JPH02234292A - Character reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate work such as correction and editing and to improve the using efficiency of a file, etc., by converting character data read by means of a picture recognizing device such as an image scanner into a character code. CONSTITUTION:A character reader 1 possesses an image scanner 3, a display device 4, a bit pattern read part 5, a bit pattern storage part 6, a data converting part 7, and a data file 8. The reader reads a character original as image data, displays the data on a screen, reads the bit patterns of the data displayed on the screen in the longitudinal and lateral directions, and detects the character data conforming to the bit pattern. Further the reader converts the character data from the image data into the character code. Thus the work such as correction and editing is facilitated, and the using efficiency of the file, etc., is improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] <<Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a character reading device that converts character data read by an image recognition device such as an image scanner into a character code.

(Prior Art) Currently, OCR is being used as a device for directly inputting character data into a computer. ocR reads a handwritten character manuscript, converts the character data into a character code, and displays this on a word processor or the like or stores it in a file.

However, OCR can only read characters that fit within a predetermined frame on paper of a predetermined size. Therefore, when reading characters that do not satisfy these conditions, conventionally the document is read with an image scanner and the character data is stored in a file as image data.

However, handling text data as image data not only makes corrections and editing difficult;
The amount of data will be larger than when handled as a character code.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, conventionally, since documents that cannot be read by OCR are read by an image scanner, all characters are treated as image data. This makes it difficult to correct and edit characters. Also,
Since the amount of data is large, there was a problem in that large-capacity files were required to save it.

This invention was made in order to solve such conventional problems, and its purpose is to provide a character reading device that can convert character data captured as image data into a character code. It's about doing.

"Structure of the Invention" (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a display means for displaying image data read by an image recognition device, and a display means for displaying image data read by an image recognition device; A bit pattern reading means for reading a bit pattern, a bit pattern storage means in which a bit pattern of character data is stored in advance, and character data corresponding to the bit 1 to pattern read by the pit pattern reading means are stored in a bit pattern. The present invention is characterized by comprising data conversion means for extracting character data from the storage means and converting the character data into a character code.

(Operation) The character reading device according to the present invention reads a character document as image data, and displays this on the screen of the display means. Then, the bit pattern of the data displayed on this screen is read vertically and horizontally, and character data matching this bit pattern is extracted. This character data is then converted from image data to a character code.

Therefore, it is possible to read even non-standard-sized originals that cannot be read by OCR, and since image data is converted into character codes, correction and editing operations become easier.

Furthermore, since the character code has less data m than the image data, the usage efficiency of files and the like is improved.

(Example) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, a character reading device 1 includes an image scanner 3 that reads a character original 2 as image data, a display 4 that displays the read image data on a screen, and a bit pattern reading section 5 that reads a pit pattern on the display 4. are doing.

Further, the character reading device 1 extracts character data corresponding to the bit pattern read by the bit pattern reading unit 5 from the bit pattern storage unit 6 in which bit patterns of character data are stored in advance and from the pit pattern storage unit 6. , a data converter 7 that converts this character data into a character code, and a data file 8 that stores the converted data.
have. The data converter 7 also includes a keyboard 9.
and a mouse 10 are connected, and keywords can be entered to improve data conversion efficiency.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the character original 2 is input to the character reading device 1, the image scanner 3 takes in the character data of this original 2 as image data (step STI).

The captured image data is displayed on the display 4, and the bit pattern is read by the bit pattern reading section 5 (step ST2>. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the bit pattern of the character displayed on the screen is read. , it reads vertically and horizontally, and recognizes the bit pattern of each character, as well as the size and spacing of the characters.

On the other hand, when a frequently used character from the character data of the character manuscript 2 is input from the keyboard 9, this character is read as a keyword by the data converter 7 (step ST
3). Then, on the screen displayed on display 4,
When a position where a keyword exists is specified with the mouse 10, this keyword is converted from image data into a character code. This operation cuts the image data
This is an operation to improve the efficiency of converting into a 7 character code, and it is not necessary to input it especially when there is no keyword.

When the conversion based on the keyword input is completed, the data conversion section 7 extracts character data corresponding to the bit pattern recognized by the bit pattern reading section 5 from the pit pattern storage section 6 (step ST4), and extracts the character data corresponding to the bit pattern recognized by the bit pattern reading section 5 (step ST4). is converted from image data to a character code (step ST5). At this time, the size and interval of the character data to be converted are determined to be the same as those recognized by the pit pattern reading section 5.

In addition, for characters whose characters are unclear and whose character data is not Hgged or converted to a character code (No in step ST6), an error display is added to the image data (step ST7), and all After the conversion work is completed, conversion is performed by the operator's keyboard input (step ST8).

The character data that has been converted is then stored in a data file.
is stored and saved (step ST9).

In this way, in this embodiment, the character manuscript 2 is captured as image data, this data is displayed on the display 4, and the jaggedness and spacing of the characters are recognized by reading the bit pattern of the displayed data. Extracting character data.

This character data is then converted into a character code and printed or saved in a file.

Therefore, even originals that cannot be read by OCR can be read, and since image data is converted into character codes, corrections and editing can be easily performed.

Furthermore, since the amount of data in the Kakurak code is smaller than that in the image data, the data can be saved in files of the same small size.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, in the present invention, since character originals are read as image data, even character originals that cannot be read by OCR can be read.

Further, the read image data is displayed on a display means, and character data is extracted by reading the bit pattern of the display means. Since the extracted character data is converted into a character code, work such as correction and editing can be easily performed.

Furthermore, since character codes require less data than image data, the efficiency of using files and the like can be improved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the operation of the character reading device, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a specific example of the screen displayed on the display, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a specific example of the screen displayed on the display. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of extracting character data from a bit pattern. 1...Character reading device 2...Character original 3...
Image scanner 4...Display 5...Bit pattern reading section 6...Bit pattern storage section

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] Display means for displaying image data read by an image recognition device; bit pattern reading means for reading bit patterns of the image data displayed on the display means; bit patterns of character data stored in advance. and a data conversion means for extracting character data corresponding to the bit pattern read by the bit pattern reading means from the bit pattern storage means and converting the character data into a character code. A character reading device characterized by: