US4574357A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Real time character thinning system
Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
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Filing: 1984-02-21
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Granted: 1986-03-04
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Expires: 2004-02-21
Abstract
Abstract A system for providing a video output signal representing a thinned image from digitized video input signals representing discrete picture elements (pixels) of a scanned image, comprising convolver means for identifying those pixels which are to be retained as part of the thinned image, those pixels which are to be discarded, and contingent pixels which may be part of the thinned image, and matrix filter means electrically coupled to the convolver means for determining which of the contingent pixels are to be discarded and which of the contingent pixels are to be retained as apart of the video output signal representing a thinned image.
Inventors
- 👤 Jose Pastor
- 👤 Harry L. Parker
- 👤 David H. Wilson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 20:49
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06V; G06V30/00; G06V30/10; G06V30/16; G06V30/168
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A system for providing a video output signal representing a thinned image from digitized video input signals representing discrete picture elements (pixels) of a scanned image, comprising: convolver circuit means for identifying those pixels which are to be retained as part of the thinned image, those pixels which are to be discarded from the thinned image, and contingent pixels which may be part of the thinned image; and matrix filter circuit means electrically coupled to said convolver means for determining which of the contingent pixels are to be discarded and which of the contingent pixels are to be retained as part of the video output signal representing a thinned image.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
110 words
A system for providing a video output signal representing a thinned image from digitized video input signals representing discrete picture elements (pixels) of a scanned image, comprising: convolver circuit means for identifying those pixels which are to be retained as part of the thinned image, those pixels which are to be discarded from the thinned image, and contingent pixels which may be part of the thinned image; and matrix filter circuit means electrically coupled to said convolver means for determining which of the contingent pixels are to be discarded and which of the contingent pixels are to be retained as part of the video output signal representing a thinned image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
118 words
The system recited in claim 1, wherein: said convolver circuit means includes delay means for delaying the video input signals a predetermined number of pixels, first programmed memory means electrically coupled to said delay means for identifying those pixels of the vertical pixel strings of the original image which are to be preserved, second programmed memory means electrically coupled to said delay means for identifying those pixels of the horizontal pixel strings of the original image which are to be preserved, and means for combining the outputs of said first and second programmed memory means and the pixels of the original image to provide a combined output and applying the combined output to said matrix filter circuit means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system recited in claim 2, wherein: said first and second programmed memory means includes PROMs.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system recited in claim 2, wherein: said delay means of said convolver circuit means includes a plurality of shift registers for supplying input signals to said first and second programmed memory means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system recited in claim 2, wherein: said delay means of said convolver circuit means includes a plurality of RAMs for supplying input signals to said first and second programmed memory means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system recited in claim 1, wherein: said matrix filter circuit means includes delay means for providing a neighborhood for each contingent pixel, programmed memory means for determining whether to preserve a contingent pixel in accordance with its neighborhood, and gate means for providing digital output signals representing the thinned image.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system recited in claim 6, wherein: said delay means of said matrix filter circuit means includes a plurality of shift registers for supplying input signals to said programmed memory means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system recited in claim 6, wherein: said delay means of said matrix filter circuit means includes a plurality of RAMs for supplying input signals to said programmed memory means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
162 words
The system recited in claim 1, wherein: said convolver circuit means includes delay means for delaying the video input signals a predetermined number of pixels, first programmed memory means electrically coupled to said delay means for identifying the pixels of the vertical pixel strings of the original image which are to be preserved, second programmed memory means electrically coupled to said delay means for identifying the pixels of the horizontal pixel strings of the original image which are to be preserved, and means for combining the outputs of said first and second programmed memory means and the pixels of the original image to provide a combined output and applying the combined output to said matrix filter circuit means; said matrix filter circuit means including delay means for providing a neighborhood for each contingent pixel, programmed memory means for determining whether to preserve a contingent pixel in accordance with its neighborhood, and gate means for providing digital output signals representing the thinned image.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system recited in claim 1, including: a plurality of matrix filter circuit means electrically connected in series with one another and to said convolver circuit means for successively determining which of the remaining contingent pixels are to be discarded.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system recited in claim 1, including: a plurality of convolver circuit means electrically connected in parallel; each of said convolver circuit means including a plurality of matrix filter circuit means electrically connected in series with one another and their respective convolver circuit means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system recited in claim 1, including: anorexic filter circuit means electrically coupled to said matrix filter circuit means for eliminating overlapping lines in the thinned image.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system recited in claim 12, wherein: said anorexic filter circuit means includes delay means for providing a pixel neighborhood and programmed memory means for providing an output signal in accordance with the value encoded in said programmed memory means corresponding to the pixel neighborhood.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system recited in claim 1, wherein: said matrix filter circuit means includes a plurality of pixel neighborhood storage means for the contingent pixels; enabling means for enabling one of said pixel neighborhood storage means in accordance with the pixel values present in the neighborhood for each contingent pixel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system recited in claim 14, including: gate means coupled to said pixel neighborhood storage means for supplying signals thereto; delay means for supplying signals to said gate means; and shift register means for supplying signals to said delay means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
65 words
The system recited in claim 14, wherein said matrix filter circuit means includes: demultiplexer means for decoding each pixel value; gate means for forcing the output of said matrix filter circuit means to zero if the decoded pixel value from said multiplexer means for that pixel is zero and to three if the decoded pixel value from said multiplexer means for that pixel is three.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system recited in claim 1, including: a plurality of convolver circuit means electrically coupled in parallel; at least one matrix filter circuit means connected in series with each of said convolver circuit means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system recited in claim 17, wherein: each of said convolver circuit means includes means for receiving input signals from adjacent convolver circuit means and means for transmitting output signals to said adjacent convolver circuit means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system recited in claim 18, wherein: each of said convolver circuit means includes a pair of multiplexers for receiving the input signals from said adjacent convolver circuit means, a pair of shift registers for receiving the output from said multiplexers, and signal output means coupled to said shift registers.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system recited in claim 19, including: timing means for supplying input signals to said pair of multiplexers and said signal output means for switching the same in accordance with the pixel count.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system recited in claim 17, wherein: said matrix filter circuit means includes gate means responsive to the pixel count and multiplexer means coupled to said gate means for switching the input to said multiplexer means to include inputs from adjacent matrix filter circuit means in response to the count received by said gate means.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
266 words
A system for providing a video output signal representing a thinned image from digitized video input signals representing discrete picture elements (pixels) of a scanned image, comprising: a plurality of convolver circuit means for identifying those pixels which are to be retained as part of the thinned image, those pixels which are excluded from the thinned image, and contingent pixels which may be part of the thinned image; each of said convolver circuit means including delay means for delaying the video input signals a predetermined number of pixels, first programmed memory means electrically coupled to said delay means for identifying those pixels of the vertical pixel strings of the original image which are to be preserved, second programmed memory means electrically coupled to said delay means for identifying those pixels of the horizontal pixel strings of the original image which are to be preserved, and means for combining the outputs of said first and second programmed memory means and the pixels of the original image to provide a combined output; at least one matrix filter circuit means electrically coupled to each of said convolver circuit means for determining which of the contingent pixels are to be discarded and which of the contingent pixels are to be retained as part of the video output signal representing a thinned image; further, each of said matrix filter circuit means including delay means for providing a neighborhood for each contingent pixel, programmed matrix memory means for determining whether to preserve each contingent pixel in accordance with its neighborhood, and gate means for providing output digital signals representing the thinned image.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
266 words
A system for providing a video output signal representing a thinned image from digitized video input signals representing discrete picture elements (pixels) of a scanned image, comprising: a plurality of convolver circuit means for identifying those pixels which are to be retained as part of the thinned image, those pixels which are excluded from the thinned image, and contingent pixels which may be part of the thinned image; each of said convolver circuit means including delay means for delaying the video input signals a predetermined number of pixels, first programmed memory means electrically coupled to said delay means for identifying those pixels of the vertical pixel strings of the original image which are to be preserved, second programmed memory means electrically coupled to said delay means for identifying those pixels of the horizontal pixel strings of the original image which are to be preserved, and means for combining the outputs of said first and second programmed memory means and the pixels of the original image to provide a combined output; at least one matrix filter circuit means electrically coupled to each of said convolver circuit means for determining which of the contingent pixels are to be discarded and which of the contingent pixels are to be retained as part of the video output signal representing a thinned image; further, each of said matrix filter circuit means including delay means for providing a neighborhood for each contingent pixel, programmed matrix memory means for determining whether to preserve each contingent pixel in accordance with its neighborhood, and gate means for providing output digital signals representing the thinned image.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system recited in claim 22, including: at least three matrix filter circuit means electrically connected in series with one another and to their respective convolver circuit means for successively determining which of the remaining contingent pixels are to be discarded.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system recited in claim 22, wherein: said plurality of convolver circuit means are electrically connected in parallel; each of said convolver circuit means including a plurality of matrix filter circuit means serially connected to one another and to at least one of said convolver circuit means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system recited in claim 22, wherein: said delay means of said convolver circuit means including a plurality of RAMs for supplying input signals to said first and second programmed memory means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system recited in claim 22, wherein: said delay means of said filter matrix circuit means includes a plurality of RAMs for supplying input signals to said programmed matrix memory means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
They system recited in claim 22, including: anorexic filter circuit means electrically coupled to said matrix filter circuit means for eliminating overlapping lines in the thinned image.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
33 words
They system recited in claim 22, wherein: said delay means of said convolver circuit means includes a plurality of shift registers for supplying input signals to said first and second programmed memory means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system recited in claim 22, wherein: said matrix filter circuit means includes a plurality of pixel neighborhood storage means for the contingent pixels; enabling means for enabling one of said pixel neighborhood storage means in accordance with the pixel values present in the neighborhood for each contingent pixel.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system recited in claim 29, including: gate means coupled to said pixel neighborhood storage means for supplying signals thereto; delay means for supplying signals to said gate means; and shift register means for supplying signals to said delay means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
65 words
The system recited in claim 22, wherein said matrix filter circuit means includes: demultiplexer means for decoding each pixel value; gate means for forcing the output of said matrix filter circuit means to zero if the decoded pixel value from said multiplexer means for that pixel is zero and to three if the decoder pixel value from said multiplexer means for that pixel is three.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system recited in claim 22, wherein: each of said convolver circuit means includes means for receiving input signals from adjacent convolver circuit means and means for transmitting output signals to said adjacent convolver circuit means.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system recited in claim 32, wherein: each of said convolver circuit means includes a pair of multiplexers for receiving the input signals from said adjacent convolver circuit means, a pair of shift registers for receiving the output from said multiplexers, and signal output means coupled to said shift registers.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system recited in claim 33, including: timing means for supplying input signals to said pair of multiplexers and said signal output means for switching the same in accordance with the pixel count.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system recited in claim 22, wherein: said matrix filter circuit means includes gate means responsive to the pixel count and multiplexer means coupled to said gate means for switching the input to said multiplexer means to include inputs from adjacent matrix filter circuit means in response to the count received by said gate means.
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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) | 1989-03-03 | 1989-09-02 | 1990-03-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-03-03 | 1993-09-02 | 1994-03-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-03-03 | 1997-09-02 | 1998-03-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |