Method and structure for separating joined patterns for use in pattern and character recognition system
First Claim
1. A method for separating a data segment representing an array of pixels having a plurality of rows and columns into a plurality of segments comprising the steps of:
- fetching a data segment;
creating a first histogram selected from the group of histograms consisting of a caliper histogram indicating the distance between the topmost and bottommost "on" pixels for a plurality of columns of said array of pixels and a raw histogram indicating the number of "on" pixels in a plurality of columns of said array of pixels;
determining if a satisfactory minimum of said first histogram exists;
if a satisfactory minimum of said first histogram does not exist, creating a second histogram of a type other than said first histogram, said second histogram selected from said group of histograms consisting of a caliper histogram and a raw histogram, and determining if a satisfactory minimum of said second histogram exists; and
cleaving said data segment about said satisfactory minimum of said first histogram or said satisfactory minimum of said second histogram, thereby forming a left segment and a right segment.
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Abstract
A method and structure is provided which allows for a plurality of patterns or characters which are joined to be separated for further processing. For characters which are determined not to have a fixed pitch, a first approximation cleavage point is determined based on the width of the segment. Next, a caliper histogram is formed plotting the distance between the uppermost and bottommost "on" pixel in each column of the segment. If a satisfactory minimum in the caliper histogram is found, this segment is cleaved into left and right segments at this point. It not, a raw histogram, indicating the total number of "on" pixels in each column of the segment, is formed. If an adequate minimum of the raw histogram is found, the segment is cleaved into right and left segments at this point. In one embodiment of this invention, the caliper histogram operation is not performed if it is determined that the segment includes top and bottom serifs. Characters determined to be of fixed pitch are separated if a suitable minimum is found in the raw histogram of the segment and, if not, if a satisfactory minimum is found in the caliper histogram for the segment. In one embodiment of this invention, two adjacent segments are compared and, if necessary, joined to form a single segment. This allows separate segments which in fact form a single pattern or character to be combined into a single segment representing that pattern or character for a more accurate analysis.
28 Citations
50 Claims
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1. A method for separating a data segment representing an array of pixels having a plurality of rows and columns into a plurality of segments comprising the steps of:
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fetching a data segment; creating a first histogram selected from the group of histograms consisting of a caliper histogram indicating the distance between the topmost and bottommost "on" pixels for a plurality of columns of said array of pixels and a raw histogram indicating the number of "on" pixels in a plurality of columns of said array of pixels; determining if a satisfactory minimum of said first histogram exists; if a satisfactory minimum of said first histogram does not exist, creating a second histogram of a type other than said first histogram, said second histogram selected from said group of histograms consisting of a caliper histogram and a raw histogram, and determining if a satisfactory minimum of said second histogram exists; and cleaving said data segment about said satisfactory minimum of said first histogram or said satisfactory minimum of said second histogram, thereby forming a left segment and a right segment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method for separating a data segment representing an array of pixels having a plurality of rows and columns into a plurality of segments comprising the steps of:
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fetching a data segment; creating a caliper histogram indicating the distance between the topmost and bottommost "on" pixels for a plurality of columns of said array of pixels; determining if a satisfactory minimum of said caliper histogram exists; and cleaving said data segment about said satisfactory minimum of said caliper histogram, thereby forming a left segment and a right segment. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification