Method and device for reading a document character

Claim 1

A method of reading unknown document characters with respect to ideal characters having ideal waveforms, the method comprising: predetermining acceptable tolerance ranges of amplitude to average level ratios at each interval along the ideal waveform for each ideal character; sensing the unknown character with a primary read means at one orientation as the document passes thereby; producing a primary waveform from the unknown character sensed; measuring the amplitudes of the primary waveform along intervals thereof; calculating the primary average level of the amplitudes of the primary waveform; using factors of the primary average level as primary range limit comparison references; comparing each measured amplitude with the primary comparison references; collecting "less than" and "greater than" comparison outputs predetermined to identify the primary waveform within an acceptable tolerance range at each interval along the primary waveform for each ideal waveform; and signaling recognition of the unknown character if the primary waveform is within acceptable tolerance ranges of an ideal character waveform or signaling non-recognition if the primary waveform is not within acceptable tolerance ranges of any ideal character waveform.

Claim 2

A method of reading unknown document characters with respect to ideal characters having ideal waveforms, the method comprising: predetermining acceptable tolerance ranges of amplitude to average level ratios at each interval along the ideal waveform for each ideal character; sensing the unknown character with a primary read means at one orientation as the document passes thereby; producing a primary waveform from the unknown character sensed; measuring the amplitudes of the primary waveform along intervals thereof; calculating the primary average level of the amplitudes of the primary waveform; using factors of the primary average level as primary range limit comparison references; comparing each measured amplitude with the primary comparison references; collecting "less than" and "greater than" comparison outputs predetermined to identify the primary waveform within an acceptable tolerance range at each interval along the primary waveform for each ideal waveform; and signaling recognition of the unknown character if the primary waveform is within acceptable tolerance ranges of an ideal character waveform or signaling non-recognition if the primary waveform is not within acceptable tolerance ranges of any ideal character waveform.

Claim 8

A device for reading unknown document characters and recognizing the waveform of each unknown character, the device comprising: means for calculating and storing acceptable tolerance ranges of amplitude to average level ratios at each interval along the ideal waveform for each ideal character; a primary read head for sensing each individual unknown character at one orientation as a document passes thereby; means for producing a primary waveform from each unknown character sensed; means for measuring the amplitude of the primary waveform at timed intervals; means for calculating the average level of the amplitudes of the primary waveform; means for calculating factors of the primary average level for use a primary range limit comparison references; means for comparing each measured amplitude with the comparison references; means for collecting "less than" and "greater then" comparison outputs predetermined to identify the primary waveform within an acceptable tolerance range at each interval along the primary waveform for each ideal waveform; and means for signaling recognition or non-recognition of the primary waveform.

Claim 9

A device for reading unknown document characters and recognizing the waveform of each unknown character, the device comprising: means for calculating and storing acceptable tolerance ranges of amplitude to average level ratios at each interval along the ideal waveform for each ideal character; a primary read head for sensing each individual unknown character at one orientation as a document passes thereby; means for producing a primary waveform from each unknown character sensed; means for measuring the amplitude of the primary waveform at timed intervals; means for calculating the average level of the amplitudes of the primary waveform; means for calculating factors of the primary average level for use a primary range limit comparison references; means for comparing each measured amplitude with the comparison references; means for collecting "less than" and "greater then" comparison outputs predetermined to identify the primary waveform within an acceptable tolerance range at each interval along the primary waveform for each ideal waveform; and means for signaling recognition or non-recognition of the primary waveform.