US Patent 8942420 Detecting embossed characters on form factor

A portable computing device reads information embossed on a form factor utilizing a built-in digital camera and determines dissimilarity between each pair of embossed characters to confirm consistency. Techniques comprise capturing an image of a form factor having information embossed thereupon, and detecting embossed characters. The detecting utilizes a gradient image and one or more edge images with a mask corresponding to the regions for which specific information is expected to be found on the form factor. The embossed form factor may be a credit card, and the captured image may comprise an account number and an expiration date embossed upon the credit card. Detecting embossed characters may comprise detecting the account number and the expiration date of the credit card, and/or the detecting may utilize a gradient image and one or more edge images with a mask corresponding to the regions for the account number and expiration date.