JPH05303649A - Image data generating system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an image data generating system which can generate the image data at a high speed. CONSTITUTION:A CPU reads the input data out of a RAM and processes them to generate the contour line data for each horizontal scanning line (S12). Then the CPU decides the start and end points of a contour in the scanning direction based on the contour line data in each horizontal scanning line and shifts the end point of the contour to the right from the left for each dot (S13). The coding data obtained from the processing of the CPU are written into a VRAM (S14). Then the coding data are read out of the VRAM for each horizontal scanning line (S16). These coding data are supplied to a decoding part for each single-line data. Then the data covering the start point of a single horizontal scanning line through the dot immediately before the end point are defined as 1 (ON) and then defined as 0 (OFF) at the dot of the end point.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image data generating method, and for example, from contour data for drawing a figure, a character, etc., generates image data for display or printing in which the contour line is filled. Image data generation method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, word processors and the like have become widespread. In this word processor, a device (outline font) that stores image contours of characters and the like and generates image data for printing and displaying instead of expressing characters in a dot matrix is becoming popular. is there.

Next, an example of a conventional image data processing apparatus for generating image data for printing and displaying will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of the image data processing device. The image data processing device is the CPU 2
1, a ROM 22, a working RAM 23, a keyboard 24, an interface section 25, and a drawing control section 2
6, a VRAM 27, an output control unit 28, and a character generator 29.

Next, the processing of this apparatus will be described with reference to the processing flowchart of FIG.

FIG. 6 shows a drawing process for the VRAM 27.

In FIG. 6, when data is input from the keyboard (step 31), the input data is temporarily stored in the working RAM 23, and the CPU 21 processes the input data using the outline font of the character generator 29, Contour data for drawing is generated (step 32). Next, the CPU 21 temporarily stores the contour line data in the VRAM 27 (step 33). Next, the CPU 21 searches the contour line data stored in the VRAM 27, and turns ON or OFF (0 or 1) the range designated as the start point and the end point of the contour point in the same horizontal scanning direction (or vertical direction). Fill processing is performed (step 34). Next, the filled data is again drawn and stored in the VRAM 27 via the interface section 25 and the drawing control section 26 (step 35).
Next, it is confirmed whether or not data is newly input (step 36), and if it is input, the processes of steps 31 to 36 are repeated.

The drawing data stored in the VRAM 27 for drawing is read in accordance with a command from the output control unit 28 and output as image data from the output control unit 28. This data is supplied to the display and printer,
It can be used for display and printing.

[0009]

However, in the conventional image data generation method described above, the CPU 21 searches the contour line data of the VRAM 27 and fills the inside of the range surrounded by the contour line. Therefore, the number of times the CPU 21 accesses the VRAM 27 increases, and it takes time to perform drawing processing of the data filled in the VRAM 27.

That is, the CPU 21 outputs the contour line data to VR.
AM27 is searched to determine the fill range, and fill data is generated, and this data is stored in VRAM2.
The CPU 21 could not perform any other processing while the data was stored in 7.

There has been a demand for an image data generation method that solves the above problems.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its object is to provide a VRAM for a CPU.
An object of the present invention is to provide an image data generation method that reduces the frequency of access to (drawing memory) and speeds up image data generation.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a dot on the contour in the scanning direction for each horizontal line or vertical line from the contour line data.
Image data generation for generating image data for display or printing in which the inside of the outline is filled by filling between the point (for example, start point) and the second point (for example, end point) after the first point. The method was improved by performing the following characteristic processing.

That is, data conversion processing means for outputting conversion data obtained by moving the second point on the contour by one dot in the scanning direction, and drawing storage means for drawing the converted data as it is (for example, drawing memory). ) And a decoding processing means for outputting data in which the space between the first point and the second point is filled out from the converted data read from the drawing storage means to generate the image data. ..

[0015]

According to the present invention, from the contour line data, the second point (for example, the end point) on the contour of each line is moved by one dot in the scanning direction to obtain conversion data, and this conversion data is drawn and stored. Since the conventional processing of filling the inside of the contour line is not performed, the frequency of access to the drawing storage means of the CPU can be reduced. Further, since the data (image data) in which the space between the first point and the second point is filled is obtained from the conversion data read from the drawing storage means, the image data can be generated in real time while reading. ..

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of the image data generating system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a processing flow chart showing this image data generating method. Before explaining this processing, a functional block of an apparatus that realizes this image data generation method will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 2, the apparatus comprises a CPU 41, a ROM 42 for storing a processing program, and a working RAM 4.
3, a keyboard 44, an interface unit 45, a drawing control unit 46, a VRAM 47, an output control unit 48, a decoding unit 49, and a character generator 50.
Since it is partly the same as the functional block diagram of FIG. 7, description of overlapping parts will be omitted. The different structure is that a decoding unit 49 is added.

The decoding unit 49 supplies the data obtained by decoding the converted data read from the VRAM 47 to the output control unit 48 for each line in the horizontal scanning direction. This data is image data in which the inside of the outline is painted, which is finally desired, and this image data is output to the outside via the output control unit 48. The image data output to the outside is supplied to, for example, a display or a printer and provided for display or printing.

A specific method of implementing the decoding unit 49 will be described later with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

The VRAM 47 is composed of a DRAM having dual input / output ports and can read and write in parallel.

Next, the image data generating method will be described with reference to the processing flowcharts of FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b).

FIG. 1A shows a drawing process to the VRAM 47. Further, FIG. 1B shows an output process of data from the VRAM 47.

In FIG. 1A, data for drawing characters, figures, etc. is input from the keyboard 44, and this input data is temporarily stored in the working RAM 43 (step 11). Next, the CPU 41 is a working RAM
The data stored in (1) is read out, and the input data is processed using the outline font of the character generator 29 or the like to generate contour line data for each horizontal scanning line (step 12). Next, the CPU 41 determines the start point and the end point of the contour in the scanning direction for each line in the same horizontal scanning direction from the contour line data, and moves the end point of the contour by one dot in the horizontal scanning direction (from left to right) ( Step 13: data conversion processing). The data obtained by this processing is called coded data (converted data).

The process for obtaining this coded data will be described later with reference to FIG.

The coded data (converted data) obtained as described above is transmitted via the interface unit 45.
It is written in the VRAM 47 by the drawing control unit 46 (step 14). Next, it is confirmed whether the next data has been input (step 15). If it is input, the processing shown in steps 11 to 14 is performed again and the VRAM 47 is executed.
The drawing is stored in. If there is no next data, the drawing storage process in the VRAM 47 is terminated.

On the other hand, a process of reading data from the VRAM 47 and finally generating and outputting image data for filling the inside of the contour line will be described with reference to FIG.

When the output controller 48 periodically supplies a read command to the VRAM 47, the VRAM 47 reads the stored coded data line by line in the horizontal scanning direction (step 16). Next, the coded data read out is supplied to the decoding unit 49 for each line data and decoded (step 17).

In this decoding, the data from the start point to the dot immediately before the end point of one horizontal scanning direction line is set to 1 (O
N), and a process of setting 0 (OFF) at the dot at the end point. Specifically, it can be realized by using, for example, the decoding circuit of FIG. 4 described later. Obtained as described above,
The decoded data represents the same data as the inside of the contour line is filled. This data is image data for filling the inside of the contour line.

This data is supplied from the decoding section 49 to the output control section 48. The output control unit 48 outputs this image data to the outside for display or printing (step 18). Next, it is confirmed whether the decoding and output of all lines have been completed (step 19), and the image data of all lines are output.

FIG. 3 shows an example of contour line data (a), coded data (b), and decoded image data (c) for generating image data for filling the inside of the contour line using a dot pattern. It is a figure explaining. Each figure is represented by 5 dots (vertical) × 7 dots (horizontal). The scanning direction will be described as a horizontal direction from left to right. On the contrary, the direction may be from right to left, or the scanning direction may be vertical.
Each data is represented by dots in 5 rows x 7 columns.
Represents a logical 0 (OFF), and the dot ● indicates a logical 1 (O
N) is represented.

In FIG. 3A, the contour line is represented by a series of ●. That is, in the first row, the second column (which also serves as the start point and the end point of the filling) is 1, and in the second row, the second column (the starting point of the filling) and the third column (the ending point of the filling) are 1 and 3 The second row (starting point for filling) of the fourth row is 1 and the fourth row (ending point for filling) is 1; the fourth row is the second row (starting point for filling) and the fifth column (ending point for filling) is 1. In the 5th row, the 2nd column (starting point of filling) and the 6th column (ending point of filling) are 1.

FIG. 3 (b) is a diagram for obtaining coded data from the contour line data in FIG. 3 (a). The coded data is
The start point does not move for each row, but the end point position moves one dot to the right of the position in FIG.

FIG. 3C is a diagram in which the coded data of FIG. 3B is decoded by the decoding unit to obtain image data for filling the inside of the contour line. In the first row, only the second column has 1 (●). In the second row, the second to third columns are set to 1, and are filled with ●. In the third row, the second to fourth columns are set to 1 and are filled with ●. The 4th row is the 2nd column ~
The fifth column is set to 1, and is filled with ●. The fifth line is
The second to sixth columns are set to 1 and are filled with ●. In this way, image data in which the inside of the contour is filled with ● is obtained.

Next, a method of realizing decoding in the decoding section 49 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 shows a logic circuit for realizing the decoding. This circuit is
It is composed of an xplusive OR (Ex-OR, exclusive OR gate) 61 and a flip-flop 62. Coded data is read from the VRAM 47 line by line in the horizontal scanning direction and supplied to the input at one end of the Ex-OR 61. See also Ex-OR61
Data is supplied from the output Q of the flip-flop 62 to the other end. The output data of the Ex-OR 61 is supplied to the input D of the flip-flop 62. Fixed-frequency clock data is supplied to the input CK of the flip-flop 62. The output data of the Ex-OR 61 is output as the same image data as when the inside of the outline is finally filled.

Next, using the timing chart of FIG.
The timing of input / output signals is shown. The clock is supplied to the input CK of the flip-flop 62 as a signal having a fixed cycle. When the coded data input (1) “0110” (corresponding to the data in the first row of FIG. 3B) is supplied to the Ex-OR 61, the output Q of the flip-flop 62:
Data "0010" is output, and this data is Ex-O.
Supplied to R61. In this way, the image data output (1) output from the Ex-OR 61 is "0100".
(Corresponding to the data in the first row in FIG. 3C).

As coded data input (2),
When “0101” (corresponding to the data on the second row in FIG. 3B) is supplied to the Ex-OR 61, the Q output (2) of the flip-flop 62 is output as “0011”.
Finally, the image data output (2) is "0110".
(Corresponding to the data on the second line in FIG. 3C).

Effect of Embodiment: As described above, the conventional C
Since the PU generates the contour line data, finds the start point and the end point of the contour for each line, fills the space between them, and draws and stores the data, the processing load on the CPU becomes large. According to the example, the CPU only needs to obtain the coded data from the contour line data and store the coded data in the VRAM, which significantly reduces the load on the CPU. Also V
Since the data read from the RAM line by line is decoded in real time and the image data is output, the image data can be generated at a higher speed than in the past.

When a dual port DRAM is used as the VRAM 47, drawing writing and reading can be performed asynchronously, so that the processing efficiency is improved.

Therefore, the image data processing system as described above can be applied to a word processor, a personal computer, a workstation, and the like. By applying to such a device, it is possible to contribute to the development of a multimedia system capable of handling still images and moving images in addition to characters and figures.

In the above-mentioned embodiments, the explanation has been made on the premise of the horizontal scanning direction, but the present invention can also be applied to a process of drawing or reading data in the vertical scanning direction.

Although a specific circuit for realizing the decoding unit is shown in FIG. 4, it may be realized by another logic circuit or the like. Besides being realized by the logic circuit as shown in this figure, it may be decoded by a program.

[0043]

As described above, according to the present invention, data conversion processing means for contour line data, drawing storage means,
Since the image data is generated by performing the decoding processing means, the frequency of access to the drawing storage means of the CPU is reduced, and an image data generation method that speeds up the generation of the image data in which the inside of the outline is filled is provided. be able to.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a processing flowchart of an image data generation method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the image data processing device according to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of each data according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of a decoding unit according to FIG.

5 is a timing chart according to FIG.

FIG. 6 is a processing flowchart of an image data generation method according to a conventional example.

7 is a functional block diagram of the image data processing device according to FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

21, 41 CPU 22, 42 ROM 23, 43 Working RAM 24, 44 Keyboard 25, 45 Interface section 26, 46 Drawing control section 27, 47 VRAM 28, 48 Output control section 29, 50 Character generator 49 Decoding section 61 Exclusive OR ( Ex-OR, exclusive OR gate) 62 flip-flop

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. From the contour line data, a space between a first point, which is a dot on the contour in the scanning direction, for each horizontal line or vertical line, and a second point after the first point is filled in, In an image data generation method for generating image data for display or printing in which the inside of a contour line is filled, conversion data obtained by moving the second point on the contour by one dot in the scanning direction is output. Data conversion processing means, drawing storage means for drawing the converted data as it is, and decoding processing for outputting data in which the space between the first point and the second point is filled from the conversion data read from the drawing storage means. And an image data generating method for generating the image data.