JP4831936B2 - Character display device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a character display device, a character display method, and a recording medium that can display characters with high definition using a display device capable of color display.

  As a technique for displaying characters on a display device, for example, a technique using a dot font corresponding to black and white binary is known. In this technique, the outline and the part forming the inside of the character are represented in black, and the other parts are represented in white.

In addition, as a technique for improving a technique using a conventional dot font, a technique using a gray scale font is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). In this technique, a halftone gray area is arranged around a black area.
JP-A-8-255254

  FIG. 1 shows an ideal diagonal 102 contour shape that can be output to the output surface 100 using an output device with very high resolution. Such diagonal lines can be used as part of a character.

  FIG. 2 shows an example in which the hatched line 102 shown in FIG. 1 is displayed on a display surface 200 of 6 pixels × 12 pixels using a conventional dot font corresponding to black and white binary. In FIG. 2, hatched rectangles indicate pixels displayed in black, and white rectangles indicate pixels displayed in white.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the slanted line 102 shown in FIG. 1 is displayed as a connection of four line segments. Since such a large jaggy occurs, the figure (part of the character) shown in FIG. 2 does not appear as a smooth diagonal line to the human eye. As described above, in the conventional dot font corresponding to black and white binary, jaggy is generated in the diagonal lines and curves of the elements constituting the character, so that it cannot be seen as a beautiful character by human eyes. In particular, when characters are displayed using a small number of dots, jaggy is noticeable.

  FIG. 3 shows an example in which the diagonal line 102 shown in FIG. 1 is displayed on a display surface 300 of 6 pixels × 12 pixels using a conventional gray scale font. In FIG. 3, a rectangle corresponding to level 3 indicates a pixel displayed in black, a rectangle corresponding to level 2 indicates a pixel displayed in dark gray, and a rectangle corresponding to level 1 is displayed in light gray. A rectangle corresponding to level 0 indicates a pixel displayed in white.

  For example, when each color element is controlled with 256 gradations, the black color corresponding to level 3 represents the luminance (R, G, B) of each color element corresponding to one pixel in the color liquid crystal display device as (0, 0). , 0) is displayed. Similarly, the dark gray corresponding to level 2 is represented by (R, G, B) = (80, 80, 80), and the light gray corresponding to level 1 is (R, G, B) = (160, 160, 160), and the white color corresponding to level 0 is represented by (R, G, B) = (255, 255, 255).

  The figure (part of the character) shown in FIG. 3 seems to have improved jaggy to the human eye compared to the figure (part of the character) shown in FIG. This is because gray correction is performed in units of dots. However, according to the prior art using a gray scale font, correction of one dot unit is limited at a low resolution, and in order to display a part of the outline of the character and the surrounding area in gray, There is a drawback that the outline or the character itself is blurred, or the blackness of the character is biased.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a character display device, a character display method, and a recording medium that can display characters with high definition using a display device capable of color display.

  The character display device of the present invention includes a display device having a plurality of pixels and a control unit that controls the display device, and each of the plurality of pixels includes a plurality of subpixels arranged in a predetermined direction. Each of the plurality of sub-pixels is pre-assigned with one color element corresponding to the plurality of color elements, and the control unit independently sets the plurality of color elements corresponding to the plurality of sub-pixels. By controlling the display, characters are displayed on the display device, thereby achieving the above object.

  The strength of each of the plurality of color elements is represented in stages by a plurality of color element levels, and each of the plurality of sub-pixels has one of the plurality of color element levels, The control unit sets a color element level of at least one specific sub-pixel corresponding to the basic part of the character displayed on the display device to a predetermined color element level, and at least one corresponding to the basic part of the character The color element level of at least one subpixel adjacent to the specific subpixel may be set to a color element level other than the predetermined color element level.

  The controller may define a basic portion of the character displayed on the display device based on a scaled character outline.

  The control unit may define a basic part of the character displayed on the display device based on skeleton data representing a skeleton shape of the character.

  The control unit scales the skeleton data according to a size of the character displayed on the display device, and adjusts a line width of the character after defining a basic part of the character based on the scaled skeleton data. May be.

  The control unit sets a color element level of at least one sub-pixel adjacent to at least one specific sub-pixel corresponding to the basic portion of the character based on at least one correction pattern other than the predetermined color element level. The color element level may be set.

  The control unit may adjust a line width of the character displayed on the display device by selectively using one of the at least one correction pattern.

  The at least one correction pattern may be prepared in advance according to the size of the character displayed on the display device.

  The at least one correction pattern may be prepared in advance so as to correspond to the skeleton data.

  The at least one correction pattern may be prepared for each Chinese radical component.

  The at least one correction pattern may be prepared in advance according to the number of strokes of the skeleton data.

  The at least one correction pattern may be prepared in advance according to an inclination of a stroke of the skeleton data.

  The at least one correction pattern may be prepared in advance according to a distance between a portion having the basic portion of the character and another portion.

  When the arrangement of at least one specific sub-pixel corresponding to the basic part of the character forms a specific pattern, the control unit separates the basic part of the character into at least two parts. The color element level of at least one specific sub-pixel corresponding to the basic part of may be corrected.

  The skeleton data includes stroke information related to a stroke, and the control unit changes the color element level of the at least one subpixel to a color element level other than the predetermined color element level according to the shape of the stroke. It may be set.

  The skeleton data includes stroke information related to a stroke, and the control unit determines the color of the at least one subpixel based on a typeface attribute table that defines a typeface characteristic of the character in relation to the stroke information. The element level may be set to a color element level other than the predetermined color element level.

  A plurality of typeface attribute tables that define the typeface characteristics of the character in relation to the stroke information are prepared, and the control unit selectively selects a character according to the size of the character from the plurality of typeface attribute tables. The color element level of the at least one sub-pixel may be set to a color element level other than the predetermined color element level based on one typeface attribute table used.

  The control unit changes the color element level of at least one subpixel adjacent to the at least one specific subpixel corresponding to the basic portion of the character in the predetermined direction to a color element level other than the predetermined color element level. It may be set.

  The control unit sets the color element level of at least one subpixel adjacent to the at least one specific subpixel corresponding to the basic portion of the character in a direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction. Other color element levels may be set.

  The controller may adjust the line width of the character displayed on the display device by controlling the number of subpixels corresponding to the basic portion of the character.

  The control unit adjusts a line width of the character displayed on the display device by controlling a color element level of a subpixel adjacent to at least one specific subpixel corresponding to the basic portion of the character. May be.

  The control unit represents the character typeface of the character displayed on the display device by controlling a color element level of a subpixel adjacent to at least one specific subpixel corresponding to the basic portion of the character. May be.

  The control unit sets a color element level of some subpixels among at least one specific subpixel corresponding to a basic part of a character displayed on the display device to a color element level other than the maximum color element level. May be.

  The control unit may set a color element level of at least one specific sub-pixel corresponding to the basic part of the character based on a basic part table.

  The control unit is predetermined color element level information for setting a color element level of at least one sub-pixel arranged in the vicinity of at least one specific sub-pixel corresponding to a basic part of a character displayed on the display device. The color element level of at least one sub-pixel disposed in the vicinity of the at least one specific sub-pixel may be set based on.

  The color of the character displayed on the display device may be an achromatic color.

  The controller may variably adjust the character spacing by controlling the position of the character displayed on the display device in units of subpixels.

  The control unit may convert the color element level of the sub-pixel into a luminance level based on a predetermined luminance table that defines a relationship between the color element level of the sub-pixel and the luminance level of the sub-pixel.

  The brightness table may be created in advance so as to match the display characteristics of the display device.

  The controller may display characters in a state where the array of subpixels is rotated by 90 degrees.

  The display device may be a liquid crystal display device.

  The liquid crystal display device may be a stripe type liquid crystal display device.

  The character display method of the present invention is a character display method for displaying characters on a display device having a plurality of pixels, each of the plurality of pixels including a plurality of sub-pixels arranged in a predetermined direction, One of the plurality of color elements is assigned to each of the plurality of sub-pixels in advance, and the plurality of color elements corresponding to the plurality of sub-pixels are controlled independently, thereby Is displayed on the display device, thereby achieving the above object.

  The recording medium of the present invention is a recording medium that can be read by an information display device that includes a display device having a plurality of pixels and a control unit that controls the display device, and each of the plurality of pixels has a predetermined value. A plurality of sub-pixels arranged in the direction of each of the plurality of sub-pixels, and each of the plurality of sub-pixels is pre-assigned a corresponding one of the plurality of color elements, and A recording medium recording a program for causing the control unit to execute a process of displaying characters on the display device by independently controlling a plurality of color elements, thereby achieving the above object.

  The operation will be described below.

  According to the present invention, a plurality of color elements corresponding to a plurality of subpixels are independently controlled. Thereby, sub-pixel unit control finer than conventional pixel unit control can be performed. Furthermore, by appropriately controlling the color elements of the subpixels in the vicinity of the subpixel corresponding to the basic part of the character, colors other than black that are colored in the character can be made inconspicuous to the human eye. As a result, not only the outline of the character but also the character itself can be displayed on the display device with high definition.

  Further, according to the present invention, the basic portion of the character is defined based on the skeleton data representing the skeleton shape of the character. The color element level of the sub-pixel corresponding to the basic part of the character is set to a predetermined color element level. Based on at least one correction pattern (or transition pattern), the color element level of the subpixel adjacent to the subpixel corresponding to the basic portion of the character is set to a color element level other than the predetermined color element level. In this way, by controlling the color element levels of the subpixels independently, it is possible to perform subpixel unit control finer than conventional pixel unit control. As a result, the resolution of characters can be increased in a pseudo manner. Furthermore, by appropriately controlling the color element level of the sub-pixel adjacent to the sub-pixel corresponding to the basic part of the character, colors other than black that are colored on the character can be made inconspicuous to the human eye. . As a result, not only the outline of the character but also the character itself can be displayed on the display device with high definition.

  According to the present invention, the color element level of at least one specific sub-pixel corresponding to the basic part of the character displayed on the display device is set to a predetermined color element level, and the basic part of the character is Among the subpixels adjacent to the corresponding at least one specific subpixel, the color element level of at least one subpixel adjacent in the direction perpendicular to the subpixel arrangement direction is a color other than the predetermined color element level. Set to element level. In this way, by controlling the color element levels of the subpixels independently, it is possible to perform subpixel unit control finer than conventional pixel unit control. As a result, the resolution of characters can be increased in a pseudo manner. Furthermore, by appropriately controlling the color element level of the sub-pixel adjacent to the sub-pixel corresponding to the basic part of the character, colors other than black that are colored on the character can be made inconspicuous to the human eye. . As a result, not only the outline of the character but also the character itself can be displayed on the display device with high definition.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a character display device, a character display method, and a recording medium that can display characters with high definition using a display device capable of color display.

  According to the present invention, a plurality of color elements corresponding to a plurality of subpixels are independently controlled. Thereby, sub-pixel unit control finer than conventional pixel unit control can be performed. Furthermore, by appropriately controlling the color elements of the subpixels in the vicinity of the subpixel corresponding to the basic part of the character, colors other than black that are colored in the character can be made inconspicuous to the human eye. As a result, not only the outline of the character but also the character itself can be displayed on the display device with high definition.

  Further, according to the present invention, the basic portion of the character is defined based on the skeleton data representing the skeleton shape of the character. The color element level of the sub-pixel corresponding to the basic part of the character is set to a predetermined color element level. Based on the at least one correction pattern, the color element level of the subpixel adjacent to the subpixel corresponding to the basic portion of the character is set to a color element level other than the predetermined color element level. In this way, by controlling the color element levels of the subpixels independently, it is possible to perform subpixel unit control finer than conventional pixel unit control. As a result, the resolution of characters can be increased in a pseudo manner. Furthermore, by appropriately controlling the color element level of the sub-pixel adjacent to the sub-pixel corresponding to the basic part of the character, colors other than black that are colored on the character can be made inconspicuous to the human eye. . As a result, not only the outline of the character but also the character itself can be displayed on the display device with high definition.

  According to the present invention, the color element level of at least one specific sub-pixel corresponding to the basic part of the character displayed on the display device is set to a predetermined color element level, and the basic part of the character is Among the subpixels adjacent to the corresponding at least one specific subpixel, the color element level of at least one subpixel adjacent in the direction perpendicular to the subpixel arrangement direction is a color other than the predetermined color element level. Set to element level. In this way, by controlling the color element levels of the subpixels independently, it is possible to perform subpixel unit control finer than conventional pixel unit control. As a result, the resolution of characters can be increased in a pseudo manner. Furthermore, by appropriately controlling the color element level of the sub-pixel adjacent to the sub-pixel corresponding to the basic part of the character, colors other than black that are colored on the character can be made inconspicuous to the human eye. . As a result, not only the outline of the character but also the character itself can be displayed on the display device with high definition.

  First, the principle of character display according to the present invention will be described. The display principle of this character is common to all the embodiments described later.

  FIG. 4 schematically shows the display surface 400 of the display device 10 (FIGS. 15A to 15E) that can be used in the character display device of the present invention. The display device 10 has a plurality of pixels 12 arranged in the X direction and the Y direction. Each of the plurality of pixels 12 has a plurality of subpixels arranged in the X direction. In the example shown in FIG. 4, one pixel 12 has three subpixels 14R, 14G, and 14B.

  The sub-pixel 14R is assigned in advance to the color element R so as to develop R (red). The subpixel 14G is assigned in advance to the color element G so as to develop G (green). The sub-pixel 14B is assigned in advance to the color element B so as to develop B (blue).

  The luminance of the subpixels 14R, 14G, and 14B is represented by a value of 0 to 255, for example. Each of the sub-pixels 14R, 14G, and 14B can display approximately 16.7 million (= 256 × 256 × 256) colors by taking any value between 0 and 255 indicating the luminance level.

  In the prior art that displays characters using the dot font or gray scale font described above, one dot of the character is associated with one pixel of the display device. On the other hand, one dot of characters displayed on the display device 10 is associated with one of the sub-pixels 14R, 14G, and 14B included in the pixel 12 instead of the pixel 12 of the display device 10. As a result, even when a display device of the same model as before is used, the resolution of the display device can be improved by a factor of three. As a result, part of characters such as diagonal lines and curves are displayed smoothly, so that the display quality of characters can be dramatically improved.

  However, if the display unit of characters is simply a sub-pixel unit, the displayed characters do not appear black to human eyes and color stripes (color noise) are visible. This is because different color elements are assigned in advance to the sub-pixels 14R, 14G, and 14B adjacent in the X direction. In order to prevent the displayed character from appearing black to the human eye, the present invention appropriately controls the color element level of the subpixel adjacent to the subpixel corresponding to the basic portion of the character. As a result, colors other than black that are colored on the characters can be made inconspicuous.

  In this way, the plurality of color elements (R, G, B) corresponding to the subpixels 14R, 14G, and 14B included in one pixel 12 are controlled independently, and the subpixels correspond to the basic portion of the character. By appropriately controlling the color element level of the sub-pixel adjacent to the character, it is possible to display not only the character outline but also the character itself in a pseudo black color with high definition. Here, “pseudo black” means that although it is not strictly black in terms of color, it appears black to human eyes.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to displaying black characters. It is also possible to display achromatic characters using the display principle of the present invention. For example, even when gray characters are displayed using the display principle of the present invention, the same effect as described above can be obtained. When displaying gray characters, for example, regarding the relationship between the color element level and the luminance level defined in the luminance table 92 shown in FIG. 9, the color element levels 5 to 0 correspond to the luminance levels 0 to 127, for example. It should be changed as follows.

  FIG. 5 shows an example in which the oblique line 102 shown in FIG. 1 is displayed on the display surface 400 of 6 pixels × 12 pixels of the display device 10. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the color element levels of the subpixels 14R, 14G, and 14B are controlled in four stages of level 3 to level 0. In FIG. 5, a rectangle corresponding to level 3 indicates a sub-pixel having a luminance level of 0, a rectangle corresponding to level 2 indicates a sub-pixel having a luminance level of 80, and a rectangle corresponding to level 1 has a luminance level of 180. A rectangle corresponding to level 0 indicates a sub-pixel having a luminance level of 255.

  Here, the color element level of the sub-pixel corresponding to the basic part of the character is set to level 3 (maximum color element level). The color element level of the subpixel adjacent to the subpixel corresponding to the basic portion of the character in the X direction is set to level 2 or level 1.

  FIG. 6 shows an example in which the oblique line 102 shown in FIG. 1 is displayed on the display surface 400 of the display device 10 narrower than the oblique line shown in FIG. Such display is achieved by changing the thickness of the basic portion of the character (that is, the thickness of the portion corresponding to level 3) from 2 subpixels to 1 subpixel.

  7 shows an example in which the oblique line 102 shown in FIG. 1 is displayed on the display surface 400 of the display device 10 so as to be thicker than the oblique line shown in FIG. Such display is achieved by changing the thickness of the basic portion of the character (that is, the thickness of the portion corresponding to level 3) from 2 subpixels to 3 subpixels.

  In this way, by adjusting the thickness of the basic portion of the character in units of subpixels, it becomes possible to control the thickness of the character in finer units as compared with the conventional case.

  FIG. 8 shows font data of “I” in Hiragana that is actually designed based on the character display principle according to the present invention. In the example shown in FIG. 8, the color element levels of the subpixels are controlled in six levels from level 5 to level 0. By increasing the number of color element levels of the sub-pixels, it is possible to make colors other than black colored in characters inconspicuous by human eyes.

  FIG. 9 shows a luminance table 92 that defines the relationship between the color element level (level 5 to level 0) of the subpixel and the luminance level of the subpixel. By storing the luminance table 92 in the memory, the color element level of the sub-pixel can be easily converted into the luminance level. In the luminance table 92, the six color element levels (level 5 to level 0) of the sub-pixels are assigned to the luminance levels 0 to 255 at substantially equal intervals.

  FIG. 10 shows a luminance table 94 that defines the relationship between the color element level (level 5 to level 0) of the subpixel and the luminance level of the subpixel. In the luminance table 94, luminance levels corresponding to levels 5 to 3 among the color element levels of the subpixel are biased toward the luminance level 0, and corresponding to levels 2 to 0 among the color element levels of the subpixel. The luminance level is biased toward the luminance level 255 side. By defining the brightness table 94 as shown in FIG. 10, it is possible to display the thickness of characters apparently finer than when the brightness table 92 shown in FIG. 9 is used. That is, the characters appear to be tightened to the human eye.

  FIG. 11 shows a luminance table 96 that defines the relationship between the color element level (level 5 to level 0) of the subpixel and the luminance level of the subpixel. The brightness table 96 is preferably used when the display device 10 is a color liquid crystal display device. By using the brightness table 96, it is possible to correct that the brightness of the sub-pixel of the color element B becomes darker than the actual brightness when the brightness level of the sub-pixel of the color element B is low. As described above, by using the luminance table suitable for the display characteristics of the display device 10, it is possible to make colors other than black colored in characters inconspicuous by human eyes.

  Further, according to the character display principle of the present invention, the character spacing can be adjusted in sub-pixel units. Therefore, the character spacing can be controlled more finely than the conventional method in which the character spacing is adjusted in units of pixels. Therefore, the character display principle according to the present invention can be suitably applied to a proportional font that requires variable control of character spacing. By applying the character display principle of the present invention to a proportional font, a more beautiful character set can be realized.

  FIG. 12 shows the font data of the Chinese character “M” designed actually based on the character display principle according to the present invention. When the display surface 400 of the display device 10 is used in the vertical direction by rotating the display surface 400 of the display device 10 by 90 degrees and using it in a horizontal direction, such as the Chinese character “K”. In comparison, it can be displayed with higher quality.

  FIG. 13 shows that when the ideal oblique line 104 is displayed on the display surface 400 of 6 pixels × 12 pixels of the display device 10, the uppermost part and the lowermost part of the ideal oblique line 104 overlap with a part of the subpixels. An example is shown. In such a case, it is preferable that a specific process is performed on the top and bottom of the ideal oblique line 104. The specific process will be described below.

  For example, the color element level of the subpixel is determined according to the area where the top or bottom of the ideal diagonal line overlaps the subpixel. For example, when the color element level of the subpixel is controlled to four levels of level 3 to level 0, the color element level of the subpixel is level 3 when the overlapping area is 80% or more of the area of the subpixel. When the overlapping area is 50% or more and less than 80% of the subpixel area, the color element level of the subpixel is set to level 2, and the overlapping area is 20% or more and less than 50% of the subpixel area. The subpixel color element level is set to level 1, and if the overlapping area is less than 20% of the subpixel area, the subpixel color element level is set to level 0.

  In FIG. 13, the area where the ideal diagonal line and the subpixel 14A overlap is 50% or more and less than 80% of the area of the subpixel 14A, and the area where the ideal diagonal line and the subpixel 14B overlap is the area of the subpixel 14B. 50% or more and less than 80%. Accordingly, the color element level of the sub-pixel 14A is set to level 2, and the color element level of the sub-pixel 14B is set to level 2.

  Further, the color element level of the subpixel 14AA adjacent to the subpixel 14A along the X direction is set to level 1, and the color element level of the subpixel 14BB adjacent to the subpixel 14B along the X direction is set to level 1. Is done. As described above, the color element levels of the subpixels 14AA and 14BB adjacent to the subpixels 14A and 14B corresponding to the end portions of the ideal oblique lines are set to complement the color element levels of the subpixels 14A and 14B. .

  In FIG. 13, the area where the ideal diagonal line and the subpixel 14C overlap is 20% or more and less than 50% of the area of the subpixel 14C, and the area where the ideal diagonal line and the subpixel 14D overlap is the area of the subpixel 14D. 20% or more and less than 50%. Accordingly, the color element level of the subpixel 14C is set to level 1, and the color element level of the subpixel 14D is set to level 1.

  In this case, the color element level of the subpixel 14CC adjacent to the subpixel 14C along the X direction remains level 0, and the color element level of the subpixel 14DD adjacent to the subpixel 14D along the X direction remains at level 0. It remains at level 0. As described above, when the color element levels of the subpixels 14C and 14D corresponding to the end of the ideal oblique line are level 1, the color element levels of the subpixels 14CC and 14DD adjacent to the subpixels 14C and 14DD are the subpixel 14C, It remains at level 0 without complementing the 14D color element level.

  FIG. 14 shows an example in which the ideal oblique line 104 shown in FIG. 13 is displayed on the display surface 400 of 6 pixels × 12 pixels of the display device 10.

  As the display device 10, for example, a stripe-type color liquid crystal display device can be used. Alternatively, a delta color liquid crystal display device may be used as the display device 10. Even when a delta type color liquid crystal device is used, the same effect as that of a stripe type color liquid crystal device can be obtained by individually controlling the R, G, and B sub-pixels corresponding to one pixel. . As the color liquid crystal display device, a reflection type or rear pro type liquid crystal display device can be used in addition to a transmission type liquid crystal display device often used for a personal computer or the like. However, the display device 10 is not limited to a color liquid crystal display device. As the display device 10, any color display device (so-called XY matrix display device) having a plurality of pixels arranged in the X direction and the Y direction can be used.

  Further, the number of subpixels included in one pixel 12 is not limited to three. One pixel 12 may include two or more subpixels arranged in a predetermined direction. For example, when a color is expressed using N (N ≧ 2) color elements, N subpixels may be included in one pixel 12.

  Further, the arrangement order of the sub-pixels 14R, 14G, and 14B is not limited to the arrangement order shown in FIG. For example, subpixels may be arranged in the order of B, G, and R along the X direction. Furthermore, the arrangement direction of the subpixels 14R, 14G, and 14B is not limited to the direction shown in FIG. For example, the subpixels 14R, 14G, and 14B may be arranged along an arbitrary direction.

  Furthermore, color elements applicable to the present invention are not limited to R (red), G (green), and B (blue). For example, C (cyan), Y (yellow), and M (magenta) can be used as color elements.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 15A shows the configuration of the character display device 1a according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The character display device 1a can be, for example, a personal computer. As the personal computer, any type of computer such as a desktop type or a laptop type may be used. Alternatively, the character display device 1a may be a word processor.

  Furthermore, the character display device 1a may be any device such as an electronic device or an information device provided with a display device capable of color display. For example, the character display device 1a may be an electronic device provided with a color liquid crystal display device, a portable information terminal as a portable information tool, a portable phone including a PHS, or a communication device such as a general telephone / FAX. Good.

  The character display device 1 a includes a display device 10 capable of color display and a control unit 20 that independently controls a plurality of color elements corresponding to a plurality of subpixels included in the display device 10. A display device 10, an input device 30, and an auxiliary storage device 40 are connected to the control unit 20.

  The input device 30 is used to input character information representing characters to be displayed on the display device 10 to the control unit 20. The character information includes, for example, a character code that identifies a character and a character size that indicates the size of the character. As the input device 30, any type of input device capable of inputting a character code and a character size can be used. For example, an input device such as a keyboard, a mouse, or a pen input device can be suitably used as the input device 30.

  The auxiliary storage device 40 stores a character display program 41a and data 42 necessary for executing the character display program 41a. The data 42 includes character outline information 42a that defines the outline of the character, color element level information 42b, and a brightness table 42c. As the brightness table 42c, for example, the brightness table 92 (FIG. 9), the brightness table 94 (FIG. 10), or the brightness table 96 (FIG. 11) can be used. As the auxiliary storage device 40, any type of storage device capable of storing the character display program 41a and the data 42 can be used. In the auxiliary storage device 40, any recording medium can be used as a recording medium for storing the character display program 41 a and the data 42. For example, a recording medium such as a hard disk, CD-ROM, MO, floppy (registered trademark) disk, MD, DVD, IC card, or optical card can be suitably used.

  The character display program 41a and the data 42 are not limited to being stored in a recording medium in the auxiliary storage device 40. For example, the character display program 41a and the data 42 may be stored in the main memory 22 or may be stored in a ROM (not shown). The ROM can be, for example, a mask ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash ROM, or the like. In the case of this ROM system, various processing variations can be easily realized simply by exchanging the ROM. For example, the ROM method can be suitably applied to a portable terminal device or a mobile phone.

  Further, the recording medium for storing the character display program 41a and the data 42 may be a program or data in a communication network other than the above-mentioned storage device such as a disk or card, or a medium that holds the program or data fixedly such as a semiconductor memory. It may be a medium that fluidly carries a program or data, such as a communication medium used for transporting. When the character display device 1a includes means for connecting to a communication line including the Internet, the character display program 41a and the data 42 can be downloaded from the communication line. In this case, a loader program necessary for downloading may be stored in advance in a ROM (not shown), or may be installed in the control unit 20 from the auxiliary storage device 40.

  Character display programs 41b to 41d described later are also handled in the same manner as the character display program 41a.

  The control unit 20 includes a CPU 21 and a main memory 22.

  The CPU 21 controls and monitors the entire character display device 1 a and executes a character display program 41 a stored in the auxiliary storage device 40.

  The main memory 22 temporarily stores data input from the input device 30, data to be displayed on the display device 10, and data necessary for executing the character display program 41a. The main memory 22 is accessed by the CPU 21.

  The CPU 21 generates a character pattern by executing the character display program 41 a based on various data stored in the main memory 22. The generated character pattern is temporarily stored in the main memory 22 and then output to the display device 10. The timing at which the character pattern is output to the display device 10 is controlled by the CPU 21.

  FIG. 16 shows the structure of the character outline information 42 a stored in the auxiliary storage device 40.

  The character outline information 42a includes a character code 301 for distinguishing the type of character, a stroke number 302 indicating the number of strokes constituting one character, and stroke information 303 corresponding to each stroke.

  The stroke information 303 includes a stroke code 304 for distinguishing types of strokes, a contour point number 305 indicating the number of contour points constituting one stroke, and contour point coordinates indicating coordinates of contour points constituting one stroke. And a pointer 306 to data 308. The pointer 306 points to the position where the contour point coordinate data 308 is stored in the auxiliary storage device 40. By referring to the stroke information 303, the coordinates of the contour points constituting one stroke can be obtained. Here, in the contour point coordinate data 308, it is assumed that the coordinates of the contour points constituting one stroke are arranged counterclockwise.

  The number of stroke information 303 is equal to the number of strokes 302. Therefore, when the stroke number 302 is N (N is an integer equal to or greater than 1), the character outline information 42 a includes N pieces of stroke information 303 corresponding to the stroke codes 1 to N.

  As a method of representing the contour shape of a character, (1) a method of approximating the contour of a character with a straight line, (2) a method of approximating the contour of a character with a combination of a straight line and an arc, and (3) a contour of a character A method of approximating with a combination of a straight line and a curved line (for example, a spline curved line) may be mentioned.

  The character outline information 42a may include, as outline point coordinate data 308, coordinates of a plurality of outline points obtained according to any one of the methods (1) to (3). Considering character quality and data capacity, the character outline information 42a preferably includes outline point coordinate data 308 based on the method (3).

  FIG. 17A shows the structure of the color element level information 42 b stored in the auxiliary storage device 40.

  The color element level information 42b includes a subpixel set number 701 indicating the number of subpixel sets 705 included in the color element level information 42b, and a plurality of subpixel sets 705. Each of the plurality of subpixel sets 705 is used to set a color element level of a subpixel disposed in the vicinity of the subpixel corresponding to the basic portion of the character, as will be described later.

  The subpixel set 705 includes a subpixel set code 702 for distinguishing the type of the subpixel set 705, a subpixel number 703 indicating the number of subpixels included in the subpixel set 705, and subpixel 1 to subpixel M. And a plurality of color element levels 704 corresponding to.

  FIG. 17B shows an example of the color element level information 42b. In FIG. 17B, the number shown in the rectangle indicates the value of the attribute corresponding to the rectangle.

  FIG. 18 shows a processing procedure of the character display program 41a. The character display program 41a is executed by the CPU 21. Hereinafter, the processing procedure of the character display program 41a will be described step by step.

  Step S1: A character code and a character size are input from the input device 30. For example, when displaying “i” in hiragana on the display device 10, 0404 (JIS division code) is input as the character code. Such an input is made, for example, when the user presses the “I” key on the keyboard. The character size is expressed by, for example, the number of dots in the horizontal direction and the number of dots in the vertical direction of the displayed character. The character size is, for example, 13 dots × 12 dots.

  Step S2: Character outline information 42a for one character corresponding to the input character code is stored in the main memory 22.

  Step S3: Based on the outline point coordinate data 308 for one stroke included in the character outline information 42a, an ideal outline of the character is calculated. The ideal outline of the character is approximated using straight lines or curves according to known methods.

  Step S4: The ideal outline of the character calculated in step S3 is scaled according to the input character size. By this scaling processing, a predetermined coordinate system for the contour point coordinate data 308 is converted into an actual pixel coordinate system for the display device 10.

  Step S5: The basic portion of the character is detected according to the area where the inside of the ideal outline of the character scaled in step S4 and the subpixel of the display device 10 overlap. The basic part of a character is a part that represents the core of the character. For example, if the area where the ideal outline of the scaled character overlaps with the subpixel of the display device 10 is greater than or equal to a predetermined reference area, the subpixel is defined to correspond to the basic portion of the character. The The value of the predetermined reference area may be a fixed value, or may be a variable value that can vary according to an input from the input device 30.

  For every subpixel of the display device 10, it is determined which subpixel of the display device 10 corresponds to the basic part of the character by calculating the area that overlaps the inside of the ideal outline of the scaled character. The

  Step S6: The color element level of the subpixel corresponding to the basic part of the character is set to the maximum color element level. For example, when the color element level of the sub-pixel is expressed in six levels from level 5 to level 0, the color element level of the sub-pixel corresponding to the basic part of the character is set to level 5.

  Step S7: The color element level of the subpixel arranged in the vicinity of the subpixel corresponding to the basic part of the character is set to any one of level 4 to level 1 according to a predetermined rule. Details of the predetermined rule will be described later with reference to FIG.

  Step S8: It is determined whether or not the processing in steps S3 to S7 has been completed for all strokes included in one character. If “No”, the process returns to step S3. If "Yes", the process proceeds to step S9.

  Step S9: The color element level of the sub-pixel is converted into a luminance level. Such conversion is performed using, for example, the luminance table 42c stored in the auxiliary storage device 40.

  Step S10: Luminance data indicating the luminance level of the sub-pixel is transferred to the display device 10. Thereby, the luminance level of the display device 10 is controlled in units of subpixels.

  FIG. 19 shows how the color element levels of the subpixels arranged in the vicinity of the subpixel corresponding to the basic part of the character are determined.

First, the ideal direction of the outline of the character (hereinafter referred to as the outline direction) is determined from the arrangement of the coordinates in the outline point coordinate data 308. In the example shown in FIG. 19, the contour direction is indicated by arrow A _1. Subpixels BP _{1 to} BP ₁₂ corresponding to the basic part of the character are arranged along the contour direction.

In FIG. 19, attention is paid to one subpixel BP _k corresponding to the basic part of the character. Here, k = 1, 2,... A sub-pixel BP _{k + 1} corresponding to the basic portion of the character, the sub-pixel NP _{k + 1} adjacent to the sub-pixel BP _{k + 1} arranged next to the sub-pixel BP _k of interest along the contour direction color element level is determined in accordance with the positional relationship between the target sub-pixel BP _k and the sub-pixel BP k _{+ 1.}

If the position of the target sub-pixel BP _k and (coordinates) and the position of the sub-pixel BP k _{+ 1} (coordinates) match in the arrangement direction of subpixels in one pixel, sub-pixel NP k _{+ 1} color element The level is set to level 3, otherwise the color element level of subpixel NP _{k + 1} is set to level 4. The CPU 21 executes such subpixel position determination processing and color element level setting processing.

In the example shown in FIG. 19, the color element of the subpixel NP _{k + 1} is determined by determining the positional relationship between the target subpixel BP _k and the subpixel BP _{k + 1} for each of k = 1 to k = 11. The level is determined. Note that the color element level of the sub-pixel NP ₁ is set to an arbitrary level (for example, level 3).

In this way, the color element level of the sub-pixel NP _k adjacent to the sub-pixel BP _k corresponding to the basic part of the character is determined. In FIG. 19, a number in a rectangle representing a subpixel indicates a color element level set for each subpixel.

The color element level of the subpixel adjacent to the subpixel NP _k is determined using the color element level information 42b (FIG. 17A). That is, a sub-pixel set 705 having a color element level that matches the color element level of the sub-pixel NB _k as the maximum color element level is selected from among the plurality of sub-pixel sets 705 included in the color element level information 42b, and the selection is made. The subpixel color element levels are determined in the outward direction of the outline by the number of subpixels 703 defined in the subpixel set 705.

For example, when the color element level of the subpixel NP _k is set to level 3, the subpixel set 705 having the value 3 as the color element level 704 of the subpixel 1 is selected from the color element level information 42b. According to the value 2 of the color element level 704 of the sub pixel 2 defined in the selected sub pixel set 705, the color element level of the sub pixel N′P _k adjacent to the sub pixel NP _k is set to level 2. Further, according to the value 1 of the color element level 704 of sub-pixel 3 defined in the sub-pixel set 705 is selected, the level 1 color element level of each sub-pixel N "P _k is adjacent to the sub-pixels N'P _k Is set.

In this way, the color element levels of the subpixels NP _k , N′P _k and N ″ P _k arranged in the vicinity of the subpixel BP _k corresponding to the basic part of the character are determined.

Note that, by rewriting the contents of the color element level information 42b, the color element levels of the subpixels NP _k , N′P _k , and N ″ P _k arranged in the vicinity of the subpixel BP _k corresponding to the basic part of the character are changed. It can be set to any level.

  FIG. 20 shows the font data of “I” in Hiragana actually designed based on the character display principle according to the present invention and the ideal outline of “I” in Hiragana. . In FIG. 20, the arrow indicates the contour direction. As described with reference to FIG. 19, by setting the color element level of the subpixel arranged in the vicinity of the subpixel corresponding to the basic portion of the character along the outline direction, the font of the character is set. Data is obtained.

  Note that the control unit 20 may have a function of displaying characters with the subpixel array rotated by 90 degrees. Whether or not to display characters with the subpixel array rotated by 90 degrees is appropriately selected. By displaying characters with the arrangement of subpixels rotated by 90 degrees in accordance with the configuration of the subpixels in the display device 10, for example, displaying the meaning of the Chinese character as shown in FIG. Can do. In this way, a character display device suitable for Japanese can be realized by making the display direction of the stripe type liquid crystal horizontal.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 21 schematically shows the display surface 400 of the display device 10 that can be used in the character display device 1b according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The display device 10 has a plurality of pixels 12 arranged in the X direction and the Y direction. Each of the plurality of pixels 12 has a plurality of subpixels arranged in the X direction. In the example shown in FIG. 21, one pixel 12 has three subpixels 14R, 14G, and 14B.

  The sub-pixel 14R is assigned in advance to the color element R so as to develop R (red). The subpixel 14G is assigned in advance to the color element G so as to develop G (green). The sub-pixel 14B is assigned in advance to the color element B so as to develop B (blue).

  The luminance of the subpixels 14R, 14G, and 14B is represented by a value of 0 to 255, for example. Each of the sub-pixels 14R, 14G, and 14B can display approximately 16.7 million (= 256 × 256 × 256) colors by taking any value between 0 and 255 indicating the luminance level.

  FIG. 15B shows the configuration of the character display device 1b according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 15B, the same components as those shown in FIG. 15A are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  The auxiliary storage device 40 stores a character display program 41b and data 42 necessary for executing the character display program 41b. The data 42 includes skeleton data 42d that defines the skeleton shape of the character, a correction table 42e, and a luminance table 42c. As the auxiliary storage device 40, any type of storage device capable of storing the character display program 41b and the data 42 can be used.

  FIG. 22 shows an example of the structure of the skeleton data 42 d stored in the auxiliary storage device 40.

  The skeleton data 42d represents the skeleton shape of the character. The skeleton data 42d includes a character code 2301 for distinguishing character types, a stroke number 2302 indicating the number M of strokes constituting one character (M is an integer of 1 or more), and stroke information corresponding to each stroke. 2303.

  The stroke information 2303 includes a stroke number 2304 for distinguishing strokes, a number 2305 indicating the number N of a plurality of points constituting the stroke (N is an integer of 1 or more), and a line type 2306 indicating the stroke line type. , And a plurality of coordinate data 2307 respectively indicating the coordinates of a plurality of points constituting the stroke. Since the number of coordinate data 2307 is equal to the number of points 2305, N coordinate data are stored as coordinates constituting one stroke.

  Since the number of stroke information 2303 is equal to the number of strokes 2302, the skeleton data 42 d includes M pieces of stroke information 2303 corresponding to the stroke codes 1 to M.

  As the line type 2306, for example, a line type “straight line” and a line type “curve” are used. When the line type 2306 is “straight line”, a plurality of points constituting the stroke are approximated by a straight line. When the line type 2306 is “curve”, the points constituting the stroke are approximated by a curve (for example, a spline curve).

  FIG. 23 shows an example of the skeleton data 42d representing the skeleton shape of the Chinese character “tree”. The skeleton data 42 d representing the skeleton shape of the Chinese character “tree” has four strokes # 1 to # 4 corresponding to the stroke codes 1 to 4.

  Stroke # 1 is defined as a straight line connecting the start point (0, 192) and the end point (255, 192). Stroke # 2 is defined as a straight line connecting the start point (128, 255) and the end point (128, 0). Stroke # 3 is obtained by approximating five points (121, 192), (97, 141), (72, 103), (41, 69), (4, 42) with a curve. Stroke # 4 is obtained by approximating five points (135, 192), (156, 146), (182, 107), (213, 72), and (251, 42) with a curve.

  FIG. 24 shows an example in which the skeleton data 42d representing the skeleton shape of the Chinese character “tree” is displayed on the coordinate plane. In the example shown in FIG. 24, strokes # 3 and # 4 are approximated by straight lines for simplicity.

  FIG. 25 shows a correction table 2060 as an example of the correction table 42 e stored in the auxiliary storage device 40. The correction table 2060 includes a correction pattern 1 and a correction pattern 2. In the correction pattern 1, the color element levels of the subpixels arranged in the vicinity of the subpixel corresponding to the basic part of the character are changed from “5”, “2”, “1” toward the side farther from the side closer to the basic part of the character. ”In this order. In the correction pattern 2, the color element levels of the subpixels arranged in the vicinity of the subpixel corresponding to the basic part of the character are changed from “4”, “2”, “1” toward the side farther from the side closer to the basic part of the character. ”In this order. How to properly use the correction pattern 1 and the correction pattern 2 will be described later with reference to FIGS. 30 (a) and 30 (b) and FIGS. 31 (a) and 31 (b).

  As described above, the correction pattern 1 and the correction pattern 2 are used for setting the color element level of the sub-pixel arranged in the vicinity of the sub-pixel corresponding to the basic part of the character.

  Note that the number of correction patterns included in the correction table 2060 is not limited to two. The correction table 2060 can have any number of correction patterns equal to or greater than two. Further, the number of color element levels included in each correction pattern is not limited to three. Each correction pattern may have any number of color element levels greater than or equal to one.

  FIG. 26 shows a luminance table 2070 as an example of the luminance table 42 c stored in the auxiliary storage device 40. The luminance table 2070 defines the relationship between the color element level of the subpixel and the luminance level of the subpixel. By storing the luminance table 2070 in the auxiliary storage device 40, the color element level of the sub-pixel can be easily converted to the luminance level. In the brightness table 2070, the eight color element levels (level 7 to level 0) of the sub-pixels are assigned to the brightness levels 0 to 255 at almost equal intervals.

  FIG. 27 shows a luminance table 2080 as another example of the luminance table 42c. The luminance table 2080 defines the relationship between the color element level of the subpixel and the luminance level of the subpixel. In the luminance table 2080, luminance levels corresponding to levels 7 to 4 among the color element levels of the subpixel are biased toward the luminance level 0, and corresponding to levels 3 to 0 of the color element levels of the subpixel. The luminance level is biased toward the luminance level 255 side. By defining the brightness table 2080 as shown in FIG. 27, it is possible to display the thickness of characters apparently finer than when the brightness table 2070 shown in FIG. 26 is used. That is, the characters appear to be tightened to the human eye.

  FIG. 28 shows a luminance table 2090 as another example of the luminance table 42c. The luminance table 2090 defines the relationship between the color element level of the subpixel and the luminance level of the subpixel. The brightness table 2090 is preferably used when the display device 10 is a color liquid crystal display device. By using the brightness table 2090, it is possible to correct that the brightness of the sub-pixel of the color element B becomes darker than the actual brightness when the brightness level of the sub-pixel of the color element B is low. As described above, by using the luminance table suitable for the display characteristics of the display device 10, it is possible to make colors other than black colored in characters inconspicuous by human eyes.

  FIG. 29A shows the processing procedure of the character display program 41b. The character display program 41b is executed by the CPU 21. Hereinafter, the processing procedure of the character display program 41b will be described step by step.

  Step S2001: A character code and a character size are input from the input device 30. For example, when displaying the Chinese character “Thu” on the display device 10, No. 4458 (JIS division code, 44 divisions 58 points) is input as the character code. The character size is expressed by, for example, the number of dots in the horizontal direction and the number of dots in the vertical direction of the displayed character. The character size is, for example, 20 dots × 20 dots.

  Step S2002: Skeleton data 42d for one character corresponding to the input character code is stored in the main memory 22.

  Step S2003: The coordinate data 2307 of the skeleton data 42d is scaled according to the input character size. By this scaling, a predetermined coordinate system for the coordinate data 2307 of the skeleton data 42 d is converted into an actual pixel coordinate system for the display device 10. However, this scaling is performed in consideration of the arrangement of subpixels. For example, as shown in FIG. 21, when one pixel 12 has three subpixels 14R, 14G, and 14B arranged in the X direction, the character size is 20 dots × 20 dots. The coordinate data 2307 of the skeleton data 42d is scaled to data of 60 (= 20 × 3) pixels × 20 pixels.

  Step S2004: Data for one stroke (stroke information 2303) is extracted from the skeleton data 42d.

  Step S2005: Based on the data for one stroke (stroke information 2303) extracted in step S2004, it is determined whether or not the stroke is a straight line. Such a determination is made by referring to the line type 2306 included in the stroke information 2303. If “Yes” in the determination in step S2005, the process proceeds to step S2006. If “No” in the determination in step S2005, the process proceeds to step S2007.

  Step S2006: The scaled coordinate data 2307 is connected by a straight line. A subpixel arranged on the straight line is defined as a basic part of the character. Thus, the basic part of the character is defined in units of subpixels.

  Step S2007: The scaled coordinate data 2307 is approximated by a curve. The curve is, for example, a spline curve. The subpixels placed on the curve are defined as the basic part of the character. Thus, the basic part of the character is defined in units of subpixels.

  Step S2008: The color element level of the sub-pixel corresponding to the basic part of the character is set to the maximum color element level. For example, when the color element level of the sub-pixel is expressed in 8 levels from level 7 to level 0, the color element level of the sub-pixel corresponding to the basic part of the character is set to level 7.

  Step S2009: The color element level of the subpixel arranged in the vicinity of the subpixel corresponding to the basic part of the character is set to any one of level 6 to level 0 according to a predetermined correction pattern selection rule. Details of the predetermined correction pattern selection rule will be described later with reference to FIGS. 30 (a) and 30 (b) and FIGS. 31 (a) and 31 (b). Such setting of the color element level is performed using, for example, a correction table 42e stored in the auxiliary storage device 40.

  Step S2010: It is determined whether or not the processing in steps S2003 to S2009 has been completed for all strokes included in one character. If “No”, the process returns to step S2003. If “Yes”, the process proceeds to step S2011.

  Step S2011: The color element level of the sub-pixel is converted into a luminance level. Such conversion is performed using, for example, the luminance table 42c stored in the auxiliary storage device 40.

  Step S2012: Luminance data indicating the luminance level of the sub-pixel is transferred to the display device 10. Thereby, the luminance level of the display device 10 is controlled in units of subpixels.

  FIGS. 30A and 30B show how the color element level of the sub-pixel arranged adjacent to the left side of the sub-pixel corresponding to the basic part of the character is determined.

  The color element level of the subpixel that is placed adjacent to the left side of the subpixel that corresponds to the basic part of the character is from the top to the bottom of the subpixel, regardless of the direction of the straight line that connects the start point and end point of the stroke. Determined in order.

  In FIGS. 30A and 30B, attention is paid to one subpixel A corresponding to the basic portion of the character. A subpixel located at the lower left of the target subpixel A is defined as a subpixel B. A subpixel located at the upper left of the target subpixel A is defined as a subpixel C.

  When at least one of the subpixel B and the subpixel C corresponds to the basic portion of the character, the color element level of the subpixel adjacent to the left side of the subpixel A is determined according to the correction pattern 1 of the correction table 42e. The case of FIG. 30A corresponds to this case. For example, when the correction table 2060 (FIG. 25) is used as the correction table 42e, the correction pattern 1 is a pattern of “5”, “2”, and “1”. Accordingly, the color element levels of the three subpixels adjacent to the left side of the subpixel A are set in the order of “5”, “2”, and “1” from the side closer to the subpixel A toward the far side.

  When the subpixel B does not correspond to the basic part of the character and the subpixel C does not correspond to the basic part of the character, the color element level of the subpixel adjacent to the left side of the subpixel A is corrected in the correction table 42e. Determined according to pattern 2. The case of FIG. 30B corresponds to this case. For example, when the correction table 2060 (FIG. 25) is used as the correction table 42e, the correction pattern 2 is a pattern of “4”, “2”, and “1”. Therefore, the color element levels of the three subpixels adjacent to the left side of the subpixel A are set in the order of “4”, “2”, and “1” from the side closer to the subpixel A toward the side farther from the side.

  Here, when a plurality of subpixels corresponding to the basic portion of the character are arranged in the horizontal direction, the leftmost subpixel is selected as the subpixel A.

  FIGS. 31A and 31B show how the color element levels of subpixels arranged adjacent to the right side of the subpixel corresponding to the basic part of the character are determined.

  The color element level of the subpixel that is placed adjacent to the right side of the subpixel corresponding to the basic part of the character is from the top to the bottom of the subpixel, regardless of the direction of the straight line connecting the start point and end point of the stroke. Determined in order.

  In FIGS. 31A and 31B, attention is paid to one subpixel A corresponding to the basic portion of the character. A subpixel located at the lower right of the target subpixel A is defined as a subpixel D. A subpixel located at the upper right of the target subpixel A is defined as a subpixel E.

  When at least one of the sub-pixel D and the sub-pixel E corresponds to the basic portion of the character, the color element level of the sub-pixel adjacent to the right side of the sub-pixel A is determined according to the correction pattern 1 of the correction table 42e. The case of FIG. 31A corresponds to this case. For example, when the correction table 2060 (FIG. 25) is used as the correction table 42e, the correction pattern 1 is a pattern of “5”, “2”, and “1”. Accordingly, the color element levels of the three subpixels adjacent to the right side of the subpixel A are set in the order of “5”, “2”, and “1” from the side closer to the subpixel A toward the side farther from the subpixel A.

  When the subpixel D does not correspond to the basic part of the character and the subpixel E does not correspond to the basic part of the character, the color element level of the subpixel adjacent to the right side of the subpixel A is corrected in the correction table 42e. Determined according to pattern 2. The case of FIG. 31 (b) corresponds to this case. For example, when the correction table 2060 (FIG. 25) is used as the correction table 42e, the correction pattern 2 is a pattern of “4”, “2”, and “1”. Accordingly, the color element levels of the three subpixels adjacent to the right side of the subpixel A are set in the order of “4”, “2”, and “1” from the side closer to the subpixel A toward the side farther.

  Here, when a plurality of subpixels corresponding to the basic portion of the character are arranged in the horizontal direction, the rightmost subpixel is selected as the subpixel A.

  In this way, the color element level of the subpixel adjacent to the subpixel corresponding to the basic portion of the character is determined. In FIGS. 30A and 30B and FIGS. 31A and 31B, the numbers in the rectangles representing the sub-pixels indicate the color element levels set for the respective sub-pixels.

  FIG. 32 shows an example in which the color element levels of all the sub-pixels of the display device 10 are set based on the skeleton data 42d representing the skeleton shape of the Chinese character “tree”. In FIG. 32, the numbers in the rectangles representing the sub-pixels indicate the color element levels set for the respective sub-pixels. Note that the color element level of the blank portion is level 0.

  The subpixel color element level as shown in FIG. 32 is obtained by synthesizing the subpixel color element level obtained for each stroke included in the skeleton data 42d.

  FIG. 33A to FIG. 33D show examples in which the color element level of the sub-pixel is set for stroke # 1 to stroke # 4 of the Chinese character “tree”. Such setting of the color element level of the sub-pixel can be performed by applying the correction pattern selection rule described with reference to FIGS. 30 (a) and 30 (b) and FIGS. 31 (a) and 31 (b). By prioritizing the maximum color element level of each sub-pixel for the planes 2141 to 2144 shown in FIGS. 33A-33D, the color element levels shown in FIG. 32 are obtained.

  FIG. 34 shows an example of adjusting the line width of a character by adjusting the thickness of the basic portion of the character in units of subpixels. In FIG. 34, a color element level of level 7 is set for the sub-pixel corresponding to the basic part of the character.

  In the example shown in FIG. 34, the thickness of the basic portion of the character indicated by “thin” is 1 subpixel, and the thickness of the basic portion of the character indicated by “middle” is 2 subpixels. The thickness of the basic part of the character indicated by “” is 3 subpixels.

  Line width information indicating the line width of a character is input from the input device 30 to the control unit 20 in step S2001 of FIG. 29A, for example. In steps S2006 and S2007 in FIG. 29A, a straight line or a curve corresponding to the input line width information of the character may be formed, and subpixels on the straight line or the curve may be defined as the basic portion of the character.

  FIG. 35 shows an example in which the line width of a character is adjusted by adjusting a correction pattern in the correction table 42e. In FIG. 35, the color element level of level 7 is set for the sub-pixel corresponding to the basic part of the character.

  In the example shown in FIG. 35, the thickness of the basic part of a character is 1 subpixel. However, the line width of the character increases as the number N of “weight N” increases.

  The color element level of the subpixel adjacent to the subpixel corresponding to the basic part of the character is determined according to the correction pattern 1 or the correction pattern 2. As shown in FIG. 36, correction pattern 1 is subdivided into patterns of weight 1 to weight 5, correction pattern 2 is subdivided into patterns of weight 1 to weight 5, and weights 1 to 5 are set according to the line width of the character. By using them properly, it becomes possible to adjust the line width of the character.

  Line width information indicating the line width of a character is input from the input device 30 to the control unit 20 in step S2001 of FIG. 29A, for example. In step S2009 of FIG. 29A, one of weight 1 to weight 5 of correction pattern 1 or one of weight 1 to weight 5 of correction pattern 2 is selected according to the line width information of the input character. The color element level of the subpixel adjacent to the subpixel corresponding to the basic portion of the character may be set according to the selected correction pattern.

  FIG. 37 shows an example of a correction table 2180 as a modification of the correction table 42e. When characters of all sizes are generated using the same correction pattern, a stroke of a large size character appears to be thinner than a stroke of a small size character. By changing the correction pattern according to the character size, it is possible to suppress variation in stroke thickness depending on the character size.

  In the example shown in FIG. 37, the correction is different for each of the three cases, ie, when the character size is 20 dots or less, when the character size is 21-32 dots, and when the character size is 33-48 dots. A pattern is available. Thus, by using a correction pattern suitable for the character size, it is possible to suppress variations in stroke thickness. By further increasing the number of divisions in the case of character size, it becomes possible to further suppress variations in stroke thickness.

  The correction pattern of the correction table 2180 can be used in step S2009 of FIG. 29A, for example.

  In the first embodiment, generation of a character pattern based on an outline font has been described. The generation of the character pattern based on the skeleton data described in the second embodiment has advantages over the generation of the character pattern based on the outline font. The advantages will be described with reference to FIG.

  In generating a character pattern based on an outline font, a real number operation is used when scaling the outline data of a character in accordance with the output size of the character. Thus, the scaled character outline 2191 may be placed across the grid. Here, the grid refers to a boundary between pixels. In this case, the color element level of the sub-pixel corresponding to the character basic portion 2192 defined by the character outline 2191 is not set to the maximum value (level 7 in this example) of the color element level. As a result, the basic portion 2192 of the character is displayed as a halftone.

  On the other hand, in the generation of a character pattern based on skeleton data, since the skeleton data itself does not have a thickness, the scaled skeleton data 2193 is arranged so as to straddle the grid like scaling from the outline. Absent. Based on the scaled skeleton data 2193, a basic portion 2194 of the character is defined. The color element level of the sub-pixel corresponding to the basic part 2194 of the character is set to the maximum value of the color element level (level 7 in this example). Thus, according to the generation of the character pattern based on the skeleton data, there is always a portion in the character pattern that is set to the maximum value of the color element level. As a result, it becomes possible to display the characters in an easy-to-see manner.

  Thus, rather than performing scaling after determining the line width of the character using the outline of the character, it is better to determine the line width of the character after defining the basic part of the character based on the scaled skeleton data , The characters can be displayed easily.

  With reference to FIG. 39, correction of the basic portion of the character when the scaled skeleton data 2201 is a straight line extending in an oblique direction will be described.

  Based on the scaled skeleton data 2201, a basic portion 2202 of the character is defined. The character basic portion 2202 is composed of a portion 2202a and a portion 2202b that are arranged in a different manner. The portions 2202a and 2202b are composed of a plurality of subpixels (for example, three or more subpixels). The color element level of the subpixel corresponding to the basic portion 2202 of the character is set to the maximum value of the color element level (level 7 in this example). The color element level of the subpixel adjacent to the subpixel corresponding to the basic portion 2202 of the character is set according to the correction pattern 1 or the correction pattern 2 of the correction table 42e. When the portions 2202a and 2202b in which the maximum value of the color element level is set, such as the character basic portion 2202, are continuous over a plurality of subpixels, the straight line extending in the oblique direction is difficult to be seen as a uniform straight line.

  In order to improve this, it is preferable to correct the character basic portion 2202 to the character basic portion 2203. By setting the color element level of the sub-pixels 2202c and 2202d located at the connection portion between the portion 2202a and the portion 2202b in the character basic portion 2202 to the minimum value (level 0 in this example), the character basic portion 2203 becomes can get. The basic part 2203 of the character is composed of a part 2203a and a part 2203b. After the basic portion 2202 of the character is corrected to the basic portion 2203 of the character, the color element level of the subpixel adjacent to the subpixel corresponding to the basic portion 2203 of the character is determined.

  Thus, when the arrangement of subpixels corresponding to the basic part of the character forms a specific pattern, the subpixels corresponding to the basic part of the character are separated so as to separate the basic part of the character into at least two parts. The color element level is corrected. Thereby, the accumulation of blackness can be eliminated in the central portion of the straight line. Here, the term “blackish puddle” means that when two or more strokes having a certain width (area) intersect or approach each other, the stroke has a width (area) larger than the actual stroke. A phenomenon. As a result, a straight line extending in an oblique direction can be displayed as a uniform straight line.

  FIG. 40 shows an example of a correction table 2210 as a modification of the correction table 42e. The correction pattern of the correction table 2210 is defined so as to correspond to the skeleton data 42d (FIG. 23) representing the skeleton shape of the Chinese character “tree”. That is, the correction pattern 2211 (4, 2, 1) is defined for the stroke # 1, the correction pattern 2212 (5, 4, 2, 1) is defined for the stroke # 2, and the stroke # 3 is defined. Correction pattern 2213-1 (6, 4, 2, 1), correction pattern 2213-2 (6, 4, 2, 1), correction pattern 2213-3 (6, 4, 2, 1), correction pattern 2213-4 (5, 3, 1) is defined, the correction pattern 2214-1 (6, 4, 2, 1), the correction pattern 2214-2 (6, 4, 2, 1), the correction pattern 2214 for the stroke # 4. -3 (6, 4, 2, 1) and correction pattern 2214-4 (5, 3, 1) are defined.

  The correction pattern 2213-1 is applied between the first point and the second point of the stroke # 3, and the correction pattern 2213-2 is applied between the second point and the third point of the stroke # 3. 2213-3 is applied between the third point and the fourth point of the stroke # 3, and the correction pattern 2213-4 is applied between the fourth point and the fifth point of the stroke # 3. The same applies to the correction patterns 2214-1 to 2214-4.

  As described above, by preparing a correction pattern for each stroke of the skeleton data 42d representing the basic portion of the character, it is possible to correct a fine color element level suitable for the character. This makes it possible to display characters with higher quality.

  The correction pattern of the correction table 2210 can be used in step S2009 of FIG. 29A, for example.

  In the correction table 2210, only one set of correction patterns is defined for each stroke of the skeleton data 42d. However, a plurality of sets of correction patterns may be defined. In this case, for example, according to the correction pattern selection and placement rule described with reference to FIGS. 30A and 30B and FIGS. 31A and 31B, one of the plurality of sets of correction patterns is selected. Used selectively.

  FIG. 41 shows an example in which the color element level of the subpixel corresponding to the Chinese character “tree” is set using the correction table 2210 shown in FIG. In FIG. 41, the color element level of the blank portion is level 0.

  FIG. 42 shows an example of a correction table 2230 as a modification of the correction table 42e. The correction pattern of the correction table 2230 is defined so as to correspond to the skeleton data 42d representing the tree bias of the Chinese character.

  In this way, by preparing a correction pattern for each radical part of the Chinese character, it is possible to perform fine color element level correction suitable for the radical part of the Chinese character. Furthermore, compared to the case where a correction pattern is prepared for each Chinese character, the correction pattern can be shared for each radical component of the Chinese character, thereby reducing the memory capacity required to store the correction pattern. Can do.

  The correction pattern of the correction table 2230 can be used in step S2009 of FIG. 29A, for example.

  FIG. 43 shows an example in which the color element level of the sub-pixel corresponding to the tree bias of the Chinese character is set using the correction table 2230 shown in FIG. In FIG. 43, the color element level of the blank portion is level 0.

  FIG. 44 shows an example of a correction table 2250 as a modification of the correction table 42e. The correction pattern of the correction table 2250 is defined so as to correspond to the number of strokes of the skeleton data 42d representing the skeleton shape of the character. That is, (6, 4, 3, 2, 1) of correction pattern 1 and (5, 4, 3, 2, 1) of correction pattern 2 are defined for characters having a stroke number of 1 to 6, (6, 4, 2, 1) of correction pattern 1 and (5, 4, 2, 1) of correction pattern 2 are defined for characters having a stroke number of 7 or more and 14 or less. , 2, 1) and (4, 2, 1) of correction pattern 2 are defined for characters having 15 or more strokes.

  In this way, by using different correction patterns according to the number of strokes in the skeleton data, it is possible to prevent the strokes of characters with a smaller number of strokes from appearing finer than the strokes of characters with a larger number of strokes, and correct even when the number of strokes increases. It makes it easy to place the pattern properly. By further increasing the number of strokes, the above-described effects can be obtained more remarkably.

  The correction pattern of the correction table 2250 can be used in step S2009 of FIG. 29A, for example.

  FIG. 45 shows an example of a correction table 2260 as a modification of the correction table 42e. The correction pattern of the correction table 2260 is defined so as to correspond to the stroke inclination of the skeleton data 42d representing the skeleton shape of the character. That is, the correction pattern (3, 2) is defined for a stroke having a stroke inclination of 0 °, and the correction pattern (6, 3, 2, 1) is a stroke having a stroke inclination of greater than 0 ° and 30 ° or less. The correction pattern (5, 3, 2) is defined for a stroke whose stroke inclination is greater than 30 ° and 45 ° or less, and the correction pattern (6, 3, 1) has a stroke inclination of 45 The correction pattern (4, 2, 1) is defined for a stroke having a stroke inclination greater than 60 ° and not more than 90 °.

  Thus, high-quality characters can be displayed by properly using the correction pattern according to the stroke inclination of the skeleton data. By further increasing the number of divisions in the case of the skeleton data stroke inclination, it becomes possible to display higher quality characters.

  The correction pattern of the correction table 2260 can be used in step S2009 of FIG. 29A, for example.

  FIG. 46 shows an example of a correction table 2270 as a modification of the correction table 42e. In the correction pattern of the correction table 2270, when the distance between the part having the basic part of the character and the other part is large (in the case of A in FIG. 47), the distance between the part having the basic part of the character and the other part is narrow. It is defined so as to correspond to both cases (in the case of B in FIG. 47). That is, in the case of A in FIG. 47, the correction pattern 1 or the correction pattern 2 of the normal pattern in the correction table 2270 is used. Thereby, the color element level of the sub-pixel is set as shown by A 'in FIG. In the case of B in FIG. 47, the correction pattern 1 or the correction pattern 2 of the special pattern in the correction table 2270 is used. Thereby, the color element level of the sub-pixel is set as shown by B 'in FIG.

  In this way, high-quality characters can be displayed by properly using the correction patterns according to the crowded state of the basic portions of the characters.

  The correction pattern of the correction table 2270 can be used in step S2009 of FIG. 29A, for example.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 15C shows the configuration of the character display device 1c according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 15C, the same components as those shown in FIG. 15B are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be described.

  FIG. 29B shows a processing procedure of the character display program 41c in the case of setting an auxiliary pattern representing the character typeface characteristics based on the shape of the stroke. The character display program 41c is executed by the CPU 21. Hereinafter, the processing procedure of the character display program 41c will be described step by step.

  Step S3001: A character code and a character size are input from the input device 30. For example, when displaying the Chinese character “Thu” on the display device 10, No. 4458 (JIS division code, 44 divisions 58 points) is input as the character code. The character size is expressed by, for example, the number of dots in the horizontal direction and the number of dots in the vertical direction of the displayed character. The character size is, for example, 20 dots × 20 dots.

  Step S3002: Skeleton data 42d for one character corresponding to the input character code is stored in the main memory 22.

  Step S3003: The coordinate data 2307 of the skeleton data 42d is scaled according to the input character size. By this scaling, a predetermined coordinate system for the coordinate data 2307 of the skeleton data 42 d is converted into an actual pixel coordinate system for the display device 10. However, this scaling is performed in consideration of the arrangement of subpixels. For example, as shown in FIG. 21, when one pixel 12 has three subpixels 14R, 14G, and 14B arranged in the X direction, the character size is 20 dots × 20 dots. The coordinate data 2307 of the skeleton data 42d is scaled to data of 60 (= 20 × 3) pixels × 20 pixels.

  Step S3004: Data for one stroke (stroke information 2303) is extracted from the skeleton data 42d.

  Step S3005: Based on the data for one stroke (stroke information 2303) extracted in step S3004, it is determined whether or not the stroke is a straight line. Such a determination is made by referring to the line type 2306 included in the stroke information 2303. If “Yes” in the determination in step S3005, the process proceeds to step S3006. If “No” in the determination in step S3005, the process proceeds to step S3007.

  Step S3006: The scaled coordinate data 2307 is connected with a straight line. A subpixel arranged on the straight line is defined as a basic part of the character. Thus, the basic part of the character is defined in units of subpixels.

  Step S3007: The scaled coordinate data 2307 is approximated by a curve. The curve is, for example, a spline curve. The subpixels placed on the curve are defined as the basic part of the character. Thus, the basic part of the character is defined in units of subpixels.

  Step S3081: The color element level of the subpixel corresponding to the basic part of the character is set to the maximum color element level. For example, when the color element level of the sub-pixel is expressed in 8 levels from level 7 to level 0, the color element level of the sub-pixel corresponding to the basic part of the character is set to level 7.

  Step S3082: The same processing as in step S3081 is performed.

  Step S3021: It is determined whether or not the stroke is a vertical line (that is, a straight line parallel to the Y direction (FIG. 21)). Such a determination is made by referring to the coordinate data 2307 included in the stroke information 2303. For example, if the difference between the X coordinate at one end of the stroke and the X coordinate at the other end is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold value, the stroke is determined to be a vertical line.

  If the determination result is “Yes” in step S3021, the process proceeds to step S3023. If the determination result is “No” in step S3021, the process proceeds to step S3022.

  Step S3022: It is determined whether or not the stroke is a horizontal line (that is, a straight line parallel to the X direction (FIG. 21)). Such a determination is made by referring to the coordinate data 2307 included in the stroke information 2303. For example, if the difference between the Y coordinate at one end of the stroke and the Y coordinate at the other end is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, the stroke is determined to be a horizontal line.

  If the determination result is “Yes” in step S3022, the process proceeds to step S3024. If the determination result is “No” in step S3022, the process proceeds to step S3009.

  Step S3023: Of the subpixels adjacent to the subpixel corresponding to the basic part of the character, at least one subpixel adjacent to the X direction (that is, the arrangement direction of the subpixels 14R, 14G, and 14B (see FIG. 21)). The color element level is set to one of level 6 to level 0. It is determined in advance which sub-pixel is a target of setting the color element level with respect to the vertical stroke. For example, the color element level of two subpixels adjacent to the right side of the basic part of the character is set to level 6 at the upper end of the vertical stroke. This means that the auxiliary pattern (6, 6) is arranged at a predetermined position on the right side with respect to the basic part of the character. The auxiliary pattern represents a characteristic of a specific typeface of the character (for example, “Mincho style”).

  Step S3024: Among the subpixels adjacent to the subpixel corresponding to the basic portion of the character, at least one subpixel adjacent in the Y direction (that is, the direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the subpixels 14R, 14G, and 14B). Is set to one of level 6 to level 0. It is determined in advance which subpixels are to be set for the color element level with respect to the horizontal stroke. For example, at the second position from the right end of the horizontal stroke, the color element level of one subpixel adjacent to the upper side of the basic portion of the character is set to level 6. This means that the auxiliary pattern (6) is arranged at a predetermined position above the basic part of the character. The auxiliary pattern represents a characteristic of a specific typeface of the character (for example, “Mincho style”).

  Step S3009: The color element level of the subpixel arranged in the vicinity of the subpixel corresponding to the basic part of the character is set to any one of level 6 to level 0 according to a predetermined correction pattern selection rule. However, when the auxiliary pattern is arranged, the color element level of the subpixel arranged in the vicinity of the subpixel corresponding to the auxiliary pattern is set to any one of level 6 to level 0 according to a predetermined correction pattern selection rule. Is set. Level 0 of the auxiliary pattern is overwritten by levels 6 to 1 of a predetermined correction pattern. The details of the predetermined correction pattern selection rule are as already described with reference to FIGS. 30 (a) and 30 (b) and FIGS. 31 (a) and 31 (b). Such setting of the color element level is performed using, for example, a correction table 42e stored in the auxiliary storage device 40.

  Step S3010: It is determined whether or not the processing in steps S3003 to S3009 has been completed for all strokes included in one character. If “No”, the process returns to step S3003. If “Yes”, the process proceeds to step S3011.

  Step S3011: The color element level of the sub-pixel is converted into a luminance level. Such conversion is performed using, for example, the luminance table 42c stored in the auxiliary storage device 40.

  Step S3012: Luminance data indicating the luminance level of the sub-pixel is transferred to the display device 10. Thereby, the luminance level of the display device 10 is controlled in units of subpixels.

  Thus, depending on whether the stroke is a vertical line or a horizontal line, an auxiliary pattern representing the character typeface of the character is arranged so as to be adjacent to the basic part of the character, and adjacent to the basic part of the character or the auxiliary pattern By arranging the correction pattern in this manner, it is possible to represent the character type characteristics of the character.

  50A to 50C show arrangement examples of auxiliary patterns and correction patterns with respect to the vertical stroke. In FIGS. 50A to 50C, the numbers indicate the color element levels of the sub-pixels. The basic part of the character is defined by the vertical stroke. The color element level of the sub-pixel corresponding to the basic part of the character is set to level 7 (FIG. 50 (a)). Next, the auxiliary pattern (6, 6) is arranged at a predetermined position on the right side of the upper end of the basic part of the character (FIG. 50B). Next, a correction pattern of (4, 2, 1) is arranged from the side closer to the basic part of the character or the auxiliary pattern (6, 6) to the side farther away (FIG. 50C).

  51A to 51C show arrangement examples of auxiliary patterns and correction patterns for the horizontal stroke. In FIGS. 51A to 51C, the numbers indicate the color element levels of the sub-pixels. The basic part of the character is defined by the horizontal stroke. The color element level of the sub-pixel corresponding to the basic part of the character is set to level 7 (FIG. 51 (a)). Next, the auxiliary pattern (6) is arranged at a predetermined position on the upper right end of the basic part of the character (FIG. 51 (b)). Next, a correction pattern of (4, 2, 1) is arranged from the side closer to the basic part of the character or the auxiliary pattern (6) to the side farther (FIG. 51 (c)).

  FIG. 54A shows an example in which auxiliary patterns and correction patterns are arranged for the vertical stroke (stroke # 2 shown in FIG. 24) and the horizontal stroke (stroke # 1 shown in FIG. 24) of the Chinese character “tree”. Indicates.

  When the auxiliary pattern is arranged in the vicinity of the basic portion of the character, the correction pattern arrangement rule described with reference to FIGS. 30A and 30B and FIGS. 31A and 31B is described. In this case, “character basic portion” may be read as “character basic portion or portion other than level 0 of the auxiliary pattern”.

  FIG. 29C shows a processing procedure of the character display program 41d in the case of setting an auxiliary pattern representing the character typeface of the character based on the typeface attribute table 42f. The character display program 41d is executed by the CPU 21. In FIG. 29C, steps that are the same as the steps shown in FIG. 29B are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

  The typeface attribute table 42 f is stored in the auxiliary storage device 40 as a part of the data 42. Therefore, the configuration of the character display device 1d for executing the character display program 41d shown in FIG. 29C is as shown in FIG. 15D.

  FIG. 48 shows the structure of the typeface attribute table 42 f stored in the auxiliary storage device 40.

  The typeface attribute table 42f defines in which position an auxiliary pattern representing the character typeface of the character is arranged for each stroke constituting the character. The typeface attribute table 42f includes a character code 3601 for identifying a character type and stroke information 3610 corresponding to each stroke.

  The stroke information 3610 includes a stroke number 3602 for distinguishing strokes, one or more auxiliary pattern sets 3604, and an auxiliary pattern set number 3603 indicating the number of auxiliary pattern sets 3604.

  The auxiliary pattern set 3604 includes a coordinate number 3605, an arrangement direction flag 3606, an arrangement position flag 3607, one or more auxiliary patterns 3609 representing the characteristics of the character font, and an auxiliary pattern number 3608 indicating the number of auxiliary patterns 3609. including.

  The coordinate number 3605 indicates the number (1, 2, 3,...) Assigned to the coordinate data 2307 serving as a reference for the location where the auxiliary pattern is arranged in the coordinate data 2307 included in the skeleton data 42d.

  An arrangement position flag 3607 indicates the positional relationship between the stroke and the auxiliary pattern 3609. The arrangement position flag 3607 indicates “right side”, “upper side”, “left side”, or “lower side”. The arrangement position flag 3607 indicating “right side” means that one or more auxiliary patterns 3609 are arranged on the right side of the stroke. The arrangement position flag 3607 indicating “upper side” means that one or more auxiliary patterns 3609 are arranged on the upper side of the stroke. The arrangement position flag 3607 indicating “left side” means that one or more auxiliary patterns 3609 are arranged on the left side of the stroke. The arrangement position flag 3607 indicating “lower” means that one or more auxiliary patterns 3609 are arranged below the stroke.

  When the arrangement position flag 3607 indicates “left side” or “right side”, the arrangement direction flag 3606 indicates a direction in which one or more auxiliary patterns 3609 are arranged with respect to the stroke direction. In this case, one or more values included in the auxiliary pattern 3609 are arranged from the side closer to the stroke toward the side farther from the stroke. When the arrangement position flag 3607 indicates “upper side” or “lower side”, the arrangement direction flag 3606 indicates a direction in which one or more values included in the auxiliary pattern 3609 are arranged with respect to the direction of the stroke. In this case, the one or more auxiliary patterns 3609 are arranged from the side closer to the stroke toward the side farther from the stroke. The arrangement direction flag 3606 indicates either “forward direction” or “reverse direction”.

  The auxiliary pattern 3609 is expressed as (0, 6), (6, 6, 6), for example. The auxiliary pattern (0, 6) indicates that the color element levels of two subpixels adjacent in the X direction are set to level 0 and level 6, respectively. The auxiliary patterns (6, 6, 6) indicate that the color element levels of three subpixels adjacent in the X direction are set to level 6, level 6, and level 6, respectively.

  FIG. 49 shows a typeface attribute table 3600 as an example of the typeface attribute table 42 f stored in the auxiliary storage device 40. The typeface attribute table 3600 defines characteristics of a specific typeface (for example, “Mincho style”) of the Chinese character “tree”.

  In FIG. 29C, in step S3008, the color element level of the sub-pixel corresponding to the basic part of the character is set to the maximum color element level. For example, when the color element level of the sub-pixel is expressed in 8 levels from level 7 to level 0, the color element level of the sub-pixel corresponding to the basic part of the character is set to level 7.

  In step S3031, based on the typeface attribute table 42f, the color element level of at least one subpixel adjacent to the subpixel corresponding to the basic part of the character is set to one of level 6 to level 0. The position of the auxiliary pattern 3609 with respect to the basic part of the character is defined in advance in the typeface attribute table 42f.

  As described above, the auxiliary pattern representing the character typeface of the character is arranged so as to be adjacent to the basic portion of the character based on the typeface attribute table 42f, and the correction pattern is adjacent to the basic portion of the character or the auxiliary pattern. By arranging the character, it is possible to represent the characteristics of the typeface of the character.

  52A to 52C show arrangement examples of the auxiliary pattern and the correction pattern with respect to the stroke # 1 of the Chinese character “tree”. In FIGS. 52A to 52C, the numbers indicate the color element levels of the sub-pixels. The basic part of the character is defined by the stroke # 1. The color element level of the sub-pixel corresponding to the basic part of the character is set to level 7 (FIG. 52 (a)). Next, based on the typeface attribute table 3600 (FIG. 49), the coordinate data 2 of the stroke # 1 is auxiliary to the upper side of the stroke # 1 in the reverse direction (that is, the direction from the right end point to the left end point of the stroke # 1). Pattern (0, 6) is arranged (FIG. 52 (b)). Next, a correction pattern of (4, 2, 1) is arranged from the side closer to the basic part of the character or the auxiliary pattern (0, 6) to the side farther (FIG. 52 (c)).

  FIGS. 53A to 53C show arrangement examples of the auxiliary pattern and the correction pattern for the stroke # 4 of the Chinese character “tree”. In FIGS. 53A to 53C, the numbers indicate the color element levels of the sub-pixels. The basic part of the character is defined by the stroke # 4. The color element level of the sub-pixel corresponding to the basic part of the character is set to level 7 (FIG. 53 (a)). Next, on the left side of the stroke # 4 from the coordinate data 5 of the stroke # 4 in the reverse direction (that is, the direction from the lower right end point to the upper left end point of the stroke # 4) based on the typeface attribute table 3600 (FIG. 49). The auxiliary patterns (6, 6, 6) and (6, 6) are arranged (FIG. 53 (b)). Next, a correction pattern of (5,2,1) or (4,2,1) from the side closer to the basic part or auxiliary pattern (6,6,6), (6,6) to the side farther from (6,6) Is arranged (FIG. 53 (c)).

  FIG. 54B shows an example in which auxiliary patterns and correction patterns are arranged for strokes # 1 to # 4 of the Chinese character “tree” based on the typeface attribute table 3600 (FIG. 49). The kanji “tree” shown in FIG. 54 (b) can be arranged with auxiliary patterns for each of strokes # 1 to # 4. Therefore, the kanji “tree” shown in FIG. In comparison, it is possible to more clearly express the character of the “Ki” typeface. For example, the Chinese character “tree” shown in FIG. 54 (b) is superior to the Chinese character “tree” shown in FIG. 54 (a) in that it can express “Haraai” of stroke # 4. .

  The subpixel color element levels as shown in FIGS. 54A and 54B are obtained by combining the subpixel color element levels obtained for each stroke included in the skeleton data 42d. It is done. Here, when combining a plurality of color element levels, the highest color element level is given priority among the plurality of color element levels.

  When the variable width of the character size (number of dots) displayed on the display device 10 is large, it is preferable to selectively use one of a plurality of typeface attribute tables according to the character size. .

  FIG. 55 shows the structure of the typeface attribute table 42f when one of a plurality of typeface attribute tables is selectively used according to the character size. In the example shown in FIG. 55, the font attribute table # 1 is selectively used when the character size is 20 dots or less, and the font attribute table # 2 when the character size is 21 dots or more and 32 dots or less. Is selectively used, and the font attribute table # 3 is selectively used when the character size is 33 dots or more and 48 dots or less.

  The structure of the typeface attribute tables # 1 to # 3 is the same as the structure of the typeface attribute table 42f shown in FIG.

  FIG. 56 shows typeface attribute tables # 1 to # 3 corresponding to the Chinese character “tree” as an example of the typeface attribute tables # 1 to # 3.

  FIG. 57A shows color element levels set for each subpixel when the Chinese character “tree” is displayed with 32 dots. FIG. 57B shows an example in which the character of the Chinese character “tree” is added to the 32-dot Chinese character “tree” shown in FIG. 57A using the font property table # 2 shown in FIG. FIG. 57C shows an example in which the character of the Chinese character “tree” is added to the 32-dot Chinese character “tree” shown in FIG. 57A by using the typeface attribute table # 1 shown in FIG. When comparing FIG. 57B and FIG. 57C, the Chinese character “Thu” shown in FIG. 57B has a higher quality character than the Chinese character “Thu” shown in FIG. 57C. You can see that it is expressed. This is because the typeface attribute table suitable for the character size (32 dots) is used.

  FIG. 58A shows color element levels set for each sub-pixel when the Chinese character “tree” is displayed with 40 dots. FIG. 58B shows an example in which the character of the Chinese character “tree” is added to the 40-dot Chinese character “tree” shown in FIG. 58A by using the typeface attribute table # 3 shown in FIG. FIG. 58C shows an example in which the character of the Chinese character “tree” is added to the 40-dot Chinese character “tree” shown in FIG. 58A using the typeface attribute table # 1 shown in FIG. Comparing FIG. 58B and FIG. 58C, the Chinese character “Thu” shown in FIG. 58B has a higher-quality character than the Chinese character “Thu” shown in FIG. 58C. You can see that it is expressed. This is because the typeface attribute table suitable for the character size (40 dots) is used.

  Each character can have a plurality of typeface attribute tables corresponding to the character size. In this case, it is common to all characters (or a specific character set) and expresses the character characteristics of that character in higher quality than when it has multiple typeface attribute tables according to the character size. It becomes possible to do.

  Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 59A to 59D, an example in which the thickness of the vertical line of a character is smoothly adjusted by placing various correction patterns on the left and right of the basic part of the character will be described.

  In FIG. 59 (a), the color element level of the basic portion of the character corresponding to the vertical line of the character (for example, stroke # 2 of the “kanji” of the Chinese character) is set to level 7, and left and right of the basic portion of the character. The case where a correction pattern of (4, 2) is placed from the side closer to the basic part of the character toward the side farther from is shown.

  Similarly, FIG. 59B shows a case where a correction pattern of (5, 2, 1) is placed on the left and right sides of the basic part of the character from the side closer to the basic part of the character toward the side farther from the side. FIG. 59 (c) shows a case where a correction pattern of (5, 3, 2) is placed on the left and right sides of the basic portion of the character from the side closer to the basic portion of the character toward the far side. d) shows a case where a correction pattern of (5, 4, 2, 1) is placed on the left and right sides of the basic part of the character from the side closer to the basic part of the character toward the side farther from the side.

  As shown in FIGS. 59A to 59D, by placing various correction patterns on the left and right of the basic part of the character, the vertical line of the character is changed in the order from FIG. 59A to FIG. 59D. Looks like it gets smoother and thicker. In this way, it is possible to apparently change the thickness of the character without changing the thickness of the basic portion of the character.

  Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 60A to 60D, an example will be described in which the thickness of the horizontal line of a character is smoothly adjusted by placing various correction patterns above and below the basic part of the character.

  In FIG. 60 (a), the color element level of the basic part of the character corresponding to the horizontal line of the character (for example, stroke # 1 of the Chinese character “tree”) is set to level 7, and left and right of the basic part of the character are The case where a correction pattern of (4, 2, 1) is placed from the side closer to the basic part of the character toward the side farther from is shown. No correction pattern is placed above or below the basic part of the character.

  In FIG. 60B, the color element level of the subpixel adjacent to the upper side of the basic portion of the character is set to level 3, and the color element level of the subpixel adjacent to the upper side of the correction pattern (4, 2, 1) is set. The case where (2, 1, 0) is set is shown. Here, the color element levels of the sub-pixels adjacent to the upper side of the correction pattern (4, 2, 1) are the color element level of the correction pattern (4, 2, 1) and the upper side of the correction pattern (4, 2, 1). Is approximately equal to the ratio of the color component level of the basic portion of the character to the color component level of the subpixel adjacent to the upper portion of the basic portion of the character (ie, 7: 3). Set to be equal. When the color element level does not become an integer value as a result of calculating the above-described ratio, processing such as rounding is appropriately performed so that the color element level becomes an integer value.

  FIG. 60C shows the color element level of the subpixel adjacent to the lower side of the basic part of the character set to level 3, and the color element of the subpixel adjacent to the lower side of the correction pattern (4, 2, 1). The case where the level is set to (2, 1, 0) is shown.

  In FIG. 60D, the color element level of the subpixels adjacent to the upper side and the lower side of the basic portion of the character is set to level 3, and the subpixels adjacent to the upper side and the lower side of the correction pattern (4, 2, 1) are set. The case where the color element level of the pixel is set to (2, 1, 0) is shown.

  As shown in FIGS. 60A to 60D, the color element levels of the sub-pixels adjacent to the upper side or the lower side of the left and right correction patterns of the basic part of the character and the basic part of the character are set to predetermined levels. As a result, the horizontal line of the character appears to gradually become thicker in the order of FIG. 60 (a), FIG. 60 (b), FIG. 60 (c), and FIG. 60 (d). In this way, it is possible to apparently change the thickness of the character without changing the thickness of the basic portion of the character.

  In FIG. 60 (b) and FIG. 60 (c), the thickness of the character is apparently the same. However, the horizontal line shown in FIG. 60 (b) seems to be arranged slightly upward, and the horizontal line shown in FIG. 60 (c) seems to be arranged slightly downward. The horizontal line shown in FIG. 60B and the horizontal line shown in FIG. 60C can be used properly in consideration of the presence or absence of adjacent strokes and the distance between strokes. For example, when the output size of a character is small, the horizontal line shown in FIG. 60B is used as the top horizontal line of the “country” of the Chinese character, and the horizontal line shown in FIG. By using the horizontal line shown in (c), it is possible to suppress accumulation of blackness and collapse of characters. Here, “crushing a character” is a result of reducing the size of a character (ie, the number of dots used to display the character), or two or more strokes having a certain width intersect or The state where it becomes difficult to recognize as a character as a result of the space of the character being excessively narrowed by approaching.

  Note that the center of gravity of the horizontal line shown in FIG. 60 (b) apparently moves slightly upward, so even if an underline is drawn on the character including the horizontal line, it is affected by the change in the center of gravity due to the underline. Hateful.

  Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 61A to 61C, an example of smoothly adjusting the thickness of the horizontal line of a character by adjusting the color element level of the subpixel adjacent to the upper side of the basic portion of the character. explain.

  In FIG. 61A, the color element level of the subpixel adjacent to the upper side of the basic portion of the character is set to level 2, and the color element level of the subpixel adjacent to the upper side of the correction pattern (4, 2, 1) is set. The case where (1, 1, 0) is set is shown.

  In FIG. 61B, the color element level of the subpixel adjacent to the upper side of the basic portion of the character is set to level 5, and the color element level of the subpixel adjacent to the upper side of the correction pattern (4, 2, 1) is set. The case where (3, 1, 1) is set is shown.

  In FIG. 61 (c), the color element level of the subpixel adjacent to the upper side of the basic portion of the character is set to level 6, and the color element level of the subpixel adjacent to the upper side of the correction pattern (4, 2, 1) is set. The case where (3, 2, 1) is set is shown.

  As shown in FIGS. 61A to 61C, by adjusting the color element level of the subpixel adjacent to the upper side of the basic portion of the character, the horizontal line of the character is changed from FIG. 61A to FIG. It seems to become thicker smoothly in the order of c). In this way, it is possible to apparently change the thickness of the character without changing the thickness of the basic portion of the character.

  In the example shown in FIGS. 61A to 61C, the thickness of the character is adjusted by adjusting only the color element level of the subpixel adjacent to the upper side of the basic portion of the character. Similarly, the thickness of the character can be adjusted by adjusting only the color element level of the subpixel adjacent to the lower side of the basic portion of the character. Alternatively, the thickness of the character can be adjusted by adjusting the color element level of the subpixel adjacent to the upper side of the basic part of the character and the color element level of the subpixel adjacent to the lower side of the basic part of the character. It is.

  In Embodiment 3, the color element level of the subpixel corresponding to the basic part of the character is set to the maximum color element level (for example, level 7). However, there are cases where it is preferable to set the color element level of the sub-pixel corresponding to the basic part of the character to a color element level other than the maximum color element level. Such setting of the color element level is performed for the purpose of, for example, suppressing the blackness of the character from accumulating in a portion where the character is crowded. Alternatively, such setting of the color element level may be performed for the purpose of expressing a typeface feature such as “blur of a hare image”, for example.

  The basic part table 42 g is stored in the auxiliary storage device 40 as a part of the data 42. Therefore, the configuration of the character display device 1e that refers to the basic part table 42g is as shown in FIG. 15E.

  FIG. 62A shows the structure of the basic partial table 42 g stored in the auxiliary storage device 40. The basic part table 42g determines the value of the color element level of the basic part of the character defined by the stroke for each stroke constituting the character / radical. The basic part table 42g includes a character / radical code 3701 for identifying a character / radical, and stroke information 3702 corresponding to each stroke.

  The stroke information 3702 includes a stroke number 3703 for distinguishing strokes, and a color element level 3704 representing a color element level of a basic part located on a line connecting points in each stroke. The stroke number 3703 corresponds to the stroke number 2304 (FIG. 22) of the skeleton data 42d.

  FIG. 62B shows a basic part table 3700 corresponding to the Chinese character “fish bias” as an example of the basic part table 42g. According to the basic part table 3700 shown in FIG. 62 (b), the color element level of the basic part of the character corresponding to each of the strokes # 8 to # 13 of the “fish bias” of the Chinese character is a level other than the maximum level ( That is, it is set to level 6 or level 5). As a result, it is possible to suppress the blackness of the characters from accumulating in the portions where the characters are crowded (that is, the internal portion of the “rice field” or the “brick (four points)” portion).

  FIG. 63 shows an example of skeleton data 3800 representing the skeleton shape of the Chinese character “fish bias” as an example of the skeleton data 42d. Skeleton data 3800 has 13 strokes # 1 to # 13.

  FIG. 64 shows an example in which skeleton data 3800 representing the skeleton shape of the Chinese character “fish bias” is displayed on the coordinate plane. In FIG. 64, numerals indicate stroke numbers.

  FIG. 65 (a) sets the color element level of the basic part of the character corresponding to the Chinese character “fish bias” to the maximum color element level (that is, level 7), and sets correction patterns on the left and right of the basic part of the character. The set result is shown. FIG. 65 (b) uses the basic part table 3700 (FIG. 62 (b)) to set the color element level of a part of the basic part of the character corresponding to the Chinese character “fish bias” to level 5 or level 6. Results are shown. In this way, by setting the color element level of a part of the basic part of the character to a low level, the blackness of the character can be suppressed in the part where the character is crowded. As a result, it becomes possible to improve the balance of blackness as a whole character.

  FIG. 66 shows a basic part table 3900 corresponding to the Chinese character “tree” as an example of the basic part table 42g. According to the basic part table 3900 shown in FIG. 66, the color element level of the basic part of the character corresponding to the tip part of the stroke # 3 corresponding to the “left side” of the Chinese character “tree” is a level other than the maximum level. (Ie, level 6 or level 5). As a result, it is possible to express a unique feature in the typeface of the Chinese character “Thu”, in which “Haze” is present at the tip of “Left Harai”.

  FIG. 67A shows the result of setting the color element level of a part of the basic part of the character corresponding to the Chinese character “tree” to level 5 or level 6 using the basic part table 3900 (FIG. 66). . FIG. 67 (b) shows the result of placing the correction pattern (4, 2, 1) or (5, 2, 1) on the left and right of the basic part of the character shown in FIG. 67 (a). Thus, by setting the color element level of a part of the basic part of the character to a low level, the blackness of the character can be suppressed. As a result, it is possible to express unique features in the typeface such as “smear” at the tip of “Harai”.

  In the third embodiment described above, Japanese characters have been described as an example. However, the application of the present invention is not limited to Japanese characters. By applying the present invention to characters in any other language (eg Chinese characters, European characters, Korean characters, Arabic characters, etc.), you can adjust the thickness of the characters or It is possible to express features and suppress the blackness of characters.

  Further, the recording medium for storing the character display program 41a and the data 42 may be a program or data in a communication network other than the above-mentioned storage device such as a disk or card, or a medium that holds the program or data fixedly such as a semiconductor memory. It may be a medium that fluidly carries a program or data, such as a communication medium used for transporting. When the character display device 1a includes means for connecting to a communication line including the Internet, the character display program 41a and the data 42 can be downloaded from the communication line. In this case, a loader program necessary for downloading may be stored in advance in a ROM (not shown), or may be installed in the control unit 20 from the auxiliary storage device 40.

  As mentioned above, although this invention has been illustrated using preferable embodiment of this invention, this invention should not be limited and limited to this embodiment. It is understood that the scope of the present invention should be construed only by the claims. It is understood that those skilled in the art can implement an equivalent range based on the description of the present invention and the common general technical knowledge from the description of specific preferred embodiments of the present invention. Patents, patent applications, and documents cited herein should be incorporated by reference in their entirety, as if the contents themselves were specifically described herein. Understood.

It is a figure which shows the outline shape of the ideal slanting line. It is a figure which shows the example which displayed the oblique line 102 shown in FIG. 1 on the display surface 200 using the conventional dot font. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example in which a diagonal line 102 shown in FIG. 1 is displayed on a display surface 300 using a conventional gray scale font. It is a figure which shows typically the display surface 400 of the display device 10 which can be used for the character display apparatus 1a of this invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example in which the oblique line 102 shown in FIG. 1 is displayed on the display surface 400 of the display device 10. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example in which the slanted line 102 shown in FIG. 1 is displayed on the display surface 400 of the display device 10 narrower than the slanted line shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example in which the slanted line 102 shown in FIG. 1 is displayed thicker than the slanted line shown in FIG. 5 on the display surface 400 of the display device 10. It is a figure which shows the font data of "I" of Hiragana actually designed based on the display principle of the character by this invention. It is a figure which shows the luminance table 92 which defines the relationship between the color element level of a sub pixel, and the luminance level of a sub pixel. It is a figure which shows the luminance table 94 which defines the relationship between the color element level of a sub pixel, and the luminance level of a sub pixel. It is a figure which shows the luminance table 96 which defines the relationship between the color element level of a sub pixel, and the luminance level of a sub pixel. It is a figure which shows the font data of the Chinese character "meaning" actually designed based on the display principle of the character by this invention. 4 is a diagram showing an example in which an ideal oblique line 104 is displayed on the display surface 400 of the display device 10. FIG. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example in which the ideal oblique line 104 shown in FIG. 13 is displayed on the display surface 400 of the display device 10. It is a figure which shows the structure of the character display apparatus 1a of Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the character display apparatus 1b of Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the character display apparatus 1c of Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the character display apparatus 1d of Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the character display apparatus 1e of Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the character outline information 42a. It is a figure which shows the structure of the color element level information 42b. It is a figure which shows an example of the color element level information 42b. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the character display program 41a. It is a figure for demonstrating how the color element level of the sub pixel arrange | positioned in the vicinity of the sub pixel corresponding to the basic part of a character is determined. FIG. 6 is a diagram in which font data of Hiragana “I” actually designed based on the character display principle according to the present invention and an ideal outline of Hiragana “I” are superimposed and displayed. It is a figure which shows typically the display surface 400 of the display device 10 which can be used for the character display apparatus 1b of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of skeleton data 42d. It is a figure which shows the example of the skeleton data 42d showing the frame | skeleton shape of the Chinese character "tree". It is a figure which shows the example which displayed on the coordinate plane the skeleton data 42d showing the skeleton shape of the Chinese character "tree". FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a correction table 2060. 5 is a diagram showing the structure of a luminance table 2070. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the structure of a luminance table 2080. FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the brightness | luminance table 2090. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the character display program 41b. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the character display program 41c. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the character display program 41d. (A) And (b) is a figure which shows how the color element level of the sub pixel arrange | positioned adjacent to the left side of the sub pixel corresponding to the basic part of a character is determined. (A) And (b) is a figure which shows how the color element level of the sub pixel arrange | positioned adjacent to the right side of the sub pixel corresponding to the basic part of a character is determined. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example in which color element levels of all subpixels of the display device 10 are set. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example which set the color element level of the sub pixel about stroke # 1 of the Chinese character "tree". It is a figure which shows the example which set the color element level of the sub-pixel about stroke # 2 of the Chinese character “tree”. It is a figure which shows the example which set the color element level of the sub pixel about stroke # 3 of the Chinese character "tree". It is a figure which shows the example which set the color element level of the sub pixel about stroke # 4 of the Chinese character "Thu". It is a figure which shows the example which adjusts the line width of a character by adjusting the thickness of the basic part of a character per subpixel. It is a figure which shows the example which adjusts the line | wire width of a character by adjusting the correction pattern in the correction table 42e. It is a figure which shows the structure of the correction table 2170. It is a figure which shows the structure of the correction table 2180. It is a figure for demonstrating the production | generation of the character pattern based on the skeleton data 42d. It is a figure for demonstrating correction | amendment of the basic part of a character in case the scaled skeleton data 2201 is the straight line extended in the diagonal direction. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the structure of a correction table 2210. It is a figure which shows the example which set the color element level of the sub pixel corresponding to the "tree" of a Chinese character. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the structure of a correction table 2230. It is a figure which shows the example which set the color element level of the sub pixel corresponding to the tree bias of a Chinese character. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the structure of a correction table 2250. It is a figure which shows the structure of the correction table 2260. It is a figure which shows the structure of the correction table 2270. It is a figure which shows the example which uses a correction pattern properly according to the distance of the part with a basic part of a character, and another part. It is a figure which shows the structure of the typeface attribute table 42f. It is a figure which shows the structure of the typeface attribute table 3600 corresponding to a Chinese character "tree". (A)-(c) is a figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of the auxiliary pattern and correction pattern with respect to a vertical stroke. (A)-(c) is a figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of the auxiliary | assistant pattern and correction pattern with respect to a horizontal stroke. (A)-(c) is a figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of the auxiliary | assistant pattern and correction pattern with respect to stroke # 1 of the Chinese character "tree". (A)-(c) is a figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of the auxiliary | assistant pattern and correction pattern with respect to stroke # 4 of the Chinese character "tree". (A) is a figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of the auxiliary | assistant pattern and correction | amendment pattern with respect to the vertical stroke and horizontal stroke of the Chinese character "tree", (b) is the stroke # 1 of the Chinese character "wood" based on a typeface attribute table. It is a figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of the auxiliary | assistant pattern and correction pattern with respect to each of-# 4. It is a figure which shows the structure of the typeface attribute table 42f in case one of several typeface attribute tables is selectively used according to the size of a character. It is a figure which shows the structure of typeface attribute table # 1- # 3 corresponding to a Chinese character "tree". It is a figure which shows the color element level set to each sub pixel, when displaying the Chinese character "tree" by 32 dots. FIG. 57B is a diagram showing an example in which the character of the Chinese character “Thu” is added to the 32-dot Chinese character “Thu” shown in FIG. 57A by using the typeface attribute table # 2. FIG. 57B is a diagram showing an example in which the character of the Chinese character “tree” is added to the 32-dot Chinese character “tree” shown in FIG. 57A using the font attribute table # 1. It is a figure which shows the color element level set to each sub pixel in the case of displaying a Chinese character "tree" by 40 dots. FIG. 58B is a diagram illustrating an example in which the character of the Chinese character “tree” is added to the 40-dot Chinese character “tree” shown in FIG. 58A using the font attribute table # 3. FIG. 58B is a diagram showing an example in which the character of the Chinese character “tree” is added to the 40-dot Chinese character “tree” shown in FIG. 58A using the font attribute table # 1. (A)-(d) is a figure explaining the example which adjusts the thickness of the vertical line of a character smoothly by putting various correction patterns on the right and left of the basic part of a character. (A)-(d) is a figure explaining the example which adjusts the thickness of the horizontal line of a character smoothly by putting various correction patterns on the upper and lower sides of the basic part of a character. (A)-(c) is a figure explaining the example which adjusts the thickness of the horizontal line of a character smoothly by adjusting the color element level of the sub pixel adjacent to the upper side of the basic part of a character. (A) is a figure which shows the structure of the basic part table 42g, (b) is a figure which shows the structure of the basic part table 3700 corresponding to the Chinese character "fish bias". It is a figure which shows the structure of the skeleton data 3800 showing the skeleton shape of the Chinese character "fish bias". It is a figure which shows the example which displayed the skeleton data 3800 showing the skeleton shape of the Chinese character "fish bias" on the coordinate plane. (A) is the figure which shows the result of having set the color element level of the basic part of the character corresponding to the Chinese character "fish bias" to level 7, and having put the correction pattern on the right and left of the basic part of the character, (b) FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a result of setting a color element level of a part of a basic part of a character corresponding to a Chinese character “fish bias” to level 5 or level 6 using a basic part table 3700. It is a figure which shows the structure of the basic part table 3900 corresponding to a Chinese character "tree". (A) is the figure which shows the result of having set the color element level of the part of the basic part of the character corresponding to the Chinese character “tree” to level 5 or level 6 using the basic part table 3900, (b) FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a result of placing correction patterns (4, 2, 1) or (5, 2, 1) on the left and right of the basic part of a character.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1a-1e Character display apparatus 10 Display device 12 Pixel 14R, 14G, 14B Subpixel 20 Control part 21 CPU
22 Main memory 30 Input device 40 Auxiliary storage device 41a to 41e Character display program 42 Data 42a Character outline information 42b Color element level information 42c Luminance table 42d Skeleton data 42e Correction table 42f Font attribute table 42g Basic partial table

Claims (3)

A display device having a plurality of pixels;
A control unit for controlling the display device,
Each of the plurality of pixels includes a plurality of subpixels arranged in a predetermined direction;
Each of the plurality of subpixels is pre-assigned a corresponding one of the plurality of color elements,
The control unit displays characters on the display device by independently controlling the plurality of color elements corresponding to the plurality of subpixels,
Wherein, the predetermined color element level before Symbol subpixels based on the brightness table the relationship between the color element levels and the brightness levels of the subpixels are defined independently for each of the plurality of color elements of the subpixels Is converted into a luminance level, the difference in luminance level between the subpixel other than the specific subpixel corresponding to the basic portion of the character and the specific subpixel becomes larger as the subpixel is farther from the specific subpixel. As described above , the character display device which sets the color element level of the sub-pixel step by step . The strength of each of the plurality of color elements is represented stepwise by a plurality of color element levels,
In the luminance table, the color element level and the luminance level are converted to the same luminance level regardless of the difference in the color elements. The character display device according to claim 1, which is associated with each other . The strength of each of the plurality of color elements is represented stepwise by a plurality of color element levels,
The luminance table associates the color element level and the luminance level so that color element levels of different color elements having the same set color element level are converted to different luminance levels depending on the difference of the color elements. The character display device according to claim 1, which is a device.

Images