Code pattern-image processing apparatus

Claim 2

A code pattern-image processing apparatus comprising: specific object extracting means for extracting a marker from a two-dimensional code pattern-image including the marker and a data area in which a plurality of dots are arranged in association with recording data, said marker having a predetermined size and being located to determine a read reference point for use in reading the plurality of dots; and circumscribed quadrilateral setting means for setting a circumscribed quadrilateral of the marker extracted by said specific object extracting means, wherein said specific object extracting means includes streak extracting means which, when a run length in a raster direction of input binary image data is within a predetermined range, extracts a binary data string having a run length within the predetermined range as a streak constituting a part of the specific object, and wherein said circumscribed quadrilateral setting means sets a circumscribed quadrilateral including each streak sequentially extracted by said streak extracting means, in accordance with a positional relationship of each streak with respect to other streaks or to a circumscribed quadrilateral formed based on an aggregate of the other streaks.

Claim 3

The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said specific object extracting means further includes attribute data generating/storing means which, when a streak extracted by said streak extracting means is adjacent to a previously extracted streak or to a circumscribed quadrilateral based on a previously formed streak aggregate, forms a streak aggregate including the streak, and generates and stores attribute data for specifying a circumscribed quadrilateral to be set for the streak aggregate, and said circumscribed quadrilateral setting means sets a circumscribed quadrilateral including a streak extracted by said streak extracting means, when the extracted streak is adjacent to a previously extracted streak or to a circumscribed quadrilateral set on the basis of the attribute data of said attribute data generating/storing means.

Claim 4

The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said specific object extracting means further includes: attribute data generating/storing means which, when a streak extracted by said streak extracting means is adjacent to a previously extracted streak or to a circumscribed quadrilateral based on a previously formed streak aggregate, forms a streak aggregate including the streak, and generates and stores attribute data for specifying a circumscribed quadrilateral to be set for the streak aggregate; determining means for determining whether a length or height of a circumscribed quadrilateral based on the attribute data of said attribute data generating/storing means is not less than a predetermined length or height; and means for setting the streak aggregate as a non-specific object when said determining means determines that the length or height of the circumscribed quadrilateral is not less than the predetermined length or height.

Claim 5

The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said specific object extracting means further includes: determining means which, when a streak extracted by said streak extracting means is adjacent to a previously extracted streak or to a circumscribed quadrilateral based on a previously formed streak aggregate, forms a streak aggregate including the streak and determines whether a length between two ends or height of the streak aggregate is not less than a predetermined length or height; and means for setting the streak aggregate as a non-specific object when said determining means determines that the length between two ends or height of the streak aggregate is not less than the predetermined length or height.

Claim 6

The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said specific object extracting means further includes attribute data generating/storing means which, when all of a plurality of streaks extracted by said streak extracting means are adjacent to a previously extracted streak or to a circumscribed quadrilateral based on a previously formed streak aggregate, forms a streak aggregate including the streaks, and generates and stores attribute data for specifying a circumscribed quadrilateral to be set for the streak aggregate, and said circumscribed quadrilateral setting means sets a circumscribed quadrilateral including a plurality of streaks extracted by said streak extracting means, when all of the extracted streaks are adjacent to a previously extracted streak or to a circumscribed quadrilateral set on the basis of the attribute data of said attribute data generating/storing means.

Claim 7

The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said specific object extracting means further includes attribute data generating/storing means which, when a streak extracted by said streak extracting means is adjacent to all of a plurality of previously extracted streaks or to all of a plurality of circumscribed quadrilaterals based on a plurality of previously formed streak aggregates, forms a streak aggregate including the streak, and generates and stores attribute data for specifying a circumscribed quadrilateral to be set for the streak aggregate, and said circumscribed quadrilateral setting means sets circumscribed quadrilaterals for all adjacent components including a streak extracted by said streak extracting means, when the extracted streak is adjacent to all of a plurality of previously extracted streaks or to all of a plurality of circumscribed quadrilaterals set on the basis of the attribute data of said attribute data generating/storing means.

Claim 8

An image processing apparatus comprising: specific object extracting means for extracting a specific object, which is previously defined by a predetermined shape as an object to be extracted, from an image including the specific object; and circumscribed quadrilateral setting means for setting a circumscribed quadrilateral of the specific object extracted by said specific object extracting means, wherein said specific object extracting means includes: streak extracting means which, when a run length in a raster direction of input binary image data is not less than a first threshold, extracts a binary data string having a run length not less than the first threshold as a streak constituting a part of the specific object; and attribute data generating/storing means which, when a streak extracted by said streak extracting means is adjacent to a previously extracted streak or to a circumscribed quadrilateral based on a previously formed streak aggregate and when a length of the extracted streak is not less than a second threshold larger than the first threshold, substitutes the extracted streak with a streak equal to a length of the previously extracted streak or a length of the circumscribed quadrilateral based on the previously formed streak aggregate, forms a streak aggregate including the substitute streak, and generates and stores attribute data for specifying a circumscribed quadrilateral to be set for the streak aggregate, and said circumscribed quadrilateral setting means sets a circumscribed quadrilateral including the substitute streak of a streak extracted by said streak extracting means, when the extracted streak is adjacent to a previously extracted streak or to a circumscribed quadrilateral set on the basis of the attribute data of said attribute data generating/storing means and when a length of the extracted streak is not less than the second threshold.

Claim 9

An image processing apparatus comprising: specific object extracting means for extracting a specific object, which is previously defined by a predetermined shape as an object to be extracted, from an image including the specific object; and circumscribed quadrilateral setting means for setting a circumscribed quadrilateral of the specific object extracted by said specific object extracting means, wherein said specific object extracting means includes: streak extracting means which, when a run length in a raster direction of input binary image data is not less than a first threshold, extracts a binary data string having a run length not less than the first threshold as a streak constituting a part of the specific object; and attribute data generating/storing means which, when a streak extracted by said streak extracting means is adjacent to a previously extracted streak or to a circumscribed quadrilateral based on a previously formed streak aggregate and when a length of the extracted streak is not less than a second threshold larger than the first threshold, substitutes the extracted streak with a streak equal to a length of the previously extracted streak or a length of the circumscribed quadrilateral based on the previously formed streak aggregate, forms a streak aggregate including the substitute streak, and generates and stores attribute data for specifying a circumscribed quadrilateral to be set for the streak aggregate, and said circumscribed quadrilateral setting means sets a circumscribed quadrilateral including the substitute streak of a streak extracted by said streak extracting means, when the extracted streak is adjacent to a previously extracted streak or to a circumscribed quadrilateral set on the basis of the attribute data of said attribute data generating/storing means and when a length of the extracted streak is not less than the second threshold.