Patent ID: 6671395
Filing Date: 2003-12-30
Classification: G06K,G06T

Abstract:
A method of processing a digital image of a document, said document including text composed at least in part of strokes characterized by pairs of edges in close proximity to one another, said text overlying a background graphic including non-stroke edges, the digital image comprising an array of pixels representing at least a portion of said document, comprising the steps of:identifying said edges in said pixel array; growing each said edge an effective amount so as to cause said pairs of edges characterizing each said stroke substantially to merge; shrinking the grown edges an effective amount so as to cause non-stroke edges to be substantially eliminated without eliminating said merged stroke edges; providing a representation of said merged stroke edges according to a first algorithm adapted for representation of edge images; providing a representation of non-stroke regions of said pixel array according to a second algorithm adapted to represent said non-stroke regions.