JPS59211173A - Writing tool switching read system of optical character reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain the automatic recognition of a character with a proper level for an optical character reader by controlling a filter based on the contents of the decision area of a prescribed writing tool. CONSTITUTION:A light source lamp 2 irradiates the light on an input form 7 which moves toward an arrow A at a fixed speed. A filter 4 contains a pencil filter 4a and a ball pen filter 4b and can move toward an arrow B. A position deciding circuit 10 feeds the image of a writing tool decision area 1' to a line buffer 8 in accordance with vertical and horizontal distances VC and VH on the form 7. An input part 20 feeds the image on the form 7 to the buffer 8. A writing tool deciding circuit 30 decides a pencil or a ball pen based on the contents of the area 1' among the data fed to the buffer 8. A writing tool changing a circuit 40 changes the constitution of an optical character reader to fit for the pencil or ball pen in accordance with the contents decided by the circuit 30.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a pencil/ballpoint pen switching reading method in an optical character reading device, and in particular, the present invention relates to a pencil/ballpoint pen switching reading method in an optical character reading device. The present invention relates to a pencil/ballpoint pen switching reading method in an optical character reading device that enables reading of forms regardless of the type of document.

With conventional optical character reading devices, even if the characters are the same, the characters written with a pencil and the characters written with a ballpoint pen have completely different character patterns due to the differences in the characteristics of the writing instruments, and the characters may not be read. . To avoid this, it is necessary to separate forms filled in with a pencil and forms filled in with a ballpoint pen, and then switch the device to use the pencil or ballpoint pen to read each form separately. There wasn't.

In other words, with conventional optical character reading devices, it is necessary to distinguish and read whether the writing instrument used on a form is a pencil or a ballpoint pen before setting the form into the device. Although there are devices that can be used to read a mixture of writing instruments using the same hardware, the reading rate tends to be lower than when writing instruments are separated and read separately due to differences in the characteristics of the writing instruments.

It is an object of the present invention to solve such drawbacks in conventional devices, and to eliminate the need to separate documents filled in with a pencil or ballpoint pen, and to enable reading of documents in one go. Pencil/ballpoint pen switching reading in an optical character reading device. The purpose is to provide a method.

Another object of the present invention is to determine whether it is a pencil or a ballpoint pen by itself, and if it is a pencil, it is a 71-dware (H/W) for pencils.
A pencil/ballpoint pen switching reading method in an optical character reading device that makes it possible to read with a single device by reading the ballpoint pen with the hardware (H/W) for the ballpoint pen. Our goal is to provide the following.

According to the present invention, in an optical character reading device that reads characters written on an input form via a human power section including an optical system, the input form has a determination area for determining one of at least two types of writing instruments; and at least two types of filters provided in the input section and switchable depending on the writing instrument.

a determination circuit for determining the type of handwriting written in the determination area; and a determination circuit operated by an output signal of the determination circuit to position one of at least two types of filters in the input section on the optical system. This article describes a writing instrument switching reading method in an optical character reading device characterized by having a changing circuit for changing.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a switching reading method for writing instruments in an optical character m-taking device according to claim 11, characterized in that at least two types of filters are a pencil filter and a ballpoint pen filter. It will be done.

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an input form used in one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the input form 7 used in this embodiment
A frame 1 is provided on the writing surface for writing characters, symbols, etc., and a frame (area) 1' for determining a writing instrument is further provided at the upper right.

This frame (area) 1' is a vertical distance V from the upper right edge of the form.
It is installed at a distance Hc in the horizontal direction from c.
For example, this is an area where entries are made using the same writing instrument such as a pencil/ballpoint pen used in entry frame 1.

FIG. 2 shows an input section including an optical system used in this embodiment. In FIG. 2, the optical system of the input section includes a light source lamp 2 that illuminates a manual form 7 moving at a constant speed in the direction of the arrow, and a mirror 3 that receives reflected light from the form 7 and refracts the light.
, a filter 4 that passes the light from the mirror 3, a condensing lens 5 that condenses the light from the filter 4, and the condensing lens 5.
The line buffer 8 includes a sensor 6 that receives light that passes through the sensor 6, and the light detected by the sensor 6 is converted into an electrical signal and stored in a line buffer 8.

The filter 4 includes a pencil filter 4a and a ballpoint pen filter 4b, and is movable in the direction of arrow B. The light emitted from the lamp 2 hits the form 7 and becomes light reflected from the form 7. The light is further changed direction by the mirror 3 and supplied to the filter 4.

After changing the light characteristics, this light is focused by a lens 5 and enters a CCD sensor 6 which is a line sensor.

One input to the CCD sensor 6 is image data of one bit vertically and one row horizontally, as shown in FIG. 3(a). C.C.
The D sensor 6 sequentially sends the image data of the form 7 to the line buffer. The line buffer 8 becomes full as the data from the CCD sensor 6 is repeated N times, and the line buffer 8 has a size of '1'' shown in FIG. 3(b).
, 0'''' dot pattern image data is input.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4, this embodiment shows that the pencil/ballpoint pen (writing instrument) is
a position determination circuit 10 for inputting the image of the judgment area 1' into the line buffer 8; an input section 20 for inputting the image on the form into the line buffer 8; There is a writing implement determination circuit 30 that determines whether it is a pencil or a ballpoint pen based on the content of the pencil/ballpoint pen determination area 1', and the configuration of the device is changed to, for example, a pencil or a ballpoint pen based on the content determined by the determination circuit 30. Writing instrument change circuit 40
including. The light irradiated from the lamp 2 passes through an optical system, changes the light characteristics by a filter 4, and then is sent to a CCD sensor 6.
to go into. The CCD sensor 6 sequentially sends image data of the form 7 to the line buffer 8. The starting position determining circuit 10 stores an image corresponding to the pencil/ballpoint pen determination area 1' in the line buffer 8 based on the distances Hc and Vc shown in FIG.
The form 7 is positioned in the center of the form 7, and the image of the form 7 is input into the line buffer 8. Next, the input unit 20 supplies the signal from the line buffer 8 to a determination circuit 30 that determines whether the signal is a pencil/ballpoint pen, and checks the contents of the determination area 1 written with a memorization tool such as a pencil/ballpoint pen. If the content of the form 7 satisfies a certain unfavorable condition, it is assumed that the form is either a pencil or a ballpoint pen, and feedback is sent to the writing instrument change circuit 40, and the character reading frame (area) 1 of the form 7 is read with a lead pad or a ballpoint pen. Switch the filter 4 to filter 4a or filter 4b for reading.

Therefore, in this embodiment, separate filters are provided for memorization instruments such as pencils and ballpoint pens, and the filters are switched depending on the writing instrument written in one judgment area.

As explained above, the present invention controls the level at which a form image is taken into the line buffer by controlling the filter according to the content of the judgment area of the writing instrument set in advance, and automatically processes forms written with a pencil or ballpoint pen. Recognition can be made possible at an appropriate level.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a form in an optical character reading device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the states of scanning lines and line buffers in this embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an optical character reading device according to one embodiment of the present invention. 1... Writing instrument writing area, 1'... Writing instrument judgment area, 2... Light source lamp, 3...
... Mirror, 4 ... Filter, 5 ... Condensing lens, 6 ... CCD sensor. 7...Form, 8...Line buffer,
10...Start position determining circuit, 20...
Input section, 30...Writing implement judgment circuit, 40...
...Writing instrument change circuit. 9-

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In an optical character reading device that reads characters written on an input form via an input unit including an optical system, the input form has a determination area for determining one of at least two types of writing instruments; At least two types of filters are provided in the input section and can be switched according to the writing instrument; a judgment circuit that judges the type of writing instrument written in the judgment area; 1. A writing instrument switching reading system in an optical character reading device, comprising a changing circuit for changing the position of one of at least two types of filters on the optical system. (2) A writing instrument switching reading system in an optical character reading device according to claim (1), wherein the at least two types of filters are a pencil filter and a ballpoint pen filter.