JPH04291397A - Character preparing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To offer the character preparing device which automatically corrects the line width of a curved part while maintaining the shape of the character. CONSTITUTION:The character preparing device is equipped with a coordinate storage means 11 stored with the X and Y coordinate components of the inflection point of a character pattern, a retrieval means 12 which retrieves the coordinates of the inflection point in the coordinate storage means, a difference calculating means 13 which finds the difference between the two coordinate components of each inflection point and its adjacent inflection point, a correcting means 14 which alters the coordinate components of the specific inflection point according to an increment in the input line width, a change in the sign of the difference between both the components of the two successive inflection points, and inclination information on a segment passing the specific inflection point, and a substituting means 15 which rewrites the coordinates of the specific inflection point stored in the coordinate storage means 11.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a character creation device for editing character patterns.

0002

[Prior Art] A character creation device is a device that edits character patterns for use in word processors, electronic printing systems, etc. based on character capitals read by an image scanner or the like. It has a function to correct the width of the constituent lines.

FIG. 5 shows a conventional example of such a character creation device.
Shown below. An image scanner 1 reads characters on a document as image data, and stores the read characters in an image data storage section 2 constituted by a memory. Based on this image data, pattern data of a required size is cut out by the pattern cutting section 3 and sent to the bending point search section 4, where the bending point of the outline of the character pattern is searched. The coordinates of these bending points are stored in the coordinate data memory 5, and based on this coordinate data, the outline of the character pattern is displayed on the CRT display 6 by connecting the above-mentioned bending points.

[0004] When modifying the outline of a character pattern displayed on the CRT display 6 in this manner, the user specifies a bending point via the keyboard 7 and instructs the movement of the specified bending point. In response, the coordinate change unit 8 of the character creation device changes the coordinate data by rewriting the coordinates of the corresponding bending point in the coordinate data storage unit 5, using the coordinates specified by the user. Let's do it. Further, the contents of the coordinate data storage section 5 described above are recorded on a floppy disk or the like by the recording section 9, and are used as external characters in a word processor, an electronic printing system, or the like.

[0005]

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, in such conventional character creation devices, when the outline of a character pattern is represented by a curve, it is difficult to correct the line width of the curved portion of the character pattern. , it was necessary for the user to sequentially specify each of the bending points forming the curve and instruct the movement of the bending points. In this way, the conventional method imposes a heavy burden on the user when correcting the line width of a curve, and
The problem was that it took time.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its object is to provide a character creation device that automatically corrects the line width of curved portions while maintaining the shape of the character.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the principle of the present invention. This figure shows a character creation device that corrects the line width of a character pattern represented by an outline formed by connecting a plurality of bending points, and reference numeral 11 indicates the position of each bending point by two intersecting lines. Coordinate storage means for storing coordinates represented by axial components; 12 is a search means for searching the coordinate storage means 11 for the coordinates of a plurality of bending points specified by the input line width correction instruction; 13 is a search means 12 Between each bending point searched by and the bending point adjacent to the bending point,
Difference calculation means 14 calculates the difference between each of the two components constituting the coordinates, and 14 calculates the difference between the two components obtained by the difference calculation means 13 between the current bending point and the previous bending point, and calculates the difference between the two components obtained by the difference calculation means 13 between the current bending point and the previous bending point, and based on the change in the difference value. Correction means for correcting the coordinates searched by the search means 12; 15 is correction means 1;
This is replacement means for extracting the corrected bending point based on the output of step 4 and rewriting the corresponding coordinates stored in the coordinate storage means 11.

[0008]

[Operation] In the present invention, the retrieval means 12 uses the coordinate storage means 11
Difference calculation means 1 for the coordinates of each bending point searched from
3 calculates the difference between both components of the coordinates, and this difference data is taken into the correction means 14 and temporarily stored. The correction means 14 determines the difference between the two components obtained by the difference calculation means 13 between the current bending point and the previous bending point, and searches the search means 12 according to the change in the difference value and the magnitude relationship between the differences between the two components. Correct the coordinates searched by. The correction data is sent to the replacement means 15, and the replacement means 15 extracts the corrected inflection point according to the input increment regarding the line width and the sign of the difference between the two components, and based on the output of the correction means 14. , rewrites the corresponding coordinates stored in the coordinate storage means 11. As a result, it is possible to correct the X and Y components of the coordinates of the bending point according to the above-mentioned size relationship, and the correction can be made regardless of the unevenness of the character. can be automatically corrected.

[0009]

Embodiment FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a character creation device according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the same parts as those in the conventional example are given the same reference numerals, thereby omitting redundant explanation.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 21 denotes a coordinate data search unit 22 as a search means for searching for a target bending point.
is the bending point searched by the coordinate data search unit 21,
A difference calculating section 23 calculates the difference between the two components constituting the coordinates between the bending point and the bending point adjacent to the bending point; 23 is a search performed by the coordinate searching section 21 based on the difference obtained by the difference calculating section 22; A coordinate correction section 24 corrects the coordinates that have been corrected, and is a data replacement section that extracts the corrected bending point based on the output of the coordinate correction section 23 and rewrites the corresponding coordinates stored in the coordinate data memory 5.

[0011] In this embodiment, the difference calculation unit 22
The bending point searched by the coordinate data search unit 21 (this will be the current bending point) and the bending point adjacent to the bending point and located at the next bending position with respect to the current bending point (this will be the next bending point) The difference between the two components constituting the coordinates is determined between the two components (defined as the bending point), and the result is set as the difference between the current bending point. The coordinate correction section 23 is composed of a ROM, and is based on a coordinate correction table 25 in which data for performing coordinate correction on the target bending point is stored, and data from the coordinate data search section 21 and the difference calculation section 22. and a change processing section 26 that performs coordinate correction processing. The coordinate correction unit 23 calculates the difference between the two components obtained by the difference calculation unit 22 between the current bending point and the previous bending point, and calculates the current bending point searched by the coordinate search unit 21 based on the change in the difference value. Correct the coordinates of the bending point.

The operation of the character creation device having such a configuration will be explained below. The image scanner 1 reads the characters on the document as image data, and this image data is stored in the image data storage section 2. Based on this image data, the pattern cutting section 3 cuts out pattern data of a necessary size, and the bending point extracting section 4 extracts the bending points of the outline of this pattern data. Further, the coordinates of these bending points are stored in the coordinate data memory 5.
and based on these coordinates, the display 6
As a result, the above-mentioned character pattern is displayed as an outline connecting these bending points with straight lines.

The bending point extracting unit 4 traces the outline of the character pattern, for example, in a clockwise direction, and extracts the bending points P1 to P that appear.
The coordinates of n are sequentially stored in the coordinate data memory 5. The coordinates of the bending points P1 to Pn extracted by the bending point extracting unit 4 are determined using coordinates in the X-axis direction and Y-axis direction, which are perpendicular to each other, for example, (X1, Y1) to (Xn, Yn
).

In the actual correction operation, first, the operator, while looking at the character pattern displayed on the display 6, inputs the following information using the keyboard or mouse 7.
The range for line width correction and the line width increment t are specified. This is done, for example, by specifying the range in which the line width is to be corrected by a number attached to a bending point, and by specifying the increment in line width by the number of dots.

In response to the designation of such a range, the coordinate data search unit 21 of the character creation device searches the coordinate data memory 5 for the coordinates of the bending point included in the designated range, and calculates the difference between these coordinates. Input to calculation section 22.

The difference calculation unit 22 calculates each input bending point P.
k coordinates and the previous bending point P adjacent to this bending point Pk
Based on k-1 and the coordinates of the next bending point Pk+1, ΔXk-1=Xk − Xk-1 ……………(
1) The X coordinate component ΔXk-1 and ΔYk-1
=Yk − Yk−1 ……………Y coordinate component ΔYk−1 expressed by (2) and ΔXk=Xk+1
- Xk ......X expressed by (3)
Coordinate component ΔXk and ΔYk=Yk+1 − Yk …………
…The component ΔYk of the Y coordinate expressed by (4), and Φk=|ΔXk|−|ΔYk| ……………(5
) is calculated.

Using equations (1) and (2) above, the difference Δ between the X and Y components for the previous bending point Pk-1 is determined by
Xk-1 and ΔYk-1 are calculated, and (3) and (4)
Since the differences ΔXk and ΔYk of the X and Y components for the current bending point Pk are determined by the formula, these (
The difference between the X and Y components for two consecutive bending points can be obtained using equations 1) to (4). Regarding Φk obtained by equation (5), depending on the sign of this Φk,
By determining the coordinate axis that intersects at an acute angle with a line segment PkPk+1 connecting two certain bending points, slope information of a line segment passing through a specific bending point Pk is obtained.Hereinafter, in this specification, Φk is called a discriminant value. Then, the values determined by these equations (1) to (5) are sent to the change processing section 26.

The coordinate correction table 25 stores in advance coordinate correction data in which the correspondence of each value and the correction value based on this are determined, as shown in Table 1 below.

[0019]

[Table 1]

The symbol "t" in the column of correction amount in Table 1
indicates that the coordinates are changed by the specified increment t in the positive direction of the corresponding coordinate axis, and the symbol "-t" indicates that the coordinates are changed by the specified increment t in the negative direction. .

Here, a method for correcting the coordinates of the current bending point Pk will be explained based on Table 1. In Table 1, the difference ΔXk-1, ΔYk of the previous bending point Pk-1
-1 and the difference ΔXk, ΔYk between the current bending point Pk.
, 2, 6, 7, 11, 12, 16, 17) and ΔX, Δ
There are cases where the sign of at least one of Y changes (other cases in Table 1). In the former case, the line segment between two consecutive bending points has the same tendency as the previous line segment (
In other words, the line segment has a slope), and the latter case indicates that there is an unevenness at the current bending point.

In the case where the signs of ΔX and ΔY do not change as in the former case, a correction value is obtained for the current bending point Pk by combining the difference ΔX and the difference ΔY with the discrimination value Φ. Here, to explain Φk in detail, for the current bending point Pk, if the sign of the value of Φk is positive, the angle that line segment PkPk+1 makes with the X-axis direction is greater with the Y-axis direction. Indicates that the angle is more acute than the angle (hereinafter referred to as "an acute angle with the X axis"), and conversely, if it is negative, the angle made with the Y axis direction is the angle made with the X axis direction. This indicates that the angle is even more acute than that (hereinafter referred to as "an acute angle with the Y axis"). In other words, depending on the sign of this value Φk, the line segment PkPk+
It is possible to determine the coordinate axes that intersect with 1 at an acute angle.

For example, in FIG. 3, in a curve expressed by sequentially connecting bending points P1 to P6, each bending point P1 to P6 is
The sign of the difference ΔX and the sign of the difference ΔY corresponding to 6 are:
Everything becomes “correct”. Note that in this figure, arrow A indicates the direction of tracing the outline of the letter. In addition, the coordinates of each bending point are the X direction and Y direction shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.
expressed in direction.

In the above-mentioned curve, the bending points P1, P2,
The part connecting P3 forms an acute angle with the X axis shown in the figure, and the signs of the discriminant values Φ1 and Φ2 corresponding to the bending points P1 and P2 are both "positive". On the other hand, bending points P4, P5, P
The part connecting 6 makes an acute angle with the Y axis, and the bending point P4
, P5, the signs of the discriminant values Φ4 and Φ5 are both "negative". Further, the bending point P2 corresponds to the boundary between the two portions described above, and the value of the discrimination value Φ3 corresponding to this bending point P3 is "0".

[0025] Here, the sign of the discriminant value Φ mentioned above is "positive".
In this case, the line to be corrected and the X-axis make an acute angle, so the direction of the line width, which is the normal direction of this line, and the Y-axis make an acute angle. Therefore, in this case, the Y-axis direction is set as the line width direction, and the Y component of the coordinates of the corresponding bending point may be corrected by the line width increment t. On the other hand, in a portion where the discrimination value Φ is "negative", the X-axis direction is set as the line width direction, and the X component of the coordinate of the bending point is corrected by the line width increment t.

In this manner, it is determined which of the X component and Y component of the coordinates should be corrected, depending on the sign of the difference ΔX, the sign of the difference ΔY, and the sign of the discrimination value Φ. Also, the amount of correction to be added to each component is the sign of the difference ΔX and the difference ΔY
It may be determined according to the combination with the code. Correction using this method is assumed to be the basic correction in this embodiment.

Next, a correction method when there is unevenness at the current bending point position will be described. FIGS. 4(a) to 4(e) are diagrams showing cases in which there are irregularities on the outline of the letter at the position of the bending point, and the state of change in ΔX and ΔY in each case. In all of these figures, for convenience of explanation, the bending point where the unevenness is present is assumed to be the current bending point Pk.

As shown in FIG. 4(a), when the outline of the letter is reversed from the lower right to the lower left at the current bending point Pk, from equations (1) to (5) above, ΔXk-1: +ΔYk-1:+ΔXk:-ΔYk:+Φk:+. That is, two consecutive bending points Pk-1, P
ΔX changes from + to - during k. in this case,
If correction is simply performed using the basic correction method, the correction point will be a point Q shifted by t in the Y-axis direction, as shown by the dotted line in the figure, and faithful correction along the unevenness will not be possible. Therefore, when ΔX changes in this way, the ninth data from the coordinate correction data is selected and correction processing is performed, and the correction point is determined to be point Qk shifted by t in the X-axis direction. In this case, the Qk point is a correction point that is more faithful to the unevenness of the letter capital than the correction point Q point.

As shown in FIG. 4(b), when the outline of the letter is reversed from the upper right to the lower right at the current bending point Pk, from equations (1) to (5) above, ΔXk-1: +ΔYk-1:-ΔXk:+ΔYk:+Φk:+. That is, two consecutive bending points Pk-1, P
ΔY changes from − to + during k. When ΔY changes in this way, the fourth data from the coordinate correction data is selected and correction processing is performed, and the correction point is determined to be point Qk shifted by -t in the Y-axis direction.

As shown in FIG. 4(c), when the outline of the letter is reversed from the lower right to the upper left at the current bending point Pk, from equations (1) to (5) above, ΔXk-1: +ΔYk-1:+ΔXk:-ΔYk:-Φk:+. That is, two consecutive bending points Pk-1, P
k, ΔX changes from + to - and ΔY changes from + to -
It is changing to In this case, if correction is simply performed using the basic correction method, the correction point will be a point Q shifted by t in the Y-axis direction, as shown by the dotted line in the figure, and faithful correction along the unevenness cannot be performed. Therefore, like this, ΔX, ΔY
If , the 18th data is selected from the coordinate correction data and correction processing is performed, and the correction point is moved t in the X-axis direction.
And point Qk is determined to be shifted by t in the Y-axis direction. In this case, the Qk point is a correction point that is more faithful to the unevenness of the letter capital than the correction point Q point.

As shown in FIG. 4(d), when the contour of the letter is reversed from the lower left to the upper left at the current bending point Pk, from equations (1) to (5) above, ΔXk-1: - ΔYk-1: + ΔXk: - ΔYk: - Φk: +. That is, two consecutive bending points Pk-1, P
ΔY changes from + to - during k. When ΔY changes in this way, the 20th data from the coordinate correction data is selected and correction processing is performed, and the correction point is determined to be point Qk shifted by t in the Y-axis direction.

As shown in FIG. 4(e), if the contour of the character suddenly inverts from the lower left to the upper left at the current bending point Pk, from equations (1) to (5) above, ΔXk- 1:
- ΔYk-1: + ΔXk: - ΔYk: - Φk: -. That is, two consecutive bending points Pk-1, P
ΔY changes from + to - during k, and the discriminant value Φ is ``
Negative”. In this case, if correction is simply performed using the basic correction method, the correction point will be a point Q shifted by -t in the X-axis direction, as shown by the dotted line in the figure, and faithful correction along the unevenness cannot be performed. Therefore, when ΔY changes in this way, the 20th data from the coordinate correction data is selected and correction processing is performed, and the correction point is determined to be point Qk shifted by t in the Y-axis direction. In this case, the Qk point is a correction point that is more faithful to the unevenness of the letter capital than the correction point Q point.

In this way, depending on the change in the sign of the difference ΔX and the difference ΔY and the sign of the discriminant value Φ for two consecutive bending points, it is determined which of the X component and the Y component of the coordinates should be corrected. decide. Also, the amount of correction added to each component is
It may be determined according to a combination of changes in the signs of the difference ΔX and the difference ΔY. Correction using this method is referred to as applied correction in this embodiment.

[0034] In the actual correction calculation process, there is no need to perform separate calculations for the basic correction and applied correction, and each correction is performed only by the combination of the differences ΔXk-1, ΔXk, ΔYk-1, ΔYk and Φk. can be processed.

[0035] The coordinates of the bending point searched by the coordinate data search section 21 described above and the differences ΔXk-1, Δ obtained by the difference calculating section 22 described above corresponding to this bending point.
Xk, the difference ΔYk-1, ΔYk and the discrimination value Φk are sequentially input to the change processing unit 26. This change processing unit 26 changes the difference ΔXk-1, ΔXk and the difference ΔYk-1, Δ
According to Yk and the discrimination value Φk, refer to the coordinate correction table 25, and enter the correction value shown in the corresponding column on the keyboard 7.
The value of the increment t inputted through is substituted, and the obtained correction amount is replaced by the coordinates of the corresponding bending point in the data replacement section 24, and stored in the coordinate data memory 5.

However, if the value of the above-mentioned discriminant value Φk is "0", as an exception, the change processing unit 26 changes each component of the coordinates of the bending point Pk to the previous bending point Pk-1. It is sufficient to correct only the correction amount for each component.

[0037] Furthermore, based on the coordinate data changed in this way, a corrected character pattern is displayed on the display 6, and the operator looks at this character pattern and determines whether or not correction is necessary. do. If the operator determines that there is no need for correction through this operation, the above-described corrected coordinate data is recorded in the recording section 9 on a floppy disk or the like. Thereafter, the coordinate data of the bending point is read from this floppy disk, and a character pattern is output based on this coordinate data.

As described above, in the character creation device of the present invention, the differences ΔXk-1, ΔX
A correction value for the coordinates of the bending point Pk is determined according to k, the differences ΔYk-1, ΔYk, and the discrimination value Φk, and the line width is automatically corrected. At this time, based on the above-mentioned discriminant value Φ, as the direction of the line width of the line segment to be corrected,
Either or both of the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction is selected, and correction is applied to the coordinate components in the selected direction. Therefore, each bending point forming the curve is moved by M in the normal direction at this bending point, that is, in the line width direction, by the above-described correction process.

[0039] This makes it possible to automatically correct the line width of a character pattern without damaging the shape of the character pattern before correction processing is performed.

For example, as an example, the result of performing the above-described correction process on the curve represented by the six bending points shown in FIG. 3 is shown by a dotted line in FIG. In this figure, the corrected bending points P1 to P6 are indicated by symbols a to f, respectively. In addition, when the above-mentioned correction process is performed on the curves represented by the bending points shown in each of FIGS. 4(a) to (e), Qk is used instead of point Q on the dotted line in each It becomes a knotted shape. In these figures, the bending point P after correction
1 to P6 are indicated by symbols Q1, Q2,...Qk,...Qn, respectively.

[0041]

As described above, according to the present invention, the coordinates of each bending point are appropriately corrected according to the change in the sign of the difference between both components of the coordinate between two consecutive bending points. Since the line width of curved portions can be automatically corrected while maintaining the character shape, the operator's workload can be reduced and character pattern editing work can be carried out efficiently.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

[Figure 1] Block diagram of the principle of the present invention

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the character creation device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of line width correction operation by the character creation device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of line width correction operation by the character creation device of the present invention.

[Fig. 5] Block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional character creation device

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Image scanner 2 Image data storage section 3 Pattern cutting part 4 Bend point extraction part 5 Coordinate data memory 6 Display 7 Keyboard 9 Recording Department 11 Coordinate storage means 12 Search means 13 Difference calculation means 14 Correction means 15. Substitution means 21 Coordinate data search section 22 Difference calculation section 23 Coordinate correction section 24 Data replacement part 25 Coordinate correction table 26 Change processing section

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A character creation device that corrects the line width of a character pattern represented by a contour formed by connecting a plurality of bending points, wherein the position of each bending point is represented by two intersecting axial components. Coordinate storage means (11) for storing coordinates
), a search means (12) for searching the coordinate storage means (11) for the coordinates of a plurality of bending points specified by the input line width correction instruction, and Between each bending point and the bending point adjacent to each bending point,
a difference calculating means (13) for calculating the difference between each of the two components forming the coordinates, an increment regarding the input line width, and a change in the sign of the difference between the two components between the two consecutive bending points; and a correction means (14) for changing the coordinate components of the particular bending point according to slope information of the line segment passing through the specific bending point, and based on the correction result of the correction means,
A character creation device comprising (15) a replacement means for rewriting the coordinates of the specific bending point stored in the coordinate storage means (11).