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:
Mar. 13, 2007
Filed:
Jan. 06, 2006
Naohiko Koakutsu, Suwa, JP;
Yukihiro Okamura, Suwa, JP;
Naohiko Koakutsu, Suwa, JP;
Yukihiro Okamura, Suwa, JP;
Seiko Epson Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An apparatus and a method for processing checks and other negotiable instruments efficiently captures MICR data required for electronic payment and an image of the check or negotiable instrument enabling the amount, payee, and other information printed or written on the check face to be clearly read. The image reading unitof the check processing apparatusscans and outputs a gray scale image of the check. A threshold value determination unitsets a threshold value for digitizing the image data based on the density level frequency distribution of primary gray scale image data obtained by the image data reading unit scanning a first scanning area T. This first scanning area contains part of a printed text areawhere text is printed on the negotiable instrument and part of the backgroundof the negotiable instrument. A digital image processordigitizes and converts secondary gray scale image data to digital image data based on the threshold value set by the threshold value determination unit. The secondary gray scale image data is generated by the image reading unitscanning a predefined second scanning area of the negotiable instrument.