1. A pattern recognition device comprising: image pickup means for detecting a pattern of a figure to be identified and for producing a corresponding binary coded figure pattern; shape discerning means for projecting said figure pattern on mutually perpendicular X and Y axes, deriving a histogram of said figure for each of said X and Y projections, and first order differentiating said histograms along said X and Y axes to produce a series of characteristic values for said figure pattern, said characteristic values for said figure pattern being defined as a set of numbers for all possible combinations of the array of signs of the positive and negative pulses occurring in the first order differentiation waveform of said histograms; and processing means for comparing said figure pattern values to predetermined values of known figure patterns, to identify said figure to be identified.