Gtech Corporation

Gtech Rhode Island Corporation

Frank J Metayer

Richard S Meehan

John Abraitis

Steve Bozzi

Chris Collins

Carlos Cervantes Toral

Alexis J Cournoyer

Duncan D Xue

Richard Sean Meehan

Templates of known forms are stored in computer system. The templates are digitized pixels on which connected component analyses are performed resulting in a first list of components. Five to ten of those components are selected to create an ordered feature list for each form. The computer system then captures an optical image of a form positioned on the top of a stack of forms. The optical image is digitized and stored in the computer (or processor) system as a captured digital image of pixels. A connected component analysis is performed on the captured digital image that results in a second list of image components. Image components on the second list are compared to those on the first list and then each succeeding feature in one of the ordered feature lists. If the comparison is successful, the form is known and other marks on the form may then be processed. If the comparison is unsuccessful, a new feature list is tried.

System and method for document location and recognition

An optical reader of a form is discussed where the form has a stored known boundary or boundaries. When the boundaries in a captured image do not match those of the stored known boundaries, it may be determined that an obstruction exists that will interfere with a correct reading of the form. The boundary may be printed, blank, and may include quiet areas, or combinations thereof in stored known patterns. A captured image of the form is compared to retrieved, stored boundary information and differences are noted. The differences may be thresholded to determine if an obstruction exists. If an obstruction is detected, the operator may be signaled, and the location may be displayed or highlighted. The form may be discarded or obstruction may be cleared and the form may be re-processed.

Obstruction detector

A system and process for reading forms using a curvature distortion correction scheme is disclosed. A model image of a known form is partitioned into sectors defined by at least three alignment marks, and a transfer or correction function for each sector is generated by comparing the locations of alignment marks on a captured unread image of a form to those on a model image. The transfer function is then applied to the other marks within the sector to calculate a correct location of the marks. Each sector is sized to reasonably ensure curvature distortions are handled such that all the marks on a form are properly found and interpreted. Errors may be checked and, if they persist, smaller sectors may be defined and employed, if available.

Curvature correction and image processing

In a system and method for processing a form comprising a plurality of entry markings, an area-array image sensor may capture an image of the form in free-space without requiring relative movement of the sensor and the form. A processor may interpret the captured image to determine at least a first entry selection based, at least in part, on the position of at least one of the plurality of entry markings with respect to at least one other marking in the image.

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West Warwick, RI, United States of America

Frank J Metayer