US4891750A — Optical character recognition by forming and dete…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 72 words

A method of recognizing alphanumeric characters, comprising the steps of: scanning a character; detecting the occurrence of predetermined geographical features in the scanned character; forming a matrix representation representing the juxtapositions of the detected geographical features; comparing the formed matrix with stored predetermined matrices, each stored matrix representation representing a respective alphanumeric character; and identifying the scanned character as the alphanumeric character represented by the matrix to which the formed matrix compares.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 72 words

A method of recognizing alphanumeric characters, comprising the steps of: scanning a character; detecting the occurrence of predetermined geographical features in the scanned character; forming a matrix representation representing the juxtapositions of the detected geographical features; comparing the formed matrix with stored predetermined matrices, each stored matrix representation representing a respective alphanumeric character; and identifying the scanned character as the alphanumeric character represented by the matrix to which the formed matrix compares.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 96 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of detecting the occurrence of predetermined geographical features in the scanned character includes the steps of detecting each intersection point in the scanned character (wherein an intersection point is formed of at least three intersecting links of the scanned character), and determining the respective geographical features present at each intersection point; and wherein the step of forming a matrix representation includes the steps of representing said respective geographical features at each intersection point as submatrices, and summing the submatrices for each intersection point to form said matrix representation.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 44 words

The method of claim 2 wherein a set of predetermined submatrix representations is provided to represent the juxtaposition of geographical features present at an intersection point, and the submatrix representation which represents the geographical features at an intersection point is selected from said set.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 3 wherein the submatrix representation which is selected from the set is a function of the orientation of the respective features present at said intersection point.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 4 wherein the orientation of respective features present at an intersection point is determined by the positions of the links which define that intersection point.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 5 wherein the positions of the links which define an intersection point are classifiable into predetermined arrangements each of which is represented by a respective submatrix representation.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 6 wherein said predetermined arrangements represent the juxtapositions of features present at an intersection point as being next to each other and as being above each other.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 65 words

The method of claim 7 wherein each feature is represented by an identification code, wherein each submatrix representation is comprised of rows and columns of elements, each element comprising an identification code to represent the juxtapositions of the features present at an intersection point, and wherein submatrix representations are summed by overlapping a row or a column of elements common to the summed submatrix representations.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 8 wherein a character is scanned in a top-to-bottom and in a right-to-left direction; and wherein the juxtapositions of the features present at an intersection point are determined in the scanning direction.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 57 words

The method of claim 8 wherein respective points on the links which form the intersection point are identified, wherein quadrants (referenced to the intersecting point) in which the respective points are located are identified, wherein the identities of said quadrants are arranged in a predetermined order, and wherein the pattern of quadrant identities establishes a predetermined arrangement.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 53 words

The method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of associating plural predetermined arrangements with at least one pattern of quadrant identities; determining an angle formed by each link with the abscissa and ordinate which define said quadrants; and selecting one of said plural predetermined arrangements as a function of the determined angles.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 74 words

In a method for recognizing alphanumeric characters wherein a character is scanned, each intersection point formed of at least three links is detected, triad points on said at least three links forming an intersection point are identified, and respective geographical features formed by said triad points are indicated, the steps comprising: determining the juxtaposition of said respective geographical features relative to each other; and forming a matrix representation representative of the juxtaposed geographical features.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 74 words

In a method for recognizing alphanumeric characters wherein a character is scanned, each intersection point formed of at least three links is detected, triad points on said at least three links forming an intersection point are identified, and respective geographical features formed by said triad points are indicated, the steps comprising: determining the juxtaposition of said respective geographical features relative to each other; and forming a matrix representation representative of the juxtaposed geographical features.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 12 wherein said geographical features are included in the set comprising bays and lagoons.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 12 wherein the juxtaposition of features comprises features next to each other when the character is scanned in a horizontal direction, and features above each other when the character is scanned in a vertical direction.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 79 words

The method of claim 14 wherein said intersection point defines an origin, said at least three links extend into at least two quadrants relative to said origin, and said triad points are disposed in said at least two quadrants; and further comprising the steps of detecting the respective angles formed by each link relative to an abscissa and an ordinate which defines the quadrants, and determining the juxtaposition of said respective geographical features as a function of said angles.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 74 words

The method of claim 14 wherein said intersection point defines an origin, said at least three links extend into at least two quadrants relative to said origin, and said triad points are disposed in said at least two quadrants; and further comprising the steps of sensing the order of the quadrants in which said triad points are disposed, and provisionally determining the juxtaposition of said respective geographical features as a function of said order.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 16 wherein said order comprises a clockwise direction about said origin, and the quadrants in which said triad points are disposed are arranged in clockwise order.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 67 words

The method of claim 16 wherein the particular order of the quadrants in which said triad points are disposed constitutes a quadrant pattern, wherein each quadrant pattern is associated with a set of matrices, each set being comprised of one or more matrices, and wherein a set of matrix representations is selected to represent the juxtaposed geographical features as a function of the sensed order of quadrants.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 48 words

The method of claim 18 further comprising the steps of detecting the respective angles formed by each link relative to an abscissa and an ordinate which define the quadrant, and selecting a matrix representation included in the selected set of matrices as a function of the detected angles.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of summing the matrix representations formed for each intersection point.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 45 words

The method of claim 20 further comprising the steps of comparing the summed matrix representations to a store of matrix representations, each stored matrix representation representing a known alphanumeric character; and identifying the scanned character as a known alphanumeric character in accordance with the comparison.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 12 wherein each intersection point and each triad point is sensed by generating a pixel array representative thereof, respective pixels having predetermined coordinates identified by digital signals.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 92 words

An optical character recognition system, comprising: scanning means for scanning a character to be recognized; signal generating means for generating signals representing elements which form the scanned character; and processor means responsive to said signals and programmed to detect the occurrence of predetermined geographical features in the scanned character, said processor means being additionally programmed to generate signals representative of a matrix representation representing the juxtapositions of the detected geographical features, and said processor means being further programmed to identify the scanned character in accordance with the make-up of said matrix representation.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 92 words

An optical character recognition system, comprising: scanning means for scanning a character to be recognized; signal generating means for generating signals representing elements which form the scanned character; and processor means responsive to said signals and programmed to detect the occurrence of predetermined geographical features in the scanned character, said processor means being additionally programmed to generate signals representative of a matrix representation representing the juxtapositions of the detected geographical features, and said processor means being further programmed to identify the scanned character in accordance with the make-up of said matrix representation.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 71 words

The system of claim 23 further comprising storage means for storing representation s of predetermined matrix representations, each predetermined matrix representation being associated with a known alphanumeric character; and wherein said processor means is further programmed to compare the generated matrix representation to the stored predetermined matrices and to identify the scanned character as the known alphanumeric character associated with the predetermined matrix representation to which the generated matrix representation compares.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 59 words

The system of claim 24 wherein said signal generating means generates signals representing intersection points included in the scanned character (an intersection point being formed by the intersection of at least three links of said scanned character); and wherein said processor means is programmed to generate a matrix representation representing the juxtaposition of geographical features at each intersection point.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 21 words

The system of claim 25 wherein said processor means is programmed to sum the matrix representations generated for each intersection point.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 75 words

The system of claim 26 wherein said signal generating means generates signals representing triad points linked to each intersection point; wherein said processor means is programmed to determine a respective quadrant relative to an intersection point in which each triad point is disposed: wherein said processor means includes a table of matrix representations; and wherein said processor means is further programmed to select a matrix representation from said table as a function of said quadrants.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 56 words

The system of claim 27 wherein said processor means is programmed to detect respective angles between each link (from a triad point to said intersection point) and the abscissa and ordinate comprising the quadrant in which the link is positioned, and to further select a matrix from said table as a function of the detected angles.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 60 words

The system of claim 27 wherein said triad points are identified by signals representing respective coordinates of said triads; and wherein said processor means is programmed to arrange the quadrants in which said triad points are disposed in a predetermined order, the order of said quadrants being determinative, at least in part, of the matrix representation selected from said table.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 35 words

The system of claim 29 wherein said predetermined order of quadrants is a clockwise order, such that the triad points are arranged in the following succession: first quadrant, fourth quadrant, third quadrant and second quadrant.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 47 words

The system of claim 26 wherein each matrix representation is formed of rows and columns of geographical features, one of said rows and columns representing features that are next to each other and the other of said rows and columns representing features that are above each other.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 18 words

The system of claim 31 wherein said scanning means scans a character in top-to-bottom and in right-to-left directions.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 29 words

The system of claim 31 wherein said processor means sums the generated matrix representations by overlapping a row or a column of features common to the summed matrix representations.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 13 words

The system of claim 23 wherein said geographical features comprise bays and lagoons.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1993-01-01	1993-07-03	1994-01-02	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1997-01-01	1997-07-03	1998-01-02	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2001-01-01	2001-07-03	2002-01-02	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Optical character recognition by forming and detecting matrices of geo features

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