MACHINE RECOGNITION OF LEXICAL SYMBOLS

• US 3,710,321 A
• Filed: 01/18/1971
• Issued: 01/09/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: David A. Rubenstein
• Original Assignee: David A. Rubenstein
• Inventors: Rubenstein, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilbur, Maynard R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cochran, William W.
• Application Number:
  US05/106,971
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 340/146.3
• US Class Current: 382/226
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/242 Division of the character sequences into groups prior to recognition; Selection of dictionaries

Abstract

A raster scan covers areas containing major characters of an alphabet. When a character is recognized as being one which may have an associated diacritical mark, the scan is shifted to a separate area, the contents of which are recognized from among a group of such marks. The major-character recognition unit is disabled during scanning of the diacritical marks, and vice versa. The areas may be defined on a document by rows of rectangular boxes.

Claims

1. A system for recognizing lexical symbols, comprising:

means for scanning a document having a plurality of areas;

first recognition means for identifying the contents of a first of said areas as being a major symbol representing one character of an alphabet;

second recognition means for identifying the contents of a second of said areas with respect to a set of auxiliary symbols associable with particular ones of said characters, said second area being disjoint from said first area;

means responsive to said first recognition means for enabling said second recognition means when said one character is a member of a predetermined subset of said alphabet; and

output means responsive to both said first and said second recognition means for transmitting to a utilization means a first code representing said one character, and for selectively transmitting to said utilization device a second code when said second recognition means has been enabled.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said second area is adjacent said first area.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said set of auxiliary symbols is a predetermined group of diacritical marks for characters in said predetermined subset.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising third recognition means for identifying the contents of a third of said areas with respect to a further set of auxiliary symbols associable with particular ones of said characters;

and wherein said enabling means is further responsive to said first recognition means for enabling said third recognition means when said one character is a member of a further predetermined subset of said alphabet.

5. The system of claIm 4, wherein said second and third areas are adjacent said first area, and are separated from each other by said first area.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said scanning means is responsive to said first recognition means for scanning said second area only when said one character is a member of said predetermined subset.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said output means is operative to transmit both said first and second codes sequentially to said utilization device.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said first code represents an unmodified form of said one character, and wherein said second code represents one of said auxiliary symbols.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said second code represents a modified form of said one character.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said modified form represents the coMbination of said one character and one of said auxiliary symbols associable therewith.

11. A system for recognizing a plurality of input patterns, comprising:

means for executing a scan in a plurality of central areas of a field;

first recognition means for classifying patterns in said central areas into respective ones of a first plurality of categories;

means for detecting those of said patterns belonging to a predetermined group in said first plurality;

means responsive to said detecting means for shifting s-aid scan to a plurality of auxiliary areas of said field corresponding to those of said central areas containing patterns belonging to said predetermined group;

second recognition means for classifying the contents of said auxiliary areas into respective ones of a second plurality of categories; and

means responsive to said detecting means for enabling said second recognition means during said shifted scan, wherein said enabling means is further responsive to said detecting means for inhibiting said first recognition means during said shifted scan.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said areas are bounded by a plurality of lines preprinted on said field.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising means responsive to said shifting means for returning said scan from said auxiliary areas to said central areas.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said scan in said central areas is a raster scan.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said shifted scan is a raster scan across said auxiliary areas.