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Real time binarization of gray images

  • US 6,738,496 B1
  • Filed: 05/30/2000
  • Issued: 05/18/2004
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1999
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A computer implemented method for real time binarization of gray scale images, said method comprising the steps of:

  • receiving an initial gray scale image;

    dividing the initial gray scale image into a plurality of tiles;

    determining for each tile in the plurality of tiles whether it is to be categorized as a background tile or a binarization tile, based on a sub-sampling of pixels in the tile;

    saving the categorization information for the each tile in the plurality of tiles;

    updating the saved categorization information for each tile by examining binarization flags for neighboring tiles to determine whether the number of neighboring tiles flagged for binarization is above a desired threshold, and if so, then setting the binarization flag “

    on”

    for the tile, but if not, then setting the binarization flag “

    off”

    for the tile;

    binarizing the plurality of tiles, including steps of background thresholding and edge detection, in accordance with said binarization flags by combining results of background thresholding and results of edge detection, thereby creating a binarized image readable by an optical character recognition means.

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