JP3034140B2 - Character generation method and device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(Contents) Industrial application field Conventional technology (FIGS. 12 to 14) Problems to be Solved by the Invention Means for Solving the Problems (FIG. 1) Action Embodiment (a) Description (FIGS. 2 to 5) (b) Description of processing of one embodiment (FIGS. 6 to 11) (c) Description of another embodiment Effect of the Invention

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a character generation method and apparatus for developing outline characters expressed in a logical coordinate system on physical coordinates expressed in integer values.

In a printer device, a display device, or the like, a character pattern needs to be generated in order to print or display characters.
In recent years, characters of various character sizes have been required for the same characters.

[0004] For this reason, providing character patterns of various character sizes for the same character requires a large memory capacity for those having a large number of character types such as Chinese characters.

In order to solve this problem, character pattern information in which character outline information is expressed in a real number and in a logical coordinate system, such as an outline font, is stored, and this information is stored in a designated character size coordinate system. Conversion is performed to develop characters into bitmap images represented by integers.

In such a character generation method, it is required that the character be faithfully reproduced in the original design even if the character is enlarged or reduced.

[0007]

2. Description of the Related Art FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 are explanatory views (No. 1), (No. 2) and (No. 3) of the prior art.

Conventionally, when developing logical coordinate data of a real number such as a figure or an outline font into a bitmap image expressed by an integer, the coordinate data is expressed in a decimal part so that it can be expressed in a pixel unit of a printer or a display. The rounding process is generally performed by rounding off so that the coordinate data is represented by the nearest pixel.

For example, as shown in FIG. 12, each point (contour point) constituting the character of the Chinese character "eye" expressed in an outline format is stored in integer logical coordinates such as 1000.times.1000. I have.

The character outline on the logical coordinates is converted into a required character size, converted into a coordinate value including a decimal point, and all points are rounded to an integer so as to be expressed in physical coordinates. , All points are rounded to the nearest integer.

For example, in the case of a character size of 12 × 14, as shown in FIG. 13A, a vertical stroke on the left side of the character “E” of the Chinese character is obtained by the coordinate conversion process.
The X-coordinate is expressed by e = 1.2 to e ′ = 2.7, and as shown in FIG. 13 (B), this vertical stroke is represented by 2 to 1 to 3 in the X-coordinate by rounding off and rounding. It becomes a bitmap image of pixel width.

The vertical stroke on the right side of the character "eye" is
In the X coordinate, f = 7.7 to f ′ = 9.2, and by rounding off the rounding process, as shown in FIG. 13 (B), this vertical stroke is expressed in the X coordinate from 8 to 9. 1
It becomes a bitmap image of pixel width.

As described above, even if the vertical strokes have the same width, the width on the physical coordinates becomes 2 pixels on the left side and 1 pixel on the right side due to rounding processing such as rounding.

Similarly, the four horizontal strokes of the character “eye” are obtained by coordinate transformation as shown in FIG.
From the top, in the Y coordinate, d = 11.5, d ′ = 12.
7, c = 8.3, c ′ = 9.5, b = 4.5, b ′ =
5.7, a = 0.3, a ′ = 1.5, and FIG.
As shown in (B), by the rounding process, d = 1
2, d '= 13, c = 8, c' = 10, b = 5, b '=
6, a = 0 and a '= 2, and the line width of each horizontal stroke is 1, 2, 1, and 2 pixels, respectively.

[0015] For this reason, even though the respective widths are the same "1.2" by the coordinate conversion, they are processed to a width of 1 pixel and 2 pixels by the rounding process. In bitmap fonts developed from outline fonts, this width error changes the character's impression, so it should be as small as possible.

In order to solve this, a line width preserving rounding method as shown in FIG. 14 has been proposed. This method, up and down horizontal stroke or left and right vertical stroke,
One of the contour lines is preferentially rounded, and the other is rounded while maintaining the line width.

Referring to FIG. 14, among the kanji "eyes" after the coordinate conversion in FIG. 14A, a, b, c, d, e, f
Are contour lines on which rounding processing is performed preferentially, and a ′,
b ', c', d ', e', and f 'are contour lines to be rounded while keeping the line width.

First, the Y coordinate of the bottom horizontal stroke is a
Is rounded, “0.3” becomes “0” by rounding. Next, the contour line in which the Y coordinate of the bottom horizontal stroke is a 'is rounded. At this time, the line width is preserved. −0.3 ”is added to a ′, and a ′ =
1.5−0.3 = 1.2, and by rounding,
The line width is one pixel.

Similarly, in the uppermost horizontal stroke, the contour d is “11.5”, and “12” is obtained by rounding.
Then, the contour d ′ is 12.7 + 0.5 (error) =
13.2, the rounding process becomes "13", the line width becomes 1 pixel, the contour c is "8.3" in the second horizontal stroke, and the contour becomes "8" by the rounding process. c ′ is 9.5−0.3 (for error) = 9.
When the rounding process becomes “9”, the line width becomes 1 pixel, and in the third horizontal stroke, the outline b becomes “4.5”, and when the rounding process becomes “5”,
The outline b ′ becomes 5.7 + 0.5 (error) = 6.2, becomes “6” by the rounding process, the line width becomes 1 pixel, and the line width of the horizontal stroke is the original 1.2. All of them will be aligned to a close one pixel.

Similarly, the vertical strokes are aligned to a line width of 2 pixels, as shown in FIG.

[0021]

However, the prior art has the following problems. Although the line widths of the horizontal strokes are the same, as shown in FIG. 14B, the intervals between the horizontal strokes are 3, 2, and 4 pixels from the top.

When this is compared with the original interval, the stroke interval before rounding processing is as follows from the top of the character "eyes".
Since c ′ = 9.5 and d = 11.5, dc ′ =
2.0, b ′ = 5.7 and c = 8.3, so that c−
Since b ′ = 2.6, a ′ = 1.5 and b = 4.5,
ba ′ = 3.0, and the original horizontal stroke interval gradually increases from top to bottom, but after rounding,
It becomes wider in the middle and upper and lower order, and the interval is reversed.

That is, although the interval between c ′ and d is originally 2.0, it is reproduced at an interval of 3 pixels.
Is reproduced at an interval of 2 pixels although it is originally 2.6.

For characters having a large number of horizontal strokes and vertical strokes, it is important to reproduce the line width and the interval of the strokes faithfully to the character represented by the logical coordinates in order to improve the character quality. The width was improved but not adjusted to the spacing.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a character generation method and a character generation method capable of obtaining a high-quality bitmap image by faithfully reproducing an interval between strokes in a character having a plurality of strokes. It is intended to provide the device.

[0026]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention. According to a first aspect of the present invention, after converting outline font information expressing the outline of a character by coordinates into coordinate values of a coordinate system having a specified size, the outline font information is rounded to integer coordinate values, and the specified coordinates are rounded. In a character generation method for generating a bitmap image of a character having a size, for a character having a plurality of strokes of the same type, each of a distance between strokes before the rounding processing and a distance between strokes after the rounding processing is used. A conversion magnification of the interval is calculated, and coordinates of strokes between the plurality of stroke intervals are moved so that a difference between a maximum magnification and a minimum magnification among the conversion magnifications is reduced.

According to a second aspect of the present invention,
In order to move the coordinates of the stroke, a first difference between the maximum magnification and the minimum magnification among the conversion magnifications is calculated, and 1 is subtracted from the stroke interval after the rounding processing of the maximum magnification. The magnification and the magnification obtained by adding 1 to the stroke interval after the rounding processing of the minimum magnification are calculated, a second difference between these magnifications is calculated, and the first difference and the second When the second difference is smaller than the first difference, the stroke between the stroke interval of the maximum magnification and the stroke interval of the minimum magnification is set to the maximum difference. It is characterized in that it is moved by one unit coordinate toward the stroke interval of the magnification.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in order to calculate the conversion magnification of each of the intervals, the interval between the strokes before the rounding process and the interval between the strokes after the rounding process are calculated. The conversion magnification of each interval is calculated from the calculated interval between the strokes before the rounding process and the calculated interval between the strokes after the rounding process.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first, second or third aspect, information for specifying a stroke for controlling a stroke interval of the character is set together with the outline information of the character. I do.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the conversion magnification of each interval is calculated from the interval between the strokes before the rounding process and the interval between the strokes after the rounding process. To calculate the coordinates of each stroke of the character from the outline information, store the stroke coordinates before rounding, round the stroke coordinates before rounding and store the stroke coordinates after rounding, Each stroke interval before the rounding is calculated based on the stored stroke coordinates before rounding, and each stroke interval after the rounding is calculated based on the stored stroke coordinates after rounding.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a font memory 4 for storing outline font information in which the outline of a character is represented by coordinates, and the outline font information of the designated character is read out from the font memory 4 and the designated font font information is read out. After converting the coordinates into a coordinate value of a size coordinate system, the character developing device having a character developing unit 3 for rounding to an integer coordinate value and generating a bitmap image of the character of the designated size. The unit 3 calculates the conversion magnification of each interval from the interval between the strokes before the rounding process and the interval between the strokes after the rounding process for a plurality of characters having the same type of stroke, and The coordinate of the stroke between the plurality of stroke intervals is moved so that the difference between the maximum magnification and the minimum magnification among the magnifications becomes small.

In a seventh aspect of the present invention,
The character developing unit 3 moves the stroke,
Among the conversion magnifications, a first difference between a maximum magnification and a minimum magnification is calculated, the magnification obtained by subtracting 1 from the stroke interval after the rounding processing of the maximum magnification, and the minimum magnification Calculating the magnification obtained by adding 1 to the stroke interval after the rounding processing, calculating a second difference between these magnifications, comparing the first difference with the second difference, When the second difference is smaller than the first difference, the stroke from the stroke interval of the maximum magnification to the stroke interval of the minimum magnification is shifted toward the stroke interval of the maximum magnification. It is characterized in that it is moved by one unit coordinate.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in accordance with the sixth or seventh aspect, the character expanding section 3 calculates the conversion magnification of each of the intervals, so that the interval between the strokes before the rounding process and the after-rounding process are calculated. The conversion magnification of each interval is calculated from the obtained interval between the strokes before the rounding process and the obtained interval between the strokes after the rounding process.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the sixth, seventh or eighth aspect, information specifying a stroke for controlling a stroke interval of the character is set in the font memory 4 together with outline information of the character. It is characterized in that

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in accordance with the sixth or seventh or eighth or ninth aspect, the character developing section 3 determines the interval between strokes before the rounding process and the interval between strokes after the rounding process. To calculate the conversion magnification for each interval,
Calculate the coordinates of each stroke of the character from the outline information and store the stroke coordinates before rounding,
The stroke coordinates before rounding are rounded to store the stroke coordinates after rounding, the stroke coordinates before rounding are calculated based on the stored stroke coordinates before rounding, and the stored strokes after rounding are stored. Each stroke interval after the rounding is calculated based on coordinates.

[0036]

According to the first and sixth aspects of the present invention, if the stroke interval after rounding is equal to the stroke interval of the original character, the stroke interval after rounding reproduces the original character design. It can be said that.

For this reason, the conversion magnification of each interval is calculated from the interval between the strokes before the rounding processing and the interval between the strokes after the rounding processing, and the difference between the maximum magnification and the minimum magnification among the conversion magnifications is calculated. The stroke interval is adjusted by moving the coordinates of the strokes between the plurality of stroke intervals so as to reduce.

According to the second and seventh aspects of the present invention, in order to reduce the difference between the maximum magnification and the minimum magnification, the stroke is set to one.
The difference in the magnification when the pixel is moved by the pixel is obtained, the first difference before the movement is compared with the second difference after the movement, and the position of the stroke where the difference is minimized is determined. ,
It is realized by simple calculation.

According to the third and eighth aspects of the present invention, since the stroke interval before the rounding process is calculated from the stroke coordinates before the rounding process, the stroke interval before the rounding process can be easily calculated.

According to the fourth and ninth aspects of the present invention, information for designating a stroke for controlling the stroke interval of the character is set together with the outline information of the character, so that the object to be controlled for the stroke interval can be easily recognized. It is possible to adjust the stroke according to the character design.

According to the fifth and tenth aspects of the present invention, the stroke interval before rounding is calculated from the stroke information before rounding obtained by conversion from the outline information of the character, so that the stroke interval before rounding can be easily obtained. , Can be realized without significantly lowering the character generation speed.

[0042]

【Example】

(a) Description of the configuration of one embodiment FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a character expansion unit of one embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram (No. 1) and (No. 2) of a memory.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a receiving unit which receives a print command and print data from a host (computer or the like), and 2 denotes a command analyzing unit.
3 is a character developing unit that analyzes the meaning of the print command and the like received in step 2 and separates it into characters and figures, receives a character code, a character size, and a direction from the command analyzing unit 2, The character information is read out, and the character is developed into a bitmap image.
Reference numeral 4 denotes a font storage memory for storing characters in an outline format.
This will be described later.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a drawing unit, which develops graphics and images into bitmap images, and superimposes characters and graphics developed into bitmap images,
A writing unit 6 for writing to the bitmap memory 6; a bitmap memory 6 for writing bitmap images of characters and figures by the drawing unit 5; a printing unit 7;
The data in the bitmap memory 6 is printed on paper.

In this operation, the print command and print data received by the receiving unit 1 are analyzed in meaning by the command analyzing unit 2 and are divided into characters and figures. The figures and images are converted into bitmap images by the drawing unit 5. The characters are expanded, and the characters are expanded into a bitmap image of the designated character size by using the outline font information in the font storage memory 4 in the character expansion unit 3.

The drawing unit 5 superimposes the characters and figures developed on the bitmap image and stores them in the bitmap memory 6.
And the data in the bitmap memory 6 is printed on paper by the printing unit 7.

Referring to FIG. 3, the details of the character expanding section 3 will be described in the form of a block. Reference numeral 30 denotes an enlargement / reduction operation unit which converts character outline information corresponding to a character code from the font storage memory 4 into a designated character size. Numeral 31 denotes a hint processing unit which has a table (described later with reference to FIG. 9) for holding the data before the hint processing and the data after the hint processing for each stroke. The width and the position are adjusted by executing a rounding (hint) process or the like so as to improve the character quality of.

Reference numeral 32 denotes a stroke interval calculator which calculates the interval between horizontal strokes or vertical strokes after the hint (rounding) processing and the interval between horizontal strokes or vertical strokes before the hint processing, and 33 denotes a magnification. An arithmetic unit for calculating a conversion magnification between the stroke interval before the hint processing and the stroke interval after the hint processing; a maximum / minimum magnification detector 34 for detecting the maximum and the minimum of the conversion magnification and calculating the difference; Is calculated.

Reference numeral 35 denotes a trial unit which adds one pixel to the stroke interval calculator 32 after the hint processing of the stroke interval at which the conversion magnification becomes the minimum, and after the hint processing of the stroke interval at which the conversion magnification becomes the maximum. This is an instruction to calculate a stroke interval obtained by subtracting one pixel from the interval.

Numeral 36 denotes a decision unit which compares the difference between the maximum magnification and the minimum magnification before the trial and the difference between the maximum magnification and the minimum magnification after the trial. If the difference is not reduced by the trial, the result before the trial is fed back to the hint processing unit 31;
Reference numeral 7 denotes a surface painting processing unit which fills the inside of the outline with the outline information of the hint processing unit 31 to complete a bitmap image.

The character developing section 3 is constituted by a processor, and these blocks 30 to 37 are functional blocks of software. This operation will be described. In the character expanding section 3, the designated character information (outline information) is searched from the font storage memory 4, and the enlargement / reduction operation unit 30 is set so as to have the designated size (size).
Then, the hint processing unit 31 stores the coordinate data subjected to the scaling conversion in a table, rounds the coordinate data, calculates the coordinate data after the hint processing, and stores the coordinate data in the table.

This data is stored in the stroke interval calculator 32.
The interval between horizontal strokes or vertical strokes after the hint processing and the interval between horizontal strokes or vertical strokes before the hint processing are calculated.

The magnification calculator 33 calculates the conversion magnification based on the interval calculated by the stroke interval calculator 32, and the maximum and minimum magnification detector 34 detects the maximum interval and the minimum interval of the conversion magnification. (First difference) is calculated and temporarily stored in the determiner 36.

The trial unit 35 performs an attempt to add one pixel from the interval after the hint processing of the stroke interval at which the magnification is the minimum and subtract one pixel from the interval after the hint processing of the stroke interval at which the magnification is the maximum. Arithmetic unit 32
And the stroke interval calculator 32 calculates the stroke interval after the hint processing according to the instruction, and
Output to 3.

The magnification calculator 33 calculates the conversion magnification in which the stroke interval after the hint processing is corrected, and the maximum / minimum magnification detector 34 calculates the difference (second difference) between the maximum interval and the minimum interval. The calculation is performed and output to the determiner 36.

The judging unit 36 compares the first difference temporarily held and the second difference after the trial. If the difference is reduced by the trial, the result after the trial must be reduced. For example, the result before the trial is fed back to the hint processing unit 31.

If the trial is unsuccessful, the hint processing unit 31 passes the data after the hint processing to the face-coating unit 37 without performing any special processing. The data after the hint processing in which the stroke from the stroke interval to the stroke interval to be the minimum magnification is moved by one pixel toward the stroke interval to be the maximum magnification is created and transferred to the surface painting unit 37.

Finally, in the face-painting section 37, the inside of the outline is painted as specified by the passed data, and the bitmap image is completed. The configuration of the font storage memory will be described with reference to FIGS.

Here, a storage method is used in which characters are decomposed into a hierarchical structure, such as elements corresponding to bias and structure forming a character, strokes corresponding to carrying a brush, and parts corresponding to a writing portion and an end portion. explain.

Further, for the purpose of reducing the amount of data, a structure information storage memory 4a shown in FIG. 4 for storing the character hierarchical structure and the characteristic data, and a contour information storage memory for storing the outline of the character decomposed into strokes or parts. 4b.

As shown in FIG. 4, the structure information storage memory 4a includes a header section 40 storing common information such as a character set type (Mincho style, Gothic style, etc.) and a creation date. Character pointer section 4 for finding information
1, an element pointer section 42 pointing to elements decomposed into bias or structure, and an element directory section 43 describing how each element has a structure.
Consists of

The element directory section 43 is composed of an element block 44 having a classification code of each element and a stroke block 45 in which detailed information of a stroke constituting the element is described.

The stroke block 45 includes a white space block in addition to a part block in which a stroke classification code and information on parts of the stroke (for example, the origin coordinates of the respective parts as viewed from the character coordinate system) are described. And information for controlling the interval between strokes is stored here.

The white space block has an X group number, a Y group number, a thinning code, and an erasure code.
In the direction, it indicates whether or not other strokes and interval control are required. When there is no need, "0" is entered. When necessary, the stroke which requires interval control is indicated. The group number of the group is entered.

For example, in the case of the kanji character "book", there are four vertical strokes, which need to be controlled in the X direction. Therefore, the same group number (for example, "1") is entered.

Next, the Y group number indicates whether or not the stroke requires control of other strokes and intervals when viewed in the Y direction.
Is entered, and when necessary, the group number of a stroke group that requires interval control is entered.

For example, in the case of the above-mentioned character "E", there are four horizontal strokes, and since these require interval control in the Y direction, the same group number (for example, "1") is entered.

In order to prevent a line type from being stuck together due to an excessively small space between lines in a typeface designed to be thick, a thin line code is a stroke whose code is "1". It is provided for the purpose of keeping the distance between lines smaller than the original thickness.

The following erasure code is used when the character is expanded into a considerably small bitmap, and the strokes between the adjacent characters are stuck together, and the width is only one pixel, so that the code cannot be narrowed. It is provided for the purpose of erasing the stroke of "1" and improving readability.

Whether or not the designated character has a stroke that requires an interval adjustment is checked by sequentially reading the X group number and the Y group number in the white space block in the structure information storage memory 4a. ,
If a number other than “0” is entered, the distance between strokes having the same group number is adjusted.

Next, the outline information storage memory 4b has a data structure as shown in FIG. 5, for example, when characters are decomposed into parts. That is, the header section 46 storing common information such as the type of character set and the creation date.
A character pointer unit 47 for searching for target information from the character code, a part pointer unit 48 for searching for a part image constituting the designated character, and a contour information unit 49 in which the part image is described by a contour line.

The part pointer section 48 is provided with part pointers 1 to n in the order of strokes, and each of the part pointers 1 to n is provided with a flag indicating the end of the stroke.

For example, if the parts of one stroke are the parts pointers 1 and 2, a flag indicating the end of the stroke is set in the parts pointer 2 so that it is possible to determine which part each stroke corresponds to. .

Thus, each part of the outline information section 49 can be shared by a large number of characters only by providing the part pointer section 48 for each character, and the font memory can be reduced.

(B) Description of one embodiment process FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an interval control process according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a character generation operation according to an embodiment of the present invention (part 1), (part 2), FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a character expansion table of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram (part 1) and (part 2) of the operation of the embodiment.

First, the operation of generating a character from the font memory 4 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7, 8, and 9, taking the Chinese character "eye" as an example. As shown in FIG.
Character pointer section 41 of the structure information storage memory 4a
Then, according to the character code "96DA" of the kanji "eye",
The pointer to the element is obtained, and the pointer of the element block 44 in which the structure information is stored is obtained by the element pointer section 42.

In the element block 44, information on the six strokes constituting the kanji "eye" is described in the stroke block 45 following the element classification code.

Here, an example in which the characters are arranged in the order of writing is shown. The first stroke is a vertical line,
The control code column having the vertical line classification code "000001" and arranged in the order of the X group number, the Y group number, the thinning code, and the erasure code is "0000". Since it is "0", there is no need for interval control, and the thinning code and the erasure code are also "0".

The second stroke is a horizontal line, has a classification code "0000010", has a group number in the Y direction, and similarly applies the fourth, fifth, and sixth strokes together with the interval control in the Y direction. For the character "eye", there are four groups of interval control in the Y direction.

In the fourth and fifth strokes, when the thinning code is “1”, when the horizontal lines are stuck together when the bitmap is developed in a font having a large line width and the spacing cannot be maintained, , Are controlled so as to keep the line width small and maintain the interval.

Further, in the fourth stroke, the erasure code is “1”, and when a small bitmap image is generated, when the horizontal lines are adjacent to each other and become black,
This horizontal line is deleted to keep the space between the lines.

Therefore, in the structure information storage memory 4a, the contents of the corresponding stroke block 45 are derived from the character code of the character "eye". Similarly, as shown in FIG. 8A, a pointer of the part pointer section 48 is obtained from the character pointer section 47 from the character code "96DA" of the kanji "eye", and the outline information section 49 is obtained from the part pointer section 48.
The corresponding contour information is extracted.

The enlargement / reduction operation unit 30 described with reference to FIG. 3 performs the operation of enlarging / reducing the outline information into outline information of the character size of the designated size. For example, in order to set the size of X to 12 pixels and the size of Y to 14 pixels shown in FIG. 10, the outline information of the character represented by the 1000 × 1000 coordinate system shown in FIG. And the Y direction is
14/1000 times.

The contour information calculated in this manner is sent to the hint processing section 31 of FIG. 3 together with the information of the stroke block 45.
Create a character expansion table.

The character development table includes, for each stroke constituting a character, a stroke number, the coordinates of the stroke before rounding processing (X coordinate Xl on the left side of the line width of the vertical stroke, and the right side of the line width of the vertical stroke). X coordinate Xr, Y coordinate Yb below line width of horizontal stroke, Y coordinate Yu above line width of horizontal stroke, and coordinates of stroke after rounding processing (X coordinate Xl on the left side of line width of vertical stroke) X coordinate Xr on the right side of the line width of the vertical stroke, Y coordinate Yb on the lower side of the line width of the horizontal stroke, Y coordinate Yu on the upper side of the line width of the horizontal stroke), the group number (X, Y), and thinning. A code (X, Y), an erasure code (X, Y), and outline information of the stroke are stored.

Therefore, the hint processing unit 31 stores the outline information calculated by the scaling calculator 30 in the outline information column of the corresponding stroke in the character expansion table, and the structure information of the stroke in the control code column (group number). (X, Y),
Are stored in the thinning code (X, Y) and the erasure code (X, Y)), and the coordinates of the stroke before rounding are obtained according to the outline information and the vertical stroke or the horizontal stroke. Store in the stroke coordinate field.

Further, the hint processing section 31 performs the above-described line width preserving rounding processing on the stroke coordinates before the rounding processing, obtains the stroke coordinates after the rounding processing, and calculates the stroke coordinates after the rounding processing in the character development table. To be stored.

This will be described with reference to an example of converting the character “eyes” shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 into the size shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 10B, since the first stroke 1 is a vertical stroke, the X coordinate X1 on the left side of the line width of the vertical stroke is determined from the outline information as the coordinate of e in FIG. 3 to the X coordinate Xr on the right side of the line width of the vertical stroke,
2.7, which is the coordinate of e ′ in FIG. 10A, is obtained and stored in the stroke column before rounding.

Then, when this processing is performed for the line width preserving rounding processing, as shown in FIG.
The X coordinate Xl on the left side of the line width of the vertical stroke is “1”, and the X coordinate Xr on the right side of the line width of the vertical stroke is
"3" is stored in the stroke field after rounding.

Hereinafter, similarly, the second strokes 2, 3
For the third stroke, the fourth stroke 4, the fifth stroke 5, and the sixth stroke 6, the stroke coordinates before the rounding process and the stroke coordinates after the rounding process are obtained and stored in the character development table.

In this way, the character "eye" before the rounding process becomes as shown in FIG. 10A, and the character "eye" after the rounding process becomes as shown in FIG. 10B. Using these data, the interval control processing of FIG. 6 is performed by the operations of the stroke interval calculator 32, the magnification calculator 33, the maximum / minimum magnification detector 34, the trial unit 35, and the determiner 36 of FIG. The hint processing unit 31 reads the stroke block of the specified character element from the structure information storage memory 4a of the font memory 4, and creates the character expansion table of FIG. 9 together with the outline information of the scaling calculator 30 as described above. .

The hint processing section 31 reads the group number column of the character expansion table, picks up a stroke group having the same group number, and reads out the stroke coordinates before the rounding process and the stroke coordinates after the rounding process. This is passed to the stroke interval calculator 32.

For example, in the above-described example of the Chinese character "E", four strokes 2, 4, 5, and 6 are regarded as strokes of the same group from the character expansion table, and the stroke coordinates before the rounding processing and the rounding The stroke coordinates after the processing are read.

The stroke interval calculator 32 calculates the stroke interval of the original character from the stroke coordinates before the rounding process, and then calculates the stroke interval after the hint process from the stroke coordinates after the rounding process.

In the examples of FIGS. 9 and 10, d in FIG.
-Three stroke intervals w of c ', cb', ba '
a1, wa2, and wa3 are calculated as the stroke intervals of the original character, and d0-c'0, c0- in FIG.
three stroke intervals wb1, b'0, b0-a'0,
wb2 and wb3 are calculated as the stroke interval after the hint processing.

Next, the magnification calculator 33 calculates the magnification (ratio) of each stroke interval by dividing the stroke interval after the hint processing by the stroke interval of the original character. In the example of FIG. 10, the magnification of each stroke interval is wb1
/ Wa1, wb2 / wa2, wb3 / wa3 are calculated.

Then, the maximum / minimum magnification detector 33 calculates
By comparing the calculated magnifications, the minimum and maximum of the magnification are detected, and the maximum (for example, wb1 / wa1) and the minimum (for example, wb1 / wa1) are detected.
wb2 / wa2) (first difference).

The trial unit 35 causes the stroke interval calculator 32 to subtract 1 from the numerator of the maximum magnification (stroke interval after hint processing) and add 1 to the numerator of the minimum magnification (stroke interval after hint processing). To instruct.

Thus, the stroke interval calculator 32
Performs an operation of subtracting 1 from the numerator wb1 having the maximum magnification and adding 1 to the numerator wb2 having the minimum magnification.
The magnification of the stroke interval of the maximum magnification and the magnification of the stroke interval of the minimum magnification are calculated.

That is, (wb1-1) / wa1 and (wb
2 + 1) / wa2. Next, the maximum / minimum magnification detector 33 calculates this difference (second difference). The determiner 36 compares the first difference with the second difference,
Is smaller than the first difference, and it is determined whether the difference has been reduced by trial.

If the difference does not become small, the decision unit 36
Although the character expansion table of the hint processing unit 31 is not changed,
Conversely, when the difference becomes small, the coordinates of the stroke between the stroke interval of the maximum magnification and the stroke interval of the minimum magnification become 1
The hint processing unit 31 is instructed to move the stroke image by adding or subtracting pixels.

The hint processing unit 31 changes the coordinate value of the stroke after rounding the character expansion table by one pixel. Here, “1” is added to each of the lower Y coordinate Yb of the horizontal stroke line width of the stroke 4 and the upper Y coordinate Yu of the horizontal stroke line width of the stroke 4 between the stroke intervals wb1 and wb2, Update the character expansion table.

Therefore, the character "eye" generated by this
Is as shown in FIG. Next, the hint processing unit 31 checks the group number column of the character expansion table to check whether there is any unprocessed group number. If there is, the process returns to the step.

When determining that there is no unprocessed group number, the hint processing unit 31 checks whether the interval control has been completed in both the X and Y directions, and if not completed, returns to the step.
If the processing has been completed, it is determined whether all the elements of the character have been repeated. If all the elements have not been completed, the process returns to the step. If completed, the interval control processing ends.

When the interval control is completed, the character developing unit 3
Then, the drawing unit 37 determines, based on the contents of the character expansion table,
Draw and complete the bitmap image. This will be specifically described with reference to the example of the kanji character “E” in FIGS. 9, 10, and 11.

By the steps, strokes 2, 4, 5, and 6 are extracted from the character development table of FIG. 9 as the same group of horizontal strokes, and the stroke coordinates before rounding and the stroke coordinates after rounding are read out.

Next, in steps, intervals wa1, wa2, wa3 of each stroke before rounding processing are calculated. wa1 = d (Yb of stroke 2) −c ′ (Yu of stroke 4) = 11.5−9.5 = 2.0 wa2 = c (Yb of stroke 4) −b ′ (Yu of stroke 5) = 8 .3-5.7 = 2.6 wa3 = b (Yb of stroke 5)-a '(Yu of stroke 6) = 4.5-1.5 = 3.0 Also, the interval of each stroke after rounding processing wb1, wb
2, wb3 is calculated.

Wb1 = d0 (Yb of stroke 2) −c′0 (Yu of stroke 4) = 12−9 = 3 wb2 = c0 (Yb of stroke 4) −b′0 (Yu of stroke 5) = 8− 6 = 2 wb3 = b0 (Yb of stroke 5) −a′0 (Yu of stroke 6) = 5-1 = 4 Next, in step, the magnification wb1 / wa of the stroke interval
1, wb2 / wa2, wb3 / wa3 are calculated.

Wb1 / wa1 = 3 / 2.0 = 1.5 wb2 / wa2 = 2 / 2.6 = 0.77 wb3 / wa3 = 4 / 3.0 = 1.33 Here, the maximum and minimum magnifications Calculating the difference r1 of the following gives: r1 = wb1 / wa1-wb2 / wa2 = 1.5-0.77 = 0.73.

Next, in a step, the interval wb2 after the rounding processing of the minimum stroke interval of the magnification is increased by one.
Interval wb after rounding of maximum stroke interval of magnification
1 is reduced by 1 and the stroke interval magnifications wb1 / wa1, wb2 / wa2, wb3 are again increased in steps.
When calculating / wa3, wb1 / wa1 = 2 / 2.0 = 1.0 wb2 / wa2 = 3 / 2.6 = 1.15 wb3 / wa3 = 4 / 3.0 = 1.33 Calculating the magnification difference r2 as follows: r2 = wb2 / wa2-wb1 / wa1 = 1.15-1.0 = 0.15

In the step, the difference r1 before the trial of the exchange is compared with the difference r2 after the trial, and the difference r
2 is small, and the deviation of the enlargement / reduction ratio (conversion magnification) of the stroke interval is reduced by trial.

The stroke interval having the smallest magnification,
All strokes sandwiched between the stroke intervals having the largest magnification are moved by one pixel toward the stroke interval having the largest magnification.

Here, the minimum stroke interval of the magnification is c0−b′0, and the maximum stroke interval of the magnification is d0−c′0. Since this is the fourth horizontal stroke 4, the coordinate is moved in the direction of the maximum stroke interval of the magnification.

That is, the coordinates of the character expansion table of the horizontal stroke 4 after the rounding processing are moved up by one pixel, and “1” is added to the Y coordinate Yb below the line width of the horizontal stroke 4 to obtain “8”. ”To“ 9 ”, and“ 1 ”is added to the Y-coordinate Yu on the upper side of the line width to change“ 9 ”to“ 10 ”. Incidentally, Yb and Yu in the table of FIG. 9 indicate the values after the movement.

In this way, a bitmap image close to the original kanji “eye” design as shown in FIG. 11 is obtained. (c) Description of Other Embodiments In addition to the above-described embodiments, the present invention can be modified as follows.

Although the kanji character "eye" has been described, the present invention can be applied to a character having horizontal strokes such as a kanji character "shell" or a character having vertical strokes such as a kanji character "bear" and "bear".

The stroke interval before the rounding process is calculated from the coordinate values after the coordinate conversion.
Can be calculated from the original contour information, and this interval may be stored in the font memory.

As the outline information, the origin of the part in the character coordinate system may be set, and may be represented by a relative position from this origin. Although the font memory has been described in the part division system, the stroke memory may be used.

As described above, the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments.
Various modifications are possible within the scope of the present invention, and these are not excluded from the scope of the present invention.

[0120]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The following effects are obtained. Since the stroke interval after the rounding process is adjusted to be equal to the stroke interval of the original character, a bitmap image reproducing the design of the original character can be obtained.

The conversion magnification of each interval is calculated from the interval between the strokes before the rounding processing and the interval between the strokes after the rounding processing, and the difference between the maximum magnification and the minimum magnification among the conversion magnifications is reduced. The stroke interval is adjusted by moving the coordinates of the strokes between the plurality of stroke intervals as described above, so that the calculation can be realized with a simple calculation, and the character generation speed can be realized without much lowering.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principle diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a character developing unit according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram (part 1) of a font memory according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram (part 2) of a font memory according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an interval control process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram (part 1) of a character generation operation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram (part 2) of a character generation operation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a character expansion table according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram (part 1) illustrating the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram (part 2) for explaining the operation of the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram (part 1) of a conventional technique.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view (part 2) of a conventional technique.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram (part 3) of the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 3 Character development unit 4 Font storage memory 30 Enlargement / reduction operation unit 31 Hint processing unit 32 Stroke interval operation unit 33 Magnification operation unit 34 Maximum / minimum magnification detection unit 35 Trial unit 36 Judgment unit 37 Surface painting processing unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Taketomi Otomo 193-3-1, Kita 21-Jyohigashi, Higashi-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido Inside the Otomo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Antonio Hermann Rionerstrasse, Germany 14, frankfurt 71 Fujitsu Gland Germany GmbH (56) References JP-A-3-38691 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G09G 5/00-5 / 40 B41J 2/485 B41J 5/30 G06F 3/12 G06F 3/14-3/153

Claims (10)

(57) [Claims] 1. After converting outline font information representing the outline of a character by coordinates into a coordinate value of a coordinate system of a specified size, rounding processing is performed to an integer coordinate value, and the character of the specified size is converted. In the character generation method for generating a bitmap image of the above, for a character having a plurality of strokes of the same type, conversion of each interval is performed based on an interval between strokes before the rounding process and an interval between strokes after the rounding process. A character generation method comprising: calculating a magnification; and moving a coordinate of a stroke between the plurality of stroke intervals so as to reduce a difference between a maximum magnification and a minimum magnification among the conversion magnifications. 2. In order to move the coordinates of the stroke,
Calculating a first difference between a maximum magnification and a minimum magnification among the conversion magnifications, and subtracting 1 from the stroke interval after the rounding processing of the maximum magnification and the minimum magnification Calculating a magnification obtained by adding 1 to the stroke interval after the rounding processing, calculating a second difference between these magnifications, comparing the first difference with the second difference, When the second difference is smaller than the first difference, the stroke from the stroke interval of the maximum magnification to the stroke interval of the minimum magnification is shifted toward the stroke interval of the maximum magnification. 2. The character generation method according to claim 1, wherein the character is moved by one unit coordinate. 3. A method for calculating a conversion magnification of each interval,
The interval between the strokes before the rounding process and the interval between the strokes after the rounding process are obtained, and the obtained interval between the strokes before the rounding process and the interval between the strokes after the rounding process are calculated. 3. The character generation method according to claim 1, wherein a conversion magnification is calculated. 4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:
4. The character generation method according to claim 1, wherein information for designating a stroke for controlling the stroke interval of the character is set. 5. The coordinates of each stroke of the character are calculated from the outline information in order to calculate a conversion magnification of each interval from an interval between strokes before the rounding process and an interval between strokes after the rounding process. The stroke coordinates before rounding are stored, the stroke coordinates before rounding are rounded, the stroke coordinates after rounding are stored, and the stored stroke coordinates before rounding are stored.
While calculating each stroke interval before rounding,
5. The character generation method according to claim 1, wherein each stroke interval after the rounding is calculated based on the stored stroke coordinates after the rounding. 6. A font memory (4) for storing outline font information representing the outline of a character by coordinates,
The outline font information of the designated character is read from the font memory (4), converted into the coordinate value of the coordinate system of the designated size, rounded to an integer coordinate value, and the character of the designated size is read out. A character developing unit (3) for generating a bitmap image, wherein the character developing unit (3) converts a character having a plurality of strokes of the same type between strokes before the rounding process. A conversion magnification of each interval is calculated from the interval and the interval between the strokes after the rounding processing, and among the conversion magnifications, the conversion between the plurality of stroke intervals is reduced so that the difference between the maximum magnification and the minimum magnification is reduced. A character generation device for moving the coordinates of a stroke. 7. The character developing unit (3) calculates a first difference between a maximum magnification and a minimum magnification among the conversion magnifications to move the stroke, and calculates the first magnification. The magnification obtained by subtracting 1 from the stroke interval after the rounding processing and the magnification obtained by adding 1 to the stroke interval after the rounding processing of the minimum magnification are calculated, and a second difference between these magnifications is calculated. Calculating, comparing the first difference with the second difference, and when the second difference is smaller than the first difference, from the stroke interval of the largest magnification to the smallest magnification. 7. The character generating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a stroke up to the stroke interval is moved by one unit coordinate toward the stroke interval of the maximum magnification. 8. The character developing unit (3) calculates an interval between strokes before the rounding process and an interval between strokes after the rounding process in order to calculate a conversion magnification of each interval. 8. The character generating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a conversion magnification of each interval is calculated from the obtained interval between strokes before the rounding process and the interval between strokes after the rounding process. 9. The font memory according to claim 6, wherein information specifying a stroke for controlling a stroke interval of the character is set together with outline information of the character. 8 character generator. 10. The character developing unit (3) calculates a conversion magnification of each interval from an interval between strokes before the rounding process and an interval between strokes after the rounding process.
Calculate the coordinates of each stroke of the character from the outline information and store the stroke coordinates before rounding,
The stroke coordinates before rounding are rounded to store the stroke coordinates after rounding, the stroke coordinates before rounding are calculated based on the stored stroke coordinates before rounding, and the stored strokes after rounding are stored. 10. The character generation device according to claim 6, wherein each stroke interval after the rounding is calculated based on coordinates.