Handwritten character translator using fuzzy logic

摘要

An arrangement (apparatus and method) for translating pixel images representing characters or symbols into characters using fuzzy logic processing. The disclosed character translator uses two-dimensional membership functions having a center corresponding to a pixel of a feature mask representing a primitive element. A plurality of three-dimensional fuzzifiers output normalized feature mask errors corresponding to a distance error between the pixels of a feature mask and the pixels of the scanned image. The normalized feature mask errors are compared in accordance with a feature mask sequence corresponding to a known character to obtain a normalized character score. The mask sequence having the lowest normalized character score is deemed the most likely candidate as a recognized character of the scanned image. The disclosed character translator may be implemented as a low-cost serial device, or as a high-speed parallel-processing device, which may be multiplexed with other character translation devices using an expansion bus interface.