JPS62196778A - Graphic separating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To extract all of continuous graphic by extracting black picture elements that continue more than specified number in horizontal (or vertical) direction from a binary picture image converted from an input picture image in which graphics, characters and symbols are mixed, and further extracting black elements and continuous black picture elements to all directions. CONSTITUTION:A black run deciding section 3 counts the number of continuous black picture elements in binary image data D1 and when it becomes a predetermined threshold value or above, outputs black picture elements, and when less than the threshold level, outputs white picture elements and forms a temporary graphic pattern D2. A graphic pattern memory 4 stores the temporary graphic pattern D2 and a graphic pattern. A black connecting and propagating section 5 scans the graphic pattern memory 4 and an original pattern memory 2 synchronously by a window having proper size, and extracts black picture elements in the binary picture image data D1 adjoining black picture elements of the temporary graphic pattern D2 and continuing black picture elements of all directions successively, and outputs them to the graphic pattern memory 4 as a graphic pattern D3.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Industrial Field of Application) The present invention is capable of generating a graphic pattern containing only a figure from an input image containing a mixture of figures, characters, symbols, etc., or a character pattern containing the figure pattern and characters, symbols, etc. This relates to a device that extracts

(Prior art) When trying to efficiently recognize an input image containing a mixture of figures, characters, symbols, etc., recognition! i! II Prior to the process, separate figures from characters, symbols, etc. (hereinafter referred to as characters, etc.).
It is necessary to

Conventionally, in this type of device, the writing restriction clause is based on the relative positional relationship between the figure and the character, such as ``write the text inside the closed-loop figure,'' and the writing restriction clause itself is defined as the relationship between the figure and the text. The logic of separation and extraction is to separate and extract figures and characters, or by Shikisui et al., "One Processing Method for Characters Appearing in Drawings" (Proceedings of the 1973 National Conference of the Information Division of the Institute of Electronics and Communication Engineers, 173). As described in ``The conventional method was to separate and extract figures and characters by converting only isolated figures j of a certain size or less into letters, etc.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, with the former device, there is no flexibility and images to be recognized are limited, and it is difficult for the filler to comply with entry restrictions, making it impractical. In the latter device, if the size of the isolated figure to be separated exceeds a certain level due to contact between characters, it is impossible to separate the isolated figure as a character, etc., and there is no means for extracting the isolated figure. There were problems such as complexity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned problems and provide an apparatus that can easily and reliably separate and extract a graphic pattern containing only a packaging shape, or a character pattern containing characters and the like from the graphic pattern. do.

(Means for Solving the Problem) In order to solve the above problem, in the first invention, an input image containing a mixture of figures, characters, symbols, etc.
a first means for converting into a horizontal image (
Extract a predetermined number or more consecutive black pixels in the (or vertical) direction,
a second means for creating an inter-board shape pattern; extracting from the binary image black pixels adjacent to black pixels in the njI-written temporary map and black pixels in all directions continuous thereto; A third means for creating a figure pattern from all these black pixels, and a twenty-first! In Akira, the above-mentioned 1. In addition to the second and third means, black pixels existing in the graphic pattern behind the black pixels in the binary image are removed to form characters.

and fourth means for creating a character pattern including symbols and the like.

(Operation) According to the first invention, by converting an input image containing a mixture of graphic characters, symbols, etc., and extracting a predetermined number or more consecutive black pixels in the horizontal (or vertical) direction from the IC binary image, A part of the figure is extracted, and by further extracting black pixels adjacent to the black pixel corresponding to a part of the figure from the binary image and black pixels in all directions continuous to this, the part of the extracted figure is extracted. According to the second invention, characters, symbols, etc. are extracted by removing black pixels extracted as the figures from the binary image.

(Example) First, the concept of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG. 2(a). In the figure, 10 is a drawing including an input image containing a mixture of figures, characters, etc., for example, a logic circuit diagram, and in the drawing 10, 1
1 is a symbol indicating a resistor, an AND circuit, etc., 12 is a signal line, and 13 is a letter, etc.

The symbols 11 are usually connected to each other by a signal FA12, and each symbol 11 always has a horizontal line segment of a certain length, for example, five or more, in a part thereof. On the other hand, the length of the horizontal line segment of the character 13 cannot exceed the above length Lt even when two or more characters, etc. touch each other. And what about Iν? Further, normally, the characters etc. 13 are written at a location slightly apart from the symbol 11 and the signal line 12.

Therefore, it is possible to extract only the signal line 12 and the symbol 11 by detecting a horizontal line segment having the length Lt or more in the drawing 10 and extracting only the line segment connected to the line segment. This makes it possible to separate figures and characters.

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention - In Fig. C1, 1 is an image input section, 2 is an original pattern memory, 3 is a black run determination section, 4 is a figure pattern memory, and 5 is a black connection propagation section. ,6
is a character pattern extraction part.

The image input unit 1 photoelectrically converts an input image containing i1N figures, characters, etc., for example, the drawing 10, raster scans it along the scanning direction (■) shown in FIG. 2(b), and converts it into binary image data D.
Outputs 1.

The original pattern memory 2 stores the binary image data D1.
is stored in synchronization with the raster scanning.

The black run determination unit 3 counts the number of consecutive black pixels in the binary image data D1, and outputs a black pixel if it is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, and outputs a white pixel if it is less than the threshold. Then, a losing cause pattern D2 is created.

The graphic pattern memory 4 stores the defeat pattern D2 and a graphic pattern to be described later.

The black connection propagation unit 5 scans the graphic pattern memory 4 and the original pattern memory 2 in synchronization with a window of an appropriate size, thereby obtaining the 2111 ijiii image data 1]1 adjacent to the black pixel of the defeated pattern D2. Sequentially extract the black pixels in the middle and the black pixels that follow this in all directions,
The pattern is outputted to the graphic pattern memory 4 as a graphic pattern D3.

The character pattern memory 6 scans the original pattern memory 2 and the graphic pattern memory 4 in which the graphic pattern D3 is stored in synchronization, performs an exclusive OR between the 1q data, and selects a pattern containing characters, etc. Output character pattern D4.

Next, the detailed configuration and operation will be explained.

The black run determination unit 3 has a built-in t1 number means (hereinafter referred to as black run counter) for counting the number of consecutive black pixels, and calculates a binary image according to the operation flowchart shown in FIG. Of the data D1, only black pixels that are part of the figure are extracted and stored in the figure pattern memory 4.

First, when the binary image data D1 is a white pixel, the black run counter is reset, and the white pixel is output as the failure pattern D2 (81 to 33).

When the binary image data D1 is a black pixel platform, the black run counter counts up (+1) L, (34), and the count value of the black run counter at that time is set to a predetermined threshold, for example, the length If the value is less than or equal to , a white pixel is output as the plate pattern O2 (S5゜33
). When the count value of the black run counter exceeds the threshold l0, black pixels are output as the defeat pattern D2 (S6).
.

Here, the threshold (length LL) is a value determined by the maximum width of characters written in drawing 10 and the minimum length of horizontal line segments existing in the figure.

FIG. 4 shows the correspondence between the binary image data D1 and the losing cause pattern D2.
0". In the figure, white pixels in the binary image data D1 are indicated by O marks, black pixels are indicated by * marks and ■ marks, white pixels in the defeat pattern D2 are shown by O marks and * marks, and black pixels are not shown by [phase] marks. .

The black connection propagation unit 5 has a (2×2) pixel window (hereinafter simply referred to as a window) 5a as shown in FIGS. 5(a) to 5(d), and the graphic pattern memory 4
and on the original pattern memory 2 in Figs. 5(a) to (d).
) Scanning direction shown in ◎, ■, ■.

Scanning is performed in the order of (2), and as will be described later, black pixels on the binary image data D1 adjacent to black pixels in the interboard pattern D2 are detected and sequentially stored in the graphic pattern memory 4.

First, whether there are black pixels in the window 5a placed on the graphic pattern memory 4 or not, that is, the following equation (1) is expressed as i! 2
If the size is not satisfied, the scanning is continued, and if it is, the window 5a on the original pattern memory 2 is checked.
Figure pattern memory 4 corresponding to the cell in which the black pixel exists
The square of the upper window 5a is assumed to be a black pixel, that is, the following formula (2
).

Z (x, y) = R (x, y) ・・・・・・
...(2) In the above formulas (1) and (2), X, y
is the coordinate within the window 5a, and its value is 1 or 2, Z
(x.

yH is the value of each coordinate point of the window 5a placed on the graphic pattern memory 4, which is 11'' for a black pixel and ``O'' for a white pixel. @(x, y) is the value of each coordinate point of the window 5a placed on the original pattern memory 2, and is "1" for a black pixel and "0" for a white pixel.

FIGS. 6(a) to 6(C) show the v1 construction of the black connecting transmission portion 5. 6(a) shows the contents 20 in the window 5a on the figure pattern memory 4 at a certain point in time, and FIG. 6(b) shows the contents 30 in the window 5a in the original pattern memory 2 at the same point in time. show.

At this time, black pixel 21 in content 21 (x=1.y=1)
For, black pixel 31 in content 30 (x=2.y=1)
Since the black pixel 32 (x=2.y-2) is adjacent to the black pixel 31, the contents 20 on the figure pattern memory 4 are as shown in FIG. 6(C). As shown, pixel 22 (x=2.V=1) and pixel 23 (x=
2. The point y...2) is converted to a black pixel.

FIG. 7 does not show an example of a graphic pattern colored blue by the black connection propagation portion 5. In the figure, the ○ mark is a white pixel, the black pixel is a black pixel extracted as a temporary figure pattern by the black run determination unit 3, and k
The marks are black pixels extracted by scanning in the scanning direction ◎ in FIG. 6, and the 4 marks are black pixels extracted by scanning in the scanning direction ■.

Note that by simultaneously performing the scanning in the scanning direction @ and the scanning in the image input section 1, the processing time can be shortened.

After the processing of the black connection propagation section 5 is completed, the character pattern extraction section 6 synchronously scans the original pattern memory 2 and the graphic pattern memory 4, and performs a transversal OR on the obtained data for each data. Character pattern D4 is extracted by discussing the calculation.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the first invention, there is no need to set restrictions on the entry of characters, etc., as in the past, and figures containing only figures are not affected much by the size of characters, etc. Further, according to the second invention, character patterns including characters and the like can be extracted together with graphic patterns, and there are advantages such as being able to provide an inexpensive and reliable graphic separation device.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the figure separation device of the present invention, FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) are diagrams showing an example of an input drawing and its scanning direction, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an input drawing and its scanning direction. Operation flowchart, 4th
The figure shows the correspondence between binary image data and temporary figure patterns.
Figures 5 (a) to (d) are diagrams showing the scanning direction in the black connection propagation section, Figures 6 (a) to (C) are diagrams showing how it is converted into a figure pattern, and Figure 7. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an extracted graphic pattern. 1... Image input section, 2... Original pattern memory, 3... Black run determination section, 4... Graphic pattern memory,
5...Black connection width part, 6...Character pattern extraction part. Patent applicant Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. Patent attorney Furu 1) Sei 4 Figure 1 (a) To the diagram showing an example of the input drawing and its scanning direction Figure 32 oOoOooooooooooooooooooo...ooo. 00000oOoooOooo00oOo...ooo. Binary image style and defeat form A? Diagram 4 showing the monthly relationship with N
ooooo. Figure 7

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A first means for converting an input image containing a mixture of figures, characters, symbols, etc. into a binary image, and extracting a predetermined number or more consecutive black pixels in the horizontal (or vertical) direction from the binary image. , the second step to create a temporary figure pattern.
means for extracting from the binary image black pixels adjacent to the black pixels in the temporary figure pattern and black pixels in all directions continuous thereto, and forming a figure pattern containing only figures from all these black pixels; A figure separation device characterized by comprising: third means for creating. (2) A first means for converting an input image containing a mixture of figures, characters, symbols, etc. into a binary image, and extracting a predetermined number or more consecutive black pixels in the horizontal (or vertical) direction from the binary image. , the second step to create a temporary figure pattern.
means for extracting from the binary image black pixels adjacent to the black pixels in the temporary figure pattern and black pixels in all directions continuous thereto, and forming a figure pattern containing only figures from all these black pixels; and a fourth means for removing black pixels existing in the graphic pattern from among the black pixels in the binary image to create a character pattern including characters, symbols, etc. A figure separation device characterized by comprising: