Mobile device holding mechanism for multiple check duplex image capture

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10032141-B1
Application number	US-201514707935-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	May 8, 2015
Priority date	May 8, 2015
Publication date	Jul 24, 2018
Grant date	Jul 24, 2018

Abstract

Systems and methods for preparing customer check deposit requests with a mobile device and a reflective surface are described. A check frame is positioned between a customer mobile device with a built-in camera and a mirror such that, when a check is placed in the check frame, the camera can view both sides of the check simultaneously. The camera can take a single picture that includes both sides of the check, process it, and submit it as a check deposit request to the customer's financial institution.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A check processing system for preparing customer check deposit requests, the system comprising:
a check frame configured to position a check between a holder and a mirror wherein a first side of the check faces the holder, and a second side of the check faces the mirror;
the mirror, disposed at a position and an angle behind the check frame such that a reflection of the second side of the check is projected towards the holder;
the holder, disposed at a position and an angle in front of the check frame and the mirror, such that a first side of a check and a second side of the check are simultaneously viewable from the holder, and wherein the holder is configured to hold a mobile device.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the mirror is curved.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the check frame, the mirror, and the holder are associated with at least one pivot point, wherein the at least one pivot point allows the system to retrievably collapse into a compact formation.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a check hopper configured to accommodate a plurality of checks; and
a picker mechanism configured to transfer a single check from the hopper to the check frame.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a capture circuit provided by a financial institution to the mobile device, the capture circuit being configured to:
cause the mobile device to capture at least one image, and
transmit the at least one image to the financial institution computing system.

6. The system of claim 5 , further comprising:
a processor in communication with one or more aspects of the check processing system, the one or more aspects being selected from a group consisting of the check frame, a check hopper, and a feeder device, wherein the processor is configured to send and receive signals resulting from the capture circuit; and
the capture circuit, further configured to cause signals to be exchanged with the processor.

7. The system of claim 6 , further comprising:
a check hopper configured to accommodate a plurality of checks;
a picker mechanism configured to select a check from the check hopper, transfer the check to the check frame, and discard the check, wherein the movement of the picker mechanism is driven by a picker motor;
a guide track configured to guide the movement of the picker mechanism, the guide track comprising an engaged track segment wherein the picker mechanism is engaged to the check and a retracted track segment wherein the picker mechanism is disengaged from the check,
wherein the engaged track segment and the retracted track segment together form a continuous loop,
wherein the engaged track segment comprises a spring pivot and a bypass track segment wherein the picker mechanism is disengaged from the check,
wherein the picker motor causes the picker mechanism to select the check from the hopper by transitioning the picker mechanism from the retracted track segment to the engaged track segment at a first end of the guide track,
wherein the picker motor causes the picker mechanism to transfer the check to the check frame by translating the picker mechanism downstream through the engaged track segment,
wherein the picker motor causes the picker mechanism to disengage from the check during an image capture performed by the capture circuit by causing the picker mechanism to translate upstream through the engaged track segment, contact and translate along a surface of the spring pivot and into the bypass track segment,
wherein the picker motor causes the picker mechanism to reengage the check by causing the picker mechanism to translate upstream through the bypass track segment and back into the engaged track segment,
wherein the picker motor causes the picker mechanism to discard the check by causing the picker mechanism to translate downstream through the engaged track segment and transition into the retracted track segment at a second end of the guide track, and
wherein the picker motor causes the picker mechanism to engage another check by translating the picker mechanism downstream through the retracted track segment and back through the first end of the guide track.

8. The system of claim 6 , further comprising a wireless module configured to allow the processor to wirelessly exchange signals with the capture circuit.

9. The system of claim 6 , further comprising a wired data connection, wherein the wired data connection is configured to allow the processor to exchange signals with the capture circuit.

10. The system of claim 5 , wherein the at least one image transmitted by the capture circuit is unprocessed; and wherein the capture circuit is further configured to receive a confirmation from the financial institution computing system that the at least one image is sufficient to complete at least one check deposit.

11. The system of claim 5 , wherein the capture circuit is further configured to crop the portions of the at least one image captured that does not include a first side or a second side of a check.

12. The system of claim 5 , wherein the capture circuit is further configured to:
cause the mobile device to capture at least two images with different focal points; and
create a composite of the at least two images that includes an in-focus first side of a check and an in-focus second side of a check.

13. The system of claim 5 , wherein the capture circuit is further configured to:
cause the mobile device to capture one image that includes a first side of a check and a second side of the check; and
sharpen at least one side of the check within the one image captured.

14. A computer implemented method of generating customer check deposit requests, the method comprising:
positioning, by a check frame, a check between a holder configured to hold a mobile device with a capture circuit and a mirror such that a first side of the check and a second side of the check are simultaneously visible to the mobile device;
capturing, by the capture circuit, at least one image of the first side and second side of the check;
preparing, by the capture circuit, a customer check deposit request; and
transmitting, by the capture circuit, the customer check deposit request to a financial institution computing system.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising feeding, by a feeder device, a check from a hopper to the check frame.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising exchanging, by the capture circuit, signals between a processor in communication with one or more aspects of a check processing system, the one or more aspects selected from a group consisting of the check frame, a check hopper, and a feeder device.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the at least one image transmitted is unprocessed and further comprising receiving, by the capture circuit, a confirmation from the financial institution computing system that the at least one image is sufficient to complete at least one check deposit.

18. The method of claim 14 , further comprising cropping, by the capture circuit, the portions of the at least one image captured that does not include a first side or a second side of a check.

19. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
causing, by the capture circuit, the mobile device to capture at least two images with different focal points; and
creating, by the capture circuit, a composite of the at least two images that includes an in-focus first side of a check and an in-focus second side of a check.

20. The method of claim 14

Assignees

• Wells Fargo Bank Na

Inventors

• Haider Imran
• Miller Jr John L
• Garner Iv Andrew J

Classifications

• G02B27/106

  for splitting or combining a plurality of identical beams or images, e.g. image replication · CPC title

• G03B17/561

  Support related camera accessories · CPC title

• H04N2201/0084

  Digital still camera · CPC title

• H04N2201/0094

  Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception · CPC title

• G06Q40/02

  Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance (credit or loans G06Q40/03) · CPC title