Transaction document reader

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The apparatus of the present invention provides a means for reading image data on a transaction document.
The image data includes marking areas employed by a user to record marks and includes a predetermined set of characters.
Bit signals representative of rows and columns of dark or light pixel areas of the image data are generated.
The bit signals are single bit signals, however, multi-bit signals can also be utilized.
An image memory stores the bit signals.
The image memory is organized into rows and columns of bit signals corresponding to the plurality of rows and columns of pixel areas of the image data.
The marks recorded in the marking areas are read by locating a portion of the image memory representative of the marking areas of the transaction document as a function of particular reference characteristics of the document and the marks are identified in the marking areas by probing rows of bit signals of the image memory representative of rows of pixel areas within the marking areas.
Characters are optically read by locating a specific area within a character area of the image memory which is representative of at least a single character.
A neural network for recognizing the predetermined set of characters is then applied to the specific area.
The apparatus of the present invention also dynamically reads the marks and predetermined characters.
A sensor senses rows of image data as the document is transported across the sensor.
Each row of image data includes a plurality of pixel areas.
The pixel areas are aligned in a plurality of columns.
The sensor generates output signals representative of the pixel areas.
Transform circuitry receives the output signals and generates bit signals representative of each pixel area.
An image memory stores the bit signals in rows and columns corresponding to the plurality of rows and columns of pixel areas of the image data.
The marks recorded in the marking areas are read by locating a portion of the image memory representative of the marking areas of the transaction document