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US4742556A
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Character recognition method
Assignee: WESTKAMPER ENTERPRISE Inc
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Filing: 1985-09-16
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Granted: 1988-05-03
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Expires: 2005-09-16
Abstract
Abstract A character recognition method comprising the steps of (1) acquiring a two dimensional array of pixels, (2) locating a character, (3) determining the size of the character, (4) reducing the number of pixels associated with the character by scaling it down to a smaller dot matrix and (5) thresholding the matrix dots using a histogram to form a binary character representation.
Inventors
- 👤 Ray E. Davis, Jr.
- 👤 Robert G. Foster
- 👤 Michael J. Westkamper
- 👤 Dana Duncan
- 👤 James R. Hall
- 👤 Dennis L. Nudelman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 23:15
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06V; G06V30/00; G06V30/10; G06V30/16; G06V30/162; G06V30/166
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
A character recognition method comprising the steps of: (1) acquiring an image from a solid state TV camera, said image comprising a two dimensional array of pixels, said pixels having grey scale values associated therewith; (2) locating a character within said image by calculating intensity gradients and determining when said intensity gradients exceed predetermined values; (3) determining the size of said character measured in pixels; (4) reducing the number of pixels associated with said character by a first determining the number of pixels per dot required to fit said character into a smaller dot matrix and then; (5) combining the pixels associated with each dot to form a matrix of dot data points having fewer dots than pixels; (6) generating a grey scale histogram for said dot data points; (7) using said histogram to determine a threshhold for the grey scale values associated with the dot data points; and (8) assigning binary values to said dot data points based on said threshhold to form a binary representation of said character.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
170 words
A character recognition method comprising the steps of: (1) acquiring an image from a solid state TV camera, said image comprising a two dimensional array of pixels, said pixels having grey scale values associated therewith; (2) locating a character within said image by calculating intensity gradients and determining when said intensity gradients exceed predetermined values; (3) determining the size of said character measured in pixels; (4) reducing the number of pixels associated with said character by a first determining the number of pixels per dot required to fit said character into a smaller dot matrix and then; (5) combining the pixels associated with each dot to form a matrix of dot data points having fewer dots than pixels; (6) generating a grey scale histogram for said dot data points; (7) using said histogram to determine a threshhold for the grey scale values associated with the dot data points; and (8) assigning binary values to said dot data points based on said threshhold to form a binary representation of said character.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1 comprising the further step of: (9) displaying the digital representation of said character.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 1 comprising the further steps of: (9) displaying the digital representation of said character; and (10) assigning an ASCII character to the displayed character.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 1 comprising the further steps of: (9) displaying the digital representation of said character; (10) assigning an ASCII character to the displayed character; and (11) storing the displayed character.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method according to claim 1 comprising the further steps of: (9) displaying the digital representation of said character; (10) assigning an ASCII character to the displayed character; (11) storing the displayed character; and (12) repeating steps (2) through (11) to build up a library comprising a plurality of characters.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 1 comprising the further step of: (9) comparing the digital representation of said character with digital representations of characters stored in a library.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 1 comprising the further steps of: (9) comparing the digital representation of said character with digital representations of characters stored in a library; and (10) repeating steps (2) through (9).
Claim 9
Independent Claim
19 words
A method according to any of claims 1 through 7 comprising the further step of defining a search window.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
28 words
A method according to any of claims 1 through 7 wherein the pixels are combined by averaging the grey scale values of the pixels associated with each dot.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
23 words
A method according to any of claims 1 through 7 wherein said dot matrix comprises an 8 by 10 array of 80 dots.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 10 wherein said 8 by 10 array comprises 10 rows having 8 dots per row.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein said digital representation of said character comprises ten 8 bit bytes.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
22 words
A method according to claims 6 or 7 wherein said comparing is effected by means of a plurality of EXCLUSIVE OR operations.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
26 words
A method according to any of claims 1 through 7 wherein said grey scale histrogram has two maxima and said threshhold is located between said maxima.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
205 words
A character recognition method comprising the steps of: (1) acguiring an image from a solid state TV, camera, said image comprising a two dimensional array of pixels, said pixels having grey scale values associated therewith; (2) locating a character within said image by calculating intensity gradients and determining when said intensity gradients exceed predetermined values; (3) scanning the area in which said character is located to determine the left, right, top and bottom most edges of the character; (4) determining the size of said character measured in pixels by differencing the left and right and top and bottom most edges, respectively; (5) reducing the number of pixels associated with said character by first determining the number of pixels per dot required to fit said character into a smaller dot matrix and then; (6) combining the pizels associated with each dot to form a matrix of dot data points having fewer dots than pixels; (7) generating a grey scale histogram for said dot data points; (8) using said histogram to determine a threshhold for the grey scale values associated with the dot data points; and (9) assigning binary values to said dot data points based on said threshhold to form a binary representation of said character.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
205 words
A character recognition method comprising the steps of: (1) acguiring an image from a solid state TV, camera, said image comprising a two dimensional array of pixels, said pixels having grey scale values associated therewith; (2) locating a character within said image by calculating intensity gradients and determining when said intensity gradients exceed predetermined values; (3) scanning the area in which said character is located to determine the left, right, top and bottom most edges of the character; (4) determining the size of said character measured in pixels by differencing the left and right and top and bottom most edges, respectively; (5) reducing the number of pixels associated with said character by first determining the number of pixels per dot required to fit said character into a smaller dot matrix and then; (6) combining the pizels associated with each dot to form a matrix of dot data points having fewer dots than pixels; (7) generating a grey scale histogram for said dot data points; (8) using said histogram to determine a threshhold for the grey scale values associated with the dot data points; and (9) assigning binary values to said dot data points based on said threshhold to form a binary representation of said character.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 15 wherein the pixels are combined by averaging the grey scale values of the pixels associated with each dot.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 16 wherein said dot matrix comprises an 8 by 10 array of 80 dots.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 17 wherein said 8 by 10 array comprises 10 rows having 8 dots per row.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 18 wherein said digital representation of said character comprises ten 8 bit byty.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
38 words
A method according to any of claims 15 through 19 comprising the further steps of: (10) displaying the digital representation of said character; (11) assigning an ASCII character to the displayed character; and (12) storing the displayed character.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
31 words
A method according to any of claims 15 through 19 comprising the further step of comparing the digital representation of said character with digital representations of characters stored in a library.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
26 words
A method according to any of claims 15 through 19 wherein said grey scale histogram has two maxima and said threshhold is located between said maxima.
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) | 1991-05-03 | 1991-11-02 | 1992-05-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-05-03 | 1995-11-02 | 1996-05-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-05-03 | 1999-11-02 | 2000-05-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |