JPH0968960A - Character generator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To link and output adjacent character patterns with a small storage capacity by selecting and extracting the connection patterns formed to comply with writing start positions and writing end positions and connecting the adja cent character patterns. SOLUTION: A processor 4 temporarily stores the characters to be printed, for example, character patterns 21 ('a' of Japanese syllabary) and ('ni') into a character code storage region 54 when these characters are inputted. At this time, the processor stores the shapes of the writing start position and writing end of the character. The processor retrieves the address of the connection pattern corresponding to the spacing between the characters from a connection pattern table 53 by the shape of the writing start position and writing end of the previously stored pattern and the writing start position of the character before transfer to a printer 3. The processor reads the connection pattern of this address out of a connection pattern storage region 52 and transfers the pattern to the printer 3. The character pattern is thereafter transferred to the printer 3. At this time, the processor 4 stores the writing position and shape of writing end of the character in order to connect the third character.

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 connecting two adjacent characters to print or display them.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an image pattern generating device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-4165 as a device for printing or displaying by connecting two adjacent characters.

In this image pattern generating device, the starting position and the ending position are limited to 5 positions, respectively, except for the inferior one in terms of design, of characters which start at each starting position and end at each ending position. All the image patterns are stored and the image pattern decided by the image pattern decision means is generated.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, it is possible to print by connecting characters, but for one character, there are a maximum of 5 starting positions and 5 ending positions. Since a total of 25 image patterns must be stored, there is a problem that the storage capacity becomes very large.

An object of the present invention is to provide a character generator capable of connecting and outputting adjacent character patterns with a small storage capacity.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a character pattern, a character attribute consisting of the starting and ending positions of the character pattern, the shape of the final writing, and adjacent character patterns. By connecting a plurality of connection patterns to be connected, a storage means for storing a connection pattern table which sets which kind of connection pattern should be used in a combination of adjacent character patterns, and inputting a character code related to the character to be generated, A first search for a character pattern and a character attribute corresponding to a code from the storage means
Means, and the connection pattern table is searched by the information of the stroke and end position and the shape of the end stroke in the character attributes obtained by the search, and the type of connection pattern used in the combination of adjacent character patterns is extracted. 2 means, a third means for searching the storage means for a connection pattern corresponding to the extracted information of the type of the connection pattern, and the searched connection pattern is output as a pattern for connecting adjacent character patterns. And a fourth means.

[0007]

According to the above means, when the character code relating to the character to be generated is input, the first means searches the storage means for the character pattern and the character attribute corresponding to the character code.

Next, the second means searches the connection pattern table according to the information on the stroke and end position and the shape of the end stroke in the character attributes, and extracts the type of connection pattern used in the combination of adjacent character patterns. .

Next, the third means searches the storage means for a connection pattern corresponding to the extracted information on the type of the connection pattern, and the fourth means searches the connection pattern searched for the adjacent character pattern. Output as a connection pattern.

The display device or the printing device displays or prints by connecting the adjacent characters by the connection pattern output from the fourth means.

That is, in the present invention, a plurality of character patterns for one character are not prepared in consideration of the connection with adjacent characters, but a connection pattern that matches the starting position and the ending position is selected. Extract and connect adjacent character patterns.

Therefore, since it is sufficient to prepare only one character pattern for one character and a plurality of connection patterns in addition to this, the storage capacity used for generating the character is reduced.

When connecting characters, if the connecting portion appears to be elongated due to the combination of the end position of the upper (or left) character and the start position of the lower (or right) character,
By correcting the lower (or right) letters by rotating or moving the pasting position, the connection part can be shortened and a beautiful printed matter with a unified feeling can be output as a whole.

[0014]

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the character generator of the present invention, which comprises a keyboard 1, a display device 2, a printer 3, a processing device 4 and a storage device 5.

The storage device 5 includes a character pattern storage area 5
1, a connection pattern storage area 52, a connection pattern table 53, a character code storage area 54, a character rotation flag storage area 5 and an attachment position movement flag storage area 56 are provided.

The character pattern storage area 51 stores character attributes consisting of a character pattern, a stroke and a finish position of the character pattern, a shape of the finish stroke, etc. for n characters (an integer of n ≧ 2). The character pattern 21 in the embodiment is shown in FIG.
As shown in (3), it is composed of a dot font of 32 dots vertically × 32 dots horizontally.

Assuming a "continuation method" for beautifully writing a kana with a cursive typeface used for everyday documents and letters, as shown in FIG. The four types of D and the writing positions of the letters below are divided into four types of a to d, and there are 16 combinations for connecting the respective points.
It becomes a seed. However, if the upper stroke end position D of the upper character is connected to the lower stroke position d of the lower character, it will appear as an extension and should not be connected, and the lower character should be rotated or moved based on the information to move the pasting position. Correct the position to c. Therefore, there are 15 combinations that can be connected. Also,
Since there are four types of final strokes for the above letters, a total of 60 connection patterns are required.

Therefore, the character attribute stored in the character pattern storage area 51 is, as shown in FIG.
1, character width information 412, other attributes 413, as well as the writing position (a to d) 414 and the thickness 41 of the writing as connection information.
5, finish stroke position (A to D) 416, finish stroke thickness 417, finish stroke shape 418, rotation angle (rotation is not possible when 0 degree) 41
8, final writing position 420 after rotation, pasting position movement value (move when 0) 421, final writing position 42 after pasting position movement
It is composed of two pieces of information.

The character code 411 is JIS or shift JI.
It is a unique code corresponding to the code system such as S,
You can have a code that supports multiple code systems.

The character width information 412 indicates the character pitch of each character. Further, the final writing position 414 indicates which of the four types of positions A to D classified as shown in FIG.

The final stroke thickness 415 represents the thickness at the final stroke position in coordinates. In addition, the writing position 414 indicates which of the four types of positions a to d classified as shown in FIG. Further, the brush stroke thickness 415 is a coordinate representing the thickness at the brush stroke position. Final stroke form 4
Reference numeral 18 represents one of the four types of a to d when the shape of the final stroke is classified into four types. The classification of the final stroke forms 418 of A to D is illustrated in FIG.

On the other hand, the connection pattern storage area 52 stores 60 kinds of connection patterns 22 for connecting adjacent character patterns. The connection pattern 22 in this embodiment is composed of horizontal half-width dot font of 16 dots × 32 dots as shown in FIG.

On the other hand, in the connection pattern table 53, which type of connection pattern 22 should be used in the combination of the adjacent character patterns is set. For details, as shown in FIG. 5, the final stroke position (A to
D), with respect to the shape of the final stroke (a to d), the address in which the connection pattern corresponding to the writing position (a to d) of the lower character is stored is set.

Here, the shape (a) of the final stroke is a downward shape, as illustrated in FIG. In addition, the shape of the final stroke (b) is a round curve, the shape of the final stroke (c) is a rounded shape with a knot, and the shape of the final stroke (d) is a bounce-up and hold-down shape.

Next, the two hiragana characters "a" shown in FIG.
A method of connecting “and” to “ni” will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 6 and 7.

The outline of the connection process is as follows. First, the processing device 4 uses the character "a" to be printed or displayed,
When "ni" is input from the keyboard 1, the character code is temporarily stored in the character code storage area 54. Then, the temporarily stored character code is transferred to the display device 2 or the printer 3.

At that time, the ending stroke position (B) and the ending stroke shape (b) in the character attributes of the character "A" are stored. Then, the character pattern of the lower character "ni" is set in the character code storage area 54
Before receiving the character pattern of "ni" and transferring it to the printer 3 or the display device 2, the ending stroke position (B) of "a", the ending stroke shape (b), and the starting stroke position of "ni" stored earlier. (D)
By using, the connection pattern table 53 is searched for the address of the connection pattern corresponding to the characters "a" and "ni".

From this, it can be seen that the address of the connection pattern is "54" from the final writing position (B) of "a", the final writing shape (b), and the initial writing position (d) of "ni".

Therefore, the connection pattern of the address "54" is read from the connection pattern storage area 52 and transferred to the printer 3 or the display device 2. After that, the character pattern of the lower character "ni" is transferred to the printer 3 or the display device 2. At this time, the processing device 4 connects the third character,
The ending stroke position (C) and the ending stroke shape (a) of "ni" are stored.

By repeating this, characters can be connected and printed or displayed.

The operation will be described below with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 6 and 7.

First, if the characters "a" and "ni" for n characters to be printed or displayed are input from the keyboard 1, the processor 4 sets the character code to the character code storage area 5.
4 for temporary storage (step 610).

Next, the variable m is initialized to m = 1 (step 611).

Next, the character pattern of "m" which is the m-th character and the character attribute are read from the character pattern storage area 51 by the character code of "a", and the final writing position (" B), the shape (b) of the final stroke is extracted (step 612).

Next, the character pattern of "ni" which is the m + 1st character and the character attribute are read from the character pattern storage area 51 by the character code of "ni", and the writing position (c) of "ni" is read from the character attribute. ), The final stroke position, and the final stroke shape are extracted (step 613).

Next, the character rotation flag and the pasting position movement flag are read from the storage areas 55 and 56, and it is determined whether or not these flags are ON (step 614).
If the character rotation flag and the pasting position movement flag are ON, it means that the m-th character is rotated or moved in connection with the m-1th character to be connected.
The connection pattern table 53 is searched from the final writing position and shape of the final writing after the rotation or movement of the th character, and the writing position of the m + 1th character, and the corresponding connection pattern is extracted (step 616).

However, if the character rotation flag and the pasting position movement flag are not ON, the final writing position (B) of the mth character "A", the final writing shape (b), and the m + 1th character The connection pattern table 53 is searched from the writing position (c) of a certain "ni", and the corresponding address "54" is searched.
A connection pattern is extracted from (step 615).

Next, it is judged whether or not the final writing position of "a" and the starting position of "ni" are in the connection form of "Dd" (step 617).

In the case of the "Dd" connection form, adjacent characters are extended and connected, which is not aesthetically pleasing.
The + 1st character is rotated or moved (step 619).

When "a" and "ni" in FIG. 2 are connected,
Since it is not the "D-d" connection form, the rotation or movement process is not performed.

When the m + 1st character is rotated or moved, the end stroke position of the m + 1st character is changed (step 620). Then, the character rotation flag and the pasting position movement flag are turned on (step 621).

Next, the mth character pattern, the m + 1th character pattern, and the connection pattern (the connection pattern extracted in step 615 or 616) for connecting these are output to the printer 3 or the display device 2 (step 6).
22).

If the character rotation flag and the pasting position movement flag are not ON, steps 619, 620, 9 are executed.
21 is not performed.

As a result, the characters "a" and "ni" are displayed in FIG.
It is connected and printed or displayed as shown in.

Next, the processor 4 updates the variable m to m + 1 (step 623) and determines whether the updated variable m is equal to n. If m = n, the input n is input. Since the output for the characters has been completed, the process ends (step 624).

However, if m = n is not satisfied, step 61
Returning to 2, the connection processing of the second character and the third character is performed.

Next, a process for correcting the case where the upper stroke end position D of the upper character and the lower stroke position d of the lower character appear to be elongated as shown in FIG. 8A will be described.

For correction, the character may be rotated or the pasting position may be moved depending on the shape and size of the character. Here, the case of rotating a character will be described.

In step 617, the processing device 4 establishes the connection form "D-d" based on the final writing position (D) of "RE", the shape of the final writing (D), and the writing position (d) of "TE". If it is found to be applicable, in step 619, the rotation processing of "te" which is the "m + 1" th character is performed. This rotation is
According to the angle set in the rotation angle 419 in the character attribute.
Then, the writing position of the "te" after the rotation is corrected from (d) to (c), and the final writing position (C) is changed to (B) (step 620).

Next, the character rotation flag 6 is turned on,
The connection pattern table 53 is searched for the address of the connection pattern corresponding to the characters "re" and "te".

In this example, the address of the connection pattern is "48" from the final writing position (D) of "re", the final writing shape (d), and the writing position (c) of "te". Prove. Therefore, after transferring the character pattern of "re" to the printer 3 or the display device 2, the connection pattern of the address "48" is read from the connection pattern storage area 52 and transferred to the printer 3 or the display device 2. Then, the rotation angle 41
The character pattern of “TE” rotated by the angle designated by 9 is transferred to the printer 3 or the display device 2. At that time, the processing device 4 stores the end stroke position of the “te” and the shape (d) of the end stroke, but regarding the end stroke position, the character rotation flag 6
When is ON, the final stroke position (B) after rotation is stored.

As a result, the "re" in FIG.
The characters "te" and "yu" are as shown in FIG.
The space between "re" and "te" is corrected or printed so as not to extend.

The same applies when moving the writing position of a character to the left or right. However, in the case of movement, the pasting position movement value 4
The movement amount is designated by 21 and the finishing stroke position 422 after the movement of the pasting position.

FIG. 9 shows an example of printing the characters "Yu" and "Le", "A" and "Ni", and "Le" and "Te". "Re"
And "te" indicate that the writing position (d) is changed to (c) for printing.

In the above description, vertical writing characters have been described, but the same applies to horizontal writing characters, which can be realized by inserting vertical half-width characters between the left character and the right character. As a result, it is possible to obtain a print result or a display result in which characters are connected even for English characters.

Also, the method of inserting a half-width character between full-width characters has been described. However, by having the end position of the upper character and the start position of the lower character near the center of the character, the connection pattern It is also possible to print or display half-width characters and full-width characters of a character pattern in an overlapping manner.

The character width of the connection pattern is not limited to half-width characters, and the character width information 412 in the character attributes of the connection pattern is used.
Since it has a character pitch, it can support various character widths.

The connection of dot characters has been described, but regarding the connection of vector characters, the final writing position, the starting position, the thickness of the final writing, and the thickness of the starting brush are given as coordinates, and a fixed arithmetic expression is derived from the coordinates. It is possible to generate a connection line between two adjacent characters by using, and print or display.

Further, the case of the dot font has been described, but the same applies to the outline font. Also, in outline fonts, the outline coordinate data of the connection pattern depends on the thickness of the stroke and the thickness of the stroke, and the stroke thickness of the upper (or left) character and the stroke of the lower (or right) character By correcting the thickness, it is possible to output a printed material that is more beautiful than the dot font.

In addition, although it has been described in the case of vertical writing in Japanese, even in the case of horizontal writing Latin characters, Arabic characters, etc.,
It is equally applicable.

[0062]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is not necessary to prepare a plurality of character patterns for one character in consideration of the connection with adjacent characters. Since the connection patterns are selectively extracted and the adjacent character patterns are connected, the adjacent character patterns can be connected and output with a small storage capacity. In addition, it is possible to output a beautiful printed material with a sense of unity, which is equivalent to the image of a cursive typeface in handwriting or an English writing system.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a dot configuration diagram of a character pattern and a connection pattern in the example.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing classification of connection forms.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of character patterns, connection patterns, and character attributes.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a connection pattern table.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure of character connection processing.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a continuation of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a print or display result in which the brush stroke position is corrected.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a print or display result.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Keyboard, 2 ... Display device, 3 ... Printer, 4 ... Processing device, 5 ... Storage device, 51 ... Character pattern storage area,
52 ... Connection pattern storage area, 53 ... Connection pattern table, 55 ... Character rotation flag storage area, 56 ... Pasting position movement flag.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Toshio Masuda 1 Horiyamashita, Hadano-shi, Kanagawa Hitachi Computer Engineering Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tsutsuo Hatta 810 Shimoimaizumi, Ebina, Kanagawa Prefecture Stock Company Hitachi Office Systems Division

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A character pattern, a stroke and end position of the character pattern, a character attribute consisting of the shape of the end stroke, a plurality of connection patterns connecting adjacent character patterns, and any kind of combination of adjacent character patterns. By storing a connection pattern table in which whether or not to use the connection pattern is stored, and by inputting a character code relating to a character to be generated, a character pattern and a character attribute corresponding to the character code are retrieved from the storage means. The first means and the starting and ending positions in the character attributes obtained by the search,
Second means for searching the connection pattern table by the information of the shape of the final stroke and extracting the type of connection pattern used in the combination of the adjacent character patterns, and the connection pattern corresponding to the information of the type of the extracted connection pattern And a fourth means for outputting the searched connection pattern as a pattern for connecting adjacent character patterns, the character generation device.