US3873972A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Analytic character recognition system
Assignee: OCR Systems Inc USA
•
Filing: 1973-04-25
•
Granted: 1975-03-25
•
Expires: 1993-04-25
Abstract
Abstract A character recognition system employs analytic techniques to develop a set of codes representative of the geometry of a character by means of a two-dimensional matrix of digital video elements of single resolution size. Codes that are used identify types of segments and groups of segments in each row or column of the matrix, sequences of such segments and the durations and orientations of sequences. A learn mode is used to relate such codes to known characters, and a process mode is used to recognize unknown characters from previously learned codes.
Inventors
- 👤 Theodore H Levine
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 05:16
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06V; G06V10/00; G06V10/40; G06V10/42; G06V10/421; G06V10/20; G06V30/00; G06V30/10; G06V30/19; G06V30/192; G06V30/194
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A character recognition system comprising: a. means for scanning a character and forming an image therefrom, b. means for analyzing said image in a plurality of linear slices and developing information signals indicative of the existence of character segments in each linear slice, c. means responsive to said information signals for generating transition signals which are a function of the positions of all character segment bounds, with respect to the position of a reference point, within each linear slice, d. means responsive to said transition signals for measuring the number of character segments, and the lengths and positions of character segments within each slice, and means for generating measurement signals indicative thereof, and e. codifying means responsive to said measurement signals for devloping codified information representative of the character geometry within each slice.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
A character recognition system comprising: a. means for scanning a character and forming an image therefrom, b. means for analyzing said image in a plurality of linear slices and developing information signals indicative of the existence of character segments in each linear slice, c. means responsive to said information signals for generating transition signals which are a function of the positions of all character segment bounds, with respect to the position of a reference point, within each linear slice, d. means responsive to said transition signals for measuring the number of character segments, and the lengths and positions of character segments within each slice, and means for generating measurement signals indicative thereof, and e. codifying means responsive to said measurement signals for devloping codified information representative of the character geometry within each slice.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A character recognition System as set forth in claim 1 wherein said information signals, said transition signals, and said measurement signals are all digital signals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
means responsive to said slice description codes for generating net numeric slice codes which are a function of said numerically coded classes, and
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
means responsive to said slice description codes for generating net numeric slice codes which are a function of said numerically coded classes, and
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
comparison means for comparing successive net numeric slice codes to determine the existence of identical net numeric codes for adjacent slices.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
comparison means for comparing successive net numeric slice codes to determine the existence of identical net numeric codes for adjacent slices.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A character recognition system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said plurality of linear slices includes a plurality of orthogonal slices.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
83 words
A character recognition system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said means for analyzing said image and developing information signals comprises: a. a scratch pad memory for forming a video image of said character including a plurality of horizontal and vertical video positions, b. counting means for developing a count of the number of said horizontal and vertical positions, and c. indicating means for generating a signal indicative of the presence or absence of the character at each of said video positions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
A character recognition system as set forth in claim 4 wherein said means for generating transition signals comprises: a. gate means for generating an output signal in response to a change in said signal from said indicating means, and b. register means responsive to said gate means output signal for receiving and storing the count from said counting means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A character recognition system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said measuring means includes means for identifying the largest segment within each slice.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
110 words
A character recognition system comprising: a. means for scanning a character and developing information signals therefrom, indicative of the existence of character segments within each of a plurality of linear slices of said character, b. means responsive to said information signals for generating transition signals indicative of the location of all character segment bounds, with respect to a reference point, within each linear slice, c. means responsive to said transition signals for generating measurement signals indicative of the number of character segments within each slice, and d. codifying means responsive to said measurement signals for developing codified information representative of the character geometry within each slice, said codifying means including:
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
110 words
A character recognition system comprising: a. means for scanning a character and developing information signals therefrom, indicative of the existence of character segments within each of a plurality of linear slices of said character, b. means responsive to said information signals for generating transition signals indicative of the location of all character segment bounds, with respect to a reference point, within each linear slice, c. means responsive to said transition signals for generating measurement signals indicative of the number of character segments within each slice, and d. codifying means responsive to said measurement signals for developing codified information representative of the character geometry within each slice, said codifying means including:
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
63 words
A character recognition system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said comparison means includes a register for storing a net numeric code and a comparator for comparing the stored numeric code with the numeric code immediately succeeding the stored numeric code and for generating one signal if said numeric codes are identical and a second signal if said numeric codes are different.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A character recognition system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said information signals, said transition signals, and said measurement signals are all digital signals.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
A character recognition system as set forth in claim 9 wherein said plurality of linear slices includes a plurality of orthogonal slices.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
64 words
A character recognition system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said means for generating slice description codes includes means responsive to said measurement signals for coding an entire linear slice as large, if any segment contained therein is greater than a predetermined value and for coding an entire linear slice as small, if any segment contained therein is less than a predetermined value.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3140466A
Cited
US3165718A
Cited
US3347981A
Cited
US3588821A
Cited
US3581281A
Cited
US3585592A
Cited
US3634823A
Cited
US3609686A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-24 | 1978-09-23 | 1979-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-24 | 1982-09-23 | 1983-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-24 | 1986-09-23 | 1987-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |