JPH04177393A - Image paint out device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To paint out an image so as not to produce a voided part at all by setting up a pattern showing a point where a border line is crossed in advance, and accumulating a proper value at time of scanning an image element at this intersection discriminated on the basis of this pattern. CONSTITUTION:This device comprises an upward borderline buffer 1, a downward borderline buffer 2, an address generator circuit 3, a judger circuit 4, a culator 5, a comparator 6, a frame buffer 7, a shift register 8, an upward pattern memory 9 and a downward pattern memory 10. Then, plural types of patterns for discriminating a point where two border lines 22, 23 are crossed with each other are predetermined, and when a pattern consisting of each value cumulated in regard to plural image elements is accorded with either of these preset pattern, such a value as preset in response to the accorded pattern is accumulated. With this constitution, even in the case where these two border lines 22, 23 are crossed with each other, the inside of the border line can be painted out together.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image filling device for filling in areas surrounded by outlines of an image.

[Prior Art] This type of device is used, for example, when a character font is held by its outline, to obtain a character pattern by filling the inside of the outline with black.

A conventional intra-membrane method for this purpose will be described with reference to FIG.

First, assuming that there is a contour line 61 as shown in FIG. 6(a), by tracing this contour line 61 clockwise, for example, each upward contour line 62.6 as shown in FIG. 6(b) is created.
3 and each downward contour line 64 as shown in FIG. 6(c).
65, and each upward contour line 62, 63 and each downward contour line 64, 65 are stored in separate bitmap memories.

Then, these bitmap memories are sequentially scanned from the uppermost line to the right, and each upward contour line 6 is
2. When scanning pixels superimposed on 63, the initial value “
The value "1" is added to the cumulative value of "0", and the value "1" is subtracted from the cumulative value when pixels superimposed on each downward contour line 64 and 65 are scanned.The cumulative value thus obtained is the value If the pixel indicates a value other than "0", the pixel is painted black each time the pixel is scanned.Also, if the cumulative value indicates the value "0", the pixel is painted black each time the pixel is scanned. is kept white.

As a result, the inside of the contour line 61 is painted almost black as shown in FIG. 6(d). However, although the cumulative value is set to "-1" for the downward contour line 65 shown in FIG. 6(c), each upward contour line 65 shown in FIG. 6(b)
At the point 66 where 2.63 intersects, the cumulative value is "0".
Therefore, when scanning a line passing through point 66, the portion of the line from point 66 to downward contour line 64 becomes white.

This results in two upward contour lines 62 and 63 at point 66.
This is due to the fact that the value "1" is added only once even though the value "1" exists. That is, unless the value "2" is added to the cumulative value instead of the value "1°" at the point where the two upward contour lines intersect, a white portion will occur.

To deal with this inconvenience, the pixel to the right of the chain dot on the line passing through point 66 shown in FIG. 6(b) is set as a black point, and when scanning this line, the pixel at point 66 , and the pixel to the right of the chain point, a method was proposed in which the value "1" is added to each pixel, thereby making the accumulated value "2". However, since this method uses pixels that are completely unrelated to the contour, the more complex the contour, the more difficult it becomes to apply this method.

Furthermore, in addition to distinguishing and storing upward contour lines and downward contour lines in respective bitmap memories, separate bitmap memories are provided for multiple upward contour lines and multiple downward contour lines, and each upward contour line and each downward contour line is stored in its respective bitmap memory,
When scanning each of these bitmap memories, a method has been proposed in which the value "1" is added to the cumulative value on each upward contour line, and the value "1" is subtracted from the cumulative value on each downward contour line. However, such a method requires increasing the capacity of the bitmap memory several times.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] As described above, the conventional image filling device has a problem in that when contour lines intersect, a white portion is generated inside the contour line that should be filled in black.

Furthermore, although methods have been proposed to solve this problem, they are difficult to apply when the contour line is complex, and have the disadvantage of requiring several times the memory capacity. Ta.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new image filling device that does not create white areas inside the contour line to be filled in black.

[Means for Solving the Problems] When the pixels of an image are sequentially scanned, the present invention adds a predetermined value when scanning a pixel that overlaps the outline at the start of filling, and adds a predetermined value to the outline at the end of filling. An image filling device that subtracts the predetermined value when scanning pixels to be superimposed, and fills out the sequentially scanned pixels according to the cumulative value obtained by these additions and subtractions, wherein the first storage means includes a plurality of pixels. A predetermined pattern formed by arranging the values of , and a predetermined value according to the pattern are stored in the second storage means, and the respective values added and subtracted when pixels are scanned are stored in the second storage means. The determining means reads out the values of each pixel arranged in the vicinity of the pixel to be scanned from the second storage means, and determines the pattern consisting of the read values of each pixel and the first pixel. When the patterns in the storage means match, it is determined that a predetermined value is read out from the first storage means according to the pattern, and this value is to be accumulated in the scanned pixels. ing.

[Operation] According to the present invention, if a pattern consisting of values corresponding to pixels arranged in the vicinity of a pixel to be scanned matches a predetermined pattern, the pixels superimposed on the outline are Instead of a predetermined value that is accumulated when scanning,
A predetermined value is accumulated according to the pattern. Therefore, if a pattern consisting of an array of values that clearly indicates the area where the contour lines intersect is set in advance, the predetermined values corresponding to the pattern can be set when scanning the pixels of the intersecting area. In other words, appropriate values can be accumulated.

[Embodiments] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image filling device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a contour whose inside is filled.

First, if there is a contour line 2] as shown in FIG. 2(a), by tracing this contour line 21 clockwise, for example, each upward contour line 22 as shown in FIG. 2(b). 2
3.24, and downward contour lines 25, 26, and 27 as shown in FIG. 2(C).

In the apparatus of the embodiment shown in FIG.
The upward contour lines 22, 23, and 24 shown in FIG. 2B are stored, and the downward contour lines 25, 26, and 27 shown in FIG. 2C are stored in the downward contour buffer 2.

The address generation circuit 3 generates address signals for sequentially scanning pixels in the uppermost contour buffer 1 and the lower contour buffer 2 from the uppermost line to the right. The upward contour buffer 1 and the downward contour buffer 2 respond to address signals from the address generation circuit 3, and send a signal "1" to the determination circuit 4 when scanning pixels superimposed on the contour. A signal "0" is sent to the determination circuit 4 when scanning a pixel that is not superimposed on the pixel.

The determination circuit 4 instructs the accumulator 5 to set the value "+1" when the signal "1" is input from the upward contour line buffer 1, and indicates the value "-" when the signal "1" is input from the downward contour line buffer 2. 1'' to the accumulator 5. Further, when the determination circuit 4 receives the signal "0" from the upward contour line buffer 1 and the downward contour line buffer 2, it instructs the accumulator 5 to set the value "0''.

The accumulator 5 sets the value instructed by the determination circuit 4 to the initial value "0".
is sequentially accumulated to a cumulative value of , and this cumulative value is indicated to the comparator 6.

The comparator 6 compares the cumulative value instructed from the accumulator 5 with a predetermined value "0", and if the cumulative value is "0", then "
"white" to the frame buffer 7, and the cumulative value is "0".
Otherwise, "black" is instructed to the frame buffer 7.

The frame buffer 7 is a bitmap memory like the contour line buffers 1 and 2, and receives an address signal from the address generation circuit 3 and sequentially scans pixels from the uppermost line in the buffer to the right. There is. Then, the frame buffer 7 sets the pixel being scanned to "white" when the comparator 6 indicates "white", and sets the pixel being scanned to "white" when the comparator 6 indicates "black". Set the pixels that are displayed to "black".

As a result, for example, when scanning line A shown in FIG.
5, the cumulative value is set to "0", and the cumulative value "1" is maintained while scanning from the upward contour line 22 to the downward contour line 25, so as shown in FIG. d
), each pixel on line A from the upward contour line to the downward contour line in the frame buffer 7 is "black".
are set respectively.

Incidentally, the shift register 8 stores the determination result by the determination circuit 4, that is, the value accumulated for each scanned pixel for two lines, and the stored contents are updated line by line. That is, when storing the value of each pixel on the first line and the value of each pixel on the second line, and subsequently storing the value of each pixel on the third line, the value of each pixel on the first line is stored. Erase the value of each pixel and update the memory contents. Similarly, (n −
2) The value of each pixel on the th line, and (n-
1) After each pixel value on the th line is stored,
When storing the value of each pixel on the nth line, the value of each pixel on the (n-2)th line is erased.

Further, various patterns formed by arranging a plurality of values are stored in advance in the upward pattern memory 9 and the downward pattern memory 10.

FIGS. 3(a) to 3(f) show each pattern stored in the upward pattern memory 9 and the respective values corresponding to each pattern, and these patterns are the three patterns arranged in the first column. It consists of a value and two values arranged in the second column. The three values arranged in the first column correspond to the three already scanned pixels in the (n-1)th line, and the two values arranged in the second column correspond to the already scanned pixels in the nth line. corresponds to two pixels. The values within the large frame are predetermined in accordance with the pattern, and correspond to the pixel being scanned following the previous two pixels. Note that nothing is written in areas for which values have not been specified. In Figures 3 (a), (b), and (C), two upward contour lines intersect on the nth line. In case (n-
1) When scanning two pixels out of three consecutive pixels on the th line, the value "+11" is accumulated respectively, and when scanning the pixel at the intersection on the nth line, the value "+11" is accumulated within the general frame. This indicates that the value "+2°" should be accumulated. In addition, in FIG. 3(d), (e), and (f),
This indicates that the value "0" within the general frame should be accumulated when scanning the pixels immediately after passing through the pixel at the intersection on the n-th line.

On the other hand, FIGS. 4(a) to 4(f) point downward (indicating each pattern stored in the turn memory 10 and each value corresponding to each pattern, and these patterns are shown in FIG. 3). Similarly to the above pattern, the respective values corresponding to the three pixels in the (n - 1)th line,
Consists of respective values corresponding to two pixels in the nth line.

The values within the large frame are predetermined in accordance with the pattern, and correspond to the pixel being scanned following the previous two pixels.

In FIGS. 4(a), (b), and (c), when two upward contour lines intersect on the nth line, (n−
1) The value “-1°” is accumulated corresponding to two pixels among the three pixels on the th line, respectively;
and indicates that the value "-2" within the general frame should be accumulated when scanning the pixels at the intersection on the n-th line. In addition, in Fig. 4(d), (e), and (f), when scanning the pixel immediately after passing through the intersection pixel on the nth line, it is assumed that the value "0°" within the large frame should be accumulated. Instructing.

Now, when scanning the upward contour line buffer 1 and the downward contour line buffer 2, the determination circuit 4 responds to the signals from the respective contour line buffers 1 and 2 as described above to determine each value "+1°" to be accumulated. , "-1°," or "0" to the accumulator 5, as well as instructing the shift register 8.
The stored contents in the upper pattern memory 9 and each pattern in the lower pattern memory 10 are compared.

That is, the determination circuit 4 uses each contour line buffer l.

Each time a signal is input from 2, five pixels arranged in the vicinity of the pixel 51 being scanned as shown in FIG. The respective values accumulated when five pixels consisting of two pixels in are scanned are read out from the shift register 8. Then, the determination circuit 4 sequentially compares the pattern consisting of the respective values corresponding to the five pixels read from the shift register 8 with all the patterns in the upward pattern memory 9 and the downward pattern memory 10, and It is determined whether the pattern consisting of each read value matches any pattern in each pattern memory 9.10.

Here, if the pattern consisting of each value read from the shift register 8 does not exist in each pattern memory 9, 10, the determination circuit 4 responds to the signal from each contour buffer 1.2 and determines which values should be accumulated. One of the values "+1°,""-1," and "0" is instructed to the accumulator 5. Also, if a matching pattern exists, the determination circuit 4 selects the value within the bold frame adjacent to the pattern. The values (shown in FIGS. 3 and 4) are read from the pattern memory and transferred to each contour buffer 1.2.
to the accumulator 5 in place of the value of the response to the signal from.

For example, when scanning the line B passing through the point 28 where the upward contour lines 22 and 23 intersect as shown in FIG. Since the value "-1" is instructed to the accumulator 5, the cumulative value is set to the value "-1".

After this, when scanning the pixel at point 28, this line B is set as the nth line, and one line above the line B is (n
-1), the values corresponding to the five pixels arranged in the vicinity of the pixel as shown in FIG. 5 are read out from the shift register 8, and a pattern consisting of the read values is created. It matches any one of the three patterns shown in FIGS. 3(a) to (C). Therefore, the determination circuit 4 reads the value "+2" within the thick frame adjacent to the pattern from the pattern memory, and substitutes this value "+2" for the response value to the signal from each contour line buffer 1, 2. The accumulator 5 is instructed to set the cumulative value to the value "+1".

Immediately after this, when scanning the pixel to the right of point 28,
The values corresponding to the five pixels arranged in the vicinity of the pixel on the right are read out from the shift register 8, and the patterns consisting of the read values are shown in FIGS. 3(d) to (f). It will match one of the three patterns. Therefore, the determination circuit 4 reads the value "0" within the thick frame adjacent to the pattern from the pattern memory, and substitutes this value "0°" for the value of the response to the signal from each contour buffer 1.2. and instructs the accumulator 5. At this time, the accumulated value is held at the value "+1".Here, when scanning the pixel to the right of the intersection of the two upward contour lines, the value "0" is accumulated. This is to clarify the position of the intersection.

Further, when scanning pixels superimposed on the downward contour line 26, the value "-1" is instructed from the determination circuit 4 to the accumulator 5, so that the cumulative value is set to the value "O".

Therefore, on line B, the cumulative value "-1" is held from the downward contour line 27 to the point 28, the cumulative value "+1" is held from the point 28 to the downward contour line 26, and from the downward contour line 26 onwards, the cumulative value "+1" is held. The cumulative value becomes 0", and since the cumulative value is not "0" from the downward contour line 27 to the downward contour line 26 via the point 28, each pixel therebetween is all "black".

Next, for example, when scanning a line C passing through a point 29 where the downward contour lines 25 and 26 intersect as shown in FIG. 4 instructs the accumulator 5 to the value "+1", so the cumulative value is set to the value "+1".

After this, when scanning the pixel at point 29, this line C is set as the nth line, and one line above the line C is (n
-1)th line, the respective values corresponding to the five pixels and elements arranged in the vicinity of the pixel as shown in FIG. 5 are read out from the shift register 8, and the read values are The pattern matches any of the three patterns shown in FIGS. 4(a) to (C). Therefore, the determination circuit 4 reads the value "-2" within the large frame adjacent to the pattern from the pattern memory, and substitutes this value "-2" for the value of the response to the signal from each contour buffer 1.2. This instructs the accumulator 5 to set the cumulative value to the value "-1#."

Immediately after this, when scanning the pixel to the right of point 29,
The values corresponding to the five pixels arranged in the vicinity of the pixel on the right are read out from the shift register 8, and the patterns consisting of the read values are shown in FIGS. 4(d) to (f). It will match one of the three patterns. Therefore, the determination circuit 4 reads the value "0" within the large frame adjacent to the pattern from the pattern memory, and accumulates this value "0" instead of the value of the response to the signal from each contour buffer 1.2. Instruct device 5. At this time, the cumulative value is held at the value "-1". Here, when scanning the pixel to the right of the intersection of the two downward contour lines, the value "O" is accumulated to clarify the position of the intersection.

Further, when scanning pixels superimposed on the upward contour line 24, the value "+1" is instructed from the determination circuit 4 to the accumulator 5, so that the cumulative value is set to the value "0".

Therefore, on line C, the upward contour line 22
From point 29 to point 29, the cumulative value "+1' is held, and from point 29 to the upward contour line 24, the cumulative value "-1' is held,
The cumulative value becomes "0" after the upward contour line 24, and since the cumulative value is not "0" from the upward contour line 22 to the upward contour line 24 via the point 29, all pixels in between are "black". becomes.

In this way, in this embodiment, multiple types of patterns are predetermined for identifying the points where two contour lines intersect, and one of these patterns is used to identify the points where two contour lines intersect. If a pattern matches, a predetermined value corresponding to the matched pattern is accumulated, so even if two contours intersect, the inside of the contour is uniformly calculated. Can be painted over.

In addition, in the above embodiment, multiple types of patterns consisting of five values are set as patterns for identifying the point where two contour lines intersect, but it is not limited to these patterns, and more patterns can be used. You may also set a pattern by arranging the values of . For example, by setting a three-column pattern, it becomes possible to more accurately identify the point where two contour lines intersect.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the image filling device according to the present invention, a pattern that clearly indicates a point where contour lines intersect is set in advance, and the intersection is identified based on this pattern. , an appropriate value is accumulated when scanning the pixels of the identified intersection, so even if the contour lines intersect, it is possible to fill the area without creating a white area.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image filling device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the outline of an image, and FIGS. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the arrangement of each value read from the shift register in this embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a diagram explaining the conventional filling method. This is a diagram used for this purpose. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Upward contour line buffer, 2... Downward contour line buffer, 3... Address generation circuit, 4... Judgment circuit, 5... Accumulator, 6... Comparator, 7... -Frame buffer, 8...Shift register, 9...Upward pattern memory, 10...Downward pattern memory. (a) (b) Figure 2 Figure 5 (a) (b) (C)
(d) Figure 6 (6) (b) (d) (e) Figure 3 C, E3> (b) ((1)
(e) Figure 4 (C) (f) (C) (f)

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A storage means for storing an outline of an image is provided, and when pixels of the image are sequentially scanned, a predetermined value is added when a pixel that overlaps the outline of the start of filling is scanned, and An image filling device that subtracts the predetermined value when scanning a pixel superimposed on a contour line that has been filled, and fills the sequentially scanned pixels according to the cumulative value of these additions and subtractions. A first memory storing a predetermined pattern formed by arranging the above, and a predetermined value according to the pattern.
a second storage means for sequentially storing values added and subtracted for each pixel when the pixels are scanned; If the pattern consisting of the read values of each pixel matches the pattern in the first storage means, a predetermined value is read from the first storage means according to the pattern. an image filling device, comprising: a determining means for reading out the value and determining whether the value is to be accumulated in the scanned pixels.