Identification method for valuable file and identification device thereof

[0001] This application is a National Stage application of PCT international application PCT/CN2012/078218, filed on Jul. 5, 2012 which claims the priority of Chinese Patent Application No. 201110278160.9, entitled “IDENTIFICATION METHOD FOR VALUABLE FILE AND IDENTIFICATION DEVICE THEREOF”, filed on Sep. 19, 2011 with State Intellectual Property Office of PRC, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0002] The present invention relates to a method and device for distinguishing a value document, and in particular to a method and device for distinguishing a value document by distinguishing an infrared image of the valuable document on a mobile device with an infrared photography function.

[0003] Although various bank cards are widely used now, the circulation of cash remains predominant. Some criminals use high-tech means to imitate and forge value documents such as banknotes, causing serious harm to our society. In order to prevent the circulation of imitated value documents such as fake banknotes, there are increasing demands for accuracy and portability of value document distinguishing device. However, nowadays, distinguishing devices with relatively high accuracy mainly include large scale devices such as Banknote-Testing Device and ATM, which have high price and less portability, and therefore the application places of these devices are greatly restricted. In order to solve this problem, some simple devices such as fluorescence pen are emerged on the market; however, these portable devices have difficulties in detecting and distinguishing a value document.

[0004] A problem the skilled in the prior art encountered is: if the accuracy of a value document distinguishing device is to be improved, the accuracy for capturing images by the value document distinguishing device must be ensured. For this end, the value document distinguishing device needs to use a stable single light source to capture image, so as to improve the sharpness and reality of a value document image, therefore, the hardware structure and application places of the value document distinguishing device are restricted, and the value document distinguishing device with high accuracy has complex structure, high price and less portability. A value document distinguishing device with simple structure, low price and portability, however, has less accuracy for distinguishing.

[0005] Therefore, there is a need for a value document distinguishing device with high accuracy and portability.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a value document distinguishing method which is easy to operate and has high accuracy.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a value document distinguishing device with high accuracy and portability.

[0008] In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a method for distinguishing a value document, and the method includes the following steps:

[0009] (1) acquiring an original infrared image, type, denomination and orientation data of a current value document;

[0010] (2) obtaining size data and infrared characteristic data of a standard value document corresponding to the current value document from a storage module according to the type, denomination and orientation data of the current value document;

[0011] (3) performing calibration process on the original infrared image using image projection transformation technology according to the size data of the standard value document to form a second infrared image, the size of the second infrared image being matched with the size of the standard value document;

[0012] (4) obtaining infrared characteristic data of the current value document from the second infrared image, and comparing the obtained infrared characteristic data of the current value document with the infrared characteristic data of the corresponding standard value document, to distinguish whether the current value document is fake; and

[0013] (5) outputting a distinguishing result.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, in the value document distinguishing method of the present invention, the captured original infrared image is first calibrated using the projection transformation technology; making the original infrared image of the captured current value document match with the size in size data of the stored standard value document template. On one hand, in the present invention it is therefore feasible to directly capture the original infrared image of the current value document using a normal camera device with a infrared filter, without taking an image using a stable signal light source at a site with simple background, and thus the requirement for the original image is low; on the other hand, the original infrared image can be taken from any angle when capturing the original infrared image according to the present invention, and thus the operation is simple; furthermore, according to the present invention, the current value document is distinguished after the captured image is calibrated by the projection calibration module, and thus the accuracy of distinguishing is high.

[0015] Preferably, step (1) specifically includes the following steps:

[0016] (11) capturing the original infrared image of the current value document; and

[0017] (12) obtaining the type, denomination and orientation data of the current value document by way of comparing the original infrared image of the current value document with data stored in the storage module for identification or by way of input from an interactive interface.

[0018] Preferably, in step 2, the original infrared image needs to be pre-processed before performing the calibration process on the original infrared image, and step 2 specifically includes the following steps:

[0019] (11a) performing image smoothing process on the original infrared image using Gaussian smoothing technology;

[0020] (11b) performing recovery process on the original infrared image using image recovery technology of partial differential equation;

[0021] (11c) calculating four vertex coordinates of the original infrared image to obtain a value document area; and

[0022] (11d) segmenting out the value document area on which the calibration process is to be performed.

[0023] After the recovery process, the processed original infrared image is further close to the image of the standard value document, and the accuracy for distinguishing the infrared image is increased. The Gaussian smoothing technology can not only de-noise the infrared image effectively but can also decrease fuzziness in the smoothing process. Image recovery technology of partial differential equation may recover the captured original infrared image to an optimal estimated value. Locating and segmenting process effectively increases the accuracy of infrared image projection calibration.

[0024] Preferably, step (3) specifically includes the following steps:

[0025] (31) establishing a template according to the size data of the standard value document;

[0026] (32) calculating a mapping relationship between the original infrared image and the template by using bilinear equations; and

[0027] (33) mapping pixel values of respective points in the original infrared image onto the template according to the mapping relationship, to form a second infrared image.

[0028] According to the present invention, using bilinear equations to calculate the mapping relationship, the mapping relationship between coordinates of respective points in the original infrared image and the template can be determined only by finding out four pairs of corresponding points between the original infrared image and the template, taking the four pairs of corresponding points as reference points to establish the bilinear equations, and figuring out eight parameters of the bilinear equations, and thus the computation is simple; performing projection calibration process on the original infrared image according to the mapping relationship may maximally recover the original infrared image, thereby avoiding image distortion. Furthermore, the reference points may be vertexes of the image, or other characteristic points.

[0029] Preferably, step (4) specifically includes the following steps:

[0030] (41) Obtaining infrared characteristic data from at least one characteristic area in the second infrared image to form first infrared characteristic data, and obtaining infrared characteristic data from a corresponding area in the standard value document to form second infrared characteristic data; and

[0031] (42) comparing the first infrared characteristic data and the second infrared characteristic data to obtain a comparison value, determining whether the comparison value meets a set requirement, and determining the current value document is legal if the comparison value meets the set requirement and determining the current value document illegal if the comparison value does not meet the set requirement.

[0032] Preferably, the infrared characteristic data includes at least one of the following values: a gradient characteristic value of gray value of the infrared image, an average value of gray value of the infrared image, a variance of gray value of the infrared image.

[0033] Preferably, when the infrared characteristic data is the gradient characteristic value of gray value of the infrared image, the determining includes:

[0034] (51) calculating a gradient value G_Ω(x,y) of gray value of the current value document and a gradient value G₀(x,y) of gray value of the corresponding standard value document;

[0035] (52) calculating the number N_g of G_Ω(x) that meets G_Ω(x,y)>TH_g, calculating the number N₀ of G₀(x,y) that meets G₀(x,y)>TH_g, where TH_g is a gradient threshold, 1.0<TH_g<25.0;

[0036] (53) calculating a gradient comparison value N, N=N_g/N₀; and

[0037] (54) determining the magnitude of the gradient comparison value N, determining that the current value document meets a gradient rule if 0.95≦N≦1.05, or otherwise determining that the current value document does not meet the gradient rule, and then outputting a corresponding gradient legal/illegal signal.

[0038] Preferably, when the infrared characteristic data is the average value of gray value of the infrared image, the determining includes:

[0039] (61) calculating an average value M_Ω of gray value of the current value document and an average value M₀ of gray value of the corresponding standard value document;

[0040] (62) calculating an average comparison value M, M=M_g/M₀; and

[0041] (63) determining the magnitude of the comparison value M, determining that the current value document meets an average rule if 0.90≦M≦1.10, or otherwise determining that the current value document does not meet the average rule, and then outputting a corresponding average legal/illegal signal.

[0042] Preferably, when the infrared characteristic data is the variance of gray value of the infrared image, the determining includes:

[0043] (71) calculating a variance V_Ω of gray value of the current value document and a variance V₀ of gray value of the corresponding standard value document;

[0044] (72) calculating a variance comparison value V, V=V_g/V₀; and

[0045] (73) determining the magnitude of V, determining that the current value document meets a variance rule if 0.80≦V≦1.25, or otherwise determining that the current value document does not meet the variance rule, and then outputting a corresponding variance legal/illegal signal.

[0046] In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention further provides a value document distinguishing device for distinguishing whether a current value document is fake, the device includes:

[0047] a collection module for obtaining an original infrared image, type, denomination and orientation data of the current value document;

[0048] a storage module for storing size data and infrared characteristic data of a standard value document;

[0049] a projection calibration module for performing calibration process on the original infrared image using image projection transformation technology according to the size data of the standard value document to form a second infrared image, the size of the second infrared image being matched with the size of the standard value document;

[0050] a process module for obtaining size data and infrared characteristic data of the standard value document corresponding to the current value document from the storage module according to the type, denomination and orientation data of the current value document; obtaining infrared characteristic data of the current value document from the second infrared image, and comparing the obtained infrared characteristic data of the current value document with the infrared characteristic data of the standard value document, to obtain a legal/illegal document signal for the current value document;

[0051] an output module for outputting the legal/illegal document signal;

[0052] a control module for controlling and coordinating data transfer among respective modules in the value document distinguishing device.

[0053] Compared with the prior art, the value document distinguishing device of the present invention is provided with a projection calibration module, which may make the captured infrared image of the current value document has a size consistent with that in size data of a stored standard value document template by using image projection transformation technology. Therefore, on one hand, in the invention, it is feasible to capture the original infrared image that meets the requirement of the present invention only by using a camera device with a infrared filter as a collection module, and the distinguishing device according to the present invention may be directly applied to some simple mobile devices such as mobile phone, web-camera and camera that are provided with infrared shooting function, and thus it is portable and cheap; on the other hand, according to the present invention, the original infrared image can be shot from any angle when capturing the original infrared image of the current value document, calibration may be performed by the projection calibration module if a two-dimensional oblique view is obtained, and thus the operation is simple; furthermore, there must be some errors no matter how stable the collection device in the prior art is and how proper the captured infrared image is, while according to the present invention, the captured image is calibrated by a projection calibration module, and the accuracy of the distinguishing unit is effectively improved, hence the accuracy of distinguishing according to the present invention is improved.

[0054] Preferably, the collection module includes:

[0055] an infrared camera device for capturing and obtaining the original infrared image of the current value document; and

[0056] an interactive interface for collecting and obtaining the type, denomination and orientation data of the current value document inputted from outside.

[0057] Preferably, the collection module includes:

[0058] an infrared camera device for capturing and obtaining the original infrared image of the current value document; and

[0059] a comparison and identification unit for comparing the original infrared image of the current value document with the infrared characteristic data of the standard value document stored in the storage module to obtain the type, denomination and orientation data of the current value document.

[0060] Preferably, the value document distinguishing device further includes a pre-process module for pre-processing the original infrared image, the preprocess module includes the following units:

[0061] an image de-noise unit for performing image smoothing process on the captured original infrared image;

[0062] an image recovery unit for performing recovery process on the original infrared image;

[0063] an image locating unit for calculating tour vertex coordinates of the original infrared image to obtain a value document area; and

[0064] an image segmentation unit for segmenting out the value documents area on which to the calibration process is to be performed.

[0065] Preferably, the projection calibration module includes:

[0066] a template process unit for establishing a template using the size data of the standard value document;

[0067] a parameter computation unit for calculating a mapping relationship between the original infrared image and the template by using bilinear equations; and

[0068] a pixel substitution unit for mapping pixel values of respective points in the original infrared image onto the template according to the mapping relationship, and forming the second infrared image after the calibration process.

[0069] According to the present invention, through taking four pairs of corresponding points in the original infrared image and the template as reference points, establishing bilinear equations, and working out eight parameters of the bilinear equations, the mapping relationship between coordinates of respective points in the original infrared image and the template can be determined, and therefore the process is simple and rapid; performing a projection calibration on the original infrared image according to the mapping relationship may make the original infrared image has a size matched with the template size, and thus maximally recover the infrared image and avoid image distortion. The reference points may be vertexes of the image or other characteristic points.

[0070] Preferably, the process module includes:

[0071] a data selection unit for obtaining the size data and the infrared characteristic data of the standard value document corresponding to the current value document from the storage module according to the type, denomination and orientation data of the current value document; and

[0072] a comparison process unit for obtaining the infrared characteristic data of the current value document from the second infrared image, and comparing the obtained infrared characteristic data of the current value document with the infrared characteristic data of the standard value document to obtain a legal/illegal document signal for the current value document.

[0073] Preferably, the comparison process unit includes:

[0074] a data acquisition unit for obtaining the infrared characteristic data from at least one infrared characteristic area in the second infrared image to form first infrared characteristic data, and obtaining the infrared characteristic data from a corresponding area in the standard value document to form second infrared characteristic data;

[0075] a data comparison unit which includes at least one of the following three units:

• • [0076] a gradient comparison unit for calculating gradient characteristic values of gray values of the current value document and the standard value document according to the first infrared characteristic data and the second infrared characteristic data, comparing the gradient characteristic values to obtain a gradient comparison value, determining whether the gradient comparison value meets a set requirement, and obtaining a gradient legal/illegal signal;
  • [0077] an average value comparison unit for calculating average values of gray values of the current value document and the standard value document according to the first infrared characteristic data and the second infrared characteristic data, comparing the average values to obtain an average comparison value, determining whether the average comparison value meets a set requirement, and obtaining an average legal/illegal signal; and
  • [0078] a variance comparison unit for calculating variances of gray values of the current value document and the standard value document according to the first infrared characteristic data and the second infrared characteristic data, comparing the variances to obtain a variance comparison value, determining whether the variance comparison value meets a set requirement, and obtaining a variance legal/illegal signal; and

[0079] a fake determination unit for determining whether the current value document is fake according to the gradient legal/illegal signal, the average legal/illegal signal and/or the variance legal/illegal signal, and obtaining the legal/illegal document signal for the current value document.

[0089] In order to illustrate the technical contents, structural features, objects to be achieved and effects of the present invention in detail, a detail description will be made in the following in conjunction with embodiments and drawings.

[0090] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 8, a value document distinguishing device 100 according to the present invention is used for distinguishing whether a value document is fake. The device includes a collection module 51, a storage module 53, a projection calibration module 54, a process module 55, an output module 56 and a control module (not shown). The collection module 51 is used for obtaining an original infrared image P₀ of a current value document and type, denomination and orientation data P_i of the current value document; the storage module 53 is used for storing size data S_p of a standard value document and infrared characteristic data S_i of the standard value document; the projection calibration module 54 is used for performing calibration process on the original infrared image P₀ using image projection transformation technology according to the size data S_p of the standard value document to form a second infrared image P₂, where the size of the second infrared image P₂ is matched with the size data S_p of the standard value document; the process module 55 is used for obtaining the size data S_p and the infrared characteristic data S_i of the standard value document corresponding to the current value document from the storage module 55 according to the type, denomination and orientation data P_i of the current value document; the process module 55 is further used for obtaining infrared characteristic data of the current value document from the second infrared image P₂, and comparing the obtained infrared characteristic data of the current value document with the infrared characteristic data S_i of the standard value document, to obtain a legal/illegal document signal S_d for the current value document; the output module is used for outputting the legal/illegal document signal S_d; the control module is used for controlling and coordinating data transfer among respective modules in the value document distinguishing device 100.

[0091] Referring to FIG. 8, the collection module 51 includes an infrared camera device 511 and an interactive interface 512. The infrared camera device 511 is used for capturing and obtaining the original infrared image P₀ of the current value document; the interactive interface 512 is used for collecting and obtaining the type, denomination and orientation data P_i of the current value document inputted from outside. Specifically; a keyboard, a touch screen or a button may be selected as the interactive interface 512.

[0092] Reaming to FIG. 9, in another embodiment, the collection module includes an infrared camera device 511 and a comparison and identification unit 513. The infrared camera device 511 is used for capturing and Obtaining the original infrared image P₀ of the current value document; the comparison and identification unit 513 is used for comparing the original infrared image P₀ of the current value document with data in the storage module 53, to obtain the type, denomination and orientation data P_i of the current value document.

[0093] Referring to FIG. 6, the value document distinguishing device 100 further includes a pre-process module 52 for pre-processing the original infrared image P₀ to obtain a pre-processed original infrared image P₁. The pre-process module 52 includes an image de-noise unit 521, an image recovery unit 522, an image locating unit 523 and an image segmentation unit 524. The image de-noise unit 521 is used for performing image smoothing process on the captured original infrared image P₀ to obtain an original infrared graphic P₁₁; the image recovery unit 522 is used for performing recovery process on the original infrared image P₁₁ to obtain an original infrared graphic P₁₂; the image locating unit 523 is used for calculating four vertex coordinates of the original infrared image P₁₂ to obtain a value document area P₁₃; the image segmentation unit 524 is used for segmenting out the value document area. P₁₃ to obtain the pre-processed original infrared image P₁ and outputting the pre-processed original infrared image P₁ to the projection calibration module 54 for calibration process.

[0094] Referring to FIG. 6, the projection calibration module 54 includes a template process unit 541, a parameter computation unit 542 and a pixel substitution unit 543. The template process unit 541 establishes a template P_m using the size data S_p of the standard value document; the parameter computation unit 542 calculates a mapping relationship between the original infrared image P₁ and the template P_m using bilinear equations; the pixel substitution unit 543 maps pixel values of respective points in the original infrared image onto the template P_m according to the mapping relationship, and forms the second infrared image P₂ after the calibration process.

[0095] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 7, the process module 55 includes a data selection unit 61 and a comparison process unit 62. The data selection unit 61 issues a data selection command S_c to the storage module 53 according to the type, denomination and orientation data P_i of the current value document; the control storage module 53 outputs the size data S_p and the infrared characteristic data S_i of the standard value document corresponding to the current value document; the comparison process unit 62 obtains infrared characteristic data of the current value document from the second infrared image P₂ and compares the obtained infrared characteristic data of the current value document with the infrared characteristic data S_i of the standard value document, to obtain a legal/illegal document signal S_d with respect to the current value document.

[0096] Referring to FIG. 7, the comparison process unit 62 includes a data acquisition unit 621, a data comparison unit 622 and a fake determination unit 623. The data acquisition unit 621 is used for obtaining infrared characteristic data from at least one infrared characteristic area in the second infrared image P₂ to form first infrared characteristic data, and obtaining infrared characteristic data from a corresponding area in the standard value document to form second infrared characteristic data. The data comparison unit 622 includes at least one of a gradient comparison unit 631, an average value comparison unit 632 and a variance comparison unit 633. The gradient comparison unit 631 calculates gradient characteristic values of gray values of the current value document and the standard value document according to the first infrared characteristic data and the second infrared characteristic data, compares the gradient characteristic values to obtain a gradient comparison value, determines whether the gradient comparison value meets a set requirement, and obtains a gradient legal/illegal signal S_d1; the average value comparison unit calculates average values of gray values of the current value document and the standard value document according to the first infrared characteristic data and the second infrared characteristic data, compares the average values to obtain an average comparison value, determines whether the average comparison value meets a set requirement, and obtains an average legal/illegal signal S_d2; the variance comparison unit calculates variances of gray values of the current value document and the standard value document according to the first infrared characteristic data and the second infrared characteristic data, compares the variances to obtain a variance comparison value, determines whether the variance comparison value meets a set requirement, and obtains a variance legal/illegal signal S_d3. The fake determination unit 623 determines ether the current value document is fake according to the gradient legal/illegal signal S_d1, the average legal/illegal signal S_d2 and/or the variance legal/illegal signal S_d3, and Obtains a legal/illegal document signal S_d for the current value document. When the gradient legal/illegal signal S_d1, the average legal/illegal signal S_d2 and/or the variance legal/illegal signal S_d3 are all legal signals, the current value document is a legal document, otherwise, the current value document is an illegal document.

[0097] In conjunction with FIGS. 1-3, notes for the application of the value document distinguishing device of FIGS. 4-8 are set forth as follow:

[0098] (1) the infrared camera device 511 acquires the original infrared image P₀ of the current value document. The infrared camera device 511 may acquire a two-dimension image of the current value document from any angle, i.e., 0<0θ≦90°, where θ is a shooting angle. The preferable shooting angle of the present invention is θ>60°.

[0099] (2) the pre-process module 52 performs pre-process on the captured original infrared image P₀, and the specific steps are as follow:

• • [0100] I. the image de-noise unit 521 performs smoothing process on the captured original infrared image P₀ using Gaussian smoothing technology, to obtain a smoothing processed original infrared image P₁₁.
  • [0101] II. the image recovery unit 522 performs recovery process on the smoothing processed original infrared image P₁₁ using image recovery technology of partial differential equation, to obtain a recovery processed original infrared image P₁₂.
  • [0102] III. the image locating unit 523 calculates four vertex coordinates of the original infrared image P₁₂ to obtain the value document area P₁₃. Specifically, the following steps are included:
    • [0103] supposing that W represents the width of the original infrared image for the current value document, H represents height, x represents x-coordinate of the image, and y represents y-coordinate of the image; searching for a top edge point on line x=W/2 from up to down, and searching for a lower edge point from down to up, designating the top edge point as P₀^U=(x₀^U, y₀^U), and designating the lower edge point as P₀^D=(x₀^D,y₀^D); searching for edge points on lines x=x₀^U±Δw respectively, the search range of y is [y₀^U−ΔL, y₀^U+ΔL], where Δw and ΔL are preset searching step, designating the searched edge points as P₋₁^U=(x₋₁^U,y₋₁^U) and P₁^U=(x₁^U,y₁^U);
    • [0104] repeating the process by taking P₁^U and P₁^U as origin, until there is no boundary point in the search range, and all edge points obtained in the whole process constituting a sequence, which is a top edge point sequence:
      P_U=(P_−MU^U, P_−MU+1^U, . . . , P₋₁^U, P₀^U, P₁^U, . . . , P_NU−1^U, P_NU^U);
    • [0105] in the same way, obtaining the lower edge point sequence:
      P_D=(P_−MD^D, P_−MD+1^D, . . . , P₋₁^D, P₀^D, P₁^D, . . . , P_ND−1, P_ND^D);
    • [0106] performing the least square linear fitting using the edge points P_U and P_D, to obtain linear equations L_U and L_D of the top edge and the lower edge; and
    • [0107] in the same way, obtaining linear equations L_L and L_R of left edge and right edge; obtaining four vertex coordinates of the original infrared image of the current value document by calculating intersection points between adjacent lines, and thus determining the specific location of the value document, where the quadrilateral area formed by the four vertex coordinates is the value document area P₁₃.
  • [0108] IV. the image segmentation unit 524 segments out the value document area P₁₃, completes the segmentation process of the original infrared image P₁₂, and obtains pre-processed original infrared image P₁. The specific steps are as follow: maintaining the pixel values of the infrared image unvaried, and setting the pixel values outside the value document area P₁₃ to 0, i.e., segmenting out the value document area P₁₃.

[0109] (3) the interactive interface 512 receives the type, denomination and orientation data P_i of the current value document inputted by a user based on prompt information, and the data selection unit 61 obtains attribute characteristic data S_p and infrared characteristic data S_i of the standard value document corresponding to the current value document from the storage module 53 according to the type, denomination and orientation data P_i of the current value document.

[0110] (4) the projection calibration module 52 is used for performing calibration process on the original infrared image P₀ using image projection transformation technology according to the attribute characteristic data S_p of the standard value document to form the second infrared image P₂, where the size of the second infrared image P₂ is matched with the size in the attribute characteristic data S_p of the standard value document. The specific steps are as follow:

• • [0111] I. the template process unit 541 establishes the template P_m using the attribute characteristic data S_p of the standard value document; the parameter computation unit 542 calculates the mapping relationship between the original infrared image P₁ and the template P_m using bilinear equations. The specific steps are as follow:
  • [0112] establishing the mapping relationship of respective coordinates in the original infrared image P₁ and the template P_m using bilinear equations:
    x₁=s(x₀,y₀)=c₁x_O+c₂y₀+c₃x₀y₀+c₄;
    y₁=t(x₀,y₀)=c₅x₀+c₆y₀+c₇x₀y₀+c₈;
  • [0113] Designating x₁ and y₁ as the mapping relationships s(x₀,y₀) and t(x₀,y₀), designating the template P_m as f(x₀,y₀), and designating the original infrared image P₁ as g(x₀,y₀). The mapping relationship totally has eight parameters C₁ to C₈, and the mapping relationship s(x₀,y₀) and t(x₀,y₀) may be determined by determining four pairs of mutually corresponding reference points between the original infrared image and the template (the four vertexes of the template may be used as reference points), establishing eight equations according to coordinates of the four pairs of reference points, and working out the eight parameters of the bilinear equations, i.e. C₁ to C₈.
  • [0114] II. the pixel substitution unit 543 maps the pixel values of respective points in the original infrared image P₁ onto the template P_m according to the mapping relationships s(x₀,y₀) and t(x₀,y₀), and forms the second infrared image P₂ after calibration process. The specific steps are as follow:
  • [0115] point (x₀,y₀) on the template f corresponding to point (s(x,y),t(x, y)) on the original infrared image g; obtaining a pixel value of point (s(x,y),t(x, y)) using bilinear interpolation, and mapping the pixel value to point (x₀,y₀) of the corresponding template; setting the pixel value of point (x₀,y₀) on the template f to 0 if the point s(x,y), t(x,y)) is not in the original infrared image g, and obtaining the second infrared image P₂.

[0116] (5) the comparison process unit 62 obtains the infrared characteristic data of the current value document from the second infrared image P₂, compares the obtained characteristic data of the current value document with the infrared characteristic data S_i of the standard value document, and obtains a legal/illegal document signal S_d for the current value document. The specific steps are as follow:

[0117] I. the data acquisition unit 621 obtains the infrared characteristic data from at least one infrared characteristic area in the second infrared image P₂ to form the first infrared characteristic data, and obtains the infrared characteristic data from a corresponding area in the standard value document to from the second infrared characteristic data.

[0118] II. the gradient comparison unit 631 calculates a gradient value G_Ω(x,y) of gray value of the current value document and a gradient value G₀(x,y) of gray value of the corresponding standard value document according to the first characteristic data and the second infrared characteristic data, calculates the number N_g of G_Ω(x,y) that meets G_Ω(x,y)>TH_g, calculates the number N₀ of G₀(x,y) that meets G₀ (x,y)>TH_g, where TH_g is a gradient threshold, 1.0<TH_g<25.0; calculates a gradient comparison value N, N=N_g/N₀; determines the magnitude of the gradient comparison value N, determines that the current value document meets a gradient rule if 0.95≦N≦1.05, or otherwise determines that the current document does not meet the gradient rule, and outputs a corresponding gradient legal/illegal signal S_d1.

[0119] III. the average value comparison unit calculates an average value M_Ω of gray value of the current value document and an average value M₀ of gray value of the corresponding standard value document according to the first characteristic data and the second infrared characteristic data, calculates an average comparison value M=M_g/M₀, determines the magnitude of M, determines that the current value document meets an average rule if 0.90≦M≦1.10, or otherwise determines that the current document does not meet the average rule, and outputs a corresponding average legal/illegal signal S_d2.

[0120] IV. the variance comparison unit calculates a variance V_Ω of gray value of the current value document and a variance V₀ of gray value of the corresponding standard value document according to the first characteristic data and the second infrared characteristic data, calculates a variance comparison value V=V_g/V₀, determines the magnitude of V, determines that the current value document meets a variance rule if 0.80≦v≦1.25 or otherwise determines that the current document does not meet the variance rule, and outputs a corresponding variance legal/illegal signal S_d3.

[0121] V. the fake determination unit 623 determines whether the current value document is fake according to the gradient legal/illegal signal S_d1, the average legal/illegal signal S_d2 and the variance legal/illegal signal S_d3, and obtains a legal/illegal document signal S_d of the current value document. If the legal/illegal signals S_i1, S_i2, S_i3 are all legal signals, the current value document is a legal document, and a legal document signal is outputted, otherwise, an illegal document signal is outputted.

[0122] (6) the output module 56 outputs the legal/illegal document signal S_d inputted by the fake determination unit 623 to a display and/or a warning device, and completes the distinguishing of the current value document.

[0123] From the above, a method for distinguishing a value document can be concluded. Referring to FIG. 1, the distinguishing method includes the following steps:

[0124] (1) acquiring an original infrared image, type, denomination and orientation data of a current value document;

[0125] (2) Obtaining size data and infrared characteristic data of a standard value document corresponding to the current value document from a storage module according to the type, denomination and orientation data of the current value document;

[0126] (3) performing calibration process on the original infrared image using image projection transformation technology according to the size data of the standard value document to form a second infrared image, the size of the second infrared image being matched with the size of the standard value document;

[0127] (4) obtaining infrared characteristic data of the current value document from the second infrared image, and comparing the obtained infrared characteristic data of the current value document with the infrared characteristic data of the corresponding standard value document, to distinguish whether the current value document is fake; and

[0128] (5) outputting a distinguishing result.

[0129] Preferably, step (1) specifically includes the following steps:

[0130] (11) capturing the original infrared image of the current value document; and

[0131] (12) obtaining the type, denomination and orientation data of the current value document by way of comparing the original infrared image of the current value document with data stored in the storage module for identification or by way of inputting from an interactive interface.

[0132] Preferably, referring to FIG. 2, in step 2, the original infrared image needs to be pre-processed before performing calibration process on the original infrared image, which specifically includes the following steps:

[0133] (11a) performing image smoothing process on the original infrared image using Gaussian smoothing technology;

[0134] (11b) performing recovery process on the original infrared image using image recovery technology of partial differential equation;

[0135] (11c) calculating four vertex coordinates of the original infrared image to obtain a value document area; and

[0136] (11d) segmenting out the value document area on which the calibration process is to be performed.

[0137] Preferably, referring to FIG. 3, step (3) specifically includes the following steps:

[0138] (31) establishing a template according to the size data of the standard value document;

[0139] (32) calculating a mapping relationship between the original infrared image and the template by using bilinear equations; and

[0140] (33) mapping pixel values of respective points in the original infrared image onto the template according to the mapping relationship, to firm a second infrared image.

[0141] Preferably, referring to FIG. 3, step (4) specifically includes the following steps:

[0142] (41) obtaining infrared characteristic data from at least one characteristic area in the second infrared image to form first infrared characteristic data, and obtaining infrared characteristic data from a corresponding area in the standard value document to form second infrared characteristic data; and

[0143] (42) comparing the first infrared characteristic data and the second infrared characteristic data to obtain a comparison value, determining whether the comparison value meets a set requirement, and determining the current value document is legal if the comparison value meets the set requirement and determining the current value document is illegal if the comparison value does not meet the set requirement.

[0144] Preferably, the infrared characteristic data includes at least one of the following values: a gradient characteristic value of gray value of the infrared image, an average value of gray value of the infrared image, and a variance of gray value of the infrared image.

[0145] Specifically, when the infrared characteristic data is the gradient characteristic value of gray value of the infrared image, the determining includes:

[0146] (51) calculating a gradient value G_Ω(x,y) of gray value of the current value document and a gradient value G₀(x,y) of gray value of the corresponding standard value document;

[0147] (52) calculating the number N_g of G_Ω(x,y) that meets G_Ω(x,y)>TH_g, calculating the number N₀ of G₀(x,y) that meets G₀(x,y)>TH_g, wherein TH_g is a gradient threshold, 1.0<TH_g<25.0;

[0148] (53) calculating a gradient comparison value N, N=N_g/N₀; and

[0149] (54) determining the magnitude of the gradient comparison value N, determining that the current value document meets a gradient rule if 0.95≦N≦1.05, or otherwise determining that the current value document does not meet the gradient rule, and then outputting a corresponding gradient legal/illegal signal.

[0150] Specifically, when the infrared characteristic data is the average value of gray value of the infrared image, the determining includes:

[0151] (61) calculating an average value M_Ω of gray value of the current value document and an average value M₀ of gray value of the corresponding standard value document;

[0152] (62) calculating an average comparison value M, M=M_g/M₀; and

[0153] (63) determining the magnitude of the comparison value determining that the current value document meets an average rule if 0.90≦M≦1.10, or otherwise determining that the current value document does not meet the average rule, and then outputting a corresponding average legal/illegal signal.

[0154] Specifically, when the infrared characteristic data is the variance of gray value of the infrared image, the determining includes:

[0155] (71) calculating a variance V_Ω of gray value of the current value document and a variance V₀ of gray value of the corresponding standard value document;

[0156] (72) calculating a variance comparison value V, V=V_g/V₀; and

[0157] (73) determining the magnitude of V, determining that the current value document meets a variance rule if 0.80≦V≦1.25, or otherwise determining that the current value document does not meet the variance rule, and then outputting a corresponding variance legal/illegal signal.