Abstract: A new method and system applying the method inspect printed documents that have regions of variable content, the regions having variable locations from document to document in a print job, to ensure that predetermined criteria are met. The locations of the regions of variable content are determined by monitoring a print datastream, and the locations are used to analyze images of the regions of variable content. The images are captured by an optical imaging system mounted in a printer, print media out equipment, a finishing system, or other appropriate location with a suitable view of the printed documents. If a document does not meet its specific predetermined criteria, for example, if an account number does not match the desired account number for that document, then the inspection system takes an error notification action ranging from simply logging the error in a log file to removing the document to stopping the printer.

Abstract: An iterative application of an optical object recognition method, such as an OCR method, with enhancements and modifications yields improved speed and accuracy. In the exemplary embodiment, after an initial pass of the OCR method on a document image, unrecognized blobs are grouped into unknown regions to which the OCR method is applied via an analysis window. If the contents of the analysis window remain unrecognized at a starting position in a given unknown region, the window can be moved within the unknown region to provide more opportunities to recognize the unknown region's contents. Recognized characters are recorded, and the portions of the unknown regions in which they appeared are removed. This pass of the OCR method recognizes characters in blobs containing multiple characters.

Abstract: Method for determining when a cigarette in a bundle is unsuitable which uses a statistical value based on gray scales.

Abstract: Projectors and cameras disposed about an object under test obtain digital moire information of overlapping aspects (views) of the object. The system is calibrated using a calibration pattern of straight lines on a flat reference surface and a projected pattern of lines which are perpendicular to the lines of the calibration pattern and contain marker fringes between predetermined lines. Each aspect is calibrated individually by stepping the calibration pattern along the axis of each camera so as to obtain a plurality of tables which relate phase information to distance in each of a plurality of planes spaced successively closer to the camera. The calibration tables define a calibrated volume in space between the cameras and projectors. When the object under test is located in this volume, the video signals from the camera are converted into digital moire information.