Doculus Lumus® is designed for ultra low power consumption, so it does not even get warm after long time of usage. But you could use the revealed falsifications for a nice fire …
22x magnification allows to see finest details, but the area of sight is smaller due to the necessary lens construction. If you have to scan whole documents to see as much features as possible in minimum time, you would prefer 15x magnification. If you have to go into detail and would like to see things like paper fibers, printing artefacts and even finest deviations of the surface, 22x magnification would be ideal for you- especially when you are in the office and have enough time for a deep analysis. The following pictures were taken with Doculus Lumus 22x magnification and a smartphone (and shrinked to display on the homepage, the original images allow much further zooming)
You always get what you pay for. You should ask for the details:
- Does the other device offer an achromatic glass lens system (or just one plastic lens system)?
- How bright are the UVs and white LEDs? Are there multiple LEDs for downlight and UV light to prevent shadowing?
- Is there a multi-LED rotating oblique light (or is it just a single LED or two alternatively blinking LEDs)?
- Can you activate steady light with auto power off for working handsfree or for smartphone documentation?
- How many batteries do you need for operation? What do that batteries cost? Be aware that “batteries” like 23A 12V in reality consist of a pile of small cells and are very expensive.
- Does it offer RFID ePassport validation? (It won’t)
- How thin is the device if you want to put it into your pocket?
- Does it offer a hand strap or necklace eyelet?
- Can you loose or easily break the battery compartment lid?
- Does it inform you, when the batteries get weak?
- Will the seller allow you to conduct a drop test from 1 m (40 inch) onto a hard surface, even bevor you pay for the device?
Mobile document checking devices are often called “forensic loupes”. But Doculus Lumus® isn’t a loupe, with its dual glass lens system (magnification lens and ocular lens) it is in fact a microscope. Due to the high magnification the diameters of the lens are limited because they have to be strongly curved and would get really thick and unhandy if they were larger. Like with any other microscope you do not look into it from far away, but you put it as close as possible to your eye – this will give you a maximal field-of-view with minimal distortion. Furthermore, the magnification lens is achromatic, made of two different materials to compensate prism effects (the separation of colours with different wavelengths).
If you still look for an ordinary loupe with 15x or 22x magnification, prepare yourself to carry a really big piece of glass with you, some kind of fortuneteller crystal ball – maybe it could help you to detect falsifications in a totaly different way.
When you are on duty in the field (on the motorway, in the train, maybe in some real or urban desert) you do not always carry an AC charger with you, mostly there even is no power outlet available. When Doculus Lumus® runs out of power, simply replace the 2 AAA batteries that are available throughout the whole world (if you have one of the Doculus Lumus® bags, there is a compartment for 2 spare batteries). Of course you can use rechargable AAA batteries with an external charger as well.
The device is built with latest microcontroller and LED technology. As one result standby consumption is lower than the self discharge of the batteries, but more important: Light output during operation is maximised, no energy is wasted. Power users of Doculus Lumus® (on large international airports) report a minimum operation time of 3 months with one set of batteries, typically you can expect 6+ months.
Doculus Lumus® is designed for field use. We ascertained that most frontliners break out the bottom glass with the scale for two reasons: 1) The scale is irritating if you search for falsification indications and 2) the bottom glass easily becomes scratched and dirty at heavy-duty usage. It is possible to measure the size of small printing features with a linen tester – but who tells you the correct measure in the field, where you do not have any genuine document for comparison?
A serious number of prototype devices was tested by document specialists for quite a long time. All findings have been integrated into the series device, this is why most users endorse Doculus Lumus®. It was created with all the ideas of front line officers that never got fulfilled by other devices. Nevertheless we believe that there are still some features we could or maybe should integrate – so join the community and share your thoughts with us! You will support our commitment: No matter how good the falsifications will become, Doculus Lumus® will be the device helping you beeing one step ahead!
We believe in the Light Side of the Force, so we want to sell our device only to persons, governments and institutions that help making the world a better place – just contact us personally!