{"schema_version":"1.0","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-8493444","patent":{"patent_number":"US-8493444","title":"System and method of detecting a blocked aperture in letter or flat mail image sensor","assignee":null,"inventors":[],"filing_date":"2009-09-29T00:00:00.000Z","publication_date":"2013-07-23T00:00:00.000Z","cpc_codes":["H04N","G06V","H04N","H04N","H04N","H04N","H04N","H04N","H04N","G06F"],"num_claims":20,"abstract":"Embodiments include systems and methods of detecting a blocked aperture in an image device. In certain embodiments, the system and method is used in mail processing of letters and flats. In certain embodiments, the image sensor captures an image of the front of an item. If the aperture of the image sensor is obstructed, a void will appear on the image of the item. The system can detect the void and increment an alarm count until a pre-defined threshold is reached wherein the system signals an alarm so that the blockage can be removed and the affected items can be re-introduced for correct processing. In another embodiment, images obtained when the aperture is expected to be clear of any items."},"analysis":{"summary":null,"layman_explanation":null,"technical_analysis":null,"business_analysis":null,"faqs":null,"topics":[],"tech_cluster":null},"seo":{"title":"System and method of detecting a blocked aperture in letter or flat mail image sensor","description":"Embodiments include systems and methods of detecting a blocked aperture in an image device. In certain embodiments, the system and method is used in mail processing of letters and flats. In certain em","keywords":[]},"attribution":{"source":"Patentable","source_url":"https://patentable.app","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-8493444","license":"CC-BY-4.0-like","license_terms":"AI-generated analysis on this page (summary, layman_explanation, technical_analysis, business_analysis, faqs) may be reused with attribution and a visible link back to the canonical URL above. Patent abstracts, claims, and bibliographic data are USPTO public domain.","required_link":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-8493444","citation_suggestion":"Patentable. \"System and method of detecting a blocked aperture in letter or flat mail image sensor\" (US-8493444). https://patentable.app/patents/US-8493444","copyright_holder":"Nomic Interactive Technology LLC"},"links":{"html":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-8493444","json":"https://patentable.app/api/llm-context/US-8493444","site":"https://patentable.app","llms_txt":"https://patentable.app/llms.txt"},"generated_at":"2026-05-31T21:24:36.284Z"}