US 6,529,645 B2Granted

Recording method and apparatus

AssigneeC Technologies AB

InventorsChrister Fåhraeus, Jan Nilsson, Patrik Söderlund

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Abstract

In a method for recording a selected sequence of characters with the aid of a pen, the latter is passed over the sequence of characters and a plurality of images, whose contents partially overlap, are recorded simultaneously with the aid of a light-sensitive sensor (8) with a two-dimensional sensor surface. The recorded images are put together, horizontally as well as vertically, into an image. Subsequently, the characters in the composite image are identified and stored in the pen with the aid of a predetermined character code formal. The putting-together, the character identification, and the storing are carried out with the aid of a signal processing unit (20-24). By the method and the pen compensation is obtained for different speeds of movement and different angles of rotation of the pen.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method for recording a selected sequence of characters with the aid of a portable scanner, comprising the steps of:

passing the portable scanner over a selected character sequence;
imaging the selected character sequence by means of a plurality of images, whereby the content of a second image partly overlaps the content of at least one preceding first image;
for every possible overlap position between the second and first images, an overlap measurement is determined at the pixel level;
for each overlapping pixel position, the grey scale values of the two pixels included are added up if the latter are not white, whereby a pixel position in which none of the pixels are white is designated a plus position;
the greyscale sums for all the plus positions are added up to a grand greyscale sum;
the neighbors of each pixel position are examined and if an overlapping pixel position is not a neighbor of a plus position and consists of a pixel which is white and a pixel position which is not white, the greyscale value of the non-white pixel is subtracted from the grand greyscale sum;
selecting the overlap position which provides the highest grand greyscale sum;
combining the second and first images by means of said overlap position for generating a composite image from said second and first images;
identifying the characters in the composite image;
and
storing the identified characters in the portable scanner with the aid of a predetermined character code format.

8 more elements

A method for recording a selected sequence characters with the aid of a portable scanner, comprising the steps of:

passing the portable scanner over a selected character sequence;
imaging the selected character sequence by means of a plurality of images, such that the content of a second image partly overlaps the content of at least one preceding first image;
for each overlapping pixel position, the grey scale values of the two pixels included are added up if the latter are not white, whereby a pixel position in which none of the pixels are white is designated a plus position;
the greyscale sums for all the plus positions are added up to a grand greyscale sum;
the neighbors of each pixel position are examined and if an overlapping pixel position is not a neighbor of a plus position and consists of a pixel which is white and a pixel position which is not white, the greyscale value of the non-white pixel is subtracted from the grand greyscale sum;
and
selecting one overlap position which provides the highest grand greyscale sum;
combining the second and first images by means of said overlap position such that a composite image is generated from said second and first images and such that compensation is obtained for different speeds of movement and different angles of rotation of the pen;
determining a pixel intensity value in said composite image for each overlapping pixel, which composite pixel intensity value is based on the intensity values of the pixel in the second and first images;
identifying the characters in the composite image;
and
storing the identified characters in the portable scanner with the aid of a predetermined character code format.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/301,856Filed 29 Apr 1999 · continuation
Priority: SE 96040081 Nov 1996
Published: US 2002/0001418 A13 Jan 2002
Granted: 4 Mar 2003
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

H04N 1/1075
With manual scanning: arrangements for facilitating holding of the scanner, e.g. shapes, grips
G06V 30/142
Image acquisition: using hand-held instruments; Constructional details of the instruments
H04N 1/107
Using flat picture-bearing surfaces: with manual scanning
H04N 1/195
Using multi-element arrays: the array comprising a two-dimensional [2D] array