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US3662341A
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Video-derived segmentation-gating apparatus for optical character recognition
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1970-09-25
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Granted: 1972-05-09
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Expires: 1990-09-25
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for gating segmentation scheme generators in accordance with a detected video signal. A video operator signal derived from detected video signals is compared with a threshold signal. One of a plurality of segmentation scheme generators is gated on in accordance with the comparison of the video operator signal and the threshold signal.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard J Baumgartner
- 👤 Jeffrey L Lovgren
- 👤 John W Mccullough
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 17:47
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06V; G06V30/00; G06V30/10; G06V30/14; G06V30/148
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
In an optical character recognition system for identifying printed characters on a document, a video derived segmentation gating system comprising: a. means for generating a print contrast signal indicative of the average contrast of each of said characters; b. means for generating a threshold signal; c. comparator means responsive to said print contrast and said threshold signals for generating for each character a first comparison signal when said threshold signal is greater than said print contrast signal and a second comparison signal when said print contrast signal is greater than said threshold signal; d. a plurality of segmentation scheme generator means of varying segmentation power for generating segmentation schemes said segmentation schemes detecting the end of each character to be identified; and e. gate means responsive to said first or second comparison signal for gating the particular one of said segmentation scheme generator means which provide the most appropriate segmentation power for the character to be identified.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
In an optical character recognition system for identifying printed characters on a document, a video derived segmentation gating system comprising: a. means for generating a print contrast signal indicative of the average contrast of each of said characters; b. means for generating a threshold signal; c. comparator means responsive to said print contrast and said threshold signals for generating for each character a first comparison signal when said threshold signal is greater than said print contrast signal and a second comparison signal when said print contrast signal is greater than said threshold signal; d. a plurality of segmentation scheme generator means of varying segmentation power for generating segmentation schemes said segmentation schemes detecting the end of each character to be identified; and e. gate means responsive to said first or second comparison signal for gating the particular one of said segmentation scheme generator means which provide the most appropriate segmentation power for the character to be identified.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said means fOr generating a threshold signal comprises: a. an absolute black reference signal generator means for generating an absolute black reference signal; b. a white follower signal generator means for generating a signal indicative of the lightest color of the document; and c. output means for generating said threshold signal proportional to the difference between said absolute black reference signal and said white follower signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
93 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said gate means comprises: a. counter means for cumulatively counting, for prior counting intervals and for a current counting interval, the number of occurrences of first comparison signals and of second comparison signals, said counter means for generating for each interval an output signal which is representative of the difference between the number of occurrences of said first comparison signals and said second comparison signals; and b. means responsive to the output signal of said counter means for gating said particular one of said segmentation scheme generators.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system in claim 3 wherein said counter means comprises a forward-backward counter which steps forward for each of said first comparison signals and steps backward for each of said second comparison signals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
106 words
The system of claim 1 wherein: a. said means for generating a threshold signal further comprises means for generating a plurality of threshold signals; b. said comparator means comprises a plurality of comparators each comparing said print contrast signal and a different one of said threshold signals such that each comparator generates one of said first or said second comparison signals; and c. said gate means further comprises means responsive to particular combinations of all of said first and second comparison signals for gating the particular one of said segmentation scheme generator means which provides the most appropriate segmentation power for the character to be identified.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
110 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said gate means comprises: a. a plurality of AND gates each responsive to a different combination of said first and said second comparison signals; b. a plurality of counters each of which is coupled to the output of a different one of said AND gates, whereby each of said counters cumulatively counts for prior counting intervals and for a current counting interval the number of occurrences of an output of its associated AND gate; and c. digital comparator means, responsive to the cumulative count of each of said counters, for gating a segmentation scheme generator means corresponding to the counter having the highest count.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
148 words
A method for gating a video segmentation scheme, in an optical character recognition system for identifying printed characters on a document, comprising the steps of: a. generating a print contrast signal indicative of the average contrast of each of said characters; b. generating a threshold signal; c. comparing said print contrast signal and said threshold signal and producing a first comparison signal if said threshold signal is greater than said contrast signal and a second comparison signal if said contrast signal is greater than said threshold signal; d. generating a plurality of segmentation schemes with varying degrees of segmentation power for detecting the end of each character to be recognized; and e. gating on one of said plurality of segmentation schemes in accordance with the existence of said first or said second comparison signal whereby the proper segmentation scheme for identifying the end of a character is selected.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
148 words
A method for gating a video segmentation scheme, in an optical character recognition system for identifying printed characters on a document, comprising the steps of: a. generating a print contrast signal indicative of the average contrast of each of said characters; b. generating a threshold signal; c. comparing said print contrast signal and said threshold signal and producing a first comparison signal if said threshold signal is greater than said contrast signal and a second comparison signal if said contrast signal is greater than said threshold signal; d. generating a plurality of segmentation schemes with varying degrees of segmentation power for detecting the end of each character to be recognized; and e. gating on one of said plurality of segmentation schemes in accordance with the existence of said first or said second comparison signal whereby the proper segmentation scheme for identifying the end of a character is selected.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the step of using said comparison signals to gate a particular one of said segmentation schemes includes applying said first or said second comparison signal to a cumulative count of prior said comparison signals and generating a gating signal in accordance with the new cumulative count.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
100 words
The method of claim 7 wherein: a. said step oF generating a threshold signal further comprises generating a plurality of threshold signals; b. said step of comparing said print contrast signal and said threshold signal further comprises comparing said print contrast signal with each threshold signal such that a separate said first or said second comparison signal is generated for each comparison; and c. said step of using said first and said second comparison signals further comprises using particular combinations of all of said first and said second comparison signals for gating a particular one of said segmentation scheme generators.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
97 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said step of gating on one of said plurality of segmentation schemes comprises: a. applying particular combinations of said first and second comparison signals to a plurality of AND gates; b. separately counting for prior counting intervals and for a current counting interval the occurrences of the outputs of each of said AND gates in a plurality of counters, each of said counters associated with a particular said AND gate; c. gating on a particular one of said segmentation scheme generator means in accordance with the counter having the highest count.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-09 | 1975-11-08 | 1976-05-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-09 | 1979-11-08 | 1980-05-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-09 | 1983-11-08 | 1984-05-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |