A Study on Primitive Segments Extraction from Printed Korean Characters by means of a Directional Projection

방향 투영에 의한 인쇄체 한글의 기본 선소 추출에 관한 연구

In this paper, we report a method for the primitive segments extraction from printed Korean characters without thinning as a preliminary stage to design an efficient recognition system. The primitive segments are defined by fundamental subpatterns which are vertical(I), right sloping(/), left. sloping(\). horizontal(-), and circular segment(o). The circular segment among the five kinds of segment is different from the others in geometrical properties. Therefore, at first, the circular segment is extracted by using the closed circle of the inner boundary and the geometrical characteristics of its outer. Next, linear segments are separated from the character pattern by means of a directional coding method. Finally, primitive segments are extracted from each set of linear segments by using a projection profile which involves the fact whether the segment has branches or not. The experimental results show that this method reduces computation time and storage space in comparision with the existing methods.