JP3528620B2 - Character drawing apparatus and character drawing method - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a character drawing device and a character drawing method for drawing characters of an electronically created / edited document for printer output, etc.
The present invention relates to a character drawing device and a character drawing method of a type that handles a character formed as a geometric curve, that is, outline data.

More specifically, the present invention relates to a character drawing device for correcting outline data of a character in accordance with the characteristics of the document (for example, a report that requires readability or a plan that favors decorativeness). The present invention relates to a character drawing method, and more particularly, to a character drawing device and a character drawing method for appropriately correcting the end point shape of a character according to the characteristics of a document.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art With the recent technological innovation, various computer systems such as workstations and personal computers have been developed and widely spread in offices of companies and institutions. Computer systems, for example, by introducing business applications such as word processors, spreadsheets, databases, etc.
Operates as a powerful business tool.

Especially in the modern society where documentation is of utmost importance, a word processor or DTP (Desk Top) is used for the purpose of personal publishing or in-house printing.
Publishing has penetrated deeply into the office.

The word processor and DTP are used to electronically create a document and then edit or print the document. In the case of an electronic document, it is possible to easily change the character layout, size, typeface (font), sentence style, and the like. The document creator can arrange the appearance of the electronic document according to the situation of use.

For example, in a document such as a report that requires accuracy and rigor, by eliminating excessive decoration, the readability of the document can be improved and erroneous reading can be avoided. Also, the typeface and style of letters should be selected so that they are highly readable. On the other hand, in the case of planning documents and presentation materials, it is accepted to use a lot of italicized characters and shaded characters for the purpose of stimulating the audience. This is because in this case, emphasis is placed on decorativeness rather than readability.

In an electronic document, the outline (outline) of a character is generally expressed as a geometric curve. For example, Japanese character data includes outline data of about 8000 characters per typeface. It is easy to apply geometric processing to a character represented by a geometric curve in this way. For example, processing such as character enlargement, reduction, and rotation is easily realized by geometrical transformation processing using affine transformation or the like. In short, character data configured as a geometric curve is excellent in character drawing processing.

On the other hand, it is difficult to finely balance the outline data. For example,
One of the conventional techniques in the field of character drawing is to optimize the character balance by rounding the corners of the end points of all characters by 5%. However, the process of correcting a part of the outline as described above cannot be easily realized by a uniform transformation process of a geometric figure such as an affine transformation.

For this reason, conventionally, the character balance process is performed in a process different from the character drawing process. However, the character balance processing has a very large processing load, such as extracting the outline of each character and applying geometric deformation.

Further, there is no unified standard for judging the optimum character balance, and it depends on the knowledge and experience of the creator of the document. There is a problem of variation in quality that the balance of the document is different if the document creator and the document creation time are different. Adjusting the balance of a document requires dealing with the conflicting characteristics of readability and embellishment, and is limited only by the knowledge and experience of the author.

As a conventional technique for solving such a problem, for example, JP-A-4-186292 and JP-A-7-19 are available.
No. 1657 is mentioned. In Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 4-186292, skeleton data representing the outer shape of a character as a set of line segments is held, and the skeleton data is fleshed based on an arbitrary contour line and end point data to generate a character shape. I have to. Further, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-191657, character outline shapes are separated into end points and other parts,
The shape of the character is generated by applying an appropriate correction to each part. The purpose of these techniques is to correct the character balance when generating a character shape with an arbitrary size for a character expressed as outline data.

However, when trying to realize the correction of the character balance according to each document having different characteristics such as a report, a plan document, and a presentation material, it is difficult to apply these conventional techniques. For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 4-186292, basically, only the skeleton of a character is uniformly fleshed out, so that it is theoretically impossible to adjust only the end point shape. In addition, JP-A-7-
No. 191657 provides an improvement in which the shape of the character is adjusted by combining appropriate correction coefficients with respect to the combination of the end points and other portions. However, the adjustment of the character shape performed here is of a static nature that is corrected according to an arbitrary value on a character-by-character basis.
It is not intended to make dynamic corrections in accordance with the project description that should pursue decorativeness.

[0013]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an excellent character drawing apparatus and character drawing method for drawing characters of an electronically created / edited document for printer output or the like. Especially.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an excellent character drawing apparatus and character drawing method of the type that handles characters formed as geometric curves, that is, outline data.

A further object of the present invention is that the outline data of characters can be appropriately corrected according to the characteristics of a document (for example, a report written that requires readability or a project written that decoration is desired). An object of the present invention is to provide an excellent character drawing device and character drawing method.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an excellent character drawing device and character drawing method capable of suitably correcting the end point shape of a character in accordance with the characteristics of a document.

[0017]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and a first aspect thereof is a character drawing device of a type that handles a character shape as outline data. Is a character drawing device characterized in that correction data for correcting the outline of is prepared for each correction data type.

A second aspect of the present invention is a character drawing device of a type that handles a character shape as outline data, and a first means for designating a correction data type for correcting a character outline. A second means for preparing a plurality of correction data for correcting the outline of the character for each correction data type, and the second correction data corresponding to the correction data type designated by the first means. And a third means for applying it to the outline data of the character, the character drawing apparatus.

A third aspect of the present invention is a character drawing device of a type that handles a character shape as outline data, and (a) an input unit for inputting a character string to be drawn and its drawing attribute information. And (b) character outline
Character data storage and management means for storing and managing data,
(C) Character structure storing / managing means for preparing a plurality of correction data for correcting the outline of the character in association with the drawing attribute information, and (d) outline data of each character in the input character string for the character. Means for extracting from the data storage / management means, (e) means for extracting correction data corresponding to the designated drawing attribute information from the character structure storage / management means, and (f) correction for outline data of each character A character drawing device comprising: a means for applying data.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is a character drawing device of a type that handles a character shape as outline data, and includes (a) a character string to be drawn, a typeface name, and
Describes the input section for inputting the document type, (b) character data storage / management means for storing / managing character outline data for each typeface, and (c) the correspondence between the document type and the correction data type. A correction data reference table, (d) a character structure storing / managing means for preparing a plurality of correction data for correcting the outline of characters for each correction data type for each typeface name, and (e) referring to the correction data A means for determining a correction data type corresponding to a specified typeface name and document type by referring to the table, and (f) outline data of each character in the input character string from the character data storage / management means. Means for extracting, and (g) correction data corresponding to the correction data type determined by the means (e) for storing the character structure.
A character drawing apparatus comprising: means for extracting from management means; and (h) means for applying correction data to outline data of each character.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is a character drawing device of a type that handles a character shape as outline data, and includes (a) a character string to be drawn, a typeface name, and
An input unit for inputting characteristic values of the document; (b) character data storage / management means for storing / managing character outline data for each typeface; and (c) document characteristic values and correction data types. A correction data reference table in which correspondences are described, (d) a character structure storage / management means for preparing a plurality of correction data for correcting the outline of characters for each correction data type for each typeface name, (e) Means for determining a correction data type corresponding to a specified typeface name and document characteristic value by referring to the correction data reference table; and (f) an outline of each character in the input character string.
Means for fetching data from the character data storage / management means, and (g) means for fetching correction data corresponding to the correction data type determined by the means (e) from the character structure storage / management means, (h) ) A means of applying correction data to the outline data of each character,
A character drawing apparatus comprising:

Here, the characteristic value of the document may be a numerical value defining two kinds of characteristics of readability and decorativeness of the document.

Further, in the character drawing apparatus according to the third to fifth aspects of the present invention, the correction data is data for correcting the end point shape by replacing the end point data of the character outline, and the character outline. The start position and the end position of the end point data included in the data, and the correction data that replaces the end point data may be included.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is a character drawing method in which a character shape is treated as outline data, and a plurality of correction data for correcting the outline of a character are prepared for each correction data type. And the correction data for correcting the outline of the character.
The step to specify the type and the specified correction data
A character drawing method comprising: a step of extracting correction data corresponding to a type; and a step of applying the correction data to outline data of a character.

A seventh aspect of the present invention is a character drawing method of the type in which a character shape is treated as outline data, wherein (a) a step of storing outline data of a character in advance; ) A step of preparing a plurality of correction data for correcting the outline of the character in association with the drawing attribute information; (c) a step of inputting a character string to be drawn and its drawing attribute information; )
The step of extracting the outline data of each character in the input character string, (e) the step of extracting the correction data corresponding to the designated drawing attribute information, and (f) the correction data for the outline data of each character. And a step of applying the character drawing method.

Further, an eighth aspect of the present invention is a character drawing method of a type in which a character shape is treated as outline data, and (a) a step of preliminarily storing character outline data for each typeface. And (b) generating in advance a correction data reference table in which the correspondence between the document type and the correction data type is described.
(C) a step of preparing a plurality of correction data for correcting the outline of characters for each correction data type for each typeface name; (d) a character string to be drawn, a typeface name, and a document type And (e) referring to the correction data reference table to determine the correction data type corresponding to the specified typeface name and document type, and (f) each character in the input character string. Of the outline data of (a), (g) extracting the correction data corresponding to the correction data type determined in the step (e), and (h) the correction data for the outline data of each character. And a step of applying the character drawing method.

A ninth aspect of the present invention is a character drawing method in which a character shape is treated as outline data, and (a) a step of preliminarily storing character outline data for each typeface. And (b) creating a correction data reference table in which the correspondence between the characteristic value of the document and the correction data type is created in advance,
(C) a step of preparing a plurality of correction data for correcting the outline of characters for each correction data type for each typeface name; (d) a character string to be drawn, a typeface name, and a document Inputting a characteristic value, (e) referring to the correction data reference table, determining a correction data type corresponding to the specified font name and the characteristic value of the document, and (f) an input character string The outline data of each character in the character, (g) the correction data corresponding to the correction data type determined in the step (e), and (h) the outline data of each character. And a step of applying the correction data according to the present invention.

Here, the characteristic value of the document may be a numerical value defining two types of characteristics of readability and decorativeness of the document.

Further, in the character drawing method according to the seventh to ninth aspects of the present invention, the correction data is data for correcting the end point shape by replacing the end point data of the character outline, and the character outline The start position and the end position of the end point data included in the data, and the correction data that replaces the end point data may be included.

[0030]

First, a character string and drawing attributes related to the character string are input to the character drawing device. The drawing attributes mentioned here include a document type (for example, a report, a proposal, a presentation material, etc.), a characteristic value (for example, the degree of readability and decorativeness), a typeface, a character size, a style, and the like.

Character outline data for the specified typeface is retrieved from the outline data memory. In addition, the correction data corresponding to the specified characteristic value and typeface is read from the correction data memory. The correction data mainly corrects the end point shape of each character outline data.

Character outline data is corrected in accordance with the acquired correction data, and then the corrected out-Iran data is subjected to drawing processing, and the character drawing data is output to a printer or a display.

Thus, according to the present invention, outline data of a character can be dynamically corrected according to characteristics such as a document type.

In particular, according to the present invention, it is possible to suitably correct the end point shape of a character.

Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention are as follows.
It will be clarified by a more detailed description based on embodiments of the present invention described below and the accompanying drawings.

[0036]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 schematically shows the structure of a character drawing device 100 suitable for realizing the present invention.

The character drawing apparatus 100 includes an input unit 101 for inputting a character string and a typeface or document type related to the input character string, a character data management unit 104 for managing outline data, and a character for each typeface. Structure management unit 105 that manages correction data for each document type, a characteristic value reference table 108 that stores optimum characteristic values for each document type, and a document characteristic management unit that manages this characteristic value reference table 108. 102, a correction data reference table 109 that describes the correspondence between the characteristic values for each typeface name and the correction data type, a character structure management unit 105 that manages the correction data for each typeface characteristic value, and the correction data. A character shape correction unit 103 that corrects the outline data of a character by using a character drawing unit 106. Hereinafter, each part will be described.

In the input unit 101, a character string, a drawing attribute related to the input character string, a document type or an arbitrary characteristic value is input. The input character string is a character list composed of one or more characters that can be drawn by the character drawing device 100.

The drawing attributes are the typeface, character size, coordinate conversion matrix, etc. of the characters in the input character string. The character size may be described by the number of pixels on the drawing destination device (for example, a printer or a display) or the combination of the number of points on the logical coordinates and the resolution.
A typeface is an identification name that depends on outline data of characters, and character fonts such as “Gothic” and “Mincho” correspond to this. The coordinate transformation matrix is an effective element in the two-dimensional affine transformation matrix. That is, by using the transformation matrix shown in the following equation (1), an arbitrary point (x, y) on the xy coordinate system can be transformed into a point (x ′,
The coordinates can be converted into y ').

[0041]

[Equation 1]

[0042]

## EQU2 ## x '= ax + cy + tx y '= bx + dy + ty

In the above equation, if (x, y) is the coordinate space of the character and (x ', y') is the coordinate space on the drawing page, then [abcd tx ty] is the coordinate transformation matrix. .

The document type is data indicating the character of a document composed of an input character string. For example, reports, plans, presentation materials, etc. are prepared as document types. Further, the characteristic value is a numerical value of the characteristic of the character font such as the readability and decoration of the document (as will be described later, in the present embodiment, each characteristic value is a value of 11 levels from 0 to 10). Is expressed in).

In general, the optimum combination of characteristic values can be defined by the type of document. For example, in a document such as a report that requires accuracy and rigor, excessive decoration should be excluded to avoid misreading, and readability should be given a high point and decoration should be given a low point. On the other hand, in the case of proposals and presentation materials, it is accepted to use a lot of italic characters and shaded characters for the purpose of evoking the viewer's attention, and a point of higher decorativeness than readability is given.

The optimum combination of characteristic values for each document type is stored in the characteristic value reference table 108 (described later), and each characteristic value can be uniquely determined only by inputting the document type. However, in the present embodiment, not only the document type but also individual characteristic values such as readability and decorativeness may be individually input to specify an arbitrary combination of characteristic values.

The outer shape of each character, that is, the outline
The data is stored in the outline data memory 107. Outline data is prepared for each typeface for each character.

The character data management unit 104 manages the outline data memory 107, and extracts the character outline data from the outline data memory 107 in accordance with a request from the character shape correction unit 103, for example. ing. Character data management unit 104
Handles the same data format as normal outline characters, so that conventional character data resources can be effectively used.

The correction data memory 110 stores the correction data for the outline data of each character stored in the outline data memory 107. The correction data of the present embodiment is data for correcting the end point shape of each character outline. One piece of correction data is composed of the start point and the end point of the end point data in the outline of the character, the outline data of the end point shape, and the data size thereof. A plurality of types of correction data are prepared (described later).

The character structure management unit 105 manages the correction data memory 110, and for example, the character shape correction unit 10
According to the request from No. 3, the correction data for the outline data of each character is fetched from the correction data memory 110.

FIG. 2 conceptually shows the relationship between the drawn character, its circumscribing rectangle 201, the correction data 202 of the character, and the outline data 203 of the character. The character drawn in the figure is "person".

The character outline data 203 is stored in the outline data memory 107 and retrieved by the character data management unit 104. Since the outline of a character is generally expressed by a combination of Bezier curves, outline data is described in the form of a list of control points of Bezier curves. The definition of the Bezier curve and its expression method are described in, for example, "PostScript Language Ref" of Adobe Systems.
erence Manual Second Edit
Ion. ”For character data using Bezier curves, see“ Adobe Type1 Font Format ”by Adobe Systems.
It is explained in.

The character correction data 202 is stored in the correction data memory 110, and the character structure management unit 105
Taken out by. The correction data specifies each end point of the character in the outline data 203 of the corresponding character. In the case of the character “person” shown in FIG. 2, the correction data 202 for this character has three end points.
Includes the start point, end point of these endpoints, outline data of the endpoint shape, and the size of the outline data of each endpoint.

The method and contents for correcting the character outline differ depending on the combination of the respective characteristic values. Therefore, the correction data should be prepared by the number of combinations of characteristic values allowed by the character drawing device 100 (that is, the number of entries in the correction data reference table 109 (described later)).

FIG. 3 conceptually shows the contents of the correction data 202. The end point data 1 is the original outline data at the end point at the lower left of the character "person", and the end point data 2 is the corrected outline data of the same end point. The end point data 1 and the end point data 2 are replaceable outline data. The correction data 202 includes, in addition to the outline data related to the end point data 2, the insertion start point, the insertion end point, and the size of the outline data at the time of replacement.

Returning to FIG. 1, each part of the character drawing device 100 will be described.

The characteristic value reference table 108 is a table in which characteristic values that are optimum for each document type are stored. The characteristic value reference table 108 is based on the general rule (described above) that the optimum combination of characteristic values can be determined depending on the type of document. In the present embodiment, "readability" and "decorativeness" are defined as the characteristic factors of characters, and the degree of these characteristics is expressed using characteristic values having 11 levels from 0 to 10 (see the above). ). The document characteristic management unit 102 manages the characteristic value reference table 108.

Table 1 conceptually shows the structure of the characteristic value reference table 108.

[0059]

[Table 1]

In the illustrated characteristic value reference table 108, combinations of characteristic values corresponding to respective document types such as document type A and document type B are uniquely defined. In the table, the characteristic value 5 is given to both the readability and the decorativeness in the document type B. The document type mentioned here corresponds to, for example, classification and sorting of reports, plans, presentation materials, and the like.

Since the document types can be arbitrarily classified, the method of defining the characteristic values described in Table 1 itself does not form the gist of the present invention. In addition, in the present embodiment, the readability and the decorativeness are both represented by an integer value from 0 to 10, and the sum of the readability and the decorativeness is defined to always be 10. However, the gist of the present invention is It is not limited to such a prescribed method.

Returning to FIG. 1, each part of the character drawing device 100 will be described.

The character shape correction unit 103 is a unit for correcting the outline data of each character in the input character string, and acquires the outline data of each character and applies the correction data to each outline data. To do.

The character shape correction unit 103 acquires the outline data of the corresponding font for each character in the input character string from the outline data memory 107 according to the typeface name designated via the input unit 101. .

Further, the character shape correction unit 103 includes the input unit 1
The correction data to be used is specified according to the drawing attribute, the document type, or each characteristic value designated via 01. The character shape correction unit 103 refers to the correction data reference table 109 to specify the correction data to be used. Table 2 conceptually shows the structure of the correction data reference table 109.

[0066]

[Table 2]

The correction data reference table 109 is a list showing optimum correction data types for combinations of characteristic values such as readability and decorativeness for each font. In the table above, for example, the readability of font 1 is 9
If the decorativeness is 1, the optimum correction data type is a
Is shown.

The character shape correction unit 103 acquires the correction data for each character from the correction data memory 110 according to the specified correction data type. Then, the correction data is applied to the outline data. The detailed procedure for acquiring the correction data will be described later.

The outline data after the correction processing is output to the character drawing unit 106.

The character drawing device 100 is actually
In addition to being designed as a dedicated hardware device, it can also be implemented as embedded software for a character forming device such as a printer.

Next, the processing operation in the character drawing device 100 will be described.

FIG. 4 shows a processing procedure executed in the character shape correction unit 103 in the form of a flow chart.
The character shape correction unit 103 includes a character string and its document type,
Alternatively, it is assumed that the characteristic value has been input. Each step will be described below.

First, in a decision block S601, it is determined whether or not each characteristic value regarding readability and decorativeness is individually input through the input unit 101.

If the characteristic value has not been input, the next step S6
Go to 02. In this case, a combination of characteristic values corresponding to the document type input by the input unit 101 is acquired from the characteristic value reference table 108. If the characteristic value is input, step S602 is skipped and the input characteristic value is used instead of the characteristic value determined by the document type.

In step S603, the outline data of the input character for the typeface name input by the input unit 101 is acquired from the outline data memory 107.

Next, the correction data type corresponding to the determined characteristic value is determined for the typeface name input by the input unit 101 (step S604). This processing is performed by searching the correction data reference table 109.

Next, the correction data for the typeface name input by the input unit 101 is acquired from the correction data memory 110 (step S605). The corresponding correction data is uniquely determined by the typeface name and the correction data type. However, the procedure for acquiring the correction data will be described in detail later.

Finally, the acquired correction data is applied to the outline data of the character to execute the correction processing (step S606).

FIG. 5 shows a procedure for obtaining correction data from the correction data type (step S605 in FIG. 4) and a procedure for applying the correction data to outline data (FIG. 5).
Step S606) is conceptually illustrated.

The correction data stored in the correction data memory 110 shown in FIG. 1 is actually composed of the correction data search table 701 and the correction data 702.

For each correction data type of one typeface,
A list of a plurality of corresponding correction data is prepared.
The correction data memory 110 in FIG. 1 stores a collection of these correction data lists.

The correction data search table 701 is a table for searching the correction data corresponding to the typeface name and the correction data type, and one entry is prepared in advance for one typeface (font). In each entry, correction data corresponding to each correction data type of the typeface is listed.

Each column in the entry of the correction data search table 701 indicates the head of the correction data list corresponding to the specified typeface name and correction data type.

One piece of correction data includes the start point and end point of the end point of the outline of the corresponding character, a pointer to the list of correction data of the end point, and the size of the reference correction data. In the case of a character having multiple end points, the correction data further includes a pointer to the next end point data.

To obtain the correction data for a certain character, the typeface name and the correction data type are set to the character structure management unit 1.
Enter in 05. The character structure management unit 105 refers to the correction data search table 701 to search for the corresponding correction data and returns it.

FIG. 6 shows, in the form of a flowchart, a processing procedure for applying the acquired correction data to character outline data.

First, one character is sequentially extracted from the beginning of the input character string (step S801). If there are no unprocessed characters, branch N of decision block S802.
Then, the process proceeds to step o and ends this process. If there are unprocessed characters, the process proceeds to Yes at Step S803.

Next, the acquired character is input to the character data management unit 104, and the corresponding outline data is read from the outline data memory 107 (step S803).

Next, the typeface name and the correction data type are input to the character structure management unit 105, and the corresponding correction data is read from the correction data memory 110 (step S8).
04).

In step S805, step S803
Out of the outline data acquired in step S8
The portion of the end point corresponding to the start point and the end point designated by the correction data acquired in 04 is replaced with the correction data. The manner of applying the correction data to the outline data is as shown in FIG.

Next, the next end point in the outline data is acquired (step S806). If there is an unprocessed end point, the process proceeds to branch Yes in decision block S807, returns to step S805, and repeats the process of replacing the next end point with correction data.

On the other hand, if there is no unprocessed end point, it means that the correction process is completed for all the outlines of the character. In this case, the process goes to the branch No of the determination block S807, returns to step S801, and the correction process for the next character is repeated.

In this way, the corrected outline data for each character of the input character string is generated.

The character drawing unit 106 includes a character shape correction unit 10
The character outline data corrected in 3 is subjected to a predetermined drawing process to generate drawing data. For a method of drawing outline data, see, for example, Adobe
e Systems'"PostScriptLa"
nguage Reference ManualSe
cond Edition ”. However,
The gist of the present invention is not limited to this method.

According to the character drawing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, electronic documents created for various purposes have different characteristics depending on the type and type of document such as a report, a proposal, a contract, or a manual. It was quantified by the contradictory characteristics of readability and decorativeness. Further, correction data is managed according to the characteristic value expressing this characteristic, and the shape of the character is corrected by using the correction data corresponding to the specified document type and characteristic value. The correction was realized.

Conventionally, the creator of a document arbitrarily selects an appropriate typeface balance. For this reason, the correction process of the character shape greatly depends on the knowledge and experience of the creator, the environment at the time of creation, and the like, and the quality is different and not uniform. On the other hand, according to the character drawing device 100 of the present embodiment, it is possible to perform a consistent balanced character shape correction process according to the type of document and the specified characteristic area. Also, by adding the correction data of the end points, the conventional outline data of characters can be used as it is, and the data resources can be effectively used.

[Supplement] The present invention has been described in detail with reference to the specific embodiments. However, it is obvious that those skilled in the art can modify or substitute the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. That is, the present invention has been disclosed in the form of exemplification, and should not be limitedly interpreted. In order to determine the gist of the present invention, the section of the claims described at the beginning should be taken into consideration.

[0098]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide an excellent character drawing device and a character drawing method capable of drawing the characters of an electronically created / edited document for printer output or the like.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an excellent character drawing apparatus and character drawing method of the type that handles characters formed as geometric curves, that is, outline data.

Further, according to the present invention, the outline data of characters can be suitably corrected according to the characteristics of a document (for example, a report written that requires readability or a project written that decoration is preferred). An excellent character drawing device and character drawing method can be provided.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an excellent character drawing apparatus and character drawing method capable of suitably correcting the end point shape of a character according to the characteristics of a document.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a character drawing device 1 suitable for realizing the present invention.
It is the figure which showed the structure of 00 typically.

FIG. 2 is a diagram conceptually showing a relationship between a drawn character, its circumscribed rectangle, correction data of the character, and outline data of the character.

FIG. 3 is a diagram conceptually showing the contents of correction data.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a processing procedure executed in the character shape correction unit 103 in the form of a flowchart.

5 is a procedure for obtaining correction data from a correction data type (step S605 in FIG. 4) and a procedure for applying correction data to outline data (step S in FIG. 5).
606) is a diagram conceptually illustrating FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for applying correction data to outline data.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 ... Character drawing device 101 ... Input section 102 ... Character characteristic management unit 103 ... Character shape correction unit 104 ... Character data management unit 105 ... Character structure management unit 106 ... Character drawing unit 107 ... Outline data memory 108 ... Characteristic value reference table 109 ... Correction data reference table 110 ... Correction data

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-1-140192 (JP, A) JP-A-9-50271 (JP, A) JP-A-9-106272 (JP, A) JP-A-3- 111894 (JP, A) JP 6-149216 (JP, A) JP 6-195332 (JP, A) JP 8-194704 (JP, A) JP 9-114439 (JP, A) JP 11-232254 (JP, A) JP 2000-222397 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G09G 5/22-5/32 G06F 17/21- 17/26

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. A character drawing device of a type that handles a character shape as outline data, comprising: (a) a character string to be drawn, a typeface name, and an input unit for inputting a document type; and (b) each. Character data storage / management means for storing / managing character outline data of a typeface, (c) correction data reference table describing correspondence between document type and correction data type, and (d) character outline Character structure storage / management means for preparing a plurality of correction data for correcting each type for each correction data type, and (e) referring to the correction data reference table, the specified type name and document Means for determining a correction data type corresponding to the type, and (f) extracting outline data of each character in the input character string from the character data storage / management means. Means, correction data determined by (g) said means (e)
A character drawing device comprising: means for extracting correction data corresponding to a type from the character structure storage / management means; and (h) means for applying correction data to outline data of each character. . 2. A character drawing device of a type that handles a character shape as outline data, comprising: (a) a character string to be drawn, a typeface name, and an input section for inputting a characteristic value of a document; ) Character data storing / managing means for storing / managing character outline data for each typeface, (c) a correction data reference table describing a correspondence between document characteristic values and correction data types, and (d) ) Character structure storage / management means for preparing a plurality of correction data for correcting the outline of characters for each typeface name for each correction data type; and (e) Designation is made by referring to the correction data reference table. Means for determining a correction data type corresponding to the typeface name and the characteristic value of the document, and (f) outline data of each character in the input character string from the character data storage / management means. Means for issuing Ri, correction data determined by (g) said means (e)
A character drawing device comprising: means for extracting correction data corresponding to a type from the character structure storage / management means; and (h) means for applying correction data to outline data of each character. . 3. The character drawing device according to claim 2, wherein the characteristic value of the document includes a data value in which two kinds of characteristics, that is, readability and decorativeness of the document are defined by numerical values. 4. The correction data is data for correcting the end point shape by replacing the end point data of the character outline, and includes a start position and an end position of the end point data included in the character outline data. The character drawing device according to claim 1, further comprising correction data that replaces the end point data. 5. A character drawing method in which a character shape is treated as outline data, wherein (a) a step of preliminarily storing character outline data for each typeface; and (b) a document type and correction. Prepare a correction data reference table that describes the correspondence with the data type in advance, and (c) prepare a plurality of correction data for correcting the outline of characters for each typeface name for each correction data type. (D) a step of inputting a character string to be drawn, a typeface name, and a document type; and (e) a specified typeface name and document type by referring to the correction data reference table. Determining the correction data type corresponding to (f) extracting outline data of each character in the input character string, (g) A step of retrieving correction data corresponding to the correction data type determined in step (e); and (h) applying the correction data to the outline data of each character. Character drawing method. 6. A character drawing method in which a character shape is treated as outline data, wherein (a) a step of preliminarily storing character outline data for each typeface, and (b) a characteristic value of a document. And a correction data reference table that describes the correspondence relationship between the correction data type and (c) correction data for correcting the outline of the character for each correction data type for each typeface name. A plurality of steps, (d) a character string to be drawn, a typeface name, and a step of inputting a characteristic value of the document, (e) a typeface specified by referring to the correction data reference table Determining the correction data type corresponding to the name and the characteristic value of the document, (f) extracting outline data of each character in the input character string, (g) A step of extracting correction data corresponding to the correction data type determined in the step (e); and (h) applying the correction data to the outline data of each character. Character drawing method. 7. The character drawing method according to claim 6, wherein the characteristic value of the document includes a data value in which two types of characteristic of readability and decorativeness of the document are defined by numerical values. 8. The correction data is data for correcting the end point shape by replacing the end point data of the character outline, and includes a start position and an end position of the end point data included in the character outline data. The character drawing method according to claim 5, further comprising correction data that replaces the end point data.