Abstract: A method and apparatus for handwriting analysis wherein a signature or other writing can be subjected to comparison with a reference signature. The apparatus and method rely on the collection of measurements of the optical density of a plurality of elements in the specimen and selectively retaining said measurements and then comparing each density measurement to a threshold value. Ultimately, only those density measurements are retained which are located within a bounded locus. After the retained density measurements have been established, they are automatically compared to the measurements of the specimen signature to permit the apparatus to accept or reject the signature on the presented document.

Abstract: A relatively low cost, easy to operate video signature comparator and a corresponding method by which a known signature is visually compared to a sample signature to determine whether both signatures were made by the same individual. The signator comparator has particular application to forgery detection or to applications for verifying the authenticity of a signature. An electronic circuit is disclosed which displays video signals that are representative of the known and sample signatures. The circuit enhances video image density variations through extreme contrast and brightness adjustment and forces the lighter regions of each signature to white, such that only the dark stroke lines (indicative of those regions having the greatest density where the maker applied the most pressure) are displayed on video monitor.