JP2006157761A - Method and device for adjusting handwritten character - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To acquire a character image indicating a desired line width character from a character image indicative of a handwritten character. <P>SOLUTION: In a line width adjusting part 81 achieved by a computer, a line width altered image acquiring part 84 acquires a line width altered image expanded in a character region in a character image indicative of a handwritten character, and a line width acquiring part 83 substantially acquires a character line width from a line width altered image. A line width alteration management part 82 gradually increases a degree of the expansion of the character image until the line width of the character becomes a desired one, while there are repeated the processing in the line width altered image acquiring part 84 and the processing in the line width acquiring part 83. It is hereby possible in the computer to acquire a character image indicative of a desired line width character from a character image indicative of a handwritten character. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for adjusting a line width of a handwritten character indicated by a character image.

Conventionally, a method of arranging the layout of handwritten characters by image processing has been used. For example, in Patent Document 1, a handwritten character indicated by a character image is divided for each character, and the character is divided according to the type of information such as an address and a name, according to the position and size defined according to this type. A technique is disclosed in which characters are placed and printed on a postcard or the like.
JP-A-8-123971

  By the way, in many temples, building a Buddha (Buddhist Hall) is newly constructed, or when seeking restoration from a believer, the name of the donator is copied onto the tile used for the building (ie, the name is written). The name on the roof tile is handwritten by the operator. At this time, it is conceivable that data of a plurality of character images indicating the handwritten names of the donors are input to the device, and the name on the roof tile can be easily written by printing these character images on one roof tile. In general, handwritten names have different thicknesses depending on the type of writing instrument (such as a pencil, ballpoint pen, or puffer), and the orderliness of a plurality of names printed on roof tiles is impaired.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to obtain a character image showing a character having a desired line width from a character image showing a handwritten character.

  The invention according to claim 1 is a line width adjustment method for a handwritten character that adjusts a line width of a handwritten character indicated by the character image, wherein the line width of the character is determined from a binary character image indicating the handwritten character. A line width acquisition step that substantially acquires the line width, and a line width change step that expands or contracts a character area in the character image based on the line width to make the line width of the character desired.

  Invention of Claim 2 is the line width adjustment method of the handwritten character of Claim 1, Comprising: The said line width change process expands or contracts the said character area in the said character image, The line width change image A line width change image acquisition step of acquiring the line width, a line width reacquisition step of substantially acquiring the line width of the character from the line width change image, and the line width until the line width of the character becomes a desired one. A repetition step of substantially repeating the line width change image acquisition step and the line width reacquisition step while gradually increasing the degree of expansion or contraction of the character image in the width change image.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the line width adjustment method of the handwritten character according to claim 2, wherein in the line width reacquisition step, a line having a predetermined shape in the character region of the line width change image. The line width of the character is acquired based on a ratio between the number of positions where a pixel array for width detection can be arranged and the area of the character region.

  Invention of Claim 4 is the line width adjustment method of the handwritten character of Claim 2 or 3, Comprising: The said line width change image is an image which expanded the said character area in the said character image, The repetition is performed based on a rate at which the number of positions where a pixel arrangement for detecting a character collapse of a predetermined shape can be arranged in the character area of the line width changed image is increased with respect to the line width changed image acquired immediately before. The method further includes a step of determining stoppage of the return step.

  Invention of Claim 5 is the line width adjustment method of the handwritten character in any one of Claim 1 thru | or 4, Comprising: The said character image shows the several character arranged in 1 row, The said line width acquisition process Before the process, a character string size changing step of enlarging or reducing the rectangular area surrounding the plurality of characters according to a predetermined size is further provided.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the line width adjustment method for handwritten characters according to claim 5, wherein the character spacing is adjusted to a predetermined width before the character string size changing step. A further adjustment step is provided.

  The invention according to claim 7 is the line width adjustment method for handwritten characters according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the character indicated by the character image is registered on a roof tile used for a shrine or temple. Is the name.

  The invention according to claim 8 is a line width adjustment device for a handwritten character that adjusts a line width of a handwritten character indicated by the character image, wherein the character region is expanded or contracted in the binary character image indicating the handwritten character. Based on the line width change image acquisition unit that acquires the line width change image that has been made, the line width acquisition unit that substantially acquires the line width of the character from the character image, and the line width of the character in the character image The line width change image acquisition unit includes a line width change management unit that expands or contracts the character area in the character image to obtain a desired line width of the character.

  According to the first to eighth aspects of the present invention, a character image indicating a character having a desired line width can be acquired from a character image indicating a handwritten character.

  In the invention of claim 3, the line width of the character can be easily acquired, and in the invention of claim 4, it is possible to easily detect the collapse of the character and acquire an appropriate character image.

  In the invention of claim 5, a character image having a desired size can be acquired. In the invention of claim 6, a character image in which each character is appropriately arranged can be acquired.

  FIG. 1 shows a server-side computer (hereinafter referred to as “server”) 11 connected to a communication network 90 such as the Internet, and a computer (hereinafter referred to as “client”) serving as a client disposed in a home or company. ) 91. Each of the server 11 and the client 91 is a general computer including a CPU that performs various arithmetic processes, a memory that stores various information, and the like. As shown in FIG. 1, the server 11 is connected to a printing apparatus 12 that performs printing on a roof tile, and the server 11 and the printing apparatus 12 constitute a roof name system 1 that performs labeling on the roof tile.

  The tile name system 1 is used to construct a new building or restore an existing building in a temple (for example, during the construction or restoration of a Buddhist temple). (Hereinafter collectively referred to as “name”), and the system prints the name on the roof tile used for the building (namely, the name is written). In the tile name system 1, the tile image data after the name registration is acquired as will be described later, and the image data is distributed from the server 11 to the client 91 as necessary, so that the tile image can be displayed on the client 91. .

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the tile name system 1. As described above, the tile name system 1 is on the curved surface of the server 11 connected to the communication network 90 and the tile 9 (for example, a tile having a size of 400 mm × 500 mm when viewed from the main surface side). The printing device 12 performs printing on the roof, and the printing device 12 transports the roof tile 9 by various mechanisms. The roof transport mechanism 2 has a first half of the roof tile transport mechanism 2 and a photocurable ink (for example, toward the roof tile 9). , An ultraviolet curable ink containing carbon black), a head moving mechanism 4 for moving the head 3 in the X and Y directions in FIG. An ink curing unit 51 that irradiates light, and an imaging unit 52 that images the roof tile 9. In FIG. 2, for convenience of explanation, the head unit 3 and the head moving mechanism 4 are shown larger than other configurations.

  The roof tile transport mechanism 2 includes a first conveyor 21 that moves while holding the roof tile 9 below the head unit 3, a second conveyor 22 that moves the roof tile 9 below the ink curing unit 51 and the imaging unit 52, and A transfer robot 23 for transferring the roof tile 9 from the first conveyor 21 to the second conveyor is provided. The head unit 3 has an ink jet type nozzle unit 31, and a plurality of ejection openings for ejecting micro droplets of ink toward the roof tile 9 are arranged in the nozzle unit 31 at a predetermined pitch in the X direction. Yes. In addition, an ink supply unit (not shown) is connected to the nozzle unit 31, and ink is appropriately supplied from the ink supply unit to the nozzle unit 31. An auxiliary curing unit 32 connected to a light source unit 321 that emits ultraviolet rays is attached to each side surface of the nozzle unit 31 on the (+ Y) side and the (−Y) side. 9 is formed.

  The nozzle portion 31 is fixed to the support portion 33 on the side opposite to the roof tile 9 so that the nozzle portion 31 can move forward and backward with respect to the roof tile 9 by the support portion 33 (that is, movable in the Z direction in FIG. 2). Supported. A roller 34 is attached to the side surface of the nozzle portion 31 on the (−X) side so as to be rotatable about a central axis parallel to the X axis. In the head unit 3, when the nozzle unit 31 is positioned on the roof tile 9, the roller 34 comes into contact with the surface of the roof tile 9 due to the weight of the roller 34 and the nozzle unit 31.

  The head moving mechanism 4 includes a Y direction moving mechanism 41 that moves the head unit 3 in the Y direction, and an X direction moving mechanism 42 that moves minutely in the X direction. Further, on the (−Y) side of the roof tile 9 positioned below the head section 3, a roller retracting section 43 that forms a surface that is approximately continuous from the surface of the roof tile 9 is provided. In the printing apparatus 12, when the head unit 3 is moved in the main scanning direction (Y direction) with respect to the roof tile 9 by the Y-direction moving mechanism 41, the roller 34 rolls and moves on the surface of the roof tile 9. When moving in the sub-scanning direction (X direction) by the first conveyor 21, the roller 34 stops on the roller retracting portion 43 and retracts from the roof tile 9.

  The printing device 12 further includes a name receiving unit 6 that receives character image data 61 indicating the name of the donor, and a composition data generation unit that generates composition data from the character image data 61 input from the name receiving unit 6. The computer 7 also serves as a control unit that controls each component of the printing apparatus 12.

  Specifically, the name receiving unit 6 acquires image data by reading an image drawn on a sheet on a computer configured by a CPU that performs various arithmetic processes, a memory that stores various types of information, a fixed disk, and the like. The scanner is connected. In the name reception unit 6, a part of a predetermined label (hereinafter referred to as “tile name label”) in which the name of the donor is actually entered by handwriting (for example, written in his handwriting) is a scanner. The character image data 61 of the name (not only characters but may include a letter or a logo) that is read by the donor and entered by the donor is acquired. Each character image data 61 is associated with the name of the donor and other information, and a character image database 610 that is a set of the character image data 61 is generated and stored in a fixed disk or the like.

  In the composition data generation computer 7, after adjusting the line width of the handwritten character indicated by the character image data 61, composition data that is a raster image for each roof tile 9 is generated from the adjusted character image. In the printing process to be performed, it is used for ink ejection control of the head unit 3 and movement control of the head unit 3 and the roof tile 9. The configuration of the computer 7 and the functional configuration relating to the line width adjustment of handwritten characters realized by the computer 7 will be described in detail after the entire description of the tile name system 1.

  The server 11 exchanges information with the fixed disk 111 that stores various information, the image transmission unit 112 that is a function realized by a CPU, a memory, and the like, and the client 91 of FIG. A communication unit 113 is included. In the server 11, the roof tile image data 110 input from the imaging unit 52 is stored in the fixed disk 111. The image sending unit 112 reads the roof tile image data 110 from the fixed disk 111 in response to a request signal from the client 91, and sends it to the client 91 via the communication unit 113.

  Next, a description will be given of a process for registering the tile 9 by the tile name system 1. In the tile name system 1, first, a name reading unit 6 reads a tile name label mailed from donors nationwide by a scanner, and binary image data of a predetermined portion in which the name of the donor is written is a character image. Data 61 is accepted.

  In addition, the tile name label contains a number indicating the temple or church to which the donator belongs, and this number is dedicated software (so-called OCR (Optical Character Reader)) from the image data acquired by the scanner. Is read as text data and is obtained as a classification code. Furthermore, the name of the donor (mainly the name or name in this case) is input by the operator via the computer keyboard or mouse of the name reception unit 6, and the name of the donor is assigned to each character image data 61. In addition to being associated, a classification code indicating the classification of the donor (that is, the end temple to which he belongs) is given.

  The name reception unit 6 sequentially updates the character image database 610 that has already been generated each time new character image data 61 is received. When the update of the character image database 610 is completed, the computer 7 refers to the classification code to classify the character image data 61 in the character image database 610 for each end temple, and in principle, a plurality of donors belonging to the same end temple (for example, A plurality of character image data 61 respectively indicating names of 12 to 18 donors) is selected for each roof tile 9. Then, the line width of the character indicated by each of the plurality of selected character image data 61 is adjusted, and the composition data for each roof tile 9 is generated from the plurality of character images after the line width adjustment.

  In the printing apparatus 12, the head unit 3 moves in the main scanning direction with respect to the roof tile 9 while keeping the distance between the discharge port of the head section 3 and the roof tile 9 constant by the head moving mechanism 4 based on the block data. Ink droplets are ejected onto the roof tile 9. The ink immediately after adhering to the roof tile 9 is irradiated with light from the auxiliary curing unit 32 to temporarily cure the ink. After the main scanning is finished, the roof tile 9 moves relative to the head unit 3 in the sub-scanning direction, and the main scanning of the head unit 3 is repeated. In this way, the main scanning and the sub scanning of the head unit 3 are repeated. Thereafter, the roof tile 9 is transferred onto the second conveyor 22, and light is further irradiated onto the roof tile 9 from the ink curing unit 51, the ink is fully cured, and the name of the donor is fixed on the roof tile 9.

  The printed roof tile 9 is further moved below the imaging unit 52 by the second conveyor 22, and the roof tile 9 whose name is recorded by the imaging unit 52 is imaged to obtain image data of the roof tile. The tile image data is output to the server 11 and stored in the fixed disk 111 as the tile image data 110 in association with the names of a plurality of donors named on the tile 9. The roof tile 9 is further moved in the (+ X) direction by the second conveyor 22, taken out at the end of the second conveyor 22 and placed on a predetermined pallet, and is used for the construction and restoration of the building belonging to the temple. .

  When the tile image data 110 is stored in the fixed disk 111, for example, the donor operates the client 91, which is a terminal, via a browser, thereby requesting distribution of the image data of the tile 9 on which his name is recorded. A signal is generated, transmitted from the client 91 to the server 11 via the communication network 90, and a request signal is accepted.

  In the server 11, the image data of the roof tile 9 after the name associated with the name of the donor is read from the fixed disk 111 according to the request signal from the client 91 by the image sending unit 112. And sent to the client 91 via the communication unit 113. Then, the tile image data 110 is received by the client 91 via the communication network 90, and the donor can view the image of the tile 9 whose name is written in his handwriting. Can get satisfaction. Note that the tile name system 1 may be a name for the tile 9 used in a shrine other than a temple. That is, the tile name system 1 is used for the purpose of registering names on tiles used in shrines and temples.

  In addition, the head unit is moved in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction with respect to the roof tile 9 fixed to the stage, and the nozzle portion of the head section can be moved up and down along the surface of the roof tile 9. At the same time, rotation about an axis facing the main scanning direction is also possible, and ink may be ejected while the distance between the ink ejection port and the surface of the roof tile 9 is kept constant. Further, the ink curing unit 51 is omitted, and the ink is temporarily cured by irradiating light while discharging the ink onto the roof tile 9 in the main scanning forward path of the head unit, and the head unit is slowly moved in the backward path. The main curing of the ink may be performed using the same light source.

  Next, processing for adjusting the line width of a handwritten character indicated by a character image will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the computer 7. As shown in FIG. 3, the computer 7 has a general computer system configuration in which a CPU 71 that performs various arithmetic processes, a ROM 72 that stores basic programs, and a RAM 73 that stores various information are connected to a bus line. The bus line further includes a fixed disk 74 for storing information, a display 75 for displaying various information such as images, a keyboard 76a and a mouse 76b (hereinafter referred to as “input unit 76”) for receiving input from the operator. ) Between the reading device 77 for reading information from the computer-readable recording medium 8 such as an optical disk, a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, and other devices (other configurations of the printing device 12, the server 11, etc.) A communication unit 78 for transmitting and receiving signals is connected as appropriate via an interface (I / F).

  The computer 7 reads the program 80 from the recording medium 8 via the reader 77 in advance and stores it in the fixed disk 74. Then, when the program 80 is copied to the RAM 73 and the CPU 71 executes arithmetic processing according to the program in the RAM 73 (that is, when the computer executes the program), the computer 7 adjusts the line width of the character image. It plays a role as a line width adjustment unit.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration realized by the CPU 71, the ROM 72, the RAM 73, the fixed disk 74, and the like when the CPU 71 operates according to the program 80. In FIG. 4, each configuration (line width) of the line width adjustment unit 81 is illustrated. The change management unit 82, the line width acquisition unit 83, and the line width change image acquisition unit 84), the character spacing adjustment unit 851, and the character string size change unit 852 are functions realized by the CPU 71 and the like. The character spacing adjustment unit 851 is a function in another example that will be described in detail after the description of this processing example. The functions of the line width adjusting unit 81, the character spacing adjusting unit 851, and the character string size changing unit 852 may be realized by a dedicated electrical circuit, or a partially dedicated electrical circuit may be used.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flow of processing in which the computer 7 adjusts the line width of a handwritten character indicated by the character image. FIG. 6 shows a plurality of binary character images N10 selected for one roof tile 9. , N20, N30, and N40. As described above, when the line width adjustment process is performed, a plurality of character image data 61 is selected for each roof tile 9 in the computer 7, and as shown in FIG. 6, each character image N10, N20, N30 and N40 indicate a plurality of characters arranged in a line (hereinafter also referred to as “character string”). In the plurality of character images N10, N20, N30, and N40, the line widths of the characters are different from each other, and the sizes of the character strings are different from each other. Hereinafter, the description will be made while paying attention to the character image N40 on the right side in FIG. 6, but the same processing is performed for the other character images N10, N20, and N30.

  FIG. 7 is a view showing the character image N40 together with an entry frame provided on the tile name label. Actually, the area larger than the entry frame for the tile name label (shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 described later is deleted in the character image) is the name reception. It is acquired as character image data by the section 6.

  In the character string size changing unit 852 in FIG. 4, a rectangular region (region denoted by reference numeral A <b> 1 in FIG. 7) surrounding a plurality of characters indicated by the character image N <b> 40 is cut out. Subsequently, the rectangular area A1 is arranged in a reference area A2 having a size slightly smaller than the entry frame for the tile name label as shown in FIG. At this time, the central position of the upper side (in the character arrangement direction) of the rectangular boundary line of the rectangular area A1 (the position denoted by reference numeral P1 in FIG. 7 is referred to as the reference position) is referred to as the reference area A2. The rectangular area A1 is arranged in the reference area A2 so as to overlap the center position of the upper side of the rectangular boundary line. The rectangular area A1 may be arranged in the reference area A2 so that the reference position is the center of the rectangular area A1 and the reference position overlaps the center of the reference area A2.

  The rectangular area A1 is enlarged at the same magnification in the arrangement direction and the direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction (hereinafter, referred to as “vertical direction” and “lateral direction”, respectively) while fixing the reference position P1. At this time, the magnification for enlarging the rectangular area A1 is the maximum that the enlarged rectangular area A1 does not protrude outside the reference area A2, and in the state where the rectangular area A1 is arranged in the reference area A2, the vertical direction Is determined based on the width (number of pixels) of the gap between the rectangular area A1 and the reference area A2 on the lower side and the left side (or right side) in the horizontal direction. In this way, the character string size changing unit 852 enlarges the rectangular area A1 surrounding a plurality of characters according to the size of the predetermined reference area A2, and the character string size is desired as shown in FIG. The character image N41 changed to the size of is acquired (step S11). If the rectangular area A1 is larger than the reference area A2, the rectangular area A1 is reduced in accordance with the size of the reference area A2.

  When the character image N41 after the size change is acquired, the line width acquisition unit 83 obtains the area of the character region of the character image N41 (that is, the number of pixels indicating the character). FIG. A and FIG. FIG. 10B is a diagram illustrating a part of the character image. A and FIG. In B, the pixels included in the character area are indicated by parallel diagonal lines. FIG. In the character image shown in A, the area of the character region is 40. FIG. In the character image shown in B, the area of the character region is 11.

  Subsequently, the number of positions (hereinafter also simply referred to as “number of arrangements”) at which the pixel arrangement of 3 rows and 3 columns can be arranged in the character area of the character image is obtained. FIG. In the character image shown in A, since the pixel arrangement of 3 rows and 3 columns can be arranged in 11 positions in the area surrounded by the bold line, the number of arrangement is 11, and FIG. In the character image shown in B, since the pixel arrangement of 3 rows and 3 columns cannot be arranged, the number of arrangement is 0. In this way, the line width acquisition unit 83 obtains the area of the character region and the number of positions where the pixel array of 3 rows and 3 columns can be arranged in the character region as shown in Table 1 in the character image N41. It is done.

  In Table 1, the item name indicating the number of positions where the pixel arrangement of 3 rows and 3 columns can be arranged is shown as “3 × 3 arrangement number”, in addition to the pixel arrangement of 3 rows and 3 columns, 5 rows and 5 columns, The number of positions at which the pixel array of 7 rows and 7 columns and 9 rows and 9 columns can be arranged is also shown. Further, the character image is specified by the code attached to the character image, and the area and the number of arrangement of the character region of only the character image N41 are acquired at this stage.

  Further, in the line width acquisition unit 83, the ratio of the number of positions where the pixel arrangement of 3 rows and 3 columns can be arranged in the character area and the area of the character area (hereinafter referred to as “arrangement number ratio”) is shown in Table 2. It is required as shown in In Table 2, the item name representing the arrangement number ratio in the pixel arrangement of 3 rows and 3 columns is shown as “3 × 3 arrangement number ratio”, and in addition to the pixel arrangement of 3 rows and 3 columns, 5 rows and 5 columns, The arrangement number ratio in the pixel array of 7 rows 7 columns and 9 rows 9 columns is also shown. Similarly to Table 1, the character image is specified by the code attached to the character image, and the arrangement number ratio of only the character image N41 is acquired at this stage.

  Here, FIG. 10. A character image showing a thick line width as shown in FIG. Comparing with a character image showing a character with a narrow line width as shown in B, even if the character area has the same area, the number of positions where a pixel array of 3 rows and 3 columns can be arranged in the character area is a line. This is larger in a character image showing a character having a thicker line width than a character image showing a character having a narrow width. Therefore, when the character region has a certain area, it can be said that the arrangement number can be acquired as a value that substantially indicates the line width of the character. Actually, the area of the character area differs depending on the character image, but by obtaining the arrangement number ratio, which is the ratio between the number of arrangement and the area of the character area, it is possible to suppress the influence of the area of the character area. Accordingly, the line width acquisition unit 83 substantially acquires the line width of the character from the character image N41 after the size change based on the arrangement number ratio (step S12).

  Subsequently, in the line width change management unit 82, when the obtained arrangement number ratio is not included in a range set by a predetermined upper limit value and lower limit value (hereinafter referred to as “line width allowable range”). Then, it is determined that the character line width of the character image N41 after the size change is not a desired line width, and the following processing is performed (step S13). When the arrangement number ratio is included in the line width allowable range, it is determined that the character indicated by the character image N41 has a desired line width, and the line width adjustment process ends (step S13).

  The line width changed image acquisition unit 84 expands the character area so that a pixel group of 3 rows and 3 columns centering on each pixel included in the character area in the character image N41 has the same value as the pixel (so-called thickening). And an image in which the line width is changed to be thick (hereinafter referred to as “line width changed image”) is acquired (step S14). FIG. FIG. 11A is a diagram showing a line width change image N42 acquired by the line width change image acquisition unit 84. FIG. The image of A (and the images of FIGS. 11.B and 11.C described later) is subjected to a predetermined filter process after the expansion process. The dilation process may be other than the technique of dilating each pixel included in the character area of the character image N41 in the same way in eight directions.

  In the line width acquisition unit 83, as in step S12, as shown in Table 1, the number of positions where the pixel array of 3 rows and 3 columns can be arranged in the character area of the line width changed image N42 and the area of the character area are shown in Table 1. The line width of the character is obtained substantially and easily from the line width changed image N42 based on the arrangement number ratio (see Table 2), which is the ratio of these values (step S15).

  Subsequently, the line width change management unit 82 obtains a rate at which the number of arrangements of the line width change images N42 increases with respect to the number of arrangements of the character images N41 (corresponding to a part of step S16). By comparing the number ratio and the line width allowable range, it is determined whether or not the line width of the character in the line width change image N42 is a desired line width. FIG. It is determined that the line width change image N42 of A does not have the desired line width, and the process returns to step S14 to acquire the next line width change image (step S18). Note that the first processing in step S16 corresponds to advance preparation when this processing is repeated, and in this case, step S17 is skipped.

  In the second process of the line width change image acquisition unit 84, the dilation process is performed so that a pixel group of 5 rows and 5 columns centering on each pixel of the character region has the same value as the pixel (step S14). Focusing only on the line width after processing, processing for changing the pixel array of 5 rows and 5 columns centering on each pixel of the character area to the character image N41 to the same value as that pixel, and the line width change immediately before It can be said that the process of making the pixel array of 3 rows and 3 columns centering on each pixel of the character area with respect to the image N42 the same value as the pixel is equivalent.

  Therefore, in the line width changed image acquisition unit 84, the degree of expansion with respect to the character image N41 is processed for the first time by setting the pixel group of 5 rows and 5 columns centering on each pixel of the character area to the same value as the pixel. From FIG. As shown in B, the next line width change image N43 is acquired. Then, the line width acquisition unit 83 acquires the arrangement number ratio of the line width changed image N43 as shown in Table 2, and acquires the line width of the character (step S15). In the present embodiment, the degree of expansion of the character image N41 is increased by changing the setting parameter for expansion processing (the size of the pixel array for expansion processing), but the degree of expansion is increased. The line width change image N43 may be obtained by repeatedly performing a constant parameter expansion process on the character image N41.

  Here, since the line width change image acquisition unit 84 gradually increases the degree of expansion with respect to the character image N41 to acquire the line width change images N42 and N43, the pixel array of 3 rows and 3 columns in the line width change image N42 is acquired. The rate at which the number of arrangements increases with respect to the number of arrangements of the character image N41 and the rate at which the number of arrangements of the line width change image N43 increases with respect to the number of arrangements of the line width change image N42 are usually approximately equal. However, FIG. If the white region (a set of pixels whose values are different from the character region) in the line width changed image N43 shown in B disappears, the character “winter” indicated by the line width changed image N43 will disappear. A part will be crushed and the number of arrangements will increase rapidly.

  Therefore, the line width change management unit 82 obtains a ratio at which the number of arrangements of the line width change image N43 increases with respect to the number of arrangements of the line width change image N42, and this ratio is already acquired in the first step S16. By comparing the number of arranged line width change images N42 with the rate of increase with respect to the number of arranged character images N41, the presence or absence of character collapse is substantially detected (step S16). If the character is not crushed (step S17), the line width change image N43 is compared with the arrangement number ratio acquired for the line width change image N43, and the line width allowable range is compared. It is determined whether or not the width is a desired line width, and steps S14 to S17 are repeated according to the determination result (step S18). When there is a collapsed character (step S17), the line width change image N42 acquired immediately before the line width change image N43 is set as the character image after the line width adjustment (step S19). Thus, in the line width change management unit 82, the number of positions (arrangement number) at which the 3 × 3 pixel array can be arranged in the character area of the line width change image N43 is the line width change acquired immediately before. Whether or not the character is crushed is determined based on the rate of increase with respect to the number of arrangement of the image N42. If the character is crushed, it is determined that the repetitive processing is stopped in step S18, and the line width adjustment processing is terminated.

  FIG. In the line width changed image N43 shown in B, it is determined that the character is not crushed and is not the desired line width (steps S17 and S18), and the degree of expansion of the character image N41 is further increased from the second process. FIG. As shown in C, the next line width change image N44 is acquired (step S14). Subsequently, with respect to the line width changed image N44, the arrangement number ratio is acquired as shown in Table 2 to detect whether or not the characters are crushed (steps S15 and S16). It is determined that there is no (step S17). Then, it is determined that the arrangement number ratio acquired by the line width change management unit 82 is included in the line width allowable range (step S18), and the line width change image N44 is output as a character image after the line width adjustment. (Step S20), the line width adjustment process ends.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a plurality of character images N19, N29, N39, and N49 after line width adjustment processing corresponding to the plurality of character images N10, N20, N30, and N40 in FIG. However, in the character images N19, N29, N39, and N49 in FIG. 12, a predetermined filtering process for shaping is performed after the expansion process. As shown in FIG. 12, in the character images N19, N29, N39, and N49 after the line width adjustment processing, the character line width is approximately constant (however, in FIG. 12, the character line is extended due to the influence of the filter processing. The line width is slightly different depending on the direction.) The size of the character string is also constant, and the orderliness is ensured as a whole. As a result, based on the composition data generated from the character images N19, N29, N39, and N49 after the line width adjustment process, it is possible to print an image with a beautiful appearance indicating the names of a plurality of donors on the roof tile 9. .

  FIG. FIG. 13A is a diagram showing character images N51 to N54 of characters previously written in the tile label with bold lines separately from the character image whose line width has been adjusted by the above processing. B is a figure which shows the character images N61-N64 of the character previously written in the tile name label with the thin line. In Table 3, a pixel arrangement of 3 rows and 3 columns can be arranged in each character area of the thick line character images N51 to N54 and the thin line character images N61 to N64 (and the character image N71 described later). The number of positions (the number of arrangement) is shown, and Table 4 shows the arrangement number ratio of the thick line character images N51 to N54 and the thin line character images N61 to N64 (and the character image N71 described later). In Table 3, the item name representing the number of positions where the pixel arrangement of 3 rows and 3 columns can be arranged is shown as “3 × 3 arrangement number”. The arrangement numbers in the pixel array of columns, 7 rows and 7 columns, and 9 rows and 9 columns are also shown. Further, in Table 4, the arrangement number ratio in the pixel arrangement of 3 rows and 3 columns is shown as “3 × 3 arrangement number ratio”, and in addition to the pixel arrangement of 3 rows and 3 columns, 5 rows, 5 columns, and 7 rows and 7 columns. The arrangement number ratio in the 9 × 9 pixel array is also shown. Furthermore, in Table 3 and Table 4, the character image is specified also by the code | symbol attached | subjected to a character image.

  As shown in Table 4, the arrangement number ratio in the 3 × 3 pixel array is constant at about 90% in the thick line character images N51 to N54, whereas it is about 50 in the thin line character images N61 to N64. Therefore, the character image and the line width can be changed by obtaining the ratio of the number of positions where the 3 × 3 pixel arrangement can be arranged in the character area and the area of the character area as in the above processing. It can be seen that the line width of the character in the image can be acquired with a certain accuracy. In addition, the allowable line width range in the above process is prepared by acquiring the arrangement number ratio in advance for a character image indicating a standard character having a desired line width (for example, a character having a standard character area area). Is done.

  As shown in Table 4, the arrangement number ratio in each of the 5 × 5, 7 × 7, and 9 × 9 pixel arrangements is the same as the 3 × 3 pixel arrangement. Even when the pixel array is used, it is possible to obtain the line width of the character of the character image. Also, obtain the line width of the character in the same way by using a pixel array for detecting the line width of a predetermined shape other than a square matrix having an even number of rows and columns, or a cross shape other than the square matrix, for example. can do.

  As described above, in the line width adjustment unit 81 realized by the computer 7, the line width change image obtained by expanding the character region in the character image is acquired by the line width change image acquisition unit 84, and the line width acquisition unit 83 acquires the line width. The line width of the character is substantially obtained from the changed image. Then, the line width change management unit 82 acquires the line width change image in the line width change image acquisition unit 84 while gradually increasing the degree of expansion of the character image until the line width of the character becomes a desired one. The process of reacquiring the line width of the character in the line width acquisition unit 83 is repeated. Thereby, the computer 7 can acquire a character image indicating a character with a desired line width from a character image indicating a handwritten character by automatic processing.

  Further, the line width change management unit 82 sets the number of positions (arrangement number) at which the 3 × 3 pixel arrangement can be arranged in the character area of the line width changed image as the arrangement of the line width changed image acquired immediately before. An appropriate character image can be acquired by easily detecting whether or not the character is crushed based on the rate of increase with respect to the number and stopping the repeated processing. In addition, the pixel arrangement from which the number of arrangements is acquired when detecting crushing of a character is not limited to 3 rows and 3 columns, and other than a square matrix, for example, a cross shape or a predetermined shape corresponding to a character image to be processed. It is possible to use a different one, and the shape may be different from the pixel array for line width detection.

  Next, an additional process that is preferably added to the line width adjustment process by the line width adjustment unit 81 will be described. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the flow of additional processing, and shows processing performed before step S11 in FIG. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a character image N71 to be processed. Note that the function of this processing example is shown as a character spacing adjustment unit 851 in FIG.

  In the inter-character space adjustment unit 851, first, the range of each character included in the character string indicated by the character image N71 in FIG. 15 is recognized by a predetermined method, and the circumscribed rectangle A4 indicated by the broken line in FIG. Is set, and the width of the gap existing between two circumscribed rectangles A4 adjacent to each other in the character arrangement direction (ie, the vertical direction) is obtained. The blank columns of pixels arranged in the horizontal direction in each gap are deleted so that the width of these gaps becomes a predetermined width in proportion to the average size of characters. Thereby, the space | interval of a some character is adjusted to the predetermined | prescribed width | variety in the character space adjustment part 851 (step S31).

  The line width adjustment unit 81 changes the size of the character string in the character image after the width is adjusted (FIG. 5: step S11), and if necessary, the line width of the character in the same manner as in the above processing example. Is adjusted, and a character image showing a character having a desired line width is obtained. As described above, it is preferable that the computer 7 adjusts the interval between a plurality of characters before changing the size of the character string of the character image, and then adjusts the line width of the characters. And a character image showing a character having a desired line width can be acquired. However, depending on the character indicated by the character image, in consideration of the case where erroneous recognition occurs for each character range, the operator is notified that the above processing has been performed, or the character image display 75 after the processing is performed. It is preferable that the character image after the line width adjustment is confirmed by the operator by displaying the above.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made.

  When the line width adjustment unit 81 does not need to consider the influence of character collapse, the line width of the character is acquired from the character image to be processed, and the line width change management unit 82 uses the line width based on this line width. The degree of expansion processing in the line width change image acquisition unit 84 is specified by a predetermined calculation (or by referring to a predetermined look-up table), and the character region in the character image is expanded in accordance with the degree of expansion processing. By doing so, the line width of the character of the character image may be set to a desired value without repeating processing. Thereby, a character with a desired line width can be quickly acquired from a character image showing a handwritten character.

  In the above embodiment, the process in the line width change image acquisition unit 84 and the process in the line width acquisition unit 83 are repeated to acquire a character image having a desired line width, but the degree of expansion gradually increases in multiple ways. A plurality of line-width-changed images are generated at one time (for example, a pixel group of n rows and n columns (where n is an odd number) centering on each pixel of the character region of the character image has the same value as the pixel) In the dilation processing, the value of n is changed to i ways to generate i line width changed images.) The line width of the character is obtained from each of the plurality of line width changed images, and the desired line width is obtained. A character image may be selected. Even in this case, it can be considered that the character image having a desired line width is acquired by substantially repeating the process in the line width change image acquisition unit 84 and the process in the line width acquisition unit 83.

  In the above embodiment, the line width change image obtained by expanding the character area of the character image is acquired by the line width change image acquisition unit 84. If the line width of the character is larger than the desired line width, the character An area contraction process may be performed. In the character image, the process of contracting or expanding the area other than the character area is equivalent to the process of expanding or contracting the character area.

  In the above embodiment, the line width of the character is easily acquired by obtaining the arrangement number ratio in the pixel array for detecting the line width of a predetermined shape with respect to the character image or the line width changed image in the line width acquisition unit 83. However, as another method for acquiring the line width of the character, for example, a certain degree of contraction processing is repeatedly performed on the character image or the line width change image, and the representative region of the character disappears, and the character region sharply changes. The line width of the character may be substantially acquired based on the number of repetitions until the number of lines is reduced or the number of repetitions of the thinning process.

  Instead of the processing of the character spacing adjustment unit 851 and the character string size changing unit 852, the range of each character included in the character string of the character image before processing is recognized by a predetermined method, and a circumscribed rectangle is set for each character. Each circumscribed rectangle may be arranged in the reference area A2 while being enlarged or reduced. Even in this case, depending on the character indicated by the character image, in consideration of the case where erroneous recognition occurs for each character range, the operator is notified that the above processing has been performed, or the character image after processing is processed. It is preferable that the character image after the line width adjustment is confirmed by the operator by performing display on the display 75.

  The character indicated by the character image is not limited to the one indicating the name of the person, and the character image after the line width adjustment may be used for purposes other than the generation of the composition data used for printing on the roof tile 9. Good. The function as a line width adjusting device realized by the computer 7 can be used for various purposes of adjusting the line width of handwritten characters indicated by a character image.

It is a figure which shows the server and client connected to the communication network. It is a figure which shows the structure of a tile name system. It is a figure which shows the structure of a computer. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure which a computer implement | achieves. It is a figure which shows the flow of the process which adjusts the line width of the handwritten character which a character image shows. It is a figure which shows a some character image. It is a figure which shows a character image with the entry frame provided in the tile name label. It is a figure for demonstrating a mode that a rectangular area | region is arrange | positioned in a reference | standard area | region. It is a figure which shows the character image by which the size of the character string was changed. It is a figure which illustrates a part of character image. It is a figure which illustrates a part of character image. It is a figure which shows a line | wire width change image. It is a figure which shows a line | wire width change image. It is a figure which shows a line | wire width change image. It is a figure which shows the several character image after a line | wire width adjustment process. It is a figure which shows the several character image of a thick line. It is a figure which shows the several character image of a thin line. It is a figure which shows the flow of the process which adjusts line | wire width. It is a figure which shows a character image.

Explanation of symbols

81 Line Width Adjustment Unit 82 Line Width Change Management Unit 83 Line Width Acquisition Unit 84 Line Width Change Image Acquisition Unit A1 Rectangular Area N10, N19, N20, N29, N30, N39, N40, N41, N49, N51 to N54, N61 N64, N71 Character image N42-N44 Line width change image S11, S12, S14, S15, S17, S18, S31 Step

Claims (8)

A line width adjustment method for a handwritten character that adjusts a line width of a handwritten character indicated by a character image,
A line width acquisition step of substantially acquiring the line width of the character from a binary character image indicating a handwritten character;
A line width changing step of expanding or contracting a character area in the character image based on the line width to make the line width of the character desired.
A line width adjustment method for handwritten characters, comprising: The line width adjusting method for handwritten characters according to claim 1,
The line width changing step
A line width change image acquisition step of acquiring a line width change image obtained by expanding or contracting the character region in the character image;
A line width reacquisition step for substantially acquiring the line width of the character from the line width change image;
The line width change image acquisition step and the line width reacquisition step are substantially performed while gradually increasing the degree of expansion or contraction of the character image in the line width change image until the line width of the character becomes a desired one. Repeating process repeatedly,
A line width adjustment method for handwritten characters, comprising: It is a line width adjustment method of the handwritten character according to claim 2,
In the line width reacquisition step, based on a ratio between the number of positions where a pixel array for detecting line width of a predetermined shape can be arranged in the character area of the line width changed image and the area of the character area A method for adjusting a line width of a handwritten character, wherein the line width of the character is acquired. It is a line width adjustment method of the handwritten character according to claim 2 or 3,
The line width change image is an image obtained by expanding the character region in the character image,
The repetition is performed based on a rate at which the number of positions where a pixel arrangement for detecting a character collapse of a predetermined shape can be arranged in the character area of the line width changed image is increased with respect to the line width changed image acquired immediately before. A method for adjusting a line width of a handwritten character, further comprising a step of determining stoppage of the return step. A line width adjustment method for handwritten characters according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The character image shows a plurality of characters arranged in a line,
A line width adjusting method for handwritten characters, further comprising a character string size changing step of enlarging or reducing a rectangular region surrounding the plurality of characters according to a predetermined size before the line width acquiring step. It is a line width adjustment method of the handwritten character according to claim 5,
A method for adjusting the line width of a handwritten character, further comprising: a character spacing adjustment step of adjusting an interval between the plurality of characters to a predetermined width before the character string size changing step. A line width adjustment method for handwritten characters according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The method for adjusting a line width of a handwritten character, wherein the character indicated by the character image is a name of a donor named on a roof tile used for a shrine or temple. A line width adjustment device for a handwritten character that adjusts a line width of a handwritten character indicated by a character image,
A line width change image acquisition unit that acquires a line width change image obtained by expanding or contracting a character region in a binary character image indicating a handwritten character;
A line width acquisition unit that substantially acquires the line width of the character from the character image;
Based on the line width of the character in the character image, the line width change management unit that causes the line width change image acquisition unit to expand or contract the character region in the character image to obtain the desired line width of the character When,
A line width adjusting device for handwritten characters, comprising:

Images