1. A pattern recognition apparatus comprising: time-division data inputting means for inputting data by time-sequentially inputting blocks of pattern data, which are part of the input data and which have a predetermined size; position information inputting means for inputting position information of the blocks of pattern data in the input data; pattern detection means including an operating element having a predetermined operation characteristic, for detecting a pattern of a predetermined middle-order or high-order category in the blocks of pattern data; time-sequential consolidation means for time-sequentially consolidating the output from said pattern detection means on the basis of the position information and the category of the detected pattern and producing pattern detection map information; and judgment means for outputting position information and category information of a high-order pattern present in the input data, on the basis of the output from said time-sequential consolidation means.