JP3008555B2 - Vector font output device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vector font output device for creating a vector font based on a character skeleton and a distance from the skeleton.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a data processing apparatus for performing document processing (Japanese processing) is provided with a vector font output apparatus for displaying / printing and outputting document data with high quality. In this vector font output device, for example, font data in which a contour part constituting a character is represented by a coordinate sequence or a function sequence is stored in a font memory in correspondence with each character. FIG. 22 is a conventional vector font showing one image of leftward payment, wherein P1 to P2 are represented by a coordinate sequence (short vector or polygon method), and P1 to P3.
Up to this point are represented by Bezier curves using Q1 and Q2 as control points.

[0003]

As described above, the outline of the font data is represented by a coordinate sequence or a function sequence. Therefore, for example, the font data may be changed in shape without changing the thickness of the line constituting the character, or may be changed in shape. However, there were drawbacks such as that the thickness could not be changed without changing the thickness, and that the thicknesses of the lines were not uniform. An object of the present invention is to make it possible to create and output a vector font based on information representing the thickness of a line constituting a character by an n-th order polynomial.

[0004]

The means of the present invention are as follows. Skeleton data storage means for storing a skeleton of a line constituting a character by a function indicating coordinates, distance data storage means for storing a distance representing a distance from the skeleton by an n-degree polynomial,
The outline coordinate position of the vector font is sequentially calculated based on the coordinates on the skeleton line derived by the function of the skeleton data storage unit, the inclination value of the tangent, and the distance from the skeleton derived from the n-th order polynomial of the distance data storage unit. Vector font creating means for creating a vector font, and an output means for outputting the vector font created by the vector font creating means. Therefore, the shape and thickness of the font can be easily changed, and even if the shape and thickness are changed, a high-quality font having a smooth curved portion and a beautiful shape can be obtained.

[0005]

[Description of Functional Block Diagram] FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of the present invention. The vector font creating unit 3 sequentially calculates the thickness from the skeleton based on the contents of the skeleton data storage unit 1 and the thickness data storage unit 2 based on the n-th order polynomial to create a vector font. Here, for example, points on both sides of the skeleton moved by Ax ² + Bx + C in a direction perpendicular to the skeleton are contours. The vector font thus obtained is output from the output means 4.

[0006]

An embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. First, the data structure of a character font and the like will be described. FIG. 2 shows a state in which a character font "complete" is constructed by assembling various parts in which character components are made into parts. The character fonts are roughly classified into "Hen", "Tsuru", " It is possible to combine the upper part of the radical such as "kanmuri" or the like and the character of the other character font "original" as parts. Upper parts and character fonts consist of a combination of multiple base parts, etc., according to character shapes.Base parts represent character components such as a single line or point, and are basic parts that cannot be further disassembled. , Constitutes one outline font by itself, but the “U crown” (upper part) is composed of four base parts, and the character font “source” is also composed of a plurality of base parts (not shown). .

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the data structure of a part. The base part is composed of skeleton data, flesh data, end shape data, and the like. The skeleton data represents a line segment passing through the center of the character component. In the present embodiment, the type of the skeleton data is (1), and the skeleton is represented by a straight line.
(2) A skeleton represented by a Bezier curve.
(3) Some skeletons are represented by a part of an ellipse. Note that there is a small circle such as a symbol without a skeleton, and this is also treated as a part of the skeleton data. The flesh data indicates the distance from the skeleton as a second-order polynomial (Ax ² + Bx +
The outline data is created by sequentially calculating the thickness from the skeleton based on the skeleton data and the thickness data based on the quadratic polynomial. The shape data at both ends defines the line end shape such as the scale of the brush, the end of the circle, etc., and simply by specifying the line end shape, the specified type of line end part is automatically generated, and The size of the line end component is automatically controlled according to the thickness of the line to which the line end component is connected.

The data structure of the character font is composed of the part number (or other character recognition number) of the upper part or the base part, the arrangement position, the enlargement ratio, etc. For example, as shown in FIG. It can be configured by reading three times with changing the length and arrangement position of the skeleton. The data structure of the upper part also includes a part number, an arrangement position, an enlargement ratio, and the like, like the data structure of the character font.

FIG. 4 shows the skeleton of the base part 1/2 times as wide,
It is transformed to 1.4 times in height, and such magnification is defined in the character font and upper part, but in this case, the thickness and both ends shape of the base part do not change, Only the shape changes. FIG.
Is obtained by applying the same magnification as that of FIG. 4 to “oblique payment”. In the case of such an oblique line, it is only necessary to multiply the vertical and horizontal directions of the skeleton. In this case, since the thickness is always defined as a distance in a direction perpendicular to the skeleton, an oblique line as if rotated in a pseudo manner is obtained.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the character font output device. The character font output device has a configuration including a parts placement device 11, a dot data conversion device 12, a bitmap print buffer 13, and a printer 14.
When receiving the character code to be printed together with the print command, the parts placement device 11 starts the operation, sequentially extracts the base parts constituting the character, and sends the part number, placement position, and magnification data to the dot data conversion device 12. give.
The dot data converter 12 calls the base part corresponding to this part number, changes the skeleton data by multiplying the skeleton by magnification, generates contour data by referring to the flesh data and the like, and generates a bitmap print buffer. The operation of developing the image at the designated arrangement position on the base unit 13 is executed for each base part. Note that the contour data filling process is performed after the contour data is generated and the dot data conversion device 12 is turned on.
Performed by The printer 14 is a thermal printer that prints out dot data in the bitmap print buffer 13 line by line.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the parts placement device 11. As shown in FIG. The print code register 11-1 is for setting a character code to be printed, and this character code is passed to the search code register 11-2. The search code register 11-2 stores a character code from the print code register 11-1 or a part code (or character code) from the main control unit 11-3, and stores a library based on the character code and the part code. The address index 11-4 is the font data library 11
The head address corresponding to the character or part in -5 is indexed. The font data library 11-5 stores a data structure table corresponding to various characters and upper parts. For example, in addition to a data structure table corresponding to the character "Jin", a radical "Ninben" constituting the character is stored. Has a data structure table corresponding to ". Library address pointer 11
Reference numeral -6 denotes a pointer in which a start address obtained by referring to the library address index 11-4 is set. According to the value, a corresponding data structure table of the font data library 11-5 is designated.
The parts pointer 11-7 is a pointer for sequentially designating the definition contents of the data structure table designated by the value of the library address pointer 11-6 in units of parts from the top thereof, and the font data library 11 according to this value.
The data read from -5 is taken into the main control unit 11-3. The pointer stack memory 11-8 includes a library address pointer 11-6 and a part pointer 11-7.
Is a memory that saves the value of “1” as necessary. Main control unit 1
1-3, if the data read from the font data library 11-5 is a character or a high-order part, the character code or part code thereof is searched for in the search code register 1;
If it is a base part, the data (part number, arrangement position, magnification) relating to the base part is given to the dot data conversion device 12.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the dot data conversion device 12. This dot data converter 1
2 is a search code register 12-1, a library address index 12-2, and a library address pointer 1.
2-3, a part pointer 12-4, a base part data library 12-5, and a main control unit 12-6.
A part number is input as a search code from 1 and an arrangement position and a magnification are input from the parts arrangement device 11 to the main control unit 12-6. Library address index 1
2-2 is a base part data library 1 based on the part code set in the search code register 12-1.
The head address corresponding to the corresponding part in 2-5 is indexed. The base part data library 12-5 stores a data structure table corresponding to various base parts. A corresponding data structure table is designated according to the value of the library address pointer 12-3. According to the value of -4, the contents of the definition of the specified data structure table are sequentially specified and read out in skeleton units from the beginning. As a result, the data read from the base part data library 12-5 is transferred to the main control unit 12-.
Sent to 6. The main control unit 12-6 generates contour data based on the base part data and the magnification data from the part placement device 11, develops the contour data in the bitmap print buffer 13, and increments the value of the part pointer 12-4.

FIG. 9 shows a font data library 11-5.
2 shows a data structure table stored in the data structure. This data structure table is provided for each character and upper part, and the data structure table corresponding to one character or upper part is composed of N blocks (N = 1, 2,...), And one block is 6 bytes, and therefore N The data amount is obtained by adding a header (2 bytes) to a block × 6 bytes. The header variable (16 bits) defines the character, the number of blocks (7 bits) constituting the upper part, and the like. For example, the character “jin” is “Ninben” (upper part) and two horizontal lines (base part). The “Ninben” is a two-block configuration composed of two types of base parts, that is, a slanted line and a vertical line, and the number of blocks is defined as a header variable.

Each block data includes a first variable, a second variable,...
... the fifth variable. Details of the first variable, as shown in the table outside of FIG. 9, define that another character font should be called when the most significant bit of the first variable (16 bits) is "0", and the remaining 15 bits are It becomes a character identification code, and the remaining 15 bits can represent all Japanese character codes. Defines that the part should be called when the most significant bit of the first variable is "1". When the second most significant bit is "0", the upper part such as "Hen" or "Creation" is defined. Defines that a normal one-image part (base part) should be called. Since the number of base parts is at most about 200, the number of bits is sufficient. The second variable and the third variable define the arrangement position of the part, the second variable indicates the X coordinate value, and the third variable indicates the Y coordinate value.
The fourth and fifth variables define the magnification of the part, the fourth variable indicates the X-axis direction, and the fifth variable indicates the Y-axis direction.

FIG. 10 shows a base part data library 1
5 shows a data structure table stored in 2-5. Here, the base part is the smallest character component that cannot be further decomposed, and there is a character part composed of two or more skeletons in addition to one skeleton. For this reason, the data structure table has N blocks (N = 1, 2,...) Corresponding to the number of skeletons.
One block is 4 to 14 bytes, so N blocks ×
It is a data amount obtained by adding a header (2 bytes) to 4 to 14 bytes. The number of blocks (the number of skeletons) is defined by 7 bits of the header variable (16 bits).

Each block data has a different data amount depending on the shape of the skeleton. That is, when the skeleton is a straight line, the data amount is from the first variable to the tenth variable. When the skeleton is a Bezier curve, the data amount is from the first variable to the fourteenth variable.
In the case of a part of the ellipse, the data amount is from the first variable to the twelfth variable, and in the case of a small circle, the data amount is from the first variable to the fourth variable. The first variable (8 bits) is the lower 2
The skeleton shape (type) is defined by bits, and the value is "0".
A value of 0 indicates a straight line, a value of 01 indicates a Bezier curve, a value of 10 indicates a part of an ellipse, and a value of 11 indicates a small circle. The shape is defined, the upper 3 bits of the 6 bits indicate the shape of the starting end, and the other 3 bits indicate the shape of the ending end.The line end shape of the first variable is as shown outside the table of FIG. “000” indicates a straight line cut, “001” indicates a semicircle cut,..., “111” indicates the end of the vertical line.
As described above, eight types of wire end shapes are prepared in advance, and the specific shapes are shown in FIG.

The second to fourth variables indicate fleshing data indicating the thickness when the skeleton shape is a part of a straight line, a Bezier curve, or an ellipse, and indicate the size when the skeleton shape is a small circle. When the skeleton is a straight line, the fifth to eighth variables indicate the position coordinates of the start point and end point of the line segment in the skeleton data. When the skeleton is a Bezier curve, the fifth to twelfth variables are skeleton data and indicate the position coordinates of the start point, first control point, second control point, and end point of the line segment. When the skeleton is part of an ellipse, the fifth to tenth variables
The variables indicate the center coordinates, radius, start angle, and end angle of the ellipse. The ninth and tenth variables when the skeleton is a straight line, the thirteenth and fourteenth variables when a Bezier curve is used, and the eleventh and twelfth variables when part of an ellipse is a straight line cut at the start point. The correction value indicates the straight-line cut correction value at the end point, and the correction value (+
31 to -32) are defined. This correction value indicates how much the cut surface is inclined when the line end is cut by a straight line, and a line end component is added along the cut surface. On the other hand, the upper 2 bits are control data for font change,
This control data is used when changing the Mincho style to the Gothic style.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Now, the character “Jin” is to be printed and the print code register 11-
It is assumed that the number has been input to 1. Here, FIG. 12 is a diagram in which the characters “Jin” are assembled according to the way of holding the parts of this embodiment, and “Jin” corresponds to one upper part and two base parts, and their part identification codes and arrangements. position,
It is based on data that defines the magnification.

First, when the character code of "jin" is set as a search code in the search code register 11-2, the operation according to the flowchart of FIG. 13 is started. That is, when the character code of “jin” is set in the search code register 11-2, the font data library 1
The head address designating the data structure table of the character font "Jin" stored in 1-5 is indexed from the library address index 11-4 and set in the library address pointer 11-6 (step A).
1). Next, the initial value "1" is set to the parts pointer 11-7, and the first parts data is designated (step A2). As a result, "Ninben", which is the first part of "Jin", is read from the font data library 11-5 (step A3). Then, the main control unit 11-3 checks whether the part data read from the font data library 11-5 is another character font or a higher-order part (step A4). In this case, the first part is a higher-order part. Therefore, the process proceeds to step A5, where the library address pointer 11-6 and the part pointer 11
The value of -7 is saved in the pointer stack memory 11-8. Next, when the main control unit 11-3 sets a code indicating “Ninben” in the search code register 11-2,
The font data library 11-
The head address designating the data structure table stored in No. 5 is indexed from the library address index 11-4 and set in the library address pointer 11-6 (step A1). Next, an initial value "1" is set to the parts pointer 11-7 to designate the first part of the data structure table (step A2). Here, since "Ninben" is composed of two lines, a diagonal line and a vertical line, the diagonal line as the first part is first read from the font data library 11-5 (step A3). . Since this diagonal line is a base part that cannot be further decomposed, it is detected in step A4 and the process proceeds to step A6, where data (part identification code, arrangement position, magnification) relating to this base part is converted to a dot data conversion device. 12 is sent.

Here, the dot data conversion device 12 is shown in FIG.
It operates according to the flowchart of FIG. Now, when the oblique line part identification code constituting "Ninben" is set in the search code register 12-1, the data structure table stored in the base part data library 12-5 is specified corresponding to this code. The leading address to be read is indexed from the library address index 12-2 and set in the library address pointer 12-3 (step B1). Next, an initial value "1" is set to the part pointer 12-4 to designate the first skeleton of the base part (step B2). In addition, this "Ninben"
Is composed of one skeleton. However, since some base parts include two or more skeletons, the first skeleton is designated first. Thus, when the base part data relating to the first skeleton is received from the base part data library 12-5 (step B)
3) The main control unit 12-6 checks whether or not a short vector has occurred based on the control data for changing the typeface described above (step B4). As will be described later, the generation of the short vector is not required when the typeface is changed from the Mincho style to the Gothic style. Normally, the generation of the short vector is required. A process for writing the data to the bitmap print buffer 13 is performed.

FIG. 15 shows the conversion to this short vector.
9 is a flowchart illustrating a buffer writing process. Since the base part is composed of skeleton data, flesh data, and both end shape data, it is converted into three outline data accordingly. That is, the first is a contour (body) of a shape fleshed around the skeleton, the second is a portion indicating the line end shape at the start point of the body, and the third is a line end shape at the end point of the body. Part. The base parts are 3
The outline data is developed on the bitmap print buffer 13 by automatically creating each of the outline data individually and superimposing the outline data. At this time, the outline data is generated first by generating the data of the main body and then generating the outline data. Generate an outline. Now, “Ninben” is shown in FIG.
As shown in (1), since it is composed of a main body (diagonal line) and a line end portion (every other brush at the start of the diagonal line), first, the skeleton shape and its variables are referred to (step C1), and contour vector data is generated using the reference. (Step C2), writing to the bitmap print buffer 13 (Step C3). Next, referring to the line end shape and variables (step C4), contour vector data is generated using the line end shapes (step C5) and written into the bitmap print buffer 13 (step C6).

FIG. 16 shows a diagonal line constituting "Ninben".
FIG. 17 shows a bitmap printing buffer of the starting brush parts.
14 shows a state in which the data is developed on the key 13. First, figure
Bezier from S0 to S1 as skeleton as shown in Fig.16
A quadratic equation is used as an equation representing the curve and thickness. Immediately
S0 is the fulcrum (parameter i = 0), and S1 is the end point (mediation
Variable i = 1), and V = (VX, VY) during that time
Is represented. VX and VY are functions of i, and VX = P
i^Three+ Qi^Two+ Ri + s, VY = ti ^Three+ Ui^Two+ Wi + z
It is. Then, i is Ai in the direction perpendicular to the skeleton.^Two+
The point moved by Bi + C becomes the contour. A,
B and C are variables 2 = A, variables 3 = B,
Variable 4 = value of C. Here, for each i, both skeletons
When the points on the side are X and Y,

[Formula]

Can be represented by Therefore, the contour data (short vector format) is obtained by determining X and Y while changing i at intervals suitable for the values of Bezier and A of the skeleton. The feeling includes many vertical straight lines and horizontal straight lines. In this case, p = q = r = 0 and t = u = 0 for a vertical straight line, and t = u = 0 for a horizontal straight line.
= U = w = 0 and p = q = 0 or there is no Bezier control point. Further, in that case, A = B = 0 unless the quality is not so particular. Therefore, since it is only necessary to draw a straight line whose line thickness is clearly expressed by c, it is not necessary to execute the above-mentioned formula. In addition, when there are many horizontal lines, when the line is reduced to a small size, the line thickness may have been varied due to the quantization error of the coordinate calculation in the past, but this time all lines are reduced in the same way Since the same thickness is specified, the variation in thickness can be prevented, and since the straight line is repeatedly written as it is, drawing is performed much faster than the conventional method (edge detection → fill). It becomes possible.

Next, regarding the development of the line end part, the type must be automatically generated for the line end part because only the type is indicated. In the example of FIG. 17, a “010” type component is attached as shown outside the table of FIG.
In the data structure table of the base parts, the upper 6 bits of the first variable are the line end information and the other are the main body information. In FIG. 17, the start end is the diagonal line start brush and the end end is the thickness. Is 0, so a straight line cut (may be a semicircle cut),
Since the skeleton is Bezier, the first variable is "0100000
1 ". The values of P1 'and P2' are calculated from the upper 6 bits and the contents of the thirteenth variable. Note that P1, P
Since 2 is the Bezier starting point, the vertical direction of the center line is obtained from the differential value of each function of X and Y when the parameter is 0, and the thickness of the starting end is calculated in that direction by the center line starting end. Required by moving from. P1 ', P
2 ′ represents the value of the parameter as the value of the thirteenth variable− (P1 ′),
+ (P2 ') and calculate. Next, a straight line having P1 ′ and P2 ′ as the start point and the end point, respectively, has a thickness which is temporarily increased from 0 and is connected to a semicircle at the end point, thereby defining “010”.
The line end part of the pattern can be handled as a base part whose first variable is “00000100”, and its contour data can be developed on the bitmap print buffer 13.

Thus, the bitmap print buffer 1
In FIG. 3, a diagonal line with a brush is formed which constitutes “Ninben”. When the short vector generation / buffer writing process (step B5 in FIG. 14) is completed, the process proceeds to step B6, where "1" is added to the part pointer 12-4 to update its value. Since the oblique line is composed of one skeleton, the end of the skeleton is detected in step B7, and the dot data conversion device 12 ends the developing operation for the oblique line.

Next, the part placement device 11 proceeds to step A7 in FIG. 13 and adds "1" to the part pointer 11-7 to update its value. As a result, the value of the part pointer 11-7 becomes "2". However, since "Ninben" is composed of two parts, the end of the part is not detected in step A8, and the process returns to step A3 to return to "Ninben".
Read the vertical line that is the second part of. In this case, since the vertical line is a base part, the process proceeds from step A4 to step A6, and the base part data relating to this vertical line is sent to the dot data conversion device 12. As a result, the dot data converter 12 generates a vertical outline font and develops it on the bitmap print buffer 13. Next, the process proceeds to step A7, where the parts pointer 11
When the value of -7 is updated, the value exceeds the number of parts "2" of "Ninben", so that the end of the parts is detected in step A8.

After the “Ninben” has been developed in the bitmap print buffer 13 in this way, it is checked whether or not data has been saved in the pointer stack memory 11-8 (step A9). Since the pointer value designating the first part of the character is saved in the pointer stack memory 11-8, it is returned from the pointer stack memory 11-8 (step A1).
0), and the value is updated (step A7). Thereby, the second part of “jin” is designated. In this case, the second
The part is the upper horizontal line of the two upper and lower horizontal lines, and since this horizontal line is also a base part, its outline data is developed on the bitmap print buffer 13. Subsequently, the third part is designated, and the lower horizontal line is the bitmap print buffer 13.
In this case, the same base part is developed on the bitmap print buffer 13 by changing the length and the arrangement position of the skeleton.

As described above, the character font "Jin" consists only of data defining the part identification code, arrangement position, and magnification corresponding to one upper part and two base parts. Therefore, the data amount can be significantly reduced as compared with the case where the outline of a character is represented by a coordinate sequence.

FIG. 18 shows that another character "iii" is formed by arranging three character fonts "i" horizontally. Similarly, "final" shown in FIG.
And other character fonts "original". As described above, in this embodiment, other character fonts can also be used as parts, so that the overall data amount can be significantly reduced.

On the other hand, since the skeleton which is the center of the line constituting the character and the data indicating the thickness from the skeleton which is fleshed out to this skeleton are separately provided, and the thickness is represented by a quadratic expression, The thickness is constant, there is no variation in the width of the horizontal and vertical lines when the width is reduced, and a high-quality font can be output faster than a conventional dot font. Furthermore, in order to make the skeleton and the thickness independent data, the shape can be changed without changing the thickness, or the thickness can be changed without changing the shape.

On the other hand, a base part which is a character component is stored in the form of a line body and a line end part. The line end part is automatically generated only by defining its shape, and the size of the line end part is determined. Is based on the thickness of the wire body to which it is connected, so it is not necessary to prepare wire end parts according to their type and size, and it is possible to delete the entire data amount Become. Further, since all are contour vectors, it is easy to make parts. Next, a case where the Mincho style is changed to the Gothic style will be described.

FIG. 19 shows a specific example of the Mincho font. The Mincho font is used as a basic typeface, and the thickness of the line is made constant at both ends to obtain a Gothic font as shown in FIG. Can be. In this case, in the base part data library 12-5 described above, the lower two bits of the first variable are set to “1”.
1 ", that is, when the shape of the skeleton is a straight line, Bezier curve, or a part of an ellipse, the second and third variables are set to" 0 ", the fourth variable is set to a constant value, and the first variable is By replacing the line end shapes “010”, “110” and the like with “001”, a Gothic body can be obtained.
In the Gothic type shown in Fig. 7, an unnatural line (shown by hatching in the figure) occurs when a vertical line of the character "A" is used to place a brush or a horizontal line is used to bounce.

To delete such a line, that effect is set in the control data for changing the typeface described above. That is, in FIG. 10, TS (straight line cut correction value at the starting point), T
The upper two bits of the variable defining E (the straight-line cut correction value at the end point) are control data for changing the typeface, and if this data is used to declare that the generation of a short vector is unnecessary, step B4 in FIG. The short vector generation processing in step B5 is skipped. Therefore, if the horizontal line of “A” is composed of three skeletons, that is, the first skeleton..., Every brush, the second skeleton... The horizontal line, and the third skeleton... Set the generation of short vector unnecessary. Similarly, if the vertical line “A” is composed of two skeletons, that is, a first skeleton..., A portion of every other brush, a second skeleton.
The generation of short vectors is unnecessary for the skeleton. As a result, as shown in FIG. 21, a balanced Gothic character without any unnatural lines can be obtained. In other words, if one typeface is used as a basis and another typeface character is obtained by processing the outline data, unnatural lines of the original typeface can be erased, so that balanced characters are printed. be able to.

In the above embodiment, the thickness is represented by 2
The following equation was used, but this may be a polynomial of degree 3 or higher, in which case a more varied thickness can be changed.

[0034]

According to the present invention, coordinates on a skeleton line derived by a function indicating coordinates of a skeleton of a line constituting a character,
A vector font can be created by sequentially calculating the outline coordinate position of the vector font based on the inclination value of the tangent and the distance from the skeleton derived from the n-th order polynomial, so that the thickness of the line constituting the character can be changed. Change shape without
The thickness can be changed without changing the shape, and even if the shape and thickness are changed, the curved portion becomes smooth and beautiful, and a high-quality font can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a specific example of constructing a character “end” by assembling various parts in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an outline of a data structure of a base part and an upper part.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example in which a skeleton of a base part is deformed.

FIG. 5 is a view showing another example in which the skeleton of the base part is deformed similarly to FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a character font output device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the parts placement device 11 shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the dot data conversion device 12 shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 shows a font data library 11- shown in FIG.
The figure which showed the data structure table stored in No.5.

FIG. 10 is a view showing a data structure table stored in a base part data library 12-5 shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a view specifically showing the line end shape shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a state in which a character “Jin” is constructed by assembling parts.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of the parts placement device 11;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the operation of the dot data conversion device 12.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing details of a short vector generation / buffer writing process shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a view for explaining the processing contents of FIG. 15 by taking as an example a case where a diagonal line is developed;

FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining the processing contents of FIG. 15 by taking as an example a case where a starting brush-placed component of an oblique line is developed.

FIG. 18 is a view showing a specific example in a case where another character is constructed by using the character itself as a part.

FIG. 19 is a view specifically showing a Mincho type character form.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example in which Mincho characters in FIG. 19 are changed to Gothic characters.

21 is a view showing an output example of a Gothic font in which an unnatural line is deleted from the Gothic font shown in FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a view for explaining a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 11 parts placement device 12 dot data conversion device 12-2 library address index 12-5 base parts data library 12-6 main control unit 13 bitmap print buffer 14 printer

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ identification code FI B41J 3/12 G (58) Investigated field (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G09G 5/24 B41J 2/485 G06F 17 / 21 G06T 5/00 G06T 11/20

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A function indicating coordinates of a skeleton of a line constituting a character.
Distance data storage hands in representing the skeleton data storing means for storing the distance from the skeleton polynomial of degree n
Steps and on a skeleton line derived by a function of the skeleton data storage means
Of the coordinates, the tangent inclination value, and the distance data storage means.
vector based on the distance from the skeleton derived from the nth degree polynomial
A vector font, comprising: a vector font creating means for sequentially calculating contour coordinate positions of a font font to create a vector font; and an output means for outputting a vector font created by the vector font creating means. Output device.