JPH01205388A - Generation system for high quality character and graphic or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the generation of a wrong character and graphic by deciding if the dot of a pattern, etc. is a one dot end point or the start point or the end point or the intermediate point of painting out, and generating true dot data and false dot data to show a contour and an outside of the contour respectively, and processing data according to this data. CONSTITUTION:A line graphic drawing part 13 discriminates if the dot corresponds to the one dot end point or the start point or the end point or the intermediate point, etc., of the painting out according to the combination of the dot data read out of a storage device 11 and the direction code of a segment part from adjacent dot data, and refers to a white or black dot determination table 15, and generates the data of 1 of truth for paint out contour part and the data of 0 of falseness for the outside of the contour, and stores it in a buffer memory 16. The painting out is performed through a paint out part 17 according to the contents of the memory 16, and picture drawing dot data through the picture drawing part 13 is written as being superposed on it, and painted out dot graphic data is outputted from the memory 16. Thus, mis- painting out due to a one dot sharp edge or a segment minified into one dot, etc. is prevented, and the high quality character, etc. can be generated.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Object 1-1 of the invention] (Industrial application field) This invention provides high-quality characters based on line graphic information that defines characters, figures, etc. as one or more line figures. -Relates to a method for generating high-quality characters, figures, etc. that generates figures, etc.

(Prior art) Conventionally, in order to generate high-quality characters, figures, etc., the outline of the high-quality characters/figures is defined by one or more line figures, and information indicating the line figures (line figure information) is stored. Store it in the device,
After reproducing the outline of the character/figure based on the stored contents of this storage device, this reproduction pattern is scanned in a certain direction (filling direction), and the signal "1" indicating the outline is followed by "1".
A method was used in which the inside of the contour was filled in by converting all the points up to the appearance of the signal to "1".

However, in this method, if the number of dots in the filling direction of the sharp edge of characters, figures, etc. is 1 dot (this sharp edge is
(defined as a sharp end of a dot), there is a problem in that the dot row after the point next to the sharp end is erroneously filled in. Similarly, when contour lines overlap on the same grid line due to pattern reduction, etc., resulting in a line segment with a width of 1 dot in the filling direction, each dot after each point of this line segment is There was an issue where columns would be filled in incorrectly.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, in the conventional method of reproducing the contour line indicated by the line figure information as it is and filling it in, characters/figures with one-dot sharp edges or one-dot width line segments are There was a problem that it could not be generated correctly.

However, an object of the present invention is to be able to correctly generate characters, figures, etc. that have a one-dot sharp edge or a one-dot width line segment.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) This invention approximates a line figure based on line figure information that defines characters, figures, etc. by one or more line figures consisting of several segments. For each grid point to be filled, from the combination of the directions of the segment parts before and after that point, it is determined that the point is a 1-dot end point with a width of 1 dot in the filling direction, or an intermediate point that is neither the starting point nor the ending point of filling. The operation of determining whether the point is present or not, and generating either false-value dot data that does not indicate an outline or true-value dot data that indicates an outline, depending on the result of this determination. Dot data generation means that performs dot data generation in the order of the line figures indicated by the line figure information and in the direction of following the line figures, and dot data generated from this dot data generation means, and each point is set to a false value in the initial state. Based on the dot data at the corresponding position in the storage means, if the logical values of both dot data are the same, the false value dot data is used, otherwise the true value dot data is used as the original dot data of the storage means. After the operation of this dot display means has been performed for all line figures, the contents of the memory means are sequentially checked in the filling direction five times to perform the filling process, and the filling result is displayed. The present invention is characterized in that all the line figures indicated by the line figure information are overwritten.

(Operation) According to the above configuration, each lattice point that approximates a line figure composed of several segments can be a one-dot end point with a width of one dot in the filling direction, or one of the filling start point and end point. It is possible to determine whether the point is an intermediate point that is neither the middle point nor the middle point, or a point that is neither of the above points, just by tracing the line figure.

In addition, the dot data whose logical value is determined by the above discrimination result is not written as is in the same way as in conventional contour drawing, but is instead written at the corresponding position in the storage means with each point set to a false value in the initial state. In relation to the dot data of
Since it is written to the original position of the storage means, for example, in the case of a line figure that becomes a 1-dot width line segment due to pattern reduction, writing at the same point twice will ultimately result in an i-value. , it does not need to remain as an outline.

Therefore, by overwriting the above-mentioned line figure as it is after completing filling, a 1-dot width line segment can be correctly generated.

In addition, for single-dot sharp edges, color value dot data is generated when determining the single-dot endpoint, and that point is not treated as part of the outline, which prevents incorrect filling as in the past. This can be prevented. Moreover, by overwriting all the line figures constituting one character, figure, etc. as they are after completing filling, the sharp edge of one dot can be reproduced. Furthermore, by generating color value dot data for points that are neither the start point nor the end point of filling, that is, the intermediate point, in the same way as for one-dot end points, and preventing that point from being treated as part of the outline, It is possible to prevent the occurrence of a point that is used as a fill start point or end point between the true fill start point and end point. If an odd number of such points occur, the true ending point will be regarded as the starting point, and incorrect filling will occur.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a high-quality character/figure generation device to which the present invention is applied. In the same figure, 11 is a storage device that stores line figure information that defines high-quality characters or figures as a collection of one or more line figures, and 2 is a storage device that stores line figure information for each circle of characters or figures. This is an address generation unit that generates an address for extracting line graphic information that defines a desired character or the like. Reference numeral 13 denotes a line figure drawing section (dot display means) which finds each grid point that approximates several line figures indicated by the line figure information retrieved from the storage device 11 and draws the line figure using dot display data (dot data). , 14, when the line figure drawing unit 13 draws a line figure point by point, for example, a white dot is displayed as dot display data of the point according to the combination of the directions of the segment parts before and after the five points (pour point). Logic “0” indicating ((
This is a black and white dot generating section that generates data of logic "1" (true value) indicating a black dot. The black and white dot generation section 14 has a black and white dot determination table 15 which is used to generate black and white dots.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a buffer memory for one character (or one figure), which is used for drawing line figures by the line figure drawing section 13. This buffer memory 16 is cleared before drawing several line figures constituting one character or figure, and all dot display data at each dot position is set to "0". Reference numeral 17 denotes a filling unit that performs filling processing based on the line figures drawn in the buffer memory 16, and 18 is an output device for displaying or printing out high-quality characters, figures, etc. developed in the buffer memory 16. . In this embodiment, one line figure is always drawn with one stroke, and each end point of the several segments that make up the line figure becomes the start point of the next segment. There is. However, the end point of the last segment becomes the start point of the first segment. Further, it is assumed that the direction of -brush writing is, for example, the direction in which the filled area is viewed on the left side, and the filling is performed in the Y direction (in this case, from top to bottom).

FIG. 2 shows an example of the contents of the black and white dot determination table 15. In the same figure, dots “・” indicate the above points of interest,
The arrow "-" pointing toward this dot "-" indicates from which direction the segment has moved toward the spout point, and the arrow "-" moving away from this dot "-" indicates which direction the segment will move from the point of interest next. It shows you what to do. The direction of the arrow is classified into 8 types with a middle angle of 45°. A code indicating the direction of this arrow is called a movement direction code. In Fig. 2, depending on the combination of the moving direction to the point of interest (the moving direction code indicating) and the moving direction from the point of interest (the moving direction code indicating), "0" (own dot) or "1" is displayed. It is shown that dot display data (black dots) is generated.

Next, the operation of one embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3 as appropriate. First, address generation section 1
When an address specifying desired line figure information is given to the line figure drawing unit 13 from 2, the line figure drawing unit 13 sequentially retrieves the corresponding line figure information from the storage device 11, and first starts from the beginning of the first line figure. Map the points to grid points with a predetermined resolution,
The point is internally stored as P (step Sl). Next, the line figure drawing unit 13 finds the next point in the grid point sequence that approximates the segment in the direction of tracing the line figure, and sets it as the current point of interest P (step S2). When the line figure drawing unit 13 completes step S2, it finds the directions of the segment portions immediately before and after the current point of interest P, normalizes them to directions in units of 45°, and generates corresponding movement direction codes. (Step S3).

Next, the line figure drawing unit 13 generates the two movement direction codes obtained in step S3, namely, a code indicating the movement direction of the segment immediately before the current point of interest P (preceding movement direction code) and a code for the segment immediately after the current point of interest P. A code indicating the moving direction of the portion (subsequent moving direction code) is given to the black and white dot generating section 14. As a result, the black and white dot generation unit 14 refers to the black and white dot determination table 15 shown in FIG. Determine whether the dot display data will be a white dot (0') or a black dot ("1") according to the combination of
Step S4). As a result, the following dot display data is generated.

■At least one of the preceding movement direction code and the subsequent movement direction code is in the filling direction (downward here).・1
If the current point of interest P has a combination of directions in which the angle formed by the segment parts before and after the current point P (the angle including the filled area) is less than 180', then the point P
A black dot (“1”) is generated assuming that point P is the start or end point of a fill line segment on the fill line (scan line) passing through point P. In contrast, 18
If the combination of directions is 0° or more, it is assumed that the point is neither the start point nor the end point of the filled line segment, that is, the intermediate point (point P is neither the start point nor the end point of the outline). A white dot (“0”) is generated so that it is not handled.

■The component in the direction (horizontal direction here) perpendicular to the filling direction indicated by the preceding and succeeding movement direction codes (
If the horizontal components (horizontal components) point in the same direction, i.e. if the segment crosses a filled line passing through a point P, then the point P is black as being the start or end point of a filled segment on this filled line. A dot (1″) is generated.

■If the horizontal components of the directions indicated by the preceding and succeeding movement direction codes indicate opposite directions, that is, if the segment returns without crossing the filled line passing through point P, the segment portion before and after point P. The angle formed is 180
If the combination of directions is less than °, the point P is assumed to be a one-dot end point such as a one-dot sharp end (in order to prevent the occurrence of this one-dot end point), the point P is set as the own dot (“0”).
is generated. In addition, if the combination of directions is 180° or more, it is assumed that point P is neither the start point nor the end point of the filled line segment on the filled line passing through point P, that is, the intermediate point (point ) own dot (so that P is not treated as either the start or end point of the contour)
"O") is generated. That is, if the horizontal components of the directions indicated by the previous (i) and subsequent movement direction codes indicate opposite directions, the white dot (0') is assumed to be the one-dot end point or the intermediate point. generated.

When the black and white dot generating section 14 generates dot display data for white or black dots based on the movement direction code from the line figure drawing section 13, it supplies the same data to the line figure drawing section 13. The line figure drawing section 13 takes out the dot display data at the position corresponding to the current point of interest P in the buffer memory 1B, and performs an exclusive OR of this dot display data and the dot display data generated by the black and white dot generation section 14. (EXOR) and write the result to the original location of the buffer memory 16 (
Step S5). Therefore, if the dot display data at the write destination is the own dot (0), and the dot display data from the black and white dot generation section 14 is the own dot (0), a white dot is written; If the dot display data from the black and white dot generator 14 is a black dot (“1”), a black dot is written.On the other hand, if the dot display data at the destination is a black dot (“1”), a black dot is written. In this case, the dot display data from the black and white dot generator 14 is the own dot (“0”).
If so, a black dot is written, and if the dot display data from the black and white dot generating section 14 is a black dot ("1"), the own dot is written.

When the line figure drawing unit 13 executes step S5, it determines whether the point P is the final point of the line figure currently being processed (the end point of the final segment among the group of segments constituting the line figure).
That is, it is checked whether one line figure is finished (step S6).
, if the process is not completed, the process returns to step S2, finds the next point, sets it as P, and executes steps 83 to S5 again for this point P. Then, when the processing for the final point of one line figure is completed, the line figure drawing section 13 performs step S1.
Processing similar to steps 83 to S5 is performed with the starting point of the line figure (the starting point of the first segment of the core segment group) internally stored in step 8 as the current point of interest P. Even if all the processing for one line figure is completed, if one character or figure is defined by multiple line figures and unprocessed line figures remain, the line figure drawing unit Step 13 repeats the above process for the remaining line figures.

Note that the above movement direction code can also be easily obtained as follows. That is, the point coordinates necessary for drawing a line figure are generated in sequence so as to form 8 connections with the previous point by a straight line drawing algorithm generally called DDA (Digital Differential Analyzer). Therefore, the "8-connection relationship between the previous P and the current point of interest P" is used instead of the "normalized value of the direction of the immediately previous segment part", the next P is obtained in advance, and the "8-connected relationship between the current point of interest P and the next Generate a movement direction code in place of the normalized value of the direction of the immediately following segment using the 8-connected relationship with P, and in the next loop, use the above "next P" as the current pouring point P. Therefore, calculation of the direction of the segment portion can be substantially omitted.

Now, when the above-described line figure drawing process for one character or figure is completed, the filling section 17 scans the buffer memory 16 in the filling direction (from top to bottom), and the first point (dot position) is filled with white. The dot (“0”) is old, and from then on, the white dot (“0”) to the black dot (’1
Continue writing white dots at subsequent points until the point of change to “) is detected.Then, when the point of change from the white dot (00”) to the black dot (“1”) is detected, the filled area is 17 now writes black dots at the subsequent points. When detecting the point of change from black dot to white dot in this state,
The filling section 17 writes the own dots again at the subsequent points. Is this filling process, for example, 1 byte? In other words, it is possible to perform filling in eight filling lines in parallel from top to bottom.

When the above filling process is completed, address generation part 1
From 2, an address for designating the line figure information defining the filled-in characters, figures, etc. is given to the line figure drawing section 13 again. As a result, the line figure drawing unit 13 sequentially retrieves the corresponding line figure information from the storage device II, and stores all the line figures indicated by the line figure information as they are (as black dots) into the buffer memory 16 using a well-known line figure drawing technique. It gets old over and over again. As a result, the characters, figures, etc. defined by the line figure information are correctly generated.

According to the method of generating characters, figures, etc. by the apparatus shown in FIG. When a 1-dot width line segment is defined by a replaced segment), the 1-dot width line segment can be correctly generated as described below, unlike the conventional method. That is, first, among the lattice point sequences approximating the segment 21, the lattice point sequences excluding the first and last lattice points are generated by the black and white dot generation section 14 and stored in the buffer memory 16 as shown in FIG. 4(b). drawn on top.

Next, a lattice point sequence that approximates the segment 22 is drawn. At this time, from the black and white dot generating section 14, the segment 2
White dots are generated at the change point from 1 to segment 22 (starting point of segment 22) and the end point of segment 22 (ie, starting point of segment 21), and black dots are generated at other points. As described above, the dot display data generated by the black and white dot generator 14 is EXORed with the dot display data of the corresponding points in the buffer memory 16 and written. The lattice point array excluding the final lattice point (white dot), that is, the lattice point array of black dots, is sequentially rewritten to white dots one by one. Therefore, the line figure consisting of segments 21 and 22 (lattice point sequence approximating it) is
When drawn according to the dot display data from 4,
The line figures shown in FIG. 4(a) are all self-dots as shown in FIG. 4(C).

When the above drawing process is performed, the filling unit 17 performs the filling process, but since there are no changing points, all points are filled with white dots, and the contents of the buffer memory IC at the end of filling are the fourth As shown in Figure (d), all dots are self-dots (symbol O is omitted). Next, the segment 21 of FIG. 4(a) is read from the storage device 11 again.
．． The line figure information indicating segment 22 is taken out, and the grid point sequence that approximates the segment 21 and 22 (the line figure consisting of) is then directly overwritten in the buffer memory 16 as black dots.

As a result, a 1-dot width line segment is correctly generated as shown in FIG. 4(e).

Further, according to the above-described method of generating characters, figures, etc. using the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, it is possible to correctly generate characters, figures, etc. having one dot with a sharp edge, as described below. Now, the line figure drawing unit 13 draws the segment 3 as shown in FIG. 5(a).
It is assumed that line graphic information defining a triangle by 1 to 33 (segment 31 is the first segment and segment 33 is the last segment) is retrieved from the storage device 11. In this case, first, the segment 31 is drawn on the buffer memory 16 using dot display data generated from the black and white dot generator 14. And from vector 31 to vector 32
Since the point of change to is either the same point or a one-dot sharp edge (one-dot end point), a white dot is generated from the black-and-white dot generating section 14. Therefore, the contents of the buffer memory 16 at the end of drawing according to the black and white dot generating unit 14 of the line figure consisting of segments 31 to 33 will be as shown in FIG. 5(b), with one dot missing a sharp edge. . Note that the segment 33 is parallel to the filling direction, and therefore, each point except its two end points is an intermediate point, so all of them are white dots (the symbol ◯ is omitted).

When the line figure shown in FIG. 5(b) is drawn, the filling process by the filling section I7 is delayed.

Since the line figure shown in FIG. 5(b) does not have a one-dot sharp edge, normal filling is possible although the one-dot sharp edge is missing, as shown in FIG. 5(C). Next, from the storage device 11 again, the segment 31 in FIG.
The line figure information indicating segments 31 to 33 is taken out, and the lattice point array that approximates the segments 31 to 33 (the line figure consisting of them) is then directly overwritten in the buffer memory 16 as black dots. As a result, the missing one-dot sharp edge in the state shown in FIG. 4(C) is compensated for, and a correct triangular filling pattern with one dot sharp edge is generated as shown in FIG. 5(d).

In the above embodiment, the case where the black and white dot determination table 15 is used to generate black and white dots has been explained.
It is also possible to generate black and white dots using hardware using OM, gate arrays, etc. Note that when using a ROM, the concatenated information of two movement direction codes may be used as an address, and when using a gate array, two movement direction codes may be used as input data.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the present invention, each grid point that approximates a line figure constituted by several segments is
Whether it is a 1-dot end point with a width of 1 dot in the filling direction, or an intermediate point that is neither the starting point nor the ending point of filling, or a point that is neither of the above, can be determined by simply tracing the line shape. Dot data that can be distinguished and whose logical value is determined by the discrimination result is not written as is in the same way as in conventional contour drawing.
Since the dot data to be written at the same position is determined in relation to the dot data at the corresponding position in the 2181 means, for example, in the case of a line figure that becomes a 1-dot width line segment due to pattern reduction, the same point By writing twice in , it is possible to prevent it from remaining as a line figure. Furthermore, since the line figure is overwritten as it is after the filling is completed, a 1-dot width line segment can be generated correctly.

Further, according to the present invention, for one dot sharp edge, one
By generating false value dot data when determining dot end points and preventing that point from being treated as part of the contour, it is possible to prevent erroneous filling as in the conventional method. Moreover, all the line shapes that make up one character, figure, etc. are overwritten as they are after the filling is finished, so it is possible to
Can produce 1 dot sharp end. Furthermore, by generating false value dot data for points that are neither the start point nor the end point of filling, that is, the intermediate point, in the same way as for one-dot end points, and preventing that point from being treated as part of the outline, Since there is no possibility that this point will be used as the starting point or ending point of filling, it is possible to prevent the generation of erroneous characters/figures -9.

4゜ Drawing I! ', i Simple explanation FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a high-quality character/figure generation device to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is the contents of the black and white dot determination table 15 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a flowchart 1 for explaining the operation, FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of generating a 1-dot width line segment, and FIG.
The figure is a diagram for explaining the operation of generating a pattern with one sharp edge.

13... Line figure drawing section, 14... Black and white dot generation section, 15... Black and white dot determination table, 1G... Buffer memory, 17... Filling section.

Applicant's agent: Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 L------J

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) Before and after receiving line figure information that defines characters, figures, etc. by at least one line figure consisting of several segments, and making that point a point of interest for each grid point that approximates the at least one line figure. From the combination of the directions of the segment parts, that point has a width of 1 dot in the filling direction or the starting point of filling,
It is determined whether the point is an intermediate point that is neither the end point, or any other point, and depending on the result of this determination, the dot data with a false value that does not show an outline or the dot data with a true value that shows an outline is determined. dot data generating means that performs the operation of generating either one in the order of the line figures indicated by the line figure information and in the direction of tracing the line figures; and the dot data generated by the dot generating means and the initial state. Based on the dot data at the corresponding position in the storage means where each point is set to a false value, if the logical values of both dot data are the same, the false value dot data is set, and if the logical values are not the same, the true value dot data is set. a dot display means for writing dot data into the original position of the storage means; and a dot display means for writing the stored contents of the storage means in the filling direction after the operation of the dot display means has been performed for all the line figures indicated by the line figure information. and a filling means for performing filling processing by sequentially referring to the filling means, and all the line figures indicated by the line figure information are directly overwritten on the filling result of the filling means. Generation method for figures, etc. (2) When the components orthogonal to the filling direction of the directions of the segment portions before and after the point of interest indicate mutually opposite directions, the dot data generating means determines that the point of interest is the one dot end point or midpoint. If at least one of the directions of the segment portions before and after the point of interest is parallel to the filling direction, the angle formed by the segment portions before and after the point of interest including the filled area is 180° or more. If so, the method for generating high-quality characters, figures, etc. as set forth in claim 1 is characterized in that the point of interest is determined to be the intermediate point, and dot data of true values is generated in both cases. .