Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
An apparatus for determining an orientation of a local line segment in a contour in a local area of a binary contour image, comprising: contour image information holding means for holding information indicating at least coordinates of contour points of the binary contour image; pixel number counting means for obtaining the number of pixels of the contour points existing in each of a plurality of orientations around a pixel on the contour point in the local area; and local line segment orientation determining means for obtaining an orientation, in which the number of pixels of the contour point located in the orientation is greater than a predetermined number, as an orientation in which a local line segment exists.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
118 words
An apparatus for determining an orientation of a local line segment in a contour in a local area of a binary contour image, comprising: contour image information holding means for holding information indicating at least coordinates of contour points of the binary contour image; pixel number counting means for obtaining the number of pixels of the contour points existing in each of a plurality of orientations around a pixel on the contour point in the local area; and local line segment orientation determining means for obtaining an orientation, in which the number of pixels of the contour point located in the orientation is greater than a predetermined number, as an orientation in which a local line segment exists.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said local line segment orientation determining means determines that local line segments exist in one orientation among said plurality of orientations when said number of pixels located in the orientation, which is obtained by the pixel number counting means, is the largest.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said local line segment orientation determining means determines that local line segments exist in two orientations among said plurality of orientations when said numbers of pixels located in the two orientations, obtained by the pixel number counting means, are the largest and the second largest, respectively.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
145 words
A computer readable product storing at least one program, for determining an orientation of a local line segment in a contour in a local area of a binary contour image, where said at least one program, when executed by a processing unit, causes the processing unit and its associated hardware to carry out a process, the process comprising: a first step of obtaining the numbers of pixels, each having a first predetermined value, located in a plurality of orientations around one of plural pixels located in the local area and having said first predetermined value; and a second step of determining that a local line segment exists in an orientation when the number of pixels located in the orientation is greater than a second predetermined value, and said number of pixels located in the orientation, which is obtained in the first step, is the largest.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
145 words
A computer readable product storing at least one program, for determining an orientation of a local line segment in a contour in a local area of a binary contour image, where said at least one program, when executed by a processing unit, causes the processing unit and its associated hardware to carry out a process, the process comprising: a first step of obtaining the numbers of pixels, each having a first predetermined value, located in a plurality of orientations around one of plural pixels located in the local area and having said first predetermined value; and a second step of determining that a local line segment exists in an orientation when the number of pixels located in the orientation is greater than a second predetermined value, and said number of pixels located in the orientation, which is obtained in the first step, is the largest.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
149 words
A computer readable product storing at least one program, for determining an orientation of a local line segment in a contour in a local area of a binary contour image, where said at least one program, when executed by a processing unit, causes the processing unit and its associated hardware to carry out a process, the process comprising: a first step of obtaining the numbers of pixels, each having a first predetermined value, located in a plurality of orientations around one of plural pixels located in the local area and having said first predetermined value; and a second step of determining that local line segments exist in two orientations when the numbers of pixels located in the two orientations are greater than a second predetermined value, and the numbers of pixels located in the two orientations, obtained in the first step, are the largest and the second largest, respectively.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
149 words
A computer readable product storing at least one program, for determining an orientation of a local line segment in a contour in a local area of a binary contour image, where said at least one program, when executed by a processing unit, causes the processing unit and its associated hardware to carry out a process, the process comprising: a first step of obtaining the numbers of pixels, each having a first predetermined value, located in a plurality of orientations around one of plural pixels located in the local area and having said first predetermined value; and a second step of determining that local line segments exist in two orientations when the numbers of pixels located in the two orientations are greater than a second predetermined value, and the numbers of pixels located in the two orientations, obtained in the first step, are the largest and the second largest, respectively.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for determining an orientation of a local line segment in a contour in a local area of a binary contour image, comprising: a first step for obtaining the numbers of pixels each having a first predetermined value and located in a plurality of orientations around one of plural pixels located in the local area and having said first predetermined value; and a second step for determining that a local line segment exists in an orientation when the number of pixels located in the orientation is greater than a second predetermined value, and said number of pixels located in the orientation, which is obtained in the first step, is the largest.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for determining an orientation of a local line segment in a contour in a local area of a binary contour image, comprising: a first step for obtaining the numbers of pixels each having a first predetermined value and located in a plurality of orientations around one of plural pixels located in the local area and having said first predetermined value; and a second step for determining that a local line segment exists in an orientation when the number of pixels located in the orientation is greater than a second predetermined value, and said number of pixels located in the orientation, which is obtained in the first step, is the largest.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
117 words
An apparatus for determining an orientation of a local line segment in a contour in a local area of a binary contour image, comprising: a contour image information holding unit holding information indicating at least coordinates of contour points of the binary contour image; a pixel number counter counting the number of pixels of the contour points existing in each of a plurality of orientations around a pixel on the contour point in the local area; and a local line segment orientation determining unit determining an orientation in which the number of pixels of the contour point located in the orientation is greater than a predetermined number, as an orientation in which a local line segment exists.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
117 words
An apparatus for determining an orientation of a local line segment in a contour in a local area of a binary contour image, comprising: a contour image information holding unit holding information indicating at least coordinates of contour points of the binary contour image; a pixel number counter counting the number of pixels of the contour points existing in each of a plurality of orientations around a pixel on the contour point in the local area; and a local line segment orientation determining unit determining an orientation in which the number of pixels of the contour point located in the orientation is greater than a predetermined number, as an orientation in which a local line segment exists.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said local line segment orientation determining unit determines that local line segments exist in one orientation, among said plurality of orientations, when said number of pixels located in the orientation, which is obtained by the pixel number counter, is the largest.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said local line segment orientation determining unit determines that local line segments exist in two orientations, among said plurality of orientations, when said numbers of pixels located in the two orientations, obtained by the pixel number counter, are the largest and the second largest, respectively.