JPS6249587A - Image buffer device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To execute an image processing of a high level, as well, by constituting the titled device so that a multi-gradation image signal which has been read by an image buffer is stored, and a binary-coding output can also be executed through a built-in comparator. CONSTITUTION:A multi-gradation image signal ID which has been read is stored in an image memory 11 of an image buffer 10. The contents of this memory 11 are compared with a threshold value CD by a built-in comparator 12, binary- coded and outputted, and becomes bright and dark information. On the other hand, an image processing of a high level can also be executed, based on the multi-gradation image signal for outputting the contents of the memory 11 as they are.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to an image buffer device used in optical character reading devices and the like.

[Technical Background of the Invention] An optical character reading device (OCR) reads printed characters or handwritten characters using an image reading means, and recognizes the read characters in a recognition unit using a structural analysis method or a matching method. When recognizing the read characters, the read characters are stored in an image buffer called a line buffer or sheet buffer in units of one scanning line or one page of the original, and the recognition of the read characters is independent of the character reading operation of the image reading means. This method is commonly used.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a conventional OCR using such a method. Characters written on a document 1 are read by an image reading means 2. As shown in FIG.

The read character signal is binarized by an amplifier 3 using a predetermined density level as a threshold value, and is stored in an image buffer 4 capable of storing a binarized image for one document. From the binarized signal of the read character stored in the image buffer 4, a character extraction section 5 extracts a signal of only the character portion excluding the background image and inputs it to the recognition section 6. The recognition unit 6 recognizes the read characters based on the binary signal of only the character portion, and outputs the recognition result to the outside.

[Problems in the background art] However, the conventional OCR image bath sofa described above is configured to be able to store only the binary signal of the read character signal, so it cannot store, for example, characters with multi-gradation density. There were problems in that it could not be used for advanced image processing, such as the inability to read and recognize images.

[Object of the Invention] The present invention was made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image buffer device that can be used for more advanced image processing.

[Summary of the Invention] The present invention provides an image memory that stores a multi-gradation image signal read by an image reading means and outputs the stored multi-gradation Q image signal by external readout control; The above object is achieved by providing a comparator that binarizes and outputs the image signal read from the image memory using the given control data as a threshold value.

[Embodiments of the Invention] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention,
The image buffer 10 stores multi-gradation image signals read by an image reading means (not shown), and also includes an image memory 11 that outputs the stored multi-gradation image signals under readout control from the outside. a comparator 1 that binarizes and outputs the image signal ID read from the image memory 11 using the control data CD as a threshold;
2. In this case, the image memory 11 has N memory planes 11a to 11n so as to be able to store image signals of N original documents.

In this configuration, multi-gradation image signals ID such as characters read by an image reading means (not shown) are sequentially written into the image memory 11 on a page-by-page basis of a document under external write control.

When attempting to binarize the image signal ID stored in the image memory 11 in this way using a threshold value and output it, the control data CD(K) corresponding to the threshold value K is sent to the comparator 1.
At the same time, the image signal ID stored in the image memory 11 is read out by external readout control.

Then, in the comparator 12, the read image signal ID is compared with the control data CD (K>), and the ID
<CD (K), ゛'1pa, ID>CD (K>
In this case, a binary image signal ID2 of "O" is output.

At the same time, the image signal ID that is not subjected to the binarization process is also output to the outside.

Therefore, when performing advanced image processing, it is sufficient to use the multi-gradation image signal [D] output from the image memory 11 as is; It is sufficient to input control data CD appropriate for the density of characters and use the image signal ID2 binarized with this data CD.

Note that this image buffer can be used in all devices that perform image processing.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, a multi-gradation image signal read by the image@reading means is stored, and
An image memory that outputs a multi-gradation image signal stored under external readout control, and a comparator that binarizes and outputs the image signal read from the image memory using externally applied control data as a threshold. Since the image buffer is configured using
Not only can it be converted into a value and output, but the multi-gradation image signal itself can be directly output, making it extremely effective for advanced image processing.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a conventional OCR using an image buffer 1. As shown in FIG. 1... Original document, 2... Image reading means, 4.10...
・Image buffer, 11... Image memory, 12
...Comparator. Agent Patent Attorney Nori Chika Yushu Sanno −

Claims (1)

[Claims] an image memory that stores the multi-gradation image signal read by the image reading means and outputs the stored multi-gradation image signal by external readout control; and an image memory that uses externally given control data as a threshold value. An image buffer device comprising: a comparator that binarizes and outputs an image signal read from the image memory.