JPH0520484A - Optical character reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the reading errors and to drastically shorten the reading/ correcting time when plural sheets of forms where the same contents are surely described are read. CONSTITUTION:A CPU 2 recognizes the image information on the characters written on an application form 10 and generates the code information to output this to a computer, etc. If a reuse command is inputted for the code information, a RAM 4 stores the code information generated by the CPU 2. This stored code information is used for the next form 10.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical character reader for reading characters and the like written on paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, when receiving and processing a plurality of similar application forms including handwritten Chinese characters such as names and addresses, such as when applying for a building confirmation, the application form is read by an optical character reader. Read the content described in
The information obtained by this reading operation is often transmitted to a computer for processing.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of an optical character reader used in such a system.

The optical character reading apparatus shown in this figure includes an image scanner 101 for reading the images of the application sheet 110 one by one, and character recognition processing, data transmission processing, and data processing based on the image information read by the image scanner 101. C that performs various processing such as storage processing of
A PU 102, a ROM 103 that stores dictionary data used when a character code is derived from a program or image information that defines the operation of the CPU 102,
RA used as a work area of the CPU 102
M104, and a keyboard 105 that is operated by an operator or the like to generate various command signals and data based on the operation contents and supply the command signals and data to the CPU 102.
When the display data is output from the CPU 102, the display 106 that captures and displays the display data, and the C
When the character code data or the like to be transmitted is output from the PU 102, the transmission unit 107 that captures the character code data or the like to transmit to a computer or the like (not shown), and the CPU 102 outputs the character code data or the like to be stored. And a floppy disk device 108 which takes in this and stores it in a floppy disk.

Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the keyboard 105
When the upper start key is pressed (step ST10
1) The CPU 102 controls the image scanner 101 to read the application sheets 110 one by one, and recognizes the character while cutting out the character portion from the image information to generate a character code (step ST102). 106 and display (step ST
103) In this state, it is checked whether the keyboard 105 is operated to input a correction command (step ST104). If the correction command is input, it is displayed on the display 106 according to the correction content. Correct the existing correction target character (step ST105, ST
103).

Thereafter, if the confirmation key on the keyboard 105 is pressed (step ST104), the CPU 102
Transmits the character code displayed on the display 106 from the transmission section 107 or stores it in the floppy disk set in the floppy disk device 108 (step ST106).

After that, the CPU 102 repeats the above-described operation to sequentially read the contents of the application form 110 to be read one by one, and to transmit the contents.
To be supplied to the computer or the like, or stored in the floppy disk set in the floppy disk device 108 (steps ST101 to ST10).
6).

[0008]

However, in such an optical character reading device, the characters written on the application form 110 cannot be recognized with a recognition rate of "100%", so that an application for building confirmation is required. When performing, even if one applicant fills out the ten application forms 110 with the same content, the content of some application forms 110 will be erroneously recognized.

For this reason, each time, the keyboard 105 must be operated to correct the erroneously recognized character, and there is a problem that the application form cannot be processed at high speed due to the troublesome correction.

[0010] In particular, in the application form 110 that is filled in with kanji characters such as a building confirmation application, it takes time to correct the kanji conversion and the application for building confirmation is required compared with the case where the application form is filled with alphanumeric characters. There was a problem that kept the person who came to wait.

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides a method for reading a plurality of sheets of paper which are sure to have the same content,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical character reading device that can significantly reduce the time required for reading and correction by eliminating reading errors.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, an optical character reader according to the present invention reads an image of a character written on a sheet and character-recognizes the image information obtained by the reading operation. In the optical character reading device for processing and generating the code information of the character, a character recognition unit for performing character recognition processing on the image information of the character described on the paper to generate the code information, and a code information reuse command are And a code information storage unit for storing the code information generated by the character recognition unit and using it as the code information for the next sheet when input.

[0013]

In the above structure, the image information of the characters written on the paper is subjected to character recognition processing by the character recognition unit to generate code information, which is output to a computer or the like, and at the same time, the code information is reused. When a command is input, the code information storage unit stores the code information generated by the character recognition unit and uses it as the code information for the next sheet.

[0014]

1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an optical character reader according to the present invention.

The optical character reader shown in this figure has an image scanner 1, a CPU 2, a ROM 3, a RAM 4, and
It is equipped with a keyboard 5, a display 6, a transmission unit 7, and a floppy disk device 8. When the reading start key is pressed, the application forms 10 are read one by one and the image obtained by this reading operation is performed. Character recognition processing is performed based on the information to generate a character code, which is transmitted to a computer or the like or stored in a floppy disk. Then, during this operation, when the copy key is pressed, the character codes of the characters already written on the application form 10 that have been successfully read are stored and stored without reading the next application form 10. The read character code or the like is read, and the character code of the character described on the application form 10 is transmitted to a computer or the like or stored in a floppy disk.

When a read command is output from the CPU 2, the image scanner 1 reads the image of the set application form 10 on a sheet-by-sheet basis to generate image information and supplies it to the CPU 2.

The keyboard 5 is provided with various keys such as a character key, a ten-key pad, a start key, and a confirmation key. When operated by an operator or the like, various command signals and data are generated based on the operation contents. Then, this is supplied to the CPU 2.

The CPU 2 is composed of a microprocessor for performing various processes, and the keyboard 5 is used.
Each part of the apparatus is controlled based on various command signals output from the device, and various processes such as character recognition process, data transmission process, and data storage process are performed.

The ROM 3 stores a program that defines the operation of the CPU 2 and dictionary data used when deriving a character code from image information. When the CPU 2 outputs a read command, the ROM 3 reads the read data. The data stored in the location designated by the command is read and supplied to the CPU 2.

The RAM 4 is a portion used as a work area of the CPU 2 and the like, and when a write command is output from the CPU 2, the data output together with the write command is stored in a location designated by the write command. Further, when a read command is output from the CPU 2, the data stored in the location designated by the read command is read and supplied to the CPU 2.

When the display data is output from the CPU 2, the display 6 takes in the display data and displays it on the screen.

When the character code or the like to be transmitted is output from the CPU 2, the transmitting unit 7 takes in the character code and transmits it to a computer or the like (not shown).

The floppy disk device 8 is the above-mentioned C
When a character code or the like to be stored is output from the PU2 and is stored in a floppy disk, and when a read command is output from the CPU2, among the data stored in the floppy disk,
The data stored in the location designated by the read command is read and supplied to the CPU 2.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG.

First, when the start key on the keyboard 5 is pressed (step ST1), the CPU 2 controls the image scanner 1 to read one application sheet 10 and cut out a character portion from the image information. The character is recognized to generate a character code (step ST2), which is displayed on the display 6 (step S).
In step T3, the keyboard 5 is operated in this state to check whether a correction command is input (step S).
T4).

If the operator confirms the contents displayed on the display 6 and operates the keyboard 5 to input a correction command (step ST
4), the CPU 2 displays the display 6 according to the contents of the correction.
The correction target character displayed above is corrected (step ST5).

After that, if the confirmation key on the keyboard 5 is pressed (step ST6), the CPU 2 checks whether the transmission key or the transmission / copy key is pressed (step ST7).

Then, the operator looks at the contents of the application form 10 to be read next, judges that the contents described in this application form are not similar to the contents of the application form read previously, and sends it. If you press the key (step ST
7), the CPU 2 transmits the character code displayed on the display 6 from the transmission unit 7 to supply it to a computer or stores it in a floppy disk set in the floppy disk device 8 (step ST1).
0).

Further, the operator looks at the contents of the application form 10 to be read next and judges that the contents described in the application form 10 are similar to the contents of the application form 10 just read. When the transmission / copy key is pressed (step ST7), the CPU 2 transmits the character code displayed on the display 6 from the transmission unit 7 to supply it to the computer or the like, or sets it in the floppy disk device 8. It is stored in a floppy disk that is present (step ST8).

Thereafter, the CPU 2 stores the character code displayed on the display 6 in the RAM 4 and skips the reading of the next application form 10 to read the character code stored in the RAM 4. It is displayed on the display 6 as the character code of the character described on the application form 10 for which the processing has been skipped (step ST3).

Hereinafter, the CPU 2 repeats the above-described operation to sequentially read the contents of the application form 10 to be read one by one, and the contents are transmitted from the transmission unit 7 and supplied to the computer or the like. Floppy disk device 8
Stored in a floppy disk that is set to
It may be stored in the RAM 4 and the reading of the next application form 10 may be skipped (steps ST2 to ST10).

As described above, in this embodiment, the contents of which the character recognition is successful are stored and the character recognition process for the subsequent application form 10 is skipped, so that it is sure that the same contents are described. When a plurality of different application sheets 10 are read, the reading error can be eliminated and the time required for reading and correction can be greatly shortened.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention, when reading a plurality of sheets for which the same contents are surely written, the reading error is eliminated and the time required for reading and correction is greatly shortened. be able to.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an optical character reading device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the optical character reading device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a conventionally known optical character reading device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the optical character reading device shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Image Scanner 2 CPU (Character Recognition Unit) 3 ROM 4 RAM (Code Information Storage Unit) 5 Keyboard 6 Display 7 Transmission Unit 8 Floppy Disk Device 10 Application Form (Paper)

Claims (1)

Claim: What is claimed is: 1. An optical character reading device for reading an image of a character written on a sheet and performing character recognition processing of image information obtained by the reading operation to generate code information of the character. In, a character recognition unit that performs character recognition processing on the image information of the characters written on the paper to generate code information, and a code information generated by the character recognition unit when a code information reuse command is input. An optical character reading device, comprising: a code information storage unit that stores a code and stores the code as a code information for a next sheet.