Patent Document ID: 4680805
Application ID: 06552956
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. The method of character recognition comprising: (a) storing data representative of a sample character having individual pixels in the sample character, (b) locating a starting pixel on the periphery of said sample character, (c) storing the starting pixel as a reference pixel, (d) testing pixels starting on a pixel located in a column and a row adjacent to the column and row of the starting pixel and testing all pixels in that adjacent column for K number of pixels, K being variable and greater than 1; (e) testing each pixel in the next adjacent column to the just tested column starting on a pixel in a row adjacent to the row of the reference pixel, performing the testing for K columns, (f) testing each pixel in the same row as the reference pixel, performing the testing for K pixels in that same row, (g) stopping the testing of steps d-f whenever a black pixel is located, storing it as the reference pixel and repeating steps d-h, (h) when steps d-f have been completed and no black cell has been located rotating the reference coordinates 90 degrees so as to present a new set of columns and rows, the old rows now being columns and the old columns now being rows with respect to the reference cell and repeating steps d-h, (i) stopping the testing when the beginning pixel has been returned to as the starting pixel, (j) recognizing the sample character, and; (k) outputting an indication of the identity of the sample character.