JP2002366134A - Device and program for handwriting character font generation - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a font generating device which can easily generate a font of characters written by a user oneself and easily add a handwritten character to the font afterward at need. SOLUTION: This device is equipped with an additional character storage means which stores the character code of the character to be added, a character constitution component storage means which stores a correspondence table of character codes and constitution components constituting characters, a registered character storage means which stores a correspondence table of the character codes of characters registered in a handwriting character font and constitution components constituting the characters, a registered character image storage means which stores character image data of the characters registered in the handwriting font, an additional character entry form image generating means which generates an entry frame where the additional character is entered and a standard character font as image data of a character entry form, an identical constitution component character retrieving means which obtains a character code having been registered by obtaining constitution components of a character, and an identical constitution component character image composing means which obtains the character image having been registered and arranges it nearby the entry frame of the character entry form.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for creating a font used in a word processor or a printer, and more particularly to a technique for creating a font for handwritten characters.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of personal computers, it has become easy to create text such as postcards and letters using word processing software installed in the personal computer and print it using a printer or the like connected to the personal computer. ,And,
It is becoming widely used.

An advantage of using a word processor to create a sentence is that it can be easily rewritten many times, so that it can be edited freely. Here, "editing" means adding, deleting, or changing words in a sentence, or changing the order of sentences or paragraphs.

Prior to the widespread use of such word processors, sentences were written directly on paper by handwriting. In that case, it was necessary to go through a process such as drafting, proofreading, and clean copy.

On the other hand, in the case of using a word processor, if a draft manuscript created by an editing function is proofread, it becomes a fine copy as it is.

[0006] As described above, once the benefits are obtained by using a word processor, the task of creating a text by writing characters directly on paper is very troublesome. Therefore, as described above, the text to be written in a postcard or a letter has also been created using a word processor.

Usually, a sentence created by using word processing software installed in a personal computer is converted into a raster image (bitmap image) using a digital font installed in the personal computer, and is converted into a bitmap image. Is output to a printing device such as a laser beam printer or an ink jet printer that prints the image.

[0008] There are many types of digital fonts, which are used depending on the type of sentence. Standard Japanese fonts such as "Mincho" and "Gothic" are widely used.

[0009]

However, the characters output by the standard character font as described above are beautiful, but do not reflect the personality of the writer. Postcards and letters are a medium for transmitting information from the writer to the reader.Some people have a cold view that if the information itself has personality, it can achieve its purpose, but on the other hand, writing with the handwriting Many people feel that their hearts are filled with their hearts, and those who feel that they are grateful to receive things written with handwriting, such sensibility can not be explained by reason.

[0010] If there is a means for outputting a sentence created using a word processor with its own handwritten characters, the sentence can be output with a heartfelt handwritten character while enjoying the convenience of the free editing function which is an advantage of the word processor. Yes, but no such mechanism is provided at this time.

The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and easily creates a font using a user's own handwritten character, and easily adds the handwritten character to the font later if necessary. It is an object of the present invention to provide a handwritten character font creation device and a handwritten character font creation program that can perform the method.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, the present invention creates and outputs a character entry sheet for entering handwritten characters corresponding to a specific number of different character codes according to individual uses. A handwritten character font creating apparatus for reading the character entry sheet on which a handwritten character has been entered by a user and creating a handwritten character font composed of handwritten characters from the obtained image, and (1) additionally registering Additional character storage means for storing a character code of a character,
(2) character component storage means for storing a correspondence table between character codes and components constituting the characters; and (3) character codes of characters registered in the handwritten character font and components constituting the characters. Registered character storage means for storing a correspondence table between the character data, (4) registered character image storage means for storing character image data of characters registered in the handwritten character font, and (5) stored in the additional character storage means. An additional character entry sheet image creating means for creating, as image data of a character entry sheet, an entry frame for writing an additional character by hand and a character of a standard character font corresponding to the character code, 6) For the additional character stored in the additional character storage means, using the character code of the character as a key, the character code stored in the character component storage means Gets the components, the same components character search means for obtaining from said registered character storage means a registered character code based on the acquired component, (7)
A registered character image corresponding to the registered character code obtained by the same component character search means is obtained from the registered character image storage means, and the obtained registered character image is obtained by the additional character entry sheet image creating means. And a character image synthesizing means for arranging the same components in the vicinity of the entry frame of the character on the character entry sheet created by the company.

[0013] Here, "character" refers to a language in which a language is symbolized for each section by a combination of dots and lines in order to visually represent words. "Font" is made of the same typeface. A set of "characters".

"Font character" refers to a character that is symbolized in one section of "font", and corresponds to one "character" constituting "font".

"Character code" refers to a set of unique codes assigned to characters and symbols in order to handle characters and symbols on a computer. For example, a character code set for handling Japanese characters Is Shift JIS (Shifted
Japanese Industrial Standard) and Japanese EUC (Exte
nded Unix Code), and usually two bytes represent one character. There are also character code sets for handling Korean and Chinese (Chinese).

The "handwritten character font" refers to a character which is regarded as the same typeface as a character handwritten by a user. The "font data" is a data obtained by converting a "font" into a file. The map format or the vector format including a set of equations such as a Bezier curve and a spline curve may be used. In order to reproduce the handwriting feeling more faithfully, a bitmap format having a monochrome gradation or a bitmap format having a color gradation may be used.

The "standard character font" refers to a character font that is not handwritten by the user, such as Mincho, Gothic, and brush.

A "component" is a part constituting a character. For example, a character "window" is a cap, "mu"
It is composed of three parts, “heart”. As the components of one character, all of the above three components may be stored in the character components storage means, or only the cap, which is the radical of the character, may be stored in the character components storage means. May be. If all three parts are stored in the character component storage means, the probability that the same component character image combining means finds a registered character having the same component as the additional character is higher.

According to this feature, from the characters already registered in the handwritten character font, the image data of the character composed of the same components as the character to be added is extracted, and the image data is used as a sample for character writing. Since it is arranged near the entry frame in the paper, the user can write additional characters by hand while looking at the sample characters. Therefore, the user can adjust the shape and size of the character to be added so that the font is the same as that of the already registered character.

In the handwritten character font creating apparatus according to the present invention, the correspondence table stored by the character component storage means and the correspondence table stored by the registered character storage means include a radical code constituting a character. Having the same component part information as the component part information, the same component part character search unit acquires a registered character having the same radical code as the radical code constituting the character to be added from the registered character storage unit. Features.

According to this feature, by using a radical code as information of a component for extracting a registered character serving as a sample, it is possible to accurately extract an existing character similar to the characteristic of an additional character. it can.

In the handwritten character font creating apparatus according to the present invention, the correspondence table stored by the character component storage means and the correspondence table stored by the registered character storage means include a radical code constituting a character. A registration having the stroke number of the character and the characteristic data of the radical as information of the component, wherein the same component character search means has a radical code identical to the radical code constituting the character to be added. The registered characters are searched from the registered character storage means, registered characters having the same characteristic data are narrowed down from the search, and the narrowed-down characters are selected from the narrowed-down ones.

Here, the "characteristic of radical" includes a characteristic relating to the position of the radical in the character.

According to this feature, the feature of the additional character is similar to the feature of the additional character by using the feature of the radical and the stroke number of the character in addition to the radical code as the information of the component for extracting the registered character as a sample. Existing characters can be accurately extracted. In addition to searching for a combination of the radical code and the number of strokes of the character and the characteristic data of the radical as component information, the combination of the radical code and the characteristic data of the radical, the radical code and the number of strokes of the character, The search by the combination of is also possible.

Further, in the handwritten character font creating apparatus according to the present invention, the additional character entry sheet image creating means may include at least two or more entry frames for each additional character and a handwritten character that has been miswritten for each entry frame. A check frame for cancellation in which a user enters a mark for cancellation is created as image data of the character entry sheet.

According to this feature, when the user fails to write an additional character by handwriting, the user can mark a check box for canceling the character and re-enter it in another input frame. . Therefore, it is possible to omit the trouble of re-outputting the character entry sheet for the miswritten character, and to improve the efficiency of the registration work of the handwritten character font.

[0027]

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional block configuration of the handwritten character font creating device 1 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is an example of a specific device configuration. As shown, a handwritten character font creation device 1
Is an image scanner 5 as character entry paper input means, a printer 20 as character entry paper output means,
The personal computer main body 10 includes a font data creating unit 11, a character entry sheet image creating unit (new) 12, a character image data extracting unit 13, an additional character storage unit 14, and a character component storage. Means 15, a registered character storage means 16, a registered character image storage means 17, a character entry paper image creation means (additional part) 18, an identical component character image synthesis means 19, and the like.

The configuration of the handwritten character font creation device 1 according to the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the configuration may be such that the above devices are integrated to form the handwritten character font creation device 1. Or the printer 20 is connected via a network line (not shown)
It may be configured to be connected to the personal computer 10.

The character entry sheet image creating means 12 is a character entry sheet 30a on which the user himself / herself writes letters corresponding to a specific number of character codes according to the user's personal use.
Create image data for outputting.

Printer 20 as character entry paper output means
Prints the image data created by the character entry sheet image creation means 12 as a character entry sheet 30a.

The image scanner 5, which is a character entry sheet input means, reads a character entry sheet 30b on which a user's own handwritten characters have been entered, and inputs it as image data.

The character image data extracting means 13 extracts a handwritten character image corresponding to the character code from the image data input by the image scanner 5. Alternatively, from the image data input by the image scanner 5,
A handwritten character image instructed by the user to be canceled is extracted as a canceled character.

The font data creating means 11 creates the handwritten character image extracted by the character image data extracting means 13 as a font character corresponding to the character code.

The correspondence table between the character codes of the font characters created by the font data creating means 11 and the components constituting the characters is stored in the registered character database (registered character DB) 23 of the user by the registered character storage means 16. Then, the created character image of the font character is stored in the registered character image file 24 by the registered character image storage unit 17. Note that the font characters stored here may store a number of character codes corresponding to the purpose of use and purpose of each user. For example, if it is used for writing postcards or letters, in addition to the 1006 learning kanji, hiragana, katakana, and alphanumeric characters specified in the elementary school curriculum guidelines, use it for greetings of the weather, etc. Sufficient kanji is enough. In addition, if the elementary school teacher uses it for the purpose of creating teaching materials for students, it is sufficient if the learning kanji corresponding to the grade of the homeroom class is covered.

Based on the registered character database (registered character DB) 23 of the user, the user can determine which character is registered as a handwritten character font or remains unregistered due to writing mistake. You can know.

The additional character storage means 14 is inputted via the input means 6 such as a keyboard and the recording medium 7 such as a magnetic recording medium or an optical recording medium, and the cancellation character extracted by the character image data extracting means 13. The additional character is stored in the additional character file 21.

The character component storage means 15 stores a correspondence table between the character codes and the components constituting the character in a character component file (dictionary file) 22.

Character entry paper image creation means (additional) 18
Creates, for the additional characters stored in the additional character storage means 14, an entry frame to be entered by hand and a font character of a standard character font corresponding to the character code as image data of a character entry sheet.

The identical component character image synthesizing means 19 acquires the component of the character code stored in the character component storage means 15 and stores the registered character code based on the acquired component in the registered character code. The registered character image corresponding to the acquired registered character code is acquired from the registered character image storage unit 17, and the acquired registered character image is created by the additional character entry sheet image creating unit 18. It is arranged so that it is written in the vicinity of the character entry frame of the written character entry form.

The personal computer 10 is equipped with a handwritten character font creation program for controlling the above-described units in accordance with the processing procedures of the flowcharts exemplified below.
(Not shown) performs a series of processing controls of the handwritten character font creation device 1 in accordance with the procedure specified in this program.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a schematic process for creating and registering a handwritten character font.

First, the character entry sheet image creation means 12
Then, image data for outputting the character entry sheet 30a is created, and the created image data is printed and output on the character entry sheet 30a by a printer (Step 01).

FIG. 1 shows an example of the layout of the character entry sheet 30a.
3 is shown. In the example shown in FIG. 13, m lines 33a to 33m are secured on one character entry sheet 30a.
In one line, character entry frames 36a to 36n are arranged so that n font characters can be entered. The output number of character entry sheets 30a created here changes according to the number of font characters required for each user, that is, the number of font characters created by the font data creation means 11, and the number of pages displayed. The page number is output in the column 32.

A bar code 31 for identifying the page of the sheet is printed on the character entry sheet 30a.
Characters 34a to 34n to be entered are arranged in standard fonts in the vicinity of character entry boxes 36a to 36n each formed by a thick line frame where the user himself / herself writes characters. Therefore, the user can use the characters 34a to 34
The characters may be filled in the character entry frames 36a to 36n with the handwriting while watching n.

Further, cancel check boxes 35a to 35n are arranged in the vicinity of them, and
When the characters to be entered in 6a to 36n are missed, the user puts a mark (for example, a check mark, a fill in the frame, etc.) on the cancel check frames 35a to 35n.

Here, "missing writing" means, for example, that the kanji is miswritten, that the number of horizontal lines constituting the side of the kanji is three, and that the number is four, that The entry error due to various factors, such as the inability to place the side.

The writing implement used for writing is not particularly limited, and any commonly used writing implement such as a fountain pen, a ball-point pen, and a brush can be used.

Returning to FIG. 3 again, the user writes characters by hand on the character entry sheet 30a printed and output by the printer, and sets the completed character entry sheet 30b on the image scanner 5 (Step 02). .

The image scanner 5 reads the character entry sheet 30b on which the handwritten characters have been entered, and inputs it as image data (Step 03).

The character image data extracting means 13 checks whether or not each character of the input image data is marked with a check box 35 for cancellation, and if the mark is added, cancels the character. The character is stored in the additional character storage unit 14 as a character. Conversely, for characters that are not marked in the check boxes for cancellation 35a to 35n, character images are cut out from the character entry boxes 36a to 36n (Step 04).

The font data creating means 11 creates font character data corresponding to the character code based on the cut-out character image. Font data creation means 11
The correspondence table between the character codes of the font characters and the constituent parts constituting the characters of the character codes created in step (1) is stored in the registered character database (registered character DB) 23 of the user by the registered character storage means 16 and is created. The character image of the font character is stored in the registered character image file 24 by the registered character image storage means 17 (Step 05 to Step 06).

Through the above-described processes, a digital font composed of characters handwritten by the user can be created.

However, after the handwriting font has been created by the above processing, there may be a case where it is desired to add more characters.

First, there is a case where a character is missed when a character is entered on the character entry sheet 30a. As already explained,
The character entry sheet 30a is provided with check boxes for cancellation 35a to 35n for canceling the missed characters. When the characters to be entered in the character entry frames 36a to 36n are missed, the user can check the cancellation check boxes 35a to 35n.
a to 35n are marked.

Second, there is a case where it is desired to add a character other than the character originally registered and used to the user's handwritten character font. For example, if the user is a teacher and the child learns the language of the child and learns kanji outside the range of the character set originally registered, the teacher adds the kanji that the child has newly learned to his or her handwritten character font. You will want to do it. In addition, because teachers have created their own handwriting fonts, they will want to use them in documents distributed to their parents as well as their students. In that case, for example, it is necessary to expand the range of educational kanji initially registered to the range of common kanji and add characters.

However, when the user first writes characters in the character entry boxes 36a to 36n of the character entry sheet 30a in order to create a handwritten character font,
There is a temporal gap between the time when characters are written in the character entry frames 36a to 36n of the character entry sheet 30a in order to add characters to the handwritten character font. Therefore, it is very difficult to write the initial handwritten character and the later handwritten character in the same typeface.
If you are a professional calligrapher, such as "do not choose Kobo brush", you may be able to write characters in a stable and constant typeface over time. However, it is difficult for ordinary people to write letters in a fixed order and shape and size beyond the opening of time. For example, the typeface may change depending on the physical condition and mood of the day, or the same character may be written in various typefaces even when writing a single letter of stationery.

In the present embodiment, even when a new character is added to one's own handwritten character font at a later time, a process in which the character can be entered in the same typeface as that previously entered on the character entry sheet 30a. The procedure will be described.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a series of processing procedures including an additional processing for adding a new character to a registered handwritten character font.

First, the type of processing is selected by the user. FIG. 14 shows a process selection menu screen 40 displayed on a display unit (not shown) of the handwritten font creation device.
2 shows a layout example. Process selection menu screen 4
To 0, a print instruction button 41 and a read instruction button 42 for a new character entry sheet, a print instruction button 43 and a read instruction button 44 for a character entry sheet for an additional entry, and a cancel to cancel the process Buttons 45 and the like are arranged. The following processing is performed according to the button selected by the user on the processing selection menu screen 40.

First, a processing procedure for newly registering a digital font composed of handwritten characters by the user will be described in detail.

First, the user selects a print instruction button 41 for a new character entry sheet.

On the other hand, it is determined whether the process of the selected button is a process of reading the completed character entry sheet 30b or a process of printing the character entry sheet 30a (Step 1).
1). Here, it is determined that the printing process is performed.

Next, it is determined whether the process is a printing process of a new character entry sheet or a printing process of an additional character entry sheet (Step 12). Here, it is determined that the printing process is for printing a new character entry sheet.

Subsequently, the basic character set 25 is read (Step 13), the character entry sheet image creation means 12 creates a newly registered character entry sheet 30a (Step 14), and it is printed by the printer 20 (Step 13). Step15).

In this way, the character entry sheet 30a for the character to be newly registered is created, and then the character is entered by the user (Step 02 in FIG. 3).

When the user prepares the character entry sheet 30b in which the characters have been entered, the user then selects a read instruction button 42 for a new character entry sheet on the process selection menu screen 40. . Therefore, Step11
Is determined to be a process of reading the completed character entry sheet 30b.

Next, it is determined whether the process is a process of reading a new character entry sheet or a process of reading an additional character entry sheet (Step 30).

As a result of the determination in Step 30, it is determined that the processing is for reading a new character entry sheet. Next, the completed character entry sheet 30b is read by the image scanner 5 (Step 41). The character image data extraction means 13 cuts out a character image from the character entry frames 36a to 36n of the read completed character entry form 30b (Step 42). At this time, the characters marked in the check boxes for cancellation 35a to 35n are written in the additional character file 21 as cancel characters.

Then, based on the extracted character image,
Create as a font character corresponding to the character code. A correspondence table between the character codes of the font characters created by the font data creating means 11 and the components constituting the characters is created in the registered character database (registered character DB) 23 of the new user by the registered character storage means 16. The stored and created character image of the font character is created and stored in the new registered character image file 24 by the registered character image storage means 17 (Step 43). Thereafter, the process proceeds to the font data conversion process (Step 06 in FIG. 3).

According to the above-described processing procedure, a digital font consisting of characters handwritten by the user is newly registered.

Next, a processing procedure for adding a character composed of a handwritten character by the user to an existing digital font will be described in detail.

First, the user selects a print instruction button 43 for additional character entry paper.

On the other hand, it is determined whether the process of the selected button is a process of reading the completed character entry sheet 30b or a process of printing the character entry sheet 30a. Here, it is determined that the printing process is performed (Step 11).

Next, it is determined whether the printing process is for printing additional character entry paper or additional character writing paper. Here, it is determined that the printing process is for additional character writing paper. (Step 12).

Next, additional characters are input via the input means 6 such as a keyboard or the recording medium 7 such as a magnetic recording medium or an optical recording medium, and stored in the additional character file 21 (Step 21).

Then, for the additional characters stored in the additional character file 21, the registered character storage means 16 stores the information of the characters (correspondence between the character codes and the components constituting the characters of the character codes) of the user. It is added to the registered character database (registered character DB) 23 (Step 22).

Next, the same component character image synthesizing means 19
Obtains the component of the character code stored in the character component storage means 15 and obtains the registered character code from the registered character storage means 16 based on the obtained component.
A registered character image corresponding to the acquired registered character code is acquired from the registered character image storage unit 17 (Step
twenty three).

Then, the same constituent part character image synthesizing means 1
No. 9, the acquired registered character image is arranged so as to be written in the vicinity of the character entry boxes 36a to 36n of the additional character entry sheet 30a created by the additional character entry sheet image creation means 18 (additional part) (Step 24). ).

Then, the additional character entry sheet 30a is printed by the printer 20 (Step 25).

In this way, the character entry sheet 30a for the character to be additionally registered is created, and then the character is entered by the user (Step 02 in FIG. 3).

When the user prepares the character entry sheet 30b in which the characters have been entered, the user then selects the read instruction button 44 for the additional character entry sheet on the process selection menu screen 40. . Therefore, Step11
Is determined to be a reading process.

Next, it is determined whether the process is a process for reading a new character entry sheet or a process for reading an additional character entry sheet (Step 30).

As a result of the determination in Step 30, it is determined that the additional character entry paper is to be read. Then, the completed character entry paper 30b is read by the image scanner 5 (Step 31). The character image data extracting means 13 cuts out a character image from the character entry frames 36a to 36n on the read completed character entry form 30b (Step 32). At this time, the characters marked in the check boxes for cancellation 35a to 35n are written in the additional character file 21 as cancel characters.

Then, based on the extracted character image,
Create as a font character corresponding to the character code. The correspondence table between the character codes of the font characters created by the font data creation means 11 and the components constituting the characters is updated and stored in the registered character database (registered character DB) 23 of the user by the registered character storage means 16. Then, the created character image of the font character is updated and stored in the registered character image file 24 by the registered character image storage means 17 (Step 33). Then, the font data conversion process (FIG. 3)
Move to Step06).

According to the above-described processing procedure, a digital font consisting of characters handwritten by the user is newly registered.

FIG. 5 shows the structure of each database and the corresponding relationship.

Character component file (dictionary file) 2
6, one record is composed of items such as a character, a character code, a radical code, the number of strokes other than the radical, a radical feature, and the like, and expresses one character.

Here, the "radical feature" means that even characters having the same radical are grouped according to the arrangement position of the radical and an example thereof is shown in FIG. Show. For example, for a character having a radical "tree (radical code = 75)", the characteristics of the arrangement position of the radical can be classified into the following four types.

(1) Located at the “left” of the character (radical feature = 1) (eg, “village”, “matsu”, “plate”, “sheet”, “lin”, etc.) (2) “lower” of the character (Radical feature = 2) (for example, “article”, “Sakae”, “draft”, etc.) (3) Located at the “upper” of the character (radical feature = 3) (for example, “check”, etc.) (4) Located in the “inside” of the character (radical feature = 4) (for example, “bunch”, “come”, “fruit”, “east”, etc.) FIG. 7 shows a user's registered character database (registered character D).
B) shows an example of 23, which is composed of items such as a serial number, a character, a character code, a radical code, the number of strokes other than the radical, the radical feature, the presence or absence of registration, and the image file name. expressing. Among these items, character, character code, radical code, number of strokes other than radical, and radical feature items are character component files (dictionary files)
It links to the item stored in 22. A record in the user's registered character database (registered character DB) 23 is searched from the character component file (dictionary file) 22 for the above-mentioned information on newly registered characters when the character entry form 30a is created. They are sorted and stored in the order of codes and the number of strokes outside the radical.

The “registration presence / absence” is information indicating whether or not the character is registered as a handwritten character font. “Registration presence = 1” is set for the registered character. Is set in the registered character image file 24 in which is stored. Here, an example is shown in which the image file name is based on the Unicode of the character, but if the image file for each character can be specified,
It is not limited to this. The file format is not limited to the BMP file as illustrated, but may be an image file in another format or a file converted into font data.

For characters for which a handwritten character font has not been registered due to writing mistakes or the like, “Registration =
"0" is set, and the image file name column is blank.

For characters that do not have radicals, such as symbols, katakana, hiragana, arithmetic numerals, and alphabetic characters, the radical code, the number of strokes other than radicals, and radical characteristics are blank.

In the examples shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, JIS codes are employed as character codes. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, shift JIS codes and Unicode codes may be used.
Other codes such as de may be used. Also,
The “number of strokes outside the radical” may be the number of strokes including the radical (the number of strokes of the entire character).

FIG. 8 is a diagram exemplifying a template 30c of an additional character entry sheet in which an entry column for additional characters is formed. FIG. 11 shows an additional character entry image in which an image of a registered character is combined with the template 30c. It is a figure showing the example of preparation of character entry paper 30a. As shown, m lines of 37a to 37m are secured in one character entry sheet 30a, and two characters can be entered in one line.
Character entry frames 36a to 3 composed of thick lines for each character
6n are arranged.

A bar code 31 for identifying the page of the sheet is printed on the character entry sheet 30a.
In addition, in the vicinity of character entry boxes 36a to 36n where the user himself / herself writes characters, characters 34a to 3 to be entered are provided.
4n are each printed in Gothic. Further, to the left of the character entry frames 36a to 36n, image data 33a and 33b of characters having the same radical among characters already registered as handwritten character fonts are arranged. For example, in the vicinity of the character entry boxes 36a to 36n for the character of "", the handwritten character font "others"
(33a) and a "charge" (33b) are arranged.

Therefore, while viewing the Gothic characters 34a to 34n as the standard character fonts and the handwritten characters 33a to 33b that the user has previously entered and registered, the user writes the characters in the character entry boxes 36a to 36n with the handwriting. , Just fill in the characters specified in Gothic.

As described above, from the already registered characters of the handwritten character font, character image data of the same component as the character to be added is extracted, and the image data is used as a sample in the character entry form 30a. Character entry box 36
Printed to the left of a to 36n, the user can write additional characters by hand while looking at the sample characters.
Therefore, the user can adjust the shape, size, and the like of the character to be added so that the typeface is the same as that of the already registered handwritten character.

In the example shown in the figure, reference images for two characters are printed for the characters 33a to 33b which have been entered and registered in the past, but if the number of characters of the reference image is increased as long as space permits, It is even more effective.

If there are many characters having the same radical among the characters registered in the past, the same component character image synthesizing means 19 synthesizes them according to the processing procedure shown in FIG. Narrow down the characters to do. First, a character having the same radical code is searched (Step 41), characters having the same radical characteristic are narrowed down from the search results (Step 42), and characters having a similar number of strokes outside the radical are selected (Step 43). ).

For example, referring to the example shown in FIG.
When adding the character "branch", a character having the same radical "kibia" is searched, and a character "mura" having the same radical feature "left part (radical feature = 1)" is searched from the characters. "Pine"
The characters are narrowed down to “plate”, “sheet”, “bayashi”, etc., and furthermore, characters “matsu”, “plate”, etc., which have the same number of out-of- radical strokes are selected.

In the above example, when adding a character "branch", an example is shown in which characters such as "pine" and "plate" are used as reference images by focusing on the tree bias. For the additional character "branch", "matsu" and for example "technique"
May be adopted as the reference image. Such a change can be easily dealt with by customizing the contents of the character component file (dictionary file) 22 included in the character component storage unit 15.

FIG. 12 shows a completed character entry form 30b.
Is exemplified. Character entry boxes 36a to 36n
Since n characters are prepared for each character, the character entry box 3
Even if the writing is missed in 6a, the user can mark the cancellation check box 35a (for example, check mark, fill in the box, etc.), cancel the character, and rewrite it in the next character entry box 36b. In the example shown in the figure, the check mark 35a for cancellation is canceled by putting a mark on the character "" written in the character entry frame 36a, and is rewritten in the next character entry frame 36b. Therefore, it is possible to save the trouble of re-outputting the character entry sheet 30a for the miswritten character, and to improve the efficiency of the work of registering the handwritten character font.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and various improvements and modifications may be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. .

For example, in the present embodiment, an example of the case of creating in Japanese is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, character codes other than Japanese such as Korean and Chinese (Chinese) are used. -It is also applicable when creating a handwritten character font corresponding to a set.

Further, the present invention can be applied to the use of outputting a handwritten character font from a printer to a paper medium such as a postcard or a letter, and the use of outputting characters or text to a display device such as a CRT or a liquid crystal display. Is also applicable. For example, a greeting mail such as a Christmas card or a New Year's postcard is created using the handwritten character font according to the present invention, and transmitted via a network.・ Email is displayed.

[0107]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Image data of characters composed of the same components as the character to be added is extracted from the characters registered in the handwritten character font, and the image data is placed as a sample near the entry frame in the character entry sheet. Therefore, the user can write additional characters by hand while looking at the sample characters.
Therefore, the user can adjust the shape and size of the character to be added so that the font is the same as that of the already registered handwritten character font.

[0108] In addition to using a radical code and information on the number of strokes of a character in addition to a radical code to extract a handwritten character font as a sample, an existing character similar to the characteristic of an additional character can be accurately extracted. can do.

If the user fails to write an additional character by handwriting, for example, the user can mark a check box for canceling the character and rewrite it in another input frame. Thus, for a misspelled character,
It is possible to save the trouble of re-outputting the character entry form again, and to improve the efficiency of the work of registering the handwritten character font.

As described above, a font based on the user's own handwritten characters can be easily created, and the user's own handwritten characters can be easily added to the created font as needed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of functional blocks of a handwritten character font creation device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a device configuration of the handwritten character font creation device illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure of font generation in the handwritten character font creating apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a series of processing procedures including an additional process of adding a new character to an already registered handwritten character font in the handwritten character font creation device illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an image diagram showing a configuration of each database and a corresponding relationship in the handwritten character font creating apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a character component file (dictionary file) in the handwritten character font creating apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a registered character database (registered character DB) of a user in the handwritten character font creating apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a template 30 for an additional character entry sheet.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure of a narrowing-down process of a synthesis target character.

FIG. 10 is an image diagram illustrating a character classification method based on radical features;

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a layout example of an additional character entry sheet.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of entry of an additional character entry sheet.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a layout example of a character entry sheet for new registration.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a layout example of a process selection menu screen 40.

[Explanation of symbols]

1. Handwritten character font creation device 5. Image scanner 6. Input means 7. Recording medium 10. Personal computer 11. Font data creation means 12. ... Character entry paper image creation means 13 .... Character image data extraction means 14 .... Additional character storage means 15 .... Character component storage means 16 .... Registered character storage means 17 .. ..Registered character image storage means 18.Additional character entry paper image creation means 19.Character image combining means for identical component parts 20.Printer 21.Additional character file 22. Character component file (dictionary) 23 .... User registered character database (registered character D
B) 24 .. Registered character image file 31 .. Barcode 32 .. Page number display field 33a, 33b .. Registered handwritten character font (sample) 34a to 34n .. Font characters of standard character fonts 35a to 35n .... Check box for cancellation 36a to 36n..Character entry frame 40..Processing selection menu screen 41 .... New character entry form print instruction button 42 .... New character entry form reading instruction button 43 .... Additional character entry form printing instruction button 44 .... Additional character entry form reading instruction button 45 .... Cancel button

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5B009 RA01 RA04 5C082 AA01 AA17 AA27 BA02 BB32 CB06 DA32 MM09

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A character entry sheet for writing handwritten characters corresponding to a specific number of different character codes according to an individual's use is created and output, and the character entry sheet on which a user's handwritten characters have been entered is read. A handwritten character font creation device for creating a handwritten character font composed of handwritten characters from the obtained image; (1) additional character storage means for storing a character code of a character to be additionally registered; Character component storage means for storing a correspondence table between the character codes and the components constituting the characters; (3) correspondence between the character codes of the characters registered in the handwritten character font and the components constituting the characters; Registered character storage means for storing a table; (4) registered character image storage means for storing character image data of characters registered in a handwritten character font; and (5) the additional sentence. With respect to the additional characters stored in the storage means, an additional character entry sheet image for creating, as image data of a character entry sheet, an entry frame for entering additional characters by hand and a character of a standard character font corresponding to the character code. Creating means; and (6) for the additional character stored in the additional character storage means, using the character code of the character as a key to obtain the component of the character code stored in the character component storage means An identical component character search means for acquiring a registered character code from the registered character storage means based on the acquired component; and (7) a registered character code acquired by the identical component character search means. The registered character image corresponding to is acquired from the registered character image storage unit, and the acquired registered character image is added to the additional character entry paper image creating unit. A handwritten character font creating device, comprising: a same component text image synthesizing means arranged near the entry frame of the character on the created character entry sheet. 2. The correspondence table stored by the character component storage means and the correspondence table stored by the registered character storage means have radical codes constituting characters as information of the components, and 2. The handwritten character according to claim 1, wherein the component character search unit acquires a registered character having the same radical code as the radical code constituting the character to be added from the registered character storage unit. Font creation device. 3. The correspondence table stored by the character component storage unit and the correspondence table stored by the registered character storage unit include a radical code constituting a character and characteristic data of the radical, wherein the component is The same component character search means searches the registered character storage means for a registered character having the same radical code as the radical code constituting the character to be added. 2. The handwritten character font creation device according to claim 1, wherein registered characters having the same feature data are narrowed down. 4. The correspondence table stored in the character component storage means and the correspondence table stored in the registered character storage means are a radical code constituting a character, a stroke number of the character, and characteristic data of the radical. The same component character search means searches the registered character storage means for a registered character having the same radical code as the radical code constituting the character to be added. 2. The handwritten character font creating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein registered characters having the same characteristic data are narrowed down from the searched, and the characters having the same number of strokes are selected from the narrowed down characters. 5. The additional character entry sheet image creating means,
At least two boxes for each additional character;
5. A cancellation check box for writing a mark for a user to cancel a handwritten character that has been miswritten for each entry frame, and the check box is created as image data of the character entry sheet. A handwritten character font creation device according to any of the above. 6. A character entry sheet for entering handwritten characters corresponding to a specific number of different character codes according to individual uses is created and output, and the character entry sheet on which handwritten characters have been entered by a user is read. A handwritten character font creation program for creating a handwritten character font composed of handwritten characters from the obtained image, comprising: (1) an additional character storage function for storing a character code of a character to be additionally registered; A character component storage function for storing a correspondence table between a character code and a component constituting the character; and (3) correspondence between a character code of a character registered in a handwritten character font and a component constituting the character. A registered character storage function for storing a table; (4) a registered character image storage function for storing character image data of characters registered in a handwritten character font; For the additional characters stored by the additional character storage function, an additional character entry that creates, as image data of a character entry form, an entry frame for writing the additional characters by hand and characters of a standard character font corresponding to the character code. A paper image creation function, and (6) a component of the character code stored in the character component storage function using the character code of the character as a key for the additional character stored in the additional character storage function And an identical component character search function for acquiring a registered character code from the registered character storage function based on the acquired component, and (7) a registered character code acquired by the identical component character search function. A registered character image corresponding to a character code is obtained from the registered character image storage function, and the obtained registered character image is stored in the additional character entry sheet image forming machine. A handwritten character font creation program for causing a computer to realize a character image synthesizing function of the same constituent parts to be arranged in the vicinity of the entry frame of the character on a character entry sheet created by Noh. 7. The correspondence table stored by the character component storage function and the correspondence table stored by the registered character storage function include a radical code constituting a character as information of the component, and 7. The component character search function according to claim 6, wherein the registered character having the same radical code as the radical code constituting the character to be added is acquired from the data stored in the registered character storage function. Handwritten character font creation program described. 8. The correspondence table stored by the character component storage function and the correspondence table stored by the registered character storage function include a radical code constituting a character, the number of strokes of the character, and characteristic data of the radical. As the component information, and the registered component storage function stores the registered character having the same radical code as the radical code constituting the character to be added. 7. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 6, further comprising: searching for registered characters having the same characteristic data from the searched data; . 9. The function of creating an additional character entry sheet image,
At least two boxes for each additional character;
9. A cancellation check box for writing a mark for a user to cancel a handwritten character that has been miswritten for each entry frame as image data of the character entry sheet. Handwritten character font creation program described in any of them.