DE3134281A1 - Method for displaying ideographic characters and comparable graphics - Google Patents

Abstract

For generating ideograms (or comparable graphics), design rules from operands which specify the graphical structure of character components for assembling the ideograms and from operators which contain instructions for a size- and position-related processing of the operands are provided. During the processing of a design rule, the operands are processed in accordance with the instruction of the associated operator to form in each case a modified operand, if necessary the modified operands are processed in accordance with the instruction of other operators in turn to form modified operands until only one operand exists which then exhibits the data for the complete ideogram. <IMAGE>

Description

Process for the representation of ideographic symbols and

Similar graphics -The invention relates to a method of im Preamble of claim 1 specified type for the representation of ideographic symbols, z. B. Chinese characters, and comparable graphics.

To machine character processing, such as character output by means of a writing device or a screen, to enable the data of the Characters can be contained in a character memory or character generator. For alphabetical Fonts, only a small amount of memory is required for this. However, the Memory footprint becomes a major problem when using ideographic fonts with your extensive character set are to be processed. In the case of the Chinese Scripture would mean that up to 50,000 ideograms - and even if limited about 10,000 ideograms left on the stock of the simplified Chinese telegraph code - would have to be stored in the character generator.

Added to this is the fact that the ideograms, which sometimes form complicated graphics - especially if representations are generated with high accuracy and resolution should - can only be represented by a large number of data bits.

To solve this problem, the article "Keyboard Method for Composing Chinese Characters "by E.F. Yhap in IBM J. RES. Develop., January 1975, Pages 60 to 67 describe a process whereby the ideographic symbols in Components are disassembled and stored, preferably of radicals are formed. Since the chosen components are basic building blocks for the ideographic Characters can be formed by a large reserve of characters with comparatively few stored ones Components should be included in a character generator designed in this way.

Calling up the ideograms via a keyboard is a complicated one Process that requires extensive training for the operator and during the Work requires a high level of concentration. It has to be for every ideographic one Character a large number of keys depending on its complexity, with which the individual components are gathered, their respective location within the area of the ideographic symbol and its respective scale. In order to make the correct expansion of an Egyptian ideographic sign controllable, is therefore even provided a one-character display on which the step-by-step Design can be tracked.

In contrast to the operation for the machine generation of ideograms To simplify, it has been proposed in EP-OS 0 009 662, the character components to be chosen in such a way that each ideogram consists of only two components of equal size in one direction can be put together. Two data sets should be saved, one of which one the components and the second location information for the components within the different ideograms. A playback command for a specific ideogram causes the two associated components from the first data set and the Location information can be taken from the second data set and the ideogram in one Character raster memory is composed.

The invention is based on the object of a method mentioned at the beginning Art to create a simple and fast device-internal functional sequence offers, low memory requirements and easy-to-use devices allowed to manufacture.

This object is achieved according to the invention by what is specified in claim 1 Features solved.

The advantages of the invention are in particular that due to the possibility of working through the design specifications in stages, only one low caching effort is required. Since each sub-operation uses the operands processed therein as well as the operator with a new, modified one Replaced operands, remains for the entire construction specification despite step-by-step processing receive the same processing principle, which means that the internal control process is also maintained can be designed very simply and ensures a fast functional sequence.

A further reduced memory requirement and an even shorter processing time result in an advantageous embodiment, according to which instead of as operands of the character element data only addresses are manipulated under which the data because the addresses have fewer digits than the complete ones Data and therefore require less storage space and shorter transmission times.

This processing sequence for the construction rules allows it, in a further advantageous embodiment in easy way to provide a stack memory as an intermediate memory in which the first stored Data to be removed last. The operands can then be set accordingly their sequence in the design specification in sequence The pending operator for processing can be found and the results store them in the stack again without any special control or addressing effort would be required.

Further advantages emerge from the following with reference to the figures illustrated embodiment of the invention.

They show: FIG. 1 the block diagram of a typewriter for Chinese Characters, Figure 2 two ideographic characters and their components, Figure 3 Variants of a character component, Figure 4 shows a construction specification for a ideographic symbol, Figure 5 the description of the structure of the design specification according to Figure 4 and Figure 6 is a flow chart.

In the simplified block diagram of Figure 1 is a typewriter for Chinese characters with those necessary for an understanding of the invention Function blocks shown. The characters are entered via a keyboard 1, whose Keypad in the number of keys and their arrangement one for European languages usual keypad corresponds. The key assignment with the one that can be displayed with the machine The character set is based on the Zhi code, according to which for every Chinese character (depending on the character) 1 to 4 buttons must be pressed. The generated thereby, respectively A keyboard signal representing a character is converted into the input code in an encoder 2 implemented for the character generator 3, for which the Chinese telegraph code is used will. The character generator 3 essentially has a control unit 4, a Function program of the character generator 3 containing program memory 5 and a Write / read data, memory 6 and is in this embodiment of a Microcomputer formed. The output signals of the character generator 3 are in a Writing unit control 7, which is also formed by a microcomputer, for the control of a dot matrix writing unit 8 evaluated, from which the entered Character is shown on a recording medium 9.

Each character is shown within a standard drawing area, the z. B. is formed from a dot matrix field of 24x24 points, of which the dots constituting the character to be output are recorded, respectively. A jet printer with 24 nozzles arranged in a row one below the other, in 24 horizontal steps Moved across the standard drawing area has proven to be particularly advantageous for this proven. Entered via the keyboard 1, which cannot be processed by the character generator 3 Signals are transmitted directly to the writing unit control 7 via another signal path 10 fed.

Instead of the writing unit control 7 and the writing unit 8 can a screen with associated control circuit is provided in a manner known per se or the typewriter can be equipped with a display device in addition to the typewriter be equipped for one or more characters.

The character generator 3 can be part of the writing unit control 7 so that their - also a data memory, a program memory and A control unit having a microcomputer performs the tasks of the character generator 3 takes over. In addition, there is also the possibility for the person skilled in the art to use the character generator 3 can be implemented using conventional circuit technology. Both the one on which this is based Zhi code and the Chinese telegraph code are not mandatory for the invention. Any code that can be used for any complete Characters of the character set with the keyboard a clear entry criterion can be generated - if necessary after appropriate conversion - by the character generator can be evaluated.

The characters of the character set that can be created with the typewriter are divided into character components. Character component data is in the program memory 5 of the character generator 3 is stored, according to which the character components can be recorded by the writing unit 8. The division of the characters into character components is made in such a way that the components appear in as many different characters as possible can be used, that is, from a relatively small supply of components can generate a considerably larger number of characters. Some components, for standing, also represent characters with an independent statement.

It is useful if the components, for. B. a large part of the radicals and variants as well as other character components appropriate for the purpose. The stored component data represent character components in a size corresponding to the largest embodiment in the character set.

To form complete characters, many components are not only used in the standard size but also in a smaller version required and must be within the respective standard drawing area can be arranged at a defined position. It it is therefore provided that the stored components are also available on a smaller scale are output in compressed form, with an indication of the location within the standard drawing area is taken into account. The location information can not only provide that the character components are next to or on top of each other, but also as a requirement are shown superimposed. This applies to both compressed components and also for those components that are small in relation to the standard drawing area and adopt different positions for different characters.

FIG. 2 shows the creation of two characters 11, 12 from three character components 13, 14, 15 illustrated. Compression is not required here, however component 15 is indicated by the corresponding position information in the two characters 11, 12 arranged at different locations.

The compression takes place in accordance with established rules, which are also are contained in the program memory 5. the Compression rules contain superimposition rules for the respective component to be compressed, after which selected parts of the component are shifted over one another. Included particular attention is paid to the fact that no essential graphic information are lost and there are no disproportionate line widths or drawing areas. In the case of the 24x24 dot matrix writing unit on which the present exemplary embodiment is based can reduce the compression by suppressing the horizontal stepping movement of the vertical row of nozzles at selected locations for horizontal compression and by suppressing the line-by-line advancement when controlling the Matrix rows are made at selected locations for vertical compression. But there are also other measures for compression, such as a reduced one horizontal step movement, conceivable. However, the suppression is expedient of step movements and line-by-line advancement not only in the writing unit control 7 is taken into account, but the control unit 4 of the character generator 3 is superimposed the signals of the component data already in such a way that the output data of the character generator 3 are compressed accordingly.

This superimposition process also takes account of different compression scales possible, so that the character components can be output for different characters in different sizes. at the underlying 24x24 point writing unit could be the horizontal and / or vertical Compression takes place in 1/24 increments of the standard drawing area.

To demonstrate the character compression are in Figure 3 - starting from the standard size (Figure 3A) to that of the uncompressed stored form corresponds - various compressed versions shown: on 2/3 horizontally compressed (Figure 3B), compressed to 1/2 vertically (Figure 3C), to 1/2 horizontally and 1/2 compressed vertically (Figure D), compressed to 1/3 vertically and 2/3 horizontally (Figure 3E) and compressed to 1/3 horizontally and 2/3 vertically (Figure 3F).

For the construction of the characters the character set is for each Character a design rule 32, 33 (Fig. 4) is provided in a table 5B is stored in the program memory 5 of the character generator 3. Actuation of one up to four keys on keyboard 1 addressing a character call up the associated design specification 32, 33, the processing of which is then carried out by the control unit 4 is controlled. As can be seen from FIG. 4, the construction regulations exist 32, 33 from several different elements 16-31, each from one Initial information 16, 24 and an end criterion 17, 31, one of the degree of complexity number of operands 18-21 depending on the character to be formed; 25, 27, 28 and operators 22, 23; 26, 29, 39 include.

As operands 18 to 21; 25, 27, 28 are the dates of a Understood construction regulation 32, 33, the graphical structure of the drawing components specify as operators 22, 23; 26, 29, 30 those dates, the location information and / or Include compression information. In a broader sense, an operand 18 can also from another Design specification 33 are formed, whereby a character described by this other design specification 33 to a Component of the character according to the first design rule 32 is. To this Art, even more extensive nesting is easily possible by z. Legs Another construction rule used as an operand is itself a third construction rule contains as an operand, etc.

To the size of the design specification 32, 33 and thus the need It is also intended to further limit storage space as operands do not specify the component data in the design specifications 32, 33, but Use addresses under which the component data in a table 5A in the program memory 5 of the character generator 3 are stored.

Since the characters of the character set have different degrees of complexity have, there are also several different ones with regard to the construction regulations Lengths with different successions of the various elements 16 to 31, i.e. construction regulations of different structure.

The construction regulations are according to their respective type of structure classified, and for each type of structure there is a structure description in another Table 5C contained in the program memory 5 of the character generator 3. The construction rules 32, 33 preceding initial information 16, 24 are formed by an address, under which the relevant structure description is stored. A structure description contains information about what type of data it is in each case at the successive elements of the design specification is an operand, an operator or an end criterion. Depending on the type and scope of the provided character set and the processing sequence in the control unit 4 of the character generator 3 can also contain further information in the structure description be included. It is Z. B. possible operands that share certain characteristics and operators that sometimes trigger the same control effects in the evaluation, divide them into groups accordingly, these groups as different elements to be taken into account in the design specification and through your own information in the To identify the structure description.

If necessary, other information can also be included in the structure description be included. According to the information in the structure description, the Data in the successive elements of a design specification during the processing of which is handled and evaluated by the control unit 4.

The one that applies to the design specification 32 shown in FIG Structure description, the address of which is the initial information in the first element 16 of the design specification 32 is shown in FIG. In here is recognizable for the control unit 4 of the character generator 3 from the first digit 34, that the first element 18 of the design specification 32 to be processed is a different one Construction regulation 33 concerns (element type KV), from the next three digits 35, 36, 37 that the second, third and fourth elements 19, 20, 21 character components concerns (element type KP), from positions 38 and 39, that the fifth and sixth Element 22, 23 of construction rule 32 each relates to an operator (element type OP) and from the last digit 40 that now in the design specification 32 the end criterion follows as the last element 17 (element type EK).

Instead of an address in the initial information in the manner described to provide a design specification based on a structure description in a Structure description table 5C indicates, the structure description can of course also even be provided as initial information in the design specification. Even the information does not necessarily have to be placed at the beginning of a design specification be.

The following is the internal process for creating an ideographic Character described with reference to the flow chart of FIG.

After entering an ideographic symbol by pressing 1 Up to 4 keys of the keyboard 1 designed according to the Zhi code become the key signals converted into the Chinese telegraph code in the encoder 2 (41). The one to the sign The corresponding design specification is shown in Table 5B of the design specification taken from the program memory 5 (42), and according to the structure address in the beginning information becomes the structural description applicable to the design specification taken from the structure description table 5C in the program memory 5 (43, 44). the Control unit 4 now has the key for evaluating the following Elements of the design specification. A counter in the control unit 4 is with a "1" is loaded (45) to indicate that the first element is pending processing.

If the subsequent query (46) whether the first element is a Represents the address for a character component, affirmed, so be the data of the associated component of the component table 5A in the program memory 5 removed and stored in a stack memory 6A (47), which is from part of the Data memory 6 is formed and controlled on the principle that the first entered Data to be taken last. This is the first element of the design specification processed, the counter is increased by one digit (48) and the next element is checked.

If a query (50) results, that the next pending element represents an operator, the operands stored in the stack memory 6A become read out (51) and processed according to the instructions of the operator (52). The processing result, a modified one, possibly composed of several character components Character component is stored as an operand in the stack! (53). The operator can possibly also contain information about how many are in the stack 6A stored operands are to be taken for processing.

The counter is increased again by ii "1" (48), and the next one Element of the design specification is checked.

If a query (49) results that it is the address of another Is a design specification, this result is provided by the control unit 4 interpreted at the same time as a command for processing the other design rule. It is processed in the manner described here (54), the data from it The resulting characters are stored as an operand in the stack due to their last operation 6A is filed, its end criterion becomes the higher-level design rule as a return command interpreted, and the counter is incremented again (48).

If all three queries 46, 49, 50 are answered, it is an end criterion for the underlying element of the design specification (55). This completes the processing of the design specification, and the data in the stack memory 6A that make up the complete ideographic character can be output to the writing unit control 7.

From the procedures described it can be seen that operands can use both from individual character components as well as from previous operations modified or composed of several components can be formed, which are then processed further according to further operators can.

When creating the ideographic on which FIG. 4 is based Thus, the first operand 18 of the construction rule 32 represents an instruction for processing the other construction rule 33, and the operand 25 becomes stored in the stack memory 6A. Operator 26 causes the operand to be removed 25 from stack 6A, compress vertically up to 1/3 and again Storage in the stack memory 6A. Operands 27 and 28 are subsequently placed on the stack 6A filed, the operator 29 causes their removal, vertical compression on 1/2, arrangement one above the other and storage in the stack memory 6A. Operator 30 causes it Removal of the two now stored operands, vertical compression of the first removed operands to 2/3 down, arrangement of both operands one above the other and saving again. The end criterion 31 causes a return to the higher-level Design specification 32.

Here the operands 19, 20 and 21 are read into the stack memory 6A, the operator 22 causes the removal of the three as soon as it is due to be processed Operands 19, 20, 21, vertical compression to 1/3 and arrangement on top of each other as well Save the result. There are now the data from two compressed Components of composite character components as operands in the stack 6A.

The last operator 23 causes their removal, horizontal compression both operands on 1/2, arrangement next to one another and storage in the stack memory 6A. The last following end criterion 17 brings about the termination of the operations.

The stored data represent the finished ideographic symbol and can be transferred to the writing unit control 7.

Although in the processes described above, the data of the operands are stored in the stack memory 6A, it is of course also possible, only To save addresses under which the character components, modified components, composite components and finished characters elsewhere in the data store 6 are stored.

The control unit 4 must then be designed so that after removal an address retrieves the assigned data from the data memory 6 and after them Processing allocates a memory location with a new address.

Without deviating from the basic idea of the invention, can also use other ideographic fonts instead of the Chinese in the one described Process in the same way as other graphic representations are created permit.

The output of the ideographic characters or graphics can, for example can also be done using vectors instead of point matrices. The same could also be the complexity of the stored character components except for simple strokes different shape and inclination be reduced.

Claims (7)

Claims: Method for displaying ideographic, z. B. Chinese characters or comparable graphics from character components by writing or on a screen, with a character generator, in which the character components for creating the characters of a given character set and instructions for processing the character components into full characters are included, that is, that for each character a construction rule made up of operands that define the graphic structure of the character components and from operators assigned to one or more operands, which contain instructions for size and position processing of the operands, it is provided that when processing a design specification according to the instructions of the operators the operands assigned to each operator for one at a time modified operands are processed, if necessary. The modified operands modified according to the instructions of one or more other operators Operands are processed, and that the last operand of the processing sequence has the data for the full character. 2. The method according to claim 1, d a d u r c h g e -k e n n z e i c h n e t that addresses are arranged as operands in the construction specification, among which the graphical structure of the character components specifying Data are stored in a table and that when processing a design specification the addressed data of the character components for processing according to the Instructions of the assigned operators are read from the table. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that as operands in the construction specification addresses for a second design rule are provided, which are processed after being called and the resulting character data according to the instructions of the assigned operator of the first design rule can be further processed. 4. The method of claim 1, 2 or 3, d a d u r c h g e k e n n indicates that the operand or operands to be processed according to an operator are arranged in front of the associated operator in the design specification. 5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, d a d u r c h -g e k e nnnnnze i n e t that the operator is responsible for processing the modified Operands for the last operand containing the data for the full character is arranged as the last of the operators in the construction specification. 6. The method according to claim 4 or 5, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z egg c h n e t that a stack memory is provided in which, when processing a Construction specification Operands are stored until a Operator in the construction specification occurs that after each operator the assigned Operands are read from the stack and modified according to the operator Operands are processed that the modified operands on the stack and that the processing result of the last operator of the Construction specification forms the data of the finished character. 7. The method according to claim 6, d a d u r c h g e -k e n n z e i c h n e t that addresses are stored as operands in the stack, under which the data indicating the graphic structure of the character components are in a table are stored that after the occurrence of an operator the assigned Read addresses from the stack and those stored under the addresses Data can be taken from the table, after processing the result under a stored new address in a data memory and the new address in the stack memory is saved.