IP Library Granted Patent US 8,787,668
Granted Patent B2
US 8,787,668 · App. 13/339,181 · Granted Jul 22, 2014

Computing device and method for isolating and cutting out figures in design patent document

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,787,668
App. No.
13/339,181
Granted
Jul 22, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for isolating and cutting out figures in a design patent document divides each page of a figure section of the design patent document into a multiplicity of areas according to histograms, which are created based on information of black pixels and white pixels in a black-and-white image of the page. The method selects the areas that include the figures of the design patent, and displays the selected areas on a display device.

Claims (44)

1. A method being performed by a processor of a computing device, comprising:

(a) reading a figure section of a design patent document comprising one or more figures;

(b) converting each page of the figure section into a black-and-white image;

(c) creating a first histogram based on information of black pixels and white pixels in the black-and-white image;

(d) dividing the black-and-white image into a multiplicity of blocks which contain words or figures, according to the information of the white pixels in the first histogram;

(e) selecting the blocks which have a height value greater than a predetermined height value;

(f) creating a second histogram based on information of the black pixels and the white pixels in each selected block;

(g) dividing the selected block into a multiplicity of areas which contain words or figures, according to the information of the white pixels in the second histogram;

(h) selecting the areas which have a width value greater than a predetermined width value; and

(i) displaying the selected areas on a display device.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , between the step (a) and the step (b) further comprising:

providing the same orientation to all of the figures in the figure section.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein in the first histogram, the X-axis or horizontal axis represents the series of numbered rows from the bottom to the top of the black-and-white image, and the Y-axis or vertical axis represents the quantity of the black pixels in each row of the black-and-white image.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein in the second histogram, the X-axis or horizontal axis represents the series of numbered lines from the left to the right of the selected block, and the Y-axis or vertical axis represents the quantity of the black pixels in each line of the selected block.

5. A non-transitory storage medium storing a set of instructions, the set of instructions capable of being executed by a processor of a computing device to perform a method for isolating and cutting out figures in a design patent document, the method comprising:

(a) reading a figure section of a design patent document comprising one or more figures;

(b) converting each page of the figure section into a black-and-white image;

(c) creating a first histogram based on information of black pixels and white pixels in the black-and-white image;

(d) dividing the black-and-white image into a multiplicity of blocks which contain words or figures, according to the information of the white pixels in the first histogram;

(e) selecting the blocks which have a height value greater than a predetermined height value;

(f) creating a second histogram based on information of the black pixels and the white pixels in each selected block;

(g) dividing the selected block into a multiplicity of areas which contain words or figures according to the information of the white pixels in the second histogram;

(h) selecting the areas which have a width value greater than a predetermined width value; and

(i) displaying the selected areas on a display device.

6. The non-transitory storage medium as claimed in claim 5 , wherein between the step (a) and the step (b), the method further comprising:

providing the same orientation to all of the figures in the figure section.

7. The non-transitory storage medium as claimed in claim 5 , wherein in the first histogram, the X-axis or horizontal axis represents the series of numbered rows from the bottom to the top of the black-and-white image, and the Y-axis or vertical axis represents the quantity of the black pixels in each row of the black-and-white image.

8. The non-transitory storage medium as claimed in claim 5 , wherein in the second histogram, the X-axis or horizontal axis represents the series of numbered lines from the left to the right of the selected block, and the Y-axis or vertical axis represents the quantity of the black pixels in each line of the selected block.

9. A computing device, the computing device being connected to a display device, the computing device comprising:

a storage unit;

at least one processor; and

one or more programs stored in the storage unit, executable by the at least one processor, the one or more programs comprising:

a reading module operable to read a figure section of a design patent document comprising one or more figures;

a conversion module operable to convert each page of the figure section into a black-and-white image;

a creation module operable to create a first histogram based on information of black pixels and white pixels in the black-and-white image;

a dividing module operable to divide the black-and-white image into a multiplicity of blocks which contain words or figures, according to the information of the white pixels in the first histogram;

a selection module operable to select the blocks which have a height value greater than a predetermined height value;

the creation module further operable to create a second histogram based on information of the black pixels and the white pixels in each selected block;

the dividing module further operable to divide the selected block into a multiplicity of areas which contain words or figures, according to the information of the white pixels in the second histogram;

the selection module further operable to select the areas which have a width value greater than a predetermined width value and a display module operable to display the selected areas on the display device.

10. The computing device as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the one or more programs further comprising:

a orientation module operable to provide the same orientation to all of the figures in the figure section.

11. The computing device as claimed in claim 9 , wherein in the first histogram, the X-axis or horizontal axis represents the series of numbered rows from the bottom to the top of the black-and-white image, and the Y-axis or vertical axis represents the quantity of the black pixels in each row of the black-and-white image.

12. The computing device as claimed in claim 9 , wherein in the second histogram, the X-axis or horizontal axis represents the series of numbered lines from the left to the right of the selected block, and the Y-axis or vertical axis represents the quantity of the black pixels in each line of the selected block.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 10, 2025
From: SAMSON ROPE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: SAMSON ROPE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 073077/0972 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 28, 2011
From: XIAO, WEI-QING; LEE, CHUNG-I; YEH, CHIEN-FA
To: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD.; HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 027454/0739 →