JPH05313635A - Image supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the image supply device that generates characters which can be recognized as characters and is fast in the processing speed even if specified width is large when the device is instructed to the generate bold-faced or outline characters. CONSTITUTION:This image supply device has a bit map font memory 8, an outline font memory 9, and means 6 and 7 which performs bold-faced character processing or outline character processing for font data in those memories 8 and 9 and develop the data in the bit map memory. Then, each character of a bit map font is given minimum line width and when a bold-faced or outline character is to generated by the instruction, the specified width of the bold-faced or outline character is compared with the minimum line width of the character; when the specified width of the bold-faced character is <=2 times as large as the minimum line width, or when the specified width of the outline character is less than the minimum line width, the bold-faced or outline character is developed by using the bit map font data. In other cases, the bold-faced or outline character is developed by using outline font data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a printer, etc.
The present invention relates to an image supply device that receives print data from a host computer, develops an image for one page in a bitmap memory, and supplies the image information to the recording unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a method of obtaining a character pattern by using an outline font when a bold character or a contour character is designated in an image supply device. In that method, the outline font data is shifted according to the size of the specified bold character or outline character, thereby drawing the outline of the bold character or outline character, and then filling the inside of the outline to create the bold character or outline character. Get the pattern of letters. According to this method, it is possible to reliably obtain a pattern of bold characters and outline characters. However, creating a character pattern from outline font data has a disadvantage that it takes hundreds to thousands times as long as processing time as compared to creating from a bitmap font data.

On the other hand, a method of obtaining a pattern of a bold character or a contour character by synthesizing data obtained by shifting bitmap font data in eight directions of vertical, horizontal, and diagonal depending on the size of a designated bold character or contour character. Is also known. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which a bold character is created from bitmap font source data having a 1-dot width. Figure 7 (a)
Is the source data of the bitmap font and is shown in FIG.
(B) is a one-dot bold character created based on the source data.

First, from the source data shown in FIG.
A method for creating a bold one-dot character in (b) will be described. In this case, the following data are ORed and combined. Source data shifted 1 dot upwards Source data shifted 1 dot rightward Source data shifted 1 dot each upward and right Source data As a result, as shown in Figure 7 (b) In addition, a character whose line width is thicker by one dot is created.

FIG. 7 (c) similarly shows a bold two-dot character. In this case, the following data are ORed and combined. Source data shifted 1 dot upwards Data source data shifted 1 dot downwards Data source data shifted 1 dot rightward Source data shifted 1 dot leftward Source data upward Data that is shifted by 1 dot to the right direction Data that is shifted by 1 dot each in the downward and right directions Source data that is shifted by 1 dot in the upward and left directions Source data is 1 in the downward and left directions Dot-shifted data Source data As a result, as shown in FIG. 7C, a character whose line width is thicker by 2 dots is formed.

Next, a case of creating a contour character will be described. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state in which an outline character is created from bitmap font source data having a 1-dot width. 8A shows the source data, and FIG. 8B shows the data created in the process of creating the outline character.
(C) is a one-dot outline character created based on the data and the source data.

In this case, first, the following respective data are ORed and combined to obtain data as shown in FIG. Source data shifted 1 dot upwards Data source data shifted 1 dot downwards Data source data shifted 1 dot rightward Source data shifted 1 dot leftward Source data upward Data that is shifted by 1 dot to the right direction Data that is shifted by 1 dot each in the downward and right directions Source data that is shifted by 1 dot in the upward and left directions Source data is 1 in the downward and left directions Dot-shifted data Source data

The data of FIG. 8B and the data of FIG.
Take an exclusive OR with the source data in (a). As a result, as shown in FIG. 8C, a contour character having a contour width of 1 dot is formed.

By doing the above, bold characters and outline characters can be created from the bitmap font data. When the bitmap font is used, the processing speed is significantly improved compared to when the outline font is used.

Prior art documents relating to such an image supply apparatus include, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-205892 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-208089.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

(Problem) However, in the above-mentioned conventional technique, the drawing data is created by shifting the bitmap font data in eight directions, and when the ORs are performed, the bold width of the bold character or the contour width of the contour character is predetermined. In the above case, there is a problem that the image collapses and cannot be recognized as a character.

(Explanation of Problems) FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state in which 3-dot thick characters and 2-dot outline characters are created from bitmap font source data of 1-dot width. Figure 9
9A shows the source data, and FIG. 9B shows the state in which bold 3-dot characters are created from the source data. To create 3-dot bold characters, use the O
Take R and synthesize.

Data obtained by shifting source data by 2 dots in the upward direction Data obtained by shifting source data by 1 dot in the downward direction Data obtained by shifting source data by 2 dots in the right direction Source data obtained by shifting the source data by 1 dot in the left direction Data source data shifted by 2 dots upward, 2 dots to the right Data source data shifted by 1 dot downward, data shifted by 2 dots to the right Data source data shifted by 2 dots upward, 1 dot to the left Data source data Data source data that is shifted 1 dot downward and 1 dot leftward. The result is that the image collapses as shown in Fig. 9 (b).
It cannot be recognized as the letter F.

Next, the case of creating a 2-dot outline character will be described. 9C and 9D show an attempt to create a 2-dot outline character based on the source data of FIG. 9A.

To create a 2-dot outline character, first,
The following data are ORed and combined. Source data shifted by 2 dots upward Source data shifted by 2 dots downward Source data shifted by 2 dots rightward Source data shifted by 2 dots leftward Source data shifted upward Data shifted by 2 dots each to the right Data source data shifted by 2 dots each in the downward and right directions Source data shifted by 2 dots each in the upward and left directions Source data each shifted by 2 dots in the downward and left directions Dot-shifted data Source data

As a result, the data shown in FIG. 9C is obtained. If this is exclusive-ORed with the source data of FIG. 9A, a 2-dot outline character should be created, but the image has already collapsed at the stage of FIG. 9C. The exclusive OR of the source data of FIG. 9A is as shown in FIG. 9D, but the character of F cannot be recognized at all.

Next, a case where the source data has a width of 2 dots will be described. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which a bold character is created from bitmap font source data having a width of 2 dots. FIG. 10A shows the source data.
(B) is a bold 4-dot character created based on the source data. In this case, O of the next data
Take R and synthesize.

Data obtained by shifting the source data by 2 dots in the upward direction Data obtained by shifting the source data by 2 dots in the downward direction Data obtained by shifting the source data by 2 dots in the right direction Source data obtained by shifting the source data by 2 dots in the left direction Data that is shifted by 2 dots each in the upward and right directions Data that is shifted by 2 dots each in the downward and right directions Source data that is shifted by 2 dots each in the upward and left directions Source data is the downward and left directions Data source data shifted by 2 dots each

As a result, as shown in FIG. 10B, a character whose line width is thicker by 4 dots is formed. Thus, if the source data has a 2-dot width, it is possible to create up to 4-dot bold characters.

However, even in this case, if an attempt is made to create a bold 5-dot character, it cannot be recognized as a character. FIG. 10C shows an attempt to create a 5-dot bold character based on the source data shown in FIG. To create a 5-dot bold character, use the O
Take R and synthesize.

Data obtained by shifting source data by 3 dots in the upward direction Data obtained by shifting source data by 2 dots in the downward direction Data obtained by shifting source data by 3 dots in the right direction Source data obtained by shifting by 2 dots in the left direction 3 dots upward, 3 dots shifted to the right Data source data shifted 2 dots downward, data shifted 3 dots to the right Source data 3 dots shifted upward, 2 dots shifted to the left Source data Data source data obtained by shifting 2 dots downward and 2 dots leftward. As a result, as shown in FIG. 10C, the image collapses and the character F cannot be recognized.

Next, a case of creating a contour character from source data having a width of 2 dots will be described. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state in which a contour character is created from bitmap font source data having a width of 2 dots. FIG. 11A shows the source data, and FIG. 11B shows the two-dot contour character created based on the source data.

In this case, first, the following data are ORed and combined. Source data shifted by 2 dots upward Source data shifted by 2 dots downward Source data shifted by 2 dots rightward Source data shifted by 2 dots leftward Source data shifted upward Data shifted by 2 dots each to the right Data source data shifted by 2 dots each in the downward and right directions Source data shifted by 2 dots each in the upward and left directions Source data each shifted by 2 dots in the downward and left directions Dot-shifted data source data, and the data thus synthesized, and FIG.
By taking the exclusive OR with the source data of (a), the outline character as shown in FIG. 11 (b) is created. Thus, if the source data is 2 dots wide,
Up to 2 dot outline characters can be created.

However, if a 3-dot outline character is created, it cannot be recognized as a character. Figure 11 (C)
Is an attempt to create a 3-dot outline character based on the source data of FIG. To create a 3-dot outline character, first, the following data are ORed and combined. Source data shifted by 3 dots upwards Source data shifted by 3 dots downward Source data shifted by 3 dots rightward Source data shifted by 3 dots leftward Source data shifted upward Data with 3 dots each shifted to the right direction Data with 3 dots each shifted to the lower and right directions Source data with 3 dots shifted each to the upper and left directions Source data has 3 dots each to the lower and left directions Dot-shifted data source data, and the data thus synthesized, and FIG.
An exclusive OR with the source data of (a) is taken, but the result is as shown in FIG. 11 (c), which cannot be recognized as the character of F. An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems.

[0024]

In order to solve the above problems, in the image supply apparatus of the present invention, a bitmap font memory, an outline font memory, and font data in these memories are made into bold characters or contour characters. A means for performing processing to expand to bitmap data, a means for giving line width information for each character of the bitmap font, a specified width of a bold character or a contour character when a bold character or a contour character is specified, and Based on the above line width information of the character, when the bitmap font data with a specified width is subjected to bold character processing or contour character processing, it is determined whether or not an image collapse occurs, and when the image collapse occurs, A font switching determination means is provided for expanding the outline font data and instructing to expand the bitmap font data when no image collapse occurs. It was decided.

[0025]

[Operation] When it is instructed to create bold characters or outline characters, whether the image collapses when the bitmap font data with the specified width is converted to bold characters or outline characters is displayed. It is determined by the switching determination means. When the image collapse does not occur, it is created based on the bitmap font data, and when the image collapse occurs, it is created based on the outline font data. As a result, it is possible to create bold characters and outline characters that can be recognized as characters no matter what width is specified. In addition, the processing speed can be increased as compared with the case where the bold character and the outline character are all created based on the outline font data.

[0026]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of the image supply apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a panel interface, 2 is a host interface, and 3 is a CP.
U, 4 RAM, 5 font switching determination unit, 6 bitmap font development unit, 7 outline font development unit, 8 bitmap font memory, 9 outline font memory, 10 bitmap memory, 11 bit A map controller, 12 is a recording interface, and 20 is an image supply device.

The operator can give various instructions to the image supply device by operating a panel (not shown), and the signal is given through the panel interface 1. A host computer (not shown) such as a word processor or workstation is
It is connected via the host interface 2. R
The AM 4 is a memory that provides a memory area for reception and work.

Bitmap font data is stored in the bitmap font memory 8, and the data is converted into a bold character by the bitmap font expansion unit 6 as it is according to a command sent from the host computer. After undergoing processing, contour characterization processing, etc.,
It is expanded in the bitmap memory 10. Outline font data is stored in the outline font memory 9, and the data is processed by the outline font expanding unit 7 according to the command sent from the host computer and then expanded in the bitmap memory 10.

The bit map memory 10 usually has a memory for one page, and a printed image for one page is formed therein. Then, 1 is set in the bitmap memory 10.
When the bit map data for the page is developed, the data is read from the bit map memory 10, sent to the recording unit (not shown) through the recording unit interface 12, and printed. The bit map controller 11 controls the timing and address when accessing the bit map memory 10, or the bit map memory 10
To control the data transfer from the recording interface 12 to the recording interface 12.

When the bold character or the outline character is designated by the host computer, the font switching determination section 5 causes an image collapse when the bitmap data is thickened or contoured with the designated width. Determine whether or not. Then, when it is determined that the image collapse does not occur, the bitmap font data is read from the bitmap font memory 8, and the bitmap font expansion unit 6 performs the bold character processing or the contour character processing, and then the bitmap. It is expanded in the memory 10. On the other hand, when it is determined that the image collapse occurs, the outline font data is read from the outline font memory 9, the outline font expansion unit 7 performs bold character processing or outline character conversion processing, and after expanding into bitmap data, It is expanded in the map memory 10.

In this embodiment, in order to determine whether or not an image collapse occurs in the font switching determination section 5, the minimum line width of bitmap font data and the specified width of thick characters and outline characters given from the host computer are used. This is done by comparing with. The minimum line width of the bitmap font data is held as a table corresponding to each character code for each size of the bitmap font. Then, if the specified width of the bold character exceeds twice the minimum line width or if the specified width of the outline character exceeds the minimum line width, it is determined that the image collapse occurs, and if it is less than that, the image collapse does not occur. judge.

As a criterion for determining whether or not the image collapse occurs, it is determined whether the designated width exceeds twice the minimum line width in the case of thick character designation, and the designated width is minimum in the case of contour character designation. The reason why the line width is exceeded is shown in FIGS.
It will be understood by looking at the results shown in. That is, when the line width of the source data is 1 dot width in the bold character designation, image collapse occurs when a 3 dot width that is more than twice 1 dot is designated, as shown in FIG. If the line width of the source data is 2 dots wide, when a 5 dots width that exceeds twice the 2 dots is specified, as shown in FIG.
The image has collapsed.

In the contour character designation, when the line width of the source data is 1 dot width, image collapse occurs when a 2 dot width exceeding 1 dot is designated as shown in FIG. 9D. In the case where the line width of the source data is 2 dots wide, image collapse occurs when a 3 dots width exceeding 2 dots is designated as shown in FIG. If even a part of the source data has a narrow line width, such an image collapse occurs at that part, so that the judgment is finally made from the minimum line width of the bitmap font data and the designated width.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing an example of the processing procedure for character expansion of the present invention. Step 1 ... It is determined whether or not a bold character is designated. Step 2 ... When the bold character is designated in Step 1, it is determined whether or not the designated width of the bold character exceeds twice the minimum line width of the bitmap font data. Step 3 ... If it is determined in step 1 that the bold character is not specified, it is determined whether or not the outline character is specified. Step 4 ... When the contour character is designated in step 3, it is determined whether or not the designated width of the contour character exceeds the minimum line width of the bitmap font data.

Step 5: When it is determined in step 2 that the designated width of the bold character does not exceed twice the minimum line width of the bitmap font data, and when it is determined in step 3 that the contour character is not designated, Alternatively, when it is determined in step 4 that the specified width of the contour character does not exceed the minimum line width of the bitmap font data, the bitmap font data is processed and expanded in the bitmap memory. Step 6 ... When it is determined that the specified width of the bold character exceeds twice the minimum line width of the bitmap font data in Step 2, or the specified width of the outline character is the minimum line of the bitmap font data in Step 4. When it is determined that the width is exceeded, the outline font is processed and expanded in the bitmap memory.

The expansion of bold characters and outline characters from the bitmap font data is performed by the method described with reference to FIGS. Then, the expansion from the outline font data is performed as follows. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a part of the outline font data. In FIG. 3, for simplicity of explanation, the case of the letter F, which is composed of all straight lines, is taken as an example. As the outline font data, the coordinate data of the start point and the end point of each straight line forming the outline of the character as shown in FIG. 3 and the moving direction of the coordinates when the bold character or the outline character is designated as shown in FIG. I have the data to show.

When a bold character is designated, for the upward and rightward directions, the designated width is incremented by 1 and then moved by the number of dots divided by 2, and the downward and leftward directions are moved. For, the specified width is moved by the number of dots divided by two. However, if it is not divisible by 2,
Truncate after the decimal point. In this way, the moving amounts are made different for the upper, right, lower, and left sides so that one dot is always added in the upper direction and one dot in the right direction when the specified width is an odd number. .. On the other hand, when the outline character is specified to be created, the same number of dots as the specified width is moved in any direction.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which outline font data is placed on the coordinates. By connecting each point of the data with a straight line in this way, a contour line (outline) of the character is formed. Hereinafter, a case will be described as an example in which bitmap data of 3-dot thick characters (characters are destroyed when it is created from bitmap font data) is developed from the outline font data. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the procedure of outline font expansion processing, and FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining outline font expansion processing.

Step 1 ... The outline font data is converted according to the designated character size. Note that the character size is not directly related to the description of the bold character expansion processing, and therefore, in this embodiment, the original character size is used for the sake of simplicity.

Step 2 ... The coordinate value of the converted outline font data is shifted in the moving direction designated by the outline font data according to the designated width of the bold character. Then, each dot of the bitmap data to be developed is placed at a position aligned at constant vertical and horizontal intervals, which is made to correspond to a grid, and the outline font data is positioned on the grid. For example, in FIG.
The X coordinate of the point P _{0 in} (a) is moved to the left, which is the movement direction specified by the outline font data in FIG. 3, and the amount of movement is 1/2 of the specified width of 3 dots. However, since it is not divisible by 2, the number after the decimal point is rounded down to 1 dot. Similarly, the Y coordinate is moved downward by one dot. Further, the X coordinate of the point P ₁ is moved to the right, which is the movement direction specified by the outline font data of FIG. 3, and the amount of movement is 1 which is the number of dots added to the specified width of 3 dots. / 2 makes 2 dots. On the other hand, the Y coordinate is moved downward by one dot, like the Y coordinate of the point P ₀ . Hereinafter Similarly, to move the point P ₂ to P _9. When it is positioned on the lattice and shown in the figure, it is shown in FIG.
Points P ₀ 'to P ₉ '.

Step 3 ... A black dot is placed at the intersection of the lattice closest to the intersection of the line segment connecting each point of the outline font data located on the lattice and the scan line (parallel to the x-axis). In the example, both intersections are in coincident positions). For example, 'as shown in FIG. 6 an enlarged periphery of (c), the line segment P _0' the point P ₀ 'segment is a portion of P _0' P ₉ P ₁₀ 'and the scan line x _0, x _1, x _2, ...
..At the intersection with and, the dot D ₀₀ , filled in black,
Place D ₁₀ , D ₂₀ , and so on. Other line segment P ₁ 'P ₂ ',
Similarly, when dots are arranged for P ₃ 'P ₄ ', ..., Dots are arranged as shown in FIG.

Step 4 ... In each scan line
Place the black dot at the intersection of the grid between the black dots and the next black dot. For example, as shown in FIG. 6C, at the intersection point of the grid between the dots D ₀₀ and D ₀₄ ,
Place dots D ₀₁ , D ₀₂ , D ₀₃ . Dot D ₁₀ and dot D
Similarly, by filling dots between ₁₄ and filling dots between dots in the same manner, dots are arranged as shown in FIG. 6D, and bitmap data in bold characters is obtained. ..

As described above, when the outline font data is used, even if the width designation (for example, 3 dot thick characters when the minimum line width is 1 dot) is generated from the bitmap font data, it is beautiful. Bold characters and outline characters can be created.

[0044]

As described above, the image supply device of the present invention has the following effects. When the creation of a bold character or a contour character is specified, the font switching determination means causes the bitmap font data to have a specified width based on the specified width of the bold character or the contour character and the line width information of the character. Suppose that the bold character processing or the contour character processing is performed, it is determined whether the image collapse occurs, and when the image collapse does not occur, it is created based on the bitmap font data, and when the image collapse occurs, the image collapse occurs. Created based on outline font data. As a result, it is now possible to create bold or outline characters that can be recognized as characters regardless of the width specified. Moreover, the processing speed is faster than that in the case of creating bold characters and outline characters based on the outline font data.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of an image supply apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of a character expansion processing procedure of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a part of outline font data.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which outline font data is placed on coordinates.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the procedure of outline font expansion processing.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining outline font expansion processing.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which a bold character is created from 1-dot-width bitmap font source data.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state in which a contour character is created from bitmap font source data of 1-dot width.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state in which a 3-dot thick character and a 2-dot outline character are created from 1-dot width bitmap font source data.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which bold characters are created from bitmap font source data having a width of 2 dots.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state in which contour characters are created from bitmap font source data having a width of 2 dots.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Panel interface, 2 ... Host interface, 3 ... CPU, 4 ... RAM, 5 ... Font switching determination part, 6 ... Bitmap font expansion part, 7 ... Outline font expansion part, 8 ... Bitmap font memory,
9 ... Outline font memory, 10 ... Bitmap memory, 11 ... Bitmap controller, 12 ... Recording interface, 20 ... Image supply device

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A bitmap font memory, an outline font memory, a means for performing bold character processing or contour character processing on font data in these memories to develop into bitmap data, and each character of the bitmap font. Bit width font with a specified width based on the specified width of the bold or outline character and the line width information of the character when a bold or outline character is specified When the data is thickened or contoured, it is determined whether the image collapse occurs.If the image collapse occurs, the outline font data is expanded.If the image collapse does not occur, the bitmap font data is extracted. An image supply apparatus, comprising: a font switching determination means for instructing expansion.