JP2856235B2 - Character processing device and character output 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 processing apparatus and a character processing apparatus capable of correcting the shape of a character using positional information of the characters before and after the character to output a character having a shape close to a human handwriting. Output method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In character output devices, an outline font system is becoming mainstream in place of the conventional dot font system. The outline font method is a font in which the shape of a character is represented by a contour line.Points that make up the contour are required as coordinate data, and each point is connected while interpolating with a spline curve or Bezier curve. By
It represents the shape of a character. Compared to the conventional dot font method, there is a big advantage that jaggedness does not occur even if characters are enlarged or reduced, and as a result, it is possible to correct outline enlargement or reduction without deteriorating character quality. (Note that for outline fonts,
For example, "Information and Communication New Language Dictionary" Nikkei BP January 3, 1990
Issued on day 0, described in pp.1). Further, the conventional character output device has a function of proportional processing for printing each character in a size given by the system. A normal output device not equipped with this function prints kanji and hiragana in the same size in 48 × 48 dots, but an output device equipped with this function uses 24 dots kanji and hiragana Displayed in 12 dots and printed. That is, the characters of the typeface system are defined by a configuration of 48 dots in length and width, but each character has a unique effective width in the range of 12 to 48 dots in proportional processing. When printing, it is printed in the size within the frame of the effective width.
Characters printed in 48 dots are displayed in 24 dots,
Characters printed with 12 to 23 dots are displayed with 12 dots.

[0003]

However, since the outline font method described above is fixed, in a document having an outline font, characters such as a line and a letter written in front and behind are actually used as in a written book. The shape does not change. Therefore, the actually printed document is not as natural as a document written by a human, and the feeling of being a printed document was inevitable. The purpose of the present invention is
It is an object of the present invention to provide a character processing device and a character output method that can solve such a conventional problem and correct the shape of the character by using preceding and succeeding characters to obtain a more natural character output.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, a character processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises (a) character input means;
In a character processing device including a display device that displays input characters or stored characters, a printer device that outputs input characters or stored characters, and a storage device that stores character font information, As font information, outline data, outline data
Character font registration means for registering, in a storage device, positional information of a stroke order start point and a stroke order end point for each character of the data, and information as to whether or not individual outline data is to be displayed in the corrected outline data; Character font reading means for reading character font information; outline data processing means for processing outline data from the read character font information to correct the character shape; and bits from the corrected outline data Bitmap developing means for developing into a map. Also,
According to the character output method of the present invention, (b) outline data, position information of a stroke order start point and a stroke order end point for each character of the outline data, and a stroke order start point and a stroke order end point are used as character font information. Position information for starting both transformations, information on whether or not individual outline data is to be corrected, and the deformation rate of how much outline data is processed on both the stroke order start point and the stroke order end point Are registered in a storage device, character font information is read from the storage device, outline data is processed according to a deformation ratio for each of the stroke order start point side and the stroke order end point side, and the processed points are updated. The corrected outline data is developed into a bit map from the corrected outline data, and is output to a printer or display output.

[0005]

According to the present invention, outline data as character font information, position information of a stroke order start point and a stroke order end point, position information for starting transformation of both a stroke order start point and a stroke order end point, and individual outlines・ Registration information of whether to correct the data and the deformation rate of how much the outline data is processed are registered at both the stroke order starting point side and the stroke order end point side. The outline data corrected according to the information is developed into a bit map. In the present invention, the effect is particularly remarkable when a large vertical writing is performed with a brush typeface, and the present invention can be applied to the display of English characters. In the conventional method, the entire font of the previous character and the entire font of the next character were simply brought close to each other.In the present invention, however, the character font information is provided with the position information of the stroke order start point and the stroke order end point, etc. By correcting the shape of the character based on the position information of the character, etc., it is possible to output a character having a shape close to a brush stroke.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a character processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a keyboard for inputting various data to the device, 2 is a mouse for inputting various data to the device, and 3 is a CRT display device having a bitmap memory. 4 is a laser beam printer, 5 is a storage device for storing font data such as outline data as a font file, and 6 is a memory area for temporarily storing outline data. A RAM 7 used as a work area of the processor unit is a ROM for storing a control program for executing various functions in the apparatus, a character font registration program, a character font reading program, an outline data processing program, and the like. , 8 are CPs for executing control and calculation of the program loaded in the ROM 7.
U and 9 are processors for reading programs stored in the ROM 7 and executing various processes for outline data, 10 is a control means for controlling the entire apparatus, 11 is character font information, and a stroke order starting point. The position information of the stroke order end point, the position information for starting the transformation on both the stroke order start point side and the stroke order end point side, the information on whether or not to correct each outline data, the stroke order start point side and the stroke order end point side Character font registering means for registering the deformation rate of how much outline data is to be processed on both sides, character font reading means 12 for reading registered character font information, and 13 for outline data from the read character font information. An outline data processing means for processing data and correcting the shape of a character; Tsu is a bit map development means for developing in-flops.

FIG. 2 is an operation flowchart of the character processing apparatus in FIG. First, under the control of the control unit 10 of the processor unit 9, the character font registration unit 11 registers character font information such as outline data and position information of a stroke order start point and a stroke order end point in the storage device 5 ( Step 201). Next, the character font reading means 12
Reads out the character font information from the storage device 5 as needed at the time of document output or the like (step 202). next,
The outline data processing means 13 processes the outline data from the read character font information to correct the character shape (step 203). Next, the bitmap developing means 14 develops the corrected outline data into a bitmap in the RAM 6 or a bit map memory in the CRT display 3 (step 20).
4). Of the above processing, the registration processing of the character font,
About the detailed operation of outline data processing,
This will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a detailed flowchart of the character font registration process in FIG. In order to create character font information to be registered, first, an outline data creation device creates outline data of a character such that the point at which the transformation of the character is started is the end point of the outline data. (Step 301). Next, the position information of the stroke order start point and the stroke order end point is added to the character font information (step 302). Position information for starting the transformation on both the stroke order start point side and the stroke order end point side is added to the character font information (step 303). Next, individual outlines
Information on whether to correct the data is added to the character font information (step 304). The deformation rate of how much outline data is processed is added to both the stroke order start point and the stroke order end point of the character font information (step 30).
5). The above character font information is registered in the storage device 5 (step 306).

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are flow charts showing a detailed procedure of processing for processing outline data of one character.
7 to 14 are explanatory diagrams for explaining the character output method of the present invention. Here, an example of a vertically written document will be described. X1, x shown by solid lines in FIG.
2 is called a contour line. This contour is a Bezier cubic curve,
It is composed of straight lines and combinations thereof. As shown in FIG. 8, the Bezier cubic curve can be defined by designating four control points y1, y2, y3, and y4. Outline data is Bezier
It consists of the control point of the cubic curve, the end point of the straight line, and information on which line to use. The stroke order starting point is a writing start point when a person actually writes a character, for example, a point c21 of the character "U" in FIG. Also, the stroke end point is
End of writing when a person actually writes a character, for example, FIG.
At point r21. Further, the deformation ratio on the stroke order start point side is a ratio of how much the shape of the character is corrected on the stroke order start point side, and is (the stroke order start point e2 after correction in FIG. 10).
1 and the distance between the stroke order starting point c21 and the stroke order starting point c21 before correction / (the distance between the stroke order starting point c21 and the point d21 in FIG. 10). Also, the deformation ratio on the stroke order end point side is a ratio of how much the shape of the character is corrected on the stroke order end point side, and is (the distance between the stroke order end point t21 and the stroke order end point r21 before correction in FIG. 12).
/ (Distance between stroke end point r21 and point s21).

In FIG. 4, first, it is determined whether or not there is a character on the display screen (step 401). If there is a character above, the deformation ratio on the stroke order starting point side is checked (step 402). Here, if the deformation rate is 0, the process moves to FIG.
If the deformation rate is not 0, the middle point of the deformation start point a21 and the deformation start point b21 on the stroke order start point side in FIG. 9 is set to d21 (step 403). The vector (d21, c21) is set as the inclination of the character on the stroke starting point side (step 404). Next, the transformation start point p on the stroke order end point side of the previous character in FIG.
The middle point between the point 11 and the deformation start point q11 is set to s11 (step 405). The vector (s11, d21) is set as the brush stroke on the stroke order start point side (step 406). As shown in FIG. 10, the inclination of the vector (d21, c21) is
21, s11), the stroke order starting point c21 is rotated around the point d21 by the stroke order starting point side deformation rate to obtain a point e21.
(Step 407). Angle (c21, d21, e2
1) is obtained (step 408). Next, in FIG. 5, it is determined whether or not there is a character below the display screen (step 409). If there is a character underneath, the deformation ratio at the stroke end point is checked (step 410). If the deformation rate is 0,
Turning to FIG. If the transformation rate is not 0, as shown in FIG. 9, the transformation start point p21 and the transformation start point q21
Is set to s21 (step 411). The vector (s21, r21) is set as the inclination of the character on the stroke order end point side (step 412). The middle point between the deformation start point a31 and the deformation start point b31 on the stroke order start point side of the next character is d31 (step 413). The vector (s21, d31) is set as the brush stroke on the stroke end point side (step 414). As shown in FIG. 12, the stroke order end point r21 is rotated by the stroke order end point side deformation rate around the point s21 so that the inclination of the vector (s21, r21) approaches the vector (s21, d31), and the point t
21 (step 415). Angles (r21, s21,
t21) is obtained (step 416).

Next, in FIG. 6, one point is extracted from the outline data of the character (step 417). It is determined whether a point has been extracted (step 418). If a point can be extracted, it is determined whether or not the outline data of the point is to be corrected (step 419). If the information indicates that the correction is to be made on the stroke order start point side, as shown in FIG. 11, the deformation start point a21 or the control point am2 of the outline data adjacent thereto is displayed.
It is checked whether the number is 1, or the transformation start point b21 or four control points bm21 of the outline data adjacent thereto (step 420). If none of the four points is present, the point is angled (c21, d2) as shown in FIG.
(1, e21) is rotated about d21, and the point is updated (step 421). If it is determined in step 419 that the information is to be corrected on the ending point of the stroke order, as shown in FIG. 13, the transformation start point p21 or the control point pm2 of the outline data adjacent to the transformation start point p21.
It is checked whether the number is 1, or the transformation start point q21 or the control point qm21 of the outline data adjacent thereto (step 422). If none of the four points is present, the point is angled (r21, s2), as shown in FIG.
(1, t21), the rotation is made around s21, and the point is updated (step 423). The above operation is performed in step 417
Return to and repeat.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a character pattern as a result output by the character output method according to the present invention. Next, a description will be given of a character output method according to another embodiment of the present invention. The configuration of the character processing device is the same as that of the block shown in FIG. The operation flowchart of this character processing apparatus is exactly the same as that of FIG. This embodiment is different in the detailed operation. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a procedure for registering character font information according to another embodiment of the present invention.
It is. In order to register the character font information, the outline data creating device firstly converts the outline data of the character into the outline data at the point where the transformation of the character is started.
(Step 1301).
Next, the position information of the stroke order start point and the stroke order end point is added to the character font information (step 1302). Next, the outline data corrected for when the stroke order end point of the upper character is left, middle, and right in the left and right direction, and the stroke order start point of the lower character is left, center, and right in the left and right direction Outline data corrected for time is created by the outline data creating device and added to the character font information (step 130).
3). Next, whether the outline data is to be displayed at all times, whether the stroke end point of the upper character is to be displayed at the left, middle, or right in the horizontal direction, the stroke order of the lower character Information is added as to whether the start point is to be displayed in the left, right, left or right direction (step 1304). Then, the above character font information is stored in the storage device 5 (step 1305).

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a procedure for processing outline data of one character according to another embodiment of the present invention. First, it is determined whether there is a character on the display screen (step 1401). If there is a letter above,
It is checked where the stroke end point of the upper character is located on the left, middle, and right in the left-right direction (step 1402). Next, it is determined whether or not there is a character below the display screen (step 140).
3). If there is a character below, it is checked where the stroke order starting point of the lower character is located on the left, middle, and right in the horizontal direction (step 14).
04). One outline data of the character is extracted (step 1405). It is checked whether or not outline data has been extracted (step 1406). If not, the process ends. When it can be taken out, the taken out outline data must be displayed, or displayed when the stroke order end point of the upper character has been examined earlier, or displayed when the stroke order start point of the lower character has been examined earlier. (Step 1407). If so, add it to the new outline data (step 1408). The above processing returns to step 1405 and is repeated.

[0013]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By correcting the shape of the character with the surrounding characters, more natural character output can be obtained, so it is possible to output characters that are close to the strokes of people writing, especially in vertical writing with brush typeface It is.

[0014]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a character processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an operation flowchart of the character processing apparatus in FIG. 1;
It is.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a character font information registration processing procedure in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a part of a flowchart showing a processing procedure for processing outline data in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is another part of the flowchart of the outline data processing shown in FIG. 2;

6 is another part of the flowchart of the outline data processing shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the outline of a character.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating control points of a Bezier cubic curve.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of processing for processing outline data in the present embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a corrected stroke order start point e21.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating each point of outline data on the stroke order start point side.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a stroke order end point t21 after correction.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating each point of outline data on the stroke order end point side.

FIG. 14 is a character pattern diagram showing a result output by a character output method according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a character font information registration processing procedure according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a processing procedure for processing outline data according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 keyboard 2 mouse 3 CRT display device 4 laser beam printer 5 storage device 6 RAM 7 ROM 8 CPU 9 processor unit 10 control means 11 character font registration means 12 character font readout means 13 outline data -Data processing means 14 Bitmap development means

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A character input means, a display device for displaying input characters or stored characters, and a printer device for outputting input characters or stored characters.
In a character processing apparatus provided with a storage device for storing character font information, outline data, stroke order start point and stroke order end point position information for each character of the outline data, and character font information are corrected as character font information. Character font registration means for registering information as to whether or not individual outline data is to be displayed in the outline data in a storage device, character font reading means for reading the character font information, and read character font information And an outline data processing means for processing outline data to correct the shape of a character, and a bitmap developing means for developing the corrected outline data into a bitmap. Character processor. 2. As character font information, outline data, positional information of a stroke order start point and a stroke order end point for each character of the outline data, and transformation of both a stroke order start point and a stroke order end point are started. Storage information, information on whether or not individual outline data is to be corrected, and a deformation rate of how much outline data is to be processed on both the stroke order start point side and the stroke order end point side. The character font information is read from the storage device, the outline data is processed according to the deformation ratio for each of the stroke order start point side and the stroke order end point side, and the processed points are updated and corrected. A character output method for developing the outline data into a bit map and outputting it to a printer or a display output.