EP0076332A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical character reader with pre-scanner
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1981-09-10
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2001-09-10
Abstract
Abstract O An optical character reader comprises a prescanner (11) and a main scanner (16). The pre-scanner(11) coarsely scans the surface of a postal item (P) and generates video signals representing a postal item pattern. The pattern is divided into a plurality of blocks. Of these blocks, a destination address block, for example, is selected. The coordinates of the lower side of the destination address block are determined. According to the coordinates a limited area of the destination address block is determined, which is to be scanned by the main scanner (16). The main scanner (16) scans finely the limited area and generates high resolution video signals. According to the high resolution video signals a postal code in the destination address block is detected and recognized.
Inventors
- 👤 Shuji Kizu
- 👤 Tsutomu Ikeda
- 👤 Masanori Iwamoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 22:28
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07C; B07C3/00; B07C3/10; B07C3/14; G; G06; G06V; G06V10/00; G06V10/20; G06V10/24; G06V10/245; G06V30/00; G06V30/40; G06V30/42; G06V30/424; G06V30/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
An optical character reader having a pre-scanner for coarsely scanning a surface of an object and generating first video signals, means for determining, according to the first video signals, a limited surface area of the object to be finely scanned, and a main scanner for finely scanning the limited surface area of the object and generating second video signals, characterized in that there are provided means (12) for dividing the surface pattern of the object into a plurality of block in accordance with the first video signals; means (14) for detecting the coordinates of a desired one of the blocks; means (15, 17, 19) for determining a limited surface area of the object in accordance with detection signals from said coordinate detecting means (14); and means (22, 23) for separating character lines in said desired block and further separating the characters of each line, in accordance with the second video signals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
151 words
An optical character reader having a pre-scanner for coarsely scanning a surface of an object and generating first video signals, means for determining, according to the first video signals, a limited surface area of the object to be finely scanned, and a main scanner for finely scanning the limited surface area of the object and generating second video signals, characterized in that there are provided means (12) for dividing the surface pattern of the object into a plurality of block in accordance with the first video signals; means (14) for detecting the coordinates of a desired one of the blocks; means (15, 17, 19) for determining a limited surface area of the object in accordance with detection signals from said coordinate detecting means (14); and means (22, 23) for separating character lines in said desired block and further separating the characters of each line, in accordance with the second video signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
An optical character reader according to claim 1, characterized in that said coordinate detecting means (14) detects the coordinate of the lower side of the desired block.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
82 words
An optical character reader according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said means (15, 17, 19) for determining the limited surface area comprises a galvanometer (15) for determining the length of the limited surface area in Y axis direction in accordance with the detection signals from said coordinate detecting means (14) and means (17, 19) for determining the length of the limited surface area in X axis direction in accordance with the detection signals from said coordinate detecting means (14).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
An optical character reader according to any one of claim 1 to 3, characterized in that said pre-scanner (11) scans the surface of the object at pitch of 0.2 mm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
An optical character reader according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said main scanner (16) scans the limited surface area of the object at pitch of 0.125 mm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
An optical character reader according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said object (P) is a postal item.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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