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Apparatus and method for area designation on a document

  • US 5,058,189 A
  • Filed: 02/13/1989
  • Issued: 10/15/1991
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1988
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for forming a rectangular area having a pre-existing figure inscribed therein, the rectangular area having exactly four sides regardless of the shape of the pre-existing figure, the method comprising the steps of:

  • a) scanning a sheet on which is inscribed the pre-existing figure, and outputting pixel data representing the figure, each pixel datum of the pixel data being one binary digit;

    b) storing the pixel data in a first memory;

    c) scanning the pixel data in the first memory in accordance with each of four combinations of directions defined by main and sub scanning directions and, for each of the four combinations, reading out a pixel datum relating to a pixel of concern and pixel data relating to at least two pixels adjacent thereto;

    d) performing, for each of the combinations, a first logic operation on the pixel datum relating to the pixel of concern and the pixel data relating to at least the two pixels adjacent thereto, and outputting results of the first logic operation obtained for the four combinations;

    e) storing the results of the first logic operation in a second memory; and

    f) performing a second logic operation on the results of the first logic operation obtained for the four combinations, and outputting a result of the second logic operation which forms the rectangular area in which the figure is inscribed, wherein the rectangular area may have pixels other than the pixels of the pre-existing figure.

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