Patent US5974191A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5974191A
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Image processing apparatus and method
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1997-10-14
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Granted: 1999-10-26
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Expires: 2017-10-14
Abstract
Abstract An image containing characters and lines, which is inputted by a scanner or the like, is binarized and stored in a memory. A thickening process is repeatedly applied on groups of significant bits stored in the memory, until a predetermined condition is fulfilled. After this process, the thickened image is thinned at least a greater number of times than the number of times the thickening process is repeated in order to eliminate lines. As a result, characters are determined to exist at areas where groups composed of remaining significant dots exist, then characters are separated from the input image based on the areas of groups composed of the remaining significant dots.
Inventors
- 👤 Takashi Harada
- 👤 Kazutoshi Shimada
- 👤 Eisaku Tatsumi
- 👤 Shigeki Mori
- 👤 Kazuhiro Matsubayashi
- 👤 Shinichi Sunakawa
- 👤 Katsuhiko Nagasaki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 00:52
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06V; G06V10/00; G06V10/10; G06V30/00; G06V30/40; G06V30/41; G06V30/413; G06V30/10; G06V30/14; G06V30/146; G06V30/148; G06V30/155
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
An image processing apparatus which inputs an image containing characters and lines and separates the characters, comprising: thickening means for thickening groups of significant dots of the input image; processing means for repeatedly executing a thickening operation by said thickening means until a number of dots added at an n-th thickening operation decreases as compared with a number of dots added at an (n-1)th thickening operation, wherein "n" is a number of repetitions of the thickening operation and for obtaining an image at an (n-m)th thickening operation wherein "m" is an integer larger than "1"; thinning means for thinning the image obtained by said processing means, at least for a greater number of times than n-m times; and determining means for determining an area of significant dots, obtained as a result of the thinning operation, as a character area.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
An image processing apparatus which inputs an image containing characters and lines and separates the characters, comprising: thickening means for thickening groups of significant dots of the input image; processing means for repeatedly executing a thickening operation by said thickening means until a number of dots added at an n-th thickening operation decreases as compared with a number of dots added at an (n-1)th thickening operation, wherein "n" is a number of repetitions of the thickening operation and for obtaining an image at an (n-m)th thickening operation wherein "m" is an integer larger than "1"; thinning means for thinning the image obtained by said processing means, at least for a greater number of times than n-m times; and determining means for determining an area of significant dots, obtained as a result of the thinning operation, as a character area.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: second thickening means for thickening the image, which is thickened and thinned by said thickening and thinning means, on the basis of a number of times the thickening process and the thinning process are repeated; and extracting means for extracting characters from the input image based on an area of significant dots obtained after a second thickening process.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the thickening and thinning processes are operated in the vertical and horizontal directions of the image by said thickening and thinning means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processing means repeatedly executes the thickening operation in a case where a number of times to repeat the thickening process reaches a predetermined value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said predetermined value can be changed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising reading means for reading only a designated color or colors of an original image to be processed by said thickening means, said processing means, said thinning means and said determining means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising setting means for setting a color or colors of the original image to be read by said reading means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
127 words
An image processing method of inputting an image containing characters and lines and of separating the characters, comprising the steps of: thickening groups of significant dots of the input image; repeatedly executing a thickening operation until a number of dots added at an n-th thickening operation decreases as compared with a number of dots added at an (n-1)th thickening operation, wherein "n" is a number of repetitions of the thickening operation, and for obtaining an image at an (n-m)th thickening operation, wherein "m" is an integer larger than "1"; thinning the image obtained by said executing step, at least for a greater number of times than "n-m" times; and determining an area of significant dots, obtained as a result of said thinning step, as a character area.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
127 words
An image processing method of inputting an image containing characters and lines and of separating the characters, comprising the steps of: thickening groups of significant dots of the input image; repeatedly executing a thickening operation until a number of dots added at an n-th thickening operation decreases as compared with a number of dots added at an (n-1)th thickening operation, wherein "n" is a number of repetitions of the thickening operation, and for obtaining an image at an (n-m)th thickening operation, wherein "m" is an integer larger than "1"; thinning the image obtained by said executing step, at least for a greater number of times than "n-m" times; and determining an area of significant dots, obtained as a result of said thinning step, as a character area.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
70 words
The image processing method according to claim 8, further comprising: a second thickening step of thickening the image, which is thickened and thinned at said thickening and thinning steps, on the basis of a number of times the thickening step and the thinning step are repeated; and an extracting step of extracting characters from the input image based on an area of significant dots obtained after said second thickening step.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The image processing method according to claim 8, wherein said thickening and thinning steps are operated in the vertical and horizontal directions of the image.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The image processing method according to claim 8, wherein said executing step repeatedly executes the thickening operation in a case where a number of times to repeat the thickening step reaches a predetermined value.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The image processing method according to claim 11, wherein said predetermined value can be changed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
The image processing method according to claim 8, further comprising a step of reading only a designated color or colors of an original image to be processed in said thickening step, said executing step, said thinning step and said determining step.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The image processing method according to claim 13, further comprising a setting step of setting a color or colors of the original image to be read at said reading step.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
135 words
A computer-readable medium storing a program for executing an image processing method of inputting an image containing characters and lines and of separating the characters, comprising the steps of: thickening groups of significant dots of the input image; repeatedly executing a thickening operation until a number of dots added at an n-th thickening operation decreases as compared with a number of dots added at an (n-1)th thickening operation, wherein "n" is a number of repetitions of the thickening operation, and for obtaining an image at an (n-m)th thickening operation, wherein "m" is an integer larger than "1"; thinning the image obtained by said executing step, at least for a greater number of times than "n-m" times; and determining an area of significant dots, obtained as a result of said thinning step, as a character area.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
135 words
A computer-readable medium storing a program for executing an image processing method of inputting an image containing characters and lines and of separating the characters, comprising the steps of: thickening groups of significant dots of the input image; repeatedly executing a thickening operation until a number of dots added at an n-th thickening operation decreases as compared with a number of dots added at an (n-1)th thickening operation, wherein "n" is a number of repetitions of the thickening operation, and for obtaining an image at an (n-m)th thickening operation, wherein "m" is an integer larger than "1"; thinning the image obtained by said executing step, at least for a greater number of times than "n-m" times; and determining an area of significant dots, obtained as a result of said thinning step, as a character area.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
70 words
A medium according to claim 15, said method further comprising: a second thickening step of thickening the image, which is thickened and thinned at said thickening and thinning steps, on the basis of a number of times the thickening step and the thinning step are repeated; and an extracting step of extracting characters from the input image based on an area of significant dots obtained after said second thickening step.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A medium according to claim 15, wherein said thickening and thinning steps are operated in the vertical and horizontal directions of the image.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
A medium according to claim 15, wherein said executing step repeatedly executes the thickening operation in a case where a number of times to repeat the thickening step reaches a predetermined value.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
A medium according to claim 18, wherein said predetermined value can be changed.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
A medium according to claim 15, further comprising a reading step of reading only a designated color or colors of an original image to be processed in said thickening step, said executing step, said thinning step and said determining step.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
A medium according to claim 20, said method further comprising a setting step of setting a color or colors of the original image to be read at said reading step.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-10-25 | 2003-04-26 | 2003-10-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-10-25 | 2007-04-26 | 2007-10-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-10-25 | 2011-04-26 | 2011-10-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |