JPH0883317A - Character recognizing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To effectively utilize restricted memory and time by allowing an operator to previously specify a reading range on paper by the characteristics of a printer driving mechanism and recognizing read characters only in the specified area at the time of recognizing characters by a scanner using the printer driving mechanism. CONSTITUTION: While controlling a paper feed controlling part 1 and a carriage controlling part 2 by the use of a reading range specifying part 4, an operator matches a reading position specifying mark 6 formed on the scanner 3 with start and end coordinates of an area to be read out to define the area and sets up a square range defined by the start and end points as a scanning range of the scanner to omit a memory to be allocated to an area unnecessary for character recognition and restrict the scanning range of the scanner only to a necessary range, so that the memory and time can be effectively utilized.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a character recognition device capable of previously specifying a scanning range of a scanner on a sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an image scanner utilizing a drive mechanism of a printer has been developed in order to reduce the size and increase the speed of an information processing device, and it has been made possible to recognize characters by using the image scanner. Devices are coming out.

A conventional character recognition device will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the read character recognition device, FIG. 7 is a work flow of character recognition using the character recognition device having this structure, and FIG. This is the read position designation mark. In FIG. 2, 21 is a paper feed control unit that changes the relative position (vertical direction) of the paper with respect to the scanner to read the image of the paper, 22 is a carriage control unit that changes the relative position (horizontal direction) of the scanner with respect to the paper, and 23 is A scanner that reads an image on a sheet and converts it into a dot pattern, 24 is a read image storage unit that stores image data read by the scanner 23, and 25 is a read image storage unit 2
A character recognition device for recognizing characters based on the image data stored in 4, a text data storage unit 26 for storing the text data recognized characters, and a character string 27 stored in the text data storage unit. Display device, 2
Reference numeral 8 denotes a character string deletion unit used by the operator to delete a character string that does not need to be read from the displayed character string. Reference numeral 29 is an overall control unit that controls all these components. The character recognition device having the above configuration will be described according to the work flow of FIG. 71. The operator sets the paper to be read in the paper feed control unit, and changes the relative position of the scanner 23 to the paper by the paper feed control unit 21 and the carriage control unit 22 to read the image data of the paper. 72. The sequentially read image data is stored in the read image storage unit 24. 73. Character recognition is performed by the character recognition device 25 based on the stored image data. 7
4. The text data of the recognition result is stored in the text data storage unit 26. 75. The text data is displayed on the display device 27. 76. The operator deletes a character string that does not need to be read among the character strings displayed on the display device 27 by the character string deleting unit 28.

[0004]

In the case of character recognition using the character recognition device having the above-mentioned configuration, even if an area such as a graphic area that does not need to be recognized is included on the paper to be read, the entire character recognition device is used. Since it is read, it is difficult to use the time and memory efficiently, and there is a problem that misrecognition is likely to occur.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems and enables an operator to specify a desired range on a sheet of paper by using a drive mechanism of a printer in advance, thereby making it possible to read only the range. And to use memory efficiently.

[0006]

In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides a scanner capable of reading an image on a sheet by using a drive mechanism of a printer, and a sheet feed control section for feeding the sheet to the scanner. A carriage control unit for changing the lateral position of the scanner with respect to the sheet, a reading position designation mark provided on the scanner, a reading range designation unit for the operator to designate coordinates of the reading range, and a designated reading range. A reading range storage unit that stores coordinates that represent, a read image storage unit that stores the read image, and a character recognition device that performs character recognition from the read image,
It is composed of a text data storage unit for storing the text data obtained by the character recognition device, a display device for displaying the text data, and an overall control unit for controlling all of these components.

[0007]

The present invention, when reading with a scanner,
The operator designates the reading range using the reading range designation unit and stores the coordinates in the reading range storage unit. The paper feed control unit and the carriage control unit are controlled according to the stored coordinates to read only a specified range, perform character recognition, and convert into text data.

[0008]

EXAMPLES Examples of the present invention will be described in detail below. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a character recognition device according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a paper feed control unit that feeds a paper and defines a reading range (vertical direction) by a scanner, 2 is a carriage control unit that defines a reading range (horizontal direction), and 3 is a dot that reads an image on the paper A scanner 4 for converting into a pattern, a reading range designating unit 4 for designating a reading range using the paper feed control unit 1 and the carriage control unit 2, and 5 a reading start coordinate (Xsn, Ysn) obtained by the reading range designating unit 4 and reading. A reading range storage unit for storing the end coordinates (Xen, Yen), 6 is a reading position designation mark provided on the scanner 3 so that the operator can accurately specify the reading coordinates when the reading position is designated, and 7 is A read image storage unit for storing an image read by a scanner, 8 is a read A character recognition device for recognizing characters from an image, a text data storage unit 9 for storing text data as a recognition result, a display device 10 for displaying the stored text data, and an operation 11 for each component. Is an overall control unit for controlling the. A plurality of read areas can be designated by the operator at one time, and the operation in the case of n = 2, where n is the number of designated areas, will be described below. FIG. 3 shows a method of designating the reading start coordinates (Xs1, Ys1) using the reading range designating unit 4. The operator controls the paper feed control unit 1 and the carriage control unit 2 by using the reading range designation unit 4, changes the relative position of the scanner so that the reading position designation mark 6 matches the reading start coordinate, and determines the reading start coordinate. . The coordinates determined by the operator are stored in the reading range storage unit 5. With respect to the reading end coordinates (Xe1, Ye1) corresponding to the determined reading start coordinates, the scanner is moved and fixed by the same operation, and this is also stored in the reading range storage unit 5. The same operation is performed for the other area, and the reading start coordinates (Xs2, Ys2) of that area
Then, the reading end coordinates (Xe2, Ye2) are stored in the reading range storage unit 5. Note that the order of determining the two points at the upper left and lower right of the rectangular area of the reading range is arbitrary. After the designation of the reading range is completed, the coordinate (X1, Ymin) having the smallest Y coordinate of the starting coordinate is selected from the coordinate group of the reading range storage unit 5 in which the range as shown in FIG. 4 is stored. An area A is a reading area defined by the reading start coordinates (X1, Ymin) and the corresponding reading end coordinates. The scanner 3 is moved by using the paper feed control unit 1 and the carriage control unit 2 so that the reading range designation mark 6 is aligned with the reading start coordinate of the area A, the area A is scanned, and the read image is stored in the read image storage unit 7. To do. Subsequently, the reading start coordinate (X2, Y'min) having the smallest Y coordinate of the reading start coordinate next to (X1, Ymin) is selected, and the reading start coordinate (X2, Y'min) and the reading end corresponding thereto are selected. The reading area defined by the coordinates is referred to as area B. Similarly to the area A, the area B is scanned and the read image is stored in the read image storage unit 7.
As a reading method, a method of scanning the smallest rectangle including all the designated areas as shown in FIG. 5 and a method of scanning the smallest polygonal area including the designated area as shown in FIG. It is also possible to do it. Image data for which character recognition is desired by the above operation is stored in the read image storage unit 7, and the read image is sequentially recognized by the character recognition device 8 for each area. The text data resulting from the character recognition is stored in the text data storage unit 9 and displayed on the display device 10. The overall control unit 11 instructs the start and end of the operation of each component.

[0010]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since only the area specified by the operator can be recognized, there is no need to allocate memory to save the image in the area where character recognition is not required, and efficient memory usage can be used. Since the scanning time can be shortened by holding down to, the practical effect is large.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a character recognition device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a conventional character recognition device.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a reading range on paper.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a reading scanning method in a designated reading range.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a scanning method for scanning a designated reading range.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a scanning method for scanning a designated reading range.

FIG. 7 is a work flowchart of a conventional character recognition device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a reading position designation mark.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Paper Feed Control Unit 2 Carriage Control Unit 3 Scanner 4 Reading Range Designating Unit 5 Reading Range Storage Unit 6 Reading Position Designating Mark 7 Reading Image Storage Unit 8 Character Recognition Device 9 Text Data Storage Unit 10 Display Device 11 Overall Control Unit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A paper feed control unit, a carriage control unit, a scanner, a reading position designation mark, a reading range designation unit, a reading range storage unit, a read image storage unit, a character recognition device, a text data storage unit, a display device, and an overall control unit. A character recognition device comprising: a reading range designating unit, a reading range storage unit storing a range designated by the reading range designating unit, and a scanner reading data in the reading range designating unit.