EP0033076A2
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EP
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Character recognition method and apparatus
Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1981-01-12
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2001-01-12
Abstract
Abstract A character recognition circuit is provided with the image or unknown characters, in an accessible memory. A microprocessor directs a microcontroller to access the memory and to perform pixel counting, transition recognition and pattern finding. The microprocessor directs such operations and effectively locates lines of unknown characters, deskews those lines if necessary, roughly identifies each unknown character by forming a window around the character and counting pixels inwardly from the top and bottom and from each side until a transition is reached from white (0) to black (1), and from that information as weighted and combined, categorizing the unknown character to be of a particular set of known characters. By comparing the unknown characer with the possible known characters, the unknown character is positively identified and stored in a random access memory until the entire message is assembled. Then the message is sent to a buffer unit for ultimate transmission.
Inventors
- 👤 Warner C. Scott
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 02:20
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06V; G06V10/00; G06V10/20; G06V10/24; G06V10/30; G06V10/34; G06V10/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of character recognition ol a character from a memory means arranged in columns and rows of pixels, comprising the steps of: (a) forming a window around an unknown character, the window being defined by the memory addresses of at least two of the corners; (b) assigning a weight number to each pixel within the window; (c) penetrating the window by counting pixels inwardly from each side for predetermined rows, and from top and bottom of the window for predetermined columns until a transition from white (0) to black (1) occurs; (d) summing the white pixel weight numbers for each penetration until the transition occurs to form a sum for the total number of penetrations from each side and from top and bottom of the window; (e) combining the sums; (f) categorizing the combination; and (g) identifying the possible characters from the categorization.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of character recognition ol a character from a memory means arranged in columns and rows of pixels, comprising the steps of: (a) forming a window around an unknown character, the window being defined by the memory addresses of at least two of the corners; (b) assigning a weight number to each pixel within the window; (c) penetrating the window by counting pixels inwardly from each side for predetermined rows, and from top and bottom of the window for predetermined columns until a transition from white (0) to black (1) occurs; (d) summing the white pixel weight numbers for each penetration until the transition occurs to form a sum for the total number of penetrations from each side and from top and bottom of the window; (e) combining the sums; (f) categorizing the combination; and (g) identifying the possible characters from the categorization.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of Claim 1 including the further step, after step (d) of forming a sum for the upper and lower portion of each side of the window, and forming a sum for the left and right portion of the top and bottom of the window.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of Claim 1 including the further step, after step (g), of comparing the possible characters from the categorization with the unknown character until a match is made.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of Claim 2 including the further step, after step (g), of comparing the possible characters from the categorization with the unknown character until a match is made.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of Claim 1 including the further step after step (c), of counting white pixels following a transition from white to black to white until a transition from white to black occurs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of Claim 2 including the further step, after step (c), of counting white pixels following a transition from white to black to white until a transition from white to black occurs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of Claim 6 including the further step, after step (g), of comparing the possible characters from the categorization with the unknown character until a match is made.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
200 words
A method of character recognition of a plurality of parallel lines of unknown characters from a memory means arranged in columns and rows of pixels comprising the steps of: (a) locating the first line of unknown characters; (b) determining the skew of the line; (c) deskewing the line; (d) locating the first unknown character in the line; (e) forming a window around an unknown character, the window being defined by the memory addresses of at least two of the corners; (f) assigning a weight number to each pixel within the window; (g) penetrating the window by counting pixels inwardly from each side for predetermined rows, and top and bottom of the window for predetermined columns until a transition from white (0) to black (1) occurs; (h) summing the white pixel weight numbers for each penetration until the transition occurs to form a sum for the total number of penetrations from each side, and from top and bottom of the window; (j) combining the sums; (k) categorizing the combination; (1) identifying the possible characters from the categorization; (m) locating the next unknown character in the line; and (n) repeating steps (e) through (m) through the last unknown character in the line.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
200 words
A method of character recognition of a plurality of parallel lines of unknown characters from a memory means arranged in columns and rows of pixels comprising the steps of: (a) locating the first line of unknown characters; (b) determining the skew of the line; (c) deskewing the line; (d) locating the first unknown character in the line; (e) forming a window around an unknown character, the window being defined by the memory addresses of at least two of the corners; (f) assigning a weight number to each pixel within the window; (g) penetrating the window by counting pixels inwardly from each side for predetermined rows, and top and bottom of the window for predetermined columns until a transition from white (0) to black (1) occurs; (h) summing the white pixel weight numbers for each penetration until the transition occurs to form a sum for the total number of penetrations from each side, and from top and bottom of the window; (j) combining the sums; (k) categorizing the combination; (1) identifying the possible characters from the categorization; (m) locating the next unknown character in the line; and (n) repeating steps (e) through (m) through the last unknown character in the line.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of Claim 8 including the further steps, after step (n), of: (o) locating the next line of unknown characters; and (p) repeating steps (c) through (n) through the last line of unknown characters.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of Claim 8 including the further step, after step (h) of forming a sum for the upper and lower portion of each side of the window, and forming a sum for the left and right portion of the top and bottom of the window.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of Claim 8 including the further step, after step (1) of comparing the possible characters from the categorization with the unknown character until a match is made.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of Claim 8 including the further step, after step (g) of counting white pixels following a transition from white to black to white until a transition from white to black occurs.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of Claim 10 including the further step, after step (1) of comparing the possible characters from the categorization with the unknown character until a match is made.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of Claim 13 including the further step, after step (g) of counting white pixels following a transition from white to-black to white until a transition from white to black occurs.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of Claim 9 including the further step, after step (h) of forming a sum for the upper and lower portion of each side of the window, and forming a sum for the left and right portion of the top and bottom of the window.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of Claim 9, including the further step, after step (1) of comparing the possible character from the categorization with the unknown'character until a match is made.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of Claim 9 including the further step, after step (g) of counting white pixels following a transition from white to black to white until a transition from white to black occurs.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of Claim 15 including the further step, after step (1) of comparing the possible characters from the categorization with the unknown character until a match is made.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of Claim 18 including the further step, after step (g) of counting white pixels following a transition from white to black to white until a transition from white to black occurs.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
75 words
Electronic circuit apparatus for character recognition of a character from a storage means arranged in columns and rows of pixels comprising: (a) a central processor unit (CPU); (b) a read-only memory connected to the CPU for controlling the CPU; and (c) controller means connected to the storage means and to the CPU for accessing the storage means, counting pixels, indicating transitions from white (0) to black (1) and counting events as directed by the CPU.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
75 words
Electronic circuit apparatus for character recognition of a character from a storage means arranged in columns and rows of pixels comprising: (a) a central processor unit (CPU); (b) a read-only memory connected to the CPU for controlling the CPU; and (c) controller means connected to the storage means and to the CPU for accessing the storage means, counting pixels, indicating transitions from white (0) to black (1) and counting events as directed by the CPU.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of Claim 20 wherein the CPU is a microprocessor.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of Claim 21 wherein the controller means comprises: (c) (i) a microcontroller; and (ii) an address controller connected to the microcontroller and to the storage means for addressing the storage means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of Claim 22 wherein the controller means further comprises: (c) (iii) latch means, connected to the microprocessor, for receiving latching instructions for the micro controller from the microprocessor; and (iv) an event counter connected to the microprocessor for limiting the events performed to the number specified by the microprocessor.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of Claim 23 wherein the controller means further comprises: (c) (v) a pixel counter, connected to the microcontroller and adapted to count pixels from the storage means; and (vi) pattern search means, for recognizing a transition and for determining that an unknown character is present.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of Claim 24 wherein the address controller comprises an adder and a bias circuit connected to the latch means for directing the next address of the memory means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
127 words
Circuit apparatus for recognition of unknown characters from the storage means arranged in bit columns and rows representing pixels, comprising: (a) a central processor unit (CPU); (b) a read-only memory (ROM) for controlling the CPU and for storing character set identifier; (c) a random access memory (RAM) connected to the CPU; (d) controller means connected to the CPU and to the storage means for accessing the storage means, counting pixels, indicating transitions from white (0) to black (1) counting events and sending resultant information to the CPU for entry into the RAM, all as directed by the CPU's; and (e) buffer means connected to the CPU and to the RAM, for receiving and storing identified characters from the RAM for ultimate transmission as directed by the CPU.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
127 words
Circuit apparatus for recognition of unknown characters from the storage means arranged in bit columns and rows representing pixels, comprising: (a) a central processor unit (CPU); (b) a read-only memory (ROM) for controlling the CPU and for storing character set identifier; (c) a random access memory (RAM) connected to the CPU; (d) controller means connected to the CPU and to the storage means for accessing the storage means, counting pixels, indicating transitions from white (0) to black (1) counting events and sending resultant information to the CPU for entry into the RAM, all as directed by the CPU's; and (e) buffer means connected to the CPU and to the RAM, for receiving and storing identified characters from the RAM for ultimate transmission as directed by the CPU.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of Claim 26 wherein the CPU is a microprocessor.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of Claim 27 wherein the controller means comprises: (d) (i) a microcontroller; and (ii) an address controller connected to the microcontroller and to the storage means for addressing the storage means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of Claim 28 wherein the controller means further comprises: (d) (iii) latch means, connected to the microprocessor, for receiving and latching instructions for the microcontroller from the microprocessor; and (iv) an event counter, connected to the microprocessor for limiting the events performed to the number specified by the microprocessor.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of Claim 29 wherein the controller means further comprises: (c) (v) a pixel counter, connected to the microcontroller and adapted to count pixels from the storage means; and (vi) pattern search means, for recognizing a transition and for determining that an unknown character is present.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of Claim 30 wherein the address control means comprises an adder and a bias circuit connected to the latch means for directing the next address of the memory means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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