Where The Image Is An Alphanumeric Character Patents (Class 382/301)
  • Patent number: 11393166
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media that generate sample circle representations for digital shapes. For example, the disclosed systems can generate a sample circle representation for a digital shape by selecting a subset of sample circles generated using a medial axis corresponding to the digital shape. In some embodiments, the disclosed systems generate the sample circle representation for the digital shape by generating one or more enclosing circles based on one or more sampled boundary points of the digital shape. In some embodiments, the disclosed systems generate the sample circle representation for the digital shape by further connecting the sample circles generated for the digital shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Adobe Inc.
    Inventor: Li-Yi Wei
  • Patent number: 9712702
    Abstract: An imaging station includes at least one camera and at least one computing device, the at least one computing device being communicatively coupled to the at least one camera, wherein the at least one computing device is configured to receive raw image data of a physical document from the at least one camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: ArcaSearch Corporation
    Inventor: Calvin G. Sixta
  • Patent number: 9098888
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide methods and systems for identifying text in an image by applying suitable text detection parameters in text detection. The suitable text detection parameters can be determined based on parameter metric feedback from one or more text identification subtasks, such as text detection, text recognition, preprocessing, character set mapping, pattern matching and validation. In some embodiments, the image can be defined into one or more image regions by performing glyph detection on the image. Text detection parameters applying to each of the one or more image regions can be adjusted based on measured one or more parameter metrics in the respective image region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: A9.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaofan Lin, Adam Wiggen Kraft, Yu Lou, Douglas Ryan Gray, Colin Jon Taylor
  • Patent number: 8977059
    Abstract: Integrating features is disclosed, including: determining a value associated with a temporal feature for a point; determining a value associated with a spatial feature associated with the temporal feature; including the value associated with a spatial feature and the value associated with the temporal feature into a feature vector; and using the feature vector to decode for a character. Determining a transform is also disclosed, including: determining, for a point associated with a sequence of points, a set of points including: the point, a first subset of points of the sequence preceding a sequence position associated with the point, and a second subset of points following the sequence position associated with the point; and determining the transform associated with the point based at least in part on the set of points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jerome R. Bellegarda, Jannes G. A. Dolfing, Devang K. Naik
  • Patent number: 8941864
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image processing apparatus which (i) determines whether or not characters to be subjected to a character recognition process in image data have a size larger than a predetermined size, (ii) in a case where the characters is determined as larger than the predetermined size, reduces at least a region including the characters so that the size of the characters fits within the predetermined size, and (iii) performs a character recognition process of the characters with use of the reduced image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Hirohata, Akihito Yoshida, Atsuhisa Morimoto, Yohsuke Konishi
  • Patent number: 8873890
    Abstract: A reading machine that operates in various modes includes image correction processing is described. The reading device pre-processes an image for optical character recognition by receiving the image and determining whether text in the image is too large or small for optical character recognition processing by determining that text height falls outside of a range in which optical character recognition software will recognize text in a digitized image. If necessary the image is resized according to whether the text is too large or too small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: K-NFB Reading Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond C. Kurzweil, Paul Albrecht, Lucy Gibson
  • Patent number: 8761511
    Abstract: A computer implemented that, in various aspects, transforms a grayscale image into an OCR image by applying a combination of steps to the grayscale image is disclosed herein. The grayscale image may include one or more alphanumeric characters. The grayscale image may includes visual content displayed upon a computer screen, so that the grayscale image may have a resolution generally equivalent to a screen resolution of the computer screen prior to application of the combination of steps thereto. The resultant OCR image, in various implementations, is of sufficient resolution and quality that an OCR engine can generally recognize alphanumeric characters imbedded within the OCR image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Inventor: F. Scott Deaver
  • Patent number: 8755629
    Abstract: A computer implemented system and method for composing a formatted text input to improve legibility, readability and/or print economy while preserving the format of the text input and satisfying any user selected aesthetic constraints. An information measure (IM) is assigned to each character in a language unit. Multiple different IMs are assigned to each character and combined to form a combined IM (CIM) for each character indicating the predictability of that character to differentiate the language unit from other language units. The process is repeated for at least a plurality of language units and typically until all the text input has been analyzed and information measures assigned to all of the characters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Language Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Bever, Christopher D. Nicholas, Roeland Hancock, Keith W. Alcock, Steven M. Jandreau
  • Patent number: 8577181
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for determining content to be displayed includes determining a first size aspect of first content that is to be presented in a graphical user interface. The method includes obtaining second content and causing the second content to be presented in the graphical user interface with the first content, wherein the second content has a second size aspect with a predefined relationship to the first size aspect. A system includes a size determining module determining a first size aspect of first content that is to be presented in a graphical user interface. The system includes a content module obtaining second content based on the first size aspect, the second content having a second size aspect with a predefined relationship to the first size aspect. The system includes a page generating module causing the second content to be presented in the graphical user interface with the first content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Joseph Badros, Matthew I. Lloyd
  • Patent number: 8417057
    Abstract: A method of compensating for distortion in text recognition is provided, which includes extracting a text region from an image; estimating the form of an upper end of the extracted text region; estimating the form of a lower end of the extracted text region; estimating the form of left and right sides of the extracted text region; estimating a diagram constituted in the form of the estimated upper end, lower end, left and right sides, and including a minimum area of the text region; and transforming the text region constituting the estimated diagram into a rectangular diagram using an affine transform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Industry Foundation of Chonnam National University
    Inventors: Sang-Wook Oh, Seong-Taek Hwang, Hyun-Soo Kim, Sang-Ho Kim, Guee-Sang Lee, Soo-Hyung Kim, Hyung-Jeong Yang, Eui-Chul Kim
  • Patent number: 8355025
    Abstract: A system and method for displaying text are described. According to embodiments of the invention, the system and methods describe operations for displaying text, where the text does not include hints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Alan Zimmer
  • Patent number: 8339642
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system for processing character data is provided, which selects a format of the character data to be used for generating print data. When a user instruction for printing character data according to character command data specifying the output of the character data is received, the format of the character data is selected based on the character command data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Akiyoshi Ono
  • Patent number: 8306356
    Abstract: A computer implemented system, plug-in application and method for composing a formatted text input to improve legibility, readability and/or print economy while preserving the format of the text input and satisfying any user selected aesthetic constraints. This is accomplished by reading in blocks of text input having defined characters including letters and punctuation in a given input format. A language unit such as a lexical or sub-lexical unit, a subset of punctuation or another defined unit for a particular language is examined and an information measure (IM) is assigned to each character in the language unit indicating the predictability of that character to differentiate the language unit from other language units. Typically, multiple different IMs are assigned to each character and combined to form a combined IM (CIM).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Language Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G Bever, Christopher D Nicholas, Roeland Hancock, Keith W Alcock, Steven M Jandreau
  • Patent number: 8253763
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing device and method, a storage medium, and a program for performing high-quality enlargement processing. Of input image data, a data buffer 32 holds data of target-pixel neighborhood data necessary for the enlargement processing. A data-position swapping unit 33 swaps the data positions of the target-pixel neighborhood data, as needed. A pixel priority determining unit 34 determines background color or foreground color with respect to each pixel of the target-pixel neighborhood data whose data positions were sapped. A data-selection-flag determining unit 36 determines a data selection flag of the target-pixel neighborhood data, the data selection flag being supplied from the pixel priority determining unit 34.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Aoyama
  • Patent number: 8212833
    Abstract: A method for entering secure data at an input device includes displaying a graphical input region having input elements, such as a number keypad, and receiving selections of the input elements via a display selection device, such as a mouse or touch screen. An attribute of the displayed graphical input region is changed so that inputs by the display selection device change for the same data input. Examples include changing the position, size and/or layout of the input elements and/or graphical input region. The graphical input elements may instead be provided with two characters so that typing one character results in input of the corresponding character, and then changing the association of the characters on the displayed input elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: IPDEV Co.
    Inventor: James B. Kargman
  • Patent number: 8194983
    Abstract: The present invention provides method and system for preprocessing an image including one or more of Arabic text and non-text items for Optical Character Recognition (OCR). The method includes determining a plurality of components associated with one or more of the Arabic text and the non-text items, wherein a component includes a set of connected pixels. A first set of characteristic parameters is then calculated for the plurality of components. The plurality of components are subsequently merged based on the first set of characteristic parameters to form one or more of one or more sub-words and one or more words.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Inventors: Hussein Khalid Al-Omari, Mohammad Sulaiman Khorsheed
  • Patent number: 8150214
    Abstract: A method and a processing device may be provided for discovering and constructing multi-resolution images. Content, including an image, may be obtained from a specified address via a network and rendered to a display monitor of the processing device. The processing device may attempt to discover a second image, corresponding to the image included in the obtained content, but with a different resolution than a resolution of the image included in the obtained content. If the second image is discovered, the second image and the image included in the obtained content may be linked to create a multi-resolution image. If the image included in the content rendered to the display monitor is enlarged beyond a threshold, the rendered image may become pixelated. A high resolution image corresponding to and linked to the rendered image may be blended into the enlarged rendered image to eliminate pixelation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Karim Taji Farouki, Blaise Hilary Aguera-Arcas
  • Patent number: 8121441
    Abstract: A method and system for correcting the inclination of a scanned document in which two integers “a” and “b” are input to perform a rotation process. Each time an x-coordinate of a target pixel of a rotated image is changed by one pixel, “a” is added to a factor “kwy”. When “kwy” becomes more than or equal to “b”, “b” is subtracted from “kwy”, and a y-coordinate of a corresponding target pixel of an original image is changed by one pixel. Each time a y-coordinate of the target pixel is changed by one pixel, “a” is added to a factor “kwx”. When “kwx” becomes more than or equal to “b”, “b” is subtracted from “kwx”, and an x-coordinate of the corresponding target pixel of the original image is changed by one pixel. Four pixels including the corresponding target pixel are used to acquire a pixel value of the target pixel by two-dimensional interpolation by ratios acquired by dividing “kwx” and “kwy” respectively by “b”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Murata Machinery, Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsushi Minamino
  • Patent number: 8103099
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically recognizing words or phrases in text.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Richard S. Andel, Matthew T. Butt
  • Patent number: 7940272
    Abstract: A system and method for displaying text are described. According to embodiments of the invention, the system and methods describe operations for displaying text, where the text does not include hints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Alan Zimmer
  • Patent number: 7738737
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus sequentially reduces a document, while changing the reduction factor step-by-step. Next, the image processing apparatus refers to the characters that constitute the document that has been reduced with the respective reduction factors, and specifies a reduction factor at which blank regions surrounded by line portions that express each character do not disappear. When an appropriate reduction factor is specified, the image processing apparatus specifies a resolution of the characters for that reduction factor, and converts the resolution of the document data to that specified resolution. Then, the image processing apparatus performs various processing for the document data whose resolution has been converted. Thus the resolution of document data is converted such that the document is reduced with a reduction factor suitable for computer processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Itonori, Hiroaki Ikegami, Hideaki Ashikaga, Shunichi Kimura, Hiroki Yoshimura, Masanori Onda, Masahiro Kato, Masanori Satake
  • Publication number: 20100111419
    Abstract: An image display device includes: an acceptance unit that accepts image information including at least one character image as a processing object; a detection unit that detects a size of a character included in the accepted image information; an extraction unit that extracts at least one part of the image information as a display object image; a decision unit that decides an enlargement ratio or a reduction ratio based on a size of the character included in the extracted display object image, information on the size of the character detected by the detection unit, and information on a size range for the character; and a display unit that displays the extracted display object image enlarged or reduced at the enlargement ratio or the reduction ratio decided by the decision unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yukiyo UEHORI
  • Patent number: 7609269
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for assigning color values to pixels based on object structure. For example, when rendering a writing system symbol on an electronic display, a non-color characteristic of the symbol can be measured and the measurement can be used to select a color value for a pixel associated with the symbol. Legibility of open and closed line-based graphical objects can be increased by inferring spatial depth and distance through application of a color assignment model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Geraldine Wade, Tanya Matskewich
  • Patent number: 7561289
    Abstract: A method of editing a printed page comprises feeding a printed page into a multifunction printer with the printed page including text and at least one handwritten edit symbol. A first electronic printable file, which corresponds to the text of printed page, and at least one electronic edit symbol, which corresponds to the at least one handwritten edit symbol, are obtained via the multifunction printer. Via the multifunction printer, the first electronic printable file is electronically modified with at least one electronic edit instruction, which corresponds to the at least one electronic edit symbol, to create a second electronic printable file that includes the text modified according to the at least one handwritten edit symbol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Micheal Talley, Dana Jacobsen, Terry Fritz
  • Patent number: 7499055
    Abstract: The present invention employs the notion of a Chinese writing brush in moving a geometric figure to produce a style of calligraphy, where the area of the geometric figure is large or small, then the strokes of a character are thick or thin. Hence the purpose is that the variance of the strokes of a character can be achieved using the present invention. The present invention only decides a moving path for the strokes of a character and the size of a geometric figure at starting points and end points, and then moves the geometric figure along the moving path, where the area the geometric figure passes is the style of calligraphy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Yu-Jen Lin, Cheng-Peng Kuan, Chih-Chia Chien, Yun-Ei Wu
  • Patent number: 7447362
    Abstract: A system and method for decoding printed alphanumeric characters from images or video sequences captured by a wireless device, including the pre-processing of the image or video sequence to optimize processing in all subsequent steps, the searching of one or more grayscale images for key alphanumeric characters on a range of scales, the comparing of the values on the range of scales to a plurality of templates in order to determine the characteristics of the alphanumeric characters, the performing of additional comparisons to a plurality of templates to determine character lines, line edges, and line orientation, the processing of information from prior operations to determine the corrected scale and orientation of each line, the recognizing of the identity of each alphanumeric characters in a string of such characters, and the decoding of the entire character string in digitized alphanumeric format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: DSPV, Ltd.
    Inventor: Zvi Haim Lev
  • Patent number: 7348991
    Abstract: A text enhancement unit is introduced in order to alleviate the degradation of text characters on computer or television displays. The text enhancement unit uses an enhancement process to regain uniformity and intensity that may be lost during image processing. The text enhancer unit may be placed between an image processing unit such as a scaler, de-interlacer, or DSP, and a computer or television display to improve the quality of text characters that may have become degraded by image processing performed by the image processing unit. In one embodiment, the text enhancer unit improves contrast by multiplying pixel intensity by an intensity multiplier. In a second embodiment, the text enhancer unit improves contrast using a threshold operation which outputs either a very high or very low intensity pixel. In an third embodiment, the text enhancer unit improves contrast using a threshold operation which outputs either a very low intensity pixel or a pixel multiplied by an intensity multiplier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Silicon Image, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Keating, Duane P. Siemens
  • Patent number: 7336378
    Abstract: In an image processor for a character image included in an image data to be processed, character codes are recognized, and character sizes of the characters in the character image are recognized. A font data is selected in a plurality of font data of different sizes stored in a storage device, so as to match with the recognized character codes, the recognized font sizes and a magnification of the image data. The selected font data are outputted. Thus, the character image is reproduced by using the recognized character codes. Alternatively, in a saving mode where image data of N pages are outputted in M sheets of recording medium, wherein N is not equal to M, character codes are recognized in a character image included in N pages of image data to be processed. Then, a font data is selected in a plurality of font data, so as to match with the recognized character codes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihiko Ichikawa, Naoya Misawa, Yoshinori Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7305089
    Abstract: The camera includes a sensor for sensing the photographer's iris image and registering the image in advance. The iris image is recorded in the image of a subject by a digital MCU at a timing different from that at which the image of the subject is captured. The recording timing is that at which the camera power supply is turned off, that at which a recording medium is ejected from the camera or that at which the iris image to be recorded is changed to the registered iris image of another photographer. The recording of the iris image is achieved by embedding it as a watermark or by appending it to metadata.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Goichi Morikawa, Go Tokura
  • Patent number: 7292727
    Abstract: Described is electronic ink maintained as a software object, thereby associating ink functionality with electronic ink data. The ink may be separated into words or characters, with one object per word or character. By the associated functionality, applications that deal with embedded objects in general can automatically benefit from electronic ink, including having the object's functionality render the ink data as part the application's document. Further, because the ink data is maintained as an object, the data is automatically persisted in association with the document into which it is embedded. Ink-aware applications may call on methods of the electronic ink object to adjust formatting, search recognized ink along with text, and perform other functions. Via the electronic ink object, electronic ink substantially approaches much of the behavior normally available with text data, without requiring applications to interpret the ink data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Erik M. Geidl, Robert A. Dain, Donald D. Karlov
  • Patent number: 7173660
    Abstract: For an image to be displayed on a liquid crystal display, a thinning process is executed to reduce a number of pixels constructing the image. An original image of an information image is produced in accordance with a pixel number of a taken subject image. A low-pass-filter process is executed for the original image. After the low-pass-filter process, the processed original image is written in a data ROM as the information image. When a digital camera is operated, the information image is displayed on a screen of the liquid crystal display by using the data of the information image stored in the data ROM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeo Toji, Hiroshi Shimaya
  • Patent number: 6993209
    Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating a WYSIWYG relationship between character strings when rendered on a relatively low resolution device, such as a computer monitor, and the same character strings when rendered on a relatively high resolution device, such as a laser printer or commercial offset printing press, involve determining the difference in the widths of each character string when rendered in both the low resolution format and the high resolution format and inserting or deleting space as required between the individual characters in the character string such that the widths of the low resolution and high resolution strings are substantially equalized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: VistaPrint Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Alexander K. Schowtka, Anatoliy V. Tsykora
  • Patent number: 6983071
    Abstract: Image size converter 4 converts the size of the image data stored in image input part 1 to an arbitrary size and stores the converted data. Image enhancer 5 uses the character frame design data stored in character frame information memory 3 to extract, from the image stored in image size converter 4, an image of a region containing character frames, and enhances and stores this extracted image. Image outline detector 6 forms an outline image from the image obtained by image enhancer 5. Character frame center detector 7 uses the outline image to detect the coordinates of the centers of the character frames of the input image data. Character frame remover 8 uses the character frame center coordinates and the character frame design data to remove the character frames, and outputs the result from character image output part 9.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Daisuke Nishiwaki
  • Patent number: 6956979
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for magnifying information with contextual information. The user may configure the magnification mechanism to present some contextual information along with the focus being magnified. Particularly, a user may set “look ahead” and “look behind” parameters to specify a number of words or characters to include before and after the magnified word or words. The actual magnified word or words may be distinguished from the contextual information. For example, the word or words being magnified may be magnified to a size that is larger than that of the contextual information. The magnification mechanism may also present a magnified display of image information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Janani Janakiraman, Rabindranath Dutta
  • Patent number: 6836271
    Abstract: Character data to be displayed is obtained. The obtained character data is boldfaced by increasing a character line width of the obtained character data in a first direction by an amount corresponding to at least a width of a light-emitting element. A boldfaced character is displayed on a display screen in accordance with data derived from the boldfaced character data. In boldfacing the character data, a character line width-increasing pattern is selected in accordance with a degree to which the luminous intensity of the light-emitting elements contributes. In particular, the step of increasing the character line width in order to boldface the character data avoids a pattern in which a B-light (blue) emitting element is located at a next-to-endmost inner position of the increased character line width. A light-emitting pattern is selected in order to eliminate an isolated sub-pixel spot, which otherwise would objectionably be visible in the boldfaced character.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadanori Tezuka, Hiroyuki Yoshida, Bunpei Toji
  • Patent number: 6768497
    Abstract: A method for displaying visual information on a display screen of a computer, comprising the steps of scaling the visual information to produce a scaled representation to fit on the display screen the scaled representation containing the entire content of the visual information; selecting a region of interest within the scaled representation; applying a transformation to the scaled representation to improve the visual detail in the region of interest; and, displaying the transformed presentation on the display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Idelix Software Inc.
    Inventors: David J. P. Baar, M. Sheelagh T. Carpendale, David J. Cowperthwaite, Mark Tigges, Robert Komar, Jerome F. Bauer
  • Patent number: 6668101
    Abstract: An input image is converted into an image in a predetermined format. An optimal character recognition resolution determination unit determines, using the converted image, an optimal resolution to be used upon executing character recognition of the input image. A character recognition circuit executes character recognition of the input image on the basis of the determination result. An output circuit outputs the recognition result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kitahiro Kaneda
  • Patent number: 6661921
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus capable of performing high-quality image reproduction to even low-density and color characters in an original is provided. The character is recognized from an image, the character of the original is expanded into a dot font based on the recognition result, and the image is reproduced. Furthermore, the character density of the original is detected, a character style of the character used in the reproduction image is determined according to the detected character density, a size of the character used in the reproduction image is determined according to the detected character density, and density of the character used in the reproduction image is also determined according to the detected character density. Furthermore, a color of the character of the original is detected, and a color of the character used in the reproduction image is determined according to the detected character color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Tanioka
  • Patent number: 6625328
    Abstract: Pixel-level monitoring and reconfiguring of both text inter-word spacing and individual character widths minimizes undesirable moire′ channels and moire′-glyphs, and more particularly relates to operator-selected automatic intra-word space manipulation and automatic intra-character width manipulation to achieve a pleasing overall page effect with maximized freedom from moire′-maze and moire′-glyph visual effects, both in proportional spaced fonts and fixed-character-width fonts. Selective scrolling may be by black-spot instead of actual characters, to make the white moire′-effects stand out more clearly. The typesetter may alternate positive and negative, which is another way to emphasize the moire′-effects. A further sub-variant, called “blush,” causes graying of spaces which are so surrounded by characters that they cannot participate in moire′-effects. This emphasizes the actual moiré-effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Anvik Corporation
    Inventor: Carl C. Kling
  • Patent number: 6501475
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer-readable medium for generating a glyph-based outline font are provided, which allow for font communication between different devices having various (high and low) resolutions. A method selects a character for display on the output device. The character consists of one or more glyphs, and each glyph forming the character is predefined by key points, width values, feature points that have predefined spatial relationship to the key points and width values, and curve ratios prestored in a curve level table. Next, the method determines the resolution of an output device. Then, for each glyph forming the character, the method retrieves curve ratios from the prestored curve level table according to the determined resolution of the output device. Curve ratios are used to create curve segments, which form the outline of the selected glyph.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: DynaLab Inc.
    Inventor: Kuo-Young Cheng
  • Patent number: 6384828
    Abstract: Apparatus comprising a logic member and a shear member incorporating an upsampler are used to enlarge the number of pixels in at least one image dimension by a factor F=N/M, where N is a first given-valued integer, M is a second given-valued integer and 1<N/M≦2. The shear member shears the original image at certain positions of the one dimension that are determined solely by the value of factor F, thereby introducing zero-valued shear-gap pixels at each of the certain positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: NorthShore Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: James Henry Arbeiter, Roger Frank Bessler
  • Patent number: 6157750
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an outline font. The purpose lies in supplying a transforming and rendering method in the shape where the important form of the shape, such as the thickness of the stroke, will be maintained from the basic shape, and at the same time the whole size of the shape can be fitted into a given bounding box. The present invention supplies the transformation method of a handwriting font including searching for the medial axis of a given element, obtaining contact points by using maximal inscribed circles with the medial axis and points of the medial axis as a center, and applying the information about the medial axis points and the contact points in case of a transformation of the element in the transformation method of handwriting where a given element can be optionally transformed in sizes in order to achieve the purpose. The present invention enables the transformation of the shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignees: Hyundai Electronics Industries Co., Ltd., Hyundai Media Systems Co., Ltd., Hyeong In Choi
    Inventors: Hyeong In Choi, Nam Sook Wee, Kyung Hwan Park, Sung Jin Lee, Sung Woo Choi, Hwan Pyo Moon, Seung Won Song, Myung Joo Baek, Jin Young Kim, Shin Hae Tahk, Hyun Joo Choi, Hal Lan Yang, Jeong Han Kim
  • Patent number: 6011879
    Abstract: Character normalization is accomplished using a scaling program. Data input to a scaling program are character images and character parameters (height of result buffer frame, character height, character width and character location), and parameters calculated for scaling (the size of a normalized portion to be output; and the top and bottom and the left and right hand spaces of a normalization pattern to be output). In the present invention, normalization is performed by adjusting the parameters, without especially changing the processing flow. A threshold value is provided in accordance with the size and the location of an input character in order to change a calculation method for parameters that are to be transmitted to the scaling program. Since the values at the boundary of the threshold value are continuous, no discontinuity appears in a resultant normalized image that covers the range from small characters to large characters, and seamless normalization is therefore accomplished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Naoyuki Nemoto, Hiroyasu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 5991441
    Abstract: A handwritten character recognizer having an input cluster buffer and a point buffer with dynamic and static stroke feature extraction and segment analysis by conical boundaries for identification of stroke segments dynamic stroke feature extractor static stroke feature extractor. A stroke recognizer compares single copies of idealized stroke representations with hierarchically approximated multiple scaled topological representations of a current stroke, followed by stroke proportion discrimination comparing a selected topological representation of the current stroke with boundaries defined by linear combinations of features of direct and reversed ideal stroke prototypes to provide a stroke identification. A cluster recognizer maintains a time ordered current stroke buffer and previous stroke buffer and constructs a per stroke area of influence list. The time ordered buffers are scanned to generate a spatially ordered window buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Wang Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Alexander N. Jourjine
  • Patent number: 5966475
    Abstract: Described above is a method of enlarging a character that is represented by a reference pattern of pixels. The method includes a step of converting pixels of the reference pattern to corresponding rectangles of pixels in an enlarged pattern of pixels. Further steps includes identifying acute right angles in the reference pattern, wherein each such acute right angle has horizontal and vertical edges with corresponding lengths, and determining the lengths of the horizontal and vertical edges of the acute right angles. Right angles neighboring identified acute right angles are also found and the lengths of their edges are calculated. A determination of whether to smooth a right angle in the enlarged pattern is made by examining the corresponding right angle in the reference pattern and its neighboring right angles. Specifically, the determination is made based upon the lengths of the edges of the various right angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Siew Keng Koon, Xue Feng Shen
  • Patent number: 5953465
    Abstract: A judgment is made as to whether an interpolation point in an original image is or is not located at an image edge portion. The judgment is made by using a threshold value having been set such that, as a desired level of sharpness of an interpolation image obtained from interpolation processing becomes low, the threshold value may become large. When an interpolation point is judged as being located at an image edge portion, an interpolated image signal component corresponding to the interpolation point is calculated with interpolation processing capable of keeping the image edge portion sharp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeru Saotome
  • Patent number: 5930408
    Abstract: A character processing apparatus for recognizing coordinate information expressing a character, an exterior outline, an interior outline, a horizontal line and a vertical line; classifying the coordinate information expressing a character, the exterior outline, the interior outline, the horizontal line and the vertical line, and then determining a pair of the horizontal line and the vertical line; and setting a skipping order at the time of low pixel so as to be converted into character data for a bit map development composed of a control point coordinate for expressing the outline of the subject character, band information and coordinate value information about the control point which is not included in the band information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kunio Seto
  • Patent number: 5896470
    Abstract: With an image processor of the present invention, when a reduction mode is selected, image data of a document is stored, and whether the image data includes a character or not is detected. If no character is recognized, copying is performed. On the other hand, if a character is recognized, the character is reduced. Subsequently, the reduced character is re-recognized, and an unrecognized character rate is calculated. If the unrecognized character rate is smaller than a reference rate, copying is performed and the reduction mode comes to an end. On the other hand, if the unrecognized character rate is higher than or equal to the reference rate, a warning massage is displayed to show that reduction processing is unavailable so as to terminate the copying operation, or correct the reduced character while comparing the previously recognized character with the reduced character and start copying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masao Miyaza
  • Patent number: 5892844
    Abstract: An image forming process system in which an original document which includes characters to be copies is scanned. A desired magnification ratio for magnifying the original document can also be input. Further, the characters in the original document are segmented for magnifying the characters by the desired magnification ratio. This magnification operation is performed such that only the characters in the segments are magnified so that the copied and magnified characters are centered at the segments, and such that a size of the copied document is the same as the size of the original document. An operation may further be provided in which the input desired magnification ratio is based on an operator inputting a minimum distance to be maintained between the characters after the magnifying operation, so that the input magnification ratio is calculated based on this minimum distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuo Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 5845083
    Abstract: A multimedia data encoding and decoding system capable of handling various types of data arranged in variable-size blocks. Frames of image, graphics and text data are supplied to a frame buffer. In response to an encoding command from a CPU, an MPEG encoder compresses the data from the frame buffer in accordance with the MPEG compression algorithm, and outputs to a texture buffer a variable-size data block that corresponds to the frame portion to be displayed. The size of the data block is set by the CPU, and may vary from one macroblock to, e.g., 22.times.16 macroblocks (one frame for MPEG-1). An MPEG decoder reads the variable-size data block from the texture buffer, decompresses and supplies it to a graphics engine that manipulates various type of data to create a picture to be displayed at a video monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Semiconductor America, Inc.
    Inventors: Mehrdad Hamadani, Rom-Shen Kao