IP Library Granted Patent US 12694741
Granted Patent B2
US 12694741 · App. 18/378,462 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Counterfeit note detection via machine olfaction chemical analysis

Inventors: Paul Mattison (Sherrills Ford, NC); Richard Brown (Charlotte, NC); Ronald Schnittman (Northbrook, IL); Carl Parziale (Charlotte, NC)
Assignee: Bank of America Corporation
G07D7/14G07F19/209G07F19/211
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12694741
App. No.
18/378,462
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method and system for detecting counterfeit money may include an automated teller machine (ATM) including an olfactory sensor configured to detect counterfeit notes and valid notes, an olfactory signature database comprising counterfeit note olfactory signatures and valid note olfactory signatures, wherein the ATM may be in communication with the olfactory signature database, and wherein the olfactory sensor via the ATM detects and transmits olfactory note signatures to the olfactory signature database, and wherein the ATM is configured to reject a detected counterfeit note for deposit.

Claims (26)

1 . An automated teller machine (ATM) comprising:

a card reader;

a display screen;

a note reader;

an olfactory sensor coupled to the note reader, wherein the olfactory sensor is configured to detect a paper type, a metal type, and an ink type of counterfeit notes; and

a second sensor coupled to the note reader and configured to detect counterfeit notes via visual or IR scanning to identify microprinting, paper type, ink type, metal components, IR detectable components, UV detectable components, fonts, geographical characteristics, and serial numbers, wherein the note reader rejects detected counterfeit notes, and wherein the ATM transmits a warning of detected counterfeit notes to the United States Secret Service and a financial institution of a user of the ATM.

2 . The ATM of claim 1 , wherein the olfactory sensor is further configured to detect valid notes.

3 . The ATM of claim 1 , wherein the olfactory sensor is configured to detect a chemical olfactory signature of a counterfeit note, wherein the chemical olfactory signature of the counterfeit note comprises the paper type of the counterfeit note, the ink type of the counterfeit note, and metal components of the counterfeit note.

4 . The ATM of claim 3 , wherein the chemical olfactory signature comprises a unique odor.

5 . The ATM of claim 1 , wherein the note reader accepts a detected valid note.

6 . The ATM of claim 1 , further comprising an internal reservoir containing a compound or a solvent for application to a note to assist in olfactory analysis of the note.

7 . A system for detecting counterfeit money comprising:

an automated teller machine (ATM) comprising an olfactory sensor configured to detect counterfeit notes and valid notes; and

an olfactory signature database comprising counterfeit note olfactory signatures and valid note olfactory signatures, wherein the ATM is in communication with the olfactory signature database, wherein the olfactory sensor detects and transmits olfactory note signatures of notes deposited into the ATM to the olfactory signature database, and wherein the olfactory note signatures comprise a note paper type, a note ink type, and a note metal type, and wherein the ATM further comprises an internal reservoir containing a compound or a solvent for application to a note to assist in detection of olfactory note signatures of notes deposited into the ATM.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the olfactory signature database comprises olfactory signatures of counterfeit notes.

9 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the ATM is configured to reject a detected counterfeit note for deposit.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the ATM is further configured to remove a detected counterfeit note from circulation and transmits a warning of detected counterfeit notes to the United States Secret Service and a financial institution of a user of the ATM.

11 . A method of detecting counterfeit money, comprising:

accepting, via an automated teller machine (ATM), a note for deposit, wherein the ATM comprises an olfactory sensor configured to detect counterfeit notes and a second sensor configured to detect counterfeit notes via visual or IR scanning to identify microprinting, paper type, ink type, metal components, IR detectable components, UV detectable components, fonts, geographical characteristics, and serial numbers;

detecting, via the olfactory sensor and the second sensor, a counterfeit note;

rejecting the counterfeit note; and

transmitting a warning of the detected counterfeit note to a financial institution of a user of the ATM.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

conducting a pattern analysis upon detection of the counterfeit note, wherein the pattern analysis comprises an olfactory signature, a chemical signature, a geographic location of the ATM, or a geographic origination of the detected counterfeit note; and

verifying, via the pattern analysis, the detected counterfeit note is counterfeit.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the ATM further comprises an internal reservoir containing a compound or a solvent for application to the note to assist in detecting, via the olfactory sensor, a counterfeit note.