MICR character reader using magnetic peaks to update timing clocks

• US 5,014,324 A
• Filed: 06/06/1988
• Issued: 05/07/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Mazumder, Ali T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Boudreau, Leo H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CAMMARATA, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US07/202,849
• Time in Patent Office: 1,065 Days
• Field of Search: 382/7, 382/12, 382/64, 235/449, 235/493
• US Class Current: 382/139
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/2253 Recognition of characters printed with magnetic ink G06V30/2247 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus for use in reading magnetic waveforms, like E13B, which are printed on a carrier like financial documents or checks. The waveforms include positive and negative peak values and substantially zero values occurring at predetermined times for a predetermined character. A shaft encoder is used to develop a nominal count which is correlated to the velocity of the carrier. Teh nominal count is used to generate a timing clock which is used to clock the positive and negative peak values and substantially zero values into registers for subsequent character recognition. The occurrence of the timing clock is adjusted by utilizing the occurrence of a positive or negative peak itself.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use in reading MICR characters on a carrier, with each said character having a waveform which starts with a positive peak value, and with the waveforms of said characters being comprised of predetermined patterns of positive peak values, negative peak values, and substantially zero values occurring at predetermined clocking periods to identify a particular waveform as representing a particular character;

said system comprising;

a MICR reader for generating said waveform when a carrier with said characters thereon is moved in reading relationship with said MICR reader;

converting means for converting a waveform from said MICR reader into said positive peak, negative peak, and substantially zero values and for placing these values on data lines associated with said converting means;

data register means coupled to said data lines for storing said positive peak, negative peak, and substantially zero values when clocked therein;

a clocking circuit for clocking said positive negative, and substantially zero values into said data register means while taking into account the speed at which the carrier on which the MICR characters are located is moving in reading relationship with the MICR reader;

said clocking circuit comprising;

first means, including a shaft encoder, for generating a first count which reflects the speed of said carrier as it is moved in reading relationship with said MICR reader, with said first count varying in accordance with the speed of said carrier as determined by said shaft encoder;

second means including an up counter for developing a nominal time period equivalent to said first count and also for generating a nominal clock signal which is used to clock a value on said data lines into said data register means; and

third means coupled to said second means to shorten said nominal time period when said positive or negative peak value comes before the end of said nominal time period to generate an adjusted clock signal to clock the value on said data lines into said data register means, and also to lengthen said nominal time period when a said positive or negative peak value comes after the end of said nominal time period to generate an adjusted clock signal to clock the value on said data lines into said data register means;

said shaft encoder producing successive outputs which are related to the speed of said carrier; and

said first means including first and second counters for generating said first count and also includes third and fourth counters coupled to said first and second counters, respectively, to limit the count on said first and second counters to that which occurs between successive outputs from said shaft encoder.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said first means also includes a selector for alternately selecting the first counts from said first and second counters.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which said second means includes a comparator for receiving the first count alternately from said first and second counters and for receiving a count from said up counter and for generating said nominal clock signal when the count on said up counter equals the count on said comparator.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which said third means includes an early peak circuit to generate a said adjusted clock signal when a positive or negative peak value comes before the end of a nominal time period.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which said third means includes a reset means to reset said up counter upon the occurrence of a positive or negative peak value which follows the generation of a said nominal clock signal.