numbers according to the invention can lead to the following.

Central banks or parts of a central bank (agencies) can sort and count each other's banknotes by machine or they can sort foreign banknotes by machine for repatriation.

It will be possible to use ATMs to change currencies using a barcode identification number. The exchange rates that change daily can be entered from a central point.

In large stores, automatic cash registers can be placed where the customer can pay with banknotes that are automatically read into the cash register, after which the cash register automatically presents change to the customer. When closing the cash register, a specified cash statement can be drawn up automatically, stating precisely the numbers of the various banknotes that must be present in the cash register. The banknotes are out of sight and reach of staff and customers, which frustrates rogue intentions.

Central and decentralized registration of specific banknotes is simplified by standardized barcode numbering. Detecting a banknote number with a barcode reader simplifies the detection of counterfeit notes and the tracing of banknotes "earmarked" by the banknote number. In addition, the administration of out-of-circulation banknotes will be more efficient.

Figure 1 shows a banknote 1 with a specific surface area 2 for an identification number. The identification number ensures that a banknote is given a unique coding. The encoding consists of a number of characters, such as characters, numbers and symbols.

The choice of the specific area is free; however, it is preferably not on one of the two axes or close to one of the banknote edges. In such a preferred embodiment, the banknote must pass the detection device for detecting or reading the number in the correct position.

In Figure 2, the banknote identification number consists of ncharacters. These characters form: 1) a human-readable code from letters and numbers, and 2) a detector-readable code, for example a barcode, from symbols. The human-readable code can be placed above (figure 2a) or below (figure 2b). - legible code to be placed. In the figure, i is the character with rank number i of the identification number.

A barcode consists of a number of characters. A suitable encoding is a 2-out-5 encoding. Each barcode character then consists of five stripes of which, for example, three are narrow and two are wide. The first and last lines of a character are always dark against a light background. Two characters are separated by a space that is always light, so it matches the background. The stripes within a character are alternately dark and light. Both the light and dark stripes contain information. For example, a narrow (light or dark) stripe is an O-bit and a wide (light or dark) stripe is a 1-bit. In this way, ten different characters can be created.

Figure 3A and Figure 3B show examples of a n-character identification number consisting of a number of elements, namely LC = country code, for example 31 for the Netherlands and 49 for Germany; D = denomination code, for example 5 for a note of 25 guilders, 4 for a note of 50 guilders and 3 for a note of 100 guilders; M = model code, for example 1 for a banknote NLG 25 / Model 1971 and 2 for a banknote NLG 25 / Model 1989; SN = serial number, for example AB12 or 1234; NN = banknote number, for example 1234; BN = banknote number (= SN + NN), for example 123456789; MC = modulo check, for example modulo-9 or -98.

The modulo check is a control option for reading the detector-readable code by the detector.

Each element consists of a number of characters. For example, in figure 3A: LC = 2 characters D = 1 character M = 1 character BN = 9 characters MC = 1 character and in figure 3B: LC «2 characters D = 1 character Μ = 1 character SN = 4 characters NN = 5 characters MC = 2 characters

Figure 4 gives a number of examples (a to g) of formats of the banknote identification with a detector-readable code and possibly a human-readable code below: a) complete detector-readable code; b) complete detector-readable code and a human-readable code without modulo check; c) as b), but without model code in human-readable code; d) as c), but without denomination code in human-readable code; e) as d), but without country code in human-readable code; f) as e), but in a different order ,; g) as e), but without country code and with human-readable denomination code.

Figure 5 shows that within an element the detector-readable code can be interpreted in different ways in human-readable code, for example, for the country code in detector-readable code, the international telephony agreed international country code can be chosen. For the Netherlands this is 31 (figure 5a). In human-readable code this country code can also be printed as 31 (figure 5b), but for the human-readable code the international agreed currency indication can also be chosen: for the Netherlands this is the acronym NLG (figure 5c), or else the country designation as used for cars and driving licenses: for the Netherlands this is the acronym NL.

Figure 6 shows some examples of a banknote identification using a country code in the form of a currency designation:

a) France: detector-readable code: 33 / human-readable code: FF

b) Germany: detector-readable code: 49 / human-readable code: DM

c) Belgium: detector-readable code: 32 / human-readable code BF

d) European Monetary Union: detector-readable code: EE / human-readable

code: ECU

(e) United Kingdom: detector-readable code: 44 / human-readable code: £

Claims (5)

1. Banknote bearing an identification number set in a bar code, characterized in that the bar code number is printed in full on the banknote and, if desired, also printed in an alphanumeric, human-readable code. Banknote according to claim 1, characterized in that the barcode is a 2-of-5 binary code. Banknote according to claim 2, characterized in that two of the five stripes are both in a fixed ratio wider than the three remaining seven wide stripes, viewed in the direction of movement of a detector over the note upon successful detection. Banknote according to claim 3, characterized in that three stripes of debinary formatted barcode characters are provided on the banknote against a contrasting background, wherein the first and the fifth stripes are always applied within a fixed size and adjoin a fixed space between the barcode characters. Banknote according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the identification number openly contains a denomination code and / or a model code and / or a geographical code.