JPH06110438A - Data converting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the data converting device which outputs easy-to-read characters by preventing characters from blurring by omitting one of two constituent lines if a space blurs and the two constituent lines contact each other when characters are outputted with small point size. CONSTITUTION:The data converting device specifies at least one of plural constituent lines constituting a character or symbol, moves at least one of two outlines, constituting constituent lines specified by line width data showing the width of the constituent lines, relatively to a pixel screen in such a direction and by such a quantity that the number of pixels included in a width direction between the two outlines reaches a number corresponding to the line width unless the number of the pixels is the number corresponding to the line width data and also decides whether the moved constituent lines overlap with each other, and removes one of the constituent lines when they overlap with each other.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data conversion device for converting outline data representing contours of characters and symbols into high quality bitmap data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an outline system that uses contour data of characters and symbols (hereinafter referred to as outline data) as a device for generating characters such as characters and symbols. This method reads out outline data from the storage unit according to the index code signal, scales it to an arbitrary point size, and then widths of constituent lines (hereinafter, referred to as line width) that compose characters / symbols defined by the outline data. Referred to as) is adjusted and converted into bitmap data, and the converted data was output from an output device such as a laser printer.

In this system, the outline data is shown in FIG.
4 and the outline data shown in FIG. The line width data is stored as the position coordinate value of the reference point that defines the line width and the line width. Here, “N” indicates the number of stored line width data, “HX” is a flag indicating the line width information of the vertical constituent line, and “HY” indicates the line width information of the horizontal constituent line. Indicates the flag to indicate. The data x ₁ and x _{2 2} following the flag represent the position coordinate value of the line width, and the subsequent data of W ₁ and W ₂ represent the line width of the constituent lines. The outline data is stored as straight line and curved line data.
However, the curve data is not necessary in this description, so it is omitted. Here, "S" is a flag that indicates the start point of one closed loop, and the position of the subsequent x-coordinate value and y-coordinate value is the start point. “L” is a flag indicating a straight line, and indicates a straight line from the current position (referred to as the current point) to the position of the subsequent x coordinate value and y coordinate value.

[0004]

However, when the outline data described above is output with a small point size by using the conventional method, the space between the constituent lines is crushed and characters having poor print quality are obtained. For example, the character "ri" in Figure 4
There are a total of 9 horizontal composition lines and spaces, so
The resolution in the y direction cannot be expressed unless the resolution is at least 9 dots. However, when trying to output the character "ri" with a small point size (for example, an area of 7 dots x 7 dots), the resolution of the output area is insufficient by 2 dots, so the space between the constituent lines is collapsed as shown in FIG. , It will be difficult to read.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and when outputting with a small point size, when the space is collapsed and two constituent lines are in contact with each other, one of the constituent lines is omitted. An object of the present invention is to provide a data conversion device that outputs characters that are easy to read by preventing the characters from being crushed.

[0006]

In order to achieve this object, a data conversion apparatus of the present invention is provided with line width data indicating the widths of a plurality of constituent lines forming a character / symbol, and the outline of the character / symbol. When the pixels are arranged in the constituent line specified by the line width data, the information indicating the start point / straight line / curve of the data, the data group of the coordinate value data, and which of the constituent lines overlap, Outline data storage means for storing information for instructing to omit one or the other, and the number of pixels in the width direction included in the two contour lines forming the constituent lines designated by the line width data. When the number does not correspond to the line width data, at least one of the two contour lines is moved relative to the pixel screen in the direction and amount such that the number of pixels corresponds to the line width. Contour transfer Means and the constituent line removing means for determining the overlap of the constituent lines moved by the contour moving means, and removing one of the constituent lines when they overlap, and the contour line data of the characters / symbols as dots. Dot data conversion means for converting into data.

[0007]

In the data conversion apparatus of the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, the outline data storage means starts the line width data indicating the widths of a plurality of constituent lines forming the character / symbol and the outline data of the character / symbol. When arranging pixels in the constituent lines specified by the line width data and the information indicating the distinction between points, straight lines, and curves, the data groups of the coordinate value data, if the constituent lines overlap, either Information for instructing omission is stored, and the contour line moving means determines that the number of pixels in the width direction of pixels included in two contour lines forming the constituent line designated by the line width data is the line width. When the number of lines does not correspond to the data, at least one of the two contour lines is moved relative to the pixel screen in the direction and the amount such that the number of pixels corresponds to the line width, Removal means The overlapping of the constituent lines moved by the contour line moving means is determined, and when the constituent lines overlap, one of the constituent lines is removed, and the dot data converting means converts the contour line data of the character / symbol into dot data. To do.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The present embodiment will be described as an example in which the present invention is applied to a device for converting outline data into dot data in a laser printer.

FIG. 1 shows a control circuit of the laser printer.
Mainly converting outline data to dot data,
It is a block diagram which shows the output part. The microcomputer unit 1, which is the main component of this control circuit, includes a CPU 2, a character ROM 3, a program ROM 4, a text memory 5, a working memory 6, and a dot data memory 7. The CPU 2 and the like are connected by a bus 8, and an input device 9 and a printing unit 10 are connected to the bus 8.

The CPU 2 executes the processing for realizing the embodiment according to a given program.

The character ROM 3 stores shape data representing the shape of the character in an outline data format.

The program ROM 4 stores programs for executing various controls performed in this embodiment.

The text memory 5 stores output data including a character code input through the input device 9 and size data for designating a character size, and deformation designation data such as italics and rotations.

The working memory 6 temporarily stores data necessary for executing the program.

The dot data memory 7 stores the dot data obtained by the dot data converter.

The input device 9 receives a character code supplied from the outside, size data for designating a character size, transformation designating data for italics, rotation, etc., and the like.
Is what you enter.

The printing section 10 is a section for printing the dot data read from the dot data memory 7 by an electrophotographic printing mechanism.

The CPU 2 described above has a data reading section 22 conceptually shown in FIG. 2, and a contour line moving process for moving the contour line in order to adjust the line width of the constituent line designated by the line width data. Section and a line width processing unit 24 including a component line removal processing unit that determines the overlap between the component lines moved by the contour line movement processing unit and removes one of the component lines when they overlap, and the outline data. And a dot data conversion unit 26 for converting the data into dot data.

Next, the processing performed by the data reading section, line width processing section, and dot data conversion section of the data conversion apparatus of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
The following Si (i = 1, 2, 3, ...) Represents each step in the figure.

After the character code, the character size, and the resolution of the output device are designated by the input device 9, this flowchart is executed. First, the outline data of the designated character code is read from the character ROM 3. The data structure of the outline data includes line width data (FIG. 3) and contour data (FIG. 7).

In S1 and S2, line width data is read. The line width data is composed of a flag, a position coordinate value for defining the line width of a constituent line, and a line width value. Here, the flag "N" indicates the number of line width data stored after N, the flag "HX" is a flag indicating line width information of a vertical constituent line, and "HY" indicates a horizontal constituent line. This is a flag indicating line width information. Next to the flag, the position coordinate value of the reference point defining the line width of the vertical or horizontal constituent line and the line width value are stored. For example, the vertical configuration line 1-2-32-29-2 of the outline data of "ri" in FIG.
The position coordinate value of the line width of 4-21 is x ₁ and the line width is W ₁ . Similarly, the horizontal component lines 8-9-10-11-12-1
The position coordinate value of the line width of 3 is y ₁₀ , and the line width is W ₄ . The read line width data is stored in the working memory.

At S3, the contour data in the outline data is read. As shown in FIG. 7, the structure of the contour data has the attribute information of the flag 1 and the flag 2 for the coordinate value of each point. Here, "S", "L" of flag 1
“*” And “!” Are the same as those in FIG. 4 described above. That is, “S” indicates the start point of the contour line of one closed loop, and (x ₁ , y ₁ ) is the coordinate value of the start point. "L"
Indicates that the segment is a straight line, and subsequent coordinate values, for example, (x ₂ , y ₂ ) indicate end point coordinate values of the straight line.
"*" Indicates the end of the closed loop, and "!" Indicates the end of the outline data of one character.

In S4, it is determined whether or not the flag 1 is "!", And if YES, outline data of one character is read out, and therefore the process proceeds to the next process (S8). If NO, the process proceeds to S5.

In S5, it is determined whether the flag 2 is "D1". When two contour lines forming a constituent line are moved in order to adjust the width of the constituent line of the outline data, if one of the constituent lines overlaps with the adjacent constituent line, one of the constituent lines is omitted. "D1" of the flag 2 is a flag for designating the contour line of the constituent line omitted in such a case. That is,
In the outline data shown in FIG. 7, the component lines whose line widths are adjusted and which are preferentially omitted when the component lines overlap are 4-
5-6-7, 14-15-16-17, 23-24-2
It is four of 9-30 and 27-28-33-34. S5
If the determination is YES, the process proceeds to S7, and if NO, the process proceeds to S6.

In S6, the coordinate value of the start point or the end point of the straight line is set to the character R according to the instruction of the flag 1.
It is read from the OM 3 and stored in the working memory 6.

In S7, the coordinate values of the omitted constituent line designated by the flag 2 are read out and stored in the working memory 6.

In S8, the line width processing is performed using the line width data read in S2 and S7 and the attribute information of the line width processing. Now, take out a part of the outline data "sato",
A line width processing method for the three constituent lines (A, B, and C in FIG. 8A) will be described. The grid of FIG. 8 is a pixel screen which will be described in detail later. One grid represents a pixel, and the intersection of broken lines in the x and y directions represents the pixel center. From the line width data in FIG. 3, the line widths of the constituent lines A, B, and C are W ₈ , W ₇ , and W ₆ , respectively, but the line width obtained from the coordinate values of the points forming each constituent line is first If it is different from the specified line width data, correct the coordinate value of the point. For example, the constituent line A is composed of points 20, 1, 2, and 22.

At this time, the line width of the constituent line A is W _A (= y ₁ -y
₂₁ ). Since this W _A is different from W ₈ specified by the line width information, points 21 and 22 are set so that W _A becomes equal to W _8.
Are moved to points 21 'and 22', respectively. FIG. 8B shows the result of the same processing performed on the other constituent lines B and C.

Next, it is checked whether or not the space between the constituent lines A, B, C is converted into dot data if the space between the constituent lines is not collapsed. As shown in FIG. 8C, when the space between the constituent lines is crushed, one of the constituent lines is forcibly removed and made into an abbreviated character. The constituent line to be removed here is determined by using the attribute information of the line width processing read in S7. That is, FIG.
The flag 2 in the outline data indicates the point to be omitted, and in this case, the points 23, 24, 29 and 30 are omitted. Since the constituent line composed of these omission points is B,
The constituent line B is removed. FIG. 9 shows the result of converting the outline data “ri” to line data by line width processing in the same manner. FIG. 9A shows dot data obtained by processing by the conventional method, and FIG. 9B shows dot data obtained by the processing method of this embodiment.

In S9, the dot data conversion unit 26
The process of converting outline data into dot data is executed. Conversion to dot data is performed using the pixel screen 32 shown in FIG. Pixel screen 3
Although 2 is a calculational data for converting the outline data into the dot data, it is illustrated here as an existing data for easy understanding.

Here, the pixel is a minimum unit when printing is performed by a laser, and the pixel screens are orthogonal to each other in one plane and are parallel to the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction, respectively. Pixels are defined by a plurality of pixel section lines p provided at equal intervals. In this embodiment, the pixels are square, and dot data indicating whether to print or display is formed for each pixel. Further, an x-direction defining line x and a y-direction defining line y, which pass through the center point of the pixel (hereinafter referred to as the pixel center) and are parallel to the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction, respectively, are set. The position is represented by the coordinates of the pixel center point. Note that the pixel can also have a rectangular shape or another shape.

Although the pixel screen 32 is supposed to correspond to the printing surface of the printing paper, one character is taken out and shown in FIG. 10 for easy understanding.
Therefore, the scale values actually attached to the x-direction defining line x and the y-direction defining line y in the entire pixel screen 32 are the scale values attached to the x-direction defining line x and the y-direction defining line y in FIG. However, here, only one character is considered. The conversion of outline data into dot data is performed on the assumption that the outline of the character is superimposed on the pixel screen 32, and in the present embodiment, dots are formed at each pixel within the outline of the character. , The bit data of the pixel is set to 1.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the present invention can be applied not only to printers other than laser printers, but also to devices other than printers that generally require converting outline data of characters such as characters and symbols into dot data.

[0035]

As is apparent from the above description, when outputting data with a small point size, the data conversion apparatus of the present invention omits one of the constituent lines when the space is collapsed and two constituent lines are in contact with each other. , It is possible to output easy-to-read characters by preventing the characters from being crushed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a data conversion unit of a control circuit of a laser printer of this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram conceptually showing a function of a CPU.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of line width data.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of conventional outline data.

FIG. 5 is a result of converting outline data into dot data by a conventional method.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of outline data processing of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of outline data of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing line width processing of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a comparison of dot data obtained by the conventional method and the method of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a pixel screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 CPU 3 character ROM 6 working memory 24 line width processing unit 26 dot data conversion unit 32 pixel screen

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. When superposing outline data of one or a plurality of closed-loop contours of a character / symbol on a pixel screen having pixels of a plurality of rows × a plurality of columns, the outline data of the character / symbol is included in a constituent line forming the character / symbol. In a data conversion device having dot data conversion means for converting the outline data into a set of dot data by arranging pixels in a state of satisfying a certain standard, a line width indicating a width of a constituent line forming a character / symbol. Data and
Information indicating the start point / straight line / curve distinction of the outline data of the characters / symbols, the data group of the coordinate value data, and each configuration when arranging pixels in the configuration line specified by the line width data Outline data storage means for storing information for instructing to omit one of the lines when the lines overlap each other; and pixels included in two contour lines forming the constituent line designated by the line width data. When the number in the width direction of the pixel is not the number corresponding to the line width data, at least one of the two contour lines is arranged in the direction and the amount such that the number of the pixels becomes the number corresponding to the line width. Contour line moving means for relatively moving with respect to the screen, and when arranging pixels in each constituent line moved by the contour line moving means, it is determined whether or not each constituent line overlaps. Structure Data conversion apparatus characterized by comprising: a configuration line removing means for removing a line, the.