A thickness detection device, which is used for avoiding the condition where abnormal features, such as foreign matter and damaged apertures, pass through a gap, so that the thickness detection device does not have a detection blind area. The thickness detection device comprises: a plurality of thickness sensors (1101, 1102, 1103 . . . 1111, 1112) which are divided into two rows, i.e. a front row and a rear row in the advance direction of a slice medium, wherein an interlaced distribution is formed between the two rows of thickness sensors (1101, 1102, 1103 . . . 1111, 1112), so that any point on the slice medium passes through the sensing coverage range of the thickness sensors (1101, 1102, 1103 . . . 1111, 1112) in the advance direction.

A thickness detection device, which is used for avoiding the condition where abnormal features, such as foreign matter and damaged apertures, pass through a gap, so that the thickness detection device does not have a detection blind area. The thickness detection device comprises: a plurality of thickness sensors (1101, 1102, 1103 . . . 1111, 1112) which are divided into two rows, i.e. a front row and a rear row in the advance direction of a slice medium, wherein an interlaced distribution is formed between the two rows of thickness sensors (1101, 1102, 1103 . . . 1111, 1112), so that any point on the slice medium passes through the sensing coverage range of the thickness sensors (1101, 1102, 1103 . . . 1111, 1112) in the advance direction.

A sound wave sensor, capable of reliably detecting presence or absence of a banknote very easily with use of sound waves, is provided. The sound wave sensor includes a sounding body 2 that outputs a sound wave signal of a predetermined frequency, an echo body 3 opposed to the sounding body 2 in a direction in which the sounding body 2 outputs the sound wave signal, the echo body 3 being provided at a position where the sound wave signal resonates at the predetermined frequency; a slit 5 through which a sheet-like banknote 4 passes, the slit 5 being provided between the sounding body 2 and the echo body 3; and a resonance determination unit 6 that determines a resonant state of the frequency output from the sounding body 2. The resonance determination unit 6 determines a resonant state by detecting variation in power consumption of the sounding body 2.

A sound wave sensor, capable of reliably detecting presence or absence of a banknote very easily with use of sound waves, is provided. The sound wave sensor includes a sounding body 2 that outputs a sound wave signal of a predetermined frequency, an echo body 3 opposed to the sounding body 2 in a direction in which the sounding body 2 outputs the sound wave signal, the echo body 3 being provided at a position where the sound wave signal resonates at the predetermined frequency; a slit 5 through which a sheet-like banknote 4 passes, the slit 5 being provided between the sounding body 2 and the echo body 3; and a resonance determination unit 6 that determines a resonant state of the frequency output from the sounding body 2. The resonance determination unit 6 determines a resonant state by detecting variation in power consumption of the sounding body 2.

The present invention provides apparatus for indicating if a security document comprises one or more specified characteristics. The invention also provides a method of indicating if a security document comprises one or more specified characteristics, and a banknote counting apparatus comprising the apparatus.

An ultrasonic sensor and method for using the same are arranged for capturing a value document transported through a capture region of the ultrasonic sensor. The ultrasonic sensor has an ultrasound transmitter arranged for emitting ultrasound into the capture region and an ultrasound receiver arranged for receiving ultrasound from the ultrasound transmitter from the capture region. A control and evaluation circuit is arranged for controlling the ultrasound transmitter and for capturing and evaluating the signals of the ultrasound receiver. A circuit carrier carries the control and evaluation circuit, the ultrasound transmitter, the ultrasound receiver, and conducting paths electrically connecting the control and evaluation circuit to the first and second ultrasonic transducers. The circuit carrier has a U-shaped configuration and two interconnected arm portions, and the ultrasound transmitter is held on one of the two arm portions and the ultrasound receiver on the other of the two arm portions.

An ultrasonic sensor and method for using the same are arranged for capturing a value document transported through a capture region of the ultrasonic sensor. The ultrasonic sensor has an ultrasound transmitter arranged for emitting ultrasound into the capture region and an ultrasound receiver arranged for receiving ultrasound from the ultrasound transmitter from the capture region. A control and evaluation circuit is arranged for controlling the ultrasound transmitter and for capturing and evaluating the signals of the ultrasound receiver. A circuit carrier carries the control and evaluation circuit, the ultrasound transmitter, the ultrasound receiver, and conducting paths electrically connecting the control and evaluation circuit to the first and second ultrasonic transducers. The circuit carrier has a U-shaped configuration and two interconnected arm portions, and the ultrasound transmitter is held on one of the two arm portions and the ultrasound receiver on the other of the two arm portions.

A method for checking a value document of a specified value-document type has a window which has a foil region. The measurement values for an ultrasound transmission of the value document are established in a spatially resolved manner, and it is checked while employing the measurement values whether for a specified number of locations in a specified checking region the ultrasound transmission according to a specified criterion is greater than a specified minimum ultrasound transmission that is characteristic of a specified portion, lying outside the checking region, of at least one value document of the specified value-document type.

A method for checking a value document of a specified value-document type has a window which has a foil region. The measurement values for an ultrasound transmission of the value document are established in a spatially resolved manner, and it is checked while employing the measurement values whether for a specified number of locations in a specified checking region the ultrasound transmission according to a specified criterion is greater than a specified minimum ultrasound transmission that is characteristic of a specified portion, lying outside the checking region, of at least one value document of the specified value-document type.

A method is described for checking a value document, wherein measuring values of the value document are detected in spatially resolved fashion. The measuring value detected in the respective measuring point is allocated to a node corresponding to this measuring point, and a two-dimensional network of nodes is formed therefrom. A network is formed from the two-dimensional network of the nodes and a source node and a sink node. By means of the maximally possible flow through the network, the value document is classified as suspected of forgery or not suspected of forgery. The maximally possible flow through the network is a measure for the degree of probability of the value document having a continuous object along a direction transverse to the direction of the network, said object indicating a manipulation of the value document, such as e.g. an adhesive strip or a separating line of a composed forgery.