The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 11, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 29, 1993
Ronald E. Gocht, Manchester, CT (US);
Leon A. Pintsov, W. Hartford, CT (US);
Pitney Bowes Inc., Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for determining the location and content of data blocks on a mailpiece includes a computer connected to a structure for obtaining a digital bit map image of an outer surface of a mailpiece. The computer includes structure programmed for: finding each run of a plurality of black bits of each scan line of the bit map image and determining if any bit thereof neighbors at least one black bit of another scan line; combining the found run with each neighboring bit to form a piece; assigning a descriptive value to a block having at least one piece and comparing the descriptive value to a list of values to determine which type of data block the block having the descriptive value is.