JPH02214976A - Electronic translator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To recognize such a word that is printed in characters of light colors on an original of a dark color like the recognition of the normal works by using a picture deciding means which decides the white/black inverted characters. CONSTITUTION:A controller 4 includes a picture deciding means which decides the image data fetched from the picture reading means 1-3 are equal to the white/black inverted characters or not, a recognizing means which recognizes the fetched image data for each character, and a retrieving means which retrieves the recognized character strings out of a translation dictionary. The picture deciding means decides a white/black inverted character when the number of black dots is larger than that of white dots and inverts totally the image data. As a result, the white/black inverted characters can be translated by recognizing these characters after correcting them into the normal character data.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to an electronic translator.

[Prior Art] Conventional electronic translators have translated words printed in black or dark-colored characters on white or light-colored originals.

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention 1 However, conventional electronic translators have a problem in that they cannot translate words printed in light-colored characters on a dark-colored document surface, such as inverted white/black characters. Was. The present invention is intended to solve these conventional problems, and its purpose is to recognize dark-colored characters on a normal light-colored document surface, and also to recognize dark-colored characters such as white/black inverted characters. The purpose is to recognize and translate light-colored characters on colored manuscripts.

[Means for Solving the Problems 1] The electronic translator of the present invention comprises: a) an image reading means for reading words on a document surface as image data; 1)) converting the image data read by the image reading means into one character c) an image determining means for determining whether the image data captured by the image reading means is a white/black inverted character; and d) a search for searching the character string recognized by the recognition means in an illll section dictionary. e) display means for displaying the words obtained by the search means, and in the case of white/black inverted characters by the image judgment means, total inversion of the image data taken in by the image reading means and recognition means again; It is characterized by the ability to simultaneously perform electronic translation of white/black inverted characters.

[Operation] For character recognition, one character's worth of image data is extracted from all the captured image data, and the character is identified by pattern matching. When cutting out this character, it is necessary to draw out the outline of the character. When light-colored characters, such as white/black inverted characters, are printed on a dark-colored document surface, the dark-colored part on the same side of the character is cut out as an image of the character, resulting in erroneous recognition.

[Embodiment 1] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings. In FIG. 1, the document surface is irradiated by an LED array 1 used as a light source, and an image is formed on a sensor 3 using a lens 2 as a condensing means. The words on the document surface are read as image data by the image capturing means 1 to 3. 4 includes an image determining means for determining whether the image data taken in by the image reading means is a white/black inverted character; a recognition means for recognizing each character of the image data taken in by the image reading means; and searching for the recognized character string from a translation dictionary. This is a control device including a search means for searching.

The word data output from the control device is displayed by the display means 5.

Fig. 2 shows normal characters, and Fig. 3 shows inverted white/black characters.

When the characters in Figure 3 are read, the characters cannot be cut out and cannot be recognized. Here, by the image judgment means of the present invention,
If there are more black dots than white dots, it is determined that it is a white/black inverted character, and the image data is completely inverted, corrected to normal character data as shown in Figure 2, and recognized by the recognition method. Can translate characters.

Further, FIG. 4 shows an operation flowchart of the present invention. If it is determined that the character is an inverted character, the same recognition processing routine can be used by completely inverting the image data.

[Effects of the Invention] The present invention provides an image judgment means that judges white/black inverted characters before character recognition, so that even words printed in light-colored characters on a dark-colored original can be recognized as ordinary words. It is possible to recognize and recognize at the same time.

Further, when considering the recognition of reversed characters, a processing routine for reversed characters is required, but according to the present invention, the same recognition routine can be used, which reduces the number of development steps.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram according to the invention. Figure 2 is a pattern diagram of regular characters. Figure 3 is a pattern diagram of white/black inverted characters. FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart 1 of the present invention. ■...LED array 2...Condensing lens 3...Sensor 4...Control device 5.Display LCD that's all Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] a) image reading means for reading words on a document surface as image data; b) recognition means for recognizing character by character the image data captured by the image reading means; c) said image reading means. d) a search means for searching a translation dictionary for the character string recognized by the recognition means; and e) a word obtained by the search means. If the above-mentioned image judgment means is a white/black inverted character, the image data taken in by the image reading means is completely inverted and the recognition means is performed again to electronically translate the white/black inverted character. An electronic translator that is characterized by being able to do both at the same time.