US3868635A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Feature enhancement character recognition system
Assignee: Optical Recognition Systems Inc
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Filing: 1972-12-15
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Granted: 1975-02-25
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Expires: 1992-12-15
Abstract
Abstract A character recognition system in which the degree of acceptability of possible recognition decisions is determined and in which the recognition problem of choosing between a large number of characters may be reduced to a decision between a small number of characters which decision may be performed by specialized logic. A memory is provided which has stored information corresponding to features which could be found in each of the characters to be recognized. A second memory is provided which has stored information corresponding to features which should not be found in each of the characters. An up-down counting means is associated with each of the characters and with both memories. The memories are read out to the counters in accordance with feature signals inputted thereto and after all feature signals for a character have been inputted the counts obtained by the counters are evaluated. If any counter has greater than a predetermined minimum count and another counter has a count within a second predetermined minimum count away, a character pair is defined which is inputted to specialized logic to determine which of the two characters has been read.
Inventors
- 👤 Mahendra B Shah
- 👤 Donald W Russell
- 👤 Harold L Bowman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 17:17
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06V; G06V30/00; G06V30/10; G06V30/24; G06V30/248; G06V30/2504
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
200 words
A character recognition system for recognizing the characters of a character font, each character being comprised of a unique configuration of predetermined features comprising; means for exposing each of said characters to a transducer, means for generating at least a signal representative of each character, means responsive to said at least a signal for sequentially generating a plurality of feature signals for each character corresponding to the features of that character, a memory means comprised of a matrix of bistable elements for storing information bits, the rows of which correspond to features and the columns of which correspond to the said characters, said memory having information bits stored in each feature row at the character columns corresponding to the characters which include that feature, the matrix positions at which said bits are stored in said memory means being alterable, a counting means associated with each character, and means for reading out the bits in each feature row when the corresponding feature signal is generated to activate the counting means associated with the character columns in which said bits are stored, means responsive to the outputs of said counting means for generating a recognition signal corresponding to one of said characters.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
200 words
A character recognition system for recognizing the characters of a character font, each character being comprised of a unique configuration of predetermined features comprising; means for exposing each of said characters to a transducer, means for generating at least a signal representative of each character, means responsive to said at least a signal for sequentially generating a plurality of feature signals for each character corresponding to the features of that character, a memory means comprised of a matrix of bistable elements for storing information bits, the rows of which correspond to features and the columns of which correspond to the said characters, said memory having information bits stored in each feature row at the character columns corresponding to the characters which include that feature, the matrix positions at which said bits are stored in said memory means being alterable, a counting means associated with each character, and means for reading out the bits in each feature row when the corresponding feature signal is generated to activate the counting means associated with the character columns in which said bits are stored, means responsive to the outputs of said counting means for generating a recognition signal corresponding to one of said characters.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 1 further including a second matrix memory means for storing information indicative of which of said predetermined features are not associated with each of the characters to be recognized.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said means for generating a character recognition signal includes means for determining whether any of said counting means has reached a predetermined minimum count.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 3 wherein said means for generating a character recognition signal includes means for determining if any of said counting means has reached a count within a predetermined number of a counting means which has reached said predetermined minimum count.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 4 wherein said means for generating a character recognition signal includes means for generating said character recognition signal when one of said counting means has reached said predetermined minimum count and no other counting means has reached a count within said predetermined number of said predetermined minimum count.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
The system of cLaim 5 further including feature enhancement logic means for causing the generation of a coded character recognition signal indicative of one of the characters associated with a pair of counting means, at least one of which has reached said predetermined minimum count and the other of which has reached a count within said predetermined number of said predetermined minimum count.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
The system of claim 6 wherein said feature enhancement logic means has feature signals derived from said characters associated with said pair of counting means inputted thereto, said feature enhancement logic means including means for selecting which of said coded signals associated with said pair of counting means is to be generated on the basis of said feature signals.
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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) | 1978-02-24 | 1978-08-26 | 1979-02-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-24 | 1982-08-26 | 1983-02-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-24 | 1986-08-26 | 1987-02-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |