Pattern recognition apparatus and method.

摘要

The invention provides a pattern recognition apparatus and method by which an unknown input pattern is divided into a plurality of sub-area patterns matched with a plurality of standard partial characteristic patterns fo form an input pattern similarity matrix. The matrix is then matched with a plurality of reference similarity matrices of standard reference patterns, whereby the unknown pattern is recognized as one of standard reference patterns which gives the best matching. In the apparatus, digital signals corresponding to the sub-area patterns are supplied to a first similarity calculator (15) to which the partial characteristic patterns are supplied from a first dictionary memory (16). The calculator (15) calculates the input pattern similarity matrix. A second similarity calculator (19) calculates similarities between the input pattern similarity matrix and each of reference similarity matrices read out from a second dictionary memory (18). A comparator (20) identifies one reference pattern.