A DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING OPTICAL CHARACTER RECOGNITION
First Claim
1. A method of performing character isolation in an optical character recognition process, the method comprising:
- receiving image data representing one or more character columns;
determining a number of black pixels in each column of the image data;
defining a vertical separation threshold which is a maximum number of black pixels in a column;
dividing the columns into different pixel groups and groups of excluded columns by excluding any columns with a number of black pixels below the vertical separation threshold;
identifying the pixel group representing the left most character column in the image data;
determining whether there are one or two pixel groups representing character columns in the image data; and
if it is determined that there are two pixel groups representing character columns, using a predetermined width value for a right most character column in order to identify a right hand boundary of the right most character column.
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Abstract
A method of performing character isolation in an optical character recognition process, the method comprising receiving image data representing one or more character columns, determining a number of black pixels in each column of the image data, defining a vertical separation threshold which is a maximum number of black pixels in a column, dividing the columns into different pixel groups and groups of excluded columns by excluding any columns with a number of black pixels below the vertical separation threshold, identifying the pixel group representing the left most character column in the image data, determining whether there are one or two pixel groups representing character columns in the image data and, if it is determined that there are two pixel groups representing character columns, using a predetermined width value for a right most character column in order to identify a right hand boundary of the right most character column.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of performing character isolation in an optical character recognition process, the method comprising:
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receiving image data representing one or more character columns; determining a number of black pixels in each column of the image data; defining a vertical separation threshold which is a maximum number of black pixels in a column; dividing the columns into different pixel groups and groups of excluded columns by excluding any columns with a number of black pixels below the vertical separation threshold; identifying the pixel group representing the left most character column in the image data; determining whether there are one or two pixel groups representing character columns in the image data; and if it is determined that there are two pixel groups representing character columns, using a predetermined width value for a right most character column in order to identify a right hand boundary of the right most character column. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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2. A method according to clam 1, wherein identifying the pixel group representing the left most character column in the image data comprises identifying the pixel group immediately to the right of the left most group of excluded columns.
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3. A method according to clam 1, wherein identifying pixel group representing the left most character column in the image data comprises excluding the pixel group immediately to the right of the left most group of excluded columns if it is below a minimum digit width threshold such that the second pixel group to the right of the left most group of excluded columns is defined as the left most character column in the image data.
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12. A processor for performing character isolation in an optical character recognition process, the processor configure to:
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receive image data representing one or more character columns; determine a number of black pixels in each column of the image data; define a vertical separation threshold which is a maximum number of black pixels in a column; divide the columns into different pixel groups and groups of excluded columns by excluding any columns with a number of black pixels below the vertical separation threshold; identify the pixel group representing the left most character column in the image data; determine whether there are one or two pixel groups representing character columns in the image data; and if it is determined that there are two pixel groups representing character columns, use a predetermined width value for a right most character column in order to identify a right hand boundary of the right most character column. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification