Character recognition system with character edge detection capability

Claim 1

A system for recognizing and reproducing a preselected character formed with a preselected color ink on a transparent background, comprising: optical means for converting discrete portions of said character background and ink into ''''0'''' and ''''1'''' signals, respectively, and for producing a synchronizing signal; a shift register comprising discrete areas arranged in rows and columns, each area common to one row and column, for storing said ''''0'''' 0''''1'''' 1in a pattern; logic means activated by said synchronizing signal to scan said areas in a bottom row of said regiSter simultaneously in lefthand-to-right-hand and right-hand-to-left-hand directions for sensing ''''0'''' to ''''1'''' and ''''1'''' to ''''0'''' transitions therein to produce output ''''1'''' signals to represent left-hand and right-hand edges of successively scanned ink segments; said last-mentioned means shifting down said ''''0'''' and ''''1'''' signals in a next-to-the-bottom register row to replace said ''''0'''' and ''''1'''' signals then in said bottom rows while at the same time shifting down said ''''0'''' and ''''1'''' signals in all of the remaining register rows by one row at a time until all of said ''''0'''' and ''''1'''' signals remaining in said shift register are sensed in said shift register bottom row; logic means counting said ''''1'''' signals due to said ''''0 '''' to ''''1'''' transitions in said register bottom row as sensed only in successive left-hand-to-right-hand scanning directions; logic means activated by said left-hand and right-hand edge ''''1'''' signals and said counted ''''1'''' signals for producing successive signals representing particular features of successively scanned segments of said ink character; discriminating circuit means including a plurality of groups of discrete electric circuits, each circuit group representing one of a plurality of typical segments of said scanned character; said circuits of each of said circuit groups selectively energized one at a time in response to said feature means successive output signals; and receiving means activated by said energized circuits after all of said ''''0'''' and ''''1'''' signals stored in said shift register are sensed for reproducing said scanned character in terms of said ''''0'''' and ''''1'''' signal pattern stored in said last mentioned register.

Claim 2

A system for recognizing and reproducing a preselected character formed with a preselected color ink on a transparent background, comprising: optical means for converting discrete portions of said character background and ink into ''''0'''' and ''''1'''' signals, respectively, and for producing a synchronizing signal; a shift register comprising discrete areas arranged in rows and columns, each area common to one row and column, for storing said ''''0'''' 0''''1'''' 1in a pattern; logic means activated by said synchronizing signal to scan said areas in a bottom row of said regiSter simultaneously in lefthand-to-right-hand and right-hand-to-left-hand directions for sensing ''''0'''' to ''''1'''' and ''''1'''' to ''''0'''' transitions therein to produce output ''''1'''' signals to represent left-hand and right-hand edges of successively scanned ink segments; said last-mentioned means shifting down said ''''0'''' and ''''1'''' signals in a next-to-the-bottom register row to replace said ''''0'''' and ''''1'''' signals then in said bottom rows while at the same time shifting down said ''''0'''' and ''''1'''' signals in all of the remaining register rows by one row at a time until all of said ''''0'''' and ''''1'''' signals remaining in said shift register are sensed in said shift register bottom row; logic means counting said ''''1'''' signals due to said ''''0 '''' to ''''1'''' transitions in said register bottom row as sensed only in successive left-hand-to-right-hand scanning directions; logic means activated by said left-hand and right-hand edge ''''1'''' signals and said counted ''''1'''' signals for producing successive signals representing particular features of successively scanned segments of said ink character; discriminating circuit means including a plurality of groups of discrete electric circuits, each circuit group representing one of a plurality of typical segments of said scanned character; said circuits of each of said circuit groups selectively energized one at a time in response to said feature means successive output signals; and receiving means activated by said energized circuits after all of said ''''0'''' and ''''1'''' signals stored in said shift register are sensed for reproducing said scanned character in terms of said ''''0'''' and ''''1'''' signal pattern stored in said last mentioned register.

Claim 13

A system for recognizing and reproducing a numerical character formed with a preselected color ink on a transparent background, comprising: optical means for converting discrete portions of said character background and ink into ''''0'''' and ''''1'''' signals, respectively, and for producing a synchronizing signal; a shift register comprising discrete areas arranged in rows and columns, each area common to one row and column, for storing said ''''0'''' and ''''1'''' signals in a pattern; pulse generating means activated by said synchronizing signal for generating trains of scanning pulses of which each train includes certain pulses, equal in number to the number of said areas in each of said register rows, and a last pulse; logic means activated by said certain pulses of successive scanning pulse trains to scan said areas one at a time in a bottom row of said register simultaneously in left-hand-to-right-hand and right-hand-to-left-hand directions for sensing ''''0'''' to ''''1'''' and ''''1'''' to ''''0'''' transitions therein to produce successive simultaneous pairs of time-serial binary output signals while thereafter said last pulses in said successive scanning pulse trains shift down said ''''0'''' and ''''1'''' signals in a next-to-the-bottom row to replace said ''''0'''' and ''''1'''' signals in said bottom row and at the same time shift down said ''''0'''' and ''''1'''' signals in the remaining rows of said register by one row at a time until said ''''0'''' and ''''1'''' signals in all of said register rows are sensed in said register bottom row; OR gate logic means activated by discrete scanning pulses in said successive trains thereof for producing corresponding output signals; logic edge tracer means activated by said scanning means binary output signals, said generating means pulse train last pulses and said OR gate means output signals for producing output signals to represent left-hand and right-hand edges of successively scanned ink segments of said character; logic means counting ''''0'''' to ''''1'''' transitions in said register bottom row as sensed only in successive left-hand-to-right-hand directions for producing output signals representing the number of said latter transitions occurring in adjacent rows of said register as sensed in turn in said register bottom row; logic means activated by said edge tracer means output signals and said counting means output signals for producing successive signals to represent particular features of successively scanned ink segments of said character; discriminating circuit means including a plurality of groups of electric circuits, each circuit group representing one of a plurality of typical segments of said scanned ink character; said circuits of each of said circuit groups selectively energized one at a time in response to said feature means successive output signals; supplementary counting means for counting said last pulses in successive scanning pulse trains to such number as required to scan said register bottom row until all of said ''''0'''' and ''''1'''' signals stored in said register pattern are sensed to produce a recognition command signal, whereby said discriminating circuit means is activated to read out said energized circuits therein; and receiving means activated by said discriminating means energized circuits as read out therefrom for reproducing said scanned ink character in terms of said ''''0'''' and ''''1'''' signal pattern stored in said register.

Claim 14

A system for recognizing and reproducing a numerical character formed with a preselected color ink on a transparent background, comprising: optical means for converting discrete portions of said character background and ink into ''''0'''' and ''''1'''' signals, respectively, and for producing a synchronizing signal; a shift register comprising discrete areas arranged in rows and columns, each area common to one row and column, for storing said ''''0'''' and ''''1'''' signals in a pattern; pulse generating means activated by said synchronizing signal for generating trains of scanning pulses of which each train includes certain pulses, equal in number to the number of said areas in each of said register rows, and a last pulse; logic means activated by said certain pulses of successive scanning pulse trains to scan said areas one at a time in a bottom row of said register simultaneously in left-hand-to-right-hand and right-hand-to-left-hand directions for sensing ''''0'''' to ''''1'''' and ''''1'''' to ''''0'''' transitions therein to produce successive simultaneous pairs of time-serial binary output signals while thereafter said last pulses in said successive scanning pulse trains shift down said ''''0'''' and ''''1'''' signals in a next-to-the-bottom row to replace said ''''0'''' and ''''1'''' signals in said bottom row and at the same time shift down said ''''0'''' and ''''1'''' signals in the remaining rows of said register by one row at a time until said ''''0'''' and ''''1'''' signals in all of said register rows are sensed in said register bottom row; OR gate logic means activated by discrete scanning pulses in said successive trains thereof for producing corresponding output signals; logic edge tracer means activated by said scanning means binary output signals, said generating means pulse train last pulses and said OR gate means output signals for producing output signals to represent left-hand and right-hand edges of successively scanned ink segments of said character; logic means counting ''''0'''' to ''''1'''' transitions in said register bottom row as sensed only in successive left-hand-to-right-hand directions for producing output signals representing the number of said latter transitions occurring in adjacent rows of said register as sensed in turn in said register bottom row; logic means activated by said edge tracer means output signals and said counting means output signals for producing successive signals to represent particular features of successively scanned ink segments of said character; discriminating circuit means including a plurality of groups of electric circuits, each circuit group representing one of a plurality of typical segments of said scanned ink character; said circuits of each of said circuit groups selectively energized one at a time in response to said feature means successive output signals; supplementary counting means for counting said last pulses in successive scanning pulse trains to such number as required to scan said register bottom row until all of said ''''0'''' and ''''1'''' signals stored in said register pattern are sensed to produce a recognition command signal, whereby said discriminating circuit means is activated to read out said energized circuits therein; and receiving means activated by said discriminating means energized circuits as read out therefrom for reproducing said scanned ink character in terms of said ''''0'''' and ''''1'''' signal pattern stored in said register.