PURPOSE:To remarkably reduce a quantity of calculation at a distance calculation part, by interrupting distance calculation between a reference pattern in calculating at a time when a calculation midway value exceeds the maximum value of a distance in an intermediate order buffer. CONSTITUTION:Only a certain number out of the results of the distance calculation between the feature of an input character or graphic and that of individual reference pattern is stored in an intermediate order buffer 4 stating from the result with the smallest distance. Consequently, the re-arranging operation of the distance in sequence of the smallest distance is enough to perform the rearrangement of a certain number in the intermediate order buffer 4, and a time required for the rearrangement can be reduced remarkably. Also, in the process of the distance calculation of the feature of the input character or graphic and that of individual reference pattern, the distance calculation between the reference pattern in calculating is interrupted when the calculation midway value exceeds the maximum value of the distance in the intermediate order buffer 4, that is, when the result is not registered in the intermediate order buffer 4 and it is recognized that no influence is given on a recognition result. In such a way, it is possible to reduce the quantity of calculation at the distance calculation part 3 remarkably.
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