US3676848A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Machine recognition of symbols
Assignee: Ferroxcube Corp
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Filing: 1970-10-13
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Granted: 1972-07-11
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Expires: 1990-10-13
Abstract
Abstract Character recognition system employing zone and direction encoding and decoding to recognize hand drawn real-time characters.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald Edward Hall
- 👤 Larry Norman Hulbert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 03:18
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06V; G06V10/00; G06V10/10; G06V10/17
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
A character recognition system comprising a data surface divided into a plurality of areas, each of said areas accomodating a character and divided into a plurality of zones corresponding to digitizing locations on said surface, each of said zones dimensioned in accordance with normal character patterns, first means coupled to said data surface for providing a series of digitized coordinates representative of the successive zones occupied by the various portions of a character as it is entered on an area, second means coupled to said first means and responsive to a first digitized coordinate and the next successive second digitized coordinate to provide an output data indicating both coordinate location of and direction between successive zones entered by a character, third means connected to said second means for storing said output data, fourth means containing a storage of a plurality of characters, fifth means comparing said second means output data to said prestored character data and providing a readout of said character upon recognition thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
A character recognition system comprising a data surface divided into a plurality of areas, each of said areas accomodating a character and divided into a plurality of zones corresponding to digitizing locations on said surface, each of said zones dimensioned in accordance with normal character patterns, first means coupled to said data surface for providing a series of digitized coordinates representative of the successive zones occupied by the various portions of a character as it is entered on an area, second means coupled to said first means and responsive to a first digitized coordinate and the next successive second digitized coordinate to provide an output data indicating both coordinate location of and direction between successive zones entered by a character, third means connected to said second means for storing said output data, fourth means containing a storage of a plurality of characters, fifth means comparing said second means output data to said prestored character data and providing a readout of said character upon recognition thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
101 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said second means comprises a zone decoder responsive to each said digitizing signal for providing successive zone information signals for identifying each successive zone, a zone register coupled to said zone decoder for storing the first of the successive zone information signals, a line segment detector coupled to said zone decoder for storing the next successive zone information signal, and means coupling said line segment detector to said zone register for comparing the new zone with the prior zone and providing said output data indicating position and direction of the first and next successive zone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
The combination of claim 2 wherein said zone decoder includes a multistage register having as many stages as there are zones and a matrix of gates having one set of inputs coupled to the respective stage outputs of said multistage register for providing said first of the successive zone information signals, and a further set of inputs connected to the respective stage inputs of said multistage register for providing said next successive zone information signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
92 words
The combination of claim 3 wherein degenerate line segments are decoded by means of a first NAND gate having a plurality of inputs respectively coupled to each input of said multistage register, and a plurality of NAND gates each having one input connected to the output of said first NAND gate, and each having a second input respectively connected to an output stage of said multistage register, the outputs of each of said plurality of NAND gates indicative of the presence of a degenerate line segment in respective ones of said zones.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
148 words
A recognition system for recognizing characters defined by continuous line segments, comprising a data surface divided into a plurality of character accomodating areas, each of said areas being divided into a plurality of zones, each zone dimensioned in accordance with normal character patterns, means for generating a successive composite of digital data signals indicating the presence of a line segment of a character in each one of said zones and the direction of said line segment from each occupied zone to the next successive zone occupied by said character, means for prestoring a plurality of successive composite signals representative of a range of characters, means responsive to said successive composite signal for comparing said successive composite signal to said plurality of prestored successive composite signals representative of a rangE of characters, and means for reading out the character corresponding to the successive composite signal generated by said character.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
148 words
A recognition system for recognizing characters defined by continuous line segments, comprising a data surface divided into a plurality of character accomodating areas, each of said areas being divided into a plurality of zones, each zone dimensioned in accordance with normal character patterns, means for generating a successive composite of digital data signals indicating the presence of a line segment of a character in each one of said zones and the direction of said line segment from each occupied zone to the next successive zone occupied by said character, means for prestoring a plurality of successive composite signals representative of a range of characters, means responsive to said successive composite signal for comparing said successive composite signal to said plurality of prestored successive composite signals representative of a rangE of characters, and means for reading out the character corresponding to the successive composite signal generated by said character.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
The combination of claim 5, wherein said means for generating includes means providing a plurality of outputs along a plurality of X lines on a one out of X basis representing successive zone selection, and decoding means coupled to said plurality of outputs and responsive to successive one out of X outputs for generating a binary group representing said composite signal.
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) | 1975-07-11 | 1976-01-10 | 1976-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-11 | 1980-01-10 | 1980-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-11 | 1984-01-10 | 1984-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |