Importance

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Abstract

An image input section enters a document image including a bar code, and converts the document image into a binary image. An image memory section memorizes the binary image supplied from the image input section. A mask judging section performs a scanning operation using an M.times.M pixel window for detecting an alternate pattern from the binary image supplied from the image input section. A small pattern removing section removes small patterns from a binary image sent from the mask judging section. An expanding section expands a pattern involved in a binary image by an amount equivalent to k1 pixels when this binary image is sent from the small pattern removing section. A contracting section contracts a pattern involved in a binary image by an amount equivalent to k2 pixels when this binary image is sent from the expanding section. A region detecting section obtains the feature quantity of each pattern involved in a binary image sent from the contracting section, and detects a bar code candidate region based on the detected feature quantity. And, a decoding section decodes a detected bar code by reading a specific image region from the image memory section when the specific image region corresponds to the bar code candidate region detected by the region detecting section.

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First Claim