Character information recognition method based on image processing

A character information recognition method based on image processing, applicable to a device having a camera module and a computer, wherein the camera module is mounted on a water meter, wherein the character information recognition method comprises the steps of:

• (a) collecting images of a character wheel of the water meter using the camera module, and obtaining target character images by image preprocessing through the computer, wherein each of the target character images is formed by a background and a target character to be recognized on the background;
• (b) for one target character image, through the computer, sequentially comparing the target character image with character template images in a character template library to find out a maximum of a coincidence area between the target character in the target character image and a character template in one character template image, and determining the target character to be recognized as a character in a corresponding character template image when the coincidence area meets a preset condition, so as to obtain a number recognition result of the character wheel;
• and
• (c) uploading the number recognition result,
• wherein the character template images within a specified range constitute the character template library;
• each character template image formed by a background and a character template at a set position on the background is a standard binarized character image;
• the character template of each character template image comprises a coincidence-permitted region, and the character template of at least one character template image comprises a coincidence-restricted region;
• the coincidence-permitted region is a set standard character;
• and the coincidence-restricted region is outside of the coincidence-permitted region and is a key region block for differentiating from the other character templates,
• wherein the step (b) comprising:
• for one target character image, while the target character image is sequentially compared with the character template images in the character template library, synchronously calculating a coincidence rate between the target character image and each character template image participating in comparison;
• and determining the magnitude of the coincidence rate, wherein when the magnitude of the coincidence rate reaches a default condition, the target character to be recognized is recognized as the character of the corresponding character template image,
• wherein the coincidence rate is positively related to a number of pixels of the target character image coinciding with the coincidence-permitted region, and to a number of pixels of the target character image not coinciding with the coincidence-restricted region.