JPS6141029B2 - - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention The present invention is an image input device that scans patterns such as characters and figures printed or handwritten on a form using a photoelectric scanner, and inputs the quantized pattern to an information processing device such as a computer. Regarding.

Currently, many companies use optical character reading devices and electronic computers for office processing, etc., but in this case, not only can they read recognizable character information, but they can also read information written in notes columns on forms or specially created image entry columns. It is often convenient to register notes, diagrams, etc. in a file together and search for both when needed. For example, when issuing a document based on character information input using an optical character reader, if notes, charts, etc. that were supplementary written in the notes section of the document at the time of input are output together with the document, the document will not be issued. It is also easy to understand for those who receive it. To do this, it is necessary to input and file both the character information recognized when inputting the form and the quantization pattern information of memos, charts, etc. However, with conventional input devices, character information necessary for recognition must be input separately using an optical character reader, and quantization pattern information such as memos and charts must be input separately using other image input devices. It takes time and requires two types of input devices, making it expensive.

The purpose of this invention is to recognize the characters read from the character reading area out of the patterns of characters and figures printed or handwritten on the same form, and to convert the recognition results into code data and read them from the image reading area. An object of the present invention is to provide an image input device which inputs patterns such as characters and figures as they are into an information processing device as quantized pattern data.

According to the present invention, there is provided a photoelectric scanner that scans and photoelectrically converts patterns such as characters and figures printed or handwritten on a form, a quantization circuit that quantizes an output signal of the photoelectric scanner, and the quantization circuit. a character recognition circuit that recognizes a character pattern quantized by the photoelectric scanner, a circuit that identifies whether the scanning area of the photoelectric scanner is a character reading area or an image reading area, and an output of the reading area identification circuit. It includes a multiplexer circuit that selects the input data to the information processing device by using a multiplexer circuit, and recognizes the characters read from the character reading area among patterns of characters and figures existing on the same form, and codes the recognition results. An image input device is obtained in which patterns such as characters and graphics read from the image reading area are input as data to an information processing device as quantized patterns.

Next, this invention will be explained using the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention. The photoelectric scanner 1 performs main scanning in the X direction and subscanning in the Y direction on a form 90 as shown in FIG. Enter. Second
As shown in the figure, the form 90 has a character reading area 901.
and an image reading area 902, and at the right end of the form there is a line mark 90 indicating the starting position of both reading areas.
3 is attached. The size of this line mark is large enough to be detected by the line mark detection circuit described later when scanning at the density described below, that is, at least 6 bits in the length direction (X direction) and at least 6 bits in the width direction. It has a size of at least 4 bits (in the Y direction). In order to recognize the read characters, the photoelectric scanner 1 scans the form 90 with such density that the quantized patterns of characters, figures, etc. (hereinafter referred to as images) can be identified when the images are reproduced later.
is scanned, for example, as a scanning line 100. The output video signal 100 of the photoelectric scanner 1 input to the quantization circuit 2 is quantized, and the quantized video signal 200 is input to the character recognition circuit 3, the encoding circuit 4, and the reading area identification circuit 5, respectively.

The character recognition circuit 3 recognizes the quantization pattern of the input character and inputs the recognition result to the multiplexer circuit 6 as character code data. Furthermore, when the photoelectric scanner 1 is scanning the character reading area, the character recognition circuit 3 starts a recognition operation for each line mark detection signal from the reading area identification circuit 5, and the photoelectric scanner 1 scans the image reading area. When there is a recognition area, the recognition operation is stopped under the control of the reading area identification circuit 5.

Various types of character recognition circuits are generally known. For example, the pattern matching method recognizes printed characters based on the degree of matching between a standard pattern and an input pattern, and the A character recognition circuit using a feature extraction method or the like that performs recognition from various feature points may be used.

The encoding circuit 4 inputs compressed data obtained by encoding the input quantization pattern to the multiplexer circuit 6. If image data is input to the computer 8 as an output video signal from the quantization circuit 2, the computer 8 will require a very large file. Therefore, in order to reduce the file size of the computer 8, the image data is compressed to about 1/10 by the encoding circuit 4 and then input. Further, in the character reading area, the encoding operation is stopped under the control of the reading area identification circuit 5. Various types of encoding circuits are generally known, but in the case of binary quantization, for example, the
The image encoding device described in Japanese Patent No. 54-17615 may be used. This image encoding device checks the connection state between the black run signal of the encoded line, which is the current scanning line, and the black run signal of the reference line, which is the previous main scanning line, and
This device classifies where the black run signal of the encoded line is connected to the black run signal of the reference line, and encodes the black run signal based on the classification result.

The reading area identification circuit 5 detects a line mark indicating the start of reading from among the quantization patterns output from the quantization circuit 2, and while counting the number with a counter, reads the image reading area designation pattern ( The position of the image reading area start line mark) is compared with the contents of this counter, and when they match, the character/image designation signal is set to "1".

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing details of the reading area identification circuit 5, and FIG. 4 is a waveform diagram showing the output signal IMA of the reading area identification circuit 5 corresponding to the form 90. In FIG. 3, a shift register 50
-1 to -4, inverters 51 -1 to -16, AND gates 52 and 53, and flip-flop 54 constitute a line mark detection circuit. Each of the shift registers 50-1 to 50-4 has the same number of bits as the main scanning length of the photoelectric scanner 1, and the output video circuit 200 of the quantization circuit 2 is connected to the shift register 50-1.
The output of shift register 50-1 is input to shift register 50-2, and the output of shift register 50-2 is input to shift register 50-3.The output of shift register 50-3 is input to shift register 50-4. Four shift registers are connected in series to the input. Each shift register is a mask formed for line mark detection.
Each output of the b, c, and d bits is connected to an AND gate 52.
In addition, each bit is connected to the inverter 51-1.
16 and its output is input to AND gate 53. In addition to the above-mentioned bits, the AND gates 52 and 53 are inputted with a scan end signal 100 indicating the end of one main scan.
When all bits of the shift registers become "1" and one main scan is completed, the flip-flop 54 outputs a set signal, and the AND gate 53 sets all the bits of each shift register a, b, c, d to "0". When one main scan is completed, flip-flop 5
4 reset signal is output. In other words, the line mark detection circuit checks the state inside the mask every time one horizontal scan of the scanner is completed (every time the pattern is shifted down by one horizontal scan in the shift register), detects the line mark, and outputs the result. put out. Therefore, the line mark 903 corresponds to this shift register 5.
When the signal passes through 0-1 to 4, the flip-flop 54 outputs one pulse. The output of the flip-flop 54 is input to a line mark counter 55 to count the number of line marks. In the register 56, a parameter specifying the line mark from which the image reading area starts is set in advance by the computer via the interface 7. The contents of the line mark counter 55 and the contents of the parameter register 56 are input to the coincidence circuit 57, and when they match, it outputs "1" to indicate that it is an image reading area. In this manner, the reading area identification circuit 5 counts the line marks and outputs the character/image designation signal 500.

The multiple plexer circuit 6 selects the output 300 of the character recognition circuit 3 when the character reading area is selected based on the output 500 of the reading area identification circuit 5, and selects the output 400 of the encoding circuit 4 when the area is the image reading area.
The data is input to the computer 8 via the .

The interface 7 transfers data between the computer 8 and the multiplexer circuit 6 and sets parameters from the computer 8 to the reading area identification circuit 5.

As described above, according to the present invention, patterns such as printed or handwritten characters and figures on the same form can be recognized in the character reading area, and patterns in the image reading area can be recognized using a single input device. Items can be input into an information processing device such as a computer without changing their quantized pattern, and it is cheaper than using two devices, an optical character reader and another image input device, and documents only need to be scanned once. An image input device capable of high-speed input can be obtained. Furthermore, the line mark detection circuit of the present invention can easily handle forms with different line mark sizes and positions by changing the number of shift registers formed for line mark detection and the masks on the shift registers.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an example of a form used in the image input device of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing details of the reading area identification circuit 5, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a waveform diagram showing the output signal of the reading area identification circuit 5 corresponding to the form 90. In the figure, 1 is a photoelectric scanner, 2 is a quantization circuit, 3 is a character recognition circuit, 4 is an encoding circuit, 5 is a reading area identification circuit, 6 is a multiplexer circuit, 7 is an interface circuit, and 8 is a computer. 90 is an example of an input form.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In an image input device that scans patterns such as characters and figures printed or handwritten on a form using a photoelectric scanner and inputs the quantized pattern into an information processing device, there is a photoelectric scanner that scans the form and converts it photoelectrically. , a quantization circuit that quantizes the output signal of the photoelectric scanner, a character recognition circuit that recognizes the quantized pattern by the quantization circuit and converts it into character code data, and a reader attached to the edge of the form. a line mark detection circuit that detects designated marks on a line; a counter circuit that counts the number of designated marks on a reading line detected by the line mark detection circuit; a register circuit that holds parameters that designate an image reading area; a coincidence detection circuit that compares the contents of the register circuit and the counter circuit and detects a coincidence; and an output of the coincidence detection circuit that outputs the quantization circuit or the character recognition circuit as input data to the information processing device. It includes a multiplexer circuit that selects either one of the above, and recognizes the characters read from the character reading area among the patterns of characters and figures existing on the same form, and uses the recognition result as character code data.
Further, an image input device characterized in that patterns such as characters and figures read from the image reading area are inputted as they are to the information processing device as quantized patterns.