Method and apparatus for reading and decoding information
US6778683B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 8, 1999 |
| Grant date | Aug 17, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 8, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S209/90
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus is disclosed for reading and decoding information extracted from a form. In the system of the present invention, packages are randomly placed on a conveyor belt, with their labels facing a two-camera subassembly. As the conveyor belt moves, the two-camera subassembly continuously takes images of the belt underneath the overhead camera. The design of the camera permits it to take a high resolution image of a non-singulated, unjustified package flow. A digital image of the packages within the field of view of the camera is then transferred to the processing system for analysis. The processing system identifies individual packages in the image, extracts them and then analyzes the information written on the package labels. The analysis process utilizes conventional Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and Intelligent Character Recognition (ICR) techniques to evaluate the information written on the package label. Once the information is decoded, the system either accesses a database record associated with the decoded machine-readable code, or creates a new record. When an unknown word image is encountered, the field-specific recognition process is aided by use of l…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.