Optical correlation system
First Claim
1. Apparatus for use in a mail sorting system, comprising:
- a. optical of a mailpiece having address information comprised of characters spaced in a line and character lines spaced in a block;
b. holographic filter means receiving the optical means light image and producing a filtered light image correlated with an address information reference pattern, wherein said reference pattern contains correlating data on the spacing of characters in a line and on the spacing of character lines in a block;
c. detector means receiving the holographic filter means filtered light image and producing an output electronic signal which contains the degree of correlation of said mailpiece address information to said address information reference pattern; and
d. signal processor means receiving said detector means output electronic signal and producing an address location signal based at least in part on correlation of said mailpiece address information to said address information reference pattern.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Invention provides optical correlation apparatus comprised of optical means producing a light image of the mailpiece including the address information, holographic filter means receiving the optical means light image and producing a filtered light image correlated to an address information reference pattern, detector means receiving the holographic filter means filtered light image and producing an output electronic signal which contains the degree of correlation of the mailpiece address information to the address information reference pattern, and signal processor means receiving the detector means output electronic signal and producing an address location signal based on a high degree of correlation of the mailpiece address information to the address information reference pattern.
34 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. Apparatus for use in a mail sorting system, comprising:
-
a. optical of a mailpiece having address information comprised of characters spaced in a line and character lines spaced in a block; b. holographic filter means receiving the optical means light image and producing a filtered light image correlated with an address information reference pattern, wherein said reference pattern contains correlating data on the spacing of characters in a line and on the spacing of character lines in a block; c. detector means receiving the holographic filter means filtered light image and producing an output electronic signal which contains the degree of correlation of said mailpiece address information to said address information reference pattern; and d. signal processor means receiving said detector means output electronic signal and producing an address location signal based at least in part on correlation of said mailpiece address information to said address information reference pattern. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. Optical correlation systems apparatus for use in a mail sorting application and comprising:
-
a. optical means which produces a light image of a mailpiece having address information comprised of characters spaced in a line and character lines spaced in a block; b. holographic correlation filter means receiving the optical means light image and producing a filtered light image correlated with an address information reference pattern, wherein said reference pattern contains correlating data on the spacing of characters in a line and on the spacing of characters in a line and on the spacing of character lines in a block; c. detector means receiving the holographic filter means filtered light image and producing an output electronic signal which contains the degree of correlation of said mailpiece address information to said address information reference pattern; and d. signal processor means receiving said detector means output electronic signal and producing an address location signal based at least in part on correlation of said mailpiece address information to said address information reference pattern. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. Multi-channel apparatus for use in a mail sorting system to develop address location information, comprising:
-
a. optical means producing light images of a mailpiece having address information comprised of characters spaced in a line and character lines spaced in a block, b. multiple holographic correlation filter means each receiving an optical means light image and producing a different filtered light image correlated to a different address information reference pattern, wherein said reference pattern contains correlating data on the spacing of characters in a line and on the spacing of characters lines in a block; c. multiple detector means each receiving a different holographic correlation filter means filtered light image and producing an output electronic signal which contains the degree of correlation of said mailpiece address information to said different address information reference pattern; and d. signal processor means receiving said multiple detector means output electronic signals and producing an address location signal based at least in part on the highest correlation of said mailpiece address information to said different address information reference character pattern spacings in lines and character line pattern spacings in blocks.
-
-
16. In a method of locating address information on the face of a mailpiece, the steps of:
-
a. generating an image of a mailpiece having address information comprised of characters spaced in a line and character lines spaced in a block; b. filtering said image in a spatial filter apparatus having a holographic filter made from an object transparency pattern comprised of windows spaced in a line corresponding to said character spacing and window lines spaced in a block corresponding to said character line spacing; and c. converting said filtered image in a detector means to a correlation signal indicative of the correlation of said mailpiece address information with said filter apparatus object transparency window pattern. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
-
Specification