Combined magnetic optical character reader

Abstract

A system and method for character recognition in which each of a plurality of characters is recognized both magnetically and optically. If the magnetic reader fails to recognize a character while the optical reader is successful in recognizing it, a character identification signal corresponding to the character recognized by the optical reader is generated while if the optical reader fails to recognize a character and the magnetic reader is successful in recognizing it, an identification signal corresponding to the character recognized by the magnetic reader is generated. Where the magnetic and topical readers provide signals indicative of different characters while attempting to read the same character, depending on the parameters of the system an identification signal corresponding to one or the other recognition signals, or a reject signal is generated.

I claim: .[.1. A character recognition system for recognizing characters, at least some of which are printed in magnetic ink comprising magnetic character recognition means for providing a first character recognition signal in response to the magnetic properties of each of said characters, optical character recognition means for providing a second character recognition signal in response to the optical properties of each of said characters, and means including means for comparing said first and second recognition signals for providing a final identification signal corresponding to each of said characters..]. .[.2. The system of claim 1 wherein said means for comparing includes means for deciding whether said first and second recognition signals for each character are the same..]. .[.3. The system of claim 2 wherein said means for providing an identification signal further includes means responsive to said means for deciding, for providing an identification signal corresponding to the same character as each of said recognition signals when said first and second 
     
        recognition signals are the same..]. .[.4.  The system of claim 2 wherein said means for providing an identification signal includes means responsive to said means for deciding, for providing a reject identification signal when said first and second recognition signals are not the same..]. .[.5. The system of claim 2 further including means for simultaneously supplying said first and second recognition signals to said means for providing an identification signal..]. .[.6. The system of claim 5 wherein one of said magnetic and optical character recognition means provides a recognition signal before the other and wherein said means for simultaneously supplying said first and second signals to said means for providing an identification signal comprises means for delaying said recognition signal which is provided before the other..]. .[.7. The system of claim 1 wherein said means for providing a final identification signal further includes means responsive to the comparison performed by said means for comparing for determining said final identification signal..]. 
     
     
           .[.The system of claim 7 wherein said means for providing said final identification signal is.]. .Iadd.A character recognition system for recognizing characters, at least some of which are printed in magnetic ink comprising magnetic character recognition means for providing a first character recognition signal in response to the magnetic properties of each of said characters, optical character recognition means for providing a second character recognition signal in response to the optical properties of each of said characters, and means .Iaddend.responsive to at least a preselected parameter of said characters being recognized .Iadd.and including means for comparing said first and second recognition signals and means responsive to the comparison performed by said means for comparing for determining and providing a final identification signal 
     
     
        corresponding to each of said characters.Iaddend.. 9. The system of claim 8 wherein said characters being recognized are located on a document and said preselected parameter is in the position on the document of the 
     
     
        character being recognized. 10. The system of claim 9 wherein said characters on said document are disposed in a plurality of character fields and wherein said at least a preselected parameter is the character 
     
     
        field in which the character being recognized is disposed. 11. The system of claim 8 wherein said preselected parameter is the unique pair of characters corresponding to said first and second recognition signals. 
     
     
            The system of claim 8 wherein said means for determining is responsive to at least a preselected parameter of said characters being recognized. .[.13. The system of claim 1 wherein said magnetic recognition means includes first transducer means responsive to the magnetic properties of said characters for generating a first transducer signal and said optical recognition means includes second transducer means responsive to the optical properties of said characters for generating a second transducer signal, said first and second transducer means being spaced from each other, said characters to be recognized being disposed on documents, and means for transporting said documents past a location where said first transducer means responds to the magnetic properties of said characters and generates said first transducer signal and past the location where said second transducer means responds to the optical properties of said 
     
     
        characters and generates said second transducer signal..]. 14. .[.The system of claim 13 wherein said means for transporting comprises mechanical transport means, said system further including.]. .Iadd.A character recognition system for recognizing characters, at least some of which are printed in magnetic ink comprising magnetic character recognition means including first transducer means responsive to the magnetic properties of said characters for generating a first transducer signal to provide a first character recognition signal in response to the magnetic properties of each of said characters, optical character recognition means including second transducer means responsive to the optical properties of said characters for generating a second transducer signal to provide a second character recognition signal in response to the optical properties of each of said characters, said first and second transducer means being spaced from each other, said characters to be recognized being disposed on documents, mechanical transport means for transporting said documents past a location where said first transducer means responds to the magnetic properties of said characters and generates said first transducer signal and past the location where said second transducer means responds to the optical properties of said characters and generates said second transducer signal, means including means for comparing said first and second recognition signals for providing a final identification signal corresponding to each of said characters, .Iaddend.magnetic tape output means, print list output means and means for inputting said identification signals to said tape means and said list means. .[.15. A method of character recognition for identifying characters at least some of which are printed in magnetic ink comprising the steps of: recognizing said characters both magnetically and optically, generating a magnetic recognition signal and an optical recognition signal indicative of each of said characters,   deriving from said magnetic and optical signals a final identification signal for each of said characters..]. .[.16. The method of claim 15 wherein said step of deriving includes the step of determining whether said optical recognition signal and said magnetic recognition signal for   
     
     
        each of said characters is the same..]. 17. .[.The method of claim 16 wherein said step of deriving further includes the step of.]. .Iadd.A method of character recognition for identifying characters at least some of which are printed in magnetic ink comprising the steps of: recognizing said characters both magnetically and optically,   generating a magnetic recognition signal and an optical recognition signal indicative of each of said characters,   deriving from said magnetic and optical signals a final identification signal for each of said characters, including determining whether said optical recognition signal and said magnetic recognition signal for each of said characters is the same and .Iaddend.generating an identification signal corresponding to the same character as one of said magnetic and optical recognition signals when said one of said signals identifies a character as being a particular one of said characters being recognized while the other of said signals fails to identify the character as being a   
     
     
        particular one of said characters being recognized. 18. The method of claim 17 wherein said other of said recognition signals may be a reject 
     
     
        signal. 19. The method of claim 17 wherein said step of deriving further includes the step of providing either an identification signal corresponding to the same character as one of said recognition signals or a reject identification signal when said magnetic and optical recognition signals identify a character as being different ones of said characters being recognized. .[.20. The method of claim 16 wherein one of said magnetic and optical recognition signals is generated before the other, and wherein said one of said signals is delayed so as to be coincident with said other of said signals and wherein said identification signal is derived from said coincident signals..]. .[.21. The method of claim 15 wherein said step of deriving includes the step of comparing said magnetic and optical recognition signals..]. .[.22. A check reader for reading stylized characters printed in magnetic ink along the bottom edge of checks, comprising magnetic character recognition means for providing a first recognition signal in response to the magnetic properties of each of said characters on said checks, optical character recognition means spaced from said magnetic character recognition means for providing a second recognition signal in response to the optical properties of each of said characters on said checks, means for moving said checks past said magnetic character recognition means and said optical character recognition means, and means including means for comparing said first and second recognition signals for providing a final identification signal corresponding to each of said characters, said magnetic character recognition means including magnetic transducer means, said optical character recognition means including optical transducer means, and mechanical transport means for moving said checks past said magnetic and optical transducer means..]. 
     
     
            A character recognition system for recognizing characters, at least some of which are printed in magnetic ink comprising magnetic transducer means for generating a fast signal in response to the magnetic properties of each of said characters, optical transducer means for generating a second signal in response to the optical properties of each of said characters, and means for generating an identification signal corresponding to each of said characters, said means for generating an identification signal including means for comparing said first and second signals and for selecting one of said first and second signals. .[.24. A character recognition system for recognizing characters, at least some of which are printed in magnetic ink comprising magentic character recognition means for providing a first character recognition signal in response to the magnetic properties of each of said characters, optical character recognition means for providing a second character recognition signal in response to the optical properties of each of said characters, and means responsive to said first and second recognition signals for providing a final identification signal indicative of each of said characters, said means for providing a final identification signal including means for providing an identification signal corresponding to the same character as the character that each of said recognition signals corresponds to when said first and second recognition signals are the same..]. .[.25. The system of claim 24 wherein said magnetic recognition means includes first transducer means responsive to the magnetic properties of said characters for generating a first transducer signal and said optical recognition means includes second transducer means responsive to the optical properties of said characters for generating a second transducer signal, said first and second transducer means being spaced from each other, said characters to be recognized being disposed on documents, and means for transporting said documents past a location where said first transducer means responds to the magnetic properties of said characters and generates said first transducer signal and past the location where said second transducer means responds to the optical properties of said characters and generates said second transducer signal..]. .[.26. The system of claim 25 wherein said means for transporting is a mechanical transport means, said system further including magnetic.]. .Iadd.A character recognition system for recognizing characters, at least some of which are printed in magnetic ink comprising magnetic character recognition means including first transducer means responsive to the magnetic properties of said characters for generating a first transducer signal to provide a first character recognition signal in response to the magnetic properties of each of said characters, optical character recognition means including second transducer means responsive to the optical properties of said characters for generating a second transducer signal to provide a second character recognition signal in response to the optical properties of each of said characters, said first and second transducer means being spaced from each other, said characters to be recognized being disposed on documents, and mechanical transport means for transporting said documents past a location where said first transducer means responds to the magnetic properties of said characters and generates said first transducer signal and past the location where said second transducer means responds to the optical properties of said characters and generates said second transducer signal, means responsive to said first and second recognition signals for providing a final identification signal indicative of each of said characters, said means for providing a final identification signal including means for providing an identification signal corresponding to the same character as the character that each of said recognition signals corresponds to when said first and second recognition signals are the same, magnetic .Iaddend.tape output means, print list output means and means for inputting said identification signals indicative of each of said characters to said tape 
     
     
        means and said list means. 27. A character recognition system for recognizing characters, at least some of which are printed in magnetic ink comprising magnetic character recogniztion means for providing a first character recognition signal in response to the magnetic properties of each of said characters, optical character recognition means for providing a second character recognition signal in response to the optical properties of each of said characters, and means responsive to said first and second recognition signals for providing a final identification signal indicative of each of said characters, said means for providing a final identification signal including means for selecting one of said first and second signals when said first and second signals are different and for providing an identification signal corresponding to said selected signal. 
     
     
         8. The system of claim 27 wherein said means for selecting includes means for selecting the recognition signal which corresponds to one of said characters being recognized when one of said recognition signals corresponds to one of said characters being recognized and the other 
     
     
        recognition signal does not. 29. The system of claim 28 wherein said other 
     
     
        of said recognition signals my be a reject signal. 30. The system of claim 28 wherein said other of said recognition signals may be a blank. .[.31. A character recognition system for recognizing characters, at least some of which are printed in magnetic ink comprising magnetic character recognition means for providing a first character recognition signal in response to the magnetic properties of each of said character, optical character recognition means for providing a second character recognition signal in response to the optical properties of each of said characters, and means responsive to said first and second recognition signals for providing a final identification signal indicative of each of said characters, said means for providing a final identification signal including means for providing either an identification signal corresponding to the same character as one of said recognition signals or a reject identification signal when said first and second recognition signals correspond to different ones of said characters being recognized..]. .[.32. The system of claim 31 wherein said means for providing either an identification signal or a reject signal includes.]. .Iadd.A character recognition system for recognizing characters, at least some of which are printed in magnetic ink comprising magnetic character recognition means for providing a first character recognition signal in response to the magnetic properties of each of said characters, optical character recognition means for providing a second character recognition signal in response to the optical properties of each of said characters, and means responsive to said first and second recognition signals for providing a final identification signal indicative of each of said characters, said means for providing a final identification signal including means for providing either an identification signal corresponding to the same character as one of said recognition signals or a reject identification signal when said first and second recognition signals correspond to different ones of said characters being recognized, said last-named means including .Iaddend.means responsive to at least a pre-selected parameter of said characters being recognized for determining which one of said recognition signals said identification signal is to correspond to or whether said identification signal is to be a reject 
     
     
        signal. 33. The system of claim 32 wherein said characters being recognized are disposed in a plurality of character fields and wherein said at least a pre-selected parameter is the character field in which the 
     
     
        character being recognized is disposed. 34. The system of claim 32 wherein said at least a preselected parameter is the unique pair of characters corresponding to said first and second character recognition signals. 
     
     
        .Iadd.35.  A character recognition system for recognizing characters, at least some of which are printed in magnetic ink, comprising magnetic character recognition means for providing a first character recognition signal in response to the magnetic properties of each of said characters; optical character recognition means for providing a second character recognition signal in response to the optical properties of each of said characters; means for generating a parameter signal indicative of a parameter of said characters; and means, including means for comparing said first and second recognition signals and means for selecting one of the first and second recognition signals in accordance with the parameter indicated by the parameter signal, for providing a final identification signal corresponding to each of said characters. .Iaddend. .Iadd.36. A method of character recognition for identifying characters, at least some of which are printed in magnetic ink, comprising the steps of: recognizing said characters both magnetically and optically,   generating a magnetic recognition signal and an optical recognition signal indicative of each of said characters,   deriving from said magnetic and optical signals a final identification signal for each of said characters by selecting one of the magnetic signal and the optical signal to be said final recognition signal. .Iaddend.   
     
     
        .Iadd.37.  A method of character recognition for identifying characters, at least some of which are printed in magnetic ink, comprising the steps of: recognizing said characters both magnetically and optically,   generating a magnetic recognition signal and an optical recognition signal indicative of each of said characters;   generating a parameter signal indicative of a parameter of said characters;   deriving from said magnetic and optical signals a final identification signal for each of said characters by selecting as the final identification signal one of the magnetic recognition signal and the optical recognition signal in accordance with the parameter indicated by the parameter signal. .Iaddend. .Iadd.38. A check reader for reading stylized characters printed in magnetic ink along the bottom edge of checks, comprising magnetic character recognition means for providing a first recognition signal in response to the magnetic properties of each of said characters on said checks; optical character recognition means spaced from said magnetic character recognition means for providing a second recognition signal in response to the optical properties of each of said characters on said checks; means for moving said checks past said magnetic character recognition means and said optical character recognition means; and means, including means for comparing said first and second recognition signals and means for selecting one of said first and second recognition signals, for providing said selected signal as a final identification signal corresponding to each of said characters, said magnetic character recognition means including magnetic transducer means, said optical character recognition means including optical transducer means, and said means for moving including mechanical transport means for moving said checks past said magnetic and optical transducer means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.39. A check reader for reading stylized characters printed in magnetic ink along the bottom edge of checks, comprising magnetic character recognition means for providing a first recognition signal in response to the magnetic properties of each of said characters on said checks; optical character recognition means spaced from said magnetic character recognition means for providing a second recognition signal in response to the optical properties of each of said characters on said checks; means for moving said checks past said magnetic character recognition means and said optical character recognition means; means for generating a parameter signal indicative of a parameter of said characters; and means, including means for comparing said first and second recognition signals and means for selecting as the final recognition signal one of the first and second recognition signals in accordance with the parameter indicated by the parameter signal, for providing a final identification signal corresponding to each of said characters, said magnetic character recognition means including magnetic transducer means, said optical character recognition means including optical transducer means, and said means for moving including mechanical transport means for moving said checks past said magnetic and optical transducer means. .Iaddend.