Patent ID: 8300915

Claim:
A method of operating an image-based check depositing automated teller machine (ATM), the method comprising: receiving from an ATM customer a check to be deposited; illuminating the check with non-infrared radiation; electronically on an imager capturing an image of the check while the check is illuminated with non-infrared radiation to provide a captured non-infrared check image; illuminating the check with infrared radiation to improve contrast between pre-printed characters on the check and non-pre-printed check data on the check; capturing an image of the check while the check is illuminated with infrared radiation to provide a captured infrared check image with improved contrast between at least one pre-printed character on the check and non-pre-printed check data on the check so as to allow location of a check field to be more easily located; applying OCR techniques to read from the captured non-infrared check image check data contained in a check field which has been located using the captured infrared check image; accepting the check for deposit when check data is able to be read from the non-infrared check image; and rejecting the check for deposit when check data is unable to be read from the non-infrared check image.