JP2771629B2 - Character processor - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a character processing device for generating a character pattern.

[Related Art] In recent years, in recording apparatuses such as printing apparatuses, those that generate a character pattern that prevents rotation and enlargement / reduction of characters from deteriorating the quality of the printed characters have appeared.
The outline font is not for storing the character pattern as a dot image but for storing data in a coordinate format representing the outline of the character pattern.

To generate a character pattern, the coordinate data is read out, and a straight line or a curve between the individual coordinate data or a curve approximating a plurality of coordinate data groups is generated to generate a contour of the character pattern. The inside is filled with dots. When a dot image generated by the pattern generator is printed, high-quality characters can be rotated or enlarged / reduced.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, when another printing apparatus is connected to this type of pattern generating apparatus, there is no problem if the printing resolution is the same, but printing is performed if the printing apparatuses have different resolutions. Character size varies. Therefore, conventionally, it is necessary to prepare a pattern generator (means) using a different outline font for each different recording device.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and by using a fill pattern of a size corresponding to the resolution,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a character processing device that can generate an appropriate character pattern according to each resolution.

[Means for Solving the Problems] To solve the problems, the character processing device of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, a contour generation unit that determines a matrix size based on the set resolution and the designated character size, and generates a character outline from the vector font data with the determined matrix size. Character pattern generation means for generating a character pattern by filling the inside of the outline of the character with a fill pattern, wherein the character pattern generation means changes and changes the matrix size of the fill pattern according to the set resolution. The method is characterized in that the inside of the outline of the character is painted with the painted pattern.

Hereinafter, an embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the printing apparatus in the embodiment.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a host interface for inputting print data from a data source such as a host computer. Reference numeral 2 denotes an MPU that controls the entire device, and has an internal RAM.
2a is used as the work area. Reference numeral 3 denotes a ROM, which stores a processing procedure (program) shown in FIG. 7 described later. Reference numeral 4 denotes a font memory for storing data for generating an outline font pattern;
Is a graphics processor (G) that performs line, curve, or fill processing, etc., according to a graphics command from CPU2.
P). In the embodiment, it is used to draw an outline when a character pattern is generated and to fill the inside of the outline.

Reference numeral 7 denotes an image buffer for developing image data for printing. Reference numeral 8 denotes a recording device, which forms a visible image on a recording medium (recording paper or the like) based on the image data developed on the image buffer 7. Various devices such as an ink jet printer, a thermal transfer printer, and an electrophotographic printer can be used as the recording device.

Reference numerals 9 and 10 are work memories used when generating a character pattern. The work memory 9 is used at the time of filling processing in units of one character, and an outline (outline) based on outline font data of characters and symbols stored in the font memory 4 is developed. The work memory 10 stores a fill pattern inside the outline. The fill pattern inside the outline may be input from the host device or may be stored in advance and may be changed as appropriate.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a resolution setting switch of the recording device 8 constituted by, for example, a dip switch or the like, and the set contents are read by the CPU 2 via a data bus. When generating an outline font pattern, the CPU 2 generates a font pattern having the number of constituent dots corresponding to the set resolution. The resolution setting switch 11 may be provided on the pattern generator side of the apparatus or on the recording device 8 side. If the recording device 8 is an ink jet type (or thermal transfer type) printer, the same setting switch is provided on the recording head, and the setting value is automatically changed according to the resolution of the recording head. Can be.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the structure of outline font data stored in the font memory 4, and shows the case of the character "H".

As can be seen from the drawing, the outline font data corresponds to the resolution of the recording device 8 in which the graphics processor 5 is secured in the work memory 9 while referring to vector data having the coordinate values of the outline points P0 to Pn of the character. The outline path image based on the outline font data is developed in the corresponding one character matrix area.

For example, if the readability of the recording device is 120 dpi (dots per inch) and the specified size of the characters to be printed is
If it is 12 points, it is 1/72 inch per point, so the matrix size of the generated character is 20 × 20
Is the number of constituent dots. That is, in this case, a dot image of 20 × 20 is generated as an outline font pattern.

Next, the filling pattern will be described with reference to FIG.

FIGS. 3 (A) to 3 (C) show the filling patterns by the graphic processor 5 shown in FIG. 1, which correspond to 0%, 37.5% and 100%, respectively.
Although three types of patterns are shown here, it is also possible to prepare more types of patterns and express more gradations. Further, it is also possible to switch and set the filling pattern according to designation from the host device. Further, although this figure shows a fill pattern composed of 8 × 8 dots, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the matrix size can be changed in accordance with the resolution of the recording device or in accordance with designation from the host device. It is.

FIG. 3D is a diagram in which a 32 × 32 dot area is filled with the filling pattern of FIG. 3B.

Next, the dot developing process based on the outline font will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

In the figure, reference numeral 31 denotes a starting point of an outline path, and a scan path (contour line) 32 is generated in the work memory 9 by filling the space between the outline path starting points 31 with dots. Furthermore,
The outline font pattern corresponding to the character "H" is completed by filling the inside of the scan path (the shaded area shown in the figure). However, the coordinate data of the starting point when a scan path is generated is processed using a value subjected to scaling processing according to the set resolution.
In other words, since the coordinate value of the starting point stored in the font memory 4 is coordinate data for the reference size S ₀ × S ₀ , the number of constituent dot images derived by the set resolution is S ₁ × S ₁ . in some cases, the coordinate data read from the font memory 4 for processing by ₀ times S ₁ / S.

When the graphic processor 5 completes the process of painting the inside of the outline font on the work memory 9, the inside of the character “H” is designated by the designated pattern in FIGS. 3A to 3C. By performing the filling process, for example, a result shown in FIG. 5 is obtained. This processing can be easily obtained, for example, by taking a logical product with the filling pattern.

In FIG. 5, the outline path is filled with the same pattern as the inside of the outline path, but the outline path and the inside may be filled with a different pattern.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show examples in which fonts of the same size are generated from the same outline font data at different resolutions. That is, FIG. 6 (A)
Indicates a character pattern generated when printing a character of size M points on a device with Ndpi resolution,
FIG. 6B shows a character pattern generated when printing a character of M points at N / 2 dpi, that is, half the resolution.

As shown in the figure, in the case of FIG. 6 (B), since the number of dots in both the vertical and horizontal directions is half that of FIG. 6 (A), the dots are expanded on a matrix having a size of 1/4 as a whole. .

The operation processing procedure of the CPU 2 of the present embodiment based on the principle described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, in step S1, the resolution set by the resolution setting switch 11 is read, and in step S2,
The set resolution is stored and set at a predetermined address position of the RAM 2a in the CPU 2.

Next, in step S3, the process stands by to receive a character size setting command from the host device via the host interface 1. When the character size setting command is received, the process proceeds to step S4, and the set size is stored at a predetermined address position of the RAM 2a.

Then, it waits until the character code is received in step S5.

When the character code is received, outline font data corresponding to the received character code is read from the font memory 4 (step S6), the matrix size is determined from the set resolution and the designated character size, and a character outline path is generated. (Step S7). Thereafter, the inside of the outline path is filled (step S8), and mask processing is performed on the specified fill pattern, and the pattern is developed at a corresponding position in the image buffer 7. Note that in the embodiment, step S7
The processing in step S9 is performed by the CPU 2 giving an executable instruction to the graphics processor 5,
It goes without saying that the CPU 2 itself may perform the processing.

Next, in step S10, it is determined whether the font development for one page has been completed. If not, the process from step S3 is repeated to construct an image for one page in the image buffer 7. When data for one page is generated in the image buffer 7 in this manner, the process proceeds to step S11, and the data is sequentially output to the recording device 8 to print a character of a set size.

<Explanation of Second Embodiment (FIG. 8)> In the above-described embodiment, the recording device 8 and the pattern generation unit are described as being integrated via a bus, but the present invention is not limited to this. Not something.

That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the pattern generation device of this embodiment may be an independent device existing at an intermediate position between the host device and the printing device.

In the figure, reference numeral 12 denotes a printer interface for performing communication with an independent recording device 13, which receives resolution information from the storage device 13 and develops image data (font data) in the image buffer 7. Is transmitted. As a result, the same effect as in the first embodiment in which the CPU 2 directly reads the resolution set by the resolution setting switch 11 is obtained. According to the second embodiment, since the pattern generation device is independent, various recording devices can be connected, and the printed character size can be set as specified by the host device. It can be very versatile.

[Effect of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to generate an appropriate character pattern corresponding to each resolution by using a fill pattern having a size corresponding to the resolution.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a pattern generator of the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining outline font, FIGS. 3 (A) to 3 (C) are diagrams showing solid patterns, FIG. D) is the fill pattern of FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example in which a region having 32 constituent dots is filled, FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the principle of outline font generation, FIG. FIG. 6 (A) is a diagram showing a character pattern for printing characters of Ndpi, M points, FIG. 6 (B) is a diagram showing a character pattern for printing characters of N / 2dpi, M points, FIG. 7 is a flowchart relating to the pattern generation processing, and FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the pattern generation device in the second embodiment. In the figure, 1 ... host interface, 2 ... CPU, 2a ...
... RAM, 3 ... ROM, 4 ... Font memory, 5 ... Graphic processor, 7 ... Image buffer, 8 ...
Recording device, 9 and 10 Work memory, 11 Resolution setting switch, 12 Printer interface, 13
... a recording device.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An outline generating means for determining a matrix size based on a set resolution and a specified character size, and generating an outline of a character from vector font data at the determined matrix size. Character pattern generation means for generating a character pattern by filling the inside of the outline of the generated character with a fill pattern, wherein the character pattern generation means changes the matrix size of the fill pattern according to a set resolution And
A character processing device, characterized in that the inside of the outline of a character is filled with a changed fill pattern.