# US 2022/0284690 A1 · Reading system, reading method, and storage medium > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2022/0284690 A1 - Document ID: US20220284690A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/749,771 - Filed: 2022-05-20 - Published: 2022-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-03-23 - Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba; Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation - Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba; Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation - Inventors: Chiayu LIN; Tsubasa KUSAKA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220284690A1 ## CPC - G06V 10/25: Determination of region of interest [ROI] or a volume of interest [VOI] - G06T 3/00: Geometric image transformations in the plane of the image - G06T 7/543: from line drawings - G06T 7/564: from contours - G06T 7/60: Analysis of geometric attributes - G06T 7/73: using feature-based methods - G06V 10/44: Local feature extraction by analysis of parts of the pattern, e.g. by detecting edges, contours, loops, corners, strokes or intersections; Connectivity analysis, e.g. of connected components - G06V 2201/02: Recognising information on displays, dials, clocks - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL ## Abstract According to one embodiment, a reading system includes an extractor, a generator, a corrector, and a reader. The extractor extracts a first candidate region from an input image. The first candidate region is of a candidate of a region in which a meter is imaged. The generator generates a rectangle around the first candidate region when an exterior form of the first candidate region is circular. The rectangle corresponds to the exterior form of the first candidate region. The corrector generates a second candidate region by using the generated rectangle to correct the exterior form of the first candidate region to approach a perfect circle. The reader reads, from the second candidate region, a numerical value indicated by the meter. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A processor, the processor detecting a central region including a center of a meter in a case where an exterior form of a first candidate region is circular, the first candidate region being of a candidate of a region in which the meter is imaged and included in an input image, the central region being detected by using a pointer and a graduation of the meter, and the processor generating a rectangle around the first candidate region based on a detection result of the central region, the rectangle corresponding to the exterior form of the first candidate region. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The processor according to claim 1, wherein the processor generates a second candidate region by approximating the exterior form of the first candidate region as a circle using the generated rectangle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The processor according to claim 2, wherein the processor reads, from the second candidate region, a numerical value indicated by the meter. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The processor according to claim 3, wherein when generating the second candidate region, the processor: approximates an outer edge of the second candidate region as a circle; calculates an error amount between the approximated circle and the outer edge of the second candidate region; and reads the numerical value from the second candidate region in a case where the error amount is less than a first threshold. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The processor according to claim 3, wherein when generating the second candidate region, the processor: calculates an error amount by inverting a portion of the outer edge of the second candidate region and overlaying the inverted portion and an other portion of the outer edge of the second candidate region; and reads the numerical value from the second candidate region in a case where the error amount is less than a first threshold. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The processor according to claim 4, wherein the processor generates an other of the rectangles around the first candidate region in a case where the error amount is not less than the first threshold, when generating the second candidate region, the processor: generates an other of the second candidate regions by using the other of the rectangles to correct the first candidate region; and reads the numerical value from the other of the second candidate regions in a case where the error amount based on the other of the second candidate regions is less than the first threshold. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The processor according to claim 5, wherein the processor generates a plurality of others of the rectangles around the first candidate region in a case where the error amount is not less than the first threshold, when generating the second candidate region, the processor: generates a plurality of others of the second candidate regions by using the plurality of others of the rectangles to correct the first candidate region; calculates a plurality of the error amounts based on the plurality of others of the second candidate regions; and reads the numerical value from the other of the second candidate regions in which a minimum of the error amounts is obtained. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The processor according to claim 3, wherein when reading the numerical value, the processor: recognizes a plurality of graduations from the second candidate region; calculates a deviation amount of at least one of spacings between the graduations, widths of the graduations, or angles between the graduations; and reads the numerical value from the second candidate region in a case where the deviation amount is less than a second threshold, the second threshold being preset. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The processor according to claim 8, wherein the processor: generates an other of the rectangles around the first candidate region in a case where the deviation amount is not less than the second threshold; generates an other of the second candidate regions by using the other of the rectangles to correct the first candidate region; and reads the numerical value from the other of the second candidate regions when the deviation amount based on the other of the second candidate regions is less than the second threshold. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The processor according to claim 8, wherein the processor: generates a plurality of others of the rectangles around the first candidate region when the error amount is not less than the second threshold, generates a plurality of others of the second candidate regions by using the plurality of others of the rectangles to correct the first candidate region; calculates a plurality of the deviation amounts based on the plurality of others of the second candidate regions; and reads the numerical value from the other of the second candidate regions in which a minimum of the deviation amounts is obtained. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The processor according to claim 1, wherein the processor in a case where the exterior form of the first candidate region is circular, the processor: sets a center point of the meter by using at least one of a density of graduations in the first candidate region, an intersection of extension lines of graduations in the first candidate region, or an intersection of a pointer and a minor axis in the first candidate region; and generates the rectangle by using a plurality of distances from the center point to the outer edge of the first candidate region. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The processor according to claim 1, wherein the processor generates the rectangle to circumscribe the first candidate region. ### Claim 13 A reading method, the reading method causing a computer to: detect a central region including a center of a meter in a case where an exterior form of a first candidate region is circular, the first candidate region being of a candidate of a region in which the meter is imaged and included in an input image, the central region being detected by using a pointer and a graduation of the meter, and generate a rectangle around the first candidate region based on a detection result of the central region, the rectangle corresponding to the exterior form of the first candidate region. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The reading method according to claim 13, wherein the reading method causing the computer to generates a second candidate region by approximating the exterior form of the first candidate region as a circle using the generated rectangle. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The reading method according to claim 14, wherein the reading method causing the computer to reads, from the second candidate region, a numerical value indicated by the meter. ### Claim 16 A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a program, the program causing a computer to: detecting a central region including a center of a meter in a case where an exterior form of a first candidate region is circular, the first candidate region being of a candidate of a region in which the meter is imaged and included in an input image, the central region being detected by using a pointer and a graduation of the meter; and generating a rectangle around the first candidate region based on a detection result of the central region, the rectangle corresponding to the exterior form of the first candidate region. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The storage medium according to claim 16, wherein the program causing the computer to generates a second candidate region by approximating the exterior form of the first candidate region as a circle using the generated rectangle. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The storage medium according to claim 17, wherein the program causing the computer to reads, from the second candidate region, a numerical value indicated by the meter.