Patent US 5,588,074

A data recognition equipment includes an input device for inputting pattern data, and a selection device which recognizes a partial pattern data in the input pattern data and selects a candidate pattern for pattern recognition of the input pattern data. The equipment also includes two comparing devices. The first one compares the selected candidate with the input pattern data at a part other than the partial pattern data. The second one compares the selected candidate and the input pattern data at a part of the partial pattern based on the results of the comparison made by the first comparing device. The equipment also includes a determining device which determines the results of recognition among the selected candidates based on the results of the comparisons by the first and second comparing devices.