×

Recording method and apparatus

  • US 6,529,645 B2
  • Filed: 04/29/1999
  • Issued: 03/04/2003
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A method for recording a selected sequence of characters with the aid of a portable scanner, comprising the steps of:

  • passing the portable scanner over a selected character sequence;

    imaging the selected character sequence by means of a plurality of images, whereby the content of a second image partly overlaps the content of at least one preceding first image;

    for every possible overlap position between the second and first images, an overlap measurement is determined at the pixel level;

    for each overlapping pixel position, the grey scale values of the two pixels included are added up if the latter are not white, whereby a pixel position in which none of the pixels are white is designated a plus position;

    the greyscale sums for all the plus positions are added up to a grand greyscale sum;

    the neighbors of each pixel position are examined and if an overlapping pixel position is not a neighbor of a plus position and consists of a pixel which is white and a pixel position which is not white, the greyscale value of the non-white pixel is subtracted from the grand greyscale sum;

    selecting the overlap position which provides the highest grand greyscale sum;

    combining the second and first images by means of said overlap position for generating a composite image from said second and first images;

    identifying the characters in the composite image; and

    storing the identified characters in the portable scanner with the aid of a predetermined character code format.

View all claims
  • 3 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×