Abstract: A system (14) for locating possible address information contained in a window area of a mail item (40) is provided. System (14) includes a source of illumination (60) and detectors (62) for sensing the reflectivity of the mail item (40). Circuitry (34) is provided for measuring the reflectivity from the mail item (40). Circuitry (36) is provided for determining the presence of a window on the mail item (40) and the coordinates of the detected window. Circuitry (26) is provided for selecting address information contained within a window located by the window detect circuitry (36).

Abstract: A Bar Code Reader of a Video Processor Unit receives video data from a scanner and processes it to locate a bar code at the bottom of a document which represents a postal zip code. The scanner generates an array of cells of video data and provides each cell with a gray weight value corresponding to a detected blackness level of a small portion of the scanned document. The Bar Code Reader moves a template mask over the array and calculates area sums of gray weight values for cells within predetermined areas of the template mask. The area sums are used to compute Bar scores for determining the presence and position of tall and short bars in a bar code field. The positions of the tall and short bars in the bar code field are translated into postal zip code information.

Abstract: A video filter is provided for use in an image processing system wherein correlated video data is received by the video filter in a cellular format. The filter includes structure for simultaneously filtering at least four cells of the correlated video data.

Abstract: A video compressor for use in an image processing system is provided. The compressor includes structure for detecting a data image pattern and for generating a code representing the detected data image pattern. A counter counts the number of times a data image pattern is detected and generates a repeat count. The code is stored in a fixed sized bit field. The repeat count is stored in a variable sized bit field. Structure is provided for merging the fixed sized bit field and the variable sized bit field into a continuous bit field.

Abstract: A video correlator is provided for use in an image processing system wherein video data representative of a document image or portions thereof is received in a gray level data format in which the image is composed of a plurality of cells for enhancing the black/white characterization of each cell. The correlator includes structure for comparing a cell's gray level data with the average gray level of a preselected number of surrounding cells. Structure is also provided for automatically selecting the number of surrounding cells for determining the average gray level.

Abstract: To read characters printed on a document it is transported beneath a self-scan photocell array extending substantially the entire width of the document. Output signals from the photocells of the array are scanned by a plurality of channels, amplified and converted into a digital data format representing the character patterns. The digital data is then processed to memory electronics and search electronics to select lines of character pattern data for transmission to a character recognition unit. The search electronics compresses the character data into search segments to evaluate the top and bottom position of character lines. Further, the search electronics determines line linkages between the elements of one search segment of compressed data and the elements of the preceding search segments for future processing in a line tracker. The line tracker provides signals to extract character lines from a temporary storage for transmission to a line block memory.