Patent ID: 7131592

Claim:
An improved card scanner for imaging and decoding indicia on a side surface of a card, comprising: means to communicate electrical power to components of said card scanner; means to maintain a card bearing indicia on at least one side surface, in a defined path into and out of said card scanner; said defined path having a beginning point and a termination point; means to capture an electronic image of said indicia as said card travels in said defined path; means to trigger said means to capture electronic images to capture a first image of said indicia, when said card translates in said defined path from said beginning point toward said termination point; means to detect said card reaching said termination point; means to examine said first image when said card reaches said termination point and determine if said first image yields a captured image in a complete state or in an incomplete state; means to communicate said captured image if in said complete state, to a decoder to extract data contained therein; means to trigger said means to capture an electronic image to capture a second image of said indicia, as said card travels in said defined path from said termination point to removal at said beginning point, should said means to examine said electronic image determine said first image is in said incomplete state when said card reaches said termination point, and means to examine said second image if captured and determine if said second image yields a second captured image in a complete state or in an incomplete state; and means to communicate said captured image if in said complete state, to a decoder to extract data contained therein.