JPH05313629A - Character graphic generation device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the deformation of a character by moving each vector for forming a character to the outside or the inside of the character in accor dance with an offset value given from the outside and changing the line width of the character to be printed. CONSTITUTION:A given offset value is divided by 2 and the offset value W(W=N/2) is calculated. First, each vector forming a character is moved by W in parallel to the direction where its line width is widened. Thus, P1 P2 is moved to P1s P1e, P2 P3 to P2s Pe, P3 P1 to P3s P3e, P4 P5 to P4s P4e, P5 P6 to P5s P5c, P6 P4 to P6s P6e, respectively. The crossing point of the straight lines of the vectors P1s P1e and P2s P2e is made to P2 and this coordinate is calculated. Six vectors of P1' P2' to P5' P6' whose crossing points are connected in sequence become vectors for forming characters whose line width is widened by 2W.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention can be applied to a word processor, a facsimile machine, a display device, etc., including a printer, and a character / graphics generator capable of changing the line width of characters, and an image equipped with the character / graphics generator. Forming apparatus

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art To change the line width of a font in an image forming apparatus such as a conventional laser printer, the same character is shifted by an appropriate offset amount regardless of whether a bitmap font or an outline font is used. This is achieved by printing.

As a font having a variable line width, there is a font called a stick font in which a vector representing the center of a line forming a character is fleshed with a specified line width to form a character.

[0004]

However, in the method of printing the same character by shifting the offset as described above, the acute angle portion is changed from the original design, or the offset amount is further increased. There is a problem that it causes distortion of shape. Moreover, with this method, the line width could be thickened but not thinned.

Further, a stick font in which a character representing a center of a line forming a character is fleshed with a specified line width to form a character, and the resulting character is not beautiful, and is practically used as a printer. Lack of sex.
Furthermore, in the conventional printer, the instruction of the line width of the character is a selection from the font set possessed by the printer, and the font of the line width not possessed by the font set cannot be used.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and when the character / graphics is generated by the character / graphics generator, the font shape is not significantly distorted even if the line width of the character is changed, and The first goal is to make it possible to reduce the line width. Another object is to enable a user to print a line width of a character to print with any line width according to the taste of the user.

Recently, WYSIWYG (What You
See is What You Get), it is becoming more common to draw graphics such as documents and illustrations on the computer screen and output them to the printer as you see them. However, when actually outputting to a printer, the line is thicker overall than expected due to the characteristics of the printer engine, and the line is thin in some cases. Absent.

If such a result is obtained,
In the past, it was necessary to change the thickness of each line forming the image again on the display and to change the font used. Therefore, according to the present invention, in such a case, the thickness of each line forming an image or the line width of characters is formed by changing the data on the transmitting side and operating the switch on the image forming apparatus side or sending a command from the host. It also aims to be able to change easily.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides means for vectorizing the font data according to the size of a character to be actually printed by using an outline font, and vectorization by the means. A character having a line width changing means for changing the line width of a character to be printed by moving each vector forming a character in accordance with an offset value given from the outside with respect to the stored information A graphic generator is provided.

In the above-mentioned character / figure generating device, the number of pixels, the actual length of the printed image, or the relative value to the line width of the character before the line width is changed is a character width for indicating the change value of the line width of the character. It is preferable to provide a change value indicating means and a means for converting the pixel number, the length, or the relative value with respect to the line width of the character before the line width is changed into the offset value.

Further, in a character / graphics generator having a plurality of fonts having the same typeface and different line widths of characters, the currently selected font is changed by an externally given change value of the line width of the characters. A means to calculate the line width after and to compare the line width of all the fonts of the same typeface as the currently selected font with the line width after the line width change, and from the font currently selected according to the comparison result. If there is a font with a line width closer to the changed line width, means for automatically selecting that font, and a new line width of the font newly selected by the means and the changed line width are newly added. A means for calculating a line width change value for the selected font, and a line width change value calculated by the means for changing the line width of the newly selected font to generate a character graphic to be printed. Also provides graphic character generator and a stage.

Further, in an image forming apparatus equipped with a character / graphics generator having means for changing the line width of a character, a line width changing command of a character including a line width changing value of the character is once given by a switch or a command. Also provided is an image forming apparatus having means for printing all characters with a line width changed by a designated line width change value.

On the other hand, as another character / graphics generator, a vector graphics means for drawing a straight line by giving information such as a line width and a start point and an end point, and a vector graphics means according to an offset value given from the outside. And a line width changing / drawing means for increasing / decreasing the line width of a straight line drawn by a given offset value with respect to the original line width.

Further, according to a curve drawing means for drawing a specified curve by dividing it into a straight line by giving information such as a line width, a start point, an end point, and a control point, and the offset value given from the outside, the curve is drawn. There is also provided a character / graphics generation device having line width changing means for increasing / decreasing each straight line forming a curve drawn by the drawing means by an offset value given to the original line width.

In the image forming apparatus equipped with the character / graphics generator capable of changing the line widths of each of characters, straight lines, and curves, a line width change command for changing all line widths by a command or a switch is issued. It is preferable to provide a giving means and a means for changing and changing the line widths of all fonts, straight lines and curved lines to be printed thereafter by giving a line width changing command by the means.

[0016]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, each vector forming a character is set in accordance with the offset value given from the outside with respect to the information obtained by converting the font data into a vector according to the size of the character to be actually printed. By changing the line width of the character to be printed by moving it to the outside or inside of the character, there is little distortion of the character even if the line width of the character is changed.
It is also possible to narrow the line width, which was impossible in the past.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to instruct the change value of the line width of the character on a pixel-by-pixel basis, and it is possible to easily instruct a minute change value from one pixel.

According to the third aspect of the invention, since the change value of the line width of the character can be indicated by the actual length on the printed image, the correct change value can be indicated without considering the resolution of the printer engine. Will be possible.

Further, according to the invention of claim 4, the change value of the line width of the character is indicated by a relative value with respect to the line width of the currently selected font. Since the offset value used for the actual change is changed, it is possible to change the line width while maintaining the overall character balance.

On the other hand, according to the invention of claim 5, by simply designating a change value of the line width of a character, a font more suitable for the change value is automatically selected, and then the line width is changed. Since the change is made, the user does not have to bother with selecting a font, and beautiful printing with less distortion can always be performed.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, once the command for changing the line width of the character is given by the switch or the command, the line width of all the characters to be printed thereafter can be changed. Become. Therefore, it is possible to adjust the printing strength of all characters without any modification to the print file on the host machine side.

Further, according to the invention of claim 7, by giving an instruction to change the line width of a straight line of vector graphics by a switch or a command, the value of the line width designated by the parameter by the line drawing instruction is given. It is possible to change the line width by the instructed change value and draw a straight line without changing it.

Alternatively, according to the invention of claim 8,
By giving an instruction to change the line width of the curve of the graphics by a switch or command, the line width is changed by the instructed change value without changing the value of the line width specified by the parameter for drawing the curve. Then it becomes possible to draw a curve.

According to the invention of claim 9, once,
By giving a command to change the line width by a switch or a command, it becomes possible to change the line widths of all characters, straight lines, and curved lines to be drawn thereafter. Therefore, it is possible to adjust the strength of the entire print result without modifying the print file on the host computer side.

[0025]

2 is a block diagram showing the construction of a page printer such as a laser printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. The page printer 1 includes a controller 2, an operation panel 3, and a printer engine 4,
It is connected to a host machine 5 such as a personal computer or a word processor. Also, an optional font cartridge 6 can be inserted.

The controller 2 has a function of receiving print data from the host machine 5 and developing it into bit map data in page units using designated font data. The CPU 7, program ROM 8, font ROM 9, RAM 10 , Option RAM 11, host interface (hereinafter, interface is abbreviated as “I / F”) 12, panel I / F 13, and engine I / F
It consists of 14.

A CPU 7 is a central processing unit for controlling the controller 2 in a centralized manner, a program ROM 8 is a read-only memory that stores its operation program, and a font ROM 9 is a read-only memory that stores various font data that can be used in the printer 1 from the beginning. An outline font is also stored in the font ROM 9, and the outline of each character is possessed by a straight line and a curved line expression.

The RAM 10 is a working memory of the CPU 7, an input buffer memory, a page memory, a bitmap memory for expanding bitmap data (video data) in page units, and a font memory for storing fonts downloaded from the host machine 5 and font cartridge 6. It is a large-capacity readable and writable memory used for, etc. The optional RAM 11 is a RAM to be added when the RAM 10 is insufficient in capacity.

The host I / F 12 is an I / F for connecting to the host machine 5, and is generally a Centronics I / F.
Alternatively, RS232C I / F is used. Panel I /
F13 is an I / for connecting to the operation panel 3
An F / engine I / F 14 is an I / F for connecting to the printer engine 4.

The operation panel 3 is an operation unit having keys or switches for inputting designations of various modes and the like, and a display unit. The switches for giving offset values, line width change values, line width change commands and the like in the present invention are also here. It is provided in.

The printer engine 4 receives the bitmap data (video data) in page units from the controller 2, modulates the laser beam to expose the charged photoconductor to form a latent image, and the latent image is formed. It is composed of a mechanism part for printing characters and figures on a paper by developing an image with toner and transferring it to a transfer paper, and its sequence controller.

Next, generation of a character graphic using an outline font will be described. As described above, the outline font has the outline of each character in the font ROM 9 in the form of straight lines and curved lines. All the information is written in the vector information by the outline font expansion program in the program ROM 8 according to the character size to be printed.

As a general method of filling an outline font, when a closed curve (or straight line) such as "0" or "Δ" is represented, the outer curve (or straight line) is rotated clockwise. In the column, the inner curve is represented by a counterclockwise vector column, the horizontal scan line and the intersection coordinates of each vector are obtained, and the space between the intersection point with the upward vector and the intersection point with the downward vector is filled. There is a method in which a character is drawn by performing this for all scan lines in the area where the character is drawn.

Therefore, a method of changing the line width of a character according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described by taking the Δ type character shown in FIG. 1 as an example. In FIG. 1 (A), the character before the change is the vector P1 → P2, P2 → P3, P written with a chain line.
3 → P1 to set the outside line of the character, and the vector P
A line inside the character is formed by 4 → P5, P5 → P6, P6 → P4. Therefore, the shaded portion is the portion that is filled in as characters.

On the other hand, an example in which the line width is widened by giving an offset value N is illustrated. This method corrects the lines on both sides of the character, so first divide the given offset value by 2 to obtain the offset value W (W = N
/ 2) is calculated. First, each vector forming a character is translated by W in the direction in which the line width increases.

As a result, P1 → P2 becomes P1s → P1e
P2 → P3 is P2s → P2e, P3 → P1 is P3s
→ P3e, P4 → P5 moves to P4s → P4e, P5 → P6 moves to P5s → P5e, and P6 → P4 moves to P6s → P6e, respectively.

The method of the parallel movement will be described with reference to FIG. The original vector is P1 → P2, the coordinates of the point P1 are (x1, y1), and the coordinates of the point P2 are (x2, y
2). Then, the angle of this vector P1 → P2 with respect to the X-axis is θ. This angle can be calculated by the following equation (1).

[0038]

## EQU1 ## θ = arctan {(y2-y1) / (x2-x1)}

Therefore, the x and y components dx and dy of the movement amount when the points P1 and P2 are moved in parallel by W are obtained by the equation 2. Using this value, the coordinates of the points P1s and P1e, to which P1 and P2 have moved, can be obtained as in Equation 3.

[0040]

## EQU2 ## dx = cos (θ + 90) × w dy = sin (θ + 90) × w

[0041]

## EQU00003 ## P1s = (x1s, y1s) = (x1 + dx, y1 + dy) P1e = (x1e, y1e) = (x2 + dx, y2 + dy)

By the above method, P1s → P1e to P6s →
Six mobilized vectors of P6e are obtained. From here there are several ways. For example, a method of extending each moved vector to obtain new intersection point coordinates and connecting the coordinates with the vector, or a method of generating a new vector connecting between the respective end points of the moved vector can be considered. Here, the former will be explained, which can obtain a result close to the original form.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the point of intersection of the straight lines obtained by moving the vectors P1s➝P1e and P2s➝P2e, respectively, is defined as P2 ', and the coordinates are obtained. The coordinates of the points P1e and P2s are (x1e, y1
e), (x2s, y2s), X axis and vector P1s
→ P1e and P2s → P2s
1 and θ2, the equation of each straight line is
As shown in (a) and (b).

[0044]

(A) y = tan θ1 · x + y1e−tan θ1 · x1e (b) y = tan θ1 · x + y2e−tan θ2 · x2e

This is solved to find the coordinates of the intersection. Intersection P
Assuming that the coordinates of 2'are (x2 ', y2'), the coordinates can be obtained by the following equation 5.

[0046]

## EQU5 ## x2 '= (tan θ1 × x1e−tan θ2 × x2s
-Y1e + y2s) / (tan θ1-tan θ2) y2 '= tan θ2 (x2'-x2s) + y2s

Hereinafter, intersections P1 'to P6' of the moved vectors are obtained by the same method. The six vectors P1 '→ P2' to P5 '→ P6' in which the obtained intersections are connected in order become vectors for forming a character whose line width is widened by 2W. This is the vector drawn by the solid line in FIG. After that, by filling the space between each vector for each scan line by the same method as the conventional method, it is possible to draw a character whose line width is expanded by N (2W).

FIG. 1B shows a method of narrowing the line width of a character given an offset value N. Also in this case, the calculation is exactly the same, except that the offset value W (W = N /
Since it is only necessary to make 2) a negative value, the description is omitted. By the above means, it is possible to change the line width of a character in an outline font with less distortion, and it is also possible to make the line width thinner than previously possible.

In the above, an example in which the amount of change in the line width of a character is given by the offset value expressed in the processing unit inside the font has been described. However, when the user instructs the printer to change the line width, the font It is difficult to give an instruction because the amount of change obtained as a result is difficult to understand in the internal processing unit. The value given by the user should be in a unit easy for the user to understand.

Hereinafter, the value inside the font will be called an "offset value", and the value given by the user will be called a "change value".
Also, as the changed value, a convenient unit varies depending on the user or the purpose of use, and several possible units are possible. First, the line width change value can be given in the number of pixels.

In outline fonts, conventionally, internal processing is not performed in pixel units so as not to depend on resolution. Therefore, the change value given by the number of pixels needs to be converted in units according to the resolution. First, the number of pixels is converted to the number of dots. Next, the converted value is divided by the resolution DPI (Dot par inch). By the above, it can be corrected in inches.

Furthermore, in order to correct the value in centimeter points, the inch value may be multiplied by 7200. For example, in a printer of 600 DPI with 1 pixel as 1 dot, if 1 pixel is converted into inch unit, it becomes 1 ÷ 600 × 1 = 0.0016666 inch, and if this is converted into centimeter point unit, 0.0016666 × 7200 = 12 It will be in centigrade points.

According to this method, a constant offset value can always be given regardless of the character size, and when a line width change value is indicated by a minute amount such as 1 dot or 2 dots, it is easy and accurate. Can be instructed to.

Next, a method of giving the line width change value in the unit of the actual length on the printed image will be described. For example, it is specified by "inch" or "centimeter point". In this case, if the unit of internal processing of the outline font and the unit given as the change value match, it is not necessary to convert the unit. If they do not match, you need to convert the units. For example, the offset amount is 0.0
If 1 inch is given and the unit of processing of the outline font is centimeter points, it needs to be converted to centimeter points.

Therefore, 0.01 × 7200 = 72 cm points. According to this method, it is possible to always give a constant offset value as a print result regardless of the character size and the resolution, and it is advantageous in that the line width change value can be designated without being aware of the resolution. Is.

In the above method, a fixed amount of offset is given regardless of the size of the character, but the offset value is increased or decreased in proportion to the size of the character, that is, a large offset is given to a character with a large point size and a small offset is given. In some cases it may be better to give the character a small offset. Therefore,
An embodiment that realizes this will be described below.

In the outline font, normally, the data has a reference size, for example, data for forming a character with a size of 10 points, and the data is enlarged or reduced according to the size of the character to be printed. Print. Therefore, in order to change the line width offset value according to the size of the character, first find the offset value in the reference size, and then change it according to the rate of expansion or contraction to the size of the character actually printed. You need to change the value.

Also, in the case of a character having a reference size, the line width forming each character naturally varies depending on the character, and even one character varies depending on the part.
Therefore, it is necessary for each font to have the value of the reference line width in the reference size as data. For example, the average value of the line width in the reference size of each font may be held as the data. Hereinafter, this value is referred to as "reference line width".

As a unit to be actually specified from the outside, there is a method of specifying it as a percentage of the line width of the character of the currently selected font. In this case, the reference line width may be multiplied by the given percentage, and further multiplied by the enlargement ratio or reduction ratio. For example, when using a 10-point size as a reference and a font with a reference line width of 0.01 inches to expand the line width by 50% and print at a 15-point size, calculate the offset value by calculating Equation 6. Can be done.

[0060]

[Equation 6] 0.01 × 1.5 × (15/10) = 0.0225 (inch)

When a 10-point size is used as a reference and a reference line width of 0.015 inch is used to reduce the line width by 20% and print with a 20-point size,
The offset value can be obtained by the calculation of Expression 7.

[0062]

## EQU00007 ## 0.015 * 0.8 * (20/10) = 0.024 (inch)

If the processing unit of the outline font is centimeter points, the value in inches is 7200.
It can be corrected in centimeter points by multiplying by. At present, in non-impact printers, the stroke weight value is used as a unit representing the font weight. Therefore, it is also possible to increase or decrease the stroke weight value from the outside with a command or a switch to obtain a changed value of the line width, which can be converted into an offset value. This method will be described below.

However, since the stroke weight value is taken differently depending on the type of font set, the method must be changed slightly depending on the font set. First, the case where the relationship between the stroke weight value and the actual font thickness is linear will be described. In this case, for an appropriate point size, for example, 10 point size, it is sufficient to have as data how many inches the reference line width increases or decreases when the stroke weight value is increased or decreased by 1. Hereinafter, this data will be referred to as “stroke weight value increase / decrease rate”.

An appropriate offset value can be calculated by multiplying this by the increase / decrease value of the stroke weight value given from the outside and the enlargement ratio or reduction ratio calculated from the point size of the character to be printed. As an example, 1
When the stroke weight increases by 1 when the size is 0 points, the offset value when the stroke weight value is +2.5 is calculated as follows for a font in which the line width of the character increases by 0.005 inches.

The offset value of the character of 11-point size is obtained by the calculation of equation (a), and the offset value of the character of 50-point size is similarly obtained by the calculation of (b).

[0067]

(A) 0.005 × 2.5 × (11/10) = 0.01375 (inch) (b) 0.005 × 2.5 × (50/10) = 0.0625 (inch)

With the same font, the stroke weight value is
The calculation method of the offset value at the time of 1.5 is as follows. The offset value of the character of 11 point size is the number 9
The offset value of the character of 50-point size can be obtained by the calculation of (a) in the same manner, and can also be obtained by the calculation of (b).

[0069]

(A) 0.005 × -1.5 × (11/10) = − 0.0825 (inch) (b) 0.005 × −1.5 × (50/10) = − 0.0. 0375 (inch)

In the case of a font set in which the relationship between the stroke weight value and the actual font thickness is not linear,
The increase / decrease rate of the stroke weight value varies depending on the stroke weight value of the currently selected font. Therefore, first from the data shown in Table 1,
The stroke weight increase / decrease rate of the currently selected font must first be calculated. If this is obtained, then the offset value can be obtained by the same method as described above.

As an example, a method of calculating an offset value when the stroke weight value is +1.5 in the font having the relationship between the stroke weight and the line width of the character shown in Table 1 will be described. Assuming that the stroke weight of the selected font is "3", the reference line width is "0.116" from the data in Table 1.

[0072]

[Table 1]

Since the stroke weight is increased from here, when the larger one of the data in Table 1 is searched, the next largest font is the stroke weight "5" and its reference line width is "0.1488". Is. Assuming that the relationship between the stroke weight and the line width of the character is linear between these two, the increase / decrease rate of the stroke weight value can be obtained by the calculation of Equation 10.

[0074]

(10) (0.1488-0.116) / (5-3) = 0.164

By multiplying this by the increase value of the stroke weight value and the enlargement ratio calculated from the print size,
The offset value of the character of 11 point size is the following number 11
(A) and the offset value of the character of 50-point size are also obtained by the calculation of (b).

[0076]

(A) 0.0164 × 1.5 × (11/10) = 0.02706 (inch) (b) 0.0164 × 1.5 × (50/10) = 0.123 (inch)

If the stroke weight of the selected font is "-5", the reference line width is "0.04".
4 ”, and the next largest stroke weight“ -3 ”font has a reference line width of“ 0.056 ”. Therefore, the increase / decrease rate of the stroke weight value can be obtained by the calculation of Expression 12.

[0078]

(12) (0.056-0.44) / {(-3)-(-5)} = 0.006

By using this, the offset value of a character of 11-point size can be calculated by the following equation 13 (a) as in the above example.
And the offset value of a character with a size of 50 points are also obtained by the calculation of (b).

[0080]

(A) 0.006 × 1.5 × (11/10) = 0.0099 (inch) (b) 0.006 × 1.5 × (50/10) = 0.045 (inch)

By the above means, the amount of increase or decrease of the line width designated by the user with the stroke weight can be used to obtain an appropriate offset amount for characters of any size and any font.

Next, for example, in a printer having fonts shown in Table 1, a command or a switch from the outside is used to increase the line width by the stroke weight value "4" as a line width change value instruction. Suppose you have received an order.

Then, for example, for a font having a stroke weight value of "0", when giving an offset corresponding to the stroke weight value of "4", the font having a stroke weight value of "3" is selected again. By giving an offset corresponding to the stroke weight value "1" to the font, beautiful printing with less distortion of characters becomes possible.

As described above, the line width after changing the line width by the line width change value of the character input from the outside is set as the target line width, and the target is set with a smaller change value than the selected font. If there is another font that can reach the line width of the specified font, if it exists, reselect that font as the font to be used, and calculate the change value for the target line width of that font. The line width of the newly selected font may be changed with the line width change value and printing may be performed again.

In order to realize this, in a character / graphics generator having several fonts with the same typeface but different line widths of characters, the character line width currently selected by an externally applied change value of the line width of the character is selected. By calculating the line width after changing the existing font, comparing the line width of all fonts of the same typeface as the currently selected font with the line width after changing the line width, and the comparison result, If there is a font with a line width that is closer to the line width after change than the currently selected font, a method to automatically select that font, and the line width of the newly selected font and the line after change A means for calculating a line width change value for a newly selected font from the width and a line width change means for a character for changing and printing the line width of the newly selected font by the line width change value are provided. ..

FIG. 4 is a flow chart when this is realized by software by the controller 2 of FIG. A description will be given below with reference to FIG. First, as an input, Δ representing the change amount of the line width of the character by the change amount of the stroke weight value is given. In step 1, the stroke weight value of the currently selected font is written in the variable C provided on the RAM.

Next, in step 2, the value obtained by adding Δ to C is written in the variable M provided on the RAM as the target value of the stroke weight. In the next step 3, the process is divided depending on whether the change amount Δ of the stroke weight value is positive or negative. If the change amount Δ is positive, the process proceeds to step 4.

A font having a stroke weight value larger than that of the variable C is searched for. If it does not exist, the currently selected font will be used, so the process proceeds to step 9. On the other hand, if it exists, the stroke weight value of the font having the next largest stroke weight value after C in step 5 is set in the variable N provided in the RAM.
Write in.

Next, in step 6, the stroke weight value N and the target value M are compared. If M is larger, at least the font with stroke weight value N is closer to the target value than the font with stroke weight value C. Therefore, the offset amount can be small.
To. Then, the process returns to step 4.

Until the result of the determination in step 6 is NO, steps 11 → 4 → 5 → 6 are repeated. If NO is determined in step 6, the target value M then exists between N and C. Therefore, the process proceeds to step 7, and it is determined which of N and C is closer to the target value M, depending on whether or not (N−C) / 2 <Δ. If C is closer, the answer is NO, and the process proceeds to step 8.

Here, the difference of the stroke weight value up to the target value M in the font of the stroke weight value C is found by M-C, and this is written in Δ. On the other hand, if N is closer, the result is YES, so step 12
Go to and substitute N for C. Then, since the difference between the new stroke weight value and the font whose stroke weight value is C is obtained by CM, it is rewritten to Δ in step 13.

If the change amount Δ is negative in step 3, the process proceeds to step 14 to search for a font having a stroke weight value larger than that of the variable C. If it does not exist, the currently selected font will be used, so the process proceeds to step 9. On the other hand, if it exists, the process proceeds to step 15, and the stroke weight value of the font having the next smallest stroke weight value is written in the variable N provided on the RAM.

Next, in step 16, the stroke weight value N and the target value M are compared. If M is smaller, at least the font having the stroke weight value N is closer to the target value than the font having the stroke weight C. Therefore, the offset amount can be small. Therefore, the process proceeds to step 19 and N is substituted into C. Then, the process returns to step 14.

Until the result of the determination in step 14 is NO, steps 19 → 14 → 15 → 16 are repeated. If NO is determined in step 16, then the target value M exists between N and C. Therefore, the routine proceeds to step 17, and it is judged which of N and C is closer to the target value M depending on whether (N−C) / 2> Δ. If C is closer, the answer is NO, and the process proceeds to step 18.

Here, the difference between the stroke weight values up to the target value M in the font of the stroke weight value C is obtained by CM, and this is written in Δ. On the other hand, if N is closer, the result is YES, so step 20
Go to and substitute N for C. Then, since the difference between the new stroke weight value and the font whose stroke weight value is C is obtained by CM, it is rewritten to Δ in step 13.

In any of these cases, the process proceeds to step 9, and the font having a stroke weight value of C is selected as the current font. By these processes, it is possible to select the font that requires the smallest change value to obtain the target line width, and further obtain the necessary change value.
Then, in the next step 10, the newly selected font and the rewritten Δ are used to calculate an actual offset value represented by a real number by the same method as in the above-described embodiment.

With respect to the change value of the line width of the character input from the outside by the above means, is there another font that can reach the target line width with a smaller change value than the selected font? It is possible to change the line width of the character with less distortion of the character by re-calculating the offset value for the font by newly searching for the font and selecting the font if it exists.

Next, by inputting a character line width change command including a line width change value from a command or switch,
Hereinafter, a printer having means for changing the designated change value line widths of all characters even if the font used or the print size is changed will be described.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of the means for realizing this, and shows the process steps necessary to achieve the present invention with respect to a certain data input from the host machine 5 of FIG. Hereinafter, description will be given with reference to FIG. First, one data is input from the host machine 5 to the data analysis unit. This data may be a print character code or a control code that controls printing by the printer.

In step 1, first, it is checked whether the input data is character data (print code). If a command for changing the line width is input, it is determined as NO, and the process proceeds to step 8. If it is character data, YES is determined here and the operation proceeds to step 2. The value of the increase or decrease of the line width of the character given here is written in a variable (named WEIGHT here) provided on the RAM.

In the case of instructing with a switch, the routine of step 9 is called from the switch processing routine to perform the same processing. Next, when the character code is received, the result of the determination in step 1 is YES and the process proceeds to step 2. Variable WEIGHT representing the amount of change in line width
The value is written when the change amount of the line width is input from the command or switch, and is "0" when the change amount is not input.

When the line width is not changed, YE in step 2
Judge as S and proceed to step 3. When changing, it is determined to be NO and the process proceeds to step 4. Here, it is checked whether the font has been changed after printing the previous character. This check also saves the font ID of the font used when printing the character in the variable provided in RAM, and when printing the next character, the font used by that character and the previously saved character. It is sufficient to compare the IDs of the fonts used for.

If the font to be used has not changed, NO is determined and the operation proceeds to step 5. Here, it is checked whether or not the size of the character is changed after the previous character is printed. In this check, for example, the point size of the character used when printing a character is saved in a variable provided in RAM, and when printing the next character, the point size for printing that character and the previous character are printed. You can compare the point size when you do.

Here, if the size of the character is not changed,
In other words, if the font type and print size have not changed, you can use it without changing the offset value of the previous character. Go to step 6 and change the line width of the character by the method described above. carry out.

If YES is determined in either step 4 or 5, that is, if the font type or character size changes, the offset value changes, so it is necessary to proceed to step 7 and recalculate the offset value. There is.
The method described above is used for this step 7. When the offset value is obtained by the method described above, the offset value does not change even if the font type or the character size changes. Therefore, if the process of step 7 is executed only once when the command for changing the line width is received, After that, the processes of steps 4, 5 and 7 are not necessary.

In this way, the line width of all characters can be changed thereafter by inputting the amount of change in the line width from the command or switch. The aforementioned WYSIWYG
A system that achieves
An image is written on the display using a tool for (Desk Top Publishing), and the image is sent to the printer after being converted into an instruction code that the DTP tool can interpret.

For example, vector graphics are
The user decides the thickness of the line and draws it while visually observing it on the screen without paying attention to the printer. When printing, the line thickness drawn by the DTP tool is converted into line width data that can be interpreted by the printer, and the line width data is sent to the printer as parameters together with the start and end positions of the straight line. Therefore, in the conventional printer, the only way to change the line thickness is to change the line thickness on the screen one by one.

In the embodiment described below, attention is paid to this, and the line thickness of the vector graphics can be changed by a command or a switch from the host machine.

The flowchart of FIG. 6 is for realizing this by software by the controller, and each data sent from the host machine is processed according to this flow. This will be described below with reference to FIG. First, the case where a command for changing the line width is received will be described. When the command is received, YES is determined in step 1, and the process proceeds to step 2. Here, the value received as this parameter is written in the variable X provided on the RAM for use in changing the line width.

The method of giving this parameter may be the following method as in the case of the font. 1. It is given in pixels. 2. It is given as the length on the actual printed image. 3. It is given as a ratio to the original line width.

Here, 3. Will be described as an example. First, if the received value is, for example, 50%, then 1.5
If it is -30%, convert it to a decimal number such as 0.7 and X
Write in. Further, in the variable X, "1" representing the same size needs to be written in the initial state. Then, when the switch is instructed, the routine of step 2 is called from the switch processing routine to perform the same processing. This is the end of the process when a command for changing the line width is received.

Next, the case where a command for drawing a straight line is received will be described. At this time, it is determined to be NO in step 1, and the process proceeds to step 3. Therefore, the determination is YES and the process proceeds to step 4. Here, the parameter indicating the line width before being changed is received from the host machine and written in the variable W provided in the RAM.

Next, the process proceeds to step 5, which is a newly added part of the present invention. Here, the variable X is multiplied by the variable W indicating the line width to rewrite the line width data changed by the ratio instructed from the outside. In this example, the example in which the change amount of the line width is passed as a ratio is described.
However, if the parameter is given by the number of pixels or the length on the actual print image, step 5
Is an addition. As described above, it is possible to change the line thickness of vector graphics as a whole by a command or switch from the host machine.

Next, an embodiment will be described in which the thickness of the curve can be changed by a command or switch from the host machine. In a printer having a vector graphics function, a secondary or tertiary curve drawing method is used.
The method of drawing by the following Bethe formula is known. Also,
A curve is usually divided into many straight lines (vectors) and drawn. This dividing method is a known technique. Therefore, conventionally, a curve having a line width W is divided into many straight lines having a line width W and drawn.

First, the case where a command for changing the line width is received will be described. As for the method of giving this parameter, the following method can be considered as in the above case. 1. It is given in pixels. 2. It is given as the length on the actual printed image. 3. It is given as a ratio to the original line width.

Here, 3. Will be described as an example. First, for example, if the given value is 50%, then increase it to 1.5.
If it is 30%, convert it to a decimal number such as 0.7. Then, the value is written in the variable X provided on the RAM. Further, in the initial state, "1" representing the same size must be written in the variable X. This is the end of the process when a command for changing the line width is received.

Next, the case where a command for drawing a curve is received will be described. When receiving a command to draw a curve with a line width W, it is first divided into many continuous vectors by the conventional method. In the conventional case, a straight line is drawn with a line width W along each vector, but this is drawn by setting a line width W × X and calling a straight line drawing routine. When instructing with a switch, the same routine is called from the switch processing routine to perform the same processing.

This makes it possible to draw a curve with a changed line width. When the parameter (the amount of change in the line width) is given by the number of pixels or the actual length on the printed image, W + X may be set.

Next, a description will be given of an embodiment of a printer capable of operating the widths of all lines of characters, straight lines and curved lines of an image printed out by a switch or a command.

First, when a change command is received, RA
The changed value given as a parameter to the variable WIDTH provided on M is converted into an appropriate value and saved. How to give the parameters is the same as in 1. ~ 3. The following method is possible. Any one of them is converted into an offset value according to the processing unit of the outline font by using any one of the above-mentioned means and saved.

The value saved once cannot be rewritten until it is reset or a new command for changing the line width of a character is received. When the character print data is received, the line width is changed according to the variable WIDTH by the means of claim 6, and the character is written. Similarly, when a command to draw a straight line is received, a straight line is drawn by the means of claim 7.
Further, when receiving a command for drawing a curve, as one of the processing methods, if the curve is divided into vectors, the variable WIDTH is not taken into consideration in the line width, and the original line width is maintained.
The line drawing routine may be called by the above means.

As a result, an appropriate offset is given on the straight line drawing routine side to change and draw the line width, and as a result, a curve with the changed WIDTH line width is drawn. As described above, it is possible to operate the widths of all lines of characters, straight lines, and curves of the image printed out by the switch or the command.

[0123]

As described above, according to the character / graphics generator of the present invention, the font shape is not significantly distorted even if the line width of the character is changed when the character / graphics is generated, and the line shape is not changed. It also becomes possible to narrow the width. Further, the user can send a character line width change command to print with any line width according to the user's preference. Further, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the data on the transmission side can be transmitted. It is possible to easily change the thickness of each line forming an image or the line width of a character by operating a switch on the image forming apparatus side or sending a command from the host without changing the number.

The effects on the invention of each claim will be described below. According to the invention of claim 1, each vector forming a character is placed outside the character according to an offset value given from the outside with respect to the information in which the font data is vectorized in accordance with the size of the character to be actually printed. Or, since the line width of the character to be printed is changed by moving it inward, even if the line width of the character is changed, distortion of the character is small, and it is possible to narrow the line width which was impossible in the past. ..

According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to instruct the change value of the line width of the character on a pixel-by-pixel basis, and it is possible to easily instruct a minute change value from one pixel. According to the invention of claim 3, the change value of the line width of the character can be instructed by the actual length on the printed image, so that an accurate change value can be instructed without considering the resolution of the printer engine.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the change value of the line width of the character is indicated by a relative value to the line width of the currently selected font, so that the actual value of each character is changed according to the size of the character. Since the offset value used for the change is changed, it is possible to change the line width while keeping the overall character balance.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, only by designating a change value of the line width of a character, a font more suitable for the change value is automatically selected and then the line width is changed. Therefore, the user does not have to bother with selecting a font, and beautiful printing with less distortion can always be performed.

The image forming apparatus according to the invention of claim 6 is
It is possible to change the line widths of all the characters to be printed thereafter by once giving an instruction to change the line widths of the characters by a switch or a command. Therefore, it is possible to adjust the printing strength of all characters without any modification to the print file on the host machine side.

According to the invention of claim 7, the command for changing the line width of the straight line of the vector graphics is given by the switch or the command, and the value of the line width designated by the parameter of the straight line drawing command is changed. Instead, it becomes possible to draw a straight line by changing the line width by the instructed change value.

According to the invention of claim 8, by giving an instruction to change the line width of the curve of the graphics by a switch or a command, the line drawing value instructed by the drawing command of the curve is not changed. , It is possible to draw a curve by changing the line width by the designated change value.

The image forming apparatus according to the invention of claim 9 can change the line widths of all characters, straight lines and curved lines to be drawn thereafter by giving an instruction to change the line widths once by a switch or a command. it can. Therefore, it is possible to adjust the strength of the entire print result without modifying the print file on the host computer side.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a method of changing a line width of a character as an embodiment of the present invention in the page printer shown in FIG.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a page printer such as a laser printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of parallel movement of each vector forming a character in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart when a line width change according to another embodiment of the present invention is realized by software by the controller of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart similar to FIG. 4 in the case of realizing a line width change according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart similar to FIG. 4 in the case of realizing a line width change according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 page printer 2 controller 3
Operation panel 4 Printer engine 5 Host machine 6
Font cartridge 7 CPU (Central Processing Unit) 8 Program R
OM 9 Font ROM 10 RAM 11
Optional RAM 12 Host I / F 13 Panel I / F 14
Engine I / F

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A means for vectorizing the font data according to the size of a character to be actually printed by using an outline font, and an offset value given from the outside with respect to the information vectorized by the means. And a line width changing means for changing the line width of a character to be printed by moving each vector forming the character to the outside or inside of the character. 2. The character / graphics generation device according to claim 1, wherein a character width change instructing means for instructing a change value of the line width of the character by the number of pixels, and the number of pixels instructed by the means are converted into the offset value. And a means for doing so. 3. The character / graphics generator according to claim 1, wherein a character width change value instructing means for instructing a change value of a line width of a character by an actual length in a printed image, and a length instructed by said means. And a means for converting the offset value into the offset value. 4. The character / graphics generation device according to claim 1, wherein a character width change value instructing means for instructing a change value of the line width of the character by a relative value to the line width of the character before the line width is changed, and the means. And a means for converting the designated relative value into the offset value. 5. In a character / graphics generator having a plurality of sets of fonts having the same typeface but different line widths of characters, the currently selected font is changed by an externally given change value of the line width of characters. Calculate the line width after,
A means for comparing the line width of all the fonts of the same typeface as the currently selected font with the line width after the line width is changed, and a line closer to the line width after the change than the currently selected font according to the comparison result. If there is a font with a width, a means for automatically selecting that font, and a line width change for the newly selected font from the line width of the font newly selected by the means and the changed line width And a means for calculating a value and a means for generating a character graphic to be printed by changing the line width of the newly selected font with the line width change value calculated by the means. Character and figure generator. 6. An image forming apparatus equipped with a character / graphics generator having means for changing the line width of a character, wherein a line width change command for a character including a line width change value for the character is once given by a switch or a command. An image forming apparatus characterized by further comprising means for printing all characters with a line width changed by a designated line width change value. 7. A vector graphics means for drawing a straight line by giving information such as a line width and a start point and an end point, and a line width of the straight line drawn by the vector graphics means according to an offset value given from the outside. And a line width changing / drawing unit for increasing / decreasing the given line width by the given offset value. 8. A curve drawing means for drawing a curve specified by dividing the curve into a straight line by giving information such as a line width, a start point, an end point, and a control point, and the curve according to an offset value given from the outside. And a line width changing unit for increasing or decreasing each straight line forming a curve drawn by the drawing unit by the given offset value with respect to the original line width. 9. An image forming apparatus equipped with a character / graphics generator capable of changing each line width of a character, a straight line, and a curve, and a line width changing command for changing all line widths by a command or a switch. An image forming apparatus comprising: a means for giving and a means for printing by changing the line widths of all fonts, straight lines and curves to be printed thereafter by giving a line width changing command by the means.