Abstract: The edge portion of an electro-conductive material inserted between a pair of the transmitting electrodes of triangular plate disposed flatly in opposite directions each other and the receiving electrode. The exciting signal source applies respectively the alternating voltage signal S1 with frequency f1 on one of the transmitting electrodes and the alternating voltage signal S2 with frequency f2 on the other transmitting electrode. The insertion extent of the strip edge of the electro-conductive material is evaluated with the ratio between the current I1 with frequency f1 and the current I2 with frequency f2 generated on the receiving electrode.

Abstract: Each of a certain number of sequences of binary pixels chosen according to some prescribed rules from m.times.n matrix of pixcels is referred to vector v.sub.i. A standard character k is represented with m.times.n matrix of binary pixels, from which the vectors g.sub.ki are derived. The reference vectors G.sub.ki are comprised of the vectors g.sub.ki and g.sub.ki which are generated by modification of g.sub.ki. A recognition object is captured to yield m.times.n matrix of binary pixels, from which the vectors v.sub.i are derived for comparison with the reference vectors G.sub.ki. Matching of v.sub.i with one of the reference vectors G.sub.ki adds a count to the standard pattern k corresponding to G.sub.ki. The standard character k with the maximum score of the matching count is recognized as the recognition object.