US3605093A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Systems and apparatus for character recognition
Assignee: NAT RES DEV
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Filing: 1969-06-25
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Granted: 1971-09-14
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Expires: 1989-06-25
Abstract
Abstract System and apparatus for recognizing both handwritten and machine-printed character patterns in which the character filed is scanned by photoelectric means to generate an analog-form signal which is converted into a four-bit binary form and fed to a four-bit parallel shift register from which differently delayed versions are taken to summing circuits in the development of ntuples which operate to detect the presence of short line segments of specific orientation within the character area. By means of further summing circuits the line segment responses are analyzed to identify and indicate the position of a number of different topographical features such as line endings, bends or corners, line junctions and line crossings. These feature responses are converted into a list of code signals for matching, as by computer, with standard lists of similar code signals derived from ranges of different standard characters.
Inventors
- 👤 John Ronald Parks
- 👤 Charles Howard Davis
- 👤 Gerald Owen Plumb
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 19:20
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06V; G06V30/00; G06V30/10; G06V30/18; G06V30/1801; G06V30/18019
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
Apparatus for effecting recognition of handwritten and machine printed characters in which a geometric n-tuple technique is utilized, said system comprising: first line structure detector means for indicating the presence of a plurality of short line segments of specific orientation within a field area containing the character under examination by combining signals representing a plurality of geometric ntuples having specific geometric orientations with respect to said field area, and second means for indicating the position within such field area of topographical features of the examined character by analysis of the line segment responses thus obtained from said first means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
99 words
Apparatus for effecting recognition of handwritten and machine printed characters in which a geometric n-tuple technique is utilized, said system comprising: first line structure detector means for indicating the presence of a plurality of short line segments of specific orientation within a field area containing the character under examination by combining signals representing a plurality of geometric ntuples having specific geometric orientations with respect to said field area, and second means for indicating the position within such field area of topographical features of the examined character by analysis of the line segment responses thus obtained from said first means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said first means includes means for defining a plurality of geometric n-tuples of identical form but with different orientations to detect the presence of line structure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 in which said means for defining comprises means for providing four identical geometric n-tuples with respeCtive orientations of horizontal, vertical, leading diagonal and minor diagonal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 in which each of said geometric n-tuples comprises three linear sets of spaced points with two outer sets disposed symmetrically on opposite sides of the third.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 in which the two outer sets of points are operative to seek field background or ''''white'''' whereas the central or third set of points is operative to seek character image or ''''black.''''
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including means for analyzing said line segment responses to detect topographical features comprising line endings.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including means for analyzing said line segment responses to detect topographic features comprising bends and corners.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including means for analyzing said line segment responses to detect topographical features comprising line junctions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including means for analyzing said line segment responses to detect topographical features comprising line crossovers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 including means for defining a fifth operator for detecting contrast between a first zone and a surrounding annular zone for use in addition to the aforesaid n-tuples in detecting line structure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 including means for converting each of the topographic feature responses obtained during examination of any character to a code signal indicative of its generic feature type, its feature variety within the particular genus type and its orientation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 in which said means for converting also supplies an indication of the position of the feature within the scanned field area in said code signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 including means for matching a group of code signals derived from examination of a character against lists of similar code signals previously obtained from corresponding examination of ranges of standard characters to establish identity or near-identity therewith.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further including means for photoelectrically examining the field area containing the character to be recognized by movement of an examination apot along a predetermined scan path.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 14 including means for connecting an analog form signal waveform from said means for the photoelectrically examining to multiple-digit binary form and for applying such binary form signal to a corresponding multiple-bit parallel shift register operating as a tapped delay device from which differently delayed signal versions are taken for the formation of said n-tuples.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for generating a feature-coordinate table derived from an input character image which is later compared with similar tables derived from known images to identify said input image, said method comprising the steps of: generating a plurality of n-tuple output signals corresponding to a like plurality of geometrical n-tuples specifically oriented and positioned with respect to a field area containing a character image under examination to indicate the presence of short line segments of specific orientation with the field, combining said ntuple output signals according to a predetermined formula to produce signals providing the identity and position of specific topographical features of the examined character thus providing the necessary information for entries in said feature-coordinate table.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for generating a feature-coordinate table derived from an input character image which is later compared with similar tables derived from known images to identify said input image, said method comprising the steps of: generating a plurality of n-tuple output signals corresponding to a like plurality of geometrical n-tuples specifically oriented and positioned with respect to a field area containing a character image under examination to indicate the presence of short line segments of specific orientation with the field, combining said ntuple output signals according to a predetermined formula to produce signals providing the identity and position of specific topographical features of the examined character thus providing the necessary information for entries in said feature-coordinate table.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 16 wherein said plurality of geometrical n-tuples are chosen to be of identical form but to have different relative orientations.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as in claim 17 wherein each of said geometrical n-tuples is chosen to comprise three linear sets of spaced points with two outer sets disposed symmetrically on opposite sides oF the third set.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 18 wherein said relative orientations are selected to correspond to vertical, horizontal and two mutually orthogonal diagonal directions.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as in claim 18 wherein: said two outer sets of points are caused to seek field background or ''''white,'''' and said third set of points is caused to seek character image or ''''black.''''
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-13 | 1975-03-15 | 1975-09-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-13 | 1979-03-15 | 1979-09-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-13 | 1983-03-15 | 1983-09-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |