Image Processing Apparatus for Accurate Character Recognition via Tilt Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image processing technologies face challenges in accurately detecting characters from input images, particularly in cases where the image is misaligned, tilted, or has varying formats, leading to incorrect character recognition in passports and other documents.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus and method that includes a storage device for storing the position of a predetermined region, a processor for acquiring and correcting the input image to conform to a specific format, and an output device for detecting characters from the corrected image, ensuring accurate character recognition by rotating and aligning the image to standardize the format.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If OCR processing is performed directly on the input image without correction, then the processing speed is maintained, but character recognition accuracy deteriorates due to misalignment or tilt
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing image correction (rotation and formatting) before OCR processing. The image processing apparatus detects tilt angles and rotates the input image to align it properly, then extracts the character recognition target region from the corrected image. This preliminary alignment ensures that subsequent OCR processing achieves high accuracy without requiring complex adaptive OCR algorithms.
2Measurement precision
If the character recognition target region is extracted from the original input image, then processing is simpler, but recognition accuracy deteriorates when the image is misaligned or tilted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary image rotation and correction to align the document properly before extracting the character recognition target region. By detecting the tilt angle and rotating the image to the correct orientation first, the system ensures that the subsequent region extraction and OCR processing operate on a properly aligned image, achieving high recognition accuracy without excessive time loss.
3Measurement precision
If image correction and rotation are performed before character recognition, then recognition accuracy improves, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by performing image correction only on the necessary portions of the image. Instead of correcting the entire input image, the system detects the character recognition target region, determines the minimal rotation and correction needed for that region, and applies correction selectively. This approach achieves high recognition accuracy while minimizing the time consumed by correction operations.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the system accommodates various document formats and orientations, then adaptability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent handles various document formats and orientations by dynamically changing key parameters: detecting the tilt angle of the document, rotating the image by the detected angle to align it horizontally, and adjusting the extraction region based on the corrected orientation. This parameter-based approach allows the system to adapt to different document formats (passports, certificates, etc.) and orientations without requiring complex format-specific processing logic for each document type.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus includes a storage device for storing a position of a predetermined region in an image conforming to a predetermined format, a processor for acquiring an input image including a character recognition target region, cutting out a region corresponding to the character recognition target region from the input image or an image generated from the input image to generate a corrected image in which the region is placed at the position of the predetermined region in the image conforming to the predetermined format, and detecting a character from the corrected image, and an output device for outputting information related to the detected character.