• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.818-823
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• 2008

In this paper, we propose a feature extraction method which extracts directional features of handwritten numerals by using the projection runlength. Our directional featrures are obtained from four directional images, each of which contains horizontal, vertical, right-diagonal and left-diagonal lines in entire numeral shape respectively. A conventional method which extracts directional features by using Kirsch masks generates edge-shaped double line directional images for four directions, whereas our method uses the projections and their runlengths for four directions to produces single line directional images for four directions. To obtain the directional projections for four directions from a numeral image, some preprocessing steps such as thinning and dilation are required, but the shapes of resultant directional lines are more similar to the numeral lines of input numerals. Four [$4{\times}4$] directional features of a numeral are obtained from four directional line images through a zoning method. By using a hybrid feature which is made by combining our feature with the conventional features of a mesh features, a kirsch directional feature and a concavity feature, higher recognition rates of the handwrittern numerals can be obtained. For recognition test with given features, we use a multi-layer perceptron neural network classifier which is trained with the back propagation algorithm. Through the experiments with the handwritten numeral database of Concordia University, we have achieved a recognition rate of 97.85%.

• Journal of the Institute of Convergence Signal Processing
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2009

In this paper, we propose a directional feature extraction method for off-line handwritten numerals by using the morphological operations. Direction features are obtained from four directional line images, each of which contains horizontal, vertical, right-diagonal and left-diagonal lines in entire numeral lines. Conventional method for extracting directional features uses Kirsch masks which generate edge-shaped double line images for each direction, whereas our method uses directional erosion operations and generate single line images for each direction. To apply these directional erosion operations to the numeral image, preprocessing steps such as thinning and dilation are required, but resultant directional lines are more similar to numeral lines themselves. Our four [$4{\times}4$] directional features of a numeral are obtained from four directional line images through a zoning method. For obtaining the higher recognition rates of the handwrittern numerals, we use the multiple feature which is comprised of our proposed feature and the conventional features of a kirsch directional feature and a concavity feature. For recognition test with given features, we use a multi-layer perceptron neural network classifier which is trained with the back propagation algorithm. Through the experiments with the CENPARMI numeral database of Concordia University, we have achieved a recognition rate of 98.35%.