US3784982A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electro-optical handwritten character reader
Assignee: Isotec Inc
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Filing: 1971-08-16
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Granted: 1974-01-08
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Expires: 1991-08-16
Abstract
Abstract An electro-optical character reader for handwritten characters includes a linear primary array of scanning cells and circuit means to generate pulses corresponding to the edges of characters scanned, to the number of strokes in the direction of movement of each character, and to the particular character and part thereof being scanned and means to generate stroke termination pulses corresponding to start and end of each character in the direction of character movement. A secondary array of scanning cells is effective in combination with appropriate circuit means to generate mid-character strobe pulses corresponding to character height, pulses corresponding to vertical stroke components of scanned characters, pulses corresponding to top and bottom points of scanned characters, points of inflection of severely distorted scanned characters.
Inventors
- 👤 A Schlang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 12:30
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06V; G06V10/00; G06V10/10; G06V10/12; G06V10/20; G06V10/24; G06V10/40; G06V10/42; G06V10/421; G06V10/46
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
299 words
A character reader for optically reading handwritten characters of a font of two dimensional plane characters based on an ideal rectangular plane matrix of two mutually perpendicular sets of linear strokes, comprising: an array of scanning cells disposed to scan said characters one at a time while said characters are moved relative to said array in a direction of movement perpendicular to said array in the plane of said matrix and parallel to one of said sets of strokes; first circuit means connected to said cells for generating a mid-character strobe pulse associated with the vertical center line of each character scanned by said array of cells; a left storage means connected to said array of cells and responsive to said first circuit means for storing signals generated by said cells on the left of the vertical center line of said character; a right storage means connected to said array of cells and responsive to said first circuit means for storing signals generated by said cells on the right of the vertical center line of said character; a first pulse generating means connected in circuit with said first circuit means and said array of cells for generating pulses corresponding to the intersection of said character with the vertical center line; a second circuit means connected to said right storage means and to said left storage means for determining the top and bottom edges of said character; a third circuit means connected to said second circuit means and to said first pulse generation means for determining the vertical stRokes in the upper half of said character and the vertical strokes in the lower half of said character; and logic circuit means connected to said second circuit means and said third circuit means for producing data bits indicative of said character.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
299 words
A character reader for optically reading handwritten characters of a font of two dimensional plane characters based on an ideal rectangular plane matrix of two mutually perpendicular sets of linear strokes, comprising: an array of scanning cells disposed to scan said characters one at a time while said characters are moved relative to said array in a direction of movement perpendicular to said array in the plane of said matrix and parallel to one of said sets of strokes; first circuit means connected to said cells for generating a mid-character strobe pulse associated with the vertical center line of each character scanned by said array of cells; a left storage means connected to said array of cells and responsive to said first circuit means for storing signals generated by said cells on the left of the vertical center line of said character; a right storage means connected to said array of cells and responsive to said first circuit means for storing signals generated by said cells on the right of the vertical center line of said character; a first pulse generating means connected in circuit with said first circuit means and said array of cells for generating pulses corresponding to the intersection of said character with the vertical center line; a second circuit means connected to said right storage means and to said left storage means for determining the top and bottom edges of said character; a third circuit means connected to said second circuit means and to said first pulse generation means for determining the vertical stRokes in the upper half of said character and the vertical strokes in the lower half of said character; and logic circuit means connected to said second circuit means and said third circuit means for producing data bits indicative of said character.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
136 words
A character reader as defined in claim 1 further comprising a numeral logic circuit connected to said logic circuit means for generating decimal data corresponding to the identified strokes of said matrix characteristic of each scanned character; binary conversion means in circuit with said numeral logic circuit for converting said decimal data to binary data on a predetermined number of output lines; memory means in circuit with said binary conversion means for storing said binary data while each character is being sannned; circuit control means in circuit with said memory means for actuating said memory means to release the binary data corresponding to each of said characters when scanning of each of said characters is completed; and readout means in circuit with said memory for receiving therefrom data bits corresponding to each of said scanned characters.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
134 words
A character reader as defined in claim 2, wherein said array of scanning cells is comprised of a primary array and a secondary array which is disposed in advance of said primary array of scanning cells to scan said characters one at a time; a first analog circuit means connected to said secondary array of cells and arranged to generate a pulse corresponding to the width of character being scanned thereby; a second analog circuit means connected in circuit with said primary array of cells; and a pulse generator means connected to both of said analog circuit means to generate a mid-character strobe pulse corresponding to the center of each character scanned by both of said arrays of cells said pulse generator means being connected to said circuit control means for actuating the same.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
74 words
A character reader as defined in claim 1 wherein said array of scanning cells is comprised of a primary array and secondary array of scanning cells disposed in advance of said primary array of scanning cells to scan said characters one at a time; and a pulse generation means connected in circuit with said primary array and said secondary array to generate a mid-character strobe pulse corresponding to the center of each character scanned.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A character reader as defined in claim 1 further comprising a second pulse generation means connected in circuit with said logic circuit means to generate pulses indicative of the height of each character scanned.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A character reader as defined in claim 1 further comprising second pulse generation means connected in circuit with said logic circuit means to generate pulses for each character scanned corresponding to vertical strokes of said matrix.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A character reader as defined in claim 1 further comprising a second pulse generation means connected in circuit with said logic circuit means to generate pulses determined by points of inflection of each character scanned.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A character reader as defined in claim 1 further comprising a second pulse generation means connected in circuit with said logic circuit means to generate pulses according to the horizontal strokes of said matrix.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-07 | 1977-07-09 | 1978-01-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-07 | 1981-07-09 | 1982-01-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-07 | 1985-07-09 | 1986-01-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |