JPH04255088A - Optical character reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to erase field data or obtaining substitutive data without reducing the original number of fields on a document. CONSTITUTION:A character segmenting part 5 segments character pattern information from fields on the document in accordance with segmenting position information outputted from a reading position detecting part 3. A correction code discriminating part 8 discriminates the existence of a correction code in the segmented character pattern information. When the discriminating part 8 discriminates the existence of the correction code, the segmenting part 5 segments substitutive data from the vicinity of the fields of the document based on reading position changing information stored in a memory 2.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical character reading device, and more particularly to a method for reading substitute data when data written in ballpoint pen or printed letters on a form is cancelled.

0002

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in an optical character reading device, when canceling handwritten character data written with a ballpoint pen or the like in a reading area (hereinafter referred to as a field) on a document, or printed character data printed by a printer, 3(a) - Figure 3
As shown in (e), fields a, a1,
A read control field d is provided in addition to a2, and data written in fields a, a1, and a2 can be canceled by writing a cancellation control symbol such as "x" in this read control field d.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, when data "1234" in field a is to be canceled, a cancellation control symbol "x" is written in read control field d. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3(b), field a
When correcting the data "1234", a cancellation control symbol "x" is written in the read control field d, and substitute data "1230" is written in the substitute line e.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3(c), each of the plurality of fields a1 and a2 has data "1234",
When correcting "567", write a cancellation control symbol "x" in the read control field d, and select the alternative line e1,
e2 with respective alternative data “1230” and “456”
Enter. As shown in FIG. 3(d), data of field a2 among multiple fields a1 and a2 is “5”.
67'', enter a cancellation control symbol "x" in the read control field d, and write alternative data "456" in the alternative line e2.As shown in FIG. 3(e), if multiple When correcting data “1234” in field a1 of fields a1 and a2,
A cancellation control symbol "x" is written in the read control field d, and alternative data "1230" is written in the alternative line e1.

That is, when the cancellation control symbol "x" is written in the read control field d,
), by reading the data in the substitute line e provided on the form, substitute data for the data entered in the canceled field a was obtained. Also, if multiple fields a1 and a2 exist in the same line,
As shown in FIGS. 3(c) to 3(e), multiple alternative rows e1
, e2, and when the cancellation control symbol "x" is written in the read control field d, the alternative rows e1, e
By reading the data of 2, substitute data for the data written in the canceled fields a1 and a2 was obtained.

[0006] In such a conventional optical character reading device, by reading the data in alternative rows e, e1, and e2 when a cancellation control symbol "x" is written in the reading control field d, fields a, Since the data of a1 and a2 had been canceled or alternative data had been obtained, read control field d and alternative lines e, e1, e2 were added to the form in advance.
I had to set it.

[0007] Furthermore, these read control field d and alternative lines e, e1, and e2 have to be provided corresponding to the lines and fields a, a1, and a2 that are subject to cancellation or alternative control. However, there is a limit to the number of fields and characters that can be set on a form, and once the size of the form is determined, the number of fields and characters that can be set on a form are naturally limited. Therefore, read control field d and alternative rows e, e1, e2
In order to set , the original number of fields had to be reduced.

[0008]

[Object of the Invention] The present invention has been made to eliminate the problems of the conventional ones as described above, and it is possible to cancel field data or obtain alternative data without reducing the original number of fields on a form. The purpose is to provide an optical character reading device that is capable of

[0009]

[Structure of the Invention] An optical character reading device according to the present invention is an optical character reading device that reads characters from a preset reading area on a form, and wherein a preset correction symbol is within the reading area. The present invention is characterized in that it is provided with an identification means for identifying whether or not the correction symbol is present, and a control means for controlling to cut out characters from a preset vicinity of the reading area when the identification means identifies that the correction symbol is present. shall be.

0010

[Embodiment] Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a scanning unit 1 captures an image of a form (not shown) in a form unit, and the image data 10
2 is sent to the scan buffer 4 and stored therein. At the same time, the scanning section 1 outputs an activation signal 101 to the reading position detection section 3.

[0012] In the memory 2, reading position information corresponding to fields on a form and reading position change information for re-reading when the field is corrected are stored in advance as form format information. .

When the reading position detection section 3 is activated by the activation signal 101 from the scanning section 1, it reads out the reading position information in the form format information 103 from the memory 2 field by field. The reading position detecting section 3 determines the cutting position of the field on the scan buffer 4 based on the reading position information for each field, and sends it to the character cutting section 5 as cutting position information 104.

The reading position detection section 3 also includes a correction control section 9.
When restarted by the restart signal 114 from the memory 2, the reading position change information in the form format information 103 is read out from the memory 2. The reading position detection unit 3 determines the cutting position of the alternative data of the field on the scan buffer 4 based on the reading position change information, sends it as cutting position information 104 to the character cutting unit 5, and reads the alternative data. to start.

The character cutting section 5 cuts out each character pattern of the field character by character from the image data 105 sent from the scan buffer 4 according to the cutting position information 104 from the reading position detecting section 3, and extracts the character pattern from the image data 105 sent from the scan buffer 4. The information 106 is sent to the selection section 7.

The memory 6 stores correction information indicating whether or not to read correction symbols in units of fields, and correction processing information indicating a correction processing method for the field when a correction symbol is identified. There is.

The selection unit 7 selects the correction information 107 from the memory 6.
Accordingly, the character pattern information 106 from the character cutting section 5 is sent to one of the correction symbol identification section 8 and the character recognition section 12. That is, when the correction information 107 is a field instructing execution of correction symbol reading, the selection section 7 sends the character pattern information 106 from the character cutting section 5 to the correction symbol identification section 8 as character pattern information 109. If the correction information 107 is a field that does not instruct execution of correction symbol reading, the selection section 7 sends the character pattern information 106 from the character cutting section 5 to the character recognition section 12 as character pattern information 110.

The correction symbol identification section 8 contains character pattern information 10
9 to create pattern compression information, and identify correction symbols in the character pattern information 109. When the correction symbol identification section 8 identifies the correction symbol, it sends the identification result to the correction control section 9 as identification information 111 . Further, if the correction symbol identification section 8 does not identify the correction symbol, the selection section 7
character pattern information 109 from character pattern information 1
12 to the character recognition unit 12.

If the correction processing information 108 from the memory 6 is a field that specifies rereading, the correction control section 9 outputs a restart signal 114 to the reading position detection section 3. Further, if the correction processing information 108 from the memory 6 is a field specifying data conversion, the correction control unit 9 converts the identification information 111 from the correction symbol identification unit 8 into the identification information 1
13 to the data conversion unit 11.

Conversion character codes of correction symbols are stored in advance in the memory 10 in units of fields. The data converter 11 transfers the identification information 113 from the correction controller 9 to the memory 1.
Convert according to the conversion character code 115 from 0,
It is sent to the output section 13 as a converted character code 116.

The character recognition section 12 performs character recognition on the character pattern information 110 from the selection section 7 or the character pattern information 112 from the correction symbol identification section 8, and sends the reading result to the output section 13 as reading information 117.

The output section 13 outputs the converted character code 116 from the data conversion section 11 or the read information 117 from the character recognition section 12 to the outside.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the cancellation of field data on a form and the entry of substitute data according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2(a) shows cancellation of data in a single field a, and FIG. 2(b) shows cancellation of data in a single field a and reading of substitute data c. Further, FIG. 2(c) shows the cancellation of data in multiple fields a1, a2 and reading of alternative data c1, c2, and FIG. 2(d), (e) shows multiple fields a1, a2.
2 Cancellation of one of the data and alternative data c1
, c2. Furthermore, field a,
One or two horizontal lines drawn above a1 and a2 indicate a correction symbol b. The operation of one embodiment of the present invention will be explained using FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.

First, in the case of the entry example shown in FIG. 2(a), when the reading position detection section 3 is activated by the activation signal 101 from the scanning section 1, the reading position detection section 3 detects the reading position information in the form format information 103 from the memory 2. Read field by field. The reading position detecting section 3 determines the cutting position of the field a on the scan buffer 4 based on this reading position information, and sends it to the character cutting section 5 as cutting position information 104.

The character cutting section 5 cuts out each character pattern of the field a character by character from the image data 105 sent from the scan buffer 4 according to the cutting position information 104 from the reading position detection section 3, and extracts each character pattern from the image data 105 sent from the scan buffer 4. The pattern information 106 is sent to the selection section 7.

At this time, correction information 107 from memory 6
indicates execution of correction symbol reading, the selection section 7 sends the character pattern information 106 from the character cutting section 5 to the correction symbol identification section 8 as character pattern information 109 . The correction symbol identification section 8 contains character pattern information 109
When the correction symbol b is identified in the character pattern information 109 using the pattern compression information created from the above, the identification result is sent to the correction control unit 9 as identification information 111 .

In this case, memory 6 for field a
Since the correction processing information 108 from the correction symbol identification section 8 specifies data conversion, the correction control section 9 converts the identification information 111 from the correction symbol identification section 8 into the data conversion section 11 by using the identification information 113 as the identification information 113.
Send to. The data conversion unit 11 receives identification information 113 from the correction control unit 9.
is converted according to the converted character code 115 from the memory 10, and sent to the output section 13 as the converted character code 116. Therefore, in the case of the entry example shown in FIG. 2(a), the converted character code 11 from the data converter 11
6 is output from the output section 13 to the outside. That is, as shown in FIG. 2(a), data “123” in field a
4”, if you write one or two horizontal lines as correction symbol b in field a,
Cancellation of data can be notified.

On the other hand, in the case of the entry examples shown in FIGS. 2(b) to 2(e), the reading position detection section 3 receives the activation signal
01, reading position information in the form format information 103 from the memory 2 is read out field by field. The reading position detecting section 3 determines the cutting position of the fields a, a1, and a2 on the scan buffer 4 based on this reading position information, and sends it to the character cutting section 5 as cutting position information 104.

The character cutting section 5 extracts each character pattern of the fields a, a1, and a2 from the image data 105 sent from the scan buffer 4 character by character according to the cutting position information 104 from the reading position detecting section 3. The character pattern information 106 is extracted and sent to the selection section 7.

At this time, the correction information 107 from the memory 6
indicates execution of correction symbol reading, the selection section 7 sends the character pattern information 106 from the character cutting section 5 to the correction symbol identification section 8 as character pattern information 109 . The correction symbol identification section 8 contains character pattern information 109
When the correction symbol b is identified in the character pattern information 109 using the pattern compression information created from the above, the identification result is sent to the correction control unit 9 as identification information 111 .

In this case, correction processing information 1 from memory 6
08 designates re-reading, the correction control section 9 outputs a restart signal 114 to the reading position detection section 3. The reading position detection section 3 receives the restart signal 1 from the correction control section 9.
14, the reading position change information in the form format information 103 is read out from the memory 2. The reading position detection unit 3 detects alternative data c, c for the fields a, a1, a2 based on the reading position change information.
1, c2 on the scan buffer 4, and sends it to the character cutting section 5 as cutting position information 104, and starts reading of the alternative data c, c1, c2.

The character cutting section 5 extracts each character pattern of the fields a, a1, and a2 from the image data 105 sent from the scan buffer 4 character by character, according to the cutting position information 104 from the reading position detecting section 3. The character pattern information 106 is extracted and sent to the selection section 7.

In this case, correction information 107 from memory 6
does not instruct execution of correction symbol reading, the selection unit 7 uses the character pattern information 106 from the character extraction unit 5.
is sent to the character recognition unit 12 as character pattern information 110. The character recognition section 12 performs character recognition on the character pattern information 110 from the selection section 7, and sends the reading result to the output section 13 as reading information 117. Therefore, in the case of the entry examples shown in FIGS. 2(b) to 2(e), the read information 117 from the character recognition section 12 is outputted from the output section 13 to the outside.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2(b), when correcting data "1234" in field a,
Write one or two horizontal lines as correction symbol b in field a, and write alternative data “1230” near field a.
Enter. As a result, the alternative data "1230" is read and output to the outside.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2(c), data "1234" and "
567'', write correction symbol b in field a, and write alternative data ``1230'' and ``456'' in the vicinity of fields a1 and a2, respectively.This allows the alternative data ``1230'' to be corrected. ”,“456
” is read and output to the outside.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2(d), when correcting the data "567" in field a2 among the plurality of fields a1 and a2, field a
A correction symbol b is written in the field a2, and alternative data "456" is written in the vicinity of the field a2. As shown in FIG. 2(e), field a among multiple fields a1 and a2
When correcting the data "1234" of 1, a correction symbol b is written in field a, and alternative data "1230" is written in the vicinity of field a1. As a result, the alternative data “456” or the alternative data “1230” respectively.
” is read and output to the outside.

In this way, when the correction symbol identification section 8 identifies the correction symbol b in the character pattern information cut out from the fields a, a1, and a2 on the form by the character cutting section 5, the reading position in the memory 2 is changed. By cutting out alternative data c, c1, c2 from the vicinity of fields a, a1, a2 on the form in the character cutting unit 5 based on the information, it is possible to create read control fields and alternative lines on the form as in the past. Field a, a without setting
1, a2 data or alternative data c, c
1, c2 can be obtained.

Characters can also be corrected using the general correction method of drawing one or two horizontal lines in fields a, a1, and a2 as correction symbols b, and the fields a, a1, and a2 that require correction can be corrected. Since it is only necessary to enter alternative data c, c1, c2 according to a2, the efficiency of the correction work of the entered data can be improved. moreover,
It is also possible to relax the limit on the number of fields designed on a form. Therefore, data in fields a, a1, a2 can be canceled or alternative data c, c1, c2 can be obtained without reducing the original number of fields on the form.

[0039]

Effects of the Invention As explained above, according to the present invention, when it is identified that there is a preset correction symbol within a preset reading area on a form, a character is read from the vicinity of the preset reading area. By controlling the extraction of fields, data can be canceled or alternative data can be obtained without reducing the original number of fields on the form.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating cancellation of field data on a form and entry of substitute data according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing cancellation of field data on a form and entry of alternative data in a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Scanning section 2, 6, 10 Memory 3 Reading position detection section 5 Character cutting section 7 Selection section 8 Correction symbol identification section 9 Correction control unit 11 Data conversion section 12 Character recognition section

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An optical character reading device that reads characters from a preset reading area on a form, comprising identification means for identifying whether or not a preset correction symbol is within the reading area; An optical character reading device comprising: control means for controlling to cut out a character from a preset vicinity of the reading area when the identification means identifies that the correction symbol is present.