JP2006127375A - Character recognition device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve precision of the second and following candidates when outputting a plurality of candidates as recognition results in recognizing characters by using image data. <P>SOLUTION: This check processor is provided with a segmenting means for segmenting image data in a segmentation region including one part or whole part of the image of a recognition object character on the basis of image data read by an image reading part and a character recognizing means for recognizing characters included in the image data of the segmentation region segmented by the segmenting means. Then, when a first segmentation region 310 is segmented by the segmenting means, character recognition is carried out to the first segmentation region 310 by the character recognizing means, and a first candidate is decided. After the first candidate is decided, when a second segmentation region 320 different from the first segmentation region 310 is segmented by the segmenting means, character recognition is carried out to the second segmentation region 320 by the character recognizing means, and the second candidate different from the first candidate is decided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for recognizing characters printed on a check surface using image data, and more particularly to a technique for recognizing magnetic ink characters.

  There is a check processing apparatus equipped with a MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Reader) that performs character recognition by reading magnetic data of characters printed on the check surface using magnetic ink. In order to improve the character recognition accuracy, there is a model equipped with an OCR (Optical Character Reader) that reads and recognizes a character with an optical scanner.

JP 2000-344428 A

  In general, in OCR processing, a character image read optically is cut out and pattern matching is performed by comparing this with a character pattern prepared in advance. Character recognition is performed by extracting.

  When a character is read by a scanner to acquire image data, the character may be read with the dirt attached, or the character may be extended. When pattern matching is performed based on image data read in this way, characters may not be cut out correctly, which may cause recognition errors.

  In addition, even when the recognition result is erroneous recognition, two or more candidates are output as the character recognition result so that the operator can easily correct the recognition result. However, when selecting a plurality of candidates, if the second candidate or less is determined using the same region as the region cut out to determine the first candidate, there is a problem that the recognition accuracy is not good even for the second candidate or less. .

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to improve the accuracy of the second candidate or lower when outputting a plurality of candidates as a recognition result in character recognition using image data.

  A character recognition device according to an embodiment of the present invention scans a print medium on which characters are printed, and outputs image data. Based on the image data output from the scanner unit, the character recognition device Cutout means for cutting out image data of a cutout area including part or all of the image, and character recognition means for recognizing characters included in the image data of the cutout area cut out by the cutout means. When the cutout unit cuts out the first cutout region, the character recognition unit performs character recognition on the first cutout region to determine a first candidate, and after the first candidate is determined, When the cutout unit cuts out a second cutout region different from the first cutout region, the character recognition unit performs character recognition on the second cutout region, and selects a second candidate different from the first candidate. It is characterized by determining.

  In a preferred embodiment, characters printed on the printing medium are printed using magnetic ink. The character recognition device further includes a magnetic sensor that detects the magnetism of the character printed with the magnetic ink and outputs the detected magnetic data. The clipping unit applies a mask having a predetermined shape to a position determined based on the magnetic data output from the magnetic sensor, and cuts out the first clipping region from the image data output from the scanner unit. It may be.

  In a preferred embodiment, the cutout unit cuts out a plurality of different areas as the second cutout area. The character recognition unit may perform character recognition for each of the plurality of second cutout regions, and determine the second candidate based on each character recognition result.

  Hereinafter, a check processing device 10 including a character recognition device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, a check processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is used in connection with a composite processing apparatus 1 that performs image reading and printing processing of a check C, and generates authentication data or a composite processing apparatus. And a host computer 50 for controlling the above.

  The host computer 50 includes a keyboard 51 and a mouse 52 for performing various inputs, and a display screen 53 for displaying the image data of the check C and notifying an error, and is connected to the composite processing apparatus 1 by wire or wirelessly (illustrated). (Connect with a connector cable.)

  By the way, the host computer 50 is connected to a settlement processing server for authenticating the validity of the check C via a network (for example, the Internet). The host computer 50 receives the check data read by the MICR 13 (see FIG. 4) of the composite processing apparatus 1 and transmits it to the settlement processing server. Then, it is determined whether the check C is valid or invalid based on the response of the payment processing server.

  Here, a check C processed by the check processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment and a settlement process using the check C will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 5A, a serial number 91 and a user name 92 are printed in advance on the surface of the check C, as well as a use date field 93, a payee store name field 94, payment amount fields 95 and 96, There is a signature field 97. Further, a bank number, an account number, and a check number are printed with a magnetic ink character 98 on the lower surface. The validity of the check C can be confirmed by reading the portion printed with the magnetic ink characters 98 with MICR 13 (Magnetic Ink Character Reader; see FIG. 4).

  The user enters the date, payment destination, payment amount and his / her signature on the surface of the check C, and gives the check C to the payee's store. After that, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), after verifying the use of the check C on the back side of the check C and providing an endorsement describing information such as the transfer destination, the check C Sent to bank A, the bank. Note that the back side of the check C has an endorsement area C1 where the store endorses the endorsement and a bank processing area C2 where the bank serving as the settlement institution prints the authentication data. Filled in or printed.

  Bank A prints the payment amount on the surface of check C with magnetic ink characters, then reads the magnetic ink characters 98 printed on check C with MICR 13 to confirm the validity of the check, and then the bank processing area on the back side of check C The authentication data d indicating that the check settlement process by the bank A has been completed is printed in C2. At the same time, the images on the front and back sides of the check C are read and stored as image data. The authentication data d has different notation contents depending on each bank, but mainly includes a bank name, a bank number, a processing date, and a processing number.

  Thereafter, the bank A transfers the specified amount from the user's transaction account to the transaction account of the store where the check C is used. If the user's bank is different from the store's bank, the check C's data, such as a check number and amount, is sent to bank B, the user's bank, and the settlement process is executed.

  Next, the configuration of the composite processing apparatus 1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the composite processing apparatus 1 faces the U-shaped feed path P and is printed on the check C and an image reading unit 100 (see also FIG. 3) that optically reads the image of the check C. A feeding mechanism 20 that has a magnetic data reading unit 110 (see also FIG. 3) for reading the magnetism of magnetic ink characters and a printing unit 120 that prints authentication data on the check C, and sends the check C along the feeding path P. (See FIG. 3).

  As shown in FIG. 3, the feed path P is configured by a slit-like path sandwiched between the outer guide 2a and the inner guide 2b, and the straight portions 35a and 35b and both ends thereof are connected to the straight portions 35a and 35b. The U-shaped bottom portion 34 has a general U-shape.

  Further, when the check C is inserted into the feed path P from the check insertion port 3 by the user, the feed mechanism 20 feeds the check C in the direction of the arrow A along the straight portion 35a and through the U-shaped bottom portion 34. Then, after changing the direction 180 degrees from the time of insertion, the check C is sent in the direction of arrow B through the straight portion 35b, and the check C is discharged from the check discharge port 4. That is, the feeding mechanism 20 is configured to feed the check C while being curved in a U shape along the feeding path P. In the combined processing apparatus 1, the surface of the check C is arranged toward the inner guide 2 b as a rule.

  The feed mechanism 20 includes a first feed roller 6, a second feed roller 7, and a discharge roller 8. These rollers 6, 7, and 8 are respectively driven rollers 6a, 7a, 8a and a grip roller comprising pressing rollers (driven rollers) 6b, 7b and 8b for pressing the check C against the driving roller.

  The first feed roller 6 is disposed at the first corner portion of the feed path P, and a BOF (Bottom of Form) detector 9 is provided on the upstream side, and a TOF is provided on the downstream side of the first feed roller 6. A (Top of Form) detector 10 is provided. These detectors 9 and 10 detect the leading end and the trailing end of the check C sent along the feed path P. The motor 40 is driven according to the detection of the BOF detector 9, and the first feed roller 6, the second feed roller 7 and the discharge roller 8 start to rotate.

  The U-shaped bottom portion 34 between the TOF detector 10 and the second feed roller 7 is provided with two front and rear scanners 11 and 12 constituting the image reading unit 100 and MICR 13 constituting the magnetic data reading unit 110. ing.

  The two scanners 11 and 12 are image reading sensors that read the image of the check C, respectively. One back side scanner 11 is provided on the outer guide 2a side of the feed path P so as to be able to read the back side image of the check C, and the other front side scanner 12 is feed path P so that the front image of the check C can be read. Is provided on the inner guide 2b side. Both the scanners 11 and 12 read an image in a state where the check C is pressed against the scanners 11 and 12 by pressing members (rollers) 11a and 12a arranged on the opposite surface side through the feed path P.

  The MICR 13 is a magnetic reading sensor that reads magnetic ink characters printed on the surface of the check C, and is provided on the inner guide 2b side of the feed path P so as to face the surface of the check C. The MICR 13 reads a magnetic ink character in a state where the check C is pressed against the MICR 13 by a pressing member (pad) 13a disposed on the opposite surface side through the feed path P.

  The second feed roller 7 is disposed in the second corner portion of the feed path P, and the discharge roller 8 is disposed in the vicinity of the check discharge port 4. The print head 14 constituting the printing unit 120 is disposed in the straight portion 35b between the second feed roller 7 and the discharge roller 8 so as to face the feed path P. The print head 14 is mounted on a carriage 15 configured to be movable via a guide shaft 15 a, and can move between a print area 18 and a retreat position 19 via the carriage 15.

  When printing on the check C, the print head 14 is stopped at a predetermined position in the printing area 18, and the print head 14 is driven in synchronization with the feeding of the check C, and printing on the check C is performed. Is called. On the other hand, as will be described in detail later, when roll paper is introduced into the linear portion 35b, printing is performed on the roll paper by feeding the roll paper (sub-scanning) and moving the print head 14 (main scanning). .

  A discharge roller 8 and a check discharge port 4 are provided on the downstream side of the print head 14. The check C for which printing has been completed is discharged from the check discharge port 4 via the discharge roller 8. Further, a discharge detector (not shown) is provided in the vicinity of the discharge roller 8, and it is possible to detect whether or not the check C after printing has been discharged.

  In this embodiment, the height of the outer guide 2a and the inner guide 2b is the width of the check C to be sent at a place other than the U-shaped bottom portion 34 where the back and front scanners 11 and 12 and the MICR 13 are arranged. When a paper jam or the like occurs, it can be easily removed by hand.

  Although not shown, the composite processing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment partially overlaps the straight portion 35b of the feed path P in addition to the feed path P for sending the check C, and the feed path P and the feed direction are different. A roll paper feed path for feeding roll paper is provided, which is a vertical feed path that is substantially orthogonal (direction passing through the paper surface in FIG. 3). A roll paper storage unit for storing roll paper is provided between the straight portions 35a and 35b of the feed path P. One end of the roll paper is pulled out from the roll paper storage unit to the roll paper feed path, and is fed along the roll paper feed path, and moves when passing through the print area 18 that is in close proximity to the print head 14. (Main scanning) Printing on the roll paper is performed via the print head 14. That is, the composite processing apparatus 1 of this embodiment can process the check C and issue a receipt using roll paper.

  Furthermore, the composite processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is provided corresponding to the print head 14 disposed in the print area 18 and is an upper opening formed between the outer guide 2a and the inner guide 2b in the vicinity of the print area 18. From the outside guide 2a and the inside guide 2b, there is a vertical feed path for feeding the check C vertically. This vertical feed path is a feed path for performing validation printing in which the check C is inserted from above and printing is performed, and the check C is discharged again after printing.

  The print head 14 of this embodiment is placed on the carriage 15 and can move between the print areas 18 in the horizontal direction along the straight line portion 35b of the feed path P. That is, for printing on the check C, the print head fixing mode for performing printing by moving the check C in the horizontal direction with the position of the print head 14 fixed as described above, and the position of the check C are fixed. There are two modes: a check fixing mode in which printing is performed by moving the print head 14 in the horizontal direction.

  In addition, when printing on roll paper, it is necessary to perform one line printing while the print head 14 moves in the horizontal direction via the carriage 15, and when it is necessary to print a plurality of lines, one line of roll paper is printed after the end of the one line printing. After the paper is fed upward (sub-scanning), the print head 14 is moved again in the horizontal direction (main scanning), and the second and subsequent lines are printed.

  Next, the image of the check C and the magnetic ink character reading process and the printing process will be described. When the check C is inserted from the check insertion port 3 in the direction of arrow A by the user, the check C is sent along the feed path P at a constant speed.

  Thereafter, when the check C reaches the BOF detector 9, the BOF detector 9 detects the tip of the check C. Then, the drive roller 6 a of the first feed roller 6 starts to rotate in response to the detection by the BOF detector 9. Thereby, the check C is delivered to the first feed roller 6, that is, smoothly sandwiched between the drive roller 6a and the pressing roller 6b, along the feed path P without slipping due to the rotation of the drive roller 6a, It is sent along the wall of the outer guide 2a of the U-shaped portion 34.

  When the leading end of the check C sent by the first feed roller 6 reaches the TOF detector 10, the scanners 11 and 12 and the MICR installed at the tip of the check C are turned on to enter a detection standby state. The composite processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment supplies power to necessary parts only when necessary, including driving of rollers, and is configured to prevent wasteful power consumption.

  Further, when the check C is sent, the back scanner 11 installed on the outer guide 2a side reads the back image of the check C, and the front scanner 12 installed on the inner guide 2b side reads the surface image of the check C. read. Further, the MICR 13 installed on the inner guide 2b side reads magnetic data of magnetic ink characters written in advance on the check C. Although the details will be described later, the read surface image data g1 and back image data g2 of the check C are temporarily stored in the check surface image data block 242 and the check back image data block 243 of the check processing apparatus 1, and are combined by the CPU 220. In addition to the image data g3 generation, predetermined processing is performed.

  After the check C has passed through the TOF detector 10, when its tip reaches the second feed roller 7, it is sandwiched between the driving roller 7a and the pressing roller 7b and moved toward the straight portion 35b by the rotation of the driving roller 7a. Sent out.

  Then, when the check C passes through the print area 18 that is in close proximity to the print head 14, the print head 14 is driven and printing on the check C is performed. At this time, the print head 14 is stopped at a predetermined position in the print area 18 and is driven in synchronization with the movement (main scanning) of the check C, which is a print medium, to perform predetermined printing.

  The check C printed on the back side by the print head 14 is discharged by the discharge roller 8 in the direction of arrow B, that is, the drive roller 8a rotates while being sandwiched between the drive roller 8a and the pressing roller 8b. By doing so, the processing related to the check C is completed by being sent out of the composite processing apparatus 1.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 4, the control structure of the composite processing apparatus 1 and the host computer 50 which comprise the check processing apparatus 10 is demonstrated.

  The composite processing apparatus 1 includes an image reading unit (image reading unit) 100 that reads an image of a check C, a magnetic data reading unit (magnetic ink character reading unit) 110 that reads a magnetic ink character written on the check C, and a check C. A printing unit (printing means) 120 that prints on the back side of the printer, a detection unit that detects the leading and trailing ends of the check C, a driving unit 140 that drives each unit, and the respective units are connected to control the entire complex processing apparatus 1. It is comprised by the control part 200 which performs.

  The image reading unit 100 includes both the back and front scanners 11 and 12 and reads the front and back images of the check C. The magnetic data reading unit 110 has a MICR 13 and reads magnetic ink characters written on the check C. The printing unit 120 includes the print head 14 and mainly prints the authentication data d received from the host computer 50 on the back surface of the check C.

  The detection unit 130 includes a BOF detector 9 and a TOF detector 10, and detects the leading end and the trailing end of the check C, respectively. The drive unit 140 includes a first feed roller 6, a second feed roller 7, a discharge roller 8 (feed mechanism 20), and a drive roller 6 a, 7 a, 8 a among the plurality of feed rollers 6, 7, 8. And a rotationally driven motor 40 for controlling the feeding of the check C.

  The control unit 200 includes a CPU 220, a ROM 230, a RAM 240, and an input / output control device 210 (hereinafter referred to as “IOC: Input Output Controller”), which are connected to each other via an internal bus 250. The ROM 230 controls the reading and printing of the check C, and the control of generating the composite image data g3 by combining the read back image data g2 of the check C and the authentication data d received from the host computer 50. In addition to the above program, there are a control program block 231 for storing various programs to be processed by the CPU 220, and a control data block 232 for storing control data and various tables for generating the composite image data g3.

  The RAM 240, in addition to various work area blocks 241 used as flags, etc., a check surface image data block 242 for storing the read check C surface image data g1, and a check for storing the read check C back image data g2. A back image data block 243, a magnetic data block 244 for storing the magnetic data of the read check C, an authentication data block 245 for temporarily storing the authentication data d received from the host computer 50, and a check back image data g2. And a composite image data block 246 for temporarily storing composite image data g3 generated by combining the authentication data d and used as a work area for control processing.

  In the IOC 210, a logic circuit that complements the function of the CPU 220 and handles interface signals with various peripheral circuits is configured and configured by a gate array, a custom LSI, or the like. As a result, the IOC 210 causes the internal bus 250 to process the image data read by the back and front scanners 11 and 12, the magnetic data read by the MICR 13, and the authentication data and control data from the host computer 50 as they are or after processing. In conjunction with the CPU 220, the data and control signals output from the CPU 220 to the internal bus 250 are output as they are or processed to the respective units such as the printing unit 120.

  Then, with the above configuration, the CPU 220 controls the various signals and data of each unit in the composite processing apparatus 1 via the IOC 210 according to the control program in the ROM 230, thereby generating the composite image data g3 and the check C. Print processing.

  A host computer 50 used by being connected to the composite processing apparatus 1 is a program for controlling the composite processing apparatus 1 in addition to a memory 54 composed of a ROM and a RAM and a CPU 55 for controlling each part in the host computer 50. A driver 56 is provided.

  The memory 54 stores a control program processed by the CPU 55 in the ROM and control data including various tables, and information (bank name and bank number) input by the operator in addition to the work area and various register groups in the RAM. And the storage area of the composite image data g3 received from the composite processing apparatus 1 and the surface image data g1 of the check C, and is used as a work area for control processing.

  When the host computer 50 receives an authentication data request command for requesting transmission of authentication data from the composite processing apparatus 1, it adds a processing date and a processing number to information (bank name and bank number) stored in the RAM. Authentication data d is generated and transmitted to the composite processing apparatus 1.

  Next, details of the magnetic ink character recognition process will be described. In the composite processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the MICR 13 reads the magnetism of the magnetic ink character 98 and performs character recognition based on the read magnetic data. Furthermore, in this embodiment, in addition to character recognition by the MICR 13, character recognition is performed based on the surface image data g1 including the image of the magnetic ink character 98 read by the front scanner 12 and stored in the check surface image data block 242. I do. The character recognition processing using the image data is performed by executing the control program read from the ROM 230 by the CPU 220, and using the binarized image data on the surface of the check C, the areas of the magnetic ink characters 98 are individually set. Cut out and perform character recognition processing to determine the character.

  As a result, the composite processing apparatus 1 can improve the accuracy of character recognition by combining the result of character recognition using image data and the result of character recognition using magnetic data in the MICR 13. Hereinafter, a process of character recognition using image data will be described.

  First, the magnetic ink character 98 printed on the check C is limited to a predetermined character printed with a predetermined font. That is, the characters that may be printed are 14 characters “0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, T, A, O, D” and are used. There is one type of font. Therefore, the magnetic ink characters 98 to be recognized in the present embodiment are limited to these 14 patterns. The 14 character pattern data described above are stored in advance in the control data block 232.

  For example, consider the case where the surface image data g1 read by the surface scanner 12 recognizes “0” deformed for some reason as shown in FIG. At this time, if a normal character recognition mask 300 is applied and cut out, an image including a part of the recognition target character is cut out as shown in FIG. The surface image data g1 is binarized. Here, when all of the recognition target characters are cut out, in the following pattern matching, they are usually recognized as correct characters with a considerably high probability.

  By the way, the shape of the mask 300 used in this cutting may be a rectangular shape as shown in FIG. Furthermore, when the surface image data g1 is 200 dpi, the size of the mask 300 may be 24 dots × 19 dots. Positioning when the mask 300 is applied to the surface image data g1 is performed using magnetic data of the magnetic ink characters 98 detected by the MICR 13, for example. That is, the position of the check C in the X direction (see FIG. 2) may be determined with reference to the position where the magnetism is detected, and the position of the check C in the Y direction (see FIG. 2) may be a position at a predetermined distance from the lower end of the image. .

  When recognition processing is performed by applying a character pattern to the first candidate area 310 as shown in the drawing, “1” (matching rate 55%) is determined as the first candidate. Here, the relevance ratio indicates the ratio of the number of matching pixels to all the pixels when the character pattern stored in the control data block 232 and the image data of the first candidate area 310 are compared in pixel units. .

  In the above case, the magnetic ink character “0” is erroneously recognized as “1”. In the present embodiment, since the recognition target character is a character printed on a check, the main cause of misrecognition is that the character is not correctly cut out. Therefore, it is necessary to recognize characters below the second candidate using a region different from the first candidate region.

  Therefore, after extracting the first candidate as described above, the second candidate is extracted. In the extraction process of the second candidate, first, the second candidate area 320 different from the first candidate area is cut out. And about this area | region, the 2nd candidate is extracted by pattern matching similarly to the case of the 1st candidate area | region 310. FIG. At this time, pattern matching with the character that is already the first candidate is not performed.

  As the cutout of the second candidate area 320, for example, the same mask 300 as that of the first candidate area may be cut out with a predetermined distance from the cutout area of the first candidate area. There are various ways of shifting, for example, left and right, up and down, and diagonal up and down. FIGS. 6A to 6C show examples when the mask 300 is shifted from the first candidate region 310 in the right direction, the upward direction, and the lower right direction, respectively. This shift width may be, for example, 1 pixel, 2 pixels, or 5 pixels. Here, the second candidate areas 320 obtained by cutting out the respective mask areas are shown in FIGS.

  Further, in the process for extracting the second candidate, a plurality of second candidate areas 320 may be cut out and pattern matching may be performed for each area. For example, pattern matching may be performed for each of the eight second candidate regions 320 that are shifted from the first candidate region 310 vertically and horizontally, and obliquely up and down. In this case, in the pattern matching of all the second candidate areas 320, the character having the highest matching rate may be set as the second candidate. In the case of FIG. 6, the matching rate when “d” is “0” is 80%, and “0” is selected as the second candidate.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, candidates below the third candidate can also be selected. In this case, candidates below the third candidate are respectively determined in descending order of the matching rate of the pattern matching result for the second candidate region.

  When a plurality of characters to be recognized are printed on the surface of the check C, the above processing is executed for each character to determine a plurality of candidate characters. Then, the composite processing apparatus 1 transmits the recognition result data including the characters below the first candidate and the matching rate thereof to the host computer 50 in a format as shown in FIG. The host computer 50 receives this data and displays each candidate character and the matching rate on the display screen 53. As a result, the operator can know a plurality of candidate characters ranked in the recognition target character. Furthermore, the subsequent processing in the host computer 50 can be automatically performed by giving a plurality of candidates by ranking.

  Note that the recognition result data transmitted to the host computer 50 may include only the recognition result of characters that do not match the first candidate character and the recognition result using magnetic data by the above processing.

  In the present embodiment, since the region for recognizing the first candidate and the region for recognizing the second candidate are different, when the first candidate is erroneously recognized, it is correct below the second candidate. There is a high possibility that characters can be extracted, and the accuracy below the second candidate is improved.

  The above-described embodiments of the present invention are examples for explaining the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to those embodiments. Those skilled in the art can implement the present invention in various other modes without departing from the gist of the present invention.

It is a lineblock diagram of a check processing device concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view which shows an example of a general check. It is a schematic diagram of the feed path in the composite processing apparatus including the function of the check processing apparatus. It is a control block diagram of a check processing device. It is a figure explaining extraction of the 1st candidate field about a recognition object character. It is a figure explaining extraction of the 2nd candidate field about a character for recognition. It is a figure which shows recognition result data.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Check processing apparatus 50 Host computer 11 Back side scanner 12 Front side scanner 13 MICR 14 Print head C Check C1 End document field C2 Bank processing field d Authentication data P Feed path g1 Check surface image data g2 Check back image data g3 Composite image data 243 Check back surface Image data block 244 Magnetic data block 245 Authentication data block 246 Composite image data block

Claims (4)

A scanner unit that scans a print medium on which characters are printed and outputs image data; and
Based on the image data output from the scanner unit, a cutout unit that cuts out image data of a cutout region including part or all of the image of the recognition target character
Character recognition means for recognizing characters included in the image data of the cutout area cut out by the cutout means,
When the cutout unit cuts out the first cutout region, the character recognition unit performs character recognition on the first cutout region to determine a first candidate,
After the first candidate is determined, when the cutout unit cuts out a second cutout region different from the first cutout region, the character recognition unit performs character recognition on the second cutout region, A character recognition device characterized by determining a second candidate different from the first candidate. The characters printed on the printing medium are printed using magnetic ink,
The character recognition device includes:
A magnetic sensor for detecting the magnetism of characters printed with the magnetic ink and outputting the detected magnetic data;
The cutout unit applies a mask having a predetermined shape to a position determined based on magnetic data output from the magnetic sensor, and cuts out the first cutout region from image data output from the scanner unit. The character recognition device according to claim 1. The cutout unit cuts out a plurality of different areas as the second cutout area,
2. The character recognition according to claim 1, wherein the character recognition unit performs character recognition for each of the plurality of second cutout regions and determines the second candidate based on each character recognition result. apparatus. Scanning a print medium on which characters are printed to obtain image data;
Cutting out image data of a first cutout region including a part or all of an image of a recognition target character based on the acquired image data;
Performing character recognition on the first cutout region to determine a first candidate;
Cutting out image data of a second cutout area different from the first cutout area based on the acquired image data after the first candidate is determined;
A character recognition processing method comprising: performing character recognition on the second cutout region to determine a second candidate.

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