JPH09120279A - Method and device for generating character image data, and method and device for outputting character - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To quickly generate an easy-to-see character image matching each character on the basis of outline data of the characters. SOLUTION: The outline shape of a character is stored in the form of outline data (step S52), auxiliary line data for gradational image data generation are generated on the basis of the constitution lines of the outline data, and gradational image data with gradations are generated from the auxiliary line data (step S55); and binary character image data having no gradations are generated from the outline data (step S53) and the gradational image data and binary character image data are put together (step S56) to generate character image data. The gradations are given corresponding to the auxiliary line data, so an easy-to-see character is outputted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a character image data generation method and apparatus for storing character shape data as outline data composed of contour lines and converting the outline data into character image data having gradation. And a character output method and device provided with these.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, printers such as laser printers and displays that can express gradation by inputting a digital signal have been generalized.

Further, the shapes of characters and symbols (hereinafter referred to as characters) to be displayed or printed (hereinafter referred to as output) correspond to various output sizes (sizes after output to a printer or display). Due to the necessity of enlarging and reducing, the outline shape of the character is often stored using outline data defined as coordinate positions.

For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-116 by the present applicant
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 565, when outline data stored in advance is read out, enlarged / reduced and converted according to the output size, and when superposed on a pixel matrix defining pixels of an output device, each pixel is Information that means to add a predetermined color to be output to pixels that are determined to be within the outline data by satisfying a certain criterion (for example, pixels whose center is inside the outline) In some cases, the image data at the time of output is obtained by adding it.

However, the pixel pattern data converted from the conventional outline data is almost binary pixel data having no gradation, that is, pixel pattern data having only information indicating whether a color to be output is attached or not. there were.

When a character is represented by pixel pattern data having only binary information, the jagged edges (hereinafter referred to as "jaggies") of the contour portion corresponding to the diagonal lines are particularly noticeable, and a beautiful character image can be obtained at the time of output. There wasn't. For example, when the binary pixel pattern data 101 is obtained based on the outline data 100 of the character “K” shown in FIG. 9, a pixel pattern with a slanted portion as shown in FIG. 9 does not look good. Here, the grid (dotted line portion) 10 in the binary pixel pattern data 101
Reference numeral 3 denotes a boundary (pixel matrix) of each pixel in an output device such as a printer or a display.

As a general solution for eliminating the above-mentioned jaggies, binary pixel pattern data called anti-aliasing is analyzed to detect pixels in areas where jaggies such as diagonal lines are conspicuous and automatically Pixel gradation value (density)
A method of improving the appearance by adding or changing is used.

Alternatively, there is a method in which a character is not stored as outline data but is preliminarily stored as pixel pattern data having gradation.

Further, in the conventional case, when gradation is applied to the jaggies, the area of the area related to the jagi among the pixels related to the jaggies is calculated, and the area corresponding to the area is calculated. A method of giving gradation values, or enlarging the jaggies part to further subdivide it, judge whether or not it is related to jaggies in these subdivided pixels, apply gradation, and then reduce to the original size. The method of doing was done.

[0010]

However, when the anti-aliasing method is used, all binary pixel pattern data are analyzed in the same manner regardless of the character type to detect jaggies and add gradation images. Since the change is made, a gradation image that is not suitable for the characteristics of the shape of each character will be generated, and the readability will be reduced for complicated characters, and the distinguishability (for example, in the alphabet There was a case where the gradation character pattern had a defect that the distinctiveness between German and Gothic, or the distinctiveness between Mincho and Gotic in Japanese) deteriorated.

Further, since the shape portion (for example, the vertical line portion or the horizontal line portion) where jaggies are not likely to occur is unknown, it is necessary to check all the pixel patterns of the character, resulting in a long processing time. was there.

Further, if the jaggies are processed according to the area as described above, the area calculation increases, or the enlargement and reduction processing is required. Therefore, the calculation amount increases and the processing time increases. There was also a problem.

Furthermore, when a character is not stored as outline data and is stored as a pixel pattern with gradation, it cannot correspond to an arbitrary output size such as enlargement or reduction, and corresponds to all output sizes of the same character. Therefore, there is a problem that the storage capacity is increased.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its problem is that a character image, which is pixel pattern data with gradation suitable for each character, is based on the outline data of the character. To provide a character image data generation method and device capable of generating data at high speed, and a character output method and device.

[0015]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 is a character to be output on a pixel coordinate which is a coordinate defining a pixel in an output device such as a printing unit. When the contour shape is drawn based on the outline data corresponding to the contour shape, the output density of the pixel inside the contour shape is set to the first density, and the pixel outside the contour shape is set. A binary character image data generating step of generating binary character image data by setting the output density in the second density different from the first density.
An auxiliary line data extraction step of extracting, as auxiliary line data, a partial contour line that satisfies a predetermined condition from one or more partial contour lines forming the outline data; and a partial contour line corresponding to the auxiliary line data is the pixel. When the pixel is drawn on the coordinates, the output density in the pixel whose positional relationship with the drawn partial contour line satisfies a predetermined criterion is a third density which is intermediate between the first density and the second density. A gradation image data generation step of generating gradation image data by setting the above-mentioned setting, and a combining step of combining the binary character image data and the gradation image data to generate character image data. Consists of

According to the operation of the invention described in claim 1, when the contour shape is drawn based on the outline data on the pixel coordinates in the binary character image data generating step, the output at the pixel inside the contour shape is performed. Binary character image data is generated by setting the density to the first density and the output density in the pixels outside the contour shape to the second density different from the first density.

On the other hand, in parallel with this, in the auxiliary line data extracting step, a partial contour line satisfying a predetermined condition is extracted as auxiliary line data from the partial contour lines forming the outline data.

Then, in the gradation image data generating step, when the partial contour line corresponding to the auxiliary line data is drawn on the pixel coordinates, in a pixel whose positional relationship with the drawn partial contour line satisfies a predetermined criterion. Grayscale image data is generated by setting the output density to the third density which is between the first density and the second density.

Then, in the synthesizing step, the binary character image data and the gradation image data are synthesized to generate character image data.

Therefore, the auxiliary line data is extracted based on the outline data, and the print densities of the pixels whose positional relationship with the partial contour line corresponding to the auxiliary line data is a predetermined reference are the first density and the second density. Gradation image data is generated as a third density intermediate between the densities, and the gradation image data and the binary character image data are combined to generate character image data. Therefore, the character image data is generated based on the character image data. When the character is output, the output character has improved readability and discriminability corresponding to the characteristics of each character, and becomes a character that is easy to see.

Further, since it is possible to determine the pixel having the third density only in relation to the partial contour line corresponding to the auxiliary line data, it is possible to speed up the addition of gradation to the character.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 2 provides the character image data generating method according to claim 1 and the character image data synthesized by the synthesizing step in the output device. And an output step of outputting the corresponding character.

According to the operation of the invention described in claim 2, in addition to the operation of the invention described in claim 1, the character corresponding to the combined character image data is output in the output step.

Therefore, the read characters are improved in readability and discriminability according to the characteristics of each character, and are easy to see.

Further, since it is possible to speed up the addition of gradation to the character, the entire character output operation is speeded up.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 3 defines the outline shape of the character to be output on the pixel coordinates which are the coordinates defining the pixels in the output means such as an external printing unit. When the contour shape is drawn based on the corresponding outline data, the output density in the pixels inside the contour shape is set to the first density, and the output density in the pixels outside the contour shape is set. Binary character image data generating means such as a microcomputer section for generating binary character image data by setting a second density different from the first density, and one or a plurality of parts constituting the outline data. Auxiliary line data, such as a microcomputer unit, that extracts partial outlines that satisfy a specified condition from the outlines as auxiliary line data. A data extraction unit, when the partial contour line corresponding to the auxiliary line data is drawn on the pixel coordinate,
By setting the output density in the pixel whose positional relationship with the drawn partial contour line satisfies a predetermined reference to a third density that is intermediate between the first density and the second density, gradation can be obtained. Gradation image data generating means such as a microcomputer section for generating image data, and combining means such as a microcomputer section for combining the binary character image data and the gradation image data to generate character image data, It is configured with.

According to the operation of the invention described in claim 3, when the binary character image data generating means draws the contour shape of the character based on the outline data on the pixel coordinates, it is inside the contour shape. Binary character image data is generated by setting the output density of the pixel to the first density and the output density of the pixel outside the contour shape to the second density different from the first density.

On the other hand, in parallel with this, the auxiliary line data generating means extracts, as the auxiliary line data, a partial contour line satisfying a predetermined condition among one or a plurality of partial contour lines forming the outline data.

Then, the gradation image data generating means is
When the partial contour line corresponding to the auxiliary line data is drawn on the pixel coordinates, the output densities of the pixels whose positional relationship with the drawn partial contour line satisfies a predetermined criterion are the first density and the second density. The gradation image data is generated by setting the third density which is in the middle of.

After that, the synthesizing means synthesizes the binary character image data and the gradation image data to generate character image data.

Accordingly, the auxiliary line data is extracted based on the outline data, and the print densities of the pixels whose positional relationship with the partial contour line corresponding to the auxiliary line data is a predetermined reference are the first density and the second density. Gradation image data is generated as a third density which is the middle of the densities, and this gradation image data is combined with binary character image data to generate character image data. Therefore, a character is generated based on the character image data. When output,
The output character has improved readability and discriminability corresponding to the characteristics of each character, and becomes a character that is easy to see.

Further, since the pixel having the third density can be determined only in relation to the partial contour line corresponding to the auxiliary line data, the addition of gradation to the character can be speeded up.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention described in claim 4 is, in the character image data generating device according to claim 3, a microcomputer unit or the like for determining the necessity of generation of gradation image data. Is further provided, and is configured to generate the character image data only when it is determined by the determination means that a gradation image needs to be generated.

According to the operation of the invention described in claim 4, in addition to the operation of the invention described in claim 3, the determining means determines whether or not the generation of the gradation image data is necessary.

Then, the auxiliary line data generating means, the gradation image data generating means and the synthesizing means, only when it is judged by the judging means that the gradation image needs to be generated,
Generates character image data.

Therefore, since the respective processes are performed only on the selected characters for which the character image data needs to be generated, the character image data generation is performed as compared with the case where the character image data is generated for all the characters. The processing can be speeded up.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to a fifth aspect is the character image data generating apparatus according to the fourth aspect, wherein the determination means is based on the size of the character at the time of output. It is configured to determine whether or not to generate the gradation image data.

According to the operation of the invention described in claim 5, in addition to the operation of the invention described in claim 4, the judging means generates the gradation image data based on the size of the character at the time of output. Determine the necessity.

Therefore, it is possible to prevent the character image data generation process from being performed on a character having an output size that does not require the character image data, so that the character image data generation process can be further speeded up.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 6 is the character image data generating device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the gradation image data generating means comprises: The third density is configured to be changed according to the positional relationship between the pixel to be set to the third density and the partial contour line corresponding to the auxiliary line data.

According to the operation of the invention described in claim 6, in addition to the operation of the invention described in any one of claims 3 to 5, the gradation image data generating means applies the third density It is set so as to change based on the positional relationship between the pixel to be set to the third density and the partial contour line corresponding to the auxiliary line data.

Therefore, readability and discriminability are further improved,
A character that is easy to see can be output.

In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 7 is the character image data generating device according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the auxiliary line data generating means is the Among the partial contour lines forming the outline data, the partial contour lines except the horizontal line and the vertical line at the pixel coordinates are used as the auxiliary line data.

According to the operation of the invention described in claim 7, in addition to the operation of the invention described in any one of claims 3 to 6, the auxiliary line data generating means includes the partial contour forming the outline data. Of the lines, partial contour lines other than horizontal lines and vertical lines in pixel coordinates are used as auxiliary line data.

Therefore, the process of selecting the partial contour line to be the auxiliary line data can be simplified, and the character image data generation process can be speeded up.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 8 is the character image data generating device according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the outline data is the outline data. Gradation generation information indicating the degree of gradation to be generated is included in advance for each of the constituent partial contour lines, and the auxiliary line data extraction means is configured to extract the partial contour line based on the gradation generation information.

According to the operation of the invention described in claim 8, in addition to the operation of the invention described in any one of claims 3 to 7, the outline data is set for each partial contour line forming the outline data. In advance, gradation generation information indicating the gradation level to be generated is included, and the auxiliary line data extraction means extracts the partial contour line based on the gradation generation information.

Since the auxiliary line data is extracted based on the gradation generation information added to the outline data in advance, the auxiliary line data extraction process can be simplified and the character image data generation process can be speeded up.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 9 is the character image data generating device according to any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein a predetermined value is set for the auxiliary line data. The gradation image data generation means is further configured to generate the gradation image data based on the affine-transformed auxiliary line data.

According to the operation of the invention described in claim 9, in addition to the operation of the invention described in any one of claims 3 to 8, the conversion means performs a predetermined affine conversion on the auxiliary line data. Give.

Then, the gradation image data generating means is
Gradation image data is generated based on the affine-transformed auxiliary line data.

Therefore, since the affine transformation is performed after the auxiliary line data is extracted, the readability and the discriminability of the character when the affine transformation is performed are improved.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present invention is applied to claim 10.
The invention described in (3) comprises the character image data generation device according to any one of claims 3 to 9, and the output means for outputting the character corresponding to the character image data synthesized by the synthesis means. It is equipped with.

According to the operation of the tenth aspect of the present invention,
In addition to the operation of the invention described in any one of claims 3 to 9, the output means outputs the character corresponding to the combined character image data.

Therefore, the characters output are improved in readability and discriminability in accordance with the characteristics of each character, and are easy to see.

Further, since it is possible to speed up the addition of gradation to the character, the entire output operation of the character is speeded up.

[0057]

Next, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, the configuration in which the character image data generating device and the character outputting device of the present invention are applied to a laser printer will be described with reference to FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a portion of the control circuit P of the laser printer to which the present invention is applied, which mainly generates gradation pixel pattern data as character image data from character outline data.

In FIG. 1, a microcomputer unit 20 as a binary character image data generating means, an auxiliary line data extracting means, a gradation image data generating means, a synthesizing means, a judging means and a converting means, which is the main body of this control circuit, is shown. CPU 14, character memory 17, program memory 15, text memory 18, working memory 1
6 and a gradation pixel pattern data memory 19. The CPU 14 and the like are connected to the system bus 1
3 are connected to each other.

Further, an input device 11 and a printing unit 12 as an output means are connected to the microcomputer unit 20 via a system bus 13.

Next, the operation will be described.

The input device 11 inputs character information such as a character code and a character size supplied from the outside.

The program memory 15 stores programs for executing various controls in the CPU 14 described in this embodiment.

The text memory 18 stores a character code, a character size, character modification information such as italics and rotations, which is input from the input device 11.

The character memory 17 stores character outline data, gradation generation information for gradation generation corresponding to the outline data, and character data such as the character width of the character. This character data is one character. It is possible to read each one. Each character data will be described in detail later.

The CPU 14 performs the processing in this embodiment according to the program given by the program memory 15.

The working memory 16 temporarily stores data required when the CPU 14 executes the program.

The gradation pixel pattern data memory 19 stores gradation pixel pattern data created from character data.

The printing unit 12 is a device for printing the gradation pixel pattern data stored in the gradation pixel pattern data memory 19 by an electrophotographic method.

Next, the above character data will be described.

The character data in this embodiment is
The characters are stored in the character memory 17 in a format in which each character can be read. Each character data is composed of outline data representing the shape of the character (see reference numeral 22 in FIG. 2) and attribute information such as character width information. Further, gradation generation information may be stored in association with each outline data.

FIG. 3 shows a method of storing outline data for the character "K" shown in FIG. 2 in this embodiment. Note that FIG. 2 shows a state in which each partial contour line 22 (hereinafter referred to as a constituent line) is drawn on the pixel matrix 21 as pixel coordinates based on the outline data, and FIG. FIG. 3B shows a case where only outline data is stored, and FIG. 3B shows a case where density information as gradation generation information is added to the outline data.

In FIG. 3, the meaning of "flag" is as follows. "S" is a flag that moves the coordinate to a coordinate value where the numerical value 1 is the X coordinate and the numerical value 2 is the Y coordinate, and "L" is the numerical value 1 is the X coordinate and the numerical value 2 is the Y coordinate from the current coordinate. It is a flag that draws a line segment on the coordinate value and updates the current coordinate to the tip of the line segment.

In the example of FIG. 3 (a), the character "K" in FIG. 2 starts from the coordinate value of (58 25) and returns to the coordinate again. It is defined as an outline. The coordinate values shown here are coordinate values based on an internal coordinate system for storing the outline, and will be scaled and used at the time of output.

Further, FIG. 3B shows an example in which densities of 0 to 100 are stored as gradation generation information for the constituent line information forming the outline. Here, a density of 0 indicates that no gradation pixel is generated for the corresponding component line, a density of 100 generates a gradation pixel of maximum density, and other values are gradation pixels of a density according to each ratio. Is generated.

In this embodiment, the coordinate values are absolute coordinates, but a method such as using relative coordinates may be used. Further, in the example of FIG. 3, only straight line elements are shown as the constituent lines of the outline data, but curves such as Bezier curves and arcs may be the constituent lines. Also, when the gradation generation information is stored, it may be stored as flag information other than the density, or may be stored separately from the outline data.

Here, the Bezier curve is, for example,
A cubic Bezier curve refers to a curve that is determined based on the positional relationship between another two points connecting a curve connecting two points and two points connecting the curve.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be specifically described with reference to the flow chart and the like.

First, the procedure for creating the gradation pixel pattern data will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, first, based on data such as a character code input from the input device 11,
The character to be output is determined, and the character data is taken out from the character memory 17 (step S5).
1). Next, in step S52, the extracted outline data of the character data is scaled to a desired size, and after being deformed such as rotated and italicized, the pixel matrix 21 is created for creating gradation pixel pattern data.
Determine the correspondence with. Then, in step S53, the pixels inside the scaled outline are set to a predetermined density such as black as the first density, and binary character image data is generated and stored in the working memory 16 or the like. The process in step S53 is a scan conversion process for generating binary character image data from outline data.
This processing is a known technique that has already been put to practical use in various systems, and is not the main part of the present invention. Therefore, detailed description is omitted for the purpose of clarifying the gist of the present invention. Further, in this case, the second density is set to the density “0”.

Here, normally, if the output size of the character becomes large, the necessity of adding the gradation image data is reduced. Therefore, in step S54, the CPU 14 determines whether or not the output size is not larger than a predetermined output size. If so (step S54; YES), the process proceeds to the generation of gradation image data (step S55), and if it is not less than or equal to the predetermined output size (step S54; NO), the binary character image data is converted into the final gradation pixel pattern data. Then, the process proceeds to step S57.

If there is no need to depend on the output size, the step S54 may not be provided.

Next, in step S55, gradation image data is generated, the details of which will be described later.

In step S56, the gradation image data generated in step S55 and the binary character image data generated in step S53 are overwritten on the corresponding positions on the gradation image data with the binary character image data. Synthesize by the method.

Here, the binary pixel pattern data of "K" shown in FIG. 9 (binary character image data)
And the gradation image data shown in FIG. 7 are combined into character image data (gradation pixel pattern data) having gradation as shown in FIG. The synthesized character image data with gradation (gradation pixel pattern data) is output to the gradation pixel pattern data memory 19 (step S57), and finally printed out by the printing unit 12.

Next, details of the process of generating the gradation image data (see FIG. 7) in step S55 will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5, in step S55, first, in order to process all the constituent lines that make up the scaled outline, it is determined whether or not there are unprocessed constituent lines (step S61). If there is one to be processed (step S61; NO), the process proceeds to step S62, and if all are processed (step S61; YES), the process ends.

In step S62, the data of the unprocessed constituent lines is taken out. In step S63, it is determined whether or not it is necessary to generate gradation image data for this constituent line. As this determination method, a method that requires generation when the constituent line is not a vertical line or a horizontal line, or FIG.
In the case where each constituent line has gradation generation information as in the example shown in, there is a method of determining corresponding gradation generation information and performing the judgment.

As an example of the case where it is necessary to generate the gradation image data other than the vertical line or the horizontal line, the respective constituent lines 71, 72, 73 shown in FIG. 6 with respect to the outline data shown in FIG. 74 and 75 are determined as constituent lines that need to generate gradation image data. Each of the constituent lines 71, 72, 73, 74 and 75 becomes an auxiliary line corresponding to the auxiliary line data for gradation generation.

Next, the processing of steps S64 to S67 is processing for determining the density of each pixel from one auxiliary line data.

First, in order to determine the densities of all pixels, the presence or absence of unprocessed pixels is determined in step S64. If there are no unprocessed pixels (step S64; Y
ES) Step S6 for processing the next constituent line
If there is an unprocessed pixel, the process returns to step 1 (step S
64; NO), one unprocessed pixel is designated in step S65, and it is determined in step S66 whether or not to give a gradation value of a predetermined density as the third density to the pixel. This judgment is made by a method of judging whether or not a target gradation generation auxiliary line exists in the area of the pixel, or within a predetermined distance preset by the user from the center position of the pixel. Method for determining whether or not there is an auxiliary line for gradation generation, or for determining whether or not a horizontal or vertical line drawn in a pixel intersects with an auxiliary line for gradation generation, etc. There is.

Finally, in step S67, the target pixel is given a gradation value of a predetermined density. The predetermined density (third density) is set in advance and a fixed value such as 50% density added to the outline data as density information (see FIG. 3B) is used, or the target auxiliary line is used. It is possible to use a value that changes according to the distance of the constituent line corresponding to the data from the center of the pixel.

The gradation image data is generated by the above processing. As an example, with respect to the gradation generation auxiliary line shown in FIG. 6, whether or not a target gradation generation auxiliary line exists in the area of the pixel concerned (indicated by a symbol G in FIG. 7). 7 is a gradation image data when a gradation value is given to () and a constant value of 50% density is used as the gradation value.

As described above, according to the character image data generation device and the character output device of the embodiment, the auxiliary line data is extracted based on the outline data, and the positional relationship with the constituent line corresponding to the auxiliary line data is extracted. , The gradation image data is generated with the print density of the pixel in the predetermined standard being 50% gray, and the gradation image data and the binary character image data are combined to generate the gradation pixel pattern data. When the character is output based on the gradation image data, the read character is improved in readability and discriminability corresponding to the characteristics of each character, and becomes a legible character.

Further, since it is possible to determine the pixel to be gray only in relation to the constituent line corresponding to the auxiliary line data, it is not necessary to perform the complicated area calculation as in the conventional case, and the gradation is added to the character. It can speed up.

Further, since the gradation image data generation process is not performed for a character having a large output size which does not require gradation image data, the gradation image data generation process can be further speeded up.

Furthermore, since the density of the pixel to be gray is changed based on the positional relationship between the pixel and the auxiliary line,
Further, the readability and the discriminability are improved, and a character that is easy to see can be output.

Further, among the constituent lines forming the outline data, the constituent lines excluding the horizontal lines and the vertical lines in the pixel matrix are used as the auxiliary lines, so that the process of selecting the constituent lines to be the auxiliary lines can be simplified. The gradation image data generation process can be speeded up.

Further, since the auxiliary line is extracted based on the gradation generation information added in advance to the outline data, the auxiliary line extraction process can be simplified and the gradation image data generation process can be speeded up.

In the present embodiment, an example in which the invention is applied to a printing device such as a laser printer or an ink jet printer is described, but it may be applied to a display device such as a display.

Further, in the present embodiment, the constituent line of the outline data which satisfies the predetermined condition is directly used as the auxiliary line for gradation generation, but the constituent line may be moved in a predetermined direction by a predetermined distance. After the affine transformation, it can be used as an auxiliary line for gradation generation. In this case, since the affine transformation is performed after extracting the auxiliary line,
When the affine transformation is applied, the readability and discriminability of the character are improved.

Further, in the present embodiment, regarding the synthesis of the binary character image data and the gradation image data, the method of overwriting the binary character image data on the gradation image data has been described. , A method of generating character image data by adding a plurality of preset gradation values in the vicinity of the boundary between the inside and the outside of the constituent line, and similarly, by subtracting in the vicinity of the boundary between the inside and the outside of the constituent line, You may synthesize | combine by the method etc. which calculate the intermediate | middle gradation value of 1st density and 2nd density, and generate | occur | produce character image data.

Further, the number of gradations and the density in the case of gray can be plural kinds other than the above according to the capability of the printing section or the display.

According to these synthesizing methods, especially when the character is enlarged, in the vicinity of the boundary on the outline,
Since it is possible to add gradation of more appropriate density, it is possible to output a character that is easier to see and has excellent readability and legibility.

Other various applications are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0106]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, the auxiliary line data is extracted based on the outline data, and the positional relationship with the partial contour line corresponding to the auxiliary line data is predetermined. The print density of the pixel in the standard of the first
The gradation image data is generated as a third density which is intermediate between the density of and the second density, and the gradation image data is combined with the binary character image data to generate the character image data. When the character is output based on the data, the read character is improved in readability and discriminability corresponding to the characteristics of each character, and becomes an easy-to-see character.

Further, since the pixel having the third density can be determined only in relation to the partial contour line corresponding to the auxiliary line data, it is possible to speed up the addition of gradation to the character.

According to the invention of claim 2, according to claim 1,
In addition to the effect of the invention described in, in the output step, based on the character image data, the character corresponding to the character image data is output, the output character corresponds to the characteristics of each character, The readability and discriminability are improved, and the character becomes easy to see.

Further, since it is possible to speed up the addition of gradation to the character, the entire character output operation is speeded up.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the auxiliary line data is extracted based on the outline data, and the print density of the pixel whose positional relationship with the partial contour line corresponding to the auxiliary line data is a predetermined reference. Since the gradation image data is generated with a third density which is an intermediate between the first density and the second density, and the gradation image data is combined with the binary character image data to generate the character image data. When a character is output based on the character image data, the output character has improved readability and discriminability corresponding to the characteristics of each character, and becomes a character that is easy to see.

Since the pixel having the third density can be determined only in relation to the partial contour line corresponding to the auxiliary line data, the addition of gradation to the character can be speeded up.

According to the invention of claim 4, claim 3
In addition to the effects of the invention described in (1), since the above respective processes are performed only for the selected character image data that requires generation of the character image data, compared to the case where character image data is generated for all characters. Can speed up character image data generation processing.

According to the invention of claim 5, claim 4
In addition to the effects of the invention described in (1), the determination means determines whether or not it is necessary to generate the gradation image data based on the size of the character at the time of output. As a result, the character image data generation process can be prevented from being performed, and the character image data generation process can be further speeded up.

According to the invention of claim 6, claim 3
In addition to the effect of the invention described in any one of 1 to 5, the gradation image data generation unit is configured such that the gradation image data generating unit sets a third density to the third density and a partial contour line corresponding to auxiliary line data. Since the setting is made so as to be changed based on the positional relationship with, the readability and discriminability are further improved, and a character that is easy to see can be output.

According to the invention of claim 7, claim 3
In addition to the effect of the invention described in any one of 1 to 6, the auxiliary line data generation means, among the partial contour lines forming the outline data, a partial contour line excluding a horizontal line and a vertical line in pixel coordinates is an auxiliary line. Since the data is used, the process of selecting the partial contour line to be the auxiliary line data can be simplified, and the character image data generation process can be speeded up.

According to the invention of claim 8, claim 3
In addition to the effect of the invention described in any one of 1 to 7, since the auxiliary line data is extracted based on the gradation generation information added in advance to the outline data, the auxiliary line data extraction process can be simplified. The character image data generation process can be speeded up.

According to the invention of claim 9, claim 3
In addition to the effect of the invention described in any one of 8 to 8, the conversion means performs affine conversion after extracting the auxiliary line data,
Since the gradation image data is generated based on this, the readability and the discriminability of the character when the affine transformation is performed are improved.

According to the invention of claim 10, in addition to the effect of the invention of any one of claims 3 to 9,
Since the output means outputs the character corresponding to the character image data based on the character image data, the output character has improved readability and discriminability corresponding to the characteristics of each character, and is an easy-to-read character. Becomes

Since the addition of gradation to the character can be speeded up, the overall character output operation is speeded up.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a character data generation device and a character output device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram exemplifying outline data of a character.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a method of storing character data according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of generating gradation pixel pattern data of a character according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of generating gradation image data of a character according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an auxiliary line for tone generation of a character according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of gradation image data of a character according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example in which binary character image data and gradation image data are combined in the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing binary pixel pattern data of a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 ... Input device 12 ... Printing unit 13 ... System bus 14 ... CPU 15 ... Program memory 16 ... Working memory 17 ... Character memory 18 ... Text memory 19 ... Gradation pixel pattern data memory 20 ... Microcomputer unit 21, 103 ... Pixel matrix 22, 100 ... Constitution line (outline) 71, 72, 73, 74, 75 ... Auxiliary line 101 ... Binary pixel pattern data P ... Laser printer control circuit

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. When the contour shape is drawn based on the outline data corresponding to the contour shape of the character to be output, on the pixel coordinates that are the coordinates defining the pixel in the output device, the contour shape is inside the contour shape. The output density in the pixel is set to a first density, and the output density in the pixel outside the contour shape is set to the first density.
A binary character image data generation step of generating binary character image data by setting a second density different from the density of, and a predetermined condition is defined from one or a plurality of partial contour lines forming the outline data. An auxiliary line data extraction step of extracting a partial contour line to be filled as auxiliary line data, and when a partial contour line corresponding to the auxiliary line data is drawn on the pixel coordinates, the positional relationship with the drawn partial contour line A gradation image data generating step of generating gradation image data by setting an output density in the pixel satisfying a predetermined criterion to a third density which is an intermediate between the first density and the second density; A synthesizing step of synthesizing the binary character image data and the gradation image data to generate character image data. A method for generating character image data, characterized by being provided. 2. The character image data generation method according to claim 1, and an output step of outputting, in the output device, the character corresponding to the character image data combined by the combining step. Characteristic character output method. 3. When the contour shape is drawn based on the outline data corresponding to the contour shape of the character to be output on the pixel coordinates which are the coordinates defining the pixel in the external output means, the inside of the contour shape By setting the output density of the pixel that is outside the contour shape to the first density and the output density of the pixel that is outside the contour shape to a second density that is different from the first density. Binary character image data generating means for generating image data; auxiliary line data extracting means for extracting, as auxiliary line data, a partial contour line satisfying a predetermined condition from one or more partial contour lines forming the outline data. , When a partial contour line corresponding to the auxiliary line data is drawn on the pixel coordinates, Grayscale image data for generating grayscale image data by setting the output density in the pixel whose positional relationship satisfies a predetermined criterion to a third density which is intermediate between the first density and the second density. A character image data generating device comprising: a generating unit; and a combining unit that combines the binary character image data and the gradation image data to generate character image data. 4. The character image data generation device according to claim 3, further comprising a determination unit that determines whether or not to generate the gradation image data, and the determination unit needs to generate a gradation image. A character image data generating device, wherein the character image data is generated only when it is determined that the character image data is generated. 5. The character image data generation device according to claim 4, wherein the determination unit determines whether or not the gradation image data should be generated based on the size of the character at the time of output. Character image data generator. 6. The character image data generating device according to claim 3, wherein the gradation image data generating means should set the third density to the third density. A character image data generation device, characterized in that the character image data is changed in accordance with a positional relationship between the pixel and the partial contour line corresponding to the auxiliary line data. 7. The character image data generation device according to claim 3, wherein the auxiliary line data generation means is a horizontal line at the pixel coordinates among the partial contour lines forming the outline data. And the partial contour line excluding the vertical line as the auxiliary line data. 8. The character image data generating device according to claim 3, wherein the outline data is a gradation indicating a gradation degree to be generated for each partial contour line forming the outline data. A character image data generating device, which includes generation information in advance, wherein the auxiliary line data extraction means extracts a partial contour line based on the gradation generation information. 9. The character image data generation device according to claim 3, further comprising conversion means for performing a predetermined affine conversion on the auxiliary line data, and the gradation image data generation. A means for generating character image data, wherein the means generates the gradation image data based on the affine-transformed auxiliary line data. 10. The character image data generating device according to claim 3, and the output means for outputting the character corresponding to the character image data synthesized by the synthesizing means. A character output device characterized by the above.