Bar code image processing apparatus

• US 6,293,466 B1
• Filed: 01/14/1998
• Issued: 09/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoshida, Kunio, Asano, Toru, Komizo, Shigeo, Kawahara, Toyoki, Fujita, Mikio, Yamamoto, Atsuharu
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Diane I.
• Application Number:
  US09/007,146
• Time in Patent Office: 1,350 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.02, 235/462.07, 235/462.08, 235/462.09, 235/462.1, 235/462.16, 235/462.18
• US Class Current: 235/462.02
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/14 using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light G06K7/10831 - G06K7/1097 take precedence

Abstract

An image input section enters a document image including a bar code, and converts the document image into a binary image. A small pattern removing section removes small patterns from a binary image sent from the input section. A labeling section separates the binary image into labeled regions and calculates the feature quantity including a center position of each labeled region. A region detecting section makes a group of labeled regions spaced at a predetermined positional relationship based on their feature quantities and detects a bar code candidate region. A decoding section decodes the bar code based on the feature quantity involved in the bar code candidate region.

Claims

1. A bar code image processing apparatus comprising:

scanning means for scanning all patterns involved in a document image which includes at least one bar code;

labeling means for labeling all of the scanned patterns of said document image and for detecting a plurality of feature quantities of each labeled region, including a center position of each labeled region;

region detecting means for making a group of labeled regions spaced at a predetermined positional relationship based on feature quantities of said labeled regions and for detecting a bar code candidate region; and

decoding means for identifying a type of each bar involved in said bar code candidate region and for decoding the bar code, wherein a combination of said center position of said each bar code and another feature quantity of said each bar code is considered in identifying the type of each bar,

wherein by scanning all the patterns involved in the document image and by labeling all of the scanned patterns, said scanning means obtains scanned patterns without using expansion and contraction processing.

2. The bar code image processing apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising small pattern removing means for erasing predetermined small patterns from said document image before said document image is labeled.

3. The bar code image processing apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said labeling means detects a labeled region which requires no rewriting as a result of a detection of identity between labels.

4. The bar code image processing apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said labeling means detects at least one feature quantity selected from the group consisting of an area, a peripheral length and a circumscribed rectangle.

5. The bar code image processing apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said decoding means decodes said bar code based on an area and a center position of each bar.

6. The bar code image processing apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said bar code includes a long bar, a semi-long bar and a timing bar.

7. The bar code image processing apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein said decoding means discriminates a bar among said long bar, said semi-long bar and said timing bar based on an area of each pattern.

8. The bar code image processing apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said bar code is a JAN code.

9. A bar code image processing apparatus comprising:

labeling means for labeling a document image including a bar code and for detecting a feature quantity including a center position of each labeled region;

region detecting means for making a group of labeled regions spaced at a predetermined positional relationship based on feature quantities of said labeled regions and detecting a bar code candidate region; and

decoding means for identifying a type of each bar based on the feature quantity involved in said bar code candidate region and for decoding the bar code,

wherein said bar code includes a long bar, a semi-long bar and a timing bar, and

said decoding means discriminates a bar among said long bar, said semi-long bar and said timing bar based on an area of each pattern, and

said decoding means obtains a line passing center positions of said long and timing bars, and detects a phase relationship of said semi-long bar with respect to said obtained line to decode said bar code based on the obtained phase relationship.

10. A bar code image processing apparatus comprising:

labeling means for labeling a document image including a bar code and for detecting a feature quantity including a center position of each labeled region;

region detecting means for making a group of labeled regions spaced at a predetermined positional relationship based on feature quantities of said labeled regions and detecting a bar code candidate region; and

decoding means for identifying a type of each bar based on the feature quantity involved in said bar code candidate region and for decoding the bar code,

wherein said decoding means obtains a line passing center positions of predetermined bars included in said bar code and detects a phase relationship of specific bars with respect to said obtained line to decode said bar code based on the obtained phase relationship,

wherein said bar code includes a long bar, a semi-long bar and a timing bar, and

said decoding means obtains said line passing center positions of said long and timing bars, and detects a phase relationship of said semi-long bar with respect to said obtained line to decode said bar code based on the phase relationship.