JPS60132279A - Character reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce a cost of a business form paper by printing a character frame of the business form paper by one color of the same black as a timing mark or a sensible color, so that the start and stop points for reading a character of each line can be discriminated by detecting this character frame. CONSTITUTION:From a CCD1, a signal example of ech element output is supplied as a business form surface scanning signal to an integration circuit 4 and an AND gate 8. An integral output from this integration circuit 4 is supplied to a digital comparator 6, compared with a suitable threshold as to a level, and whether each scanning signal obtained from the CCD1 is for a character frame part or a character part is discriminated. Subsequentyly, an output of ''0'' of the character frame part from this comparator 6 is supplied as a discriminating signal A to the AND circuit 8, and also its inversion signal is supplied as a discriminating signal B to a counter 7. When the discriminating signal B=1 for showing a frame line (a) of the first character frame is detected, the counter 7 holds an output Q to ''1'', and resets the output Q by the next signal of B=1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of the Invention) The present invention relates to a character reading device that optically reads characters written on form paper, and particularly to form paper in which character frames are printed in a sensitive color that can be detected optically. This article concerns the character reading device that made it possible to use .

(Background of the Invention) In conventional optical character reading devices, an array of optical sensors such as COD and form paper are caused to move relative to each other by feeding the form paper or moving the optical sensor array, and in the process of this relative movement, the form is read. The position of the first timing mark is predicted by measuring the distance from the reference edge of the paper, and reading of the characters in the first line placed at a position relative to the first timing mark is started. Thereafter, each timing mark was detected and each character line arranged in correspondence with each of these timing marks was selected. For this reason, the form paper used in such a character reading device is required to have a timing mark with respect to the edge of the paper at the reference border and a positional relationship of the character frame in which the characters are written, that is, printing accuracy is required to be precise. Timing marks, character frames, etc. had to be printed in at least two colors: a sensitive color that is sensitive to the optical sensor, and a dropout color that is not sensitive to the optical sensor. Due to color printing and problems with printing accuracy, it was not possible to manufacture the device at a low cost.In addition, this conventional character reading device has problems such as slips when inserting form paper or feeding paper during the reading operation. There was an inconvenience in that misalignment of the paper could cause malfunctions.

(Objective of the Invention) The object of the present invention is to: (10) In view of the problem of ct5t in the conventional form, write information in the character frame based on the signal obtained by scanning the form surface on which the character frame is printed. In a character reading device that reads the characters that are displayed, the character frame on the form paper is printed in one color, black or a sensitive color similar to the timing mark, and dots are placed at the beginning and end of 11!1 and J of the character reading of each line. Based on the concept of making judgments by detecting character frames, the form paper used in this character reading device is printed in one color, and the required printing accuracy is moderated. The aim is to reduce running costs.

(Structure of the Invention) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a character reading device that scans a document surface on which a character frame is printed and reads characters written in the character frame based on a signal obtained from C. means for dividing all the serial components of the scanning signal into every predetermined width and integrating the scanning signal for each divided section; Comparing means for discriminating, and gate means for outputting only the scanning signal between the 20-1st discrimination output signal and the 2nth discrimination output signal as character reading information, where n is an integer of 1 or more. The present invention is characterized in that characters can be read from form paper having the above-mentioned optically perceptible character frame.

Here, the predetermined width by which all the serial components of the scanning signal are divided by 1 is the width by which these characters and frames are divided as digital data, taking into account the feed speed of the form paper, the thickness of the characters and frame lines, the width of the border, etc. The period is set to be enough to accurately resolve the line, for example, the time to scan the width of several characters in one scan, or the time to cover the entire width one to several times.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the present invention configured as described above, detection of a character reading start point, character line selection, etc. can be performed using a character frame printed with a range pull color instead of a timing mark. Therefore, it is possible to use form paper that is monochrome printed and whose printing accuracy is not so strict. therefore,
Since the manufacturing cost of form paper, which is a consumable item, is low, it is possible to reduce the running cost when using a character reading device. In addition, since the inner body of the character reading device can also be used to prevent debris from attaching to the gripping mechanism or slip prevention mechanism for paper feeding, there is no significant loss.

(Explanation of Examples) Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1(a) is a conceptual diagram when characters written on a form 2 are read using a CCD 1 such as a line sensor. In the figure, information such as characters is read by condensing and focusing the reflected light from the form paper 2 on the CCD I through the lens 3. CCf)? is divided into a large number of minute elements (line elements), and each element accumulates a charge proportional to the incident light. As a result, scanning signals of the character frame on the form paper 2 and the characters written therein can be obtained.

FIG. 1(b) is a partially enlarged view of a form used in the reading device of the present invention. The form paper shown in the figure has timing marks omitted and the frame lines of the character frames in the figure are printed in sensitive color. a is the upper side of the character frame in the first line. When reading characters, by feeding the form paper 2, the CCDI sequentially scans the form paper 2 from the top to the bottom. l i.e. CCl)
Since the incident light on 1 is greatly reduced in the character frame area printed in sensitive color, the scanning signal output from the CCDI and the average output of continuous elements, that is, the integrated value of the scanning signal, are also shown in Figure 2. As such, it becomes extremely small. C
When the GDI goes below the a line, that is, toward the character part, the reflected light increases and the average output of the continuous elements also increases. The present invention takes advantage of the difference in the average amount of continuous double-men 1 to 1 in the character area and the character frame area, and starts reading characters in the character frame without using the -C timing mark. .

FIG. 3 shows a circuit configuration of a character reading device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The spinal cord in the figure includes a CCDI, an integrating circuit 4, a control pulse generator 5, a digital comparator 6, a counter 7, an AND circuit 8, an A/D converter 9, a memory 10, and the like.

In the same figure, from CCl) 1, the signal train of each niremen l- output is used as a form surface scanning signal -C1. On the one hand, it is supplied to the integrating circuit 4, and on the other hand,
supplied to The integrating circuit 4 is opened and closed by control pulses of a predetermined period generated by the control pulse generator 5, and integrates all the series components of the signal train inputted during the opening period. Na J3
The cycle of the control pulses is determined to be sufficient to accurately resolve these characters and frames using digital data, taking into consideration the feeding speed of the form paper, the thickness and darkness of the characters and frames, etc. For example, the period is set to a time period in which the width of several characters in one scan is scanned, or a time period in which the entire width is scanned one to several times.

Subsequently, the integrated output from the integrating circuit 4 is supplied to a digital comparator 6. The digital comparator 6 compares the integrated output with an appropriate threshold value to discriminate whether the scanning signal output of the CCD 1 is from the character frame portion or the character portion. If it is a character frame part), level ``0'' is output, and if it is above a threshold value (character part, etc.), level ``1'' is output (see Fig. 4 (a)). That is,
The digital comparator 6 can discriminate whether each scanning signal of the CCD 1 is for a character frame portion or a character portion. The output from the digital comparator 6 whose character frame is 'O'' is sent to the AND circuit 7 as a discrimination signal A.
supplied to Further, the digital comparator 6 inverts the above discrimination signal and generates a discrimination signal B (fourth
(b)) is generated and supplied to the counter 7. The output waveforms (a) and (b) in FIG. 4 show the waveforms of the discrimination signals A and B, respectively, from the portion where reading of the form paper begins.

The counter 7 indicates the frame line a of the first character frame.J discrimination signal B
= ``1'' is detected, the output Q is held at 1'' and the output Q is reset to 1 for the next B-``1'' signal. 1J:
In other words, for an odd numbered B = '1', the output Q is set to 1-
The even-numbered 8 = ``1'' F performs 4-eddy-byte control such that the output Q is reletted.

The output signal C from this counter 7 is supplied to an AND circuit 8.

The AND circuit 8 is supplied with the discrimination signal 1B from the digital comparator 6, the output signal CJ5 from the counter 7, and the scanning signal from the CCD I to each input terminal, and outputs the AND of these input signals. Rir. As a result, of the L scanning signals, only the analog signal of the character interval within the character frame excluding the character frame is outputted from the node circuit 8 and converted into a digital signal by the A/1 converter 9. After being converted, it is supplied to memory 10 and stored.

Here, if the shape of the character or symbol is similar to a frame line as shown in Figure 5, it is possible that the accumulated charge of CCD 1 approaches the minimum value, making it impossible to read the character information accurately. However, in reality, such malfunctions can be completely eliminated by appropriately adjusting the threshold value of the comparator or the frequency of the control pulse.

Furthermore, it goes without saying that the idea of the present invention can be applied to positioning in the horizontal direction, but in the horizontal direction, there is almost no influence of errors due to poor paper gripping accuracy, and in many cases, the character frame Since the position of the vertical side is fixed, it can be carried out by a conventional method in which the positional relationship between the form paper, images such as characters, and each element of the COD is set in advance.

J5, as mentioned above, in 113, the AND circuit 8 performs a logical operation on the analog signal and the digital signal to generate the C analog signal, but a 1-circuit for the analog signal, that is, for the scanning signal, is provided. , the circuit to this gate 1 may be opened and closed by the logic operation output 13.C of only the digital 2 signal. Moreover, in a3 mentioned above, CC
AND circuit 7 converts the scanning output from DI as an analog signal
This A/D converter 9 is connected between the CCD 1 and the AND circuit 8, and after digitizing all three inputs of the AND circuit 8, a logical operation is performed. You may also do this. However, in this case, cc
oi 171) Since all output is converted to A/Dv, △/I
) A converter with higher speed and resolution than -C is required.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 (a) is a conceptual diagram of a character reading device using CCl) with four line sensors, Figure 1 (b) is a partially enlarged view of the form paper used in the character reading device, and Figure 2 is FIG. 3 is an electric circuit diagram of a character reading device W according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a waveform diagram of each part of the character reading device in FIG. 3, and FIG. The figure is a diagram showing an example of filling out a form in which malfunctions are likely to occur according to the present invention. 1... CCD, 2... Form paper, 3... Lens, 4
...Integrator circuit, 5...Control pulse generator, 6...
Digital converter, 7...Counter, 8...AND circuit, 9...A/D converter, 1O...Memory. Patent Applicant Tateishi Electric Co., Ltd. Agent Patent Attorney Tatsuo Ito Agent Patent Attorney Tetsuya Ito Figure 1 (CCJ) Figure 1 (Figure 2)

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a character reading device that reads a character C written in a character frame based on a signal obtained by scanning a document surface on which a character frame is printed, all serial components of the scanning signal are divided into predetermined widths. A means for integrating the scanning signal of each divided section, a comparing means for comparing the integrated output signal with a certain threshold value to discriminate the horizontal line part of the C character frame, 2n-iNth discrimination output signal and 2
A gate means is provided for outputting only the scanning signal between the n-th discrimination horn signal as character reading information. A character reading device characterized by: