Including An Optical Imager Or Reader Patents (Class 382/140)
  • Patent number: 7437000
    Abstract: This invention comprises the means for the capture of full spectrum images in an electronic camera without the use of color primary filters to limit the spectral color gamut of the captured image. The fundamental principle of the invention is that each pixel of the image sensor acts as an independent spectrophotometer and spectral separator. Electromagnetic energy enters though a slit or collimating optic. Electromagnetic energy gets diffracted into component spectra by diffraction grating spectrophotometer for each pixel of image Electromagnetic energy leaves diffraction grating at different angles based on wavelength of the energy Spectrophotometer separates light for each pixel into its spectral components onto photodetector line array elements. Individual line array elements which are activated determine the original radiance level of the light source containing that specific wavelength region. The sum of these regions determines the spectral signature of the light at that pixel element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Inventors: Eric Rosenthal, Richard Jay Solomon, Clark Johnson
  • Patent number: 7433098
    Abstract: A document processing system comprising an image capture subsystem for capturing selected image metrics and at least one image rendition from a plurality of documents and for determining if at least one of the selected image metrics for any of the at least one image rendition does not successfully compare against preselected image quality metric threshold values. An image quality flag is generated for any of the at least one image rendition if it does not successfully compare, and a record entry for each imaged document having at least one flagged image rendition is created in an image quality flag file. An image index file for individually accessing the image renditions is modified to include a reference to the corresponding image quality flag file record entry The document processing system may optionally compare selected document metrics against preselected document metrics in a similar manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Unisys Corporation
    Inventors: Robert D. Klein, Craig F. Lapan, George E. Reasoner, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7406183
    Abstract: A document processing system and method for using image quality to sort documents. The document processing system comprises: a document sorting system that designates a destination pocket for each document based on data gathered from each document; a document imaging system that captures an image of each document; and an image quality analysis system that analyzes each image and causes any document having an unacceptable image to be redirected to an unacceptable destination pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Geoffrey A. Emerson, Rodney G. Moon, Gerald C. Rector, Raymond F. Stokes, Andrew H. Sutton
  • Patent number: 7403306
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a guide rod; a housing member having a guide part for abutting a document placed on a document table and positioning one side of the document on a table face of the document table and a first positioning part and a second positioning part projecting to the back side of the document table, when both end parts of the guide rod abut against the first positioning part and the second positioning part, the first positioning part and the second positioning part for positioning the guide rod at a position where the one side of the document positioned by the guide part and the longitudinal direction axis are parallel; a fix unit for pressing the guide rod against the first positioning part and the second positioning part; a carriage being fitted slidably into the guide rod; and a carriage drive section for moving the carriage along the guide rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Nakano, Toshimitsu Ohara
  • Patent number: 7391884
    Abstract: Exemplary methods for performing a statistical analysis of scanned images are disclosed. The methods described herein may be embodied as logic instructions on a computer-readable medium. In one exemplary implementation a correlation value is determined between a scanned image included in a digital file and an original digital image, and a signal is generated indicating whether the correlation value exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Mustafa Kesal, M. Kivanc Mihcak, Gary K. Starkweather, Ramarathnam Venkatesan
  • Patent number: 7386160
    Abstract: A system and method for determining the image resolution of a check image using MICR characters. The disclosed system includes an extracting system for extracting a magnetic ink code recognition (MICR) code line from the document image, wherein the extracting system provides coordinate values for each of a plurality of MICR characters in the MICR code line; a calculating system for calculating a set of resolution values based on the coordinate values of the MICR characters; and a statistical analysis system that calculates a representative resolution value from the set of resolution values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ravinder Prakash, Rodney G. Moon, Madhura A. Sathe, Clair F. Rohe
  • Patent number: 7382911
    Abstract: There is described a method and apparatus for processing a card. A card that is processed can have a corresponding card holder. In one embodiment, a card reader can be provided for reading information of a card. A card reader in one embodiment can be configured to sense a level of degradation of a card. A card reader in one embodiment can be in communication with a remote processor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy P. Meier, Joseph Sakal, William H. Havens, Charles Barber, George S. Smith, II
  • Patent number: 7376258
    Abstract: An image quality assurance method for identifying image defects in a plurality of previously-imaged documents, where each previously-imaged document includes at least one image rendition stored in at least one image rendition file according to type of image rendition. The image renditions are analyzed to provide selected image metrics, the latter of which are compared against preselected image quality metric threshold values. An image quality flag is generated for any image rendition if at least one of the selected image metrics for that image rendition does not successfully compare against the preselected image quality metric threshold values. A record entry is created in an image quality flag file for those documents having at least one flagged image rendition, the record entry including information about the selected image metrics of the at least one flagged image rendition for that imaged document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Unisys Corporation
    Inventors: Robert D. Klein, Craig F. Lapan, George E. Reasoner, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7369237
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a substrate processing apparatus, comprising a housing body mounting unit that is capable of mounting a plurality of housing bodies which can house a plurality of substrates, a processing apparatus main body for processing a substrate extracted from the housing body, a transportation unit for transporting the substrate between the housing body and the processing apparatus main body, a processing control unit for controlling the transportation unit and making it transport the substrate between the housing body and the processing apparatus main body, and a transportation control unit for controlling the transportation unit and making it transport the substrate from one housing body to another housing body without passing through the processing apparatus main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Yasunori Ikeno, Shunsuke Kurata, Katsuyuki Hashimoto, Masahiko Yazawa
  • Patent number: 7327868
    Abstract: A magnetic stripline scanner for reading lines of magnetic data on a media including a portable housing having a scanning side. A linear array of magnetic field sensors, such as spin valve magnetic memory cells, is at least partially disposed within the housing, proximate to the scanning side. The magnetic field sensors are capable of detecting external magnetic fields of a threshold intensity. A controller mounted within the housing and coupled to the magnetic field sensors determines the orientation of the sensed magnetic field and thereby infers the binary value represented by the magnetic field. A magnetic stripline scanning system incorporating the scanner with non traditional media such as paper providing lines of magnetic material is also provided. A method of use is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Fredrick A. Perner, Manish Sharma
  • Patent number: 7321678
    Abstract: A banknote identifying machine and method for testing a banknote for genuineness stably without being affected by a sensor or contamination on the banknote. Transmission photosensors 61 are moved over a banknote to be tested to scan the banknote with a light beam along reading lines L to obtain patterns of an amount of transmitted light through the banknote (FIGS. 3(b) and 3(c)). Patterns (1a, 1b) of an amount of transmitted light corresponding to watermark portions are evaluated with maximum values (11, 12) of patterns of an amount of transmitted light corresponding to ordinary design portions other than the watermarks to determine whether or not there is any watermark in the banknote and to authenticate it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Nippon Conlux
    Inventor: Eiji Itako
  • Patent number: 7308123
    Abstract: A system and method is provided that simultaneously or consecutively collects DNA samples and ridge and valley signatures from the same subject during the same collection window that adds value to forensic data collection processes. The collection of the DNA samples and ridge and valley signatures occur during the same collection window to assured the DNA sample and ridge and valley signatures identify the same individual.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Identification International, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard K. Fenrich, Jennifer E. Robertson, James David Rancourt
  • Patent number: 7295694
    Abstract: A character recognition system and method. The system comprises an (OCR) optical character reader system for collecting character data by electro-optically scanning printed characters; a conversion system for converting the character data to a Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) format; and a recognition engine for interpreting the converted character data using a MICR algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rodney G. Moon, Ravi Prakash
  • Patent number: 7253917
    Abstract: With this invention, upon scanning a print, since additional information recorded together with that print is reproduced while displaying the scanned image, a special effect that cannot normally be obtained from still images can be obtained. A print on which image information and additional information, different from the image information, are printed is scanned by a scanner (209). An additional information demultiplexer (210) demultiplexes that additional information, which is decoded by an error correction decoder (211). After that, the image and the decoded additional information (moving image or/and acoustic information) are simultaneously reproduced in combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Umeda, Nobutaka Miyake, Minoru Kusakabe
  • Patent number: 7212682
    Abstract: A method and system for enhancing measurement of a bar code or other object includes storing a pixel image containing a bar code; determining bar code orientation relative to the stored pixel image; determining a scan track through the pixel image in a succession of pixel to pixel scan paths; determining the angle of each scan path relative to the bar code orientation; and adjusting the number of virtual pixels added to each scan path as a function of the scan path angle and the bar code orientation for equalizing the lengths, measured in pixels, of the scan paths though they are of different actual lengths due to differences in scan path angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: SICK Auto Ident, Inc.
    Inventors: Long Xiang Bian, Walter P. Sweeney, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7204416
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods which provide for scanning of information, such as characters or symbols, without requiring a controlled scan velocity. Preferred embodiments utilize an optical sensor in detecting attributes of information scanned and implement compensation techniques to remediate the effects of distortion and present information which may be identified to a high level of confidence. A known topology may be relied upon to present known markers in the scanned information, such as known blank or filled regions, patterns, or other observable traits and utilized with respect to a distorted scanned image to compensate for the effects of the distortion. Additionally or alternatively, vector based pattern recognition may be utilized in remediating distortion of a scanned image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Commerciant, LP
    Inventors: Manish J. Desai, Mohammad Husain, Jonathan E. Andersson
  • Patent number: 7120616
    Abstract: A method for specifying, executing and analyzing method sequences for the recognition of dispatch labels and form entries. In the specification phase, the method sequences are input in graphical form into a computer system as flowcharts with attributes and function details which define the influence of individual variables on the method sequence. Codes are then automatically generated from the flowcharts as an internal representation which is converted by a compiler into a loadable, executable module which is called for each processing step in the handling phase for recognizing the respective dispatch label or form entry. In the handling phase for recognition, information for describing the particular current sequence and the current values of the attributes is written to an attribute file for each processing step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens AG
    Inventors: Peter Enghauser, Gert Seidel
  • Patent number: 7118042
    Abstract: Embodiments of a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for rapidly capturing images in an automated identification system to effectively extend one dimension of a field of view of an image system are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the image system captures and processes multiple images of at least a portion of a surface of a component in the automated identification system in response to a trigger signal communicated from a triggering device configured to sense a location of the component. Various embodiments of the invention include multiple sources for capturing images, and/or multiple user-specified schemes for effectively extending the field of view of the image system along the axis of component travel in the automated identification system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Microscan Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: James W. Moore, Danny S. Barnes, Matthew E. Allen
  • Patent number: 7113624
    Abstract: An apparatus images a surface. An imager stage linearly translates the surface in a first direction. A fiber optic bundle has a first end of parallel first fiber ends defining a linear input aperture perpendicular to the first direction and parallel to the surface, and a second end defining a generally circular output aperture. Each first fiber end optically communicates with the output aperture. A radiation beam linearly scans and interacts with the surface below the input aperture to produce a light signal that is collected by the input aperture and transmitted by the fiber bundle to the output aperture. A photodetector detects the light signal at the output aperture. A processor processes the detected light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventor: Douglas N. Curry
  • Patent number: 7058199
    Abstract: We propose methods for generating a halftone image, in which each pixel takes one of two tone values. The generated image contains hidden data, which is present at data storage pixels chosen using a pseudo-random number generator. In a first case, the data is hidden within an existing halftone image by reversing the tone value at certain of the data storage pixels, and at pixels neighboring the data storage pixels. In a second case, the halftone image is generated from a grey-scale image, and data is hidden during this conversion process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Oscar Chi-Lim Au, Ming Sun Fu
  • Patent number: 7006664
    Abstract: A method for an intelligent identification system to recognize and validate currency base in the uniqueness of their numbers by employing video scanning apparatus in conjunction with optical character recognition (OCR) software and broadcasting capabilities so it can recognize the currency's value from a digitized serial number, store it with or without a “tag”, by memory means and be able to transmit and receive additional lists as a part of a network and as an extension; to recognize foreign countries currency, bank checks, personal checks and bills to be paid, for example: telephone bills, utility bills, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Inventor: Theodore George Paraskevakos
  • Patent number: 6993211
    Abstract: A parameter setting section sets a parameter stored beforehand in a parameter storage section as a parameter in an operation in an image pick-up section or an image processing section until an image pick-up start detection section detects an image pick-up start of a code. Moreover, when the image pick-up start detection section detects the image pick-up start of the code, the parameter setting section changes the parameter extracted from image information output from the image pick-up section or image information subjected to predetermined image processing in the image processing section from the parameter stored in the parameter storage section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Matsui, Seiji Tatsuta
  • Patent number: 6917724
    Abstract: By printing documents and other objects with machine readable indicia, such as steganographic digital watermarks or barcodes, a great variety of document management functions can be enabled. The indicia can be added as part of the printing process (after document data has been output by an originating application program), such as by printer driver software, by a Postscript engine in a printer, etc. The indicia can encode data about the document, or can encode an identifier that references a database record containing such data. By showing the printed document to a computer device with a suitable optical input device (e.g., a webcam), an electronic version of the document can be recalled for editing, or other responsive action can be taken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
    Inventors: Phillip Andrew Seder, J. Scott Carr, Burt W. Perry, Geoffrey B. Rhoads
  • Patent number: 6885758
    Abstract: The reading results of an agreed number of images of items, achieved by the OCR reader, are temporarily stored subdivided into reading results which are read unambiguously and reading results which are rejected. Then classes of words or word groups belonging together of the reading results temporarily stored and rejected, consisting in each case of n address words, n=1, 2, . . . , a, with interword gaps m, m=0, 1, . . . b are formed which do not drop below a particular similarity factor referred to in each case a particular n and m value between them. In the dictionary or dictionaries of the associated address areas, representatives, at least, of the classes whose frequency exceeds a predetermined value are included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Thomas Bayer
  • Patent number: 6873715
    Abstract: A credit-card reader having a built-in digital camera for capturing a template signature and an email address on a credit card. The email address is identified by an optical character recognition program and input to an email system. A test signature is entered on a touch-pad input device and both the test and the template signatures are normalized and displayed for verification. Action buttons are provided on the display screen for enforcing the signature verification actions. The system enables the transmission of an electronic receipt selectively controlled by the customer and eliminates the needs of physically handling a credit card for signature verification and manual input or pre-registration of an email address for an electronic receipt. The computer-assisted features enables a central system of signature verification for purchase transactions at self-service check-out counters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Inventors: You-Ti Kuo, Shirphone Kuo
  • Patent number: 6863214
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a plurality of financial documents, comprising, a document processor, wherein, for each financial document, the document processor captures data encoded on the financial document and an image of the financial document during a prime pass, and assigns a prime pass sequence number to each financial document. The apparatus includes a computer database in which the prime pass data and image is stored in association with the prime pass sequence number for the financial document. The document processor is adapted to determine whether the financial document should be rejected because the data and document image needs to be repaired or the data only needs to be repaired. If the data and image needs to be repaired, the document processor, or a desktop scanner/reader, recaptures the data and image, assigns a recapture sequence number to the financial document, and the recaptured data and image is stored in the computer database in association with the recapture sequence number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Wachovia Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew J. Garner, IV, Terry H. Beck
  • Patent number: 6851608
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods which provide for scanning of information, such as characters or symbols, without requiring a controlled scan velocity. Preferred embodiments utilize an optical sensor in detecting attributes of information scanned and implement compensation techniques to remediate the effects of distortion and present information which may be identified to a high level of confidence. A known topology may be relied upon to present known markers in the scanned information, such as known blank or filled regions, patterns, or other observable traits and utilized with respect to a distorted scanned image to compensate for the effects of the distortion. Additionally or alternatively, vector based pattern recognition may be utilized in remediating distortion of a scanned image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Commerciant, L.P.
    Inventors: Manish J. Desai, Husain Mohammad, Jonathan E. Andersson
  • Patent number: 6850652
    Abstract: A tactile kinesthetic assistant is a device that allows a person to use the senses of sight, touch and hearing to gather information. Tactile kinesthetic assistants can be used, for example, to help a person retrieve information related to a specific word or phrase (e.g., a student learning to read), to allow a person to determine the status of a person or thing (e.g., a nurse retrieving medical records), to allow a person to obtain current information (e.g., a stock broker retrieving stock prices). In one embodiment, a tactile kinesthetic assistant includes a thimble and an ear piece. The thimble includes a scanner that allows the user to scan one or more words. The representations of the one or more words are used to retrieve information via a network and the retrieved information is provided to the user through an ear piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Brent D. Thomas, Christine C. Thomas
  • Patent number: 6741929
    Abstract: Disclosed is a virtual navigation system using a moving image. The system comprises an input section for inputting a command information such as a departure point and a destination each related to a traveling route; a traveling route estimating section for reading the traveling route from the departure point to the destination, which is inputted by the input section, from stored data to estimate an optimum traveling route; a traveling route processing section for processing the moving image for a road and surroundings around the road of the traveling route estimated by the traveling route estimating section; an information processing section for searching moving image data and spatial data each related to the road and the surroundings under control of the traveling route processing section; a storing section for storing road data shown in a map, and the moving image data and the spatial data related to the road and the surroundings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Byoung Woo Oh, Min Soo Kim, Young Kyu Yang
  • Patent number: 6661910
    Abstract: An image processing network for processing image files and coupled to an outside data communication network comprising a plurality of remote image capture units, the units scanning documents and creating a plurality of image files of said documents; the image processing means is coupled to said plurality of remote image capture units for processing the image files; the accounting means is coupled to the image processing means for immediately updating accounts associated with said image processing means; and the plurality of remote capture units are coupled to the outside network, the outside data communication network is connected to outside financial institutions, the image processing means transmits said image files to the outside financial institutions via the data communication network and receives image files from the outside financial institutions over the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: John E. Jones, Paul A. Jones, Ronald M. Gafron, William J. Jones, Douglas U. Mennie
  • Patent number: 6650776
    Abstract: A two-dimensional code recognition processing method for recognizing a two-dimensional code made of a plurality of square cells arranged in accordance with predetermined layout rules. The method comprises the steps of: generating binary data from image information acquired externally in accordance with a predetermined threshold value; detecting a reference cell serving as a reference in recognizing the two-dimensional code based on the binary data generated in the binary data generating step; detecting corner cells each located in a predetermined search range with respect to the reference cell detected in the reference cell detecting step, on the basis of the binary data generated in the binary data generating step; and detecting code data assigned to the two-dimensional code existing inside an area of a code part enclosed by the reference cell and by the corner cells on the basis of the binary data generated in the binary data generating step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Keigo Ihara, Junichi Rekimoto, Shinji Nakajima, Takahiko Sueyoshi
  • Patent number: 6611612
    Abstract: A document (10) is covered by a laminate (13) comprising a layer of microspheres (16) over an adhesive layer (14) covering a source image (12) such as a photograph, printed matter, or a bar code arranged on a substrate (11). Light impinging on the document (10) is split by the optical properties of the microspheres (16) and underlying specular reflectors. The remaining light passes through the microspheres (16), through the adhesive layer (14) and strikes the substrate (11) or source image (12) on the document (10), and is reflected (18) and scattered (20). Alternatively, the laminate (13) can comprise a plain or clear layer of polyester without microspheres over the adhesive layer (14). Light impinging on the laminate (13) passes through the polyester and laminate (14) to strike the substrate (11) or source image (12) where it is reflected and scattered. A first light source (24) directs light to the document (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Graeme R. Mann
  • Patent number: 6577755
    Abstract: An optical character recognition (OCR) system is provided, in which syntactical and semantic rules, provided along with an input image to be scanned and applicable to the contents of the scanned image, are used in connection with the results of the OCR scan to identify the scanned characters. As a result, the recognition rate and confidence are enhanced. By providing the checking based on syntactical and semantic rules within the OCR system, application programs which would receive and use the OCR results are freed from the added burden of having to perform their own syntactical and/or semantic checking on the OCR results the application programs receive from the OCR system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Raymond Amand Lorie
  • Patent number: 6560355
    Abstract: A system for evaluating currency bills with currency evaluation machines and recording information associated with the evaluated currency bills. The currency evaluation machines utilize sensors to obtain information from the evaluated bills, and comparison tests are performed in which the sensor information is compared to master information in order to identify the denomination, series and authenticity of the currency bills being evaluated. A reviewable record of the comparison tests is maintained for each individual currency evaluation machine. After performing the comparison tests, evaluated bills are identified as either no call bills, suspect documents or genuine bills. Information associated with respective no call bills, suspect documents or genuine bills, including times of occurrence or quantities of no call bills, suspect documents or genuine bills, and/or denomination of suspect documents or genuine bills is recorded in the reviewable record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: Bradford T. Graves, William J. Jones, Douglas U. Mennie, Frank M. Csulits
  • Patent number: 6553296
    Abstract: An arrangement in a vehicle for determining vehicle occupant position relative to a fixed structure within the vehicle including an array which receives an image of a portion of the passenger compartment in which the occupant is likely to be situated and a lens arranged between the array and the portion of the passenger compartment. The image may be changed by adjusting the lens, e.g., adjusting the focal length of the lens and/or the position of the lens relative to the array, by adjusting the array, e.g., the position of the array relative to the lens, and/or by using software to perform a focusing process. By changing the image to obtain the clearest image, i.e., focusing the image, a distance between the occupant and the fixed structure can be obtained based on the parameters of the change of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Automotive Technologies International, Inc.
    Inventors: David S. Breed, Wilbur E. DuVall, Wendell C. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20020191830
    Abstract: The present invention is an improved indicia reader which, in addition to having magnetically encoded information reading capabilities in one embodiment, includes image sensing capabilities. A compact housing is provided which receives an indicia bearing member. Mounted on the housing in one embodiment are an imaging assembly, and a magnetically encoded information reader, which form an indicia-determining unit, and a transport mechanism for transporting the indicia-determining unit and a received member relative to one another. The reader may further includes a data format engine in communication with the indicia-determining unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Applicant: Welch Allyn Data Collection, Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Pidhirny, Kevin R. Jost, Thomas D. Britton, John L. Casey
  • Patent number: 6473519
    Abstract: The present invention is an improved check reader which, in addition to having magnetic ink character recognition capabilities, includes image sensing capabilities. A compact housing is provided which receives a document. Mounted on the housing are an imaging assembly, and a magnetic ink character reader, which form an indicia-determining unit, and a transport mechanism for transporting the indicia-determining unit and a received document relative to one another. The check reader further includes a data format engine in communication with the indicia-determining unit. When a document and the indicia-determining unit are transported relative to one another, the data-format engine captures a first electronic representation of indicia formed on the received document, and a second electronic representation of magnetic ink indicia on the received document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Pidhirny, Kevin R. Jost, Thomas D. Britton, John L. Casey
  • Publication number: 20020051562
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reading and decoding documents transported through the system in a single, non-reversing pass. An optical sensor array derives a pair of separate and distinct video signals from a scanning sequence where select portions of the document are scanned solely with infrared, and adjacent portions are scanned with visible light. The two, resultant video signals are delivered to separate image processing modules which concurrently process data independently. One module decodes bit images of machine readable characters derived from the infrared scanning sequence, the other module derives an image. Noise is reduced as smudges or extraneous marks are ignored. The first P bits of an initial scan are spatially filtered to yield M intermediate numbers of N bits, where P=M×(N−x2). Each N-bit resultant number corresponding to a predetermined pattern. Combinations of patterns are analyzed to recognize OCR, MICR, and E13B characters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Inventors: Clinton E. Sheppard, Edward L. Anderson
  • Patent number: 6366685
    Abstract: It is an object to prevent an abuse of a print-out copy image as much as possible even if an image which was optically recorded in a film is printed out. For example, it is an object to enable information of an author to be obtained as much as possible so long as a copy image is used. To accomplish the objects, an image processing apparatus of the invention has optical reading means for optically reading a film and generating image data, magnetic reading means for magnetically reading the film and generating predetermined additional information, adding means for adding the predetermined additional information to the image data so that it is hard to be discriminated by the human eyes, and output means for outputting the image data to which the predetermined additional information was added.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoichi Takaragi
  • Patent number: 6360012
    Abstract: Wavefront information for an optical system is calculated based on the intensity of an image of a plurality of gratings having different periods and orientations taken from at least two different planes a predetermined distance apart. The image of a plurality of gratings having different spatial frequencies or periods and orientations, the location of which are precisely known, are imaged in a nominal focal plane of the optical system, and, preferably, in two additional planes displaced a predetermined distance from the nominal focal plane. The phase shift, if any, from a fundamental frequency of the image intensity, is determined based on the known location of the grating and the grating image intensity. The grating image intensity is detected and measured in a first detection plane in a nominal focal plane and in a second detection plane a predetermined distance from the nominal focal plane. From these measurements wavefront information is calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: SVG Lithography Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Justin L. Kreuzer
  • Patent number: 6289116
    Abstract: A method for extracting design information from a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) or at least a portion thereof comprising the steps of: (a) imaging at least a portion of one or more IC layers to obtain stored images of said portions of the IC; (b) using manual or automatic registration techniques to mosaic images; (c) using an IC layout package possessing a feature of allowing images to be displayed and moved and polygons to be created to allow the recreation of the IC layout in the form of polygons; (d) exporting or storing of a polygon database in a standard IC layout format; (e) creating a table of transistor connections (netlist); (f) organizing circuit netlist into functional blocks of increasing complexity; and (g) generating a schematic diagram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Semiconductor Insights, Inc.
    Inventors: George Chamberlain, Larry Lam
  • Patent number: 6285783
    Abstract: A pattern data development/generation apparatus includes a pattern generation circuit for obtaining a share of a target pattern in each square and outputting share data in reading pattern design data, decoding pattern data including a pattern shape, a pattern position and a pattern size, and assigning the decoded output data to the squares having an appropriate size as a unit, a pattern memory for holding a predetermined range of the share data generated by the pattern generation circuit, and a pattern memory readout circuit for reading out the share data of each square.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Ikunao Isomura, Hideo Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 6175658
    Abstract: A discrete pixel image is enhanced to bring out particular features of interest such as edges. The enhancement includes decomposition of the original processed image data, enhancement by application of gain images to the decomposed images, and reconstruction of the enhanced image. The decomposition proceeds through a series of low-pass filters to arrive at decomposed images of progressively lower spatial frequencies. These decomposed images are then multiplied by gain images during the enhancement phase. Gain images for at least the higher spatial frequency level images are derived from lower spatial frequency level images. These spatial frequency-based gain images may be based upon operator inputs, including a spatial sensitivity function and an edge enhancement value. Lower spatial frequency level images may be processed by application of predetermined gain values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kenneth S. Kump, Richard Aufrichtig
  • Patent number: 6142375
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the presence of multiple items includes a platform upon which one or more items may be placed and a detector positioned with respect to the platform to receive an image of a profile of the one or more items on the platform. The detector is configured and arranged to generate a signal corresponding to the profile. The signal indicates whether multiple items are on the platform. The detector may be, for example, a moving point detector, a linear detector, or a two-dimensional array detector. This apparatus can be used in conjunction with an inventory control device, such as an automated library check-out device, to prevent the unauthorized removal of inventory items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Anthony M. Belka, Thomas J. Brace, Ronald D. Jesme, John E. Nelson, Samuel H. Tao, Peter J. Zarembo
  • Patent number: 6141438
    Abstract: A document authentication control device has a card positioning device with a document insertion region, an optical scanner, a data processor that receives data from the optical scanner, a database for storing processed optical image data, and a display screen for displaying document, authentication, and other data. The data processor correlates an image region of a document and a reference region of the document to corresponding image and reference regions of the document retrieved from the database, thereby determining the authenticity of the document. The reference region is a region of the document that is spaced away from the image region of the document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Inventor: Tom F. Blanchester
  • Patent number: 6061479
    Abstract: An image reader apparatus includes an illuminating element to illuminate a document face to be read, an optical element to form an image of the document face illuminated by the illuminating element, an image sensor to photoelectrically convert the image formed by light passing through the optical element, and a running roller rotating in contact with the document face, wherein a horizontal distance between a document contact portion of the running roller where the running roller contacts the document and a center of imaging of the optical element is shorter than or equal to 10 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Yoshiro Ishikawa, Takashi Katsuki, Michio Miura, Satoshi Ueda, Ippei Sawaki, Fumitaka Abe
  • Patent number: 6038553
    Abstract: An automated self service method of and system for cashing checks, typically without human intervention. The system includes a check cashing database that contains customer records for registered customers. A plurality of administration modules are provided with which individuals may register themselves and their checks and communicate with customer service representatives. A check cashing server communicates with the check cashing transaction modules. The check cashing server receives check cashing requests from the check cashing transaction modules. The check cashing server processes check requests by comparing information in the request with criteria derived from the check cashing database. If the check request satisfies the criteria, the check cashing server, without human action or intervention, instructs the check cashing transaction module to dispense cash to the customer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Affiliated Computer Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas A. Hyde, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5940844
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for storing and retrieving images of documents, e.g. checks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: The Chase Manhattan Bank, NA
    Inventors: Thomas Cahill, John J. McMonagle, Richard H. Sferra
  • Patent number: 5825506
    Abstract: An image processing and retrieval system in which images are captured and stored at the remote site where the document processor is located which codelines from the documents are captured and transmitted to a central host computer site, whereby the accounting and financial records may be done at the host computer at the central site and image statements and other image processing activity to process the image may be done at remote sites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory M. Bednar, Thomas E. Carr, Craig D. Curley, Lynn P. Curley, Dorothy I. Mazina, Paul L. Olson, Filip J. Yeskel
  • Patent number: 5784503
    Abstract: An electronic document-imaging arrangement wherein imaging means generates imaging-bits representing a given document and transfers these bits on a "per-document basis" to various successive electronic processing stages and, finally, to a data base storage unit (DBS); this arrangement also including a tag stage for creating tag bits unique for each such imaged document; these tag bits to be transferred with the imaging bits for each document to each such processing stage that handles the imaging bits, on a per document basis, and finally to DBS interface means for final matching and removal of the tag bits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Unisys Corp
    Inventors: John A. Bleecker, III, George E. Reasoner, Jr., Daniel R. Edwards, Gerald R. Smith