Bruce B Fast

US Patent:

55902243, Dec 31, 1996

Filed:

May 22, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/447191

Inventors:

Bruce B. Fast - Belmont CA
Dana R. Allen - Burlingame CA

International Classification:

G06K 936

US Classification:

382291

Abstract:

A method is provided for identifying, correcting, modifying and reporting imperfections and features in pixel images that prevent or hinder proper OCR (Optical Character Recognition) and other document imaging processes. One embodiment of this invention provides that run length compressed images can be analyzed and corrected directly for improved performance. Major steps included in this invention for the enhancement of images for OCR and document imaging are: the detection, correction and reporting of skew from text or graphical lines; the detection, correction, and reporting of varying image registration; the detection, conversion and reporting of inverse type; the detection, removal and reporting of dot shading and lines with protection of characters.

US Patent:

55948154, Jan 14, 1997

Filed:

May 22, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/447215

Inventors:

Bruce B. Fast - Belmont CA
Dana R. Allen - Burlingame CA

International Classification:

G06K 940

US Classification:

382254

Abstract:

The process for enhancing images of scanned documents identifies a variety of items in the scanned document which could make optical character recognition and other document image processing difficult or impossible. These items include identifying skew, registration, speck, lines intersecting printed matter, reverse printing, shaded printed matter. The process allows to register such items, take steps to correct skew and image registration, as well as reverse invert printing. Items to be removed are listed for deletion in one step. The image of the scanned document is stored and processed as a run-lngth coded image, except for a some operations in which parts of the run length coded image are converted to pixel image code for particular substeps of the process. The result of such a substep, e. g. a modified image, is then re-converted to run-length code.

US Patent:

55948146, Jan 14, 1997

Filed:

May 22, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/445724

Inventors:

Bruce B. Fast - Belmont CA
Dana R. Allen - Burlingame CA

International Classification:

G06K 940

US Classification:

382254

Abstract:

In a run-length coded document image process a horizontal line in textual matter is eliminated by establishing a work zone around the horizontal line and a buffer zone of predetermined width around the work zone. All black-run-length artifacts that extend outside of the buffer zone are protected, this includes protecting information in the work zone when there is a matching artifact in the opposing buffer zone (Character Reconstruction). All black items that are within the work zone and the buffer zone, and which are not protected are eliminated.

US Patent:

57781036, Jul 7, 1998

Filed:

Jul 15, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/680034

Inventors:

Dana R. Allan - Redwood City CA
Bruce B. Fast - San Carlos CA

Assignee:

TMSSequoia - Burlingame CA

International Classification:

G06K 940

US Classification:

382254

Abstract:

A method is provided for identifying, correcting, modifying and reporting imperfections and features in pixel images that prevent or hinder proper OCR (Optical Character Recognition) and other document imaging processes. One embodiment of this invention provides that run length compressed images can be analyzed and corrected directly for improved performance. Major steps included in this invention for the enhancement of images for OCR and document imaging are: The detection of undesired printed matter and the deletion of undesired printed matter. Detection of undesired printed matter includes successive generation of entries into an array listing of undesired printed matter to be deleted. Deletion of undesired printed matter follows in a separate step for all types of undesired printed matter.

US Patent:

55794149, Nov 26, 1996

Filed:

May 22, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/447095

Inventors:

Bruce B. Fast - Belmont CA
Dana R. Allen - Burlingame CA

International Classification:

G06K 940

US Classification:

382254

Abstract:

In a run-length represented image an image area with reverse print is recognized. Two borders (left and right) are determined and in a plurality of steps the run transitions are removed, first on the left border of the area and then at the right border of the area, causing all runs within the area of reverse print to take on the reverse color.

US Patent:

57296359, Mar 17, 1998

Filed:

Oct 17, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/733208

Inventors:

Bruce B. Fast - San Carlos CA
Dana R. Allen - Redwood City CA

Assignee:

TMSSequoia - Burlingame CA

International Classification:

G06K 940

US Classification:

382254

Abstract:

A method is provided for identifying, correcting, modifying and reporting imperfections and features in pixel images that prevent or hinder proper OCR (Optical Character Recognition) and other document imaging processes. One embodiment of this invention provides that run length compressed images can be analyzed and corrected directly for improved performance. Major steps included in this invention for the enhancement of images for OCR and document imaging are: The detection of undesired printed matter and the deletion of undesired printed matter. Detection of undesired printed matter includes successive generation of entries into an array listing of undesired printed matter to be deleted. Deletion of undesired printed matter follows in a separate step for all types of undesired printed matter.

US Patent:

55948170, Jan 14, 1997

Filed:

May 22, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/445927

Inventors:

Bruce B. Fast - Belmont CA
Dana R. Allen - Burlingame CA

International Classification:

G06K 936

US Classification:

382290

Abstract:

A method is provided for identifying, correcting, modifying and reporting imperfections and features in pixel images that prevent or hinder proper OCR (Optical Character Recognition) and other document imaging processes. One embodiment of this invention provides that run length compressed images can be analyzed and corrected directly for improved performance. Major steps included in this invention for the enhancement of images for OCR and document imaging are: The detection, correction and reporting of skew from text or graphical lines. The detection, correction, and reporting of varying image registration. The detection, conversion and reporting of inverse type. The detection, removal and reporting of dot shading and lines with protection of characters.

US Patent:

56257198, Apr 29, 1997

Filed:

May 22, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/445663

Inventors:

Bruce B. Fast - Belmont CA
Dana R. Allen - Burlingame CA

International Classification:

G06K 940

US Classification:

382275

Abstract:

For performing optical character recognition and other scanned document image processing the method for unshading dot shaded areas performs a statistical dot size analysis to determine the distribution of the dot sizes in the dot shaded area. In a separate step the most suitable dot size limitation is determined, followed by deleting dots falling within the so determined dot size limitation.