Segmentation of text lines in digitized images
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for locating symbols arranged in one or more rows in an image, the method comprising:
- smearing the image;
fitting line segments through edge points of features in the smeared image;
finding a group of the line segments in mutual proximity that are mutually substantially parallel; and
identifying a region of the image that contains the group of the line segments as a possible location of the symbols.
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Abstract
A method for locating symbols arranged in one or more rows in an image includes smearing the image, and fitting line segments through edge points of features in the smeared image. A group is found of the line segments that are in mutual proximity and are mutually substantially parallel. A region of the image that contains the group of the line segments is identified as a possible location of the symbols.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method for locating symbols arranged in one or more rows in an image, the method comprising:
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smearing the image;
fitting line segments through edge points of features in the smeared image;
finding a group of the line segments in mutual proximity that are mutually substantially parallel; and
identifying a region of the image that contains the group of the line segments as a possible location of the symbols. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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12. A computer-implemented method for reading characters arranged in one or more rows on an object, comprising:
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capturing an image of the object;
smearing the image;
fitting line segments through edge points of features in the smeared image;
finding a group of the line segments in mutual proximity that are mutually substantially parallel;
identifying a region of the image that contains the group of the line segments as a location of the rows of the characters; and
applying optical character recognition to read the characters in the region.
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15. Apparatus for locating symbols arranged in one or more rows in an image, comprising an image processor, which is arranged to smear the image, to fit line segments through edge points of features in the smeared image, to find a group of the line segments in mutual proximity that are mutually substantially parallel, and to identify a region of the image that contains the group of the line segments as a possible location of the symbols.
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26. Apparatus for reading characters arranged in one or more rows on an object, comprising:
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an image capture device, arranged to capture an image of the object; and
an image processor, which is arranged to smear the image, to fit line segments through edge points of features in the smeared image, to find a group of the line segments in mutual proximity that are mutually substantially parallel, to identify a region of the image that contains the group of the line segments as a location of the rows of the characters, and to apply optical character recognition to read the characters in the region.
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29. A computer software product for locating symbols arranged in one or more rows in an image, the product comprising a computer-readable medium in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a computer, cause the computer to smear the image, to fit line segments through edge points of features in the smeared image, to find a group of the line segments in mutual proximity that are mutually substantially parallel, and to identify a region of the image that contains the group of the line segments as a possible location of the symbols.
Specification