Patent US4308617A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3810094A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Character type discriminator for character readers
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1972-07-19
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Granted: 1974-05-07
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Expires: 1992-07-19
Abstract
Abstract A character type discriminator uses a record medium carrying at least two series of characters to be read out, each type of which differs and which are enclosed with distinguishable frames. The recorded surface of the medium is scanned by a flying-spot scanner. The bright and dark light spots reflected from or transmitted through the medium are applied via a photomultiplier to a quantizer to produce therefrom ''''1'''' and ''''0'''' binary digits. Output signals from the quantizer are supplied to a control circuit. The control circuit has a pair of output terminals connected to counters for counting the number of elemental points on the medium scanned in vertical and horizontal directions to control the respective deflection coils of the scanner, and has an output terminal connected to a frame condition detector for determining the different physical features of the frames to discriminate the type of characters indicated therein.
Inventors
- 👤 K Mori
- 👤 H Takebe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 21:29
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06V; G06V10/00; G06V10/10; G06V10/20; G06V10/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
253 words
In a preprocessing device for a character reader, a character type discriminator for preprocessing information prior to actual character reading, and for use with a record medium having at least two distinguishable frames thereon enclosing at least two groups of characters of different types which are to be read out from the record medium, comprising: an optical detection means detecting said respective distinguisHable frames on said record medium by optically scanning said record medium, said detection means including: a flying-spot scanner scanning successively said record medium in predetermined sequential steps; a photomultiplier receiving light spots reflected from or transmitted through said record medium; a quantizer quantizing at a predetermined threshold level to produce binary coded numerals ''''1'''' and ''''0'''' in response to the voltage levels of video signals from said photomultiplier; a control circuit having an input terminal connected to the output terminal of said quantizer and a pair of output terminals each producing an output signal upon scanning said frames of said groups of characters in both the horizontal and vertical directions by said flying-spot scanner; a pair of counters each connected to the corresponding output terminal of said control circuit; and a deflection means operating a deflecting system for said flying-spot scanner, utilizing output signals from said paired counters; and a discrimination means coupled to said control circuit of said detection means for discriminating each of the types of said groups of characters enclosed by said distinguishable frame in accordance with the distinctions of said frames detected by said detection means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
253 words
In a preprocessing device for a character reader, a character type discriminator for preprocessing information prior to actual character reading, and for use with a record medium having at least two distinguishable frames thereon enclosing at least two groups of characters of different types which are to be read out from the record medium, comprising: an optical detection means detecting said respective distinguisHable frames on said record medium by optically scanning said record medium, said detection means including: a flying-spot scanner scanning successively said record medium in predetermined sequential steps; a photomultiplier receiving light spots reflected from or transmitted through said record medium; a quantizer quantizing at a predetermined threshold level to produce binary coded numerals ''''1'''' and ''''0'''' in response to the voltage levels of video signals from said photomultiplier; a control circuit having an input terminal connected to the output terminal of said quantizer and a pair of output terminals each producing an output signal upon scanning said frames of said groups of characters in both the horizontal and vertical directions by said flying-spot scanner; a pair of counters each connected to the corresponding output terminal of said control circuit; and a deflection means operating a deflecting system for said flying-spot scanner, utilizing output signals from said paired counters; and a discrimination means coupled to said control circuit of said detection means for discriminating each of the types of said groups of characters enclosed by said distinguishable frame in accordance with the distinctions of said frames detected by said detection means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein there are further provided optically detectable scanning guide marks for said frames on imaginary lines of said record medium which extend through said respective frames, said detection means being responsive to said guide marks.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said counters each comprise a plurality of cascade-connected J-K flip-flop circuits.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
233 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said control circuit comprises a plurality of AND gates each having two input terminals, one being connected to the predetermined one of the output terminal of said quantizer and the output terminal connected via an inverter to the output terminal of said quantizer, and the other being connected to the corresponding one of a plurality of terminals determining the sequential steps by said flying-spot scanner; an OR gate having a plurality of input terminals connected to the respective output terminals of said AND gates; an AND gate having an input terminal connected to the output terminal of said OR gate and another input terminal connected to a clock pulse source for the device; a counter-decoder having an input terminal connected to the output terminal of said second-mentioned AND gate and a plurality of output terminals each producing a ''''1'''' output of binary logic in accordance with the sequential steps; a register storing the numbers of counts in said counters each of which corresponds to the starting end of said frames; a logic circuit arrangement producing output signals which correspond to the terminating end of said frames; and an adder obtaining the sum of the output signal from said register and the output signal from said logic circuit arrangement and supplying the output signal thereof to said counters to obtain one-half value of said sum from the adder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
101 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said discrimination means comprises an AND gate having two input terminals, one being connected to the output terminal of said counter-decoder detecting the height or width of each frame, and the other being connected to said clock pulse source for the device; a counter connected to the output terminal of said AND gate; a decoder connected to the output terminal of said counter; and a plurality of OR gates each having input terminals connected to the corresponding groups of output terminals of said counter which indicate each of the heights or widths of said frames.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
103 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 further including a filter sensitive to a predetermined colour, a photomultiplier receiving the light spots from said record medium obtained through said Filter, a differential amplifier which has a pair of input terminals connected to the output terminals of said first- and second-mentioned photomultipliers and which produces output signals only when a frame bearing a colour sensitive to said filter is detected, and said discrimination means comprises an AND gate which has two input terminals connected to the output terminal of said differential amplifier and to the output terminal detecting each of said frames of said control circuit.
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) | 1977-05-06 | 1977-11-05 | 1978-05-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-05-06 | 1981-11-05 | 1982-05-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-05-06 | 1985-11-05 | 1986-05-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |