Image analysis – Applications – Reading bank checks
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-28
2003-09-16
Mehta, Bhavesh M. (Department: 2625)
Image analysis
Applications
Reading bank checks
C702S066000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06621920
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic pattern recognition apparatus and method, and to a computer-readable information storage medium storing a program for recognizing a magnetic pattern. More specifically, the present invention relates to a magnetic pattern recognition apparatus and a method for recognizing MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Recognition) characters and symbols (hereinafter collectively referred to as “MICR characters”) which are printed at a variety of accuracy levels using magnetic ink, and to a computer-readable information storage medium which stores a program for recognizing the MICR characters.
2. Description of the Related Art
Magnetic pattern recognition apparatuses have been conventionally used to recognize an MICR character that is printed on a personal check.
FIG. 7
shows an example of MICR characters printed on a personal check. A series of characters “symbol 012345678 symbol space 9012 symbol 3456789 symbol space 0123 space symbol 4567890123 symbol” appearing at the bottom portion of the personal check shown in
FIG. 7
are samples of printed MICR characters.
The MICR characters are standardized by CMC7 Specification, ANSI (American National Standards Institute) X9.27-1995, ISO (International Standard Organization) 1004 Information Processing Magnetic Ink Character Recognition—Print Specifications, and JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards) E13B, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. The CMC7 Specification and E13B Specification standardize the fonts and magnetic characteristics of MICR characters, particularly theoretical output waveforms thereof, i.e., ideal waveform of changes in magnetic flux, when the MICR characters are read by magnetic head scanning.
A toner containing magnetic ink powders for printing the MICR characters is available for use in laser printers. Similar ink is also available for use in ink-jet printers and thermal transfer printers. Using such a toner and ink, users can print the MICR characters on a personal check sheet using a low-cost commercially available printer.
Although the MICR characters have been printed using a dedicated printing apparatus having an accuracy level meeting a predetermined specification, the MICR characters are currently printed on low-cost commercially available printers at a variety of recording densities (i.e., dots per inch).
The printing and recognition techniques of the MICR characters will become further widespread in use, and techniques relating to the printing and recognition of the MICR characters will become even more important.
When the MICR characters are printed on commercially available printers of variety of recording densities, the following problems arise.
A difference in the recording density causes a variation in, for example, the thickness of a segment forming an MICR character even within a permissible range specified by the MICR character standards, thereby causing a drop in recognition accuracy.
The spacing between two adjacent MICR characters also suffers from variations due to the variations in the recording densities of the printers, thereby degrading recognition accuracy.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned problems.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a magnetic pattern recognition apparatus and method for achieving a high recognition rate in the recognition of the MICR characters printed by a variety of printers of variety of recording densities, and to provide a computer-readable information storage medium which stores a program for carrying out accurate character recognition.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a magnetic pattern recognition apparatus and method for achieving a high recognition rate in the recognition of the MICR characters printed by a variety of printers of variety of recording densities, and to provide a computer-readable information storage medium which stores a program for carrying out accurate character recognition.
In order to achieve the above objects, a print pattern recognition apparatus of the present invention comprises: a storage which stores a plurality of signal waveform data extracted according to a predetermined condition from reference read signal waveform data corresponding to each of a plurality of standard print patterns, the storage storing the plurality of signal waveform data associated with the corresponding print patterns; a detector for reading each of print patterns printed on a recording medium to output read signal data; a comparator for comparing the read signal data output from the detector with the signal waveform data stored in the storage; and a recognition unit for recognizing the print patterns printed on the recording medium in accordance with a comparison result provided by the comparator.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the comparator comprises a sum-of-squared-differences calculator for calculating a assessment value corresponding to the sum of squared differences between the signal waveform data stored in the storage and the read signal data each corresponding to each of the signal waveform data, and the recognition unit determines as a recognition result a print pattern which has the minimum assessment value calculated by the sum-of-squared-differences calculator.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, the sum-of-squared-differences calculator comprises a data shifter for shifting the read signal data along a time axis, and the sum-of-squared-differences calculator sums the squared differences with the read signal data shifted by the data shifter associated with the corresponding signal waveform data.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the sum-of-squared-differences calculator further comprises a minimum value detector which determines the minimum one of a plurality of assessment values each calculated using the read signal data shifted by the data shifter by a respective shift amount which is different from each other, and the sum-of-squared-differences calculator output the minimum value determined by the minimum value detector as a calculation result.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the predetermined condition, according to which the plurality of signal waveform data is extracted from the reference read signal waveform data, includes at least one of a maximum point, a minimum point, and a zero-crossing point.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of standard print patterns are defined by one of the CMC7 Specification and the E13B Specification.
A method of the present invention for recognizing a print pattern comprises the steps of: (a) reading each of print patterns printed on a recording medium to output read signal data; (b) retrieving from a storage signal waveform data extracted according to a predetermined condition from reference read signal waveform data corresponding to a standard print pattern; (c) comparing the read signal data output in step (a) with the signal waveform data retrieved from the storage in step (b); and (d) recognizing the print patterns printed on the recording medium in accordance with a comparison result provided in step (c).
In one embodiment of the present invention, step (c) comprises the step of (e) calculating an assessment value corresponding to a sum of squared differences between the signal waveform data retrieved from the storage and the read signal data each corresponding to each of the signal waveform data, and step (d) comprises the step of (f) determining as a recognition result a print pattern which has the minimum assessment value calculated in step (e).
In a further embodiment of the present invention, step (e) comprises the steps of: (g) shifting the read signal data along a time axis; and (h) summing the squared differences calculated with the read signal data shifted in step (g) associated with the corresponding signal waveform data.
In still a further e
Choobin Barry
Mehta Bhavesh M.
Seiko Epson Corporation
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