Abstract: An image forming apparatus for inputting an original image and forming an image on a recording medium, includes an image direction detection unit for detecting the image direction of an original image, and a control unit for controlling image forming device to perform predetermined image forming processing in accordance with the detection result of the image direction detection unit. The image direction detection unit outputs a degree of determination as the detection result of the image direction, and a level for determining whether or not the predetermined image processing is done is set for the degree of determination.

Abstract: A document image capture method and scanner, and an image processing apparatus incorporating such a scanner, in which a document is scanned two or more times. The first scan preferably provides bi-level image data, which is analyzed to identify blocks of uniform image type (for example, text, line drawing, grayscale image, or full-color image) within the document. The second scan, preferably performed at lower resolution than the first, provides grayscale or color information, which is substituted in the grayscale or color blocks, respectively, for the bi-level information obtained in the first scan. A third scan, to provide information of the third type, may also be performed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for inputting an original image and forming an image on a recording medium, includes an image direction detection unit for detecting the image direction of an original image, and a control unit for controlling image forming device to perform predetermined image forming processing in accordance with the detection result of the image direction detection unit. The image direction detection unit outputs a degree of determination as the detection result of the image direction, and a level for determining whether or not the predetermined image processing is done is set for the degree of determination.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to appropriately extract areas for character recognition from a color image. It is another object of the present invention to separate and extract characters from a background color in a color image if the background of the manuscript is not white and if the characters are printed in a portion having a color that is not commonly used all over the image. To achieve these objects, this invention binarizes an input color image in a plurality of stages and extracts area from binary images obtained in each stage to enable areas and text sections to be appropriately extracted despite the unknown colors of the characters and background contained in the input color image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for inputting an original image and forming an image on a recording medium, includes an image direction detection unit for detecting the image direction of an original image, and a control unit for controlling image forming device to perform predetermined image forming processing in accordance with the detection result of the image direction detection unit. The image direction detection unit outputs a degree of determination as the detection result of the image direction, and a level for determining whether or not the predetermined image processing is done is set for the degree of determination.

Abstract: A document image capture method and scanner, and an image processing apparatus incorporating such a scanner, in which a document is scanned two or more times. The first scan preferably provides bi-level image data, which is analyzed to identify blocks of uniform image type (for example, text, line drawing, grayscale image, or full-color image) within the document. The second scan, preferably performed at lower resolution than the first, provides grayscale or color information, which is substituted in the grayscale or color blocks, respectively, for the bi-level information obtained in the first scan. A third scan, to provide information of the third type, may also be performed.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for storing document images, for creating retrieval index by which the document images may be retrieved, and for displaying the retrieved document images. When a document image is obtained, the document image is subjected to rule-based block selection techniques whereby individual regions within the document region are identified, and the types of regions are also identified, such as title-type regions, text-type regions, line art-type regions, halftone-type regions and color image-type regions. The identification is used to create structural information and both the document image and the structural information is stored. A word-based retrieval index is created based on title-type regions and/or text-type regions, the retrieval index being used in conjunction with a search query so as to be able to retrieve documents which match the search query. The retrieved documents are displayed in either a full image mode or a rapid browsing mode.

Abstract: Pattern recognition apparatus and method which provides plural pattern recognition modes, one of which is selected in accordance with characteristics of an unknown pattern to be recognized. The pattern recognition apparatus includes a pattern recognizer having plural recognition modes for comparing an unknown pattern with at least one known pattern, and a selector for selecting one of the plural recognition modes based on characteristics of the unknown pattern. In one aspect, the selection of one of the plural recognition modes is based on font size, font type and image quality, and in another aspect, selection of the recognition mode is based on the results of prior pattern recognition operations. The pattern recognition apparatus may be provided in a stand-alone device, and this device may interface to a local area network bus.

Abstract: In a feature extraction system for analyzing image data of an input document image, a feature extraction method identifies image data as a table image and identifies text image within the table image by performing the steps of inputting image data of a document page, performing block selection processing on the document page, the block selection process identifies and separates the image data into blocks having the same image type, identifying table image data based on the separated blocks of image data, identifying text blocks within the table image data, horizontally sorting all text blocks located in the table image data based on horizontal position information, vertically sorting all text blocks located in the table image data based on vertical position information, separating text blocks into rows and columns based on a result of the vertical and the horizontal sorting steps, assigning column and row address coordinates to each text block in the table image data based on the separating step, and storing

Abstract: An optical character recognition system cuts between touching characters. A first cut is made between touching characters based on white spaces, and the cut characters are subjected to character recognition processing. All characters not recognized are then cut again. A pair of adjacent vertical bars is detected in a vertical histogram of character image data of unrecognized characters, the vertical bars having a vertical component in the histogram that exceeds a predetermined vertical threshold. Horizontal crossings are detected in each of three discrete horizontal bands between the vertical bars. The vertical bars are classified according to the detected horizontal crossings, and, based on the classification, a decision is made whether or not to cut between the vertical bars, and where to cut between the vertical bars.

Abstract: In an image processing system for processing image data which includes both text areas and non-text areas, a method for extracting image data by performing block selection to obtain circumscribing rectangles around each block of text type areas in the image data and around each block of non-text type areas in the image data, obtaining outline pairs for each text and non-text block, determining whether the circumscribing rectangles overlap, decomposing overlapped rectangles based on the outline pairs, extracting image data based on the circumscribing rectangles for non-overlapped rectangles and based on the decomposed rectangles for overlapped rectangles, and processing the extracted image data.

Abstract: A data selection device which selects or rearranges data on the basis of the result of an arithmetic operation obtained by an arithmetic operation unit having a storage device for storing data with a capacity corresponding to the amount of data to be selected, an update device for updating the contents of the storage device on the basis of a comparison between the data stored in the storage device and the result of the arithmetic operation, and an initialization device for initializing the storage device according to the ascending or descending order of the output result.

Abstract: Pattern recognition system which provides an indication of the confidence with which a candidate is selected for an unknown pattern. The pattern recognition apparatus includes an image data input device, a host for segmenting the image data into unknown patterns, and a character recognition device for providing a candidate for each unknown pattern. The character recognition device includes a confidence level indicator for providing a confidence level indication. In one aspect, the confidence level indication is determined based on the proximity of an unknown pattern to a known pattern. In another aspect, the confidence level indication is determined based on the consistency with which the unknown pattern is recognized using different recognition functions. In yet another aspect, the confidence level indication is determined by ensuring that a candidate is not provided unless the candidate is closer than a predetermined distance from a known pattern.

Abstract: A printing or copying apparatus of a type provided with a recording medium, operable device for forming an image on the recording medium, device for operating a first signal required for the timing operation of the operable device, keys for instructing to start or stop the execution of image formation, first control device controlling the operable device in accordance with the first signal, and which comprises a memory for storing a program for operation control of the operable device for image formation, and second control device for controlling the first control device in accordance with the key instructing device for controlling the execution of image formation and for controlling at least one of the operable devices, and which comprises a memory for storing a program for operation control of the first control device.

Abstract: A sorting arrangement such as in a pattern recognizer employs a memory having N data storage locations. The same extreme value data signal is initially placed in each location. The memory locations are partitioned into two or more sections. A sequence of input signals having values other than the extreme value are received. The value of the current input signal is compared to the values of the data signals in the first section to determine a position for the input signal among the memory locations while, concurrently, the immediately preceding input signal is compared to the values of the data signals of the second section to determine a position for the immediately preceding input signal in the memory locations. The sorting is speeded up by the input signal overlap.

Abstract: This invention provides a sorting method and apparatus, in which identification codes and numeric information to be sorted assigned to these identification codes are entered. When there are a plurality of identification codes having equal numeric information, a first one of these identification codes is written in a first memory at an address corresponding to the numeric information. Next, if there is an identification code from a second identification code onward having numeric information equal to the abovementioned numeric information, this identification code is written in a second memory at an address corresponding to the previously entered identification code. The identification codes thus stored are read out in the order of the addresses of the first memory.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a read unit for reading image information from an original text, a detection unit for detecting position information of the image information, and a conversion unit for converting the position information in accordance with the output of the detection unit.

Abstract: A printing or copying apparatus of a type provided with a recording medium, operable device for forming an image on the recording medium, device for operating a first signal required for the timing operation of the operable device, keys for instructing to start or stop the execution of image formation, first control device controlling the operable device in accordance with the first signal, and which comprises a memory for storing a program for operation control of the operable device for image formation, and second control device for controlling the first control device in accordance with the key instructing device for controlling the execution of image formation and for controlling at least one of the operable devices, and which comprises a memory for storing a program for operation control of the first control device.

Abstract: A printing or copying apparatus of a type provided with a recording medium, operable device for forming an image on the recording medium, device for operating a first signal required for the timing operation of the operable device, keys for instructing to start or stop the execution of image formation, first control device controlling the operable device in accordance with the first signal, and which comprises a memory for storing a program for operation control of the operable device for image formation, and second control device for controlling the first control device in accordance with the key instructing device for controlling the execution of image formation and for controlling at least one of the operable devices, and which comprises a memory for storing a program for operation control of the first control device.

Abstract: A printing or copying apparatus of a type provided with a recording medium, operable device for forming an image on the recording medium, device for operating a first signal required for the timing operation of the operable device, keys for instructing to start or stop the execution of image formation, first control device controlling the operable device in accordance with the first signal, and which comprises a memory for storing a program for operation control of the operable device for image formation, and second control device for controlling the first control device in accordance with the key instructing device for controlling the execution of image formation and for controlling at least one of the operable devices, and which comprises a memory for storing a program for operation control of the first control device.