Cynthia R Ott

US Patent:

6614471, Sep 2, 2003

Filed:

May 10, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/309024

Inventors:

Cynthia D. Ott - Oakland CA

Assignee:

BancTec, Inc. - Irving TX

International Classification:

H04N 968

US Classification:

348238, 348234, 358514

Abstract:

A color scanning technique that maintains a high image quality while permitting improved scanning speed and improved perceived resolution. A color pixel array and a luminance pixel array are generated representative of a target object. The pixel arrays are related in that one or more luminance pixels of the luminance pixel array cover each pixel of the color pixel array. A luminance value is sensed for each luminance pixel, and three primary color values are sensed for each color pixel. A measured luminance value is then associated with each respective color pixel wherein the measured luminance value is a function of the sensed luminance values for the one or more luminance pixels covering the respective color pixel. A derived luminance value is also calculated for each respective color pixel wherein the derived luminance value is a function of the three sensed primary color values for the respective color pixel. A luminance correction factor is then determined for each respective color pixel as a function of the color pixels derived and measured luminance values.

US Patent:

56007329, Feb 4, 1997

Filed:

Dec 8, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/351630

Inventors:

David M. Ott - Oakland CA
Cynthia D. Ott - Oakland CA

Assignee:

BancTec, Inc. - Dallas TX

International Classification:

G06K 900

US Classification:

382112

Abstract:

Digital images of documents such as bank checks are analyzed to determine acceptable image quality by capturing an image at a first or normal sensitivity and at a second or greater sensitivity. Both sets of image signals are subjected to speckle filtering to remove extraneous image elements or noise. The greater sensitivity signals are grouped in discrete areas having a predetermined number of pixels and black pixels which are connected are identified as an object in each discrete area. Each object is analyzed by measuring height, width, area, perimeter, aspect ratio, density ratio and perimeter to area ratio. Predetermined limits for these characteristics are applied to each object to classify the object as stroke-like or of another shape. Stroke-like objects are then compared with the object at the same position in the normal image field and a so-called area ratio of the number of black pixels in the normal image to the number of black pixels in the more intense image is determined. Stroke images having less than a minimum value of area ratio are subjected to a normal image missing pixel count and the image is deemed acceptable or unacceptable if a predetermined number of pixels are missing in the normal image.

US Patent:

48539708, Aug 1, 1989

Filed:

Nov 24, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/129383

Inventors:

David M. Ott - El Cerrito CA
Cynthia D. Ott - El Cerrito CA

Assignee:

Integrated Automation - Berkeley CA

International Classification:

G06K 940

US Classification:

382 54

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for processing a video image so as to feature the boundaries between light and dark regions of the image. The method and apparatus are applicable to a video image which is represented by an array of pixels, in which each pixel is associated with a gray scale intensity value. According to the invention a center pixel is selected along with a plurality of pixels forming a two-dimensional neighborhood of the center pixel. From the intensity values associated with the pixels of the neighborhood, a determination is made whether or not the center pixel lies in a transition region, in which the image undergoes a rapid variation between light and dark. A bit value is then assigned to the center pixel, indicating whether the center pixel is to be black or white in the processed image. The bit value is assigned according to one of two predetermined algorithms depending on whether the center pixel was determined to lie within or not to lie within a transition region. For center pixels lying in a transition region, a first algorithm assigns the bit value with respect to a virtual boundary between light and dark.

US Patent:

57546746, May 19, 1998

Filed:

Jan 28, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/788430

Inventors:

David Michael Ott - Oakland CA
Cynthia Diane Ott - Oakland CA

Assignee:

BancTec, Inc. - Dallas TX

International Classification:

G06K 900

US Classification:

382112

Abstract:

Digital images of documents such as bank checks are analyzed to determine acceptable image quality by capturing an image at a first or normal sensitivity and at a second or greater sensitivity. Both sets of image signals are subjected to speckle filtering to remove extraneous image elements or noise. The greater sensitivity signals are grouped in discrete areas having a predetermined number of pixels and black pixels which are connected are identified as an object in each discrete area. Each object is analyzed by measuring height, width, area, perimeter, aspect ratio, density ratio and perimeter to area ratio. Predetermined limits for these characteristics are applied to each object to classify the object as stroke-like or of another shape. Stroke-like objects are then compared with the object at the same position in the normal image field and a so-called area ratio of the number of black pixels in the normal image to the number of black pixels in the more intense image is determined. Stroke images having less than a minimum value of area ratio are subjected to a normal image missing pixel count and the image is deemed acceptable or unacceptable if a predetermined number of pixels are missing in the normal image.

US Patent:

40414566, Aug 9, 1977

Filed:

Jul 30, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/710217

Inventors:

David M. Ott - El Cerrito CA
Cynthia Bunce Ott - El Cerrito CA
John G. Stoides - Culpeper VA

International Classification:

G06K 900

US Classification:

3401463R

Abstract:

A bill to be verified is scanned lengthwise by a two track optical sensor. For each bill the resulting analog signals are divided into eight segments or windows each segment producing a binary coded pattern produced by delta modulation. This is compared to a stored reference and a number is produced representing the dissimilarity between the bill being scanned and the average bill of that denomination with which it is being compared. Thereafter, a processor compares the foregoing numbers with additional quantitative functions which have previously been stored relating the corresponding segments of the bill denomination being scanned to other bill denominations. With the use of limit and weighting functions they are summed over the eight different effective windows and a decision is made as to whether the proper denomination is present.