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US5010580A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method and apparatus for extracting information from forms

Assignee: HP Inc
•
Filing: 1989-08-25
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Granted: 1991-04-23
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Expires: 2009-08-25
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Abstract

Abstract A system for extracting handwritten or typed information from forms that have been printed in colors other than the color of the handwritten or typed information. The information extraction system includes a detector for detecting color values for scanned pixel locations on a printed form; a comparator for comparing the color values with reference color values; an identifier for identifying ones of the scanned pixel locations that have color values that correspond to the reference color values; and an optical character recognition engine for receiving data regarding the identified locations.

Inventors

  • 👤 Kent D. Vincent
  • 👤 Rueiming Jamp

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 19:30
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06V; G06V10/00; G06V10/10; G06V10/12; G06V10/14; G06V10/143

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 191 words
A system for extracting handwritten and typed information of a predetermined color from a form printed in a different color, comprising: scanner means for scanning pixel locations on a printed form; detector means for detecting at least two color values for each scanned pixel location; comparator means for comparing the detected color values with reference color values; identifier means for identifying and distinguishing ones of the pixel locations on the printed form from adjacent pixel locations by comparison of their color values to the reference color values, which identifier means provides a binary output for each scanned pixel location such that one state of the binary output represents correspondence between the detected color values of the scanned pixel location and at least one of the reference color values and, thereby, indicates whether handwritten and typed information on the printed form is to be extracted from the form when the color of the printing on the form is substantially different from the color of the handwritten and typed information at adjacent locations on the printed form; and an optical character recognition engine for receiving data regarding identified ones of the pixel locations.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 191 words
A system for extracting handwritten and typed information of a predetermined color from a form printed in a different color, comprising: scanner means for scanning pixel locations on a printed form; detector means for detecting at least two color values for each scanned pixel location; comparator means for comparing the detected color values with reference color values; identifier means for identifying and distinguishing ones of the pixel locations on the printed form from adjacent pixel locations by comparison of their color values to the reference color values, which identifier means provides a binary output for each scanned pixel location such that one state of the binary output represents correspondence between the detected color values of the scanned pixel location and at least one of the reference color values and, thereby, indicates whether handwritten and typed information on the printed form is to be extracted from the form when the color of the printing on the form is substantially different from the color of the handwritten and typed information at adjacent locations on the printed form; and an optical character recognition engine for receiving data regarding identified ones of the pixel locations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 31 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein scanned pixels having detected color components that equal or exceed said reference color components represent information which is to be extracted from said form.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 34 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein scanned pixels having detected color components that are less than or equal to said reference color components represent information which is to be extracted from said form.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 24 words
A system according to claim 1 further including means to identify form identity codes that have been printed on forms in a standard location.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 40 words
A system according to claim 1 further including a threshold color map and means that automatically identify a form and its color scheme such that threshold values appropriate for the form can be automatically loaded into the threshold color map.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 194 words
A system for extracting handwritten or typed information from forms that have been printed in one or more colors that are different than the color of the handwritten or typed information, comprising: scanner means for scanning selected pixel locations on a printed form; color convertor means comprising a dichroic filter means for detecting at least two color values for each scanned pixel location; comparator means for comparing the detected color values with reference color values; identifier means for providing a binary output for each scanned pixel location which distinguishes certain ones of the pixel locations on the printed form from adjacent pixel locations on the printed form, with one state of the binary output representing correspondence between the detected color values of the scanned pixel location and at least one of the reference color values to, thereby, identify whether handwritten and typed information should be extracted from the form by comparison of color values at the scanned pixel locations with the reference color values; an optical character recognition engine for receiving data regarding identified ones of the pixel locations; and threshold color map means that automatically identify a printed form and its color scheme.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 194 words
A system for extracting handwritten or typed information from forms that have been printed in one or more colors that are different than the color of the handwritten or typed information, comprising: scanner means for scanning selected pixel locations on a printed form; color convertor means comprising a dichroic filter means for detecting at least two color values for each scanned pixel location; comparator means for comparing the detected color values with reference color values; identifier means for providing a binary output for each scanned pixel location which distinguishes certain ones of the pixel locations on the printed form from adjacent pixel locations on the printed form, with one state of the binary output representing correspondence between the detected color values of the scanned pixel location and at least one of the reference color values to, thereby, identify whether handwritten and typed information should be extracted from the form by comparison of color values at the scanned pixel locations with the reference color values; an optical character recognition engine for receiving data regarding identified ones of the pixel locations; and threshold color map means that automatically identify a printed form and its color scheme.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 31 words
A system according to claim 6 wherein scanned pixels having detected color components that equal or exceed said reference color components represent information which is to be extracted from said form.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3938088A Cited
US4479242A Cited
US4760606A Cited
US4812904A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1994-04-22 1994-10-22 1995-04-23 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1998-04-22 1998-10-22 1999-04-23 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2002-04-22 2002-10-22 2003-04-23 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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