JP5760728B2 - Image processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a program.

  In Patent Document 1, reference data is configured in a two-dimensional encoding / decoding processing apparatus that stores one line data as reference data in a line buffer and compares the stored data with each other to perform data encoding or decoding processing. When the run-length data size does not exceed the size of the line buffer, it is stored in the line buffer in the run-length data format, and when the run-length data size is larger than the size of the line buffer, a technique for storing in the bitmap data format is disclosed. Yes.

  Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a display list composed of vector edges in an image forming apparatus that receives an electronic document and PDL data composed of a plurality of image objects (for example, characters, images, and graphics) and forms an image. There is disclosed a technique that includes a means for generating a line, a process for extracting a line that hinders the speed of the drawing process, and converting only the extracted line into a scan line edge.

JP 2001-078042 A JP 2009-101519 A

  In the case where the pattern image defined by the definition command included in the drawing information is arranged and painted in the range specified by the fill command included in the drawing information, the pattern image is executed when the fill command is executed. Even when the mask information is necessary in addition to the pattern image information indicating, not only the usage amount of the storage means when storing the pattern image information indicating the pattern image but also the usage amount of the storage means when storing the mask information It is an object of the present invention to obtain an image processing apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a program that can suppress the above-described problem.

The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 interprets drawing information including a definition command for defining a pattern image and a fill command for arranging and painting the pattern image defined by the definition command in a specified range. When the pattern image defined by the definition command is expressed in a first format having a section in which pixels of the same pixel value continue for each line and edge data indicating the pixel value. When the number of edge data of the pattern data is equal to or less than a first threshold value, the pattern image information representing the pattern image in the first format is stored in a first storage unit , and the pattern image is processed. When the number of edge data when the value is represented in the first format exceeds the first threshold value, the pattern image representing the pattern image in the second format having a pixel value for each pixel. If the first storage processing unit, the pattern image information stored in said first storage means for processing to store information in the first storage means of the second type, the second Mask information for extracting a pixel value used for painting of the painting command from the pattern image information in the format is created, and the number of edge data when the mask information is expressed in the first format is second. The mask information is represented in the first format and stored in the second storage means, and the edge information when the mask information is represented in the first format. If the number of exceeds the second threshold value, a second storage processing means for processing to store the mask information in the second storage means represented by the second type, the first putter stored in the storage means When the image information is the first type, when executing the fill instruction by using the pattern image information, the pattern image information stored in the first storage means of the second type, Execution means for executing the paint command using the mask information stored in the second storage means together with the pattern image information.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the second threshold value, the amount of data when the mask information is expressed in the first format, and the mask information are expressed as the second threshold value. This is set so as to be the number of edge data when the amount of data expressed in the format is equal.

A third aspect of the present invention is the image processing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, wherein the first threshold value is a data amount of the pattern image information when the pattern image is expressed in the first format. And the number of edge data when the data amount of the pattern image information when the pattern image is expressed in the second format is equal.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the first threshold value is a data amount of the pattern image information when the pattern image is expressed in the first format. And an added data amount obtained by adding a data amount when the mask information is expressed in the second format to a data amount of the pattern image information when the pattern image is expressed in the second format. Is set to be the number of edge data of the pattern image information.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the first storage processing unit is configured such that the number of edge data when the pattern image is expressed in the first format in units of lines is It is determined whether or not the first threshold value is equal to or less than the first threshold value, and the line of which the number of edge data when the pattern image is expressed in the first format is equal to or less than the first threshold value is the first format. For the line in which the number of edge data when the pattern image is expressed in the first format exceeds the first threshold value is processed so as to be stored in the first storage means. The pattern image information expressed in the second format is processed so as to be stored in the first storage means, and the second storage processing means expresses the mask information in the second format in line units. Edge data when It is determined whether or not the number is equal to or less than the second threshold value, and the line having the number of edge data when the mask information is expressed in the first format is equal to or less than the second threshold value is A line in which the mask information expressed in the format 1 is processed so as to be stored in the second storage means, and the number of edge data when the mask information is expressed in the first format exceeds the second threshold value Is processed so that the mask information expressed in the second format is stored in the second storage means .

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the fifth aspect, the second threshold value, the data amount for one line when the mask information is expressed in the first format, and the mask information are The data amount for one line when expressed in the second format is set to be the number of edge data when equal.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the fifth or sixth aspect, the first threshold value is a data amount for one line when the pattern image is expressed in the first format. The data amount for one line when the pattern image is expressed in the second format is set to be the number of edge data when equal.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the image processing apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the first threshold value is a data amount for one line when the pattern image is expressed in the first format. An added data amount obtained by adding a data amount for one line when the mask information is expressed in the second format to a data amount for one line when the pattern image is expressed in the second format; Are set so as to be the number of edge data of the pattern image information when.

  An image forming apparatus according to a ninth aspect of the present invention is based on the image processing apparatus according to any one of the first to eighth aspects and output image information generated by executing the paint command by the image processing apparatus. Image forming means for forming an image.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the computer interprets drawing information including a definition command for defining a pattern image and a fill command for arranging and painting the pattern image defined by the definition command in a specified range. When the pattern image defined by the definition command is expressed in a first format having a section in which pixels of the same pixel value continue for each line and edge data indicating the pixel value. When the number of edge data is equal to or less than a first threshold value, processing is performed so that pattern image information representing the pattern image in the first format is stored in a first storage unit , and the pattern image is When the number of edge data expressed in the first format exceeds the first threshold, the pattern image representing the pattern image in the second format having a pixel value for each pixel. First storage processing means for processing to store the image information in the first storage means, when the pattern image information stored in the first storage means of the second type, the second Mask information for extracting a pixel value used for painting of the painting command from the pattern image information in the format is created, and the number of edge data when the mask information is expressed in the first format is second. The mask information is represented in the first format and stored in the second storage means, and the edge information when the mask information is represented in the first format. Second storage processing means for processing the mask information in the second format and storing it in the second storage means when the number exceeds the second threshold, and the first Pa stored in the storage means If over down image information of the first format, perform the fill instruction by using the pattern image information, if the pattern image information stored in the first storage means of the second type Is a program for functioning as execution means for executing the paint command using the mask information stored in the second storage means together with the pattern image information.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the case where the pattern image defined by the definition command included in the drawing information is arranged and painted in a range specified by the fill command included in the drawing information, Even when mask information is required in addition to the pattern image information representing the pattern image at the time of execution of the instruction, not only the amount of use of the first storage means when storing the pattern image information representing the pattern image, The amount of use of the second storage means when storing the mask information can be suppressed.

  The invention according to claim 2 has an effect that the amount of use of the second storage means necessary for storing the mask information can be suppressed as compared with the case where this configuration is not provided.

  The invention described in claim 3 has an effect that the amount of the first storage means required for storing the pattern image information can be suppressed as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, compared to the case where the present configuration is not provided, the usage amount of the first storage means required for storing the pattern image information and the second required for storing the mask information are stored. The total usage amount of the storage means can be reduced.

  The invention according to claim 5 has an effect that the amount of use of the first storage means and the second storage means can be suppressed for each line as compared with the case where this configuration is not provided.

  The invention according to claim 6 has an effect that the amount of the second storage means required for storing the mask information can be reduced as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  The invention according to claim 7 has an effect that the amount of use of the first storage means necessary for storing the pattern image information can be suppressed as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the usage amount of the first storage means required for storing the pattern image information and the second required for storing the mask information are compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided. It is possible to reduce the total amount of use of the storage means.

  The present invention described in claim 10 is directed to a case where the pattern image defined by the definition command included in the drawing information is arranged and painted in a range specified by the fill command included in the drawing information. Even when mask information is required in addition to the pattern image information representing the pattern image at the time of execution of the instruction, not only the usage amount of the storage means for storing the pattern image information representing the pattern image but also the mask information It has the effect that the amount of storage means used when storing can also be suppressed.

  The invention according to claim 11 is the case where the pattern image defined by the definition command included in the drawing information is arranged and painted in a range specified by the fill command included in the drawing information. Even when mask information is required in addition to the pattern image information representing the pattern image at the time of execution of the instruction, not only the usage amount of the storage means for storing the pattern image information representing the pattern image but also the mask information It has the effect that the amount of storage means used when storing can also be suppressed.

1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an image forming apparatus. It is a schematic diagram which shows typically the processing content of the command contained in PDL data. (A) is a figure which shows the coordinate (ptn_x, ptn_y) corresponding to the starting point coordinate (x_start, y_start) of the filling range in a pattern image, (B) is a figure which shows this coordinate (ptn_x, ptn_y) of a pattern image. It is a figure which shows the state which arranged and spread the pattern image in the filling range as a starting point which starts drawing. (A) is a figure which shows the image drawn before the pattern filling process by a pattern image, (B) is an image area | region and a non-image area | region after the image shown to (A) is drawn ahead in this (A) Is a diagram showing a state in which a pattern image including (A) is a diagram schematically showing pattern image information when a color pattern image is expressed in a raster format, and (B) is a color pattern image, a monochrome pattern image, and mask information in a raster format. It is a table which shows the memory usage when it represents with. (A) is a diagram schematically showing an example of an edge list when a pattern image is represented in an edge list format, and (B) is an example of an edge list when mask information is represented by an edge list. It is the figure shown typically. (A) is an example of pattern image information in an edge list format, and (B) is a diagram schematically showing a pattern image represented by the pattern image information of (A). (A) is a diagram schematically showing an example of an edge list when a color pattern image is represented in an edge list format, and (B) is a color pattern image, a monochrome pattern image, and mask information. Is a table showing the amount of memory used when is expressed in an edge list format. It is a figure which shows an example of a pattern image. 10 is a pseudo code of a definition instruction for defining the pattern image shown in FIG. 9. It is the figure which showed typically the pattern image information which represented the pattern image shown in FIG. 9 in the edge list format. FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing pattern image information representing the pattern image shown in FIG. 9 in a raster format, and schematically showing mask information represented in a raster format. FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing pattern image information in which the pattern image shown in FIG. 9 is represented in a raster format, and mask information in which an edge list format is represented. It is a schematic flowchart which shows an example of the pattern definition process by a definition command. (A) is a pseudo code of a pattern fill command, and (B) is a diagram showing an output image when the pattern fill command shown in (A) is executed. It is a figure which shows the flowchart of the main routine of a PDL data process. It is a figure which shows an example of a pattern management table. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a pattern definition process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the drawing process with respect to the pattern image of an edge list format. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the edge list format drawing process of an image drawing command. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of an edge cut-out process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the edge data addition process to an edge list. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of an edge insertion process. It is explanatory drawing explaining the edge insertion process of pattern image information. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the edge list format drawing process of a graphics drawing command. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the edge list format drawing process of a character drawing command. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the edge extraction process of a character. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the detection process of a black coordinate. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a detection process of a white coordinate. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the conversion process which converts pattern image information into a raster format. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the edge insertion process of mask information. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the drawing process with respect to the pattern image of a raster format. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the raster format drawing process of an image drawing command. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the addition process of the mask range to mask information. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process which converts mask information into a raster format. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the raster format drawing process of a graphics drawing command. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the raster format drawing process of a character drawing command. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a pattern filling process. It is explanatory drawing which illustrates a filling process notionally. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the painting process of a raster format pattern. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the painting process of an edge list format pattern. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the painting process of a hybrid format pattern.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an image forming apparatus will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an image forming apparatus 10 according to this embodiment. The image forming apparatus 10 includes an apparatus control unit 12, an image reading unit 14 that optically reads a set document (paper original) to be read and outputs read image data, and input output image information. An operation panel 18 provided with an image forming unit 16 that forms an output image on a recording medium such as a recording sheet, a display unit 18A composed of an LCD or the like, and an operation accepting unit 18B composed of a numeric keypad, a touch panel, etc. An image information transmitting / receiving unit 20 for transmitting / receiving image information (facsimile communication) to / from other devices having a function as a facsimile apparatus via a telephone line and a public communication network (not shown), and a PC (Personal Computer), etc. A network communication control unit 22 for transmitting / receiving information via an information processing device, a network cable, and a computer network (not shown); Cage, which are connected to each other via a bus 24.

  The device control unit 12 includes a microcomputer and the like, and is provided with a non-volatile storage unit 12C including a CPU 12A, a memory 12B, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), a flash memory, and the like. The storage unit 12C stores various programs (including an image processing program that interprets and executes drawing information, details will be described later), necessary data, and the like. The apparatus control unit 12 is an example of an image processing apparatus described in claim 1 and the like, and functions as an example of an image processing apparatus when the CPU 12A executes an image processing program.

  The image forming unit 16 forms an image on a recording sheet or the like based on output image information generated by image processing performed by the apparatus control unit 12.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the image processing function of the apparatus control unit 12 interprets the input drawing information, generates output image information, and writes the output image information in the page buffer. The drawing information is information described in a page description language (Page Description Language) such as a postscript, and in this embodiment, includes at least a definition command and a paint command. Hereinafter, the drawing information is referred to as PDL data.

  The definition command is a command for defining a pattern image. In the present embodiment, the definition instruction includes one or a plurality of commands.

  A fill command is a kind of drawing command for writing output image information to a page buffer, and a specified range of an output image (hereinafter referred to as a fill range) is filled with a specified color or a pattern image is arranged. Fill. Hereinafter, a paint command using a pattern image is referred to as a pattern paint command, and will be described separately from a paint command (color paint command) for painting with a specified color. In the present embodiment, each drawing command is also configured to include one or a plurality of commands, like the definition command.

  In the pattern fill command, since the pattern image is repeatedly used and copied to the fill range, information representing the pattern image (referred to as pattern image information) is stored in the area of the memory 12B as intermediate image data separately from the output image information. Must be stored. In the present embodiment, the pattern image information is stored in the memory area of the memory 12B by executing the definition instruction. As will be described later, depending on the data format of the pattern image information created in the definition command, mask information may be created and stored in the memory area in addition to the pattern image information.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the position is represented by an XY coordinate system in which the axis in the width direction (horizontal direction) is the X axis and the axis in the height direction (vertical direction) is the Y axis. Further, the upper left coordinate in the rectangular area is (0, 0).

Here, the operation of the present embodiment will be conceptually described. In the present embodiment, image processing based on PDL data is executed in the order of description of instructions included in PDL data, as shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, each command included in the instruction of the PDL data is shown in a pseudo or schematic manner, 31 is a pseudo code of the pattern attribute definition command, and 32 to ₁ are drawing commands (32 ₁ ) schematically shown. graphics drawing command, 32 ₂ character drawing command, 32 ₃ shows an image drawing command), 33 pseudocode current pattern setting command 34 is pseudo-code of the fill command, these commands, The PDL data is described in this order.

Here, the pattern attribute definition command 31 and the drawing commands 32 _{1 to 3} are commands included in the definition command. The pattern attribute definition command 31 is a command for defining pattern image attributes such as the size of the pattern image. The pattern attribute may include a pattern name in addition to the size. The drawing commands 32 _{1 to 3} are commands for drawing an image in a rectangular area having a size defined by the pattern attribute definition command, and an area in which an image is drawn by the drawing commands 32 ₁ to ₃ is referred to as an image area.

  The current pattern setting command 33 and the fill command are commands included in the pattern fill command. The current pattern setting command 33 is a command for setting a pattern image arranged in the filled range. The fill command 33 is a command for executing a fill process using the pattern image set by the current pattern setting command.

  First, the pattern attribute definition command 31 defines coordinates (0, 0) indicating the start point of the pattern image, and each of the pattern image width 100 pixels and height 100 pixels. As a result, pattern image information representing a pattern image having a width of 100 pixels and a height of 100 pixels is temporarily stored in the pattern buffer in the memory 12B with reference to the start point (here, the upper left corner of the rectangle is used as a reference). A memory area for the pattern image to be stored in is stored (see also FIG. 2 (1)). Since the height is 100 pixels, the number of horizontal lines (scan lines) constituting the pattern image is 100. In the present embodiment, the memory area for storing the mask information (details will be described later) shown in FIG. 2 is secured as necessary during pattern creation by the drawing command. Details will be described later.

Subsequently, the graphics drawing command 31 _1, to the specified position of the rectangular area of the defined size, the graphics image of the figure or the like is drawn. Further, by the character drawing command _312, the specified position of the rectangular area, a character image representing the character is additionally drawn. Further, by the image drawing command _313, the specified position of the rectangular area, images such as natural image or photographic image is additionally drawn. Each time a drawing command is processed, the pattern image is edited, and each drawing command included in the definition command is executed to complete a final pattern image. Thus, for example, a pattern image shown in FIG. 2 is created by a plurality of or one drawing command. The pattern image information indicating the created pattern image is stored in the above-described pattern image memory area.

  In FIG. 2, a pattern image in which the image areas of a plurality of drawing commands do not overlap is illustrated. However, when the image areas of a plurality of drawing commands overlap, the image drawn later is given priority. The pixel value of the drawn image is replaced with the pixel value of the image drawn later. In the definition command, there is no specification (no data) for pixel values in non-image areas other than the image area in which an image is drawn by a pattern image drawing command.

  Next, the process proceeds to processing of a pattern fill command. The pattern image specified by the current pattern setting command 33 included in the pattern fill command (defined by the definition command) is set as a pattern image (current pattern) arranged in the fill range (FIG. 2 (3) is also shown). reference.).

  Next, the pattern image information stored in the memory area is read out and repeatedly used by the fill command 34, and the pattern image is arranged and spread over the designated fill range in the output image. The output image information indicating the output image in which the pattern image is arranged by the execution of the paint command is stored in a raster format having a pixel value for each pixel in the output image information storage area (page buffer) secured in the memory 12B. Stored (see also FIG. 2 (4)). In the fill command 34 shown in a pseudo manner in FIG. 2, the start point coordinates (50, 50) of the fill range, the width 150 pixels of the fill range, and the height of 200 pixels are designated. Accordingly, the pattern command is arranged in a rectangular fill range having a width of 150 pixels and a height of 200 pixels with the coordinates (50, 50) of the start point as the upper left coordinates by the fill command 34.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, when the pattern image is arranged in the filled area, coordinates (ptn_x, ptn_y) corresponding to the coordinates (x_start, y_start) of the starting point of the filled area are obtained in the pattern image. As shown in FIG. 3B, the coordinates (ptn_x, ptn_y) are spread over the filled range as the starting point for starting drawing of the pattern image. Therefore, depending on the coordinates specified by the fill command, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the pattern image may not be arranged from the start point of the pattern image with respect to the fill range.

  In addition, there are cases where the PDL data includes other drawing commands in addition to the pattern painting command using the pattern image. In this case, the pattern fill command is executed so as to overwrite the image drawn by the drawing command described before the pattern fill command.

  On the other hand, a non-image area other than an image area in which an image is drawn by the drawing command in the pattern definition is an area without pixel value data. Therefore, in the PDL data, as shown in FIG. 4A, when a command for drawing some image is described prior to the pattern painting command by the pattern image, the image drawn first by the command is displayed. In the area where the drawing area of the pattern image overlaps with the non-image area of the pattern image, as shown in FIG. 4B, the pixel value of the previously drawn image is not overwritten by the pixel value of the pattern image. Stored in the page buffer. Therefore, the non-image area of the pattern image is in a state where the previously drawn image (background) is transmitted.

  Note that the commands constituting the definition command and pattern fill command described above are examples, and the description of the definition command and pattern fill command in the PDL data is not particularly limited.

  By the way, in this embodiment, there are two types of data formats for storing pattern image information and mask information described later in the memory 12B. One is the raster format described above.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, when the color pattern image information is expressed in a raster format, each of black (K) color, yellow (Y) color, magenta (M) color, and cyan (C) color is displayed. A pixel value (also referred to as a color value in the pattern image) is held for each pixel. In this embodiment, each of the KYMC colors is represented by a 1-byte value, so that 4 bytes are required for each pixel to represent the color value of the color.

  Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 5B, the amount of memory used when the color pattern image information having a width of width and a height of height is expressed in a raster format and stored in the memory 12B is 4 × width × height ( Byte).

  When the black and white pattern image information is expressed in a raster format, since a black color value is held for each pixel, one byte is required for each pixel. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 5B, the amount of memory used when the black and white pattern image information having the width of width and the height of height is represented in raster format and stored in the memory 12B is width × height (bytes). It becomes.

  The pixel value of the image area in the pattern image information in the raster format is a pixel value according to the definition of the definition command. However, the color value of each pixel in the non-image area may be any value and is not particularly limited. . This is because mask processing is performed using the mask information (that is, the color value of the image area is extracted and used) when the pattern fill command is executed, and the value of each pixel in the non-image area is not used for filling the fill range. .

  Another data format that can be taken when storing pattern image information indicating a pattern image in the memory 12B is an edge list format. In the edge list format, an image is represented by a section in which pixels having the same pixel value continue for each line (each scan line in the present embodiment) and edge data indicating the pixel value.

  FIG. 6A is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of an edge list corresponding to a scan line having a Y coordinate value of 0 in the XY coordinate system. As shown in FIG. 6A, the edge data constituting the edge list includes a color value color, a start point start of a section in which the pixels of the color value color are continuous, and a section of a section in which the pixels of the color value color are continuous. It has an end point end and an address next indicating the storage destination of the next edge data. If there is no next edge data, NULL is stored in the address next. Thus, in the present embodiment, the edge list format is a list structure in which each edge data for each scan line is linked by the address next to the next edge data. A data group formed by connecting edge data is called an edge list. Of course, depending on the image, there is also an edge list composed of one piece of edge data.

  FIG. 7A is a diagram schematically showing pattern image information when the pattern image of 6 pixels × 6 pixels shown in FIG. 7B is represented in an edge list format. The pattern image information in the edge list format is composed of edge data for each scan line and a head address table that stores an address (head address) to the head edge data for each scan line.

  As shown in FIG. 8A, in the present embodiment, in the case of color, the color value color included in the edge data is represented by a 4-byte value represented by arranging the above-described four color values. The start point start and the end point end are each represented by a 2-byte value, and the address next is represented by a 4-byte value. Therefore, 12 bytes are required for one edge data. In the present embodiment, each address in the head address table is represented by a 4-byte value.

  Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 8B, the amount of memory used when the color pattern image information having the width of width and the height of height is expressed in the edge list format and stored in the memory 12B is height × 4 + 12 × edge. It is a number (bytes). Here, the number of edges refers to the number of edge data.

  When the monochrome pattern image information is expressed in the edge list format, the color value color may be 1 byte. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8B, a monochrome pattern image having a width of width and a height of height. The memory usage when the information is expressed in the edge list format and stored in the memory 12B is height × 4 + 9 × number of edges (bytes).

  When the pattern image information is represented in the edge list format, the edge data of the image area of the pattern image is created, but the edge data is not created for the non-image area. Therefore, when executing the fill command, mask information for extracting the color value of each pixel of the image area from the pattern image information is not necessary, but when the pattern image information is expressed in a raster format, the pixel of the non-image area In order to hold the pixel value of each pixel including the pixel information, mask information is required to extract the color value of each pixel in the image area from the pattern image information (see also FIG. 2). Based on the mask information, as described with reference to FIG. 4, the pixel values of the pixels in the image area are extracted from the pattern image information and written to the page buffer.

  Similarly to the pattern image information, the mask information is also expressed in either a raster format or an edge list format. In the case of mask information, since the pixel value of each pixel is not a value indicating color, hereinafter, the pixel value of each pixel of the mask information is referred to as a mask value in order to distinguish it from the color value of the pattern image. When creating mask information in a raster format, the mask information is created by setting the mask value of each pixel in the non-image area to 0 and the mask value of each pixel in the image area to 1. Since the mask value is 0 or 1 in this way, in this embodiment, raster format mask information is represented by one bit per pixel. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5B, the amount of memory used when mask information for a pattern image having a width of width and a height of height is expressed in a raster format and stored in the memory 12B is width × height / 8 ( Byte). Note that the mask value is not limited to the above 0 and 1, and it is sufficient that the image area and the non-image area have different mask values. When configured to extract pixel values, the mask value of each pixel in the non-image area may be set to 1, and the mask value of each pixel in the image area may be set to 0.

  When the mask information is expressed in the edge list format, a mask value mask is used as shown in FIG. 6B instead of the color value color of the edge data shown in FIG. The mask value mask is set to 1, and mask information indicating the section of the image area for each scan line is created. Edge data is not created in the area of mask value 0. Here, since the mask value mask included in the edge data is one byte, mask information for a pattern image having a width of width and a height of height is represented in an edge list format as shown in FIG. 8B. The amount of memory used when storing in the memory 12B is height × 4 + 9 × number of edges (bytes). Since the mask value mask only needs to have at least 1 bit, if the mask value mask has a specification that can be expressed by 1 bit, the memory usage is height × 4 + 9 × number of edges / 8 (bytes). However, in this embodiment, it is assumed that the mask value mask of the edge data of the mask information requires 1 byte. Also in the edge list format, the mask value is not limited to 1, but may be a predetermined specific value.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the description will be made assuming that it is configured by the start point start, the end point end, the pixel value (color value color or mask value mask), and the address next to the next edge data. The format of the edge list is not limited to the above. For example, one edge data has a start point start, a length length (in a section in which pixels having the same pixel value continue) from the start point, a pixel value (color value color or mask value mask), and the next edge data. The address next may be used. The sizes (number of bytes) of the start point start, end point end, pixel value color, and address next described above are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to these.

  As described above, the raster format and the edge list format have different representation methods and different data sizes. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when storing the pattern image information in the memory 12B according to the pattern image, the raster format is used. It is determined whether the image is stored or in an edge list format, and the pattern image information is stored in a data format corresponding to the determination result. The mask information is also stored in a raster format or an edge list format, and the mask information is stored in a format according to the determination result.

  In the following, information created by a definition command is referred to as pattern information. Specifically, when the pattern image information is stored in the memory area in the raster format, the mask information is also created, so that the information including the pattern image information and the mask information becomes the pattern information. Further, when the pattern image information is stored in the memory area in the edge list format, the mask information is not created, and therefore the pattern image information itself becomes the pattern information.

  Here, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with a more specific example.

  An example in which the filling range is filled with the pattern image shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a pseudo code of a definition instruction for defining the pattern image shown in FIG. Although different from the pseudo code shown in FIG. 2, the code of each instruction described in the drawing information may be in an interpretable form, and each instruction constituting the drawing information is limited to the pseudo code exemplified here. is not.

  As shown in FIG. 9 (1), a pattern attribute definition command (also referred to as a pattern attribute definition sentence) shown in FIG. (pnt_height): 6 pixels and pattern image width (pnt_width): 6 pixels are defined. Here, the coordinates of the start point of the pattern image are omitted as being (0, 0).

  With the drawing command shown in FIG. 10 (2), as shown in FIG. 9 (2), a magenta 3 pixel × 3 pixel rectangular figure is drawn from the drawing start position (0,0). With the drawing command shown in FIG. 10 (3), as shown in FIG. 9 (3), a cyan 3 × 3 pixel rectangular figure is drawn from the drawing start position (3,0). With the drawing command shown in FIG. 10 (4), a black 3 × 3 pixel rectangular figure is drawn from the drawing start position (3, 3) as shown in FIG. 9 (4).

  A rectangular area of 3 pixels × 3 pixels with the coordinates (3, 3) shown in FIG. 9 (5) as the upper left coordinates is a non-image area in which no color value is specified (no data is present).

  FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically showing pattern image information representing the pattern image shown in FIG. 9 in an edge list format. As shown in FIG. 11, sections in which pixels having the same color value continue for each scan line and edge data including the color value are connected in a list structure. When the pattern image information is in the edge list format, mask information is unnecessary, and therefore pattern information = pattern image information. Hereinafter, the pattern information including the pattern image information in the edge list format will be referred to as edge list format pattern information.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram schematically showing pattern image information representing the pattern image shown in FIG. 9 in a raster format and mask information representing the pattern image in a raster format. Hereinafter, the pattern information when both the pattern image information and the mask information are in the raster format is referred to as raster format pattern information.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram schematically showing pattern image information representing the pattern image shown in FIG. 9 in raster format and mask information representing in edge list format. Hereinafter, the pattern information when the pattern image information is in the raster format and the mask information is in the edge list format will be referred to as hybrid format pattern information.

  Whether the pattern image information and the mask information are held in the edge list format or the raster format is determined by comparing the number of edges when the information is expressed in the edge list format with a threshold as shown in FIG. 14, for example. If the number of edges exceeds the threshold value, it may be held in a raster format, and if the number of edges is less than or equal to the threshold value, it may be held in an edge list format.

  FIG. 14 is a schematic flowchart showing an example of a pattern definition process that interprets and executes a definition command included in the drawing information as a part of the image process performed by the above-described image processing program. In step 50, for example, based on the size of the pattern image defined by the above-mentioned pattern attribute definition command, a memory area for the pattern image is secured, and pattern information in which no image is defined at first is created in an edge list format. And initialize. Specifically, a head address table for storing an address (head address) to the head edge data for each scan line of the pattern image is created and stored in the memory area for pattern image information in the memory 12B. Each address is set to NULL and the head address table is initialized. The number of head addresses is equal to the number of pixels indicating the height of the pattern image defined by the pattern attribute definition command.

  Next, in step 52, a drawing command described in combination with the pattern attribute definition command is read from the PDL data.

  In step 54, the data format of the pattern information stored in the memory area at this stage is determined. Since the pattern information is created in the edge list format in the initial state as described above, when there are a plurality of drawing commands in the PDL data definition command, the pattern information is stored in the edge list when the first drawing command is read. Judged to be in format.

  If it is determined in step 54 that the pattern information is in the edge list format, in step 56, the pattern image is drawn in the edge list format based on the read drawing command, and the pattern image information (pattern information) is obtained. Created and stored in the memory area for pattern images. If there is an edge list already stored in the memory area by the previously read drawing command, it is additionally inserted into the edge list.

  In step 58, it is determined whether or not the number of edge data (number of edges) of the pattern image information created by the drawing command exceeds a threshold value TH1. If a negative determination is made in step 58, the process proceeds to step 72.

  If an affirmative determination is made in step 58, the pattern image information is converted from the edge list format to the raster format and stored in the memory area in step 60. If the image drawn by the drawing command is a complex image with a large number of colors, the number of edge data increases, and the memory usage may be suppressed by representing the data in the raster format rather than the edge list format. Therefore, in step 58, the threshold value TH1 is compared with the number of edge data actually created, and stored in a data format corresponding to the comparison result. After the pattern image is converted into the raster format and stored, the pattern image information in the edge list format is deleted.

  Subsequently, in step 62, mask information for the pattern image currently stored in the memory area is created in the form of an edge list and stored in the memory area of the mask information. Then, the process proceeds to step 72.

  In step 72, it is determined whether or not the drawing command has ended (whether or not the next drawing command is described in the PDL data). If a positive determination is made in step 72, the pattern definition process ends. Then, the pattern information stored in the memory area at this time becomes pattern information used in a pattern fill command to be described later. If a negative determination is made in step 72, the process returns to step 52, the next drawing command is read, and the process proceeds to step 54.

  If it is determined in step 54 that the data format type of the pattern information stored in the memory area is a hybrid format (pattern image information is in raster format and mask information is in edge list format), Proceed to 64.

  In step 64, an image is drawn in a raster format based on the read drawing command, and the pattern image information already created and stored in the memory area is edited. Further, the mask information in the edge list format is edited so as to correspond to the edited pattern image information.

  Step 66 determines whether or not the number of edges in the mask information exceeds the threshold value HT2. If the determination in step 66 is affirmative, in step 68, the mask information is converted from the edge list format to the raster format and stored in the memory area. Similarly to the pattern image, the mask information also increases in memory usage as the number of edge data increases, and the memory usage may be suppressed when represented in the raster format rather than the edge list format. Therefore, here, the threshold value TH2 and the number of edge data are compared and stored in a data format corresponding to the comparison result.

  When a negative determination is made at step 66 and after the processing at step 68, the routine proceeds to step 72. The process of step 72 is as described above.

  If it is determined in step 54 that the data format type of the pattern information stored in the memory area is a raster format (both pattern image information and mask information are raster formats), the process proceeds to step 70.

  In step 70, an image is drawn in a raster format based on the read drawing command, and the pattern image information already created and stored in the memory area is edited. Further, the raster format mask information is edited so as to correspond to the edited pattern image information.

  After step 70, the process proceeds to step 72. The process of step 72 is as described above.

  Since the number of edges may exceed the threshold TH2 when the mask information is newly created in step 62, the processing in step 66 and step 68 is performed not only after step 64 but also after step 62. You may implement.

  Moreover, although the example which performs step 62 (generation of mask information) after step 60 (conversion of the pattern image information to the raster format) has been described, the processing of step 60 and the processing of step 62 may be performed in parallel. Good. For example, pattern image information is converted into a raster format and mask information is sequentially generated for each scan line.

  The fill command is described after the definition command in the PDL data. FIG. 15A is a pseudo code of a pattern fill instruction. Although different from the pseudo code shown in FIG. 2, the code of each instruction described in the drawing information may be in an interpretable form, and each instruction constituting the drawing information is limited to the pseudo code exemplified here. is not.

  In the fill command of the color fill command shown in (1) of FIG. 15 (A), a width of 21 pixels and a height of 18 pixels from the start point (0,0) by (0,0,21,18) following fillRect. A rectangular area is designated as a fill range, and a color (yellow color) for filling the fill range is designated by with color (0, 255, 0, 0). By executing this command, as shown in (1) of FIG. 15B, the specified fill range is filled with yellow color by the execution of this command (the yellow color value is added to the page buffer fill range). Is written).

  Next, in the pattern fill command fill command shown in (2) of FIG. 15A, 15 pixels wide and height from the start point (3,3) by (3,3,15,12) following fillRect. A rectangular area of 12 pixels is designated as a filling range, and a pattern name PTN1 of a pattern image that fills the filling range is designated by with pattern (PTN1). By executing the command, the pattern information defined by the definition command is read from the memory area and used, and the pattern is displayed on the filled area of the yellow rectangular area as shown in (2) of FIG. The images are arranged, and the color value of the image area of the pattern image is overwritten in the page buffer. As described above, since the pattern image PTN1 includes a non-image area that is an area without data, the non-image area maintains the background yellow color drawn by the previous fill command.

  In the above, image processing based on PDL data has been described with a simple flowchart and schematic diagrams, but the processing of PDL data will be specifically described below using a more detailed flowchart. Each process described below is executed by the CPU 12A executing an image processing program stored in the storage unit 12C of the apparatus control unit 12.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a main routine of PDL data processing.

  In step 100, a page buffer for storing output image information is created (secured) in the memory 12B.

  In step 102, a pattern management table is created and stored in the memory 12B. The pattern management table is a table for managing pattern images defined by definition commands. FIG. 17 shows an example of the pattern management table. The pattern management table illustrated in FIG. 17 includes a pattern name (name), a pattern image height (ptn_height), a pattern image width (ptn_width), a pattern information data format (type), and pattern information Each item of (address) indicating the address of the storage area is stored in association with each other. As described above, the data format (type) item of the pattern information includes raster format raster (pattern image information and mask information are raster format), hybrid format (pattern image information is raster format and mask information is edge). There are three data formats: list format) and edge list format edgelist (pattern image information is edge list format, no mask information).

  If the pattern information is in raster format or hybrid format, the address of each storage area of pattern image information and mask information is registered in the item of address (address) of the pattern information storage area, and the pattern information is stored in the edge list. In the case of the format, the address of the pattern image information storage area is registered.

  At step 102, when the pattern management table is created, since the pattern image is undefined, no information about the pattern image is stored in the pattern management table.

  In step 104, one instruction is read from the PDL data. In step 106, the type of instruction read is determined.

  If the read command is a definition command for defining a pattern image, the process proceeds to step 108 and pattern definition processing is executed (details will be described later).

  When the read command is a pattern fill command for arranging and filling the pattern image defined by the definition command in the specified range, the process proceeds to step 110, and pattern fill processing is executed (details will be described later).

  If the read command is a drawing command for drawing directly in the page buffer without creating intermediate image data (this drawing command is called a normal drawing command), in step 112, the page buffer is based on the drawing command. The process of drawing is performed. Note that the above-described color painting command is included in the normal drawing command, but the pattern painting command is not included in the normal drawing command.

  If the read command is a page output command, the process proceeds to step 114, and the output image information stored in the page buffer is output to the output destination. After the output, the page buffer is initialized. By this page output command, output image information written in the page buffer by each command such as a definition command, a pattern fill command, and a normal drawing command is output. Note that the output destination of the output image information may be the image forming unit 16, but if some image processing is performed before output to the image forming unit 16, an image processing unit (not shown) provided separately is output. First, the image processing unit may perform image processing. Alternatively, the apparatus control unit 12 may perform image processing by executing an image processing program and then output the image processing unit 16 to the image forming unit 16. In addition, when the output image information is not printed immediately but is once stored in some buffer, the buffer may be the output destination.

  After any of steps 108, 110, 112, and 114 is completed, the process proceeds to step 116, and whether or not the PDL data has been completed (whether reading and execution of all instructions described in the PDL data have been completed). Judging. If a negative determination is made in step 116, the process returns to step 104 and the next instruction is read. If an affirmative determination is made in step 116, the routine for this PDL processing ends.

  Next, the pattern definition process in step 108 will be described in detail.

  FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the flow of pattern definition processing.

  In step 150, pattern attribute information included in the definition command is read and acquired. For example, the pattern attribute information specified by the pattern attribute definition command described above is acquired. The pattern attribute information acquired here includes information on the pattern name of the pattern image, information indicating the width of the pattern image, and information indicating the height of the pattern image. Here, it is assumed that the width and height of the pattern image are both represented by the number of pixels.

  In step 152, pattern information of the pattern image is created in the edge list format and initialized. Similar to step 50 described above with reference to FIG. 14, this reserves a pattern image memory area (hereinafter referred to as memory area PA1), and no image is defined in the memory area PA1. Create and initialize pattern information in edge list format. That is, a head address table for storing the address (head address) to the head edge data for each scan line of the pattern image is created and stored in the memory area PA1 for pattern image information in the memory 12B. Each address is set to NULL and the head address table is initialized. The number of head addresses (the number of scan lines) is equal to the number of pixels indicating the height of the pattern image of the acquired pattern attribute information.

  Further, in step 152, the width value of the pattern image of the acquired pattern attribute information is set to ptn_width, the height value of the pattern image is set to ptn_height, and “edgelist” indicating the edge list format is set to type. To do.

  In step 154, a drawing command included in the definition command is read.

  In step 156, it is determined whether or not the value of type is edgelist. Until the type is changed in step 162 described later, since the value of type is edgelist (that is, the pattern image information is stored in the form of an edge list), an affirmative determination is made in step 156, but in step 162 A negative determination is made after the value of type is changed.

  If an affirmative determination is made in step 156, the process proceeds to step 158 to perform drawing processing on the edge list pattern image. In this drawing process, an image is developed (drawn) in the pattern image memory area in accordance with a drawing command in the form of an edge list. However, another drawing command has been executed before the drawing command in the definition command. In this case, the pattern image stored in the pattern image memory area is overwritten with the pattern image in the edge list format drawn by the previously executed drawing command so that the image in the image area of the drawing command is overwritten. Edit pattern image information in edge list format. Details of this processing will be described later.

  In step 160, it is determined whether or not the number of edge data of the pattern image information exceeds a predetermined threshold TH1. If an affirmative determination is made in step 160, the process proceeds to step 162, and processing for converting the pattern image information in the edge list format into the raster format is performed. In step 162, mask information is also created in the form of an edge list and stored in a memory area for mask information. Furthermore, the value of type of the pattern information is changed to hybrid indicating the hybrid format. Note that the mask information is changed from the edge list format to the raster format when the number of edge data of the mask information exceeds the threshold value TH2. In this case, the type value of the pattern information is changed to raster indicating the raster format. Details of the processing in step 162 will be described later. After step 162, the process proceeds to step 166.

  On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step 160, step 162 is skipped and the process proceeds to step 166.

  In step 166, it is determined whether all drawing commands included in the definition command have been processed. If a negative determination is made in step 166, the process returns to step 154 to read the next drawing command.

  When a negative determination is made in step 156, it is indicated that the pattern image information written in the memory area by execution of another drawing command before execution of the drawing command in the definition command is in the raster format. Accordingly, the process proceeds to step 164, where drawing processing is performed on the raster pattern image information. In this drawing process, the pattern image information is edited so that the color value of each pixel in the image area drawn by the drawing command is overwritten on the pattern image information in the raster format. The mask information is also edited according to the pattern image information. Further, the mask information in the edge list format is changed from the edge list format to the raster format when the number of edge data in the mask information exceeds the threshold value TH2. When the mask information is changed to the raster format, the value of type is changed to raster indicating the raster format. Details of the processing in step 164 will be described later.

  Subsequently, the process proceeds to step 166, where it is determined whether or not all drawing commands included in the definition command have been processed in the same manner as described above. If a negative determination is made in step 166, the process returns to step 154 to read the next drawing command.

  If an affirmative determination is made in step 166, the pattern image defined by the definition command is registered in the pattern management table in step 168. Specifically, the pattern name included in the acquired pattern attribute information is stored in the name of the pattern management table, and is associated with the pattern name, and ptn_width indicating the width of the pattern image is displayed in the ptn_width item of the pattern management table Is stored, and the value of ptn_height indicating the height of the pattern image is stored in the ptn_height item of the pattern management table. In the type item of the pattern management table, the value currently set in type is stored. Further, an address indicating a storage destination (memory area) in which pattern information created by the definition command is stored is stored in the address field of the pattern management table.

  Next, the drawing process for the edge list pattern image in step 158 will be described in detail.

  FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a flow of a drawing process for a pattern image in the edge list format.

  In step 180, the type of the read drawing command is determined. If the drawing command is an image drawing command, an edge list format drawing process of the image drawing command is executed in step 182. If the drawing command is a graphics drawing command, an edge list format of the graphics drawing command is executed in step 184. If the drawing process is executed and the drawing command is a character drawing command, an edge list format drawing process of the character drawing command is executed in step 186.

  FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the flow of the edge list format drawing process of the image drawing command performed in step 182.

  In step 200, information on the drawing start position in the pattern image of the image image specified by the image drawing command is acquired and set to (x_offset, y_offset), and information on the width and height of the image image is acquired. And set it to (width, height). The drawing start position (x_offset, y_offset) is the position to be the upper left reference point of the image image when drawing the image image in the rectangular area of the size indicated by the acquired pattern attribute information, and the starting point of the pattern image is the reference point It becomes the coordinate value. The width width and the height height are each represented by the number of pixels. An area from (x_offset, y_offset) to (x_offset + width, y_offset + height) is an image area in which an image is drawn by the image drawing command.

  In step 202, 0 is set to y.

  In step 204, the edge is cut out from the image data indicating the image image to be drawn. Here, the edge refers to a start point and an end point of a section in which pixels having the same pixel value are continuous. Here, the case where the image image is a color will be described. However, when the image image is black and white, the start point and end point of a section in which black pixels are continuous are used as edges.

  FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of the edge cut-out process performed in step 204.

  In step 230, the pixel of interest (hereinafter referred to as the pixel of interest) on the scan line whose Y coordinate value is y when the upper left corner of the rectangular area of the image image is the origin (0,0) (hereinafter simply referred to as scan line y). ), The coordinate value x indicating the position on the X-axis is set to 0, and the color value of the pixel of interest located at the coordinates (x, y) is extracted from the image data representing the image to be drawn and set to refcolor. Furthermore, 0 is set to start_x.

  In step 232, 1 is added to x to change the target pixel.

  In step 234, it is determined whether x is less than width. As described above, width is the number of pixels indicating the width of the image. If an affirmative determination is made in step 234, the color value of the pixel of interest located at the coordinates (x, y) is extracted from the image data of the image and set in color.

  In step 238, it is determined whether the value of color is equal to the value of refcolor. If the determination in step 238 is affirmative, it indicates that the color value color of the target pixel is at least equal to the color value refcolor of the pixel focused on the previous time (pixels having the same color value are continuous). Therefore, returning to step 232, 1 is added to x to change the pixel of interest.

  Further, when a negative determination is made in step 238, the color value color of the pixel of interest is different from the color value refcolor of the pixel focused on immediately before, so the pixel focused on the previous pixel (its pixel position is [x−1, y]) is the end point of the section in which the pixels of the color value refcolor are continuous. Further, when a negative determination is made in step 234, the pixel focused on immediately before becomes the end point on the scan line y, and therefore, the pixel focused on the previous pixel continues with pixels of the color value refcolor. The end point of the section.

  Based on this, in step 240, edge data indicating a section in which pixels having the color value refcolor are continuous is created. The above-mentioned start_x represents the start point of the section in which the pixels of the color value refcolor are continuous when the upper left corner of the rectangular area of the image image is the origin (0,0), so the value of start_x is x_offset The X coordinate value obtained by adding the value (X coordinate value of the drawing start position of the image image) is used as the start point start of the edge data, and the X coordinate value obtained by adding the x_offset value to the value of [x-1] is used as the edge data. The end point. The address next of the next edge data is NULL (see also FIG. 6). That is, in step 240, edge data is created as follows.

(Start point start, end point end, color value color, address next to next edge data)
= (Start_x + x_offset, x-1 + x_offset, refcolor, NULL)

  Subsequently, in step 242, the edge data created in step 240 is added to the edge list of the scan line [y + y_offset] in the edge list representing the pattern image.

  FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing the flow of edge data addition processing to the edge list.

  In step 280, it is determined whether or not the edge list of the target scan line (here, scan line [y + y_offset]) is empty, that is, there is no edge data. Hereinafter, the edge list of the target scan line is referred to as a target edge list. If the determination in step 280 is affirmative, since the created edge data is the first edge data in the target edge list, the process proceeds to step 282, and in the first address table, the storage area storing the created edge data is stored. The address is stored in the start address table as the start address of the target edge list.

  On the other hand, when a plurality of drawing commands are included in the definition command for defining the pattern image, the edge data has already been created on the target scan line by the previously processed drawing command and linked as an edge list. There is a case. In this case, a negative determination is made in step 280. If a negative determination is made in step 280, the process proceeds to step 284 to execute edge insertion processing. In the edge insertion processing, newly generated edge data is inserted into the previously created edge list. FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing the flow of edge insertion processing.

  In step 300, newly generated edge data (edge data to be inserted) is represented by edgeA, and the top edge data of the target edge list is represented by edgeB. Then, as shown in FIG. 24A, the start value start value of edgeA is set to edgeA.start, the end value end value of edgeA is set to edgeA.end, and the color value color value of edgeA is set. , EdgeA.color, and the value (= NULL) of the next address next to edgeA is set in edgeA.next. Also, the start value start value of edgeB is set to edgeB.start, the end value end value of edgeB is set to edgeB.end, the color value color of edgeB is set to edgeB.color, The value of the next address next is set to edgeB.next.

  In step 302, it is determined whether edgeA.end <edgeB.start. If edgeA.end is smaller than edgeB.start, the positional relationship between edgeA and edgeB in the X-axis direction is the positional relationship shown in (1) of FIG. This positional relationship includes a case where edgeA and edgeB are adjacent to each other. In FIG. 24B, edgeA and edgeB are illustrated by shifting the position in the Y-axis direction so that the positional relationship in the X-axis direction can be easily grasped, but edgeA and edgeB are edges on the same scan line. Note that this is data.

  Therefore, if an affirmative determination is made in step 302, the address next of edgeA next to edgeA is set from NULL so that edgeA is inserted before edgeB without changing the section of edgeB in step 304. Change to the address indicating the storage area of edgeB. If edgeB before insertion of edgeA is head edge data, the head address corresponding to the target scan line in the head address table is changed to be the address of the storage area of edgeA. If edgeB before the insertion of edgeA is not the leading edge data, the value of edge data address next linked immediately before edgeB before the insertion of edgeA is rewritten to the address of the storage area of edgeA.

  Although illustration is omitted here, when an affirmative determination is made in step 302 and edgeA and edgeB are adjacent to each other and edgeA.color and edgeB.color are equal, the value will be described later. The synthesizing process is performed in the same manner as in step 310.

  On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step 302, the process proceeds to step 306. In step 306, it is determined whether edgeA.start> edgeB.end. If edgeA.start is larger than edgeB.end, the positional relationship between edgeA and edgeB in the X-axis direction is the positional relationship shown in (2) of FIG. This positional relationship includes a case where edgeA and edgeB are adjacent to each other. In this case, an affirmative determination is made at step 306 and the process proceeds to step 320.

  In step 320, it is determined whether edgeB.next is NULL, that is, whether edge data is not connected next to edgeB. When an affirmative determination is made in step 320, the process proceeds to step 322, and the address next of edgeB next to edgeB is changed from NULL to edgeA so that edgeA is inserted after edgeB without changing the section of edgeB. Change to an address indicating a storage area.

  Although illustration is omitted here, when an affirmative determination is made in step 320 and edgeA and edgeB are adjacent to each other and the value of edgeA.color is equal to the value of edgeB.color, it will be described later. Similar to step 310, the composition processing is performed.

  Furthermore, if a negative determination is made in step 320, the process proceeds to step 324, and the next edge data stored at the address indicated by edgeB.next is set as edgeB, and the process returns to step 302.

  If a negative determination is made at step 306, the process proceeds to step 308. If a negative determination is made in step 306, a part or whole of the edgeA section (range) overlaps a part or whole of the edgeB section on the X axis of the target scan line (FIG. 24B ) (See also (3) to (6)). Accordingly, in step 308, it is determined whether the value of edgeA.color is equal to the value of edgeB.color. If an affirmative determination is made in step 308, the process proceeds to step 310 to combine edgeA and edgeB. Specifically, the start point start of edgeB is changed to be the smaller of edgeA.start and edgeB.start, and the end point end of edgeB is the larger of edgeA.end and edgeB.end Change as follows. After that, edgeA is deleted. Conversely, the start point and end point of edgeA may be changed in the same manner as described above, edgeB may be replaced with edgeA, and edgeB may be deleted.

  If a negative determination is made in step 308, the process proceeds to step 312 and the range of edgeB is changed so as not to overlap edgeA. The color value color is not changed. For example, in the positional relationship shown in (3) of FIG. 24B, the start point start of edgeB is changed to edgeA.end + 1. Also, if the positional relationship is shown in (4) of FIG. 24B, the end point end of edgeB is changed to edgeA.start-1.

  Also, if the positional relationship is shown in (5) of FIG. 24B, two edge data of edgeB1 and edgeB2 are created based on edgeB. The start point start of edgeB1 is the start point start of the original edgeB, and the end point end of edgeB1 is edgeA.start-1. The start point start of edgeB2 is edgeA.end + 1, and the end point end of edgeB2 is the end point end of the original edgeB. The color value color of edgeB1 and edgeB2 is the color value color of the original edgeB. Then, the address of the storage area of edgeA is set to the address next of the next edge data of edgeB1, the address of the storage area of edgeB2 is set to the address of next edge data of edgeA, the address next to edgeB2, and the address of the next edge data of edgeB2 Next is set to NULL.

  If the positional relationship is as shown in (6) of FIG. 24B, the edge data of edgeB is deleted. If edgeB is the leading edge data before deleting edgeB, the leading address corresponding to the target scan line in the leading address table is changed to be the address of the storage area of edgeA. If the edgeB is not the first edge data before the deletion of edgeB, the address next of the edge data linked immediately before edgeB before the deletion of edgeB becomes the address of the storage area of edgeA. Change as follows.

  When two edge data are created from edgeB as shown in (5) of FIG. 24B and when edgeB is deleted as shown in (6), the processing in step 314 below is not performed. (The illustration is omitted.)

  Next, in step 314, it is determined whether edgeA.start <edgeB.start. If an affirmative determination is made in step 314, the positional relationship between edgeA and edgeB is the positional relationship after the change of (3) in FIG. 24B, so in step 316 edgeA is inserted before edgeB. As described above, the address next of the next edge data of edgeA is changed from NULL to an address indicating the storage area of edgeB. When the leading edge data before the insertion of edgeA is edgeB, the leading address corresponding to the target scan line in the leading address table is changed to the address of the storage area of edgeA.

  If a negative determination is made in step 314, the positional relationship between edgeA and edgeB is the positional relationship after the change of (4) in FIG. 24B, so in step 318 edgeA is changed after edgeB. In order to be inserted, the address next of edge data next to edgeB is changed to an address indicating the storage area of edgeA.

  Here, the description of the case where the section of edge data edgeA overlaps with a part or the whole of each section of a plurality of edge data connected to each other created by the previous drawing command is omitted. Similarly, in this case, the description has been given with reference to (3) to (6) in FIG. 24B according to the positional relationship between each of the plurality of edge data sections and the section of the edge data edgeA. Similarly change or delete.

  After the edge insertion process is completed in step 284 in FIG. 22, the process proceeds to step 244 in FIG.

  In step 244, the value of the color value color of the pixel of interest is set in refcolor. Furthermore, x is set to start_x. x is the position on the X axis of the pixel of interest.

  Subsequently, in step 246, it is determined whether x is less than width. If an affirmative determination is made in step 246, the process returns to step 232, 1 is added to x, and the next pixel in the X-axis direction is set as the pixel of interest. Further, when a negative determination is made in step 246, since the detection of the edge of the target scan line of the image image has been completed, the edge cut-out process is terminated and the process proceeds to step 206 in FIG.

  In step 206 of FIG. 20, 1 is added to y.

  In step 208, it is determined whether y is less than height. As described above, height is the number of pixels indicating the height of the image. If the determination in step 208 is affirmative, the process returns to step 204, and the edge cut-out process is performed on the next scan line as described above. If the determination in step 208 is negative, the edge list format drawing process of the image drawing command in FIG. 20 is terminated because the detection of the edge of each scan line of the image image and the creation of edge data are complete. .

  Next, the edge list format drawing process of the graphics drawing command in step 184 will be described. FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing a flow of edge list format drawing processing of a graphics drawing command.

  In step 340, the drawing color designated by the graphics drawing command is acquired and set in g_color. For example, for the graphic drawing command “fillRect” included in the definition command shown in FIG. 10, the color specified by “with color” is the drawing color.

  In step 342, the range of the Y coordinate of the drawing area designated by the graphics drawing command (the image area in which the image is drawn by the graphics drawing command) is obtained. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 10, in (0,0,3,3) following the fill command of the drawing command shown in (2) of FIG. 10, the first two numerical values are the start of drawing a graphics image in the pattern image. Position, and the following two numerical values are the number of pixels indicating the width and height of the graphics image to be drawn. Therefore, the minimum value of the Y coordinate of the drawing area of the graphics drawing command is Y at the drawing start position. The maximum value of coordinate 0 and Y coordinate value is 3, which is obtained by adding height 3 to the drawing start position Y coordinate 0. Then, the minimum value of this Y coordinate is set to y_start, and the maximum value is set to y_end.

  In step 344, y_start is set to y.

  In step 346, scan conversion processing (processing for extracting image edges) on the scan line y is performed on the graphics image drawn by the graphics drawing command to obtain drawing ranges x_start and x_end on the X axis on the scan line y. .

  In step 348, edge data is created. Specifically, edge data is created as follows.

(Start point start, end point end, color value color, address next to next edge data)
= (X_start, x_end, g_color, NULL)

  In step 350, the edge data created in step 348 is added to the edge list of the scan line y in the edge list representing the pattern image. The processing for adding edge data to the edge list performed in step 350 is performed as described with reference to FIGS.

  In step 352, 1 is added to y.

  In step 354, it is determined whether y is equal to or less than y_end. If the determination in step 354 is affirmative, the process has not been completed for all the scan lines in the drawing range in which the graphics image is drawn, so the process returns to step 346 and the above process is performed for the next scan line. repeat. If a negative determination is made in step 354, the processing for all the scan lines in the drawing range in which the graphics image is drawn has been completed. Therefore, the edge list drawing processing for this graphics drawing command is finished. To do.

  Next, the edge list format drawing process of the character drawing command in step 186 will be described. FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing a flow of edge list format drawing processing of a character drawing command.

  In step 370, the drawing color designated by the character drawing command is acquired and set to t_color.

  In step 372, information on the drawing start position of the character image designated to be arranged (drawn) on the pattern image in the character drawing command is acquired and set to (x_offset, y_offset).

  In step 374, character bitmap data represented in a raster format in which the character is composed of binary values of black and white is obtained. In the character drawing command, character code information according to a predetermined code system, font information including the number of points indicating the size of the font name character, the drawing color, information on the drawing start position, etc. are specified. Yes. Among these, character bitmap data obtained by expanding a character to be drawn into a bitmap is acquired from character code information and font information.

  In step 376, 0 is set to char_x and 0 is set to char_y.

  In step 378, character edge extraction is performed from the acquired character bitmap data. FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing the flow of character edge extraction processing.

  In step 400, information on the size (width and height) of the character represented by the character bitmap data is acquired, the width value is set to width, and the height value is set to height. Note that the width and the height are each expressed by the number of pixels.

  In step 402, -1 is set to edge_x.

  In step 404, black coordinates (coordinate positions of black pixels) are detected. FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing the flow of black coordinate detection processing.

  In step 430, it is determined whether or not char_y is less than height. If the determination in step 430 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 432. In step 432, it is determined whether or not char_x is less than width. If an affirmative determination is made in step 432, the process proceeds to step 436. In step 436, it is determined whether or not the character bitmap data at the position of the coordinates (char_x, char_y) is black.

  If an affirmative determination is made in step 436, the process proceeds to step 440, where the value of char_x is set in edge_x, and the value of char_y is set in edge_y. In step 442, a value obtained by adding 1 to char_x is set to char_x.

  If a negative determination is made in step 436, the process proceeds to step 438, and 1 is added to char_x to determine whether the next pixel in the X-axis direction is black or white, and the process returns to step 432.

  On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step 432, 1 is added to char_y in step 434, 0 is set in char_x, and the flow returns to step 430. That is, when it is determined in step 432 that char_x is equal to or larger than width, there is no black pixel on the scan line char_y when the upper left corner of the rectangular area of the character bitmap data is the origin (0,0). Therefore, in step 434, the target scan line is changed to the next scan line, and the process returns to step 430 to search for a black pixel from pixels at the end of the next scan line.

  With the above processing, when the upper left coordinate of the rectangular area with the width and height of the character is the origin (0,0), the start point (edge start point) edge_x of the section where black pixels continue on the scan line edge_y Is detected.

  In FIG. 27, after the detection of the black coordinate is completed in step 404, the white coordinate (the coordinate position of the white pixel) is detected in step 406. In this white coordinate detection process, the end point of the edge is detected. FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing a flow of white coordinate detection processing.

  In step 460, it is determined whether edge_x is -1. When edge_x is −1, the black coordinate is not detected in the black coordinate detection process. When the start point of the edge is detected, it is not necessary to detect the end point. Therefore, the white coordinate detection process ends.

  On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step 460, it is determined in step 462 whether or not char_x is less than width. If an affirmative determination is made at step 462, the process proceeds to step 464. In step 464, it is determined whether or not the character bitmap data of the pixel located at the coordinates (char_x, char_y) is black. If an affirmative determination is made in step 464, 1 is added to char_x, and the flow returns to step 462.

  If a negative determination is made in step 464, the value of [char_x-1] is set in edge_x_end in step 468. That is, when a white pixel is found in step 464 (negative determination), the pixel of the X coordinate value one pixel before the X coordinate value of the pixel is the end point of the section where the black pixels are continuous. Accordingly, in step 468, 1 is subtracted from the X coordinate value char_x of the pixel currently focused on to obtain coordinates indicating the end point of the section where the black pixels are continuous, and is set to edge_x_end.

  Further, when a negative determination is made in step 462, it is indicated that no white pixel exists in the pixels of the X coordinate value after the X coordinate value edge_x in the scan line edge_y in the character bitmap data. Therefore, in step 470, the value of [width-1] is set to edge_x_end. Here, 1 is subtracted from the width because the upper left coordinate (origin) of the rectangular area having the width width and height height is (0, 0).

  With the above processing, when the upper left coordinate of the rectangular area having the width and height of the character is the origin (0,0), the end point (edge end point) edge_x_end of the section where black pixels continue on the scan line edge_y Is detected.

  In FIG. 27, after the white coordinate detection process in step 406, the process proceeds to step 408 to determine whether edge_x is −1. When edge_x is −1, the black coordinate is not detected in the black coordinate detection process. Therefore, if an affirmative determination is made in step 408, it is concluded in step 412 that edge extraction has failed. If a negative determination is made in step 408, it is concluded in step 414 that the edge extraction is successful.

  In FIG. 26, after the character edge extraction process in step 378 is completed, the process proceeds to step 380. In step 380, it is determined whether the edge extraction is successful. If an affirmative determination is made in step 380, the process proceeds to step 382, in which x_start is set to [edge_x + x_offset], x_end is set to [edge_x_end + x_offset], and y is [edge_y + y_offset]. Set.

  In step 384, edge data is created. Specifically, edge data is created as follows.

(Start point start, end point end, color value color, address next to next edge data)
= (X_start, x_end, t_color, NULL)

  In step 386, the edge data created in step 384 is added to the edge list of the scan line y in the edge list representing the pattern image. The processing of adding edge data to the edge list performed in step 384 is performed as described with reference to FIGS.

  After step 386, the process returns to step 378, and the next edge is extracted in the same manner as described above. If a new edge is extracted by the process in step 378, an affirmative determination is made in step 380, and thus the processes after step 382 are similarly performed. If a new edge is not extracted in step 378, a negative determination is made in step 380, and the edge list format drawing process of the character drawing command in FIG. 26 is terminated.

  Next, a detailed description will be given of the conversion process for converting the pattern image in step 162 to the raster format, which is executed after an affirmative determination in step 160 of FIG.

  FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing the flow of conversion processing for converting pattern image information into a raster format. In this conversion process, mask information is created along with conversion of pattern image information.

  In step 500, a memory area PA2 for pattern images for storing raster pattern image information is secured in the memory 12B. For example, in the case of color, in the present embodiment, since the raster pattern image information requires 4 bytes per pixel, a memory area PA2 of pattern image width × height × 4 bytes is secured.

  In step 502, the reserved pattern image memory area PA2 is cleared to zero. That is, in the present embodiment, initialization is performed so that the color values of all the pixels of the pattern image information indicate 0. Here, the color value of each pixel is initialized to be 0, but is not limited to 0 and may be any value.

  In step 504, mask information is created and initialized in an edge list format. Specifically, a memory area MA1 for mask information is secured in the memory 12B, and a head address table for storing an address (head address) to the head edge data for each scan line of the mask information is created, and the memory 12B The information is stored in the memory area MA1 for mask information. Each head address is set to NULL, and the head address table is initialized. The number of head addresses (the number of scan lines) is equal to the number of pixels indicating the height of the pattern image.

  In step 506, 0 is set to y.

  In step 508, the leading edge data of the edge list of the scan line y is acquired from the pattern image information in the edge list format stored in the memory area PA1.

  In step 510, it is determined whether there is edge data in the edge list of the scan line y. When step 510 is executed immediately after step 508, if acquisition at step 508 is successful (there is edge data to be acquired), an affirmative determination is made at step 510 and acquisition at step 508 fails ( If there is no edge data to be acquired), a negative determination is made at step 510. When step 510 is executed immediately after step 516, which will be described later, if acquisition at step 516 is successful (there is edge data to be acquired), an affirmative determination is made at step 510 and acquisition at step 516 is performed. Is failed (there is no edge data to be acquired), a negative determination is made at step 510.

  If the determination in step 510 is affirmative, in step 512, the color values of the pixels in the range from the start point (start, y) to the end point (end, y) of the raster format pattern image in the memory area PA2 (the above initial value) Is changed to 0 as the color value of the acquired edge data (writes the color value). Here, start is the value of the start point start of the acquired edge data, and end is the value of the end point end of the acquired edge data.

  After step 512, in step 514, edge data of mask information is created. Here, the value of the start point start and the end point end of the edge data acquired from the pattern image information is set as the value of the start point start and the end point end of the edge data of the mask information, and the mask value of the edge data of the mask information The mask value is set to 1, and the edge data address next value of the mask information is set to NULL.

  In step 516, the created edge data is added to the edge list of the scan line y of the mask information. The process of adding edge data is performed according to the flow shown in FIG. 22. However, in the case of mask information, the mask value is 1 for any edge data, so in step 284 of FIG. 22, the edge insertion process shown in FIG. Instead, the edge insertion process shown in FIG. 31 is executed.

  FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing the flow of mask information edge insertion processing. In step 540, newly generated edge data (edge data to be inserted) is represented by edgeA, and the top edge data of the target edge list is represented by edgeB. Then, the value of the start point start of edgeA is set to edgeA.start, the value of the end point end of edgeA is set to edgeA.end, the value of the next address next to edgeA (= NULL) is set to edgeA.next set. Also, the value of the start point start of edgeB is set to edgeB.start, the value of the end point end of edgeB is set to edgeB.end, and the value of the next address next to edgeB is set to edgeB.next.

  In step 542, it is determined whether edgeA.end <edgeB.start. If edgeA.end is smaller than edgeB.start, the positional relationship between edgeA and edgeB in the X-axis direction is the positional relationship shown in (1) of FIG. Therefore, if an affirmative determination is made in step 542, the address next of the next edge data of edgeA is changed from NULL so that edgeA is inserted before edgeB without changing the section of edgeB in step 544. Change to the address indicating the storage area of edgeB. If edgeB before insertion of edgeA is head edge data, the head address corresponding to the target scan line in the head address table is changed to be the address of the storage area of edgeA. If edgeB before the insertion of edgeA is not the leading edge data, the value of edge data address next linked immediately before edgeB before the insertion of edgeA is rewritten to the address of the storage area of edgeA.

  Further, when a negative determination is made at step 542, the process proceeds to step 546. In step 546, it is determined whether edgeA.start> edgeB.end. If edgeA.start is larger than edgeB.end, the positional relationship between edgeA and edgeB in the X-axis direction is the positional relationship shown in (2) of FIG. In this case, an affirmative determination is made at step 546 and the routine proceeds to step 550.

  In step 550, it is determined whether edgeB.next is NULL, that is, whether the next edge data of edgeB is not connected. If an affirmative determination is made in step 550, the process proceeds to step 552, and the address next of edgeB next to edgeB is changed from NULL to edgeA so that edgeA is inserted after edgeB without changing the section of edgeB. Change to an address indicating a storage area.

  Furthermore, when a negative determination is made in step 550, the process proceeds to step 554, and the next edge data stored at the address indicated by edgeB.next is set as edgeB, and the process returns to step 540.

  Further, when a negative determination is made in step 546, a part or the whole of the edgeA section (range) overlaps a part or the whole of the edgeB section on the X axis of the target scan line. It shows that. Therefore, the process proceeds to step 548, where edgeA and edgeB are synthesized. Specifically, the start point start of edgeB is changed to be the smaller of edgeA.start and edgeB.start, and the end point of edgeB is changed to the larger of edgeA.end and edgeB.end Change to After that, edgeA is deleted. Conversely, the start point and end point of edgeA may be changed in the same manner as described above, edgeB may be replaced with edgeA, and edgeB may be deleted.

  After the edge insertion processing, in step 518, the next edge data is acquired from the edge list of the scan line y. Specifically, edge data is acquired from the address stored at the address next of the acquired edge data. However, if the value of the address next is NULL, acquisition fails. After step 518, the process returns to step 510.

  If a negative determination is made in step 510, the process proceeds to step 520, and 1 is added to y. In step 522, it is determined whether y is less than the height ptn_height of the pattern image. If the determination in step 522 is affirmative, it indicates that conversion to the raster format has not been completed for all the scan lines of the pattern image, so that the next scan line is converted to the raster format. Return to step 510.

  Further, when a negative determination is made in step 522, it indicates that the conversion to the raster format has been completed for all the scan lines of the pattern image, so the flow proceeds to step 524, and the pattern image information in the edge list format is stored in the memory area. Delete from PA1 and release memory area PA1.

  In step 526, the value of type is changed from “edgelist” to “hybrid”.

  Next, the rendering process for the raster format pattern image executed in step 164 of FIG. 18 will be described in detail. FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing the flow of a drawing process for a raster pattern image.

  In step 600, the type of the read drawing command is determined. If the drawing command is an image drawing command, raster drawing processing of the image drawing command is executed in step 602. If the drawing command is a graphics drawing command, raster drawing processing of the graphics drawing command is executed in step 604. If the drawing command is a character drawing command, raster drawing processing of the character drawing command is executed in step 606.

  FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing the flow of the raster drawing process of the image drawing command performed in step 602.

  In step 620, information on the drawing start position in the pattern image of the image image specified by the image drawing command is acquired and set to (x_offset, y_offset), and information on the width and height of the image image is acquired. And set it to (width, height).

  In step 622, the smaller one of [x_offset + width] and [ptn_width-1] is set to x_end. Here, as described above, ptn_width is a value indicating the width of the pattern image.

  In step 622, the smaller one of [y_offset + width] and [ptn_height-1] is set in y_end. Here, as described above, ptn_height is a value indicating the height of the pattern image.

  In step 624, 0 is set to y.

  In step 626, it is determined whether [y + y_offset] is smaller than y_end. Drawing is not necessary for a portion outside the rectangular area of the pattern image, and step 626 is provided to prevent unnecessary drawing in the Y-axis direction. If an affirmative determination is made in step 626, the process proceeds to step 628.

  In step 628, the color value of each pixel in the region from the coordinate (0, y) of the image image to the coordinate (x_end-x_offset, y) when the upper left corner of the rectangular region of the image image is the origin (0, 0). As the color value of each pixel in the area from the coordinate (x_offset, y + y_offset) to the coordinate (x_end, y + y_offset) when the upper left corner of the rectangular area of the pattern image is the origin (0,0), Write (copy) to the pattern image memory PA2.

  In step 630, the mask range is added to the mask information so that the range from x_offset to x_end in the scan line [y + y_offset] becomes the mask range (image area in the pattern image). When an image image is newly drawn in the pattern image memory area PA2, the image area in the pattern image may change depending on the drawn image and the drawing position. Therefore, an additional process for adding a mask range to the mask information is performed. Details will be described later.

  After step 630, the process proceeds to step 632, 1 is added to y, and the process returns to step 626 to perform the drawing process for the next scan line in the same manner as described above.

  If a negative determination is made in step 626, the drawing process is terminated. As a result, drawing is not performed on a range outside the rectangular area of the pattern image in the Y-axis direction.

  Next, a process for adding a mask range to the mask information performed in step 630 will be described. FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing for adding a mask range to mask information.

  In step 650, the Y coordinate of the mask range to be added is set in add_y. When this mask range addition processing routine is called from the raster drawing processing routine of the image drawing command in FIG. 33, the value of [y + y_offset] is set to add_y. When this mask range addition processing routine is called from a graphics rendering command raster format rendering processing routine and a character rendering command raster format rendering processing routine, which will be described later, the value y is set in add_y. .

  In step 650, the start point of the X coordinate of the range to be added is set in start_x. When this mask range addition processing routine is called from the raster drawing processing routine of the image drawing command of FIG. 33, the value of x_offset is set to start_x. When this mask range addition processing routine is called from the graphics drawing command raster format drawing processing routine and the character drawing command raster format drawing processing routine described later, the value of x_start is set to start_x. .

  In step 650, the end point of the X coordinate of the range to be added is set in end_x. Here, the value of x_end is set in end_x.

  In step 652, it is determined whether the value of type is hybrid. If the determination in step 652 is affirmative, the mask information is stored in the memory area MA1 in the form of an edge list. Therefore, in step 656, edge data for the mask information is created. Here, the above start_x value is the start data start point start value, the above end_x value is the edge data end point end value, the edge data mask value mask value is 1, and the next address value is NULL. Create.

  In step 658, the created edge data is added to the edge list of the scan line add_y of the mask information. The processing of adding edge data to the edge list performed here is executed as described with reference to FIGS. 22 and 31 with the target scan line as add_y.

  In step 660, it is determined whether or not the number of edge data of the mask information exceeds a predetermined threshold TH2. If the determination in step 660 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 662 to perform processing for converting the edge list format mask information into a raster format. The process of step 662 will be described later. After step 662, in step 664, the value of type is changed to raster indicating the raster format, and the mask range adding process is terminated. .

  On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step 660, steps 662 and 664 are skipped and the mask range addition process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step 652, the mask information is stored in a raster format, so the mask value of each pixel in the range from the coordinates (start_x, add_y) to the coordinates (end_x, add_y) in the mask information Set to 1. That is, in the raster format mask information, since one pixel is represented by one bit, the bit is set to one. Then, the mask range addition process ends.

  Next, the process of converting the mask information performed in step 662 into a raster format will be described. FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing for converting mask information into a raster format.

  In step 700, a memory area MA2 for mask information for storing mask information in raster format is secured in the memory 12B. In the present embodiment, since raster format mask information requires one bit per pixel, a memory area MA2 of width × height × 1 bit of the pattern image is secured.

  In step 702, the reserved mask information memory area MA2 is cleared to zero. That is, in the present embodiment, initialization is performed so that the mask values of all the pixels of the mask information indicate 0.

  In step 704, 0 is set in mask_y.

  In step 706, the edge data at the head of the edge list of the scan line mask_y is obtained from the mask information in the edge list format stored in the memory area MA1.

  In step 708, it is determined whether there is edge data in the scan line mask_y. When step 708 is executed immediately after step 706, if acquisition in step 706 is successful (there is edge data to be acquired), an affirmative determination is made in step 708 and acquisition in step 706 fails ( If there is no edge data to be acquired, a negative determination is made at step 708. When step 708 is executed immediately after step 712, which will be described later, if the acquisition in step 712 is successful (there is edge data to be acquired), an affirmative determination is made in step 708 and the acquisition in step 712 is performed. Is failed (there is no edge data to be acquired), a negative determination is made at step 708.

  If the determination in step 708 is affirmative, in step 710, the mask for the pixels in the range from the start point (start, mask_y) to the end point (end, mask_y) of the mask information in the raster format in the mask information memory area MA2. Change the value (which is 0 by the above initialization) to 1 (overwrite). Here, start is the value of the start point start of the acquired edge data, and end is the value of the end point end of the acquired edge data.

  In step 712, the next edge data is acquired from the edge list of the scan line mask_y. Specifically, edge data is acquired from the address stored at the address next of the acquired edge data. However, if the value of the address next is NULL, acquisition fails. After step 712, the process returns to step 708.

  If a negative determination is made in step 708, the process proceeds to step 714, and 1 is added to mask_y. In step 716, it is determined whether mask_y is less than the height ptn_height of the pattern image. If the determination in step 716 is affirmative, it indicates that the conversion of the mask information into the raster format has not been completed for all the scan lines, so the process returns to step 706 in order to convert the next scan line. .

  If a negative determination is made in step 716, it indicates that the conversion of the mask information into the raster format has been completed for all the scan lines. Therefore, the process proceeds to step 718, and the mask information in the edge list format is stored in the memory area MA1. And the memory area MA1 is released.

  Next, the raster format drawing process of the graphics drawing command in step 604 will be described. FIG. 36 is a flowchart showing the flow of raster format rendering processing of a graphics rendering command.

  In step 740, the drawing color designated by the graphics drawing command is acquired and set in g_color. For example, for the graphic drawing command “fillRect” included in the definition command shown in FIG. 10, the color specified by “with color” is the drawing color.

  In step 742, the range of the Y coordinate of the drawing area designated by the graphics drawing command is obtained. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 10, in (0,0,3,3) following the fill command of the drawing command shown in (2) of FIG. 10, the first two numerical values are the start of drawing a graphics image in the pattern image. Position, and the following two numerical values are the number of pixels indicating the width and height of the graphics image to be drawn. Therefore, the minimum value of the Y coordinate of the drawing area of the graphics drawing command is Y at the drawing start position. The maximum value of coordinate 0 and Y coordinate value is 3, which is obtained by adding height 3 to the drawing start position Y coordinate 0. Then, the minimum value of this Y coordinate is set to y_start, and the maximum value is set to y_end.

  In step 744, y is set to y_start.

  In step 746, scan conversion processing (processing for extracting image edges) on the scan line y is performed on the graphics image drawn by the graphics drawing command, and drawing ranges x_start and x_end on the X axis in the scan line y are obtained. .

  In step 748, the color value of the pixel in the range from the start point (x_start, y) to the end point (x_end, y) of the raster pattern image is changed to the value of the drawing color g_color (the value of g_color is written).

  In step 750, the mask range is added to the mask information so that the range from x_start to x_end in the scan line y becomes the mask range. This mask range addition processing is executed as described above with reference to FIG.

  In step 752, 1 is added to y.

  In step 752, it is determined whether y is equal to or less than y_end. If the determination in step 752 is affirmative, the process has not been completed for all the scan lines in the drawing range in which the graphics image is drawn, so the process returns to step 746 and the above process is performed for the next scan line. repeat. If the determination in step 752 is negative, the process for all the scan lines in the drawing range in which the graphics image is drawn has been completed, so the raster drawing process for this graphics drawing command is ended. .

  Next, the raster format rendering process of the character rendering command in step 606 will be described. FIG. 37 is a flowchart showing the flow of raster format rendering processing of a character rendering command.

  In step 770, the drawing color designated by the character drawing command is acquired and set to t_color.

  In step 772, information on the drawing start position of the character image designated to be placed (drawn) on the pattern image in the character drawing command is acquired and set to (x_offset, y_offset).

  In step 774, character bitmap data is obtained.

  In step 776, 0 is set to char_x and 0 is set to char_y.

  In step 778, a character edge is extracted from the acquired character bitmap data. Specifically, the processing is performed as described above with reference to FIG.

  After the character edge extraction process in step 778 is completed, the process proceeds to step 780. In step 780, it is determined whether the edge extraction is successful. If an affirmative determination is made in step 780, the process proceeds to step 782, in which x_start is set to [edge_x + x_offset], x_end is set to [edge_x_end + x_offset], and y is [edge_y + y_offset]. Set.

  In step 784, the color value of the pixel in the range from the start point (x_start, y) to the end point (x_end, y) of the raster pattern image is changed to the value of the drawing color t_color (the value of t_color is written).

  In step 786, the mask range is added to the mask information so that the range from x_start to x_end in the scan line y becomes the mask range. Specifically, the processing is performed as described above with reference to FIG.

  After step 786, the process returns to step 778, and the next edge is extracted in the same manner as described above. If a new edge is extracted by the process of step 778, an affirmative determination is made in step 780, and thus the processes after step 782 are similarly performed. If no new edge is extracted in step 778, a negative determination is made in step 780, and the raster drawing process of the character drawing command in FIG. 37 is terminated.

  Next, the pattern filling process in step 110 of FIG. 16 will be described in detail.

  FIG. 38 is a flowchart showing the flow of pattern fill processing.

  In step 800, information on the pattern image to be used (width ptn_width, height ptn_height, data format type, and address address) is acquired from the pattern management table based on the pattern name of the pattern image.

  In step 802, the minimum value y_start and the maximum value y_end of the Y coordinate range of the paint range specified by the paint command included in the pattern paint command are obtained (see also FIG. 3B), and the value of y_start is obtained. Is set to y.

  In step 804, the minimum value x_start and the maximum value x_end of the fill range in the X-axis direction on the scan line y are obtained (see also FIG. 3B), and the value of x_start is set to x.

  In step 806, the start point (ptn_x, ptn_y) of the pattern image corresponding to the start point (x, y) of the filling range is obtained (see also FIG. 3A). Further, ptn_x_len is set to a smaller value of [ptn_width−ptn_x] and [x_end−ptn_x].

  In step 808, the value of [x_ + ptn_x_len] is set in x_next. x_next is the X coordinate value of the next drawing start point after placing one pattern image with the start point of the pattern image aligned with the start point of the fill range and writing the color value of the pattern image in the page buffer. is there.

  In step 810, the type of pattern information is determined. If the value of type acquired from the pattern management table is raster, the process proceeds to step 812 to perform a raster pattern filling process. In the raster pattern fill process, raster pattern information is used to draw (fill) a range from the X coordinate value x to [x + ptn_x_len-1] on the scan line y of the page buffer.

  If the value of type acquired from the pattern management table is edgelist, the process proceeds to step 814, and edge list format pattern fill processing is performed. In the edge list pattern filling process, drawing (filling) is performed in the range from the X coordinate value x to [x + ptn_x_len −1] on the scan line y in the page buffer, using the edge list pattern information.

  If the value of type acquired from the pattern management table is hybrid, the process proceeds to step 816 to perform a hybrid pattern filling process. In the fill processing of the hybrid pattern, drawing (filling) of the range from the X coordinate value x to [x + ptn_x_len −1] in the scan line y of the page buffer is performed using the hybrid format pattern information.

  Details of each of these painting processes will be described later.

  When any of Steps 812, 814, and 816 is completed, the process proceeds to Step 818 to determine whether x_next is equal to or less than x_end. If a negative determination is made in step 818, the process proceeds to step 820, where x_next is set to x. After step 820, the process returns to step 806 and the same processing as described above is performed.

  That is, by repeating the processing of Step 806 to Step 820, the start line of the fill range in the X-axis direction is shifted in the scan line y of the fill range, and each start point is used as the writing position to scan the pattern image. The color value on ptn_y is repeatedly copied (written).

  On the other hand, if an affirmative determination is made in step 818, since the filling (drawing) up to the maximum value x_end of the filling range in the X-axis direction on the scan line y has been completed, the process proceeds to step 822. Proceeding to step 822, it is determined whether y is smaller than y_end. When a negative determination is made in step 822, since the filling up to the maximum value y_end of the Y coordinate range of the filling range has not been completed yet, the process proceeds to step 824, and the next scan line is filled. 1 is added to y, and the process returns to step 804 to perform the same processing as described above.

  If the determination in step 822 is affirmative, since the painting up to the maximum value y_end of the Y coordinate range of the painting range has been completed, that is, the pattern image drawing process for the painting range has been completed, The pattern fill process ends.

  Here, each filling process in steps 812, 814, and 816 will be described with reference to FIGS. 39 to 42. FIG.

  FIG. 39 is an explanatory diagram for conceptually explaining the painting process. 39A is an explanatory diagram of the filling process when the pattern information is in the edge list format, and FIG. 39B is an explanatory diagram of the painting process when the pattern information is in the hybrid format. C) is an explanatory diagram of a painting process when the pattern information is in a raster format. In FIG. 39, an area from the start point ptn_x to ptn_x + length of the pattern image is illustrated as an area (tiling area) of the scan line ptn_y corresponding to the filled range.

  First, with reference to FIG. 39C and FIG. 40, description will be given of the filling processing performed in step 812 when the pattern information is in the raster format (the pattern image information and the mask information are each in the raster format).

  In FIG. 40, in step 840, the color value of the coordinates (ptn_x, ptn_y) is acquired from the pattern image information and set to ptn_x_color.

  In step 842, the mask value of coordinates (ptn_x, ptn_y) is acquired from the mask information and set in ptn_x_mask.

  In step 844, it is determined whether ptn_x_mask is 1. When an affirmative determination is made in step 844, the process proceeds to step 846, and the value of ptn_x_color is written in the coordinates (x, y) of the page buffer (see also FIG. 39C).

  On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step 844, the mask value of the coordinates (ptn_x, ptn_y) is 0 indicating that it is a pixel in the non-image area, so the writing in step 846 is not performed (FIG. 39). (See also (C).), Go to step 848.

  In step 848, 1 is subtracted from ptn_x_len, 1 is added to ptn_x, 1 is added to x, and the flow proceeds to step 850.

  In step 850, it is determined whether ptn_x_len is greater than zero. If an affirmative determination is made in step 850, the process returns to step 840 and writing is performed for the next pixel in the same manner as described above. On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step 850, the fill process is terminated.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 39 (A) and FIG. 41, the painting process performed in step 814 when the pattern information is in the edge list format (pattern image information is in the edge list format) will be described.

  In step 870, the first edge data ptn_edge of the edge list of the scan line ptn_y of the pattern image information is acquired.

  In step 872, the value of the start point start of the edge data ptn_edge is set to ptn_edge_sx, the value of the end point end of ptn_edge is set to ptn_edge_ex, and the color value color of ptn_edge is set to ptn_edge_color.

  In step 874, it is determined whether the value of [ptn_x + ptn_x_len−1] is smaller than the value of the start point ptn_edge_sx of the acquired edge data. That is, if the end point of the drawing range (the tiling area in FIG. 39) in the scan line ptn_y of the pattern image is smaller than the start point of the acquired edge data, it indicates that the section of the edge data is outside the drawing range of the pattern image. ing. Further, since the edge data is sequentially connected in the X-axis direction, the subsequent edge data is also outside the drawing range. Therefore, when an affirmative determination is made here, the main filling process ends. Although illustration is omitted, this fill processing is also ended when no edge data originally exists in the scan line ptn_y and no edge data is acquired in step 870.

  On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step 874, the process proceeds to step 876. In step 876, it is determined whether or not the start point ptn_x on the X axis in the pattern image (the start point of the drawing range on the scan line ptn_y of the pattern image) is greater than the end point ptn_edge_ex of the acquired edge data. That is, if the starting point of the drawing range on the scan line ptn_y of the pattern image is larger than the end point of the acquired edge data, the acquired edge data section exists outside the drawing range of the pattern image in the X-axis direction. Accordingly, if an affirmative determination is made in step 876, the process proceeds to step 888 to acquire the next edge data. Step 888 will be described later.

  On the other hand, when a negative determination is made in step 876, it indicates that a part or the whole of the acquired edge data section overlaps a part or the whole of the drawing range on the scan line ptn_y in the pattern image. . For example, as shown in FIG. 39A, each section of edge1 and edge2 overlaps a part of the drawing range on the scan line ptn_y in the pattern image. In the case of such a positional relationship, since a negative determination is made in step 876, the process proceeds to step 878.

  In step 878, it is determined whether the start point ptn_x on the X axis in the pattern image is smaller than the start point ptn_edge_sx of the acquired edge data. If an affirmative determination is made here, the start point of the acquired edge data section with respect to the start point ptn_x on the scan line ptn_y in the pattern image has, for example, a positional relationship indicated by edge2 in FIG. It is shown that. Therefore, if an affirmative determination is made in step 878, the process proceeds to step 880.

  In step 880, since the range from ptn_x to [ptn_edge_sx-1] is not drawn (color value is not written), the drawing start point is changed to ptn_edge_sx. Specifically, the value of [ptn_edge_sx−ptn_x] is added to x, the value of [ptn_edge_sx−ptn_x] is subtracted from ptn_x_len, and the value of ptn_edge_sx is set to ptn_x. Then, the process proceeds to Step 882.

  On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step 878, the start point of the data section at the acquired edge with respect to the start point ptn_x on the scan line ptn_y in the pattern image is, for example, the positional relationship indicated by edge1 in FIG. It is shown that. Therefore, step 880 is skipped and the process proceeds to step 882 so that drawing is performed from ptn_x.

  In step 882, draw_len is set to a smaller one of [ptn_x_len] and [ptn_edge_ex−ptn_edge_sx + 1]. draw_len indicates the length of the drawing range on the X axis.

  In step 884, the value of ptn_edge_color is written in the range from the coordinates (x, y) to the coordinates (x + draw_len−1, y) in the image buffer (see also FIG. 39A).

  In step 886, the value of draw_len is added to x, the value of draw_len is subtracted from ptn_x_len, and the value of draw_len is added to ptn_x. That is, since [ptn_x + draw_len−1] is drawn, the starting point of the next drawing is moved to [ptn_x + draw_len].

  After the processing of step 886 and when an affirmative determination is made in step 876, the process proceeds to step 888.

  In step 888, it is determined whether ptn_x_len is greater than 0 and whether the next edge data exists. If the determination in step 888 is affirmative, in step 890, the next edge data is acquired from the storage area indicated by the address stored in the address next of the edge data ptn_edge, and the newly acquired edge data is converted into the edge data. Using as ptn_edge, the process returns to step 872 and the above processing is repeated. In addition, when a negative determination is made in step 888, this indicates that drawing on the scan line ptn_y of the pattern image has ended, and thus the main filling process ends.

  Next, with reference to FIGS. 39B and 42, a description will be given of the filling process performed in step 816 when the pattern information is in the hybrid format (the pattern image information is in the raster format and the mask information is in the edge list format). .

  In step 900, the first edge data ptn_edge of the edge list of the scan line ptn_y of the mask information is acquired.

  In step 902, the value of the start point start of the edge data ptn_edge is set to ptn_edge_sx, and the value of the end point end of ptn_edge is set to ptn_edge_ex.

  In step 904, it is determined whether the value of [ptn_x + ptn_x_len−1] is smaller than the value of the start point ptn_edge_sx of the acquired edge data. That is, if the end point of the drawing range (the tiling area in FIG. 39) in the scan line ptn_y of the pattern image is smaller than the start point of the acquired edge data, it indicates that the section of the edge data is outside the drawing range of the pattern image. ing. Further, since the edge data is sequentially connected in the X-axis direction, the subsequent edge data is also outside the drawing range. Therefore, when an affirmative determination is made here, the main filling process ends. Although illustration is omitted, this fill processing is also ended when no edge data originally exists in the scan line ptn_y and no edge data is acquired in step 900.

  On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step 904, the process proceeds to step 906. In step 906, it is determined whether the start point ptn_x on the X axis in the pattern image is larger than the end point ptn_edge_ex of the acquired edge data. That is, if the start point of the drawing range (the tiling area in FIG. 39) in the scan line ptn_y of the pattern image is larger than the end point of the acquired edge data, the acquired edge data interval is the drawing range of the pattern image in the X-axis direction. It will exist outside. Therefore, if an affirmative determination is made in step 904, the process proceeds to step 918 to obtain the next edge data. Step 918 will be described later.

  On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step 906, it indicates that a part or the whole of the acquired edge data section overlaps a part or the whole of the drawing range on the scan line ptn_y in the pattern image. . For example, as shown in FIG. 39B, each section of edge3 and edge4 overlaps a part or the whole of the drawing range on the scan line ptn_y in the pattern image. In the case of such a positional relationship, a negative determination is made in step 906, and thus the process proceeds to step 908.

  In step 908, it is determined whether the start point ptn_x on the X axis in the pattern image is smaller than the start point ptn_edge_sx of the acquired edge data. If an affirmative determination is made here, the start point of the acquired edge data section with respect to the start point ptn_x on the scan line ptn_y in the pattern image has, for example, a positional relationship indicated by edge4 in FIG. It is shown that. Therefore, if an affirmative determination is made in step 908, the operation proceeds to step 910.

  In step 910, since the range from ptn_x to [ptn_edge_sx-1] is not drawn (pixel value is not written), the drawing start point is changed to ptn_edge_sx. Specifically, the value of [ptn_edge_sx−ptn_x] is added to x, the value of [ptn_edge_sx−ptn_x] is subtracted from ptn_x_len, and the value of ptn_edge_sx is set to ptn_x. Then, the process proceeds to Step 912.

  On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step 908, the start point of the data section at the acquired edge with respect to the start point ptn_x on the scan line ptn_y in the pattern image is, for example, the positional relationship indicated by edge3 in FIG. It is shown that. Therefore, step 910 is skipped and the process proceeds to step 912 so that drawing is performed from ptn_x.

  In step 912, the smaller one of [ptn_x_len] and [ptn_edge_ex−ptn_edge_sx + 1] is set in draw_len. draw_len indicates the length of the drawing range on the X axis.

  In step 914, the color value of each pixel from (ptn_x, ptn_y) to (ptn_x + draw_len-1, ptn_y) of the pattern image information is changed from (x, y) to (x + draw_len-1, y) of the image buffer. (See also FIG. 39B).

  In step 916, the value of draw_len is added to x, the value of draw_len is subtracted from ptn_x_len, and the value of draw_len is added to ptn_x. That is, since [ptn_x + draw_len−1] is drawn, the starting point of the next drawing is moved to [ptn_x + draw_len].

  After the process of step 916 and when an affirmative determination is made at step 906, the process proceeds to step 918.

  In step 918, it is determined whether ptn_x_len is greater than 0 and whether the next edge data exists. If the determination in step 918 is affirmative, in step 920, the next edge data is acquired from the storage area indicated by the address stored in the address next of the edge data ptn_edge, and the newly acquired edge data is converted into the edge data. Using as ptn_edge, the process returns to step 912 to repeat the above processing. If a negative determination is made in step 918, it indicates that the drawing of the pattern image on the scan line ptn_y has ended, and thus the main filling process ends.

  Although the description of the flowchart ends here, in the above, the threshold TH1 used for determining whether or not the pattern image information is converted from the edge list format to the raster format, and whether the mask information is converted from the edge list format to the raster format. Although a specific example of the threshold value TH2 used for the determination of whether or not is not mentioned at all, each threshold value may be preset and used as follows.

  First, the threshold TH1 is obtained. For example, if the threshold TH1 is obtained so that the size (data amount) of the pattern image information expressed in the raster format is smaller than the size (data amount) of the pattern image information expressed in the edge list format. Good. For example, the following equation (1) is used.

 width × height × 4 <height × 4 + edge × 12 (1)

  In equation (1), width is the width of the pattern image, height is the height, and edge is the number of edge data. The left side of equation (1) indicates the size of the color pattern image information represented in the raster format illustrated in FIG. 5, and the right side of equation (1) is represented in the edge list format illustrated in FIG. The size of the pattern image information is shown. When this equation (1) is modified, the following equation (2) is obtained.

  edge> {(width-1) × height} / 3 (2)

  The value on the right side of the expression (2) is the number of edge data when the size (data amount) of the pattern image information expressed in the raster format is equal to the size (data amount) of the pattern image information expressed in the edge list format. When this is used as the threshold value TH1 and the condition of equation (2) is satisfied, the pattern image information may be converted from the edge list format to the raster format and stored in the memory area.

  Next, regarding the threshold value TH2, for example, the threshold value TH2 may be obtained so that the size (data amount) of the mask information represented in the raster format is smaller than the size (data amount) of the mask information represented in the edge list format. . For example, the following equation (3) is used.

width × height / 8 <height × 4 + edge _m × 9… (3)

In equation (3), width is the width of the pattern image, height is the height, and edge _m is the number of edge data in the mask information. When the equation (3) is modified, the following equation (4) is obtained.

edge _m > {(width-32) x height} / 72 ... (4)

  The value on the right side of the expression (4) is the number of edge data when the size (data amount) of the mask information expressed in the raster format is equal to the size (data amount) of the mask information expressed in the edge list format. When this is used as the threshold value TH2 and the condition of the expression (4) is satisfied, the mask information may be converted from the edge list format to the raster format and stored in the memory area.

  As described above, by using the threshold TH1 obtained by the equation (2) and the threshold TH2 obtained by the equation (4), each of the memory usage of the pattern image information and the memory usage of the mask information is individually determined. In the raster format and the edge list format, each memory usage is stored in the smaller data format. However, when converting the pattern image information to the raster information, in the case of the edge list format, Since unnecessary mask information is created, the threshold value TH1 may be obtained so that the memory usage is made efficient in the entire pattern information. For example, the following formula (5) is used.

(width × height × 4) + (height × 4 + edge _m × 9) <height × 4 + edge × 12… （5）

  The left side of the equation (5) indicates the total value of the size of the pattern image information represented in the raster format illustrated in FIG. 5 and the size of the mask information represented in the edge list format, and the right side of the equation (5) Indicates the size of the pattern image information represented in the edge list format illustrated in FIG.

Note that edge _{m on} the left side is the number of edge data when the mask information is represented in an edge list format. Since the number of edges in the mask information does not exceed the number of edges in the pattern image,
edge _m ≤ edge
Is established. As described with reference to FIGS. 23, 24, and 31, in the case of a pattern image, a plurality of edge data adjacent to each other or overlapping at least a part of the intervals are not combined unless they are the same color. This is because, in the case of information, the mask values of edge data are all the same value “1”, so that they are combined regardless of the color.

Therefore, by replacing edge _m with edge which is the maximum value that edge _m can take and transforming equation (5), the following equation (6) is obtained.

  edge> width × height × 4/3 (6)

  The right side of equation (6) is used as the threshold value TH1, and when the condition of equation (6) is satisfied, the pattern image information may be converted from the edge list format to the raster format and stored in the memory area.

  In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the data format is switched and stored for each pattern image information and for each mask information at the time of pattern definition has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For both information, the data format may be determined for each scan line, and the data may be stored in a data format corresponding to the determination result for each scan line. In this case, instead of the threshold value TH1, a threshold value TH1 ′ obtained by dividing the threshold value TH1 by height may be used as a threshold value in units of scan lines. For example, the value on the right side of (7) or (8) below may be set as the threshold TH1 ′.

edge> (width-1) / 3 (7)
edge> width × 4/3 (8)

  Further, the threshold TH2 ′ for determining the data format of each scan line of the mask information may be obtained by dividing the threshold TH2 by height. For example, the value on the right side of the following equation (9) may be set as the threshold value TH2 ′.

edge _m > (width-32) / 72 (9)

  When the format is switched and stored in units of scan lines, as in the case of the above-described embodiment, when a plurality of drawing commands are included in the definition command, the scan lines that have already been drawn by the previously executed drawing command If the data format of the scan line is stored in the raster format, the scan line is drawn in the raster format without making a determination based on the threshold value as described above. The same applies to mask information as well as pattern images.

  In the above description, an example in which a program as an example of an image processing program is stored in the storage unit 12C of the device control unit 12 is described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the program may be a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, or the like. It is also possible to provide it in the form recorded on the recording medium.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 12 Apparatus control part 12A CPU
12B Memory 12C Storage unit 16 Image forming unit

Claims (10)

When interpreting and executing drawing information including a definition command for defining a pattern image and a fill command for arranging and filling the pattern image defined by the definition command in a specified range,
The number of the edge data when the pattern image defined by the definition command is expressed in a first format having a section in which pixels having the same pixel value continue for each line and edge data indicating the pixel value is represented by If it is less than or equal to the first threshold, the pattern image information representing the pattern image in the first format is processed so as to be stored in a first storage means , and the pattern image is processed in the first format. If the number of edge data when represented exceeds the first threshold value, pattern image information representing the pattern image in the second format having a pixel value for each pixel is stored in the first storage means . First storage processing means for processing to
When the pattern image information stored in the first storage means is in the second format, the pixel value used for filling the fill command is extracted from the pattern image information in the second format. When mask information is created and the number of edge data when the mask information is expressed in the first format is equal to or less than a second threshold value, the mask information is expressed in the first format and second If the number of edge data when the mask information is expressed in the first format exceeds the second threshold value, the mask information is stored in the second format. Second storage processing means for processing to be stored in the second storage means represented by
When the pattern image information stored in the first storage means is in the first format, the paint command is executed using the pattern image information, and the pattern image information stored in the first storage means In the case of the second format, execution means for executing the paint command using the mask information stored in the second storage means together with the pattern image information;
An image processing apparatus. Edge data when the data amount when the mask information is expressed in the first format and the data amount when the mask information is expressed in the second format are equal to the second threshold value The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is set so as to satisfy the following number. The first threshold value is a data amount of the pattern image information when the pattern image is expressed in the first format, and data of the pattern image information when the pattern image is expressed in the second format. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is set to be the number of edge data when the amount is equal. The first threshold value is a data amount of the pattern image information when the pattern image is expressed in the first format, and data of the pattern image information when the pattern image is expressed in the second format. The amount of edge data of the pattern image information when the added data amount obtained by adding the data amount when the mask information is expressed in the second format to the amount is equal to the amount is set. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2. The first storage processing unit determines whether or not the number of edge data when the pattern image is expressed in the first format in units of lines is equal to or less than the first threshold value, and the pattern image is The pattern image information expressed in the first format is stored in the first storage means for the line in which the number of edge data expressed in the first format is not more than the first threshold value. For the line where the number of edge data when the pattern image is processed and expressed in the first format exceeds the first threshold, the pattern image information expressed in the second format is stored in the first storage. Process to memorize the means ,
The second storage processing means determines whether or not the number of edge data when the mask information is expressed in the second format in units of lines is equal to or less than the second threshold, and the mask information is For lines in which the number of edge data when expressed in the first format is less than or equal to the second threshold, the mask information expressed in the first format is stored in the second storage means. The mask information expressed in the second format is stored in the second storage means for a line whose number of edge data exceeds the second threshold when the mask information is expressed in the first format. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing is performed so as to be stored in a storage. The second threshold, the data amount for one line when the mask information is expressed in the first format, the data amount for one line when the mask information is expressed in the second format, The image processing device according to claim 5, wherein the number of edge data is set to be equal to each other. The first threshold value is a data amount for one line when the pattern image is expressed in the first format, and a data amount for one line when the pattern image is expressed in the second format. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the image processing apparatus is set so as to be the number of edge data when. The first threshold value is a data amount for one line when the pattern image is expressed in the first format, and a data amount for one line when the pattern image is expressed in the second format. The set amount of edge data of the pattern image information is set to be equal to an added data amount obtained by adding a data amount of one line when the mask information is expressed in the second format. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6 or 7. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
Image forming means for forming an image based on output image information generated by executing the paint command by the image processing device;
An image forming apparatus. Computer
When interpreting and executing drawing information including a definition command for defining a pattern image and a fill command for arranging and filling the pattern image defined by the definition command in a specified range,
The number of the edge data when the pattern image defined by the definition command is expressed in a first format having a section in which pixels having the same pixel value continue for each line and edge data indicating the pixel value is represented by If it is less than or equal to the first threshold, the pattern image information representing the pattern image in the first format is processed so as to be stored in a first storage means , and the pattern image is processed in the first format. If the number of edge data when represented exceeds the first threshold value, pattern image information representing the pattern image in the second format having a pixel value for each pixel is stored in the first storage means . First storage processing means for processing to
When the pattern image information stored in the first storage means is in the second format, the pixel value used for filling the fill command is extracted from the pattern image information in the second format. When mask information is created and the number of edge data when the mask information is expressed in the first format is equal to or less than a second threshold value, the mask information is expressed in the first format and second If the number of edge data when the mask information is expressed in the first format exceeds the second threshold value, the mask information is stored in the second format. Second storage processing means for processing to be stored in the second storage means represented by
When the pattern image information stored in the first storage means is in the first format, the paint command is executed using the pattern image information, and the pattern image information stored in the first storage means In the case of the second format, execution means for executing the paint command using the mask information stored in the second storage means together with the pattern image information;
Program to function as.