JPH0816143A - Character generating device and its method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the data size of a bit map to be mounted in a device and to hold a sufficient character quality by switching the generation class of a character outline according to the outline size of character data. CONSTITUTION:A CPU 1 functions as an outline generating means generating the outline from plural font files mounted in this system and sets outline generating selection data for switching whether the outline is to be generated from outline fonts or from hybrid fonts in the outline generating selection table on an RAM 3. Then, the CPU 1 reads out previously stored character data with respect to output characters and specific discrimination information and decides the generation class of the character outline with the output size of the character data to perform the switching of the generation class of the character outline based on the decision result and then allows a bit map font pattern to be generated based on the generation class of the character outline after this switching.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a character generator for storing character elements in a vector format and a bitmap format to generate a character.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to generate a desired character in a printer or the like, an outline font is conventionally known as a font having a character outline in a vector format and capable of scaling to any size. But,
The outline font has a problem that, for example, when a small character of 60 dots or less is to be output, a part of the character is crushed due to a calculation error or the like and the character quality is deteriorated.

Therefore, in order to avoid this crushing, conventionally, a bitmap font is mounted on a printer device or the like for small characters to print out.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned conventional method has a problem that the data size becomes enormous even when a bit map font is mounted on a printer or the like for printing a small character. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a character generation device capable of significantly reducing the bitmap data size mounted on the device and maintaining sufficient character quality. .

Another object of the present invention is to speed up output by displaying characters in a simplified manner.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] and

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 stores a plurality of character elements in a vector format and a bitmap format, and combines the character elements by element composition information to obtain a desired character pattern. In the character generation device for generating, a means for reading character data and predetermined determination information for an output character, which are stored in advance, and means for determining a generation type of a character contour based on the determination information and the output size of the character data. A means for switching the generation type of the character contour based on the judgment result, and a bitmap font pattern generation means for generating a bitmap font pattern based on the generation type of the character contour after the switching.

Further, in the invention described in claim 3, the bitmap font generating means further relates to means for generating the character element according to the vector format and a predetermined character element according to an output size of the character data. , A unit for generating a character by combining the character elements stored in the bitmap format with the element combining information.

By adopting the above configuration, the size of the bitmap data mounted on the device can be greatly reduced, and
It functions to maintain sufficient character quality. Further, in the invention according to claim 6, for the character having a predetermined output size, the bit map font pattern generating means removes the character element stored in the bit map format, and then the element composition information. The character elements are synthesized according to.

With this configuration, it is possible to speed up character output.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
For example, it is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a character generation system such as a Japanese word processor, a workstation, or a computer. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a CPU (central processing unit), which performs control and arithmetic processing of the entire system. A ROM (read only memory) 2 is used as a storage area for a system boot program, font files and the like. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 3 is a data storage area with no usage restrictions, and is an area in which each program and data are loaded and executed for each various processing.

The KBC (keyboard control unit) 4 is a KB
Key input data from (keyboard) 5 (character code,
Control command, etc.) and sends it to the system bus 13
Is transmitted to the CPU 1 via. A CRTC (display control unit) 6 controls a CRT (display device) 7, and the CRT 7 receives data from the CRTC 6 and displays it.

Further, the DKC (disk control unit) 8 includes
FD as an external storage device (floppy disk device)
9 and an HD (hard disk device) 10 are connected to control data transmission and the like. In this system, programs and data are stored in these devices, and they are referred to or loaded into the RAM 3 at the time of execution as needed. Then, the PTC (printer control unit) 11 controls the PRT (printer device) 12 connected thereto.

The system bus 13 serves as a data path between the above-mentioned components. Hereinafter, the operation of the system according to this embodiment having the above configuration will be described in detail.
First, the outline font and hybrid font in this embodiment will be described.

The outline font used in the system according to the present embodiment is a basic character constituent element such as a horizontal line and a vertical line which is a skeleton of a character, and local contours (bias, bias, It is divided into a plurality of character components (hereinafter, these are referred to as elements), such as a component that represents (Stroke etc.) and a component that modifies other basic character components, and these are stored and combined as necessary. It is an element-synthesized outline font that generates characters.

For example, in the characters shown in FIG. 2, the solid line portion is the basic element and the broken line portion is the element that modifies the basic element. The data defining the shapes of these elements is shown in FIG. 3, even if the core line of the element is represented by a straight line, and the contour is represented by the distance from the core line + thickness, As shown in 4, the "vector contour type" is used to represent the contour in vector format.
May be

Further, each element has an element ID
Is assigned, and the element combination information corresponding to each character code one-to-one stores the element ID and the element arrangement information for synthesizing the character, and the elements are synthesized by using them. . On the other hand, the hybrid font refers to a local contour element (e.g., bias, which cannot be maintained in the outline font due to crushing, etc.) for a small character of 60 dots or less, which is conventionally output using a bitmap font.
Characters are generated by storing, for example, Straw, for example, the broken line portion in FIG. 2) in a bitmap format, and for the other elements, by generating a bitmap from the outline font and combining them.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a basic operation procedure in the system according to this embodiment. In step S1 of the figure, the CPU 1 functions as a contour generating means for generating a contour from a plurality of font files installed in the system, and whether the contour is generated by an outline font or a hybrid font. Contour generation selection data for switching
This is referred to as selection data) is set in the contour generation selection table (hereinafter referred to as selection table) on the RAM 3.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the process of creating the contour generation selection table. In step S11 in the figure, it is determined whether the font file has been read, and if all font files in the system have been read, this process ends and the process returns to step S2 in FIG. However, in other cases, the process proceeds to step S12, where the selection data is read from the font file.

The font file handled here is handled in units of typefaces as shown in FIG. 7, and basically has a structure of "font data + selection data", but if a hybrid font is not used, selection is made. There is no data. In step S13, it is determined whether the selected data exists in the font file. As a result of the determination here, if the selected data exists, the process proceeds to step S14,
If no selection data exists, the process returns to step S11.

In step S14, the selection data is sequentially reflected in the selection table on the RAM3. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a structure of contour generation selection data stored in the ROM 2 according to the present embodiment. Here, the typeface name, the threshold when adopting a hybrid font (hereinafter referred to as a hybrid threshold), the number of bitmaps and bitmap size used when constructing a hybrid font, and the size of the bitmap are complemented as data elements. It has a table (hereinafter referred to as a late table) in which bitmap enlargement / reduction ratios used when performing are described.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the structure of the rate table. As shown in the figure, this rate table has an output bitmap size, an enlargement / reduction ratio, and a used bitmap size as elements, and when the output size is determined,
By searching this table, the enlargement / reduction ratio and the used bitmap size can be uniquely obtained. For example, when outputting a 58-dot bitmap, the output size of 58 dots has an enlargement / reduction ratio (rate) of 24/25, and the used bitmap size is 6 from this rate table.
It becomes 0 dots. Here, a rate of 24/25 means 2
Shows that the fifth dot is deleted to make 24 dots,
In this example, by deleting the 25th and 50th dots, it is reduced by 2 dots to 58 dots, and a 58-dot bitmap is obtained.

In step S2 of FIG. 5, the contour generating means is generated by a hybrid font or an outline font according to the input typeface, character code, output character size, and contour generating means switching flag (hereinafter referred to as switching flag). Processing is performed by the contour generation selection means (corresponding to the CPU 1) for selecting whether or not the object. FIG.
0 is a flow chart showing the above-described contour generation selection process. In step S21 of the figure, the selection data of the output typeface is read from the selection table described above. The selection data may be read only when the typeface is changed. Further, in the subsequent step S22, the element combination information corresponding to the character on a one-to-one basis is read from the font file based on the character code.

FIG. 11 shows the data of this element combination information. As an element, a flag for determining whether or not a hybrid font can be generated (hereinafter referred to as a hybrid flag), and then the character is constructed. Each element identification number, a flag for discriminating the presence or absence of bitmap data for that element (hereinafter referred to as a bitmap flag), and element arrangement information (positional information data) indicating coordinates for setting each element
Consists of

In step S23, a process for uniquely switching the contour generation is performed, and for example, the PRT 12 or CRT 7 is used.
If the output device such as does not request the quality, the switching flag is automatically or manually turned ON, and the process proceeds to step S27. In step S24, the hybrid threshold value of the selected data is compared with the output character size,
If the character size is larger than the threshold value, the process proceeds to step S2.
Proceed to 7. Further, in the step S25, in the portion for judging the hybrid flag, if the flag is ON, the step S26 is carried out.
Proceed to 7.

A hybrid font, which will be described later, is generated in step S26, and an outline font is generated in step S27. Step S26 of FIG. 10 is the same as step S27 of FIG.
Correspond to the processing in step S4 of FIG. 5, respectively.
12 shows step S26 of FIG. 10 (step S26 of FIG. 5).
It is a flow chart which shows the generation processing procedure of the hybrid font corresponding to 3). In step S31 of the figure, the rate and the bitmap size to be used are read from the output character size from the rate table described above. In step S32, the element ID and the bitmap flag are sequentially read from the previously read element combination information. If the flag is ON (there is a bitmap), the process proceeds to step S33. If the flag is OFF, the process proceeds to step S35. go.

In step S33, the font data is searched based on the element ID and the used bitmap size read in step S31. If the font data is found, the process proceeds to step S34. If the font data cannot be searched, the process proceeds to step S35. In this step S35, outline stroke data is read from the element ID,
Generate a bitmap stroke that fits the output character size. In step S34, the retrieved bitmap data is read out, and in step S36, the size of the bitmap data is converted using the rate read out in step S31.

In step S37, the generated bitmap data is combined based on the arrangement information. Then, in step S38, it is determined whether or not all the element data forming the character have been combined. If the combination is completed, this process is ended, and if the combination is not completed, the process is returned to step S32. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the outline font generation processing procedure corresponding to step S27 of FIG. 10 (step S4 of FIG. 5). In step S41 of the figure, outline element data is sequentially read using the element ID from the previously read element combination information. In a succeeding step S42, the read data is used to generate a bitmap element suitable for the output character size. Then, in step S43,
The generated bitmap data is combined based on the arrangement information.

In step S44, it is determined whether or not all the element data forming the character have been combined. If the combination is in progress, the process returns to step S41. If it is determined that the combination is complete, this process ends. To do. The basic operation in the system according to the present embodiment is the processing in step S5 of FIG. 5, that is, the combined bitmap data is set in the output buffer through the above-described processing, and the CRT is executed.
A predetermined character is output to 7 or PRT12.

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
When storing multiple character elements in vector format,
When outputting a small character, the bitmap data size to be installed in the device is greatly increased by storing it in a bitmap only for the elements in which the characters are crushed and generating the other elements in outline. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of characters and maintain sufficient character quality. [Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

What is handled here is, for example, the case of outputting a character with a relatively small output character size of 20 dots or less. In general, with such an output size, the font is simplified and output. In the present embodiment, a method of removing the bitmap portion of the hybrid font and displaying the characters in a simplified manner (hereinafter referred to as a simple font) will be described.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing the basic operation of the system according to this embodiment. In the figure, step S51 corresponds to step S1 of FIG. 5, and similarly step S52 is step S2 of FIG.
5, step S54 corresponds to step S3 of FIG. 5, and step S55 corresponds to step S4 of FIG.

Therefore, in this embodiment, a data structure shown in FIG. 5 which is different from the processing according to the first embodiment and other processing procedures will be described. First, as a difference in the data structure, a parameter for setting the lower limit of the hybrid font threshold is added to the structure of the contour generation selection data shown in FIG. Needless to say, a simple font flag may be set in the used bitmap size of the rate table shown in FIG. 9, and the adoption of the simple font may be determined by the flag.

In step S52 of FIG. 14, the contour generating means is a hybrid font, an outline font, or a simple font according to the input typeface, character code, output character size, and contour generating means switching flag (the same as the above switching flag). Select whether to generate. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the generation process of the contour generating means. In step S61 of the figure, the first
Similar to the embodiment, the selection data of the output typeface is read from the selection table. The selection data may be read only when the typeface is changed.

In step S62, the element combination information corresponding to the character on a one-to-one basis is read from the font file. In the following step S63, a process for uniquely switching the contour generation is performed, and for example, the switching flag is manually and automatically switched by the output device, and the process is performed in accordance with the switching in step S53,
The process proceeds to S54 or step S55.

In step S64, the hybrid threshold value of the selected data is compared with the output character size. If the character size is larger than the threshold value, the process proceeds to step S55.
In step S65, the simple font threshold of the selected data is compared with the output character size. If the character size is smaller than the threshold, the process proceeds to step S53. In step S66, a process of determining a hybrid flag is performed. If the flag is determined to be ON here,
If the flag is OFF in step S54, the process proceeds to step S55.

Therefore, the simple font generation processing in step S53 will be described. The simple font basically means that the bitmap portion of the hybrid font is removed and the character is generated only by the element generated by the outline. However, since there is a redundant portion other than the bitmap portion, a simple font flag is added to the element combination information in the same manner as the bitmap flag, and that flag is turned ON / OF.
The display of the element may be controlled by F. Needless to say, the element portion may be displayed by its core line.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart showing the process of a simple font generation process. Step S71 in the figure
Then, from the previously read element combination information,
The element ID and the bitmap flag are sequentially read, and if the flag is determined to be ON (there is a bitmap), the process proceeds to step S74. If the flag is OFF, the process of step S72 starts. That is, in step S72, the outline element is converted into a bitmap.

In step S73, the generated bitmap data is combined based on the arrangement information. Then, in step S74, it is determined whether or not all the stroke data forming the character has been combined. If it is in the middle of combining, the process returns to step S71, and if the combining is completed, this process ends, and step S56 in FIG. Go to In step S56 of FIG. 14, the synthesized bitmap data is set in the output buffer, and characters are output to the PRT 12 and CRT 7.

In FIG. 17, like the character element shown in FIG. 2, the solid line part is the basic element, and the broken line part is the element that modifies the basic element. Then, by applying the simple font according to the present embodiment to the characters shown in FIG. 17 and removing the bitmap portion, the display shown in FIG. 18 is obtained. As described above, according to the present embodiment, for a character for which character quality is not required, the bitmap portion is not displayed and the character is simply displayed, so that the character output can be speeded up.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0041]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By switching the generation type of the character contour according to the output size of the character data, it is possible to significantly reduce the size of the bitmap data installed in the device and maintain sufficient character quality. Further, according to another invention, for a character for which character quality is not required, the bitmap portion is not displayed, so that the character output can be speeded up.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing types of character elements.

FIG. 3 is a diagram defining data of outline elements.

FIG. 4 is a diagram defining data of outline elements.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a basic operation of the system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process of creating a contour generation selection table.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a basic font file according to an embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a structure of contour generation selection data.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a rate table.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of contour generation selection.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing element combination information.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a hybrid font generation processing procedure.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an outline font generating operation.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a basic operation according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of contour generation selection.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a simple font generation operation.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a concept of simple font generation.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a concept of simple font generation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 CPU (Central Processing Unit) 2 ROM (Read Only Memory) 3 RAM (Random Access Memory) 4 KBC (Keyboard Control Unit) 5 KB (Keyboard) 6 CRTC (Display Control Unit) 7 CRT (Display Device) 8 DKC (Disk Control unit 9 FD (floppy disk device) 10 HD (hard disk device) 11 PRTC (printer control unit) 12 PRT (printer device) 13 system bus

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A character generator for storing a plurality of character elements in a vector format and a bit map format and synthesizing the character elements by element synthesis information to generate a desired character pattern. Means for reading character data and predetermined determination information, means for determining the generation type of the character contour based on the determination information and the output size of the character data, and the generation type of the character contour based on the determination result. A character generating device comprising: a switching unit; and a bitmap font pattern generating unit that generates a bitmap font pattern based on the type of generation of the character contour after switching. 2. The character generation device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined determination information is size information of the output character, and is stored in a unit of a typeface of the output character. 3. The bitmap font pattern generating means further stores, in the bitmap format, means for generating the character element according to the vector format and a predetermined character element according to an output size of the character data. The character generation device according to claim 1, further comprising: a unit configured to generate a character by combining the generated character elements with the element combination information. 4. The character generation device according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined character element is a character element whose character quality deteriorates depending on an output size of the character data. 5. The character generation device according to claim 1, wherein the character element stored in the bitmap format can be adapted to a plurality of sizes of the bitmap element by performing enlargement / reduction processing. 6. The bitmap font pattern generating means, for a character having a predetermined output size, removes a character element stored in the bitmap format and then synthesizes the character element according to the element synthesis information. The character generator according to claim 1, which is performed. 7. A character generation method for storing a plurality of character elements in a vector format and a bitmap format, and combining the character elements with element composition information to generate a desired character pattern, wherein an output character stored in advance is used. For reading the character data and predetermined determination information, determining the generation type of the character contour based on the output size of the determination information and the character data, based on the determination result of the generation type of the character contour A character generating method comprising: a switching step; and a bitmap font pattern generating step of generating a bitmap font pattern based on the generation type of the character contour after the switching. 8. The character generation method according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined determination information is size information of the output character, and is stored in a unit of a typeface of the output character. 9. The bit map font pattern generating step further includes a step of generating the character element according to the vector format, and a predetermined character element according to an output size of the character data, which is stored in the bit map format. 8. The character generating method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of combining the generated character elements with the element combining information to generate a character. 10. The character generating method according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined character element is a character element whose character quality is degraded depending on an output size of the character data. 11. The character generation method according to claim 7, wherein the character element stored in the bitmap format can be adapted to a plurality of sizes of the bitmap element by performing enlargement / reduction processing. 12. In the bitmap font pattern generating step, for a character having a predetermined output size, the character element stored in the bitmap format is removed, and then the character element is composed according to the element composition information. The character generating method according to claim 7, wherein the character generating method is performed.