National Computer Systems, Inc.

Westinghouse Electric Corporation

John V McMillin

George E Carsner

Jay V Clark

Dale W Schroeder

Gary J Gustafson

Kenneth M Keogh

A scannable form for use in an optical mark reading system has a timing track that is pre-encoded with data information known or determined prior to a respondent completing the scannable form. The data information is pre-encoded in the control mark column on the scannable form by utilizing that portion of the control mark column that is not essential for conveying the scan control information associated with the scan control marks. The data information is encoded using data marks that represent the data information in a binary or other similar coding technique. The data marks are column-aligned with the scan control marks in the control mark column.

Scannable form having a control mark column with encoded data marks

A method for extracting information from a document bearing (a) first indicia detectable in a first scan mode, using light in a first spectral range, but not detectable in a second scan mode, using light outside the first spectral range, and (b) second indicia detectable in either the first scan mode or second scan mode, where the second indicia represent information encoded in one or more forms decodable by automated symbol recognition resources, comprise several steps. One or more areas of interest on the document are defined in which the second indicia may appear, with the definition including information specifying the form of encoding for the second indicia. The document is scanned in the second mode, using a scanner that produces a pixel image of the indicia detected and the resulting pixel data are stored in a memory device. An area of interest is selected from those defined for the document and the pixel image of that area of interest is processed with an automated symbol recognition resource suitable for the form of encoding specified for the second indicia in the selected area of interest to produce one or more output records incorporating symbol information representative of the second indicia.

Image processing system for documentary data

A method storing multiple scanned images of a response-marked form document comprises scanning a copy of the form document on which no response information has been marked, using a scanning method that detects substantially all visual information present on the form document and produces a pixel image thereof and storing that pixel image data in a computer storage device. Additonal steps comprise scanning at least one copy of the same form document that has been marked with at least one response mark that absorbs light falling outside the visible spectrum, using a scanning method that detects only the presence of light outside the visible spectrum and that produces a pixel image of said at least one response mark, then compressing that pixel image to reduce the amount of pixel data used to repressent areas of the form document bearing no response marks and storing the compressed pixel image data in a computer storage device. The visual scan pixel image and the image resulting from a scan for response marks can be merged together to produce a signal image that is comparable in quality and appearance to an image from a single, conventional visual-mode scan.

Method and apparatus for storing and merging multiple optically scanned

A method and apparatus for discriminating bar codes for an optical mark reader is provided comprising a scanning means for scanning a target area on a scannable form and producing a signal in response to certain indications, i.e., marks or spaces, in the target area, detection means for detecting indications having a width within a preselected range of widths, first comparator means for comparing the number of detected indications to a specified range of valid numbers of detected indications, and second comparator means for comparing the output of the first comparator means for two consecutive sweeps of the scanning means and enabling means for producing an enabling signal when the output of the first comparator means is valid for two consecutive sweeps, such that the enabling signal enables a bar code scanner to scan and decode the bar code, and a picking signal when the output of the first comparator means is not valid for two consecutive sweeps during a scan of the entire target area, such that the picking signal enables the optical mark reader to begin mark scanning of the scannable form.

Method and apparatus for discriminating or locating bar codes for an

The present invention relates generally to the field of optical mark readers and mark scanning systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and system for checking the velocity of a scannable document as it travels under the read head of a mark scanning system.

Scannable document velocity detector

A line scanning camera generates signal information indicative of marks on a scanned document and a selectable memory containing several document formats cause the signal information from the scanned document corresponding to the selected format to be transmitted for evaluation.

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Iowa City, IA, United States of America

John V McMillin