Patent EP0240203A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0240203A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Optical card reader
Assignee: Bally Manufacturing Corp
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Filing: 1987-03-18
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-03-18
Abstract
Abstract An optical card reader for reading marks made on the face of a preprinted card utilizes a video camera and a memory device to capture and store an image of at least a portion of the card. Positioning indices are printed on the card, and the reader has stored therein information defining possible locations of valid marks relative to the positioning indices. The centroids of the positioning indices on the cards are determined to define the possible locations of valid marks on the card. The densities and centroids of the marks located in the possible locations are analyzed to determine if a valid mark is present.
Inventors
- 👤 Martin A. Keane
- 👤 Charles H. Black
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 15:27
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F3/00; A63F3/06; A63F3/0625; A63F3/064; G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10544; G06K7/10821; G06K7/10861; G06K7/10871; G06K7/1092; G06V; G06V10/00; G06V10/20; G06V10/24; G06V10/245; G07; G07C; G07C15/00; G07C15/005; A63F9/00; A63F9/24; A63F2009/2401; A63F2009/243; A63F2009/2435
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
An optical reader for reading documents having printed thereon positioning indices (18, 20, 22) and a plurality of data areas (12) in a predetermined spatial relationship to the positioning indices (18, 20, 22), comprising: means for capturing and storing an image of the positioning indices (18, 20, 22) and optionally of the data areas (12); means responsive to the captured and stored image for determining the positions of the centroids of the positioning indices (18, 20, 22) within that stored image; means responsive to the determined positions of the centroids for identifying the positions of the data areas (12) on the document or on the captured image; and means responsive to the data area position identifying means for analyzing each of the data areas (12) on the document or on the captured image to determine the presence or absence of valid data thereon.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
An optical reader for reading documents having printed thereon positioning indices (18, 20, 22) and a plurality of data areas (12) in a predetermined spatial relationship to the positioning indices (18, 20, 22), comprising: means for capturing and storing an image of the positioning indices (18, 20, 22) and optionally of the data areas (12); means responsive to the captured and stored image for determining the positions of the centroids of the positioning indices (18, 20, 22) within that stored image; means responsive to the determined positions of the centroids for identifying the positions of the data areas (12) on the document or on the captured image; and means responsive to the data area position identifying means for analyzing each of the data areas (12) on the document or on the captured image to determine the presence or absence of valid data thereon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
95 words
An optical reader according to claim 1 for reading documents in which each of the positioning indices (18, 20, 22) includes areas of first and second optically distinguishable characteristics of which the area (18A, 20A, 22A) of second characteristic is disposed wholly within the area of first characteristic, wherein the centroid determining means comprises means for identifying the positioning indices (18, 20, 22) on the card by recognition of the areas of first characteristic in the captured image and means for determining the positions of the centroids by analysis of the areas of second characteristic.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
An optical reader according to claim 2, wherein the means for recognizing the areas of the first characteristic comprise means for recognizing areas of a first density, and the means for recognizing the areas of the second characteristic comprise means for recognizing areas of a second density less than the first.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
An optical reader according to any preceding claim, wherein the analyzing means comprises means for determining the density profile of each of the data areas.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
70 words
An optical reader according to claim 4, wherein the analyzing means further comprises means for determining the weights and centroids of the density profiles of each of the data areas, and means for accepting data in each of the data areas as valid only if the weight of the density profile exceeds a predetermined value and if the centroid thereof lies in a predetermined location within the respective data area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
125 words
An optical reader for reading documents having printed thereon data areas (12) designated to receive user-applied markings, comprising: means for scanning each data area (12) to provide pixel data representative of the density of pixel sub-elements of the data area; means for combining the pixel data for all pixel sub-elements of each data area, to provide a combine value; means for analyzing the pixel data for all pixel sub-elements of each data area, to determine the location of the centroid of any data markings on the data area; means for determining the deviation of the location of the centroid from the centre of the data area; and means for acknowledged marked data as valid or invalid in response to the combined value and the deviation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
125 words
An optical reader for reading documents having printed thereon data areas (12) designated to receive user-applied markings, comprising: means for scanning each data area (12) to provide pixel data representative of the density of pixel sub-elements of the data area; means for combining the pixel data for all pixel sub-elements of each data area, to provide a combine value; means for analyzing the pixel data for all pixel sub-elements of each data area, to determine the location of the centroid of any data markings on the data area; means for determining the deviation of the location of the centroid from the centre of the data area; and means for acknowledged marked data as valid or invalid in response to the combined value and the deviation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
An optical reader according to claim 6, wherein the means for acknowledging marked data acknowledges such data as invalid if the combined value is less than a threshold value or if the deviation exceeds a predetermined amount.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical reader according to claim 7, wherein the threshold value varies as a function of the deviation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
An optical reader according to claim 8, wherein threshold value increases with increasing deviation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
73 words
An optical reader according to any of claims 6 to 9, wherein the means for providing the said pixel data comprises a means for providing the said pixel data comprises means for assigning first data values to pixel sub-elements of the data area having a density that exceeds a predetermined value and means for assigning second data values to pixel sub-elements of the data area havinga density that is below the predetermined value.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
84 words
A machine readable card having printed thereon a plurality of data areas (12) and a plurality of positioning indices (18,20,22) in a predetermined spaced relationship to the data areas, wherein each of the positioning indices (18,20,22) has an area of first print density that is printed at a density higher than the print density of the other material printed on the card, and an area of second print density, the area of second print density being disposed within the area of first print density.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
84 words
A machine readable card having printed thereon a plurality of data areas (12) and a plurality of positioning indices (18,20,22) in a predetermined spaced relationship to the data areas, wherein each of the positioning indices (18,20,22) has an area of first print density that is printed at a density higher than the print density of the other material printed on the card, and an area of second print density, the area of second print density being disposed within the area of first print density.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A machine readable card according to claim 11, wherein the second print density is substantially lower than the first print density.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
53 words
A machine readable card according to claim 11 or claim 12, wherein the positioning indices (18,20,22) include first, second and third positioning indices disposed at predefined locations with respect to each other and to the data areas (12), the third positioning index (22) having a greater area than the second positioning index (20).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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