JPH0968963A - Device and method for processing character - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To develop a well-balanced character from the extracted outline font data according to an output character size, etc. SOLUTION: These device and method are constituted so that when the outline font data are extracted from a RAM 103 by a CPU 101, a character developing position is controlled based on extracted outline font information and prescribed developing reference line information when the CPU 10 bit map develops and generates a character pattern based on the extracted outline font data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a character processing device and a character processing method for generating character information by expanding a bitmap based on outline information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in outline font design, the character size is Base line, Capi.
tail line, ascender line, d
It is unified by designing the height to match the design reference line such as the escender line x-line. However, characters of the same height may appear uneven depending on the shape of the design figure.

Therefore, in order to correct the above illusion, as shown in FIG. 13, an overhang process or an overshot process for intentionally protruding the curved portion or the pointed portion from the design reference lines L1 and L2 is performed.
ershoot) processing may be performed.

[0004]

As described above, an outline font designed by slightly shifting the height of a character for visual correction is, for example, one dot or two dots shifted when a character is developed in a dot matrix. Rasterized. When this development occurs in a small dot matrix, there is a problem that the deviation at the time of design is emphasized and the unevenness of the overhung dots OHD (see FIG. 14) becomes conspicuous.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the first to twelfth inventions of the present invention is to provide an output size of a character at the time of contour marking in character expansion processing. By controlling the dot position by judging the designed character size and the position of each end point relative to the development reference line to be doted, and adjusting the dot position from the extracted outline font data To provide a character processing device and a character processing method capable of expanding captured characters.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided storage means for storing outline font data for developing a character designed in a predetermined size and predetermined development reference line information, and Extraction means for extracting the outline font data from the character information storage means, expansion means for expanding the bitmap based on the outline font data extracted by the extraction means to generate a character pattern, and extraction means for the extraction means. The outline font information and the control means for controlling the character development position developed by the development means based on the predetermined development reference line information.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the control means compares the evaluation value calculated by the output size with a character height threshold value calculated by the designed character size, and the expanding means. Is for setting position control information that determines whether or not to expand.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the expanding means, when the position control information is set, whether the target end point position based on the outline font data coincides with the expanding reference line. It expands characters at different positions depending on how it is used.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the expanding means compares the coordinates of the end point of interest and the respective end points before and after the end point of interest based on the outline font data and the expansion reference line. Then, characters are expanded at different positions.

In a fifth aspect of the present invention, the expanding means compares the coordinates of the end point of interest and the end points before and after the end point of interest based on the outline font data with the expansion reference line. Then, when the target end point is larger than the coordinates of the front and rear end points, the calculated dot data is truncated and the position converted into an integer is expanded into characters.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the expanding means compares the coordinates of the end point of interest with the end points before and after the end point of interest based on the outline font data and the expansion reference line match. Then, when the end point of interest is larger than the coordinates of the front and back end points, the calculated dot data is rounded up and the integerized position is expanded into characters.

In a seventh aspect of the present invention, the expanding means rounds off the calculated dot data when the target end point position based on the outline font data and the expansion reference line do not coincide with each other, and converts them into integers. The position is expanded into characters.

An eighth invention according to the present invention is the character processing method, comprising a storage means for storing outline font data for expanding a character designed in a predetermined size and predetermined expansion reference line information, wherein the character An extracting step of extracting the outline font data from the information storage means, and a setting step of setting position control information for adjusting a character expansion position based on the extracted outline font information and the predetermined expansion reference line information. And a developing step of character-developing different positions based on the setting state of the position control information and whether the target end point position and the expansion reference line match.

In a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the expanding step, when the position of the end point of interest based on the outline font data and the expansion reference line match, the coordinates of the end point of interest and the front and rear end points are compared. Then, characters are expanded at different positions.

In a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the expanding step, when the position of the end point of interest based on the outline font data and the expansion reference line match, the coordinates of the end point of interest and the front and back end points are compared. Then, when the target end point is larger than the coordinates of the front and rear end points, the calculated dot data is truncated and the position converted into an integer is expanded into characters.

In an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the expanding step, when the target end point position based on the outline font data and the expansion reference line match, the coordinates of the target end point and the front and rear end points are compared. Then, when the end point of interest is larger than the coordinates of the front and back end points, the calculated dot data is rounded up and the integerized position is expanded into characters.

In a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the expanding step, when the end point position of interest based on the outline font data and the expanding reference line do not match, the calculated dot data is rounded to an integer. The position is expanded into characters.

[0018]

In the first aspect of the invention, when the extracting means extracts the outline font data from the character information storing means, the expanding means expands the bitmap into character patterns based on the extracted outline font data. When generating, the control means controls the character expansion position of the expansion means based on the extracted outline font information and the predetermined expansion reference line information, and the output size of the expanded character is designed. Character heights can be aligned and developed so that the character heights are balanced according to the character size.

In the second invention, the control means is
The position control information for determining whether or not the expanding means expands is set by comparing the evaluation value calculated by the output size with the character height threshold value calculated by the designed character size, and the output size is set. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably set whether or not the expansion position of the character height to be expanded should be adjusted.

In the third invention, the expanding means is
When the position control information is set, character expansion is performed at different positions based on whether the target end point position based on the outline font data and the expansion reference line match, and the expansion reference position of the character height. It is possible to develop the contour of a character in a uniform manner in consideration of the relationship between the dot position and the dot position.

In the fourth invention, the expanding means is
When the target end point position based on the outline font data and the development reference line match, the coordinates of the target end point and the front and rear end points are compared, and different positions are character-developed. Even if the positions coincide with each other, it is possible to develop the contour of the character in a well-balanced manner in consideration of the relationship with the dot positions before and after that position.

In the fifth invention, the expanding means is
When the target end point position based on the outline font data and the development reference line match, the coordinates of the target end point and the front and rear end points are compared, and the target end point is larger than the coordinates of the front and rear end points. In addition, the calculated dot data is rounded down and the position where the integer is converted into a character is expanded, and even if the expansion reference position of the character height coincides with the dot position, the relationship between the dot positions before and after that, particularly, the noted end point is When the coordinates are larger than the coordinates of the front and rear end points, the contour of the character can be developed in a uniform manner so as to suppress the amount of protrusion to the development reference line.

In the sixth invention, the developing means is
When the target end point position based on the outline font data and the development reference line match, the coordinates of the target end point and the front and rear end points are compared, and the target end point is larger than the coordinates of the front and rear end points. In addition, the position where the calculated dot data is rounded up and converted into an integer is character-developed, and even if the expansion reference position of the character height and the dot position match, the relationship between the dot positions before and after that, especially, the noted end point is When the coordinates are larger than the coordinates of the front and rear end points, it is possible to develop the contour of the character in a uniform manner so as to make the protrusion amount stand out with respect to the development reference line.

In the seventh invention, the expanding means is
When the target end point position based on the outline font data and the expansion reference line do not match, the calculated dot data is rounded to an integer and the character is expanded, and the expansion reference position of the character height and the dot position are set. If the two do not match, it is possible to develop the contour of the character in a uniform manner by deciding the hitting point position so that no protrusion will occur with respect to the development reference line.

In the eighth invention, for extracting the outline font data from the character information storage means and adjusting a character expansion position based on the extracted outline font information and the predetermined expansion reference line information. Position control information is set, characters are expanded at different positions based on the setting state of the position control information and whether the target end point position matches the expansion reference line, and the output size of the expanded character is designed. It is possible to automate the process of aligning and developing the character heights so that the character heights are balanced according to the correspondence with the character size.

In the ninth invention, the developing step comprises:
When the target end point position based on the outline font data and the development reference line match, the coordinates of the target end point and the front and rear end points are compared, and different positions are character-developed. It is possible to automate the process of developing the contour of a character in a uniform manner in consideration of the relationship with the position.

In the tenth aspect of the invention, in the expanding step, when the position of the end point of interest based on the outline font data and the expansion reference line match, the coordinates of the end point of interest and the front and back end points are compared, When the target end point is larger than the coordinates of the front and back end points, the calculated dot data is rounded down and the integerized position is character-developed, and the expansion reference position of the character height and the dot position match. In relation to the positions of the hit points before and after that, especially when the target end point is larger than the coordinates of the front and rear end points, a process for developing the contour of the character in a uniform manner so as to suppress the amount of protrusion with respect to the expansion reference line is performed. Allows automation.

In the eleventh aspect of the invention, in the expanding step, when the position of the end point of interest based on the outline font data and the expansion reference line coincide with each other, the coordinates of the end point of interest and the front and rear end points are compared, When the target endpoint is larger than the coordinates of the front and back endpoints, the calculated dot data is rounded up and the integerized position is expanded into a character, and the expansion reference position of the character height and the dot position match. A process of developing the contour of a character in a uniform manner so as to make the protrusion amount stand out with respect to the development reference line, in the case of the relationship with the striking point positions before and after that, especially when the noted endpoint is larger than the coordinates of the preceding and succeeding endpoints. It is possible to automate.

In the twelfth aspect of the invention, in the expanding step, when the target end point position based on the outline font data and the expanding reference line do not match, the calculated dot data is rounded to an integer position. When characters are expanded and the expansion reference position of the character height and the dot position do not match, the dot position is determined so that no protrusion occurs on the expansion reference line, and the process of expanding the contour of the character in a uniform manner is performed. Enables automation.

[0030]

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of a character processing device showing a first embodiment of the present invention. The device may be a word processor or an electronic typewriter, a workstation or a computer system.

In FIG. 1, 101 is a central processing unit (C
PU), which controls the entire character processing device and performs arithmetic processing. Reference numeral 102 denotes a read-only memory (ROM), which is a storage area for a system boot program, character patterns, and the like.

103 is a random access memory (RA
M), which is a data storage area without use restrictions, in which each program and data are loaded in order to execute various processes. A keyboard control unit (KBC) 104 receives key input data from the keyboard (KB) 105 and transmits it to the CPU 101.

Reference numeral 106 is a pointing device controller (PDC), which is a pointing device (PD) 1.
Receives coordinate data, button input data, etc. from 07, C
It is transmitted to the PU 101. A display control unit (CRTC) 108 outputs data to be displayed on a display device 109 described later.

The display device (CRT) 109 includes a display device such as a CRT, and the CRTC 108
Receive more data and display it.

Reference numeral 1011 is a floppy disk device (FD).
Alternatively, it is an external storage device (disk) such as a hard disk device (HD), which stores programs and data, and refers to the RAM or RAM 103 at the time of execution as necessary.
To load.

A disk control unit (DKC) 1010 controls data transmission and the like with the disk 1011 such as FD and HD. A printer control unit (PRTC) 1012 includes a printer device (PRT) 1013.
Control. The printer device (PRT) 1013 is a PR
The data from the TC 1012 is received, and printing on the recording medium is executed. Reference numeral 1014 is a system bus, which should serve as a data path between the above-mentioned components. Less than,
Reference lines and terms in font design will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the concept of reference lines and terms in this type of font design.

In FIG. 2, 201 is a Base lin.
It is called e and is a character and a reference line. 202 is Cap
It is called the ital line and serves as a reference line for the height of capital letters.

Reference numeral 203 is referred to as “Capital height”, and is used from Base line to Capital light
Indicates the height up to ne. Reference numeral 204 is called an x-line, which serves as a reference line for the height of lowercase letters. 205 is x-hei
It is called ght and represents the height from Baseline to x-line.

Reference numeral 206 is called an ascender line, which serves as a reference line for the upper part of the lowercase letters.
Reference numeral 207 is called a descender line, which serves as a reference line for a portion of the lower case projecting to the lower part.

Reference numeral 208 is a reference line, that is, Bas.
e line 201, Capital line 202
Over the part that was designed to stick out slightly against
Called rhang or overshoot. ov
The value of erhang is empirically determined to be Capital hei.
It is said to be about 1/40 of ght.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining the outline of the outline font and the control points in the character processing apparatus according to the present invention, which corresponds to the coordinate data of the target character read from the storage medium shown in FIG.

As shown in this figure, the coordinate data of the target character to be read is the coordinate information obtained by extracting the characteristic points (end points, intermediate points of the curve) of the outline of the character.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the data structure of outline font data in the character processing device according to the present invention.

As shown in this figure, the outline font data data is composed of coordinate point data and coordinate point attribute data.

5 and 6 are schematic diagrams for explaining the outline font data filling processing in the character processing apparatus according to the present invention.

As shown in these figures, in the outline font data filling processing in this embodiment, the inside of the outline is filled after the outline is filled.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the concept of conversion processing of curve data into a set of short vectors in a character processing device of this type. The case where the curve data is cubic Bezier curve data is shown.

As shown in this figure, points A, B, C, and D are the coordinate-converted curve data (third-order Bezier curve constituent points) obtained by the coordinate data get process of FIG. 8 described later. First, a point a, a point b, and a point c are obtained from the point. Point a is the midpoint between points A and B, point b is the midpoint between points B and C, and point c
Is the midpoint between points C and D. Then, the next point x, point y, and point z are obtained. Point x is the midpoint between points a and b, point z is the midpoint between points b and c, and point y is the midpoint between points x and z. Then, the point sequence Aaxy becomes one new cubic Bezier constituent point, and the point sequence yzcD becomes another cubic Bezier constituent point. Then, each Bezier constituent point is subdivided by the same operation, and when a certain criterion is satisfied, the subdivision is stopped at that time. The constituent point sequence of the cubic Bezier created up to that point becomes the set of short vectors.

Correspondence between the present embodiment and each means of the first to seventh inventions and their functions will be described below with reference to FIG.

A first aspect of the invention is a storage means (RO) for storing outline font data for developing a character designed in a predetermined size and predetermined development reference line information.
M102 or disk 1011), extraction means (by CPU 101) for extracting the outline font data from the character information storage means, and bit map expansion based on the outline font data extracted by the extraction means to form a character pattern. The expanding means for generating (the CPU 101 expands on the RAM 103 based on the program stored in the ROM 102 or the like), the outline font information extracted by the extracting means, and the predetermined expanding reference line information, the expanding means. Control means (CPU 101) for controlling the character expansion position to be expanded by
Executes and controls a program stored in the ROM 102, etc.), and when the CPU 101 extracts the outline font data from the RAM 103, the CPU 101 expands the bitmap based on the extracted outline font data. When generating a character pattern by controlling the character expansion position based on the extracted outline font information and the predetermined expansion reference line information, the output size of the expanded character and the designed character size. Depending on the correspondence of, the character height can be aligned and developed so that the character height is balanced.

In a second aspect of the invention, the CPU 101 has an evaluation value calculated by the output size (scaling coefficient c described later).
The position control information (flag o) for determining whether or not the expanding means expands by comparing the character height threshold value (specifically, the threshold value T) calculated with the designed character size.
By setting v_flag), it is possible to surely set whether or not the expansion position of the character height to be expanded should be adjusted according to the output size.

In a third aspect of the invention, the CPU 101 determines a different position based on whether or not the target end point based on the outline font data and the development reference line match when the position control information is set. It is possible to develop a character and develop the character contour in a uniform manner in consideration of the relationship between the character development reference position and the dot position.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the CPU 101 compares the coordinates of the end point of interest with the coordinates of the front and back end points when the end point of interest based on the outline font data and the expansion reference line match, and develops different positions. Thus, even if the expansion reference position of the character height coincides with the dot position, the character contour can be expanded in a uniform manner in consideration of the relationship between the dot positions before and after the dot position.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the CPU 101 compares the coordinates of the end point of interest and the coordinates of each of the front and back end points when the end point of interest based on the outline font data and the development reference line match, and the end point of interest is determined. When the coordinates are less than or equal to the coordinates of each of the front and rear end points, the calculated dot data is truncated and the integerized position is expanded into characters, and even if the expansion reference position of the character height and the dot position match, the dot positions before and after that In particular, when the target end point is larger than the coordinates of the front and rear end points, the contour of the character can be developed in a uniform manner so as to suppress the amount of protrusion to the development reference line.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the CPU 101 compares the coordinates of the end point of interest and the coordinates of the front and back end points when the end point of interest based on the outline font data and the development reference line match, and the end point of interest is determined. When the coordinates are larger than the coordinates of each of the front and rear end points, the calculated dot data is rounded up and the integerized position is character-developed. In relation to the position, particularly when the target end point is larger than the coordinates of the front and rear end points, it is possible to develop the contour of the character in a uniform manner so as to make the protrusion amount stand out with respect to the development reference line. .

In a seventh aspect of the present invention, the CPU 101 rounds off the calculated dot data when the target end point based on the outline font data and the expansion reference line do not coincide with each other and expands the position into a character. , When the development reference position of the character height and the printing position do not coincide with each other, the printing position is determined so as not to protrude from the development reference line, and the contour of the character can be developed in a uniform manner.

Hereinafter, a character processing method in this type of character processing apparatus will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the procedure for converting outline font data into bitmap data in this type of character processing device. In addition,
(1) to (15) show each step.

In step (1), input parameters are received. Here, the input parameters include a character code of a character to be output, a font, a weight, an output size, an output format, and the like.

The character code is determined by which character code system the target system such as JIS code, Microsoft kanji (shift JIS), EUC code, UNICODE is defined in advance.

Further, the typeface is selected from the data such as the Mincho typeface, the Gothic type, and the round Gothic type which are built in the system in advance or the data added as an option.

The weight is information on the thickness of the line of the typeface, and here, information such as extra-fine, thin, medium, thick, and extra-thick is given. The output size has information on how large the font data is actually output.

Further, the output format is an output data format of a desired font, and a request such as contour coordinate data output or bitmap output is issued.

Next, in step (2), the coordinate data of the target character is read. This data is the RO shown in FIG.
It is stored in advance in the disk 1011 such as M102, RAM 103, hard disk, floppy disk, etc., and is searched for from the typeface information and character code information of the input information fetched in step (1) and read as much as necessary.

At this time, the input information to be fetched is the coordinate information obtained by extracting the characteristic points of the contour of the character shown in FIG. 3, and the straight line data / curve data discrimination flag and the contour start point / end point flag for each point. It has attribute information such as.

The interpolation formula of the curve data handled here may be a quadratic or cubic B-spline curve or a quadratic or cubic Bézier curve. Which interpolation formula is used is determined in advance. Has been done. Also, the minimum value of the coordinates indicating the character frame is "0", and the maximum value is "800".
It is expressed by etc.

Then, in step (3), the coordinate data obtained in step (2) is enlarged or reduced according to the output size of the input parameter. The calculation method at this time is as follows: the required output size is (Ax, Ay), the coordinate values obtained in step (2) are (x, y), and the coordinate values after the enlargement / reduction processing are (X, Y). ), And the size of the stored character frame is (Mx, My), it is determined by the following expression (1).

(X, Y) = (x * Ax / Mx, y * Ay / My) (1) The above calculation is performed for all coordinate columns of one character. At this time, the attribute flag at each coordinate point obtained in step (2) does not change.

Then, in step (4), the output format of the input parameter is used for determination, and if it is determined that the output format is contour coordinate data output, the process proceeds to step (5) to obtain in step (3). The data string of the scaled coordinate points and coordinate point attributes is returned to the request side (example of coordinate output (see FIG. 4)).

On the other hand, if bitmap output is requested in step (4), the process proceeds to step (6).
Hereinafter, steps (6) to (12) are the processes of actually creating bitmap data from the coordinate data.

First, in step (6), it is determined whether the target coordinate data is a straight line or a curved line. If it is determined that the target coordinate data is a straight line, the coordinate point is determined. The process proceeds to step (7) with the start point of the straight line and the next coordinate point as the end point of the straight line, and if the target data is determined to be curve data, the curve end flag is added from that coordinate point. The coordinate data is used as the curve data, and the process proceeds to step (8).

Then, in step (7), a process for generating a straight line is performed. When the calculated value of each point is a small number, it is rounded to an integer. At this time, the straight line generation method is D
It is generated by DA.

Next, in step (8), a process of converting the curve data into a set of short straight lines (short vectors) is performed. In addition, in FIG. 7, the case of converting a cubic Bezier curve into a set of short vectors has been described.

Then, in step (9), a dot is made based on the set of short vectors obtained in step (8). The method of hitting is exactly the same as the method shown in step (7), and is repeated for all the short vectors until the processing is completed.

Then, in step (10), it is determined whether or not the coordinate data of one contour are all completed. If the processing is completed, the process proceeds to step (12). If the processing is not completed, the step ( Proceed to 11) and update the pointer to the current coordinate data to process the next data.

Thus, if it is straight line data, the pointer is updated to the next coordinate data, and if it is curve data, the pointer is updated to the end coordinate point of the curve. Then, returning to step (6), a new straight line / curve determination is made and a dot is made.

Next, in step (12), it is determined whether or not the processing has been completed for all the contour data for one character. If it is determined that the processing has not been completed, the process proceeds to step (13). Since one contour is completed, the pointer is advanced to the beginning of the next contour, and the process returns to step (6).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (12) that the processing has been completed for all the contours, the dot processing has been completed for all coordinate data in step (14). , As shown in FIG. 6, the inside is filled.

Then, in step (15), the data for one character obtained in step (14) is returned to the area designated by the requesting side, and the process ends.

The character processing method according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the flow charts shown in FIGS.

9 and 10 are flow charts showing an embodiment of the character processing method according to the present invention. The same steps as those in FIG. 8 are designated by the same step numbers.
Further, (101) to (107) and (201) to (2
08) indicates each step.

This embodiment corresponds to the procedure for converting the straight line or short-circuit vector end points into integers in the straight-line dot processing steps (7) and (9) in the flow chart shown in FIG. Note that the description of the entire outline data processing process is omitted because it has been described above.

In this embodiment, alphanumerics A to Z, a to z, 0 to 9 and 62 characters in total are targeted.
The data format of the present embodiment is an outline format, and the following information, that is, character type information (information such as the character type such as code and name) / character area information (X, Y of the character area of each character) is used. Font information including maximum / minimum coordinates) / line segment attribute (curve or straight line) / character control point number (how many control points are constructed) / design reference line value (y coordinate) It is possible.

Further, in this embodiment, the outline coordinate system is the lower right coordinate system. Also, overhan
The design reference line related to g is asce shown in FIG.
nder line / Capital line / x-
line / base line / decender
There are 5 types of line.

Further, it is premised that the outline font data handled in this embodiment is not designed to be offset from the reference line in consideration of overhang as in the conventional case, but is designed to follow the reference line.

The procedure shown in FIG. 9 is a process inserted between step (2) and step (3) shown in FIG. 8, and the scaled size is overhan at the output destination.
This corresponds to the process of determining whether to perform g.

In step (101), the design size em of the outline font being handled, the resolution R of the output device that develops the font, and the font output size size are set. In the present embodiment, the unit of resolution R is dpi (dot perinch), and the unit of output size size is point.

Next, in step (102), a value corresponding to a vector for overhang is set for each design reference line. Then, in step (103), a threshold value T that determines whether or not the overhang is performed is set.

The threshold value T is obtained by the following equation (11).

T = 40 / em (11) Here, the constant 40 in the above equation is a value used for convenience because the overhang is empirically 1/40 of the capital height, and is input by an external input. The set value may be changed.

Then, in step (104), the scaling coefficient c is obtained by the following equation (12).

C = R × (size / 72) / em (12) Here, the constant 72 is 1 point = 1/72 (inch)
It is used because it is defined as.

Next, in step (105), the threshold value T obtained in step (103) is compared with the scaling coefficient c obtained in step (104). If c is larger than T, step (106) Go to
Otherwise, go to step (107).

At step (106), o
It is assumed that the processing related to verthang is performed, and the value "1" indicating that the processing is performed is substituted for the value of the execution flag ov_flag. Then, in step (107),
It is assumed that the processing related to overhang is not performed in the future processing, and the value "0" indicating that the processing is not performed is substituted for the value of the execution flag ov_flag.

Through the above processing, it is determined whether or not processing regarding overhang is performed.

Next, the actual processing relating to overhang will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

Steps (4), (6) and (8) in FIG. 10 are the same as the processing in FIG.

In step (201), it is determined whether or not to execute the process based on the value ov_flag indicating whether or not to execute the process related to overhang by the process described with reference to FIG. 9, and if the process related to overhang is to be executed, go to step (202). If not, go to step (208).

Therefore, in step (202), the end point of the end point of the straight line or the short vector is set as the target point, and it is determined whether or not the target point has the same y coordinate value as any of the design reference lines. If it is determined to be the same value as, the process proceeds to step (203), and if it is determined to be different, the process proceeds to step (20).
Proceed to 8).

Then, in step (203), the value of the design reference line where the target point overlaps is referred to from the value corresponding to the vector of each reference value defined in step (102) in FIG. 9, and if the value is positive. If it is determined, the process proceeds to step (204), and if it is determined that the value is not positive, the process proceeds to step (205).

A concrete description will be given with reference to FIG.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the relationship between the design reference value and the vector value in the lower right coordinate system in the character processing method according to the present invention.

First, when considering the overhang, the direction of each design reference value and the overhang is fixed. In the case of the lower right coordinate system, the downward direction is positive, so asc
ender line, Capital line,
Since x-line is overhanged upward, -1 indicating a negative vector is substituted. Also, baseli
ne, descender line is ove downward
Since it is changed, 1 which indicates a positive vector is substituted.

In step (204), the y-coordinates of the end points before and after the end point of interest are read, and if it is determined that the y-coordinates of the front and back end points are larger than the end point of interest, the process proceeds to step (207) and a small number of points are entered. Round up the points to an integer.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (204) that the y coordinates of the front and rear end points are not larger than the point of interest, the flow advances to step (206) to round down the decimal point to an integer.

If the point of interest is the start point of the contour, the last point of the contour is taken as the previous point. The comparison between the target point and the front and rear end points will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the comparison processing between the target point and the front and rear end points in the character processing method according to the present invention. FIG. 12A corresponds to an example in which a rounded up integer value is used. FIG. 12B corresponds to an example in which the rounded down integer is performed. If either one of the front and rear points has the same coordinate value as the point of interest, the proposition of step (204) is not satisfied.

In step (205), y-coordinates are read for the end points before and after the end point of interest, and when the y-coordinates of the front and rear end points are smaller than the end point of interest, step (20)
Proceed to 7) and round up the decimal point to an integer.

On the other hand, in step (205), when the y-coordinates of the front and rear end points are not smaller than the point of interest, the process proceeds to step (206), and the decimal points are rounded down to integers.

If the point of interest is the start point of the contour, the last point of the contour is the previous point. The details of the comparison are the same as in step (204) and will not be described here.

In step (206), when the scaled value is a decimal number in the drawing of a straight line or a curved line, the decimal points and below are truncated to be an integer. A dot is applied to a straight line or a set of short vectors based on the integerized coordinates.

Further, in step (207), when the scaled value is a decimal in drawing a straight line or a curved line, the fractional part is rounded up to an integer. A dot is applied to a straight line or a set of short vectors based on the integerized coordinates.

Further, in step (208), when the scaled value is a decimal number in the drawing of a straight line or a curved line, the part after the decimal point is rounded off to be an integer.
A dot is applied to a straight line or a set of short vectors based on the integerized coordinates. This method is the same as the straight line dot method in FIG.

The above steps (201) to (2
08), the process returns to step (10) shown in FIG.

The above processing not only eliminates the non-uniformity of the character array in the bit map expansion in the dot matrix in which the y-coordinate coincides with the reference line, but also the overha
Scaling considering ng is possible.

[Specific Example] For example, the coordinates of the end points of the outline data and the value of the reference line are -650 (lower right coordinates),
When the front and rear end points are −500, the positional relationship shown in FIG. 12A is obtained, and the decimal point generated when the bitmap is scaled is rounded up as shown in the following calculation example.

[Calculation Example] em = 800, R = 300, s
From size = 10, the scaling count c is equal to the above (1
From the formula 2), c = (300 × 10/72) / 800 =
At 0.052, the threshold value T is calculated from the above equation (11),
T = 40/800 = 0.05, C> T,
When the step (201) in FIG. 10 is YES,
2 (a), each end point X1 (x1, −30
0), X2 (x2, -650), X3 (x3, -30)
0), Capital line = -650 <0
If it is (negative), the end point X2 is Capital l
Since it is equal to ine, when attention is paid to the front and rear end points X1 and X3, the target end point X2 has a smaller y coordinate than the respective end points X1 and X3, and therefore the overhang processing is performed.

In this case, the position at which the end point X2 is scaled is -650 × c = −33.854 (dot)
And the positions where the end points X1 and X3 are scaled are
It becomes −300 × c = −15.625 (dot), which are respectively set to −34 and −16 by rounding up to an integer.
Therefore, if the rounding-up process is applied to all the hit points in the short vector between (X1-X2) and (X2-X3), the characters are expanded and the characters are expanded as shown in (c) of FIG.

Note that FIG. 12D corresponds to the case where the end point of interest is truncated with respect to the reference line and character expansion is performed. Such processing (processing for determining whether or not to perform overhang, processing for determining whether it is on a reference line, processing for determining the positional relationship between front and rear end points (see FIG. 10)) is examined for control points constituting one character and character expansion is performed. It will be.

Correspondence between the present embodiment and the respective steps of the eighth to twelfth inventions and their actions will be described below with reference to FIGS.

The eighth invention is a storage means (RO) for storing outline font data for developing a character designed in a predetermined size and predetermined development reference line information.
M102), the extracting step of extracting the outline font data from the character information storage means (steps (1) and (2) in FIG. 8), the extracted outline font information and the predetermined A setting step of setting position control information for adjusting the character development position based on the development reference line information (step (1 in FIG. 9
01) to (107)) and the expansion step (steps (6) and (8) in FIG. 8) for expanding characters based on whether the setting state of the position control information and the target end point position and the expansion reference line match. , Steps (201) to (20 in FIG.
8), Steps (10) to (15) in FIG. 8 are executed so that the height of the characters becomes proportionate according to the correspondence between the output size of the expanded characters and the designed character size. It is possible to automate the process of matching and expanding the character height.

In a ninth aspect of the invention, when the target end point position based on the outline font data and the expansion reference line are coincident with each other, the coordinates of the target end point and the front and rear end points are compared, and different positions are character expanded. , It is possible to automate the process of developing the contour of a character in a uniform manner in consideration of the relationship between the character height development reference position and the dot position.

In a tenth aspect of the invention, when the position of the end point of interest based on the outline font data and the development reference line coincide with each other, the coordinates of the end point of interest and the front and back ends are compared to determine that the end point of interest is the front and rear When the coordinates are less than or equal to the coordinates of each end point, the calculated dot data is truncated and the integerized position is expanded into characters (step (206) in FIG. 10),
Even if the development reference position of the character height coincides with the dot position, the relationship between the dot positions before and after the dot position, especially when the target endpoint is larger than the coordinates of each of the endpoints before and after the dot, the dot extends beyond the expansion reference line. It is possible to automate the process of developing the contour of a character in a uniform manner so as to reduce the amount.

In an eleventh aspect of the invention, when the position of the end point of interest based on the outline font data and the development reference line coincide with each other, the coordinates of the end point of interest and the front and back end points are compared, and the end point of interest is the front and back If the coordinates are larger than the coordinates of each end point, the calculated dot data is rounded up and the integerized position is expanded into characters (step (20 in FIG.
7)), even if the expansion reference position of the character height and the dot position coincide, the relationship between the dot positions before and after the dot position, especially when the target end point is larger than the coordinates of the front and back end points, the expansion reference line In contrast, it is possible to automate the process of developing the contour of the character in a well-balanced manner so as to make the protrusion amount stand out.

In a twelfth aspect of the invention, when the end point position of interest based on the outline font data and the expansion reference line do not coincide with each other, the calculated dot data is rounded and the position converted into an integer is expanded into characters (Fig. 10 steps (2
08)), when the development reference position of the character height and the printing point position do not match, the processing for deciding the printing point position so that the projection reference line does not occur and developing the character contour evenly is automated. It is possible to do.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one 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. In this case, by reading a storage medium storing a program represented by software for achieving the present invention into the system or apparatus, the system or apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention. .

Further, by downloading and reading the program represented by the software for achieving the present invention from the database on the network by the communication program, the system or apparatus can be
It is possible to enjoy the effects of the present invention.

[0130]

As described above, the first embodiment according to the present invention is described.
According to the invention, when the outline font data is extracted from the character information storage means by the extraction means,
When the expanding means expands the bitmap to generate the character pattern based on the extracted outline font data, the control means expands based on the extracted outline font information and the predetermined expansion reference line information. Since the character expansion position of the means is controlled, the character heights can be aligned and expanded so as to obtain a proportional character height according to the correspondence between the output size of the expanded character and the designed character size.

According to the second invention, the control means compares the evaluation value calculated by the output size with the character height threshold value calculated by the designed character size, and the expanding means expands the character. Since the position control information that determines whether or not to perform the setting is set, it is possible to reliably set whether to adjust the expansion position of the character height to be expanded according to the output size.

According to the third invention, the expanding means determines whether the position of the end point of interest based on the outline font data and the expanding reference line match when the position control information is set. Since the characters are developed at different positions based on this, the contour of the character can be developed in a uniform manner in consideration of the relationship between the development reference position of the character height and the hit point position.

According to the fourth invention, the expanding means compares the coordinates of the end point of interest with the coordinates of each of the front and rear end points when the position of the end point of interest based on the outline font data coincides with the expansion reference line. Since the characters are expanded at different positions, even if the expansion reference position of the character height coincides with the dot position, the contour of the character can be expanded evenly in consideration of the relationship with the dot positions before and after the expansion reference position.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the expanding means compares the coordinates of the end point of interest with each of the front and rear end points when the position of the end point of interest based on the outline font data coincides with the expansion reference line. , When the target end point is larger than the coordinates of the front and rear end points, the calculated dot data is truncated and the integerized position is expanded into characters.
Even if the development reference position of the character height coincides with the dot position, the relationship between the dot positions before and after the dot position, especially when the target endpoint is larger than the coordinates of each of the endpoints before and after the dot, the dot extends beyond the expansion reference line. The contour of the character can be developed in a uniform manner so as to reduce the amount.

According to the sixth invention, the expanding means compares the coordinates of the end point of interest and the front and back end points when the position of the end point of interest based on the outline font data coincides with the expansion reference line. , When the target end point is larger than the coordinates of the front and rear end points, the calculated dot data is rounded up and the integerized position is expanded into characters.
Even if the development reference position of the character height coincides with the dot position, the relationship between the dot positions before and after the dot position, especially when the target endpoint is larger than the coordinates of each of the endpoints before and after the dot, the dot extends beyond the expansion reference line. The contour of the character can be developed in a well-balanced manner so as to make the amount stand out.

According to the seventh invention, the developing means rounds off the calculated dot data when the position of the end point of interest based on the outline font data does not coincide with the expanded reference line, and converts the dot data into integers. When the development reference position of the character height and the dot position do not match, the dot position should be determined and the contour of the character should be developed in a uniform manner so that no protrusion occurs on the expansion reference line. You can

According to the eighth invention, the outline font data is extracted from the character information storage means, and the character expansion position is adjusted based on the extracted outline font information and the predetermined expansion reference line information. Since the position control information for setting the position control information is set and characters are expanded at different positions based on whether the position of the position control information and the target end point position and the expansion reference line match, the output size of the expanded character and the design It is possible to automate the process of aligning and developing the character heights so that the character heights are balanced according to the correspondence with the character size.

According to the ninth invention, in the expanding step, when the position of the target end point based on the outline font data and the expansion reference line coincide with each other, the coordinates of the target end point and the front and rear end points are compared. Since the characters are expanded at different positions, the process of uniformly expanding the outline of the character can be automated in consideration of the relationship between the expansion reference position of the character height and the hit point position.

According to the tenth invention, the developing step comprises:
When the target end point position based on the outline font data and the development reference line match, the coordinates of the target end point and the front and rear end points are compared, and the target end point is larger than the coordinates of the front and rear end points. In addition, since the calculated dot data is rounded down and the integerized position is character-developed, even if the character height expansion reference position and the dot position match, the relationship between the dot positions before and after that position, especially the noted end point is When the coordinates are larger than the coordinates of each of the front and rear end points, it is possible to automate the process of developing the contour of the character in a uniform manner so as to suppress the protrusion amount with respect to the development reference line.

According to the eleventh invention, the developing step comprises:
When the target end point position based on the outline font data and the development reference line match, the coordinates of the target end point and the front and rear end points are compared, and the target end point is larger than the coordinates of the front and rear end points. In addition, since the position where the calculated dot data is rounded up and converted into an integer is character-developed, even if the expansion reference position of the character height and the dot position match, the relationship between the dot positions before and after that, especially the noted end point is When the coordinates are larger than the coordinates of the front and rear end points, it is possible to automate the process of developing the contour of the character in a well-balanced manner so as to make the protrusion amount stand out with respect to the development reference line.

According to the twelfth invention, the developing step comprises
When the target end point position based on the outline font data and the expansion reference line do not match, the calculated dot data is rounded to a character development of an integerized position, so the expansion reference position of character height and the dot position If the two do not match, it is possible to automate the process of developing the character contours in a proportional manner by determining the hitting point position so that no protrusion occurs with respect to the development reference line.

Therefore, at the time of the contour dot printing in the character expansion processing, the dot output position and the designed character size and the position of each end point with respect to the dot development reference line are relatively determined to determine the dot output position. By deliberately adjusting the expansion position, which was uniquely determined at the time of design as in the past, the deviation will not be emphasized and will not become uneven, and it will be adjusted according to the output character size etc. from the extracted outline font data. This has the effect of being able to expand well-characterized characters.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a character processing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the concept of reference lines and terms in this type of font design.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating outlines of outline fonts and control points in the character processing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of outline font data in the character processing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a filling process of outline font data in the character processing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a filling process of outline font data in the character processing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the concept of conversion processing of curve data into a set of short vectors in a character processing device of this type.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a conversion processing procedure from outline font data to bitmap data in this type of character processing device.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a character processing method according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a character processing method according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a relationship between a design reference value and a vector value in the lower right coordinate system in the character processing method according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a comparison process of a target point and front and rear end points in the character processing method according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an overhang state in this type of character processing method.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an overhang state in this type of character processing method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 CPU 102 ROM 103 RAM 105 Keyboard 107 Pointing Device 109 CRT 1011 Disk

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. Storage means for storing outline font data for developing a character designed in a predetermined size and predetermined development reference line information, and extraction means for extracting the outline font data from the character information storage means. Developing means for generating a character pattern by expanding a bitmap based on the outline font data extracted by the extracting means; outline font information extracted by the extracting means and the predetermined expansion reference line information. A character processing device, comprising: a control unit that controls a character expansion position where the expansion unit expands based on the character processing unit. 2. The control means compares the evaluation value calculated by the output size with a character height threshold value calculated by the designed character size to determine whether or not the expansion means expands. The character processing device according to claim 1, wherein the position control information is set. 3. The expansion means, when the position control information is set, sets a different position based on whether or not the target end point position based on the outline font data and the expansion reference line match. The character processing device according to claim 1, wherein the character processing device is developed. 4. The expanding means compares the coordinates of the end point of interest with the coordinates of the end points before and after the end point of interest based on the outline font data and the expansion reference line, and expands the character at a different position. The character processing device according to claim 3, wherein the character processing device is a character processing device. 5. The expanding means compares the coordinates of the end point of interest and the coordinates of each of the front and back end points when the end point of interest based on the outline font data and the expansion reference line match, and the end point of interest is determined. 5. When the coordinates are larger than the coordinates of each of the front and rear end points, the calculated dot data is truncated and the integerized position is expanded into characters.
A character processing device as described. 6. The expanding means compares the coordinates of the end point of interest and the coordinates of each of the front and rear end points when the end point of interest based on the outline font data and the development reference line match, and the end point of interest is determined. 5. When the coordinates are larger than the coordinates of each of the front and rear end points, the calculated dot data is rounded up and the integerized position is expanded into characters.
A character processing device as described. 7. The expanding means rounds off the calculated dot data and expands the position into an integer when the target end point position based on the outline font data and the expansion reference line do not match. The character processing device according to claim 4, wherein the character processing device is a character processing device. 8. A character processing method having a storage means for storing outline font data for developing a character designed in a predetermined size and predetermined development reference line information, wherein the outline font data is stored in the character information storage means. An extraction step of extracting the position information, a setting step of setting position control information for adjusting a character development position based on the extracted outline font information and the predetermined development reference line information, and setting of the position control information. A character processing method, comprising: a character development step of character-developing a different position based on whether the state and the position of the end point of interest and the development reference line match. 9. In the expanding step, when the position of the end point of interest based on the outline font data and the expansion reference line match, the coordinates of the end point of interest and the front and back end points are compared to develop a character at a different position. 9. The character processing method according to claim 8, wherein: 10. In the expanding step, when the position of the end point of interest based on the outline font data and the expansion reference line coincide with each other, the coordinates of the end point of interest and the front and back end points are compared, and the end point of interest is determined. 9. The character processing method according to claim 8, wherein when the coordinates are larger than the coordinates of each of the front and rear end points, the calculated dot data is truncated and the integerized position is character-developed. 11. In the expanding step, when the position of the end point of interest based on the outline font data and the expansion reference line coincide with each other, the coordinates of the end point of interest and the front and back end points are compared, and the end point of interest is determined. 9. The character processing device according to claim 8, wherein when the coordinates are larger than the coordinates of each of the front and rear end points, the calculated dot data is rounded up and the integerized position is character-developed. 12. The expanding step rounds out the calculated dot data and rounds the position into an integer when the target end point position based on the outline font data and the expansion reference line do not match. The character processing method according to claim 8, which is characterized in that.