JPS62202287A - Graphic separating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To separate a graphic simply and without fail by binarizing an input, in which the graphic, character, etc., are mixed, at an image input part, forming a temporary graphic pattern at a segment frame deciding part, extracting black and white elements related to the temporary graphic pattern and outputting a graphic pattern and a character pattern. CONSTITUTION:An image input part 1 photoelectrically converts an input image where a graphic, a character, etc., are mixed, executes the raster-scanning and outputs binary image data D1. The data D1 are sent to a segment frame deciding part 2, binary data D2, which synchronizes with a temporary graphic pattern, are outputted from the deciding part 2 and a black element, which is adjoining and continuous in the data D1, is counted in the horizontal and vertical directions. When the counting value is threshold or above, the black picture element is outputted, when the value is less than the threshold, the white picture element is outputted and a temporary graphic pattern D3 is prepared. Here, A black linking propagating part 5 extracts the black picture element of the data D2 adjoining to the black picture element of the pattern D3 and the black picture element in the optional direction continuous to this and outputs them as a graphic pattern D4. On the other hand, a character pattern memory 6 synchronizes with a graphic pattern memory 4 where an original memory 3 and the pattern D4 are stored, executes the scanning and outputs a character pattern D5.

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. The present invention relates to a device for separating and extracting

(Prior Art) When attempting to efficiently recognize both input images in which figures, characters, symbols, etc. coexist, figures, characters, symbols, etc. (hereinafter referred to as characters, etc.) must be recognized prior to the recognition process. need to be separated.

Conventionally, in this type of device, the relative positional relationship between figures and characters, such as ``write characters, etc. inside a closed-loop figure,'' is used as an entry restriction clause, and the writing restriction clause itself is defined as a relation between figures and characters, etc. The logic of separation and extraction is to separate and extract figures and characters, or to separate and extract figures and characters. 173), only ``isolated figures of a certain size'' were used as characters, etc., and figures and characters, etc. were separated and extracted.

(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 addition, with the latter device, if the size of the isolated figure to be separated exceeds a certain level due to contact between characters, etc., it is impossible to separate the isolated figure as a character, etc. There were problems such as complicated methods.

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

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the first invention provides a method for converting an input image containing a mixture of figures, single characters, symbols, etc. into a binary image.
and extracting a predetermined number or more of consecutive black pixels in the horizontal (or vertical) direction that are adjacent in either the horizontal or vertical direction from the binary image, and create a temporary figure pattern. (Second means for extracting black pixels adjacent to black pixels in the temporary figure pattern and black pixels in all directions continuous to the black pixels in the temporary figure pattern from the binary image, and extracting the figure pattern from all these black pixels. Further, in the second invention, in addition to the first, second and third means,
A fourth method-3-1 step is provided in which black pixels existing in the graphic pattern are removed from among the black pixels in the binary image to create a character pattern including characters, symbols, etc.

(Operation) In the first defense, if a binary image is converted from an input image containing a mixture of figures, two characters, symbols, etc., one horizontal (or vertical) ) By extracting a predetermined number or more of consecutive black pixels in the direction of By extracting black pixels adjacent to a black pixel and black pixels continuous thereto in all directions, all of the figures that are continuous to a part of the extracted figure are extracted, and according to the second invention, Characters, symbols, etc. are extracted by removing the black pixels extracted as the graphics from the binary image.

(Example) First, the concept of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG. 2(a). In the figure, numeral 10 is a human-made image containing a mixture of figures, characters, etc., such as a logical circuit diagram, and in drawing 10, 11
is the J symbol indicating a resistor, AND circuit, etc., 12 is a signal line,
13 is a character or the like.

Each symbol 11 is closely connected by a signal line 12, and each symbol 11 or signal line 12 has a line segment having a certain length or more in part. This line segment often extends in the horizontal or vertical direction, but the figure may also be tilted with respect to the paper surface. Even in this case, the line segment has a predetermined length in the horizontal (or vertical) direction, for example, a length of 4 or more. On the other hand, the quality of the horizontal (or vertical) line segment in the characters 13 is almost never greater than the length L1 even when two or more characters are in contact with each other.

Also, normally, characters etc. 13 are connected to symbols 11 and signal lines 12.
It is written a little further away.

Therefore, in the drawing 10, the length 1 is adjacent in either the horizontal direction or the vertical direction, and the length 1 in the horizontal (or vertical) direction.
By detecting continuous line segments with - or more and extracting only the line segments connected to the line segments,
It becomes possible to extract and read only 2 and symbols 11, that is, to separate figures and characters.

'tT, In the following explanation, the line segments that are adjacent and continuous in the horizontal direction, the line segments that are adjacent and continuous in the vertical direction, or the lines that are adjacent and continuous in the horizontal direction and vertical direction. All the minutes are collectively called a line segment frame.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is an image input section, 2 is a line segment block, 3 is an original pattern memory, 4 is a figure pattern memory, and 5 is a black connection transmission. Part 6 is a character pattern extraction part.

The image input unit 1 photoelectrically converts an input image containing a mixture of figures, characters, etc., for example the drawing 10, performs rask scanning along the scanning direction {circle around (2)} shown in FIG. 2(b), and generates binary image data r)1.
Output.

The line segmentation material Ube 2 outputs binary image data D2 synchronized with a temporary figure pattern, which will be described later, from the binary image data D111, and also outputs binary image data D2 synchronized with a temporary figure pattern, which will be described later, from the binary image data D111. Count the number of consecutive black pixels in the horizontal and vertical directions, and if the h1 count result in either the horizontal or vertical direction is less than a predetermined threshold, it is considered a black pixel. is output, and if it is less than the threshold, a white pixel is output, and a temporary figure pattern [ ] 3 is created.

The original pattern memory 3 is the temporary figure pattern U')
2 and 2 synchronized with 3 are stored.

The graphic pattern upstream 4 stores graphic patterns to be described later, such as the predistributed temporary graphic pattern O3.

Black) 1! The cap section 5 scans and covers the graphic pattern memory 11 and the original pattern memory 3 in synchronization with a window of an appropriate size T, thereby generating binary image data D2 adjacent to the black pixels of the temporary graphic pattern 03. The black pixel cl, + and the black pixels in all directions following this are sequentially extracted and output to the graphic pattern t4 in the graphic pattern l)4.

The character pattern memory 6 synchronously scans the original pattern memory 3 and the graphic pattern memory 4 in which the graphic pattern D4 is stored, performs an exclusive OR between the obtained data, and generates data containing characters, etc. Output character pattern D5.

Next, the detailed configuration and operation will be explained.

As shown in FIG.
3, a frame data buffer 221, a frame data propagation unit 220 consisting of a frame data window 222 and a frame calculator 223, a particle sizer 231 and a threshold value setter 232 It is composed of a chamber section 230 and the like.

In the above configuration d3, the binary image data D1 obtained in synchronization with the rask scan of the image input section 1 is main scanning (horizontal)
Shift register 2 with the same number of bits as the number of pixels in the direction (X)
It is input into a binary image buffer 211 consisting of columns. Therefore, the (2×2) pixel connection determination window 212 connected to the binary image buffer 211 and the connection determination device 213 are essentially scanning the input drawing 10-1- in the horizontal direction. .

The frame data buffer 221 stores, for each pixel, a frame data value consisting of data on the number of consecutive line segments (width) in the horizontal direction and data on the number of consecutive lines in the vertical direction (height) connected to the pixel. It is composed of shift 1 to register 2 columns with the same number of bits as the number of pixels in the main scanning direction Therefore, it is connected to the frame data buffer 221 (
2x4) Box frame data window 222 and frame KI calculator 22
3 means that the input drawing 1o-1- is rask-scanned substantially in synchronization with the connection determination window 212e and the black connection determination unit 213.

The output of the black connection determiner 213 according to the pixel state of the connection determination window 212, that is, the instruction signal U' to the frame calculator 223)
The operation of the frame hi calculator 223 based on 213 is as follows.

When d22=o: AxR-0, AyR-O Town...(1) When d22=1, d11=1: AXR=A
X11+ 1, IyR= /Iy11+1...
・(2) (122=1, d11=O, Ax1
2>, when 4x21: %xR= ax12...
(3) When Δx12≦/X21: axR= Jx21q 1 ・・・・”
(4) When Ay12≧, Iy2i: 1! IVR= 1Iy12-1-1
・・・・・・(5) When 1/12< , 4y21: ayR= Ay21 ・・・・・・
(6) Here, lIx and aVH are the frame 223
is the output (frame data) value of aXll, ,! lX
12. ．． 6X21°, /IVII, aV12. /
IIV21 is a frame data value stored in each cell of the frame data window 222. Further, dll and d22 are pixel values in each box of the connection determination window 212, and are set to 11'' for a black pixel and 0 for a white pixel. It is assumed that in the initial state, the frame data buffer 221 and the frame data window 222 are cleared to "0".

The frame data values (,!IX, AXR) are sent to the frame data buffer 221 and sequentially shifted pixel by pixel in synchronization with rask scanning, so that 100 connected black pixels in the input drawing, that is, a line segment frame While the frame data value of is being updated, the input drawing 10-1- is changed to the right from the notation.

The transfers will be made sequentially from top to bottom.

The debris leveler 231 uses the frame data (W(, ax, AyR>) sent to the pixel Ml and the threshold value setter 23.
A
When yR≦IV1, it is determined that no figure has been detected,
Output white pixels as temporary figure pattern D3 AXR〉p
Or/! When UyR>11, it is determined that a part of the figure has been detected, and black pixels are output as the temporary figure pattern l)3.

Here is the threshold I! t (length 1 - t) is a value determined by the maximum value of line segment frames that may exist in characters etc. written in drawing 10 and the minimum value of 1q line segment frames that exist in the figure.

FIG. 4 shows the correspondence between the binary image data l)1 and the temporary figure pattern D3, and here, the threshold value! 1 is ``10'' for convenience.
”. In the figure, in the binary image data D1, no mark indicates a white pixel, and a J: mark indicates a black pixel.
In the temporary figure pattern D3, unmarked and ・marks are white pixels, [
] mark indicates a black pixel.

FIG. 5 shows frame data values (IJx, /IyR) corresponding to the binary image data [)1 shown in FIG. 4 for each cell. Here, the numbers in the upper row in the box in the figure indicate the frame data value ΔXR, and the numbers in the lower row indicate the frame data value Ay.
Indicates R.

The black connection propagation portion 5 has a window 5a of 2×2 pixels (hereinafter simply referred to as a window) 5a as shown in FIGS. The memory 4 and original pattern memory 3 are shown in Figure 6 (a).
) to (d) scanning directions ◎, Q, Q.

Scanning is performed in the order of (2), and black pixels on the binary image data 1)2 adjacent to black pixels in the temporary figure pattern D3 are detected as described later, and sequentially stored in the figure pattern memory 4 as a figure pattern D4. .

First, it is checked whether a black pixel exists in the window 5a placed on the figure pattern memory 4, that is, whether the following formula (7) is satisfied. If it is not satisfied, scanning is continued, and if it is, the original pattern is The cell in the window 5a of the graphic pattern memory 40 corresponding to the cell in which the black pixel exists in the window 5a of the memory 3 is set as a black pixel, that is, the process of the following equation (8) is performed.

Z (x, V) = R (x, y) ・・・・・・
...(8) In the above formulas (7) and (8), X, y
is the coordinate within the window 5a, and its value is 1 or 2, Z
(X.

y) is the value of each coordinate point of the window 5a placed on the graphic pattern memory 4, and is "1" for a black pixel and "0" for a white pixel. R(x,y) is the value of each coordinate point of the window 5a placed on the original pattern memory 3, and is "1" for a black pixel and "0" for a white pixel.

FIGS. 7(a) to 7(C) show J: overturning of the operation of the black connection propagation portion 5. FIG. 7(a) shows the contents 20 in the window 5a on the figure pattern memory 4 at a certain point in time, and FIG. 7(b) shows the contents 30 in the window 5a in the original pattern memory 2 at the same point in time. shows. At this time, black pixel 21 in content 21 (x=1.V=1
), black pixel 31 in content 30 (x-2, y=1
> is adjacent to black pixel 31, and black pixel 32 is adjacent to this black pixel 31.
(x-2, y・-2) are adjacent to each other, the contents 20 of the figure pattern memory 4'' are as follows: pixel 22 (x=2.V=1) as shown in FIG. 7(C). and pixel 23 (x-2, y
-2) point is converted to a black pixel.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a graphic pattern obtained by J: on the black connection propagation portion 5. In the figure, unmarked white pixels, ■ marked black pixels extracted by line segmentation material Ube 2 using a temporary figure pattern, -
The mark is a black pixel extracted by scanning in the scanning direction ◎ in Fig. 7, the 1 mark is a black pixel extracted by scanning in the scanning direction [phase], and the mark is a black pixel in the binary image data r) 2. However, in the graphic pattern D4, this pixel becomes a white pixel.

In addition, ^7. By simultaneously performing scanning in the scanning direction ◎ and scanning in the C direction on the image input section 1, processing time can be shortened.

After the processing of the black connection transmission unit 5 is completed, the character pattern extraction unit 6 scans the original pattern memory 3 and the graphic pattern memory 4 in synchronization, and extracts the obtained data by exclusive ORing for each data. After applying the cylinder, extract the character pattern D5.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the first invention of J: Sea urchin explained above, there is no need to set up the conventional J: Sea urchin entry restriction clause, etc. It is possible to extract figure patterns that include
In addition, if J: is used in the second invention, it is possible to extract a graphic pattern and a character pattern including letters, etc. in and b, and the solid content of 1 liter is inexpensive and reliable.
There are advantages such as being able to provide an Il mounting plate.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the figure separation device of the present invention, Figures 2 (a) and (h) are diagrams showing an example of an input drawing and its scanning direction, and Figure 3 is a line segmentation material Ube. The configuration diagram, Figure 4 is 2
The correspondence between the firi image data and the temporary figure pattern is shown in Figure 1 and Figure 5 is shown in Figure 4. 12 (lTIii!Ii image data λ1 corresponding frame de-values are shown in Figures 6(a)-(
d) is a diagram showing the scanning direction (-J) in the black connection propagation part, Figures 7 (a) to (C) are diagrams showing the (-J) scanning direction in the black connection propagation part, Figure 8 is an extraction diagram. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a graphic pattern that has been created. 1... Image input section, 2... Original pattern pattern, 3... Line segment crusher Ube, 1... Graphic pattern pattern seven,
5...Black connection width part, 6...Character pattern extraction part.

Claims (2)

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