The Singer Company

Jack Wendel Newhard

William David Fahey

Robert W Lotz

Symbols from printed labels are imaged onto a photoresponsive matrix. The matrix is scanned, column by column, to provide a digital data stream characteristic of the symbol with a bit corresponding to each matrix element. Each matrix element is examined by a decision-making device to determine what the state of the subject element should be based on the actual states of a group of examination elements adjacent to the subject element. The makeup of the examination group and the specific algorithm of the hardware (or software) will vary with each type of application. The examination group for a character stroke widener (FIGS. 2 and 3) is formed by seven matrix elements: the subject element, plus the three immediately previously scanned elements in the same column as the subject element, plus the three elements in the same row as the subject element in the three immediately previously scanned columns. A stroke-widening algorithm widens the symbol stroke width by one bit if the stroke width is either one or two elements wide. The symbol stroke is widened to promote character recognition by the 'peep hole' or fine encoding point technique.

Growing community of inventors

Cupertino, CA, United States of America

Jack Wendel Newhard