JP3019255B2 - Outline font data storage medium - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital signal for storing character information for each element composed of a point consisting of a closed contour, a vertical bar, a horizontal bar, a horizontal line, a vertical line, a scale, and the like. The present invention relates to an outline font data storage medium in which a character composed of an outline font for each element is stored in an image display device or a character generating device that assembles characters in a printing device based on the information. In particular, the present invention is configured from a new outline font that can select at least one of the vertical and horizontal elements from the characters constituted by the elements and can arbitrarily change the line width of the selected element. The present invention relates to an outline font data storage medium in which characters are stored.

[0002] The present invention relates to an outline font data storage medium storing characters automatically generated by arbitrarily changing the line width of elements consisting of vertical bars and horizontal bars. Hereinafter, the elements referred to in the present specification are
It does not mean a side, a splash, or an image consisting of two sticks, but a point, a vertical bar, a horizontal bar, a harai,
It consists of only splashes and scales.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Characters to be printed or displayed include Mincho, Gothic, textbook, and so on. Among these fonts, there are thick and thin line widths. .
Characters with different line widths are used to give a strong impression to the reader of a sentence. Even if the characters are the same, several types of characters and characters with several types of line widths for this one character size are added. Designed.

[0004] Actually, characters of the same design and the same size used for the typesetting machine have a line width of about 10 steps (kinds). Therefore, in the conventional character generation device, the character is stored in the computer at each stage of the character size and the line width, and the character having the desired size and the line width is read from the storage device of the computer as needed. On the other hand, when changing the character size of the outline method, a thick character or a thin character is generated by moving the outline outward or inward at a fixed ratio. That is, some characters have a line width proportional to the character size.

However, the JIS standard (JIS standard 6226)
The number of characters in the first and second levels and non-Kanji characters is about 7,000 characters. In the case of a method of storing all these characters in a computer, a character size stage is provided in addition to ten different line width stages.
7000 characters must be stored in the computer for each step. Therefore, the storage capacity required for one character design is not only enormous but also extremely wasteful in terms of machine cost.

In order to solve the above problems, the present applicant has
We proposed the following character generation method. That is, FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a character generation method for changing the line width of a character in the conventional example. In FIG. 6, reference numerals A, B and C and their subscripts 1 to 8 indicate the outline of the character "O" and coordinate points for forming the outline. In FIG. 6, for simplicity of description, the outline inside the character "O" is omitted, and only the outline outside is displayed. As shown in FIG. 6, a thick character "O" has eight coordinate points A1 to A8 and its outline A is defined as a maximum thick line character. Similarly, a thin character "O" has eight coordinate points B1 to B8. The outline B is defined as a minimum thin line character.

In order to obtain a character "O" having a line width between the maximum thick line character "O" and the minimum thin line character "O" (for example, 50%), the first to eighth characters are obtained. 50% of each of the third coordinate points (A1 to A8, B1 to B8)
The intermediate coordinate points (C1 to C8) are sequentially calculated. For example,
An intermediate coordinate point C2 is calculated from the second coordinate point A2 of the largest thick line character and the second coordinate point B2 of the smallest thin line character. The calculation of the intermediate coordinate point is obtained by a calculation formula described later, and is divided by multiplying the coordinate point A2 of the largest bold line character by the line width ratio (this division is defined as an internal part in this specification).
The smallest thin line character is divided by multiplying the coordinate point B2 by the remainder of the line width ratio (this division is defined as an external segment in this specification).

Next, the third coordinate points A3, B
An intermediate coordinate point C3 between the three is calculated. In the same manner, calculation is sequentially performed up to the eighth coordinate point. The coordinate points C1 to C8 obtained by this calculation define a character "O" having a 50% intermediate contour C. The character "O" is formed by connecting the coordinate points C1 to C8 by, for example, a spline curve or the like. Is formed. In addition,
The first and fifth coordinate points A1 of this character "O"
And B1 and A5 and B5 have no difference, so that the size of the character "O" does not change as a result. The line width in the middle does not necessarily mean 50%, and the middle can be calculated by the 100% ratio. Therefore, it is possible to freely specify 33% thicker or 15% thinner.

In order to execute this method, in the maximum thick line character and the minimum thin line character having the same character line width, contours are formed for each point and stroke, and the number of the contours is made the same (the same number). And the number of points), and that each contour has the same number of coordinate points. In the case of the character "O" described above, the stroke number is 1 for both the thickest thick line character and the smallest thin line character, and the number of contour lines is 2 for the outer side and the inner side.
It is a book. Note that the inner outline is omitted. The contours (outer contours) are the same number of coordinate points A
1 to A8 and B1 to B8.

[0010] Of the first and second coordinate point data,
An expression for performing an operation between the first to nth identical coordinate point data according to a desired line width ratio is as follows. (1) X _C1 = {R · X _Ai + (100−R) · X _Bi } / 100 (2) Y _C1 = {R · X _Ai + (100−R) · Y _Bi } / 100 where coordinate points It not a ₁ coordinate point data a _n X _A1,
X _A2 , X _A3 ,..., X _An , and coordinate point data of coordinate points B ₁ to B _n are X _B1 , X _B2 , X _{B3 ,.} C ₁ to C _n coordinate point data (X _C1 , Y _C1 ), (X _C2 , Y _C2 ),.
(X _Cn , Y _Cn ) R is a line width ratio from 0% to 100% The coordinate point data calculated by these formulas is a contour line enlarged to a desired character size. Further, the relationship between the desired line width and the size of the character can be easily obtained from a plurality of character size and line width tables.

Next, a table relating to the character size and the line width will be described. FIGS. 7A to 7C are diagrams for explaining tables relating to character size and line width.
In FIG. 7, for example, X is a line width ratio% that determines the line width of a character, Y is the number of points representing the character size, and a and b are constants. The table shown in FIG. 7A shows a case where the line width ratio and the number of points are in a proportional relationship. That is, as shown in equation (1) in FIG. 7, if the number of points of the character increases, the line width of the character also increases, and if the number of points of the character decreases, the line width of the character also decreases.

The table shown in FIG. 7B shows a case where the relationship between the line width and the number of points increases quadratically. That is, the relationship is as shown in equation (2) shown in FIG. FIG.
In the table shown in (c), the relationship between the line width and the number of points has a relationship as shown in Expression (3) shown in FIG. By changing these functions and the constants a and b, it is the same as having many tables with a small number of tables. Having many tables with different functions and constants in this way not only allows you to select many types of line width characters in ordinary printing or display, but also automatically displays special characters such as advertisements or designs. Can be printed.

[0013]

As a rule of designing a character, if the dots and characters of a character are complicatedly crowded, the points and the line width of the crowded portion may be reduced even if the characters have a wide line width. Must be narrow. In general, it is impossible to change the line width of only a part of a character. In the character generation method proposed by the present applicant, the line width can be changed for each radical such as a point or an image. However, the character generation method has a drawback that if only radicals such as dots and strokes are changed, some characters are not necessarily superior in design.

FIGS. 4A to 4H are diagrams for explaining the case where the line widths of the vertical line and the horizontal line are separately changed. FIG. 4A is a character in which the minimum thin vertical line and the minimum thin horizontal line are combined. FIG. 4C is a character in which a minimum thin vertical line and a maximum thick horizontal line are combined. FIG. 4 (B) is a character having a horizontal line width intermediate between FIGS. 4 (A) and 4 (C). FIG.
This is a character that combines a maximum bold vertical line and a minimum thin horizontal line.
FIG. 4F shows a character obtained by combining the maximum bold vertical line and the maximum bold horizontal line. FIG. 4E shows a character having an intermediate horizontal line width between FIGS. 4D and 4F. FIG. 4 (g) is a character having a vertical line width intermediate between FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (d). FIG. 4H shows characters having a vertical line width and a horizontal line width intermediate between those shown in FIGS. 4E and 4G. In FIG. 4, for example, when the line width of a character is 1
When the number of stages is about 0, as shown in FIGS. 4A to 4H, there are a total of 100 types. Characters with these line widths give very different impressions.

FIGS. 5A to 5F are views for explaining a specific impression when the widths of the vertical and horizontal lines are changed. In FIG. 5A, the vertical line and the horizontal line are only the minimum thin lines, and the character "eye" is represented. In FIG. 5C, the vertical line is the minimum thin line, and the horizontal line is the maximum bold line, and represents the character “eye”. In FIG. 5B, the vertical line is the minimum thin line, and the horizontal line is the middle line width between (A) and (C), and represents the character “eyes”. In FIG. 5D, the vertical line is the largest bold line, and the horizontal line is the smallest thin line, and represents the character “eye”. In FIG. 5 (F), the vertical line and the horizontal line are the maximum bold lines and represent the character "eye". In FIG. 5E, the vertical line is the largest bold line, and the horizontal line is the middle line width between (D) and (F), and represents the character "eye". In these examples, three types of line widths are used. It can be seen how the character “eye” gives a different impression depending on the selection of the line width. However, even if the entire line width of a character can be changed arbitrarily, these line widths cannot be changed arbitrarily in a state where the vertical direction or the horizontal direction is separated.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems. Characters having different line widths are generated by a simple arithmetic circuit without requiring a huge storage capacity, and are excellent in design. The object of the present invention is to provide an outline font data storage medium in which is stored. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an outline font data storage medium in which characters in which a vertical or horizontal element is changed to an arbitrary line width are stored.

[0017]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

(1st invention) In order to achieve the above object, an outline font data storage medium of the present invention comprises an element constituted by a point consisting of a closed contour line, a vertical bar, a horizontal bar, a hail, a splash, a scale, and the like. By making a request for creating the character, inputting the character, selecting at least one of the vertical and horizontal elements, and specifying the line width of the selected element, the line of the element constituting the character A plurality of first coordinates necessary for forming a contour line having a maximum line width in one of the vertical and horizontal elements, in which a character created by arbitrarily changing the width is stored. The point data and the second coordinate point data constituting the contour line having the same number of data as the first coordinate point data and having the minimum line width related thereto are stored in advance for each element. I read the first and second coordinate point data the memory corresponding to said element,
The same coordinate point data of the first and second coordinate point data is calculated based on a desired line width ratio so as to be internally or externally divided, and a desired line width is calculated based on the calculated coordinate point data. An arbitrary line created by generating the above-mentioned element composed of the contour line, generating an element in the other direction composed of the contour line having a desired line width in the same manner as described above, and calculating based on the element in each of the above-described directions. Characters having a width are stored.

(Second Invention) In the outline font data storage medium of the present invention, the operation for dividing the coordinate point data of the vertical and horizontal elements into or out of the coordinate data is performed based on the line width ratio. The same coordinate point data of the second coordinate point data is _{expressed as follows} : (1) X _C1 = {R · X _Ai + (100−R) · X _Bi } / 100 (2) Y _C1 = {R · X _Ai + (100−R) · Y _Bi ｝ / 100 _where the coordinate point data of the coordinate points A ₁ to An is X _A1 ,
X _A2 , X _A3 ,..., X _An , and coordinate point data of coordinate points B ₁ to B _n are X _B1 , X _B2 , X _{B3 ,.} C ₁ to C _n coordinate point data (X _C1 , Y _C1 ), (X _C2 , Y _C2 ),.
(X _Cn , Y _Cn ) R is a line width ratio from 0% to 100% Based on the coordinate point data automatically calculated by the above equations (1) and (2), an element consisting of a contour having a desired line width is used. It is characterized in that the composed characters are stored.

(Third invention) An outline font data storage medium of the present invention is characterized in that an element constituted by a point consisting of a closed contour, a vertical bar, a horizontal bar, a horizontal bar, a vertical bar, a scale, etc. Characters created by arbitrarily changing the line width of the characters into two types are stored, and a character input device that inputs a desired character, at least one element in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction and A selection circuit for designating the line width, a plurality of first coordinate point data necessary for forming a contour line of the element having the maximum line width for each element in the vertical direction, and a maximum vertical thick line element stored in advance for each element The storage device stores in advance second coordinate point data for each element, which is the same as the number of data of the first coordinate point data and which constitutes an outline of an element having a related minimum line width. A vertical direction minimum thin line element storage device, a line width designating device for designating a line width, and the same coordinate point data of the first and second coordinate point data based on a line width ratio specified by the line width designating device. , A first arithmetic circuit for calculating coordinate point data to be divided internally or externally, a horizontal maximum thick line element storage device and a horizontal minimum thin line element storage device as described above, A second arithmetic circuit for calculating coordinate point data to be divided internally or externally, and a third arithmetic circuit for calculating desired coordinate point data based on each coordinate point data of the vertical element and the horizontal element. Characters having an arbitrary line width created based on coordinate point data calculated by the first to third calculation circuits in the generator are stored.

[0020]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(First Invention) In the present invention, the elements constituting a character are composed of a point having a closed contour, a vertical bar, a horizontal bar, a hail, a splash, a scale, and the like. These elements are determined such that the horizontal direction is, for example, the horizontal direction, and the point, the vertical line, the scale, and the like are neither vertical nor horizontal. As described above, since the element can be divided into two types, that is, the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, and the line width can be arbitrarily changed, characters with different impressions can be arbitrarily created.

When creating a character, a character creation request,
The user inputs characters, selects at least one element in the vertical and horizontal directions, and sets the line width. A vertical element forming a character is composed of a plurality of first coordinate point data necessary for forming a contour having the maximum line width according to a predetermined address, and the number of data of the first coordinate point data. The first and second coordinate points corresponding to the elements in the vertical direction are stored in a storage device in which the same number and second coordinate point data forming a contour line having a related minimum line width are stored in advance for each element. Data is read.
After that, based on the set line width ratio, the same coordinate point data of the first and second coordinate point data is calculated so as to be internally or externally divided.

As a result, a vertical element composed of a contour having a desired line width is generated based on the coordinate point data. In the horizontal direction, the first and second coordinate point data are read from the storage device storing the maximum thick line and the minimum thin line at a predetermined address in the same manner as described above. After that, based on the set line width ratio, the same coordinate point data of the first and second coordinate point data is calculated so as to be internally or externally divided.

Next, by calculating the calculated vertical and horizontal coordinate point data in accordance with the set line width ratio, the line widths of the vertical and horizontal elements can be arbitrarily changed. The input characters are created and displayed on the display based on the vertical and horizontal elements whose line widths have been changed. The created outline font data is printed or stored in a memory as needed.

(Second Invention) In calculating the internal or external division of each coordinate point data of the element, the same coordinate point data of the first and second coordinate point data is calculated based on the line width ratio. , (1) X _C1 = {R · X _Ai + (100−R) · X _Bi } / 100 (2) Y _C1 = {R · X _Ai + (100−R) · Y _Bi } / 100 where coordinates point a ₁ to the coordinate point data a _n X _A1,
X _A2 , X _A3 ,..., X _An , and coordinate point data of coordinate points B ₁ to B _n are X _B1 , X _B2 , X _{B3 ,.} C ₁ to C _n coordinate point data (X _C1 , Y _C1 ), (X _C2 , Y _C2 ),.
(X _Cn , Y _Cn ) R is a line width ratio from 0% to 100%. Based on the coordinate point data automatically calculated by the above equations (1) and (2), an element consisting of a contour line having a desired line width is obtained. generate. By a simple operation of multiplying the coordinate point data of the selected element by the line width ratio R, an element having a line width intermediate between the maximum bold line and the minimum thin line can be obtained and stored in the storage medium as outline font data. You.

(Third Invention) First, the character input device inputs a desired character with a keyboard, for example. Character,
It is composed of elements such as dots, vertical bars, horizontal bars, cranes, spikes and scales. The selection circuit selects at least one of the noted elements in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction from among the above-mentioned elements, for example, by a designation from a keyboard. The vertical maximum thick line element storage device stored in advance for each element stores a plurality of contours necessary for forming a contour line of an element having a maximum line width in accordance with an address generated from an address generating circuit for a designated vertical element. The first coordinate point data is read.

The vertical minimum thin line element storage device pre-stored for each element stores the second coordinate points having the same number of data as the first coordinate point data and forming the contour line of the element having the related minimum line width. Data is read out as described above. The first arithmetic circuit internally or externally divides the same coordinate point data of the first and second coordinate point data based on the line width ratio set by the line width setting device, and divides the coordinate point data. Is calculated.

The horizontal maximum thick line element storage device and the horizontal minimum thin line element storage device read the coordinate data in the horizontal direction. The second arithmetic circuit calculates the coordinate point data that internally or externally separates the same coordinate point data in the horizontal direction as described above. The third calculation circuit calculates each coordinate point data calculated as the vertical element and the horizontal element to an arbitrary line width. In this manner, the coordinate point data calculated by the first to third calculation circuits is generated as characters having an arbitrary line width.

[0028]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram for explaining a character generator capable of changing a line width for each element according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic block configuration diagram for explaining a character generator capable of changing a line width for each element according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 and 2 show only a configuration necessary for describing an embodiment of the present invention. 1 and 2 are connected in (a), (b), (c), and (d), respectively.

The block diagram of FIG.
Numerals 1 to 117 are character generators for creating characters without changing the line width. Reference numerals 118 to 124 denote vertical element creation devices for creating vertical elements. Reference numerals 125 to 131 in FIG.
Is a horizontal element creation device for creating a horizontal element. Numeral 12 in FIGS. 1 and 2
Reference numerals 4, 131 to 134 denote character generators capable of simultaneously changing the vertical and horizontal line widths based on the vertical and horizontal line widths. Also,
1 and 2 include a control circuit (not shown) for controlling each block.

In FIG. 1, a character generator includes a keyboard 111 for requesting character generation, inputting characters, selecting elements in at least one of a vertical direction and a horizontal direction, and setting a line width. A selection circuit 112 for selecting a character, and an address generation circuit 11 for generating an address for elements in the vertical and horizontal directions of the input character or an address for another character.
3 and a character storage device 11 storing non-Kanji characters, standard characters, etc.
4, one character buffer memory 115 for storing one character, an output control circuit 116 for performing control for outputting one character, and an output device 117 for displaying or printing under the control of the output control circuit 116. Be composed.

The vertical element creation device includes a selection circuit 1
12 is a device that works when a vertical element is selected. For example, the vertical element creating device includes a vertical maximum thick line element storage device 118 that stores each coordinate point data of a vertical maximum thick line element, and a vertical minimum thick line element storage device 118 that stores each vertical thin line element. A thin line element storage device 119 and a buffer memory 12 for temporarily storing coordinate point data of each element read from each of the element storage devices 118 and 119.
0, 121, a first arithmetic circuit 122 for performing an internal or external division based on the set line width based on the coordinate point data stored in the buffer memories 120, 121, and a keyboard 111 It is composed of a line width setting device 123 for setting a line width by operation, and a buffer memory 124 for temporarily storing coordinate point data of an element internally or externally divided by the first arithmetic circuit 122.

The horizontal element creating apparatus includes a selection circuit 1
12 is a device that works when a horizontal element is selected. For example, the horizontal direction element creating device includes a horizontal maximum thick line element storage device 125 for storing the coordinate point data of the horizontal maximum thick line element, and a horizontal minimum thin line element for storing the horizontal minimum thin line element coordinate point data. A storage device 126; a buffer memory 127 for temporarily storing coordinate point data of each element read from each of the element storage devices 125 and 126;
128 and a second arithmetic circuit 1 for performing an arithmetic operation for dividing into or dividing according to the set line width based on the coordinate point data stored in the buffer memories 127 and 128
29, a line width setting device 130 for setting the line width by operating the keyboard 111, and a buffer memory 131 for temporarily storing the coordinate point data of the element internally or externally divided by the second arithmetic circuit 129. Be composed.

The vertical and horizontal character generator shown in FIG. 2 has a buffer memory 124 (see FIG. 2) storing coordinate point data of elements whose vertical line width is internally or externally divided by the first arithmetic circuit 122. 1), the buffer memory 131 storing the coordinate point data of the element whose horizontal line width is internally or externally divided by the second arithmetic circuit 129, and the coordinate point data of the buffer memories 124 and 131. A third arithmetic circuit 132 for calculating the line width set as above, a line width setting device 133 for setting the vertical and horizontal line widths by designating the keyboard 111,
A buffer memory 134 for temporarily storing the operation result of the third operation circuit 132.

The line width setting devices 123, 130, 133
For example, a line width ratio R that determines a line width of a desired element
, A signal indicating a ratio R of 100% to 0% is output. Note that the line width ratio of 100% is, for example,
An element having the same line width as the element stored in the vertical maximum thick line element storage device 118, and an element having the same line width as the element stored in the vertical minimum thin line element storage device 119 when the line width ratio is 0%. Say.

The first arithmetic circuit 122 and the second arithmetic circuit 129
Is a coordinate system in which the same coordinate point data added from the buffer memories 120, 121, 127 and 128 are internally and externally divided by the line width ratio R set by the line width setting devices 123, 130 and 133. Calculate point data.
For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the coordinate points A ₁ to the coordinate point data of _{A n (X A1, Y A1} ) is applied from the buffer memory 120, ..., and (X _An, Y _An), the buffer memory Coordinate points B ₁ to B _n added from 121
The coordinate point _{(X B1, Y B1),} ···, (X Bn, Y Bn) and when the line width ratio R (%) to no coordinate points C ₁ determined by C _n of coordinate point data (X _C1, Y _C1 ),..., (X _Cn ,
Y _Cn ) is as follows.

(1) X _C1 = {R · X _Ai + (100−R) · X _Bi } / 100 (2) Y _C1 = {R · X _Ai + (100−R) · Y _Bi } / 100 ( Where i = 1 to n) The first to n-th coordinate point data (X _C1 , Y _C1 ),..., (X _Cn ,
Y _Cn ) is stored in the buffer memory 124. The output control circuit 116 is connected to the buffer memories 124 and 131,
134, the coordinate point data (X _C1 , Y _C1 ),.
The control is performed so that the coordinate points C _{1 to} C _n of (X _Cn , Y _Cn ) form a continuous contour line by a spline curve or the like, and the inside of the contour line is painted or outlined to generate characters. I do. Thereafter, the output device 117 outputs, for example, a laser printer, a CRT, or the like, and a character composed of an element having a changed line width under the control of the output control circuit 116. Line width setting device 12
7, 130 and 133 allow the user to freely select a number of line widths that match the desired character size according to the purpose of use of the character as described as a conventional example in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for displaying elements constituting a character on a display device.
Hereinafter, description will be given with reference to the block configuration diagrams and flowcharts shown in FIGS. The user operates the keyboard 111
Then, for example, a program for creating a character is started by moving a cursor to a character creation item while looking at a menu (not shown) and pressing “execute” (step 311). When the display of character creation appears on the display device from the keyboard 111, the user enters the keyboard 11
1 to input a character to be created (step 31)
2). The selection circuit 112 checks whether there is a request to change the line width in at least one of the vertical direction and the horizontal direction (step 313).

If the selection circuit 112 determines that the request is to change the line width in at least one of the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, the address generation circuit 113 generates a vertical element constituting a character input from the keyboard 111, and An address corresponding to the element in the horizontal direction is generated (step 314). The control circuit of the character generator (not shown) checks whether the element is a vertical or horizontal element according to the address generated by the address generator 113 (step 315). When the control circuit determines that the address is the element in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, first, it reads out the coordinate point data of the element from the maximum vertical thick line element storage device 118 and stores it in the buffer memory 120.

Next, the control circuit reads the coordinate point data of the element from the vertical minimum thin line element storage device 119 and stores it in the buffer memory 121.
After that, the first arithmetic circuit 122
After the coordinate point data stored in the buffer memory 121 and the line width ratio of the line width setting device 123 are internally or externally divided, the coordinate point data is stored in the buffer memory 124 (step 316). After that, the control circuit reads the coordinate point data of the element from the maximum horizontal line element storage device 125 and stores the read data in the buffer memory 12.
7 is stored.

Next, the control circuit reads out the coordinate point data of the element from the horizontal minimum line element storage device 126 and stores it in the buffer memory 128. After that, the second arithmetic circuit 129 reads the buffer memory 1
After the coordinate point data stored in the buffer memory 128 and the coordinate point data stored in the buffer memory 128 and the line width ratio of the line width setting device 130, the coordinate point data is stored in the buffer memory 131 (step 317). The third calculation circuit 132 calculates the coordinate point data stored in the buffer memories 124 and 131 according to the line width ratio set by the line width setting device 133 under the control of the control circuit, and calculates the result. The data is stored in the buffer memory 134 (step 318). The coordinate point data stored in the buffer memory 134 is displayed or printed by the output device 117 under the control of the output control circuit 116 (step 3).
25).

If the control circuit determines that the line width of the element in the vertical and horizontal directions is not changed,
It is checked whether or not the line width of the element in the vertical direction is to be changed (step 319). If the control circuit determines that the line width of the element in the vertical direction is to be changed, the control circuit causes the first arithmetic circuit 122 to calculate the coordinate point data of the element in the vertical direction as described above to change the line width. Is stored in the buffer memory 124 (step 320). Thereafter, the output control circuit 116 outputs the character whose line width is changed only in the vertical direction to the output device 1.
17 is displayed or printed (step 325).

If the control circuit determines that the line width of the element in the vertical and horizontal directions is not changed,
It is checked whether or not the line width of the element in the horizontal direction is to be changed (step 321). If the control circuit determines that the line width of the element in the horizontal direction is to be changed, the control circuit causes the second arithmetic circuit 129 to calculate the coordinate point data of the element in the horizontal direction as described above to change the line width. Is stored in the buffer memory 131 (step 322). Thereafter, the output control circuit 116 outputs the character whose line width is changed only in the horizontal direction to the output device 1.
17 is displayed or printed (step 325).

In step 313, the selection circuit 112
If it is determined that the request is not a request to change the line width of the element, for example, if it is a number, hiragana, katakana, or the like, the process proceeds to step 323. The address generation circuit 113 generates an address corresponding to the input character (step 323). The control circuit not shown is
The outline font data at the address is read from the character storage device 114 and stored in the buffer memory 115 for one character (step 324). The outline font data stored in the buffer memory 115 for one character is displayed or printed on the output device 117 under the control of the output control circuit 116 (step 3).
25).

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. And
Various design changes can be made without departing from the invention as set forth in the appended claims. FIG.
Although the detailed circuit and device are not described in the embodiments in the block diagram shown in FIG. 1, it goes without saying that these can be created by any known device. Further, in this embodiment, although the character size is not described, the character size can also be designated at the same time as the input of the character, and the line width can be changed according to each character size. Although there are a plurality of storage devices and a plurality of buffer memories, one memory can be stored by area.

[0045]

According to the present invention, the elements constituting a character can be disassembled into dots, vertical bars, horizontal bars, halves, splashes, scales, etc., so that at least one of the vertical and horizontal line widths is changed. Characters can be easily obtained from the outline font data storage medium. According to the present invention, a character having a desired line width can be automatically and easily obtained from an outline font data storage medium without using a special circuit device. According to the present invention, to use a character composed of a point, a vertical bar, a horizontal bar, a hail, a splash, a scale, etc., in the case of a character having many vertical bars, the vertical bar is thin, the horizontal bar is thick, and the horizontal bar is wide. In the case of a character with many bars, if the horizontal bar is thin and the vertical bar is thick, an excellent character can be obtained without changing the character design even when the line width is changed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram for explaining a character generator capable of changing a line width for each element according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram for explaining a character generator capable of changing a line width for each element according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for displaying elements constituting a character on a display device.

FIGS. 4A to 4H are diagrams for explaining a case where the line widths of a vertical line and a horizontal line are changed separately.

FIGS. 5A to 5F are views for explaining a specific impression when the widths of the vertical line and the horizontal line are changed.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a character generation method for changing a line width of a character in a conventional example.

FIGS. 7A to 7C are diagrams for explaining a table relating to a character size and a line width; FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 111 ... Keyboard 112 ... Selection circuit 113 ... Address generation circuit 114 ... Character storage device 115 ... Buffer memory for one character 116 ... Output control circuit 117 ... Output device 118 ... Vertical maximum thick line element storage device 119 Vertical minimum minimum thin line element storage device 120 Buffer memory 121 Buffer memory 122 First arithmetic circuit 123 Line width setting device 124 Buffer memory 125: Horizontal maximum thick line element storage device 126: Horizontal minimum thin line element storage device 127: Buffer memory 128: Buffer memory 129: Second arithmetic circuit 130: Line width Setting device 131: Buffer memory 132: Third arithmetic circuit 133: Line width setting device 1 4 ... buffer memory

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-1-272460 (JP, A) JP-A-4-242793 (JP, A) JP-A-5-265430 (JP, A) JP-A-6-266335 (JP) JP-A-7-56700 (JP, A) JP-A-8-147484 (JP, A) JP-A-7-191657 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB Name) G09G 5/24 B41J 2/485

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A character composed of elements composed of a point composed of a closed contour line, a vertical bar, a horizontal bar, a hail, a splash, a scale, and the like. An outline font that stores characters created by arbitrarily changing the line width of the elements that make up the character by selecting at least one element in the horizontal direction and specifying the line width of the selected element In the data storage medium, a plurality of first lines necessary for forming a contour having a maximum line width in one of the elements in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction.
The coordinate point data and a second number of contour lines having the same number of data as the first coordinate point data and having a related minimum line width.
The coordinate point data is stored in advance for each element, and the stored first and second coordinate point data corresponding to the element are read out, and the first and second coordinate points are stored based on a desired line width ratio. The same coordinate point data of the data is calculated so as to be internally or externally divided, and based on the calculated coordinate point data, the element consisting of the contour line having a desired line width is generated. Generating an element in the other direction consisting of a contour line having a desired line width, and storing a character having an arbitrary line width created by calculating based on the element in each of the above directions. Data storage medium. 2. The calculation for dividing the coordinate point data of the vertical and horizontal elements into or out of the coordinate point data is performed based on a line width ratio. The point data is _{calculated as follows} : (1) X _C1 = {R · X _Ai + (100−R) · X _Bi } / 100 (2) Y _C1 = {R · X _Ai + (100−R) · Y _Bi } / 100 However, to not coordinate points a ₁ coordinate point data a _n X _A1,
X _A2 , X _A3 ,..., X _An , and coordinate point data of coordinate points B ₁ to B _n are X _B1 , X _B2 , X _{B3 ,.} C ₁ to C _n coordinate point data (X _C1 , Y _C1 ), (X _C2 , Y _C2 ),.
(X _Cn , Y _Cn ) R is a line width ratio from 0% to 100% Based on the coordinate point data automatically calculated by the above equations (1) and (2), an element consisting of a contour having a desired line width is used. 2. The outline font data storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the composed characters are stored. 3. An element composed of a point having a closed contour, a vertical bar, a horizontal bar, a horizontal line, a vertical line, a scale, and the like is divided into two types, a vertical direction and a horizontal direction, and a line width of a character is arbitrarily determined. A character input device for inputting a desired character in an outline font data storage medium in which characters created by changing are stored, at least one element in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction, and a selection circuit for designating a line width thereof; For a vertical element, a maximum vertical thick line element storage device that stores a plurality of first coordinate point data necessary for forming an outline of an element having a maximum line width in advance for each element; A vertical minimum thin line element in which second coordinate point data constituting the contour of an element having the same number of data and having a related minimum line width is stored in advance for each element. A storage device, a line width designation device for designating a line width, an internal division or an interval between the same first coordinate point data of the first and second coordinate point data based on a line width ratio specified by the line width designation device. A first arithmetic circuit for calculating coordinate point data to be externally divided, the same horizontal maximum thick line element storage device and the minimum horizontal thin line element storage device as described above; A second arithmetic circuit for calculating coordinate point data to be externally divided; a third arithmetic circuit for calculating desired coordinate point data based on each coordinate point data of the vertical element and the horizontal element; An outline font data storage characterized by storing a character having an arbitrary line width created based on coordinate point data calculated by the first to third calculation circuits. Medium.