KR100594554B1 - Character generating apparatus, character generating method, and stroage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

Storage means for storing data representing the shape of each of the at least one character, character code input means for inputting a character code corresponding to a character to be generated, and size designation input for specifying a bitmap size corresponding to a letter frame of the character Means, and an enlargement / reduction type switching means for allowing the aspect ratio to be changed from aspect to aspect within the range in which the character frame does not protrude from the letter frame by the type of the input character code and the designated bitmap size. An enlargement / reduction means for expanding / reducing data representing the shape of at least one character to a designated bitmap size at an enlargement / reduction ratio obtained by the type switching means, and data enlarged / reduced by the enlargement / reduction means There is provided a character generating apparatus having an output means for outputting the.

Text, enlarge, reduce, bitmap, code, data, shape, size

Description

Character generator, character generator, and storage medium {CHARACTER GENERATING APPARATUS, CHARACTER GENERATING METHOD, AND STROAGE MEDIUM}

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of main parts in a first embodiment of a character generator of the present invention.

2A is a diagram showing coordinate positions of each stroke constituting a character frame, a letter frame, and the character "문자";

Fig. 2B is a diagram showing the coordinate positions of each stroke constituting the character frame, the letter frame, and the character "E".

Fig. 2C is a diagram showing the coordinate positions of each stroke constituting the character frame, the letter frame, and the character "Th".

FIG. 3A is a diagram showing a storage state of character data "#" stored in the storage means of FIG.

FIG. 3B is a diagram showing a storage state of character data "エ" stored in the storage means of FIG.

3C is a diagram showing a storage state of character data "three" stored in the storage means of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the types and contents of zoom types stored in the zoom type storage means of FIG.

5 is a diagram showing an example of an enlargement / reduction type set in the enlargement / reduction type storage means of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an enlargement / reduction type determined by the bitmap size input from the size designation input means in FIG. 1; FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining each processing procedure of the character generation method by the character generator of FIG. 1; FIG.

FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating character data obtained by enlarging / reducing the character data "胃" in FIG. 3A into an enlarged / reduced type A. FIG.

FIG. 8B is a diagram showing character data obtained by enlarging / reducing the character data "胃" in FIG. 3A into an enlargement / reduction type C. FIG.

FIG. 8C is a diagram illustrating character data obtained by enlarging / reducing the character data "胃" in FIG. 3A into an enlarged / reduced type B. FIG.

9A to 9D are diagrams showing the state of characters converted for each enlargement / reduction type.

10A to 10C are diagrams showing character data obtained by enlarging and reducing the character data "E" of FIG. 3B to each enlargement / reduction type A or B, respectively.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing character data obtained by enlarging / reducing the character data “三” of FIG. 3C. FIG.

12A to 12A are diagrams illustrating character strings enlarged / reduced according to the prior art, respectively, and FIGS. A diagram showing a character string enlarged / reduced by the character generation method of the present embodiment.

13A and 13B are diagrams for explaining a conventional character frame, letter frame, and body frame, respectively.

14A and 14B are diagrams showing an example in which the ratio between the letter frame and the body frame of a conventional character is changed, respectively.

(A) is a figure which shows the character string of the enlarged / reduced state without changing the ratio of a letter frame and a body frame by prior art, (b) shows the enlargement / change of the ratio of a letter frame and a body frame. A figure showing a string in a reduced state.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

1: storage means

2: character code input means

3: size designation input means

4: Zoom type switching means

5: zoom means

6: Zoom type storage means

7: output means

10: character generator

<Related Technology>

This application, 35 U.S.C. On the basis of § 119 (a), it claims priority to patent application No. 2003-165748 filed on June 10, 2003 in Japan, all of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

The present invention relates to a character generating apparatus for generating a character from data representing the shape of a character, a character generating method, and a character generating program for causing a computer to execute a processing procedure of the method. The invention also relates to a computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon the program. The present invention is suitably used for a low resolution display device such as a liquid crystal display, an EL display, a plasma display, a CRT, or the like.

The conventional character generator will be described below.

For example, a set of characters necessary for expressing a sentence including character information such as "胃" shown in the frame of FIG. 13A and "E" shown in the frame of FIG. 13B. Is called a font. Character codes, such as JIS code, shift JIS code, EUC code, JIS graphic character code, UNICODE, are allocated to these character sets (font), for example. These fonts may include characters that cover all of the codes. Alternatively, for example, only KANA (Japanese Consonant Characters) type or numbers only font may be used.

"胃" in FIG. 13A and "E" in FIG. 13B constituting the font are referred to as characters. The characters contained in the font have a body frame shown by W3 in FIG. This body frame is defined as a frame including between characters and between lines required when a plurality of characters are arranged as vertically or horizontally so that a plurality of characters are in contact with each other's body frames. A body frame of a common size is set for all characters in the same font.

In addition, each character contained in a font has the letter frame shown by W2 in FIG. This letter frame is defined as a frame having the largest size for which the letter shape of a character is designed. Letter frames of a common size are set for all characters in the same font.

In addition, each character contained in a font has the character frame shown to W1 in FIG. This character frame shows the range in which the letter shape of the character is actually designed. Thus, the character frame has a size that varies for each character. As shown in Figs. 13A and 13B, the character frames are represented by rectangles of different sizes for each character. For example, the character frame "胃" shown in FIG. 13A is displayed as a rectangle larger than the character frame "E" shown in FIG. 13B.

In FIGS. 13A and 13B, for the sake of simplicity, the shape of the letter is shown as stroke data indicating the skeleton shape of the letter, but the shape of the letter is shown as outline data indicating the outline shape of the letter. You may also

As a conventional technique for generating a character from data representing the shape of such a character, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-177295 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-257450 are disclosed by a printing device having a high resolution such as a printing machine or a printer. When printing a character string, the character generation apparatus which outputs a natural and balanced character string by changing the ratio of the letter frame with respect to a body frame corresponding to a character size is disclosed.

An example thereof is shown in Figs. 14A and 14B. The ratio of the letter frame to the body frame of "B" or "E" of FIG. 14A is more than the ratio of the letter frame to the body frame of "B" or "E" of FIG. 14B. Big.

15A and 15B show an example in which characters are actually printed. In Fig. 15A, the three character strings have the same ratio of letter frames to body frames. In Fig. 15B, the three character strings have different ratios of the letter frame to the body frame, and the letter frame increases as the characters become larger (upper row). Thereby, when the characters are arranged in the vertical direction or the horizontal direction so that the body frames of the adjacent characters are in contact with each other, the characters can be made large by adjusting the space between the characters and the letters so as not to be too wide.

However, for example, in FIG. 15A, when the letter is enlarged while maintaining the ratio between the letter frame and the body frame, the space between the letter and the letter also becomes wider, so that the character string is changed and difficult to read. There is a problem.

This problem is solved by Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-177295 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-257450. For example, in Fig. 15 (b), the letter frame is enlarged and reduced in size by changing the ratio between the letter frame and the body frame, and when the letter is large, the letter frame for the body frame is compared with when the letter is small. It is designed to suppress the fluctuation of the character string by adjusting the space between the character by increasing the ratio of the character.

In the prior art disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-177295 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-257450, for example, the letter frame W2 and the body frame shown in Figs. 13A and 13B are shown. By adjusting the ratio with W3, it becomes possible to make a character appear large or small.

However, in a display device having a low resolution, such as a liquid crystal display, an EL display, a plasma display, and a CRT, for example, when characters are displayed with a small number of bitmaps, the characters are not individually intentionally aligned with the letter frame. A variation occurs in the size of, resulting in a problem that becomes difficult to read.

In this case, in the prior art disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-177295 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-257450, the letter frame W2 shown in Figs. 13A and 13B is shown. Since the coordinate position of the character frame W1 and the origin information as the center of the character frame are not defined, there is a problem that the letter cannot be intentionally matched to the letter frame only by the ratio information between the letter frame W2 and the body frame W3. This problem will be described in detail below.

As an example, the method of matching a character to a letter frame using the stroke data "X" as shown in FIG. 2A as an example and using the origin position which is the coordinate position of a character frame or the center of a character frame is demonstrated.

The distance from the horizontal stroke # 1-2 of the letter "胃" to the upper end of the letter frame is 14 minus the y coordinate value 241 of the stroke # 1-2 from the y coordinate value 255 of the upper end of the letter frame. The distance from the final stroke # 1-10 to the lower end of the letter frame is 9 minus the y coordinate 0 of the lower end of the letter frame from the y coordinate value 9 of the stroke # 1-10.

In the case of the character "胃", the origin in the y direction is (255- (14 + 9)) / 2 + 9) = 125. In addition, the enlargement / reduction ratio is calculated as 255 / (255- (14 + 9)) = 1.1, and becomes about 1.1.

If y coordinate 241 of stroke # 1-2 is enlarged to contact the letter frame using y coordinate 125 of origin and zoom factor 1.1, then y = (241-125) x 1.1 + 127.5 = 255, resulting in y coordinate The value is 255, which corresponds to the y coordinate value 255 at the top of the letter frame. Further, if y coordinate 9 of stroke # 1-10 is enlarged to contact the letter frame using y coordinate 125 of the origin and zoom factor 1.1, it is calculated as y = (9-125) × 1.1 + 127.5 = 0, The y coordinate value becomes 0, and coincides with the y coordinate value = 0 at the bottom of the letter frame.

On the other hand, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 4-177295 and 5-5257450 do not use the origin of a character frame. Referring to Fig. 15B, in such a prior art, when the enlargement / reduction process is performed by changing the ratio of the letter frame W2 to the body frame W3, for example, the character "胃" shown in Fig. 2A is performed. In the above example, when the origin of the enlargement / reduction process in the y direction is 127.5 as the center of the letter frame, and the enlargement / reduction ratio is 1.1 which is the same as the above method, the y coordinate 241 of the stroke # 1-2 is obtained by using the above numerical values. If enlarged, y = (241-127.5) x 1.1 + 127.5 = 252, and the y coordinate value is 252, which does not coincide with the y coordinate value 255 at the top of the letter frame. If y coordinate 9 of stroke # 1-10 is enlarged using the above numerical value, it is calculated as y = (9-127.5) × 1.1 + 127.5 = 3, and y coordinate value becomes 3 so that y at the lower end of the letter frame Does not coincide with the coordinate value = 0.

In this way, in order to align the character with the letter frame, the origin information which is the coordinate position of the character frame or the center of the character frame is required. For example, if there is no coordinate position of the character frame or origin information in the y direction, and the origin of the enlargement / reduction process in the y direction is the center of the letter frame, the top and bottom of the character frame can be matched up and down the letter frame. none.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a character generating apparatus of the present invention comprises: storage means for storing a shape of each of at least one character, character code input means for inputting a character code corresponding to at least one character to be generated, Size-specific input means for specifying a bitmap size corresponding to a letter frame of at least one character, and the ratio of the character frame to the aspect ratio in the range in which the character frame does not protrude from the letter frame by the type of the input character code and the designated bitmap size. And zoom-in type switching means for changing the size, and zoom-in / out means for expanding / reducing data representing the shape of at least one character to a designated bitmap size at a ratio obtained by the zoom-in / out type switching means. And output means for outputting data enlarged / reduced by the enlargement / reduction means.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the enlargement / reduction type switching means in the character generator of the present invention determines the first size with the bitmap size, and if the designated bitmap size is less than the first size, the character frame. The upper and lower sides of the letter frame is characterized in that the ratio is changed by the vertical and horizontal directions in contact with the upper and lower sides.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the enlargement / reduction type switching means in the character generator of the present invention determines the second size with the bitmap size, and if the designated bitmap size is equal to or larger than the second size, It is characterized by maintaining the ratio of the letter frame.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the enlargement / reduction type switching means in the character generator of the present invention determines the first size and the second size with the bitmap size, and the designated bitmap size is equal to or greater than the first size, When the size is less than the second size, the vertical / horizontal enlargement / reduction ratio is changed in a direction in which the upper and lower sides or the left and right sides of the character frame are in contact with each of the upper and lower sides or the left and right sides of the letter frame.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the enlargement / reduction type switching means in the character generator of the present invention maintains the ratio of the character frame and the letter frame when the character code input by the character code input means is other than a Chinese character. Characterized in that.

In one embodiment of the present invention, in the character generator of the present invention, at least one enlargement / reduction type is stored according to a character code input by a character code input means and a bitmap size specified by the size designation input means. The apparatus further includes an enlargement / reduction type storage means for changing the storage contents, and the enlargement / reduction type switching means further includes an enlargement / reduction type corresponding to the correlation between the character code and the bitmap size. And selecting from the stored contents of the storage means.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the enlargement / reduction means in the character generating apparatus of the present invention uses the coordinate positions of the x and y coordinates of the character frame and the number of dots in the X and y directions of the letter frame. Coordinate transformation of the coordinate position of the data which shows the shape of at least one character corresponding to the enlargement / reduction ratio determined by the / reduction type switching means is carried out.

The character generation method of the present invention includes a storage step of storing a shape of each of the at least one character, a character code input step of inputting a character code corresponding to the at least one character to be generated, and a letter frame of the at least one character. Changes the character frame's zoom ratio vertically and horizontally in a size specification input step that specifies the corresponding bitmap size, and the character frame does not protrude from the letter frame by the type of the input character code and the specified bitmap size. An enlargement / reduction step of enlarging / reducing data representing the shape of at least one character to a specified bitmap size at a zoom-type switching step and an aspect ratio obtained at the zoom-type switching step; And an output step of outputting data enlarged / reduced by the reduction / reduction step. All.

The character generation program of the present invention includes a storage step of storing data representing the shape of each of the at least one character, a character code input step of inputting a character code corresponding to the at least one character to be generated, and A size specification input step for specifying a bitmap size corresponding to a letter frame, and the character frame is enlarged / reduced vertically and horizontally within a range in which the character frame does not protrude from the letter frame by the type of the input character code and the designated bitmap size. A zooming type switching step of changing a ratio, and a zooming step of zooming in and out of data representing at least one character's shape to a specified bitmap size at a vertical zooming ratio obtained at the zooming type switching step; , An output step of outputting data enlarged / reduced by the corresponding zoom step. A processing procedure for causing the computer to execute is described.

A readable storage medium of the present invention includes a storage step of storing a shape of each of at least one character, a character code input step of inputting a character code corresponding to at least one character to be generated, and a letter frame of at least one character. In the size specification input step for specifying the bitmap size corresponding to, and the character frame enlargement / reduction ratio for each aspect in the range where the character frame does not protrude from the letter frame by the type of the input character code and the specified bitmap size. An enlargement / reduction step of enlarging / reducing data representing the shape of at least one character to a designated bitmap size at the changing zoom type switching step and the aspect ratio obtained at the zoom type switching step; To cause the computer to execute an output step of outputting data enlarged / reduced by the zoom step. One character generating program is computer readable.

By the above configuration, the operation of the present invention will be described below.

In the present invention, the enlargement / reduction type switching means corresponds to the type of character code input by the character code input means and the bitmap size specified by the size designation input means, and the letter frame is enlarged by the enlargement / reduction type switching means. In the range that does not protrude from, the zoom type for varying the vertical and horizontal zoom ratios of the character frame is determined. Corresponding to the enlargement / reduction type set by the enlargement / reduction size switching means, by the enlargement / reduction means, the data representing the shape of the character read from the storage means is enlarged and reduced to the designated bitmap size and output from the output means. do.

For example, when the designated bitmap size is less than the first size in which a quantization error of one dot is large when a human sees a character, the letter frame is changed by the enlargement / reduction type switching means. In the direction of contact with the top, bottom, left, and right sides of, respectively, the character frame is enlarged / reduced in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, so that the characters are matched in the same size, so that an easy-to-read character string can be output.

In addition, when the designated bitmap size is equal to or larger than the second size where the quantization error of one dot does not affect much when a human looks at the character, the ratio between the character frame and the letter frame is increased by the enlargement / reduction type switching means. By holding at a predetermined ratio, an easy-to-read string can be output.

In addition, when the designated bitmap size is greater than or equal to the first size where a quantization error of one dot is large when a human sees a character, and less than a second size where the quantization error of one dot does not affect much, , By changing the type of zooming type, by changing the vertical and horizontal directions of the character frame to the same magnification in the direction in which one of the upper and lower sides and the left and right of the character contact the letter frame. By matching, you can print an easy-to-read string that does not change.                         

In addition, when the designated character code is not a Chinese character, an easy-to-read character string can be output by maintaining the ratio between the character and the letter frame at a predetermined ratio by the enlargement / reduction type switching means.

Further, in the enlargement / reduction type switching means, by providing an enlargement / reduction type storage means in which the enlargement / reduction type is stored according to a combination of the designated character code and the designated bitmap size, and changing the storage contents, By selecting the enlargement / reduction type stored in the type storage means, it is possible to change the enlargement / reduction ratios in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction of the character frame, respectively, and output an easy-to-read string.

Accordingly, in the present invention, when a character string is displayed on a display device having a low resolution, the character generator, a character generation method, capable of suppressing variations in the size or position of the character by enlarging / reducing the character in accordance with the letter frame, A character generating program for causing a computer to execute the processing procedure of this method, and a computer readable recording medium on which the program is recorded.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Below, the Example of the character generator of this invention is described, referring drawings.

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of main parts in the first embodiment of the character generator of the present invention.

In Fig. 1, the character generating device 10 includes a storage means 1, a character code input means 2, a size designation input means 3, an enlargement / reduction type switching means 4, and an enlargement / According to the character generation program of the present invention, which includes a reduction type storage means 6, an enlargement / reduction means 5, and an output means 7, and is stored in a storage means (not shown), Selection processing from the storage means 1 of the corresponding character data, enlargement / reduction processing by the enlargement / reduction type switching means 4 and the enlargement / reduction means 5, output processing by the output means 7, and the like. The character generation process of the present invention is performed by a control means (CPU; central processing unit) that controls each processing procedure of.

This character generating apparatus 10 can be comprised, for example with a personal computer. As the personal computer, any type of computer, such as a desktop type or a laptop type, a notebook type, can be used. Alternatively, the character generator 10 may be a word processor.

In addition, the character generator 10 can be comprised with arbitrary information display apparatuses, such as an electronic apparatus and an information apparatus (electronic information apparatus) provided with the display device as the output means 7. As shown in FIG. For example, the character generator may be an electronic device equipped with a liquid crystal display device, a portable information terminal serving as a portable information tool, a mobile phone device including a PHS, or a communication device (communication device) such as a general telephone / FAX. .

The character generator 10 can also be configured as a server device. As a server apparatus, you do not need to specifically provide a display device.

First, the storage means 1 will be described.

In the storage means 1, the shape of the character data contained in the font is stored, an input corresponding to the character code input from the character code input means 2 is received, and the character data corresponding to the code is stored. It is supplied to the enlargement / reduction means 5 connected to the means 1.

The character data is for describing the shape of the character and may be, for example, vector information. As the vector information, a stroke type, an outline type, a bitmap type, or the like can be used.

For example, when storing the stroke data of the character &quot; 바와 &quot; as shown in FIG. 2A in the storage means 1, as shown in FIG. 3A, for example, a character code is described in the area 01. "1663" which is a graphic character code of "k" is defined. In the region 02, the number of strokes constituting the character is described, and the number of strokes 12 constituting "胃" is defined.

In addition, the stroke number is described in the area 03. For example, "1" is defined for the vertical stroke # 1-1 shown in FIG. 2A as shown in FIG. 3A. In addition, the area 04 describes the number of coordinates of the stroke. For example, "2" is defined for the stroke # 1-1 shown in FIG. 2A as shown in FIG. 3A.

Moreover, the kind of stroke is described in area | region 05, and, for example, "straight line" is defined about the longitudinal stroke # 1-1 shown in FIG. 2A as shown in FIG. 3A. In the region 06, the coordinate values at both ends of the stroke are described. For example, for the stroke # 1-1 shown in Fig. 2A, as shown in Fig. 3A, (25, 241) and (25, 162) are shown. Is defined.

When storing the stroke data of the character "E" as shown in FIG. 2B in the storage means 1, for example, as shown in FIG. 3B, the figure character of "E" as a character code in the area 01 is shown. The code "0508" is defined. In the region 02, the number of strokes 3 is defined as the number of strokes constituting the letter "E". In addition, the area | region number is described in area | region 03, for example, "1" is defined about stroke # 2-1 shown to FIG. 2B as shown to FIG. 3B. In addition, the number of coordinates of the stroke is described in the area 04. For example, "2" is defined for the stroke # 2-1 shown in FIG. 2B as shown in FIG. 3B. In addition, the type of stroke is described in the region 05. For example, the "straight line" is defined for the stroke # 2-1 shown in FIG. 2B as shown in FIG. 3B. In the region 06, the coordinate values at both ends of the stroke are described. For example, for the stroke # 2-1 shown in Fig. 2B, as shown in Fig. 3B, (40, 200) and (216, 200) are shown. Is defined.

When storing the stroke data of the character &quot; three &quot; as shown in Fig. 2C in the storage means 1, for example, as shown in Fig. 3C, the figure character of &quot; three &quot; The code "2716" is defined. In addition, in the region 02, the stroke number "3" is defined as the number of strokes constituting the character "Th". In addition, the area | region number is described in area | region 03, for example, "1" is defined about stroke # 3-1 shown to FIG. 2C as shown to FIG. 3C. In addition, the area 04 describes the number of coordinates of the stroke. For example, "2" is defined for the stroke # 3-1 shown in FIG. 2C as shown in FIG. 3C. In addition, the type of stroke is described in the region 05. For example, the "straight line" is defined for the stroke # 3-1 shown in FIG. 2C as shown in FIG. 3C. In the region 06, coordinate values at both ends of the stroke are described. For example, for stroke # 3-1 shown in FIG. 2C, as shown in FIG. 3C (18, 231) and (236, 231). Is defined.

As a storage medium in which character data is stored, any storage medium can be used. For example, a storage medium such as a hard disk, CD-ROM, MO (optomagnetic disk), MD, DVD, IC card, optical card or the like can be suitably used.

Subsequently, the character code input means 2 is used for inputting a character code into this character generator 10. The input character code is supplied to the storage means 1 and the enlargement / reduction type switching means 4 connected to the character code input means 2.

The character code may be, for example, a character code for identifying a character. As this character code, JIS code, a shift JIS code, EUC code, JIS graphic character code, UNICODE etc. can be used, for example.

In addition, the character code input means 2 can be comprised, for example by communication means. As the communication means, a LAN, a WAN, a cellular telephone network, a wired communication network, a wireless communication network, an interface for connecting a computer and a peripheral device, a bus inside the computer, and the like can be used.

The size designation input means 3 is used for inputting the bitmap size corresponding to the letter frame of the character. The input bitmap size is supplied to the enlargement / reduction type switching means 4 connected to the size designation input means 3. The bitmap size can take an integer value of 1 or more, for example.

In addition, the size designation input means 3 may be a communication means, for example. As the communication means, a LAN, a WAN, a cellular telephone network, a wired communication network, a wireless communication network, an interface for connecting a computer and a peripheral device, a bus inside the computer, and the like can be used.

In the enlargement / reduction type switching means 4, the enlargement / reduction as shown in Fig. 4 is performed from the character code supplied from the character code input means 2 and the bitmap size supplied from the size designation input means 3. The type is determined. The determined enlargement / reduction type is supplied to the enlargement / reduction means 5 connected to the enlargement / reduction type switching means 4.

In the example of FIG. 4, the enlargement / reduction type A "frame maximum magnification" which changes the vertical / horizontal zoom ratio of a character frame, respectively, so that a character frame and a letter frame may match, and a character frame and a letter frame Enlargement / reduction Type B "simple enlargement" to maintain a predetermined ratio, and maintains the ratio between the vertical and horizontal directions of the letter frame and the character frame, so that either the vertical or horizontal direction of the character frame matches the letter frame. An enlargement / reduction type C "ratio maintenance magnification" for changing the vertical direction and the horizontal direction of the character frame at the same enlargement / reduction rate is included.

In addition, in zoom type C, the vertical and horizontal directions of the character frame are equally enlarged / rearized so that the vertical and horizontal directions of the letter frame and the character frame are maintained so that the vertical direction of the character frame matches the letter frame. Enlargement / reduction type to change by reduction Type C-1 "Maximum vertical frame enlargement" and the character frame so that the horizontal direction of the character frame matches the letter frame while maintaining the ratio of the vertical and horizontal directions of the letter frame and the character frame. Zoom type C-2 "Horizontal vertical frame maximum magnification" which changes the vertical direction and the horizontal direction at the same enlargement / reduction ratio is contained.

In particular, the enlargement / reduction type according to the combination of the character code supplied from the character code input means 2 and the bitmap size supplied from the size designation input means 3 is supplied to the enlargement / reduction type switching means 4. When it is set in the connected enlargement / reduction type storage means 6, the enlargement / reduction type corresponding to the character code and the bitmap size is enlarged / reduced by the enlargement / reduction type switching means 4. From the storage means 6. The selected enlargement / reduction type is the enlargement / reduction means 5 connected to the enlargement / reduction type switching means 4 via the enlargement / reduction type switching means 4 connected to the enlargement / reduction type storage means 6. Is supplied.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an enlargement / reduction type set by the enlargement / reduction type storage means 6 of FIG. 1.

In Fig. 5, in the enlargement / reduction type storage means 6, an enlargement / reduction type A is set in the bitmap size 15 or less with respect to the character code 0109 (JIS graphic character code) of the question mark symbol "?". Zoom type C is set. In addition, for the character code 0110 of the exclamation point symbol "!", An enlargement / reduction type C is set to bitmap sizes 14 or more and 19 or less. In addition, for the character codes 0111 and 0112 of the symbols "" and ".", An enlargement / reduction type B is set to a bitmap size of 14 to 19. In addition, the character code 1663 of the kanji "胃" is enlarged / The reduction type is not set.

As in the case of the Chinese character "胃", when the enlargement / reduction type corresponding to the character code and the bitmap size is not set in the enlargement / reduction type storage means 6, as shown in FIG. 6, the bitmap size Correspondingly, an enlargement / reduction type is determined.

In the example of FIG. 6, the enlargement / reduction type A is determined by the enlargement / reduction type switching means 4 when the bitmap size n is less than 16, and the enlargement / reduction type B is determined when the bitmap size n is 24 or more. If the bit size n is 16 or more and 23 or less, the enlargement / reduction type C is determined.

Subsequently, in the enlargement / reduction means 5, the bitmap size input from the size designation input means 3 and the enlargement / reduction type switching means 4 are supplied to the character data supplied from the storage means 1. In accordance with the information of the enlargement / reduction type, enlargement / reduction conversion (expansion or reduction processing) is performed, and the character data after the enlargement / reduction conversion is supplied to the output means 7 connected to the enlargement / reduction means 5.

The output means 7 may be a display device, for example. As the display device, a liquid crystal display, an EL display, a plasma display, a CRT, or the like can be used. In addition, the output means 7 may be a communication device, for example. As the communication device, a device connected to the Internet or the like can be used.

The character generation method using the character generator of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described below.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining each processing procedure of the character generation method by the character generator of FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 7, first, in step S1, a character code is input from the character code input means 2. For example, 1663 (JIS figure character code) is input as a character code of "胃" of a Chinese character. Such input is made by, for example, a user performing kana / kanji conversion using a keyboard.

Next, in step S2, the bitmap size is input from the size designation input means 3. For example, 19 is input as a bitmap size corresponding to a letter frame. Such an input is made, for example, by the user pressing the keys "1" and "9" on the keyboard.

In step S3, character data for one character corresponding to the character code input in step S1 is read out from the storage means 1.

For example, character data as shown in FIG. 3A is read as character data corresponding to character code 1663 (JIS graphic character code) of the Chinese character "胃" shown in FIG. 2A. In addition, character data as shown in FIG. 3B is read as character data corresponding to character code 0508 (JIS graphic character code) of Katakana "E" shown in FIG. 2B. In addition, character data as shown in FIG. 3C is read as character data corresponding to character code 2716 (JIS graphic character code) of the kanji "three" shown in FIG. 2C.

In step S4, the enlargement / reduction type storage means 6 is referred to by the enlargement / reduction type switching means 4, so that the character code input in step S1 and the bitmap size input in step S2 are enlarged / reduced type. It is confirmed whether or not the designated character code and designated bitmap size in which the enlargement / reduction type is set in the storage means 6 is specified. When the enlargement / reduction type is set in the enlargement / reduction type storage means 6, the processing proceeds to step S5, and when the enlargement / reduction type is not set, the processing proceeds to step S6.

For example, in the example of FIG. 5, when the character code of the symbol "?" Is 0109 (JIS graphic character code) and the bitmap size is "19", the enlargement / reduction type C shown in FIG. 6 is set. Since that is the case, the process proceeds to step S5. If the character code of the kanji "胃" is 1663 (JIS figure character code) and the bitmap size is "19", since the enlargement / reduction type is not set, the process proceeds to step S6.

In step S5, when the enlargement / reduction type is set in the enlargement / reduction type storage means 6 in step S4 (YES), the enlargement / reduction type switching means 4 changes the character code and the bitmap size. The enlargement / reduction type according to the above is selected from the enlargement / reduction type storage means 6, and the processing proceeds to step S9.

For example, in the example of FIG. 5, when the character code of the symbol "?" Is 0109 (JIS graphic character code) and the bitmap size is "19", the enlargement / reduction type is determined as "C".

If the zoom type is not set in the zoom type storage means 6 in step S4 (No), it is determined in step S6 whether or not the character code input in step S1 is a Chinese character. In the case, the process proceeds to step S7. In addition, in cases other than Chinese characters, the process proceeds to step S8.

In step S7, the enlargement / reduction type is determined by the enlargement / reduction type switching means 4 from the bitmap size input in step S2, and step S9 proceeds to processing.

For example, in the example of FIG. 6, when the character code of the kanji "胃" is 1663 (JIS graphic character code) and the bitmap size is "11", the enlargement / reduction type is determined as "A". In addition, when the "胃" character code of the Chinese character is No. 1663 (JIS figure character code) and the bitmap size is "19", the enlargement / reduction type is determined as "C".

In step S8, the enlargement / reduction type is determined as "B".

For example, when the character code of Katakana "エ" is 0608 (JIS graphic character code), the enlargement / reduction type is determined as "B".

In step S9, when the enlargement / reduction type determined in step S5 or step S7 is not "C" (No), the processing proceeds to step S11. If the enlargement / reduction type determined in step S5 or step S7 is "C" (Yes), the processing proceeds to step S10.

In step S10, in the case of the zoom type "C", it is calculated whether or not the character frame of the character data read in step S3 is portrait-oriented or landscape-oriented, and enlarges / reduces it. Determine the type, ie C-1 or C-2.

For example, as shown in Fig. 2A, when the original character data is data in a letter frame 256 × 256 dot and the coordinate data is (0, 0) to (255, 255), the coordinate data before conversion is ( x, y), letter frame (n + 1) × (n + 1) (n = 255 in FIG. 2A). The coordinate data after conversion to dots is set to (nx, ny), and the minimum value of the x coordinate in the character frame is min_x. , Max_x is the maximum value, min_y is the minimum value of the y coordinate, and max_y is the maximum value.

mx = max_x-min_x

The actual height of the character frame

my = max_y-min_y

It becomes

In the case of mx = <my, it becomes a vertical character frame, the enlargement / reduction type is determined as "C-1", and the process proceeds to step S11.

In addition, in the case of mx> my, it becomes a horizontal character frame, the enlargement / reduction type is determined as "C-2", and it progresses to the process of step S11.

For example, in the case of the character data "胃" shown in FIG. 3A, since the actual width mx of the character frame is 230-25 = 205 and the actual height my of the character frame is 241-9 = 232, it becomes a vertical character frame. , The zoom type is determined by "C-1".

In addition, in the case of the character data "three" shown in FIG. 3C, since the actual width mx of the character frame is 247-8 = 239, and the actual height my of the character frame is 231-25 = 206, the horizontal character frame is enlarged. The reduction type is determined by "C-2".

Subsequently, in step S11, corresponding to the bitmap size input in step S2, the character data read in step S3, and the zoom type determined in step S5, step S7 or step S8, a zoom conversion is performed. . The numerical value calculated at the time of zoom conversion is calculated | required as an integer by rounding off.

For example, as shown in Fig. 2A, when the original character data is data in a letter frame 256 × 256 dot and the coordinate data is (0, 0) to (255, 255), the coordinate data before conversion is ( x, y), letter frame (n + 1) × (n + 1) (n = 255 in Fig. 2A), the coordinate data after conversion into dots is set to (nx, ny), and the minimum value of the x coordinate in the character frame is min_x , Max_x is the maximum value, min_y is the minimum value of the y coordinate, and max_y is the maximum value.

mx = max_x-min_x

The actual height of the character frame

my = max_y-min_y

It becomes

For example, when the zoom type is "A", the coordinate (nx, ny) after the zoom conversion is a calculation formula.

(nx, ny) = ((x-min_x) × n / mx, (y-min_y) × n / my)

Obtained by

For example, when the bitmap size input in step S2 is 11 dots, the character data &quot; '&quot; shown in FIG. 2A is converted into the value as shown in FIG. 8A by converting the character data &quot;# &quot; As shown in Fig. 9A, character data in which the upper, lower, left, and right sides of the character are in contact with the letter frame is generated.

For example, when the zoom type is "B", the coordinate (nx, ny) after the zoom conversion is a calculation formula.

(nx, ny) = (x × n / 255, y × n / 255)

Obtained by

For example, when the bitmap size input in step S2 is 23 dots, when the character data "데이터" shown in FIG. 2A is converted by the above calculation formula 2, it is converted into a value as shown in FIG. 8C. As shown in Fig. 9C, character data in which the ratio between the character frame and the letter frame is maintained is generated.

For example, when the bitmap size input in step S2 is 23 dots, when the character data "E" shown in FIG. 2B is converted by the calculation formula 2, it is shown in FIG. 10 (c). The character data is converted into a value as described above, and the character data in which the ratio between the character frame and the letter frame is maintained is generated.

For example, in the case of the zoom type "C-1", the coordinate (nx, ny) after the zoom conversion is a calculation formula.

(nx, ny) = (((((x-min_x) × 255 / my) + z) × n / 255, (y-min_y) × n / my)

Where z = (255- (255 × mx / my)) × min_x / (min_x + 255-max_x)

Obtained by

For example, when the bitmap size input in step S2 is 19 dots, the character data "胃" shown in FIG. 2A is converted into the value as shown in FIG. 8B by converting the character data "k" shown in FIG. Then, as shown in Fig. 9B, character data in which the upper and lower sides of the character are in contact with the letter frame is generated.

For example, in the case of the zoom type "C-2", the coordinate (nx, ny) after the zoom conversion is a calculation formula.

(nx, ny) = ((x-min_x) × n / mx), (((y-min_y) × 255 / mx) + z) × n / 255)

Where z = (255- (255 × my / mx)) × min_y / (min_y + 255-max_y)

Obtained by

For example, when the bitmap size input in step S2 is 19 dots, the character data "three" shown in FIG. 2C is converted into the value as shown in FIG. Then, as shown in Fig. 9 (d), character data in which left and right of characters are in contact with the letter frame is generated.

Subsequently, in step S12 of FIG. 7, the character data converted in step S11 is supplied to the output means 7.

In the case of the prior art, Fig. 12 (a-1) shows a character string in which the bitmap size of the letter frame is set to 19 and the ratio of the body frame and the letter frame is adjusted and enlarged / reduced.

For comparison, in Fig. 12 (b-1), the bitmap size of the letter frame is set to 19 (to match the size of the letter with Fig. 12 (a-1)) by the character generation method of this embodiment. A character string in which the upper and lower left and right sides of the character frame are enlarged and reduced so as to be in contact with the upper and lower left and right sides of the letter frame is shown (in the case of the enlarged / reduced type A in the present embodiment, the bitmap size is less than 16).

12 (a-2) shows the black color of the character frame of FIG. 12 (a-1), and FIG. 12 (b-2) shows the black color of the character frame of FIG. 12 (b-1). FIG. 12 (a-3) shows the output of FIG. 12 (a-1) in the size actually used, and FIG. 12 (b-3) shows the output of FIG. 12 (b-1) in the size actually used.

Comparing Fig. 12 (a-2) and Fig. 12 (b-2), it can be seen that Fig. 12 (a-2) varies with the size and position of the character frame. 12 (b-2) does not change both the size and position of the character frame. In addition, when comparing the output of the character string with the actual size used in Fig. 12 (a-3) and (b-3), it is possible to know the difference in the variation of the size and position.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the enlargement / reduction type switching means 4 includes the character code input by the character code input means 2 and the bitmap size input by the size designation input means 3. In accordance with this, the enlargement / reduction type for changing the enlargement / reduction ratio (ratio) in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction of the character frame is determined. Corresponding to this enlargement / reduction type, the enlargement / reduction means 5 enlarges / reduces the shape of the character data stored in the storage means 1 and outputs the character data from the output means 7. As a result, when a character string is displayed on a display device having a low resolution or the like, it is possible to eliminate character fluctuations and generate a character that is easy to read.

Although not specifically described in the above embodiment, when the designated bitmap size is less than the first size, the character frame is not limited to changing the magnification for each aspect so that the top, bottom, left and right of the character frame are in contact with the top, bottom, left and right of the letter frame. The magnification may be changed vertically and horizontally so that the top, bottom, left, and right sides of the letter frame are spaced one dot (visually in contact with each other) or several dots apart from each other. In other words, the present invention includes a case in which the magnification is changed vertically and horizontally (including the case where it is not in contact with each other) in the direction where the top, bottom, left and right of the character frame are in contact with the top, bottom, left and right of the letter frame. Here, the magnification is changed to obtain a uniform and constant character string.

Similarly, when the designated bitmap size is greater than or equal to the first size and less than the second size, the magnification is changed at the same ratio both vertically and horizontally in the direction in which the upper and lower sides or the left and right sides of the character frame are in contact with the upper, lower and left and right sides of the letter frame, respectively. Further, the magnification may be changed so that the character frame is spaced apart from the letter frame by one dot (which appears visually in contact with each other) or several dots apart.

As described above, according to the present invention, an easy-to-read string can be generated without change in correspondence with the character code and the bitmap size, and in particular, an optimal character string can be generated in a display device having a low resolution.

It is apparent that various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are not intended to be limited to the description set forth herein, but rather should be construed broadly.

Claims (9)

Storage means for storing the shape of each of the at least one character; Character code input means for inputting a character code corresponding to at least one character generated; Size designation input means for designating a bitmap size corresponding to a letter frame of at least one character; An enlargement / reduction type switching means for changing the enlargement / reduction ratios of the character frame vertically and horizontally within the range in which the character frame does not protrude from the letter frame by the type of the input character code and the designated bitmap size; Enlargement / reduction means for enlarging / reducing data representing the shape of at least one character to the designated bitmap size at an enlargement / reduction ratio obtained by the enlargement / reduction type switching means; Output means for outputting data enlarged / reduced by the enlargement / reduction means Character generating device comprising a. The method of claim 1, The enlargement / reduction type switching means defines a first size with respect to the bitmap size, and when the designated bitmap size is less than the first size, the top and bottom left and right sides of the character frame are in contact with the top, bottom, left and right sides of the letter frame. And a magnification for each character of the character frame. The method of claim 1, The enlargement / reduction type switching means defines a second size with respect to the bitmap size, and maintains the ratio of the character frame and the letter frame when the designated bitmap size is equal to or larger than the second size. The method of claim 1, The enlargement / reduction type switching means defines a first size and a second size with respect to the bitmap size, and the enlargement / reduction when the designated bitmap size is greater than or equal to the first size and less than the second size. And a type switching means for changing the vertical and horizontal magnification so that the upper and lower sides or the left and right sides of the character frame are in contact with the upper and lower sides or the left and right sides of the letter frame. The method of claim 1, And the enlargement / reduction type switching means maintains a ratio of the character frame and the letter frame when the character code input through the character code input means is other than a Chinese character code. The method of claim 1, And an enlargement / reduction type storage means for storing at least one enlargement / reduction type corresponding to the character code input through the character code input means and the bitmap size input through the size designation input means, And the enlargement / reduction type switching means selects an enlargement / reduction type corresponding to a correlation between the character code and the bitmap size from the contents of the storage of the enlargement / reduction type storage means. The method of claim 6, The enlargement / reduction means is based on the enlargement / reduction determined by the enlargement / reduction type switching means by using the x and y coordinate positions of the character frame and the number of dots in the x and y directions of the letter frame. A character generating device which coordinate-converts a coordinate position of data representing a shape of at least one character according to a ratio. Storing shapes of each of the at least one character, Inputting a character code corresponding to the at least one character generated; Designating a bitmap size corresponding to the letter frame of the at least one character; Changing the vertical / horizontal enlargement / reduction ratio of the character frame in a range in which the character frame does not protrude from the letter frame by the type of the input character code and the designated bitmap size; Enlarging / reducing data representing the shape of the at least one character to the designated bitmap size by the aspect ratio enlargement / reduction ratios specified by the changing step; Outputting data enlarged / reduced by the enlargement / reduction step Character generation method comprising a. A storage step of storing a shape of each of the at least one character; Inputting a character code corresponding to the at least one character generated; Designating a bitmap size corresponding to the letter frame of the at least one character; The aspect ratio of the character frame in each aspect in the character frame is not protruded from the letter frame by the type of the character code input by the character code input step and the bitmap size specified by the bitmap size designation step. Zoom type switching step to change the Enlarging / reducing data representing the shape of the at least one character to the designated bitmap size at an enlargement / reduction ratio obtained in the enlargement / reduction type switching step; Outputting data enlarged / reduced by the enlargement / reduction step A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a character generating program for causing a computer to execute.

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