Method for reading an optically readable sheet
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for reading a sheet having one or more regions of choices and a plurality of mark spaces thereon in which one or more selections may be marked for each of one or more choices, each mark space being a space defined for marking a selection therein, the method comprising:
- imaging the sheet having one or more choice regions and a plurality of mark spaces thereon wherein the image of the sheet includes all of the mark spaces for the choice regions thereon and is in a pixelated or bitmapped format including a plurality of pixels;
defining for each sheet the one or more choice regions each containing a plurality of reading regions each including one mark space;
processing the image of the sheet for decoding from the image of the sheet the defined one or more choice regions and for decoding from the image of the sheet the plurality of reading regions including the one mark space thereof; and
for each decoded choice region;
counting at least the number of dark pixels for each reading region;
determining from the counts of the dark pixels for each reading region whether the mark space therein is unmarked or is marked as a selection; and
counting each determined marked selection.
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Abstract
A method for reading a sheet having one or more regions of choices and a plurality of mark spaces thereon may comprise reading or imaging the sheet, defining one or more choice regions each including one mark space, and processing the image or read sheet. Processing may include using a template. The selections marked may be determined therefrom and may be counted.
172 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for reading a sheet having one or more regions of choices and a plurality of mark spaces thereon in which one or more selections may be marked for each of one or more choices, each mark space being a space defined for marking a selection therein, the method comprising:
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imaging the sheet having one or more choice regions and a plurality of mark spaces thereon wherein the image of the sheet includes all of the mark spaces for the choice regions thereon and is in a pixelated or bitmapped format including a plurality of pixels; defining for each sheet the one or more choice regions each containing a plurality of reading regions each including one mark space; processing the image of the sheet for decoding from the image of the sheet the defined one or more choice regions and for decoding from the image of the sheet the plurality of reading regions including the one mark space thereof; and for each decoded choice region; counting at least the number of dark pixels for each reading region; determining from the counts of the dark pixels for each reading region whether the mark space therein is unmarked or is marked as a selection; and counting each determined marked selection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for optically reading sheets comprising:
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receiving selections made using any of a keyboard, a touch screen, a button, a switch, voice recognition apparatus, a Braille keyboard, a pen with writing recognition interface; then producing a sheet by printing the selections on a pre-printed form or printing a form including the selections; repeating said making and said producing steps for a plurality of participants, and then; reading or imaging each sheet including reading the selections marked thereon; and processing the read or imaged sheet for determining the selections thereon in accordance with a template to which the read or imaged sheet corresponds, whereby the selections are marked on each sheet and are processed in accordance with the corresponding template. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A machine readable sheet comprising:
- a sheet of material having an identifier region thereon wherein a sheet identifier therein is unique and is not related to the identity of an individual person, said sheet also having a plurality of choice regions thereon, each choice region having two or more mark spaces therein for making selections or having a write-in space for entering a write-in selection therein or having two or more mark spaces therein for making selections and a write-in space for entering a write-in selection therein, and wherein the unique identifier and the mark spaces are machine readable.
- View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for reading a sheet having a plurality of mark spaces thereon in which selections may be marked, the method comprising:
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defining first and second predetermined values related to counts of light pixels and dark pixels for a mark space being considered marked as a selection, wherein the second predetermined value is greater than or less than the first predetermined value; imaging the sheet having a plurality of mark spaces thereon wherein the image is in a format including a plurality of pixels; defining for each sheet a plurality of reading regions each including the outline of one mark space; counting the number of light pixels and dark pixels for each reading region; determining from the counts of light and dark pixels for each reading region and the first predetermined value whether the mark space therein is marked as a selection; determining from the counts of light and dark pixels for each reading region and the second predetermined value whether the mark space therein is marked as a selection; identifying each sheet wherein the determination of a marked selection based on the first predetermined value differs from the determination of a marked selection based on the second predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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Specification