JPH04280296A - Contour data processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a contour data processing device capable of reducing the memory capacity of a character storing means and forming a specified border line segment in a well proportioned shape. CONSTITUTION:When a flag A and the following dimension data w, l, h are successively read out (S55) in a data conversion control, the basic specified contour segment data of an accent and the basic dimension data W, H, L are read out from a parts font memory 22 based on the flag A (S56), and are enlarged or reduced (S43). After that, the coordinate value of a smooth point is corrected (S44). The same processings are performed for other parts.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a contour line data processing device, and more particularly to a contour line data processing device that divides the contour line of a character into a unique contour segment and a specific contour segment, and stores segment data regarding the specific contour segment in a specified manner separate from character storage means. This relates to something that is stored in a contour storage means.

0002

[Prior Art] Recently, in order to print characters and symbols on printing paper or display them on a display, the outlines of many characters such as characters and symbols are digitized and stored in a non-volatile memory as outline font data. Ok,
This outline font data is enlarged/reduced to the desired size, rotated, italicized, etc., and the converted outline font data is converted into dot data and printed using a laser printer or the like. I am trying to print using this method.

By the way, when creating outline font data for a large number of characters, characters of a predetermined size designed by a designer are read for each character using an electronic scanner, and outlines are extracted and digitized.

0004

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] Therefore, since the outline font data of the character stored in the non-volatile memory is based on the character designed by the designer, for example, in Mincho kanji, the outline font data is common as a part of the outline. 3 (a
), the accent is indicated by the symbol pA, and the accent is indicated by the symbol pU in Fig. 3(b).
The scales are indicated by , the brush scales are indicated by the symbol pO in Fig. 3(c),
The tome shown by the symbol pT is shown in FIG. 3(d), and the symbol p is shown in FIG. 3(e).
There is a problem that variations occur in the shapes of specific contour segments such as the square scales indicated by K and the wings indicated by the symbol pH in FIG. 3(f).

Furthermore, as mentioned above, even though many characters include specific contour segments in common, outline font data is created for each character, and these many outline font data are combined into an outline font. Since it is stored in memory, there are problems such as the need for a large capacity outline font memory.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to reduce the memory capacity of a character storage means, and also to reduce the memory capacity of a character storage means, and to An object of the present invention is to provide a contour line data processing device capable of shaping contour segments into well-balanced shapes.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve this goal, the outline data processing device of the present invention provides characters and symbols each consisting of one or more outlines, as shown in the functional block diagram of FIG. Classifies multiple types of specific contour segments that are commonly included in multiple contour lines of a large number of characters, and stores specific contour segment data that defines the shape of each of these specific contour segments in association with its type data. The specific contour storage means divides each of the large number of characters into one or more specific contour segments and one or more other unique contour segments, and stores the main specifications of the specific contour segment. A character storage means that stores dimension data and type data that define dimensions, and unique contour segment data that represents the shape of a unique contour segment, and a character storage means that stores a character specified by an external command. reading means for reading dimension data, type data, and unique contour segment data;
Based on the type data read by the reading means, the corresponding specific contour segment data is read from the specific contour storage means, and based on the specific contour segment data and dimension data, the main specifications of the specific contour segment are determined as dimension data. a first data modification means for creating first modified specific contour segment data representing the shape of the specific contour segment by performing an arithmetic process of enlarging or reducing the specific contour segment so as to have a dimension specified by the first modified specific contour segment data; a second data modifying means for modifying the first modified specific contour segment data and creating second modified specific contour segment data so that the prescribed specific contour segment is formed by a smooth contour line; data synthesis means for synthesizing contour data of the entire contour of the designated character using the unique contour segment data created by the specified character and the second modified specific contour segment data created by the second data modification means. There is.

[0008]

[Operation] The outline data processing device of the present invention having the above-mentioned configuration stores a plurality of outlines of a plurality of characters of characters and symbols each consisting of one or more outlines in the specific outline storage means. A plurality of types of specific contour segments that are commonly included as parts are classified, and specific contour segment data that respectively define the shapes of these specific contour segments and their type data are stored in association with each other.

[0009] Furthermore, the character storage means divides each of a large number of characters into one or more specific contour segments and one or more other unique contour segments, and stores the main features of the specific contour segment. Dimension data and type data defining the original dimensions are stored, and for unique contour segments, unique contour segment data representing the shape thereof is stored.

[0010]The reading means reads out dimension data, type data, and unique outline segment data from the character storage means for the character designated by an external command.

On the other hand, the first data modification means reads out corresponding specific contour segment data from the specific contour storage means based on the type data read out by the reading means, and determines that the main specifications of the specific contour segment are dimension data. First modified specific contour segment data representing the shape of the specific contour segment is created by performing an arithmetic process of enlarging or reducing the specific contour segment so that it has a specified dimension.

[0012] The second data modification means modifies the first modified specific contour segment so that the specific contour segment defined in the first modified specific contour segment data created by the first data modification device is formed by a smooth contour line. The data is modified to create second modified specific contour segment data.

[0013] Furthermore, the data synthesizing means uses the unique contour segment data read out by the reading means and the second modified specific contour segment data created by the second data modifying means to synthesize the entire outline of the designated character. Synthesize the contour data.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a device that converts stored outline data (contour line data) into dot data in order to generate Mincho type kanji in a laser printer.

Among the laser printer control devices, the control system of the data conversion device for converting outline data into dot data is constructed as shown in FIG.

The data conversion control device 14, which constitutes the main body of the control system of this data conversion device, basically includes a CPU 16, a ROM (program memory) 18 connected to the CPU 16 via a bus 30 such as a data bus, ROM (outline font memory) 20, ROM (parts font memory) 22, RAM (text memory) 24, RA
It is composed of M (working memory) 26 and RAM (dot data memory) 28.

An input device 10 and a printing device 12 are also connected to this bus 30, and the input device 10 inputs various data necessary for data processing such as character codes and character size data supplied from the outside. The printing device 12 prints the bitmap data output from the dot data memory 28 using a laser printing method.

The program memory 18 stores a control program for data conversion control, which will be described later, and various control programs. This data conversion control program includes a subroutine for reading out outline font data related to the input character code from the outline font memory 20, a scaling processing control subroutine for enlarging/reducing (scaling) the outline font data, and an outline font subjected to the scaling processing. A short vector processing subroutine that expands data into short vectors, a Bezier curve function subroutine that generates a Bezier curve function, a conversion processing subroutine that converts outline font data subjected to short vector processing into dot data, etc. are stored.

By the way, a large number of characters such as kanji, hirakana, and various symbols in the Mincho font are shown in Figure 3 (
a) "accent" indicated by the symbol pA; FIG. 3(b) "scales" indicated by the symbol pU; FIG. 3(c) "fude osae" indicated by the symbol pO; FIG. "Tome",
“Horn scales” are shown with symbol pK in Fig. 3(e), Fig. 3(f)
There are specific contour lines that are included as a part of a plurality of contour lines of many characters and have the same or similar shapes, such as a "splash" indicated by the code pH in .

Therefore, regarding these six types of specific contour lines (hereinafter referred to as specific contour segments), specific contour segment data that defines the shapes of these basic specific contour segments is separately stored, and these specific contour segment data are Based on this, it is possible to obtain modified specific contour segment data of a desired size and to synthesize this modified specific contour segment data with unique contour segment data representing the shape of a unique contour segment other than the specific contour segment.

Therefore, in the parts font memory 22,
The accent shown in FIG. 4(a), the scales shown in FIG. 5(a), the brush height shown in FIG. 6(a), the tome shown in FIG. 4(b),
For each of the six types of basic specific contour segments of the horn scales shown in FIG. 5(b) and the wings shown in FIG. 6(b), a type flag, basic specific contour segment data representing the shape of these basic specific contour segments, Dimension data representing the basic size is stored. This parts font memory 22 constitutes the specific outline storage means of the present invention.

As the type flags, the accent is flag A, the scale is flag U, the brush face is flag O, the tome is flag T, the square scale is flag K, and so on.
A flag H is stored in each wing in association with basic specific contour segment data.

[0023] As basic specific contour segment data,
A plurality of coordinate data defining basic specific contour segments are stored.

[0024] Also, the dimension data includes width (W) and height (
H) and length (L) are stored. However, Fig. 4(b)
As shown in Figure 5, only W and H are stored in the tome.
As shown in b), only H and L are stored in the horn scales.

[0025] The starting coordinate data of the basic specified contour segment is the origin (0, 0) of the xy coordinates, and each of the plurality of coordinate data following this starting coordinate data is a relative coordinate of the local coordinate system with the starting coordinate point as the origin. It is data.

Note that flag A, flag U, flag O, flag T, flag K, and flag H are referred to as type flags.

On the other hand, in the outline font memory 20, each of a large number of characters is divided into one or more specific outline segments and one or more other unique outline segments in association with the code number of the character. However, for a specific contour segment, its type flag and dimension data that defines the dimensions of its main specifications (W, H, L, etc.) are stored, and for a unique contour segment, the unique contour segment data that represents its shape is stored globally. Stored as absolute coordinate data in the coordinate system. This outline font memory 20 constitutes the character storage means of the present invention.

As shown in Table 1 below, this unique contour segment data includes start data, straight line data, Bezier curve (hereinafter simply referred to as curve) data, outline end data, and character end data regarding the unique contour segment. are stored respectively.

[0029]

[Table 1]

The start data consists of a start flag S and coordinate data of XY coordinates defining the starting point, the straight line data consists of a straight line flag L and coordinate data defining the end point of the straight line, and the curve data consists of a curve flag L. B and the first control point Q
It consists of the coordinate data of point 1, the coordinate data of second control point Q2, and the coordinate data of the end point, and the outline end data stores an outline end flag * that instructs the end of each outline, and the character end data stores the end point of each character. Character end flag indicating end! is stored.

Regarding the specific contour segment, flag A: accent, flag U: scale, flag O: brush height, flag T: tome, flag K: corner scale, flag H: splash type flag, and the specific contour segment. Dimension data (w, l, h) that defines the size of is stored.

That is, for accents, flags A and 3
The three dimension data (w, l, h) are stored in this order (see Figure 7(a)), and for the scales, the flag U and three dimension data (w, l, h) are stored in this order. (
(Refer to FIG. 8(a)), for the brush size, flag O and three dimension data (w, l, h) are stored in this order (
(See Fig. 9(a)), and for the tome, the flag T and two dimension data (w and h) are stored in this order (see Fig. 7(b)
), for the horn scales, a flag K and two dimension data (l and h) are stored in this order (see FIG. 8(b)), and for wings, a flag H and three dimension data (w
・l・h) are stored in this order (Figure 9(b)
reference).

For example, the outline data for the Mincho kanji "Iku" shown in FIG. 10 is composed of unique contour segment data and six types of specific contour segments such as scales, brush strokes, and accents, as shown in Tables 2a and 2b below. The data is stored in the outline font memory 20.

[0034]

[Table 2a]

[0035]

[Table 2b]

The text memory 24 stores text data (code string) supplied from the input device 10. The working memory 26 stores various calculation results processed by the CPU 16. Dot data memory 28
The converted dot data is stored in .

Next, FIGS. 11 to 16 show the data conversion control routine performed by the data conversion control device 14.
This will be explained based on the flowchart. In addition, the symbol Si in the figure
(i=10, 11, 12...) is each step.

When the code data stored in the text memory 24 is read out and the outline data of this code data is read out from the outline font memory 20 and stored in the working memory 26, this control (FIG. 11) is performed.
) is started, and first the first flag stored in the working memory 26 is read out (S10), and if this flag is included in the unique contour segment data (S11, S12, S13: No), the segment Data expansion processing control (see FIG. 12) is executed.

When this control is started and the flag just read out is "S" (S20: Yes), the start coordinate data is read out (S21) and enlarged to the specified size.
Transformation processing (scaling processing) such as reduction, rotation, and italic conversion is executed (S22), and the starting coordinate data after the scaling processing is stored in the working memory 26 (S23).
, returns to S10.

Further, when the read flag is "B" (S20: No, S24: Yes), the curve data, that is, the coordinate data of three sets of the first control point, the second control point, and the end point are read out (S25). ), scaling processing is executed (S26), the curve data after the scaling processing is developed into a plurality of short vectors (S27), and the modified outline data subjected to the short vector processing is stored in the working memory 26 (S23).

Further, when the read flag is "L" (S20/S24: No, S28: Yes), the coordinate data of the straight line is read (S29), the scaling process is executed (S30), and after the scaling process The linear coordinate data of is stored in the working memory 26 (S23)
.

[0042] Note that if the read flag is "S", "B",
If it is not "L" (S28: No), error processing is executed (S31) and this control is ended.

On the other hand, when the read flag is a type flag indicating a specific contour segment (S11/S1
2: No, S13: Yes), specific contour segment data conversion processing control (see FIGS. 13 to 15) is executed.

When this control is started and the flag just read out is "A" (S40: Yes), the dimension data (w, l, h) following the flag A are read out in sequence (S40: Yes).
41) Based on the flag A, basic specific outline segment data of the accent, that is, multiple coordinate data and three basic dimension data of W, L, and H are read out from the part font memory 22 (S42), and as follows. Enlarging/reducing processing is executed, and the modified specific outline segment data of the accent created by this processing is stored in the parts buffer of the working memory 26 (S43).

Therefore, flag 0←B p0x←P0X×l/L p0y←P0Y×h/H p1x←P1X×l/L p1y←P1Y×h/H p2x←P2X×l/L p2y←P2Y×h/ H Flag 1 ← L p3x ← P3 It may shift. Processing to correct the shift of the smooth point due to this calculation error is performed as follows.

In the case of an accent, since the starting point is a smooth point, the coordinate values (p0x, p0
y) is corrected.

In general, in order to smoothly connect a Bezier curve with a straight line connecting it, use the control point closest to it (the first control point if the connection is on the starting point side, the second control point if it is on the end point side).
It is sufficient to place the control points on the extension line of the straight line connecting them, and in order to smoothly connect Bezier curves, it is sufficient that adjacent control points be on a straight line.

[0048] This property is used to correct the smooth point. Since the accent always connects to the horizontal line, the coordinate value p0y only needs to be equal to the y coordinate of the starting point. Since this coordinate system is a relative coordinate system with the starting point of the specific contour segment as the origin, the coordinate data p0y of the modified specific contour segment data stored in the parts buffer is changed to p0y←0 (S44).

Next, since the accent consists of one curve data including flag B and one straight line data including flag L, "2" is set in counter C as the number of data (S45), and the unique contour In order to synthesize the specific contour segment data of this accent with the segment data, each coordinate data of the specific contour segment data which is a relative coordinate system is converted into absolute coordinate data which is an absolute coordinate system (S46).

That is, the start coordinate data of this accent is replaced with the final coordinate data of the outline data stored in the working memory 26 immediately before, and each coordinate data of the accent is changed by the amount of coordinate data that has been changed by the conversion of the start coordinate data. This is done by adding to .

Next, the segment data expansion process is repeated for the number of times of counter C (S47 to S49) for the modified specified contour segment data that has been expanded/reduced.
), return.

Further, when the read flag is "U" (S50: Yes), the dimensional data (w, l, h) following the flag U is read out in sequence (S51), and the flag U is read out sequentially (S51).
Based on this, the basic specific contour segment data of the scales and the three basic dimension data of W, L, and H are read out from the parts font memory 22 (S52), and the corrected and specified scales created by the following enlargement/reduction processing are read out. The contour segment data is stored in the parts buffer of the working memory 26 (S53).

[0053] Therefore, Flag 0←B p0x←P0X×l/L p0y←P0Y×h/H p1x←P1X×l/L p1y←P1Y×h/H p2x←P2X×l/L p2y←P2Y×h/H Flag 1←B p3x←P3X×l/L p3y←P3Y×h/H p4x←P4X×l/L p4y←P4Y×h/H p5x←P5X×l/L p5y←P5Y×h/H Flag 2←L p6x←P6X×l/L p6y←P6Y×h/H Flag 3←L p7x←P7X×l/L p7y←P7Y×h/H becomes.

[0054] The smooth point of the scales is the starting point and the coordinates (p2x
, p2y) and (p5x, p5y). Let these points be p2 and p5, respectively. Since both points are on the Bezier curve, correction is performed using the properties of the Bezier curve.

[0055] Since the scales always connect to the horizontal line, p0
It is corrected as y←0 (S54).

At point p2, point p2 and coordinates (p1x,
The contour lines can be smoothly connected by placing the three points p1 represented by p1y) and point p3 represented by (p3x, p3y) on a vertical line. Therefore, it is corrected as p2x←p1x p3x←0 (S54).

Point p5 is a point expressed by coordinates (p4x, p4y) (hereinafter referred to as point p4), and point p5 and coordinates (
p6x, p6y) (hereinafter this point will be referred to as point p6), but a calculation error may occur in this case as well. Also, if point p4 protrudes even slightly to the opposite side of the contour line with respect to the straight line connecting points p5 and p6, that is, to the right of the straight line in FIG. There is a tendency for the difference in level to be noticeable.

For the two reasons mentioned above, smooth points connected to oblique contour lines are corrected so that at least the control points do not go outside. Therefore, (p6y-p5y)/(p6x-p5x)≧(p5y-
p4y)/(p5x-p4x) holds.
(S54).

As described above, each data p0y, p2x, p3x, and p4y stored in the parts buffer is modified. Since the scales consist of two curved data and two straight line data, "4" is set in counter C as the number of data (S55), and after going through S46, it is enlarged and
Regarding the reduced modified specific outline segment data, the segment data expansion process is repeated the number of times of counter C (S47 to S49).

Further, when the read flag is "O" (S56: Yes), the dimensional data (w, l, h) following the flag O is read out in sequence (S57), and the flag O is read out sequentially (S57).
Based on this, the basic specific outline segment data and three basic dimension data of W, L, and H of the brush face are read out from the parts font memory 22 (S58), and the brush face created by the following enlargement/reduction processing is read out from the parts font memory 22. The modified specific outline segment data is stored in the parts buffer of the working memory 26 (S59).

Therefore, Flag 0←B p0x←P0X×l/(L-W) p0y←P0Y×h/H p1x←P1X×l/(L-W) p1y←P1Y×h/H p2x←P2X×l /(L-W) p2y←P2Y×h/H Flag 1←B p3x←P3X×l/L p3y←P3Y×h/H p4x←P4X×l/L p4y←P4Y×h/H p5x←P5X×l /L p5y←P5Y×h/H Flag 2←L p6x←P6X×l/L p6y←P6Y×h/H Next, the smooth points of the brush stroke are point p2 and point p5,
Since both points are on the Bezier curve, correction is performed using the properties of the Bezier curve. At point p2, point p
2. By placing the three points p1 and p3 on a vertical line, the contour lines can be smoothly connected. Therefore, the correction is made as p2x←p1x p3x←0 (S60).

[0062] The correction of point p5 is as in the case of scales, (
p6y-p5y)/(p6x-p5x)≧(p5y-p
p4y is corrected so that p4y)/(p5x-p4x) holds (S54).

As described above, each data p2x, p3x, and p4y stored in the parts buffer is modified. Since the writing brush consists of two curve data and one straight line data, "3" is the number of data in the counter C.
(S61), and after S46, the segment data development process is repeated for the modified specific contour segment data that has been enlarged or reduced by the number of times of counter C (S47 to S49).

Further, when the read flag is "T" (S62: Yes), the dimension data (w, h) following the flag T are read out in sequence (S63), and based on the flag T, the dimension data (w, h) are read out from the parts font memory 22. The basic specific contour segment data of the toe and the two basic dimension data of W and H are read out (S64), and the corrected specific contour segment data of the toe created by the next enlargement/reduction process is stored in the parts buffer ( S65).

Therefore, flag 0←B p0x←P0X×l/L p0y←P0Y×h/W p1x←P1X×l/L p1y←P1Y×h/W p2x←P2X×l/L p2y←P2Y×h/ W Flag 1←B p3x←P3X×l/L p3y←P3Y×h/W p4x←P4X×l/L p4y←P4Y×h/W p5x←P5X×l/L p5y←P5Y×h/W Next, The smooth point of the tome is also the starting point, point p2, just like the scales.
, point p5.

Since the starting point and point p5 are always connected to the vertical contour line, they are corrected to p0x←0 p5x←p4x (where p4x=w) (S66).

[0067] Also, at point p2, point p2 and point p1
By placing the three points, p3 and p3, on the horizontal line, the contour lines can be smoothly connected. Therefore, it is corrected as p2y←p1y p3y←0 (S66).

Since the tome consists of two curve data, "2" is set in the counter C as the data number (
After S67) and S46, the segment data expansion process is repeated for the number of times of counter C for the enlarged/reduced modified specific contour segment data (S47 to S4).
9).

Further, when the read flag is "K" (S68: Yes), the dimension data (l, h) following the flag K is read out in sequence (S69), and the part font memory 22 is read out based on the flag K. The basic specified contour segment data of the horn scales and the two basic dimension data of L and H are read out (S70), and the corrected specified contour segment data of the horn scales created by the next enlargement/reduction process is stored in the parts buffer. (S71).

Therefore, flag 0←B p0x←P0X×l/L p0y←P0Y×h/H p1x←P1X×l/L p1y←P1Y×h/H p2x←P2X×l/L p2y←P2Y×h/ H Flag 1←B p3x←P3X×l/L p3y←P3Y×h/H p4x←P4X×l/L p4y←P4Y×h/H p5x←P5X×l/L p5y←P5Y×h/H Flag 2← L p6x ← P6
2. Since the point is p5, p2x, p as in S60 above.
Each data of 3x and p4y is corrected (S72).

Since the square scales consist of two curve data and two straight line data, "4" is set in the counter C as the number of data (S73), and the corrected specific contour segment is expanded/reduced through S46. About the data
The segment data expansion process is repeated the number of times of counter C (S47 to S49).

Further, when the read flag is "H" (S74: Yes), the dimension data (w, l, h) following the flag H is read out in sequence (S75), and the flag H
Based on this, the basic specific contour segment data of the wing and the three basic dimension data of W, L, and H are read out from the parts font memory 22 (S76), and the modified specific contour of the wing created by the following enlargement/reduction process is read out. The segment data is stored in the parts buffer (S77).

Therefore, flag 0←B p0x←P0X×l/L p0y←P0Y×h/H p1x←P1X×l/L p1y←P1Y×h/H p2x←P2X×l/L p2y←P2Y×h/ H Flag 1←L p3x←P3X×l/L p3y←P3Y×h/H Flag 2←L p4x←P4X×l/L p4y←P4Y×h/H Flag 3←B p5x←P5X×l/L p5y← P5Y×h/H p6x←P6X×l/L p6y←P6Y×h/H p7x←P7X×l/L p7y←P7Y×h/H Flag 4←B p8x←P8X×l/L p8y←P8Y×h/ H p9x ← P9
10y) is the point p10.

Since the starting point and point p10 are always connected to the contour line in the vertical direction, p0x←0 p10x←p9x (however, p9x=w-(p2x+p3
x+p4x+p7x)) (S78).

Since the straight line connecting points p2 and p3 is a horizontal contour line, point p2 is corrected as p2y←p1y p3y←0 (S78).

Next, since the wing consists of three curved data and two straight line data, the number of data is "5".
is set in counter C (S79), and after S46,
The segment data development process is repeated for the number of times of counter C for the enlarged/reduced modified specific contour segment data (S47 to S49). Incidentally, when the determination is No in S74, error processing is executed (S80),
End this control.

When the read flag is "*" (S11: Yes), it means that the series of outline data has ended, and the process returns to S10 to read the next outline data.

On the other hand, when the read flag is "!" (S11: No, S12: Yes), all outline data has been completed, so the synthesized outline stored in the working memory 26 for the input character is The corrected outline data forming the entire line is converted into dot data, this dot data is stored in the dot data memory 28 (S16), and this control is ended.

The printing result of the laser printer using the above-described method has a uniform shape of a specific contour segment, that is, a portion common to each character, and the amount of data in the outline font memory can be reduced.

[0080] In the above embodiment, Mincho type kanji was taken as an example, and the accent, scale, brush-face, tome, corner scale, and hane were used as specific outline segments. It is also possible to create specific contour segments for other parts of the font, characteristic parts of other typefaces, serifs in European languages, etc.

[0081]Also, in the above embodiment, the specific outline shown in Fig. 3 of the Mincho typeface kanji to be segmented is taken up as the specific contour line, but the outline is not limited to this, and other characteristic features of the Mincho typeface may be used. It is conceivable to segment specific contours also for such parts.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the parts font memory, which is a specific outline storage means, and the outline font memory, which is a character storage means, are provided separately, but it is also possible to provide both memories in one ROM. .

Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to laser printers, but can be applied to other printers as well, and can also be applied to devices other than printers that need to restore outline data of characters such as letters and symbols to outlines. Generally applicable.

Various other applications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0085]

[Effect of the invention] As is clear from the detailed description above,
According to the present invention, even when using outline data generated from original characters that are manually created by a designer and have variations in the shape of specific contour portions, high-quality data with uniform shapes of specific contour portions can be obtained. It is possible to generate the shapes of characters such as letters and symbols.

Furthermore, by storing the data of a specific contour line only as its type data and size data, there is an advantage that the contour line can be restored using outline font data with a reduced capacity.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control system of a data conversion device for a laser printer.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating specific outline segments of Mincho-style kanji.

FIG. 4(a) is a diagram showing basic specific contour segment data and basic dimension data of an accent stored in a parts font memory. (b) It is a figure which shows the basic specific contour segment data and basic dimension data of a tome stored in the parts font memory.

FIG. 5(a) is a diagram showing basic specific contour segment data and basic dimension data of scales stored in a parts font memory. (b) It is a figure which shows the basic specific outline segment data and basic dimension data of a square scale stored in a parts font memory.

FIG. 6(a) is a diagram showing basic specific contour segment data and basic dimension data of a brush stroke stored in a parts font memory. (b) It is a figure which shows the basic specific contour segment data and basic dimension data of a wing stored in the parts font memory.

FIG. 7(a) is a diagram showing modified specific contour segment data created based on dimension data in which accents are specified. (b) It is a figure which shows the modified specific outline segment data created based on the dimension data in which the tome was specified.

FIG. 8(a) is a diagram showing modified specific contour segment data created based on dimension data specifying scales. (b) It is a figure which shows the modified specific outline segment data created based on the dimension data which specified the square scale.

FIG. 9(a) is a diagram showing corrected specific contour segment data created based on dimension data specifying a brush stroke. (b) It is a figure which shows the modified specific outline segment data created based on the dimension data which designated the wing.

FIG. 10 is a contour diagram of the Mincho-style kanji character “iku”.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a data conversion control routine.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a routine for controlling segment data expansion processing.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a specific contour segment data conversion processing control routine.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a specific contour segment data conversion processing control routine.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a specific contour segment data conversion processing control routine.

[Explanation of symbols]

16 CPU 18 Program memory 20 Outline font memory (character storage means)

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: Classifying a plurality of types of specific contour segments that are commonly included as a part of a plurality of contour lines in a large number of characters/symbols each consisting of one or more contour lines, and classifying these specific contour segments. a specific contour storage means storing specific contour segment data defining the shape of each character and its type data in association with each other; For the specific contour segment, dimension data and type data defining the dimensions of its main specifications are stored, and for the specific contour segment, unique contour segment data representing the shape is stored. a character storage means;
reading means for reading dimension data, type data, and unique contour segment data from the character storage means for a character designated by an external command; The corresponding specific contour segment data is read out, and based on the specific contour segment data and dimension data, the main specifications of the specific contour segment are specified by performing arithmetic processing to enlarge or reduce them to the dimensions specified by the dimension data. a first data modification means for creating first modified specific contour segment data representing the shape of the contour segment; a second data modification means for modifying the modified specific contour segment data to create second modified specific contour segment data; a second modification created by the unique contour segment data read by the reading means; and a second modification created by the second data modification means; 1. A contour data processing device comprising: data synthesis means for synthesizing contour data of the entire contour of the specified character using specified contour segment data.