JP2806790B2 - Character generator and method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a character generating device and a method therefor, and more particularly, to various information processing devices such as a word processor and a personal computer, each of which has an outline font character generating function formed by vector data and has a character contour pattern. The present invention relates to a character generator and a method for performing character deformation such as enlargement / reduction / rotation during formation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of character generator includes a device which generates a dot font character pattern having a character dot image as data and a device which generates an outline font character pattern having a character outline pattern as vector data. is there. Recently, character generators using outline fonts, which have a smaller amount of data in a character outline pattern than a dot font character pattern, and which can easily express a smooth curve by vector data, are widely used.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a general information processing system provided with a conventional character generator using an outline font. Referring to FIG. 4, this character generator has the same functions as those generally employed in various information processing systems such as a word processor and a personal computer, and includes an input unit 7, a control unit 8, a display unit 9, and an output control unit 10. A character generator 13 comprising a printing means 11, a modified character information calculating means 1, a coordinate point information storing means 3 and an outline font developing means 6, and a storage device comprising a coordinate point information storing means 3 and an image pattern storing means 12. 14.

Normally, a character code 25 is input from the control means 8, coordinate point information 27 is output from the coordinate point information storage means 3, and character development is performed by the outline font development means 6 to output a character pattern 28. In the case of performing character deformation, a calculation is performed by the deformation character information calculation means 1 based on the deformation information 21, and the character is developed together with the coordinate point information 27 by the coordinate conversion formula 24.

In general, a method for inputting deformation information 21 like the deformed character information calculating means 1 and obtaining a coordinate conversion equation 24 for obtaining a coordinate point for actually developing a character from the basic coordinate point information 27 is described. , According to the following determinant. When scaling up / down:

[0006]

When rotating:

[0008]

At this time, x and y are the original coordinate points, a and
b is an enlargement / reduction ratio on each of the x-axis side and the y-axis side, θ is a rotation angle, and X and Y are coordinate points to be obtained.

For example, when the deformation is performed twice in the x-axis direction and three times in the y-axis direction,

[0011]

[0012] The coordinate transformation equation 24 to be obtained is X = 2
x, Y = 3y.

In the case of performing a deformation of rotating 90 ° to the left,

[0014]

The coordinate transformation formula 24 to be obtained is as follows: X = cos90 ° × x-sin90 ° y Y = sin90 ° x + cos90 ° ycos90 ° = 0, sin90 ° = 1
X = −y and Y = x.

Further, in the case of performing a deformation of rotating 90 ° to the left on a deformation twice as large in the x-axis direction and three times in the y-axis direction,

[0017]

X = 2 · cos90 ° · x−2 · sin90 ° · y Y = 3 · sin90 ° · x + 3 · cos90 ° · y where cos90 ° = 0 and sin90 ° = Since it is 1, X = −2y and Y = 3x.

The coordinate conversion formula 24 thus obtained is input to the outline font developing means 6 together with the coordinate point information 27, and is output as a transformed character pattern 28.

However, in the character expansion of the dot font character pattern, the character expansion simply transfers the dot font data as it is, whereas in the outline font character expansion processing, the outline font for the character code is searched, and the outline font data is obtained according to a certain method. , A series of complicated processes of generating an outline pattern and performing filling are required, the processing time is lengthened, and the processing efficiency of the system is reduced.

Various methods have been considered to solve this problem. For example, in an information processing apparatus having a character pattern generation function using an outline font disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 4-19791, a character expansion process is performed once. The character development time is shortened by storing the formed contour data in the auxiliary storage unit. FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing an example of a character generator of the information processing apparatus, and FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of the function.

The character generating section shown in FIG. 5 includes an outline font developing device 15 comprising a modified character information calculating means 1 and an outline font developing means 6, and a character pattern storing means comprising an index storage area 16 and data buffers 17 and 18a. The outline font data extracted from the outline font data storage areas 18b and 19 is input to the outline font developing device 15. The coordinate font information storage means 3 includes an outline font data storage area 18b and an outline font data storage area 18b. By storing the outline fonts obtained in this manner in the data buffers 17 and 18a and storing the stored index information such as position information in the index storage area 16, once expanded characters are already expanded. Reads out line font from the data buffer 17 and 18a, only the characters that are not yet deployed even once is newly deployed, will be stored in the new area.

Referring to FIG. 7, the flow of a process performed by the information processing apparatus when outputting an outline font will be described. First, index data is searched to determine whether a target character has already been developed (step 201). If the target data exists (step 202), it
Check whether it exists in AM or HDD (step 2
08), and retrieves the target file access data from each storage area (steps 209 and 210). If the target character has not been expanded yet, it is searched whether there is a space in the data buffer and the index storage area (step 203). If there is a space, character expansion is performed (step 206). The data is stored in the data buffer, and the index information is written to the empty index (step 207). If there is no more free area, the index data of unnecessary data in the data already stored is rewritten (step 20).
4) Write data to the target file (step 20)
5).

By storing outline fonts created once in a storage area provided in a RAM, HDD, or the like in this method, it is not necessary to develop characters each time, and character expansion can be performed at high speed. Processing capacity is improved.

[0025]

The problem to be solved by the present invention is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-197.
In order to shorten the processing time by storing the characters after expansion as in the information processing device of JP-A-91, it is necessary to store all data for each character in the outline font after character expansion. Thus, even a frequently used character requires a capacity of several thousand characters.

Furthermore, when a document is actually created, various fonts, sizes, and directions are required to give characteristics to the output result depending on the purpose of the document or the hobby of the creator.・ Characters that have been reduced or rotated at various angles will be expanded.There is no need to store infrequently used characters, but there are several types of expanded data for the same character, and several times more. A storage area for characters is required.

In general, coordinate points forming the outline of outline font characters are designed in consideration of enlarging / reducing a certain range to maintain the character quality of the expanded dot font. It is made in size and is usually scaled frequently. Furthermore, in recent years, inclination, rotation, and the like are often required as deformed characters, and it is necessary to input an enlargement / reduction ratio, an inclination angle, and a rotation angle in order to deform each time character expansion occurs, which takes a long processing time. There's a problem.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to eliminate the need to input deformation information which is required each time a character is transformed and developed, thereby shortening the processing time.

[0029]

A character generator according to the present invention comprises: coordinate point information storage means for storing coordinate point information forming a character outline of a previously designed design character in correspondence with a character code; A deformed character information calculating means for inputting deformation information of the design character and outputting a first coordinate conversion formula from the deformation information; and a second character conversion means for obtaining a basic character which is always used by the first coordinate conversion formula. Constant storage means for storing as a constant when the coordinate conversion formula is used, and usage information for controlling a use state of the second coordinate conversion formula and the first coordinate conversion formula which is inputted from time to time from the deformed character information calculation means. A control unit, a conversion formula for inputting the first coordinate conversion formula and the second coordinate conversion formula, and outputting a third coordinate conversion formula finally required by a control signal from the usage information control unit; Selection means and before And a outline font expansion means for performing outline font character development from the coordinate point information and the third coordinate conversion formula.

[0030]

Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows a character expansion processing diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the character generator of this embodiment stores coordinate point information 27 for forming a character outline of a design character designed in advance in correspondence with a character code 25. Storage means 3; modified character information calculating means 1 for inputting design character deformation information 21 and outputting a first coordinate conversion formula 22 from the deformation information 21;
Constant storage means 2 for storing as a constant when second coordinate conversion equation 23 for obtaining a basic character which is always used by first coordinate conversion equation 22, second coordinate conversion equation 23 and modified character information calculating means 1 Usage information control means 4 for controlling the use state of the first coordinate conversion formula 22 which is input from time to time, and the usage information control means 4 which inputs the first coordinate conversion formula 22 and the second coordinate conversion formula 23 A conversion formula selection means 5 for outputting a third coordinate conversion formula 24 finally required by the control signal from
An outline font developing means 6 for developing outline font characters from the coordinate point information 27 and the third coordinate conversion formula 24.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In general, like the deformed character information calculation means 1, the transformation information 21 is input, and a coordinate transformation formula for finding a coordinate point for actually developing a character from the basic coordinate point information is determined according to a certain determinant. The operation is performed as described in the related art, and the operation of this embodiment will be described based on the operation.

First, as shown in FIG.
Design letter A designed in the size of 500 dots
Exists, the coordinate point information storage means 3 stores the character code 2
5 stores coordinate point information 27 that can reproduce the design character A corresponding to No. 5. For example, design letter A
Is developed without performing the transformation, the coordinate point information storage means 3 stores the coordinate point information 27 corresponding to the input character code 25.
Is output. Since the design character A is not transformed, the use information control means 4 outputs that only the coordinate point information 27 is used, and the conversion formula selection means 3 does not output the conversion formula. By inputting the coordinate point information 27, the outline font developing means 6 converts the design character A into a character as it is in FIG.
Can be developed as a character pattern 28.

Next, in the case where the user uses the most frequently used characters that are 4/5 times in the x-axis direction, 1 times in the y-axis direction, and are inclined at 20 ° to the x-axis with respect to the design character A. To
This condition is defined as a basic character B. First, the basic character information is input to the deformed character information calculation means 1 as deformation information 21, and a first coordinate conversion equation 22 is obtained. The basic formula for tilting is: When tilting with respect to the x-axis,

[0035]

When tilting with respect to the y-axis,

[0037]

## EQU4 ## Here, X, Y, x, and y are the coordinate point to be obtained and the original coordinate point, respectively, and γ indicates the inclination angle. The coordinate conversion formula for generating the basic character B is:

[0039]

For the inclination,

[0041]

Therefore, when these are synthesized,

[0043]

Assuming that tan20 ° ≒ 0.36, X = (4/5) x Y = 0.36x + y is obtained.
To store.

In the expansion of the basic character B, the constant storage means 2 outputs the second coordinate conversion formula 23 which is a constant, and the usage information control means 4 outputs the second coordinate conversion formula 23 from the constant storage means 2. That only the conversion formula selection means 5 is used.
Outputs the second coordinate conversion expression 23 from the constant storage means 2 as it is. The coordinate point information storage means 3 outputs coordinate point information 27 corresponding to the input character code 25, and the outline font developing means 6 converts the coordinate point information 27 and the third coordinate conversion formula 24 into 400 × 500 dots on the x-axis. 2 for
A character such as B in FIG.
8 can be developed.

Next, in the case where a character which is further rotated by 1/2 times in the x-axis direction and 1/2 times in the y-axis direction by 90 degrees to the left with respect to the basic character B is developed, these conditions are applied to the modification information 21. Is input to the deformation information calculation means 1 and the first coordinate conversion equation 22
Ask for. That is, for reduction,

[0047]

For rotation,

[0049]

Therefore, when these are synthesized,

[0051]

Where sin90 ° = 1, cos90 °
= 0, the first coordinate conversion expression 22 of X = − (1/2) y Y = (1/2) x
Output from Since the first coordinate conversion formula 22 is not a coordinate conversion formula for developing the basic character B, it is not stored in the constant storage unit 2 but is input to the conversion formula selection unit 5. The usage information control unit 4 outputs to the conversion formula selection unit 5 that both the first coordinate conversion formula 22 and the second coordinate conversion formula 23 are used, and the conversion formula selection unit 5 outputs the first coordinate conversion formula 22 And finally the third coordinate conversion formula 24 required from the second coordinate conversion formula 23 is output.

The second coordinate conversion equation 23 is expressed as follows: X = (4/5)
x, Y = 0.36x + y, and the first coordinate conversion equation 22
Is X =-(1/2) y and Y = (1/2) x. Since the transformation is performed on the basic character B, the second coordinate conversion formula 23 is expressed as X ₁ = (4/5) x, Y ₁ = 0.36x + y
And the first coordinate conversion equation 22 is expressed as X = − (１ ／) Y ₁ ,
Y = (1/2) as each is substituted into X _1, Y ₁ as _{X 1, X = - (1/2} ) (0.36x + y), Y = (1
/ 2) From (4/5) x, X = −0.18x−0.5
y, Y = 0.4x, and these equations are output from the conversion formula selection unit 5 to the outline font development unit 6 as the final third coordinate conversion formula 24. The coordinate point information storage means 3 outputs coordinate point information 27 corresponding to the input character code 25. From the coordinate point information 27 and the final third coordinate conversion formula 24, the outline font developing means 6 rotates 250.times.200 dots to the left by 90.degree. And tilts by 20.degree. With respect to the y-axis as shown in FIG. Character can be developed as a character pattern 28.

Similarly, when a character is developed using only the added deformation information 21 without using the deformation information 21 for forming the basic character A as shown by the deformation character C in FIG.
For example, a condition of 1/2 times in the x-axis direction, 1/2 times in the y-axis direction, and 90 ° rotation to the left is input to the deformed character information calculating means 1 as the deformed information 21 and X is calculated as described above.
The first coordinate conversion formula 22 of = − (１ ／) y and Y = (１ ／) x is output to the conversion formula selection means 5. The conversion formula selection means 5 also inputs the second coordinate conversion formula 23 for becoming the basic character A from the constant storage means 2, but the use information control means 4 sends the second coordinate conversion formula 23 from the constant storage means 2. It is input that the conversion formula 23 is not used and only the first coordinate conversion formula 22 from the deformed character information calculating means 1 is used, and the first coordinate conversion formula 22 from the deformed character information calculating means 1 is used as an outline font. Output to the developing means 6. The outline font developing means 6 can develop a target character as a character pattern 28 from the input first coordinate conversion formula 22 and the coordinate point information 27 from the coordinate point information storage means 3.

Even when the basic character B is determined and the design character A is to be developed as it is, the conversion formula selection means 5 similarly stores the second coordinate conversion formula 2 from the constant storage means 2.
3 and the first coordinate conversion formula 2 from the deformed character information calculation means 1.
2 is input, but none is output by inputting from the usage information control means 4 that neither is used. The outline font developing unit 6 uses only the coordinate point information from the coordinate point information storage means 3 to store
Can be expanded.

According to this embodiment, when the same deformation is continuously developed or when the user always handles a character having a certain deformation, it is not necessary to input the deformation information 21 each time, and the processing can be easily performed. In addition, the processing time can be shortened. For example, when expanding the basic character B described above,
At least the input of the magnification in the x-axis direction, the magnification in the y-axis direction, and the four elements of the determinant for inclination with respect to the x-axis can be omitted.

Next, FIG. 3, which is a flowchart showing an example of the operation in this embodiment, will be described with reference to FIGS. First, it is determined whether or not to input basic character information (step 101). If so, basic character information for forming the basic character B is input (step 10).
2) Do it. Next, it is determined whether or not to input deformed character C information other than the basic character B (step 103). If so, deformation information 21 for character deformation is input (step 104). Next, character code 2 of the character to be expanded
5 is input (step 105), and the coordinate point information 27 corresponding to the character code 25 is selected (step 106). Next, it is determined whether or not to use the respective conversion formulas of the basic character B and the modified character C (step 107), and the final conversion formula is calculated (step 108), and character expansion is performed (step 109). Subsequently, when the next character is developed, the process returns to the beginning, and if there is no change in the basic character B and the modified character C, the processing is continued from the input of the character code.

As is clear from the above description, according to this embodiment, the outline font after character expansion does not require a storage area for storing all data for each character, and is once transformed as the basic character B. If the information 21 is input, this processing can be omitted, unless otherwise changed. When another modified character C or basic character B + modified character C is used successively, the input processing of the modified information 21 can be omitted. Further, in this embodiment, it has been described that only one type of basic character B is stored as a constant, but a plurality of constant storage means 2 are provided,
The usage information control means 4 controls the switching and use of each of them, so that the conversion formula selection means 5 obtains the final third coordinate conversion formula 24 and can quickly process many types of deformations. It is possible. Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-19791, which is a prior art for storing a developed pattern for a character which is extremely frequently used depending on the application.
The processing time can be further reduced by using the storage areas described in the above publication together.

[0059]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Deformation information of a design character designed in advance is input, and a first coordinate conversion formula is output from the deformation information,
To obtain the basic characters used by the coordinate conversion formula
Is stored as a constant at the time of the coordinate conversion formula, and the state of use of the second coordinate conversion formula and the first coordinate conversion formula input as needed from the deformed character information calculation means is controlled, so that the second conversion formula is finally required. 3 is output, and the coordinate point information and the third
By performing outline font character expansion from the coordinate conversion formula of this formula, it is possible to easily perform character expansion after character deformation that is always used or character deformation and character expansion to be used repeatedly, and to input deformation information and calculate coordinate conversion formulas. Time can be reduced. Also, there is no need to prepare a large amount of storage means as a storage area for storing all data for each character in the outline font after character expansion.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a character expansion process according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a conventional character generator using an outline font and a general information processing system including the character generator.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of another conventional character generation device.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the character generator of FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Deformed character information calculation means 2 Constant storage means 3 Coordinate point information storage means 4 Usage information control means 5 Conversion formula selection means 6 Outline font development means 21 Deformation information 22 First coordinate conversion formula 23 Second coordinate conversion formula 24 Coordinate Conversion formula 25 Character code 26 Usage information 27 Coordinate point information 28 Character pattern

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A coordinate point information storage means for storing coordinate point information forming a character outline of a previously designed design character corresponding to a character code, and inputting deformation information of the design character. Deformed character information calculating means for outputting a first coordinate conversion formula from the deformation information; and storing a constant as a constant when the first coordinate conversion formula is a second coordinate conversion formula for obtaining a basic character which is always used. Means, use information control means for controlling a use state of the second coordinate conversion formula and the first coordinate conversion formula input as needed from the deformed character information calculation means, and the first coordinate conversion formula; A conversion formula selection unit that inputs the second coordinate conversion formula and outputs a third coordinate conversion formula finally required by a control signal from the usage information control unit; and the coordinate point information and the third
An outline font developing means for developing an outline font character from the coordinate conversion formula of (1). 2. Coordinate point information for forming a character outline of a previously designed design character is stored in correspondence with a character code, and transformation information of the design character is inputted, and a first coordinate conversion is performed from the transformation information. An expression is output and stored as a constant when the first coordinate conversion expression is a second coordinate conversion expression for obtaining a basic character used at all times. The use state of the first coordinate conversion equation, which is input as needed, is controlled, and the first coordinate conversion equation and the second coordinate conversion equation are input. The third necessary for
A character conversion method for outputting an outline font character from the coordinate point information and the third coordinate conversion formula.