JP3057978B2 - Character generator - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a character generating apparatus for converting outline data, which is data of the outline of a character, to generate dot image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when data representing the shape of a character is processed using a computer and displayed in the form of printing, display, or the like, on / off for each pixel, which is the minimum unit of an output device, is set. It is widely performed to form dot image data in which the dot image data is generated. At this time, if dot image data is created in advance for characters of all sizes to be displayed and stored in the memory, an extremely large memory is required, so that the data is stored as outline data which is data defining the outline shape of the character. It is desirable that the outline data be deformed at the time of display such as printing or display display, to generate dot image data using the outline data, and to provide the dot image data to an output device.

Further, the conventional dot image data generating apparatus (1) converts the outline data into a desired size on a pixel of the output device, and (2) converts the size-converted outline data into a plurality of lines of the output device. × Assuming that multiple rows of pixels are superimposed on the pixel screen that defines them,
(3) The dot image data is generated by turning on a pixel whose relationship with the overlapped outline data satisfies a certain standard (for example, the center of the pixel exists inside the outline data).

Furthermore, outline data is created by converting data designed by a designer one character at a time using an outline data editing device or the like into data in a format suitable for a device using the outline data.

Generally, the shape of a character is designed so as to be aligned with a plurality of reference lines that define the position of a specific portion such as the uppermost end or the lowermost end of the character.

For example, in the case of a European document, a reference line for defining a vertical position called an H height, an x height, a baseline, and a descender is assumed. The H height defines the position of the upper end of the capital letter "H", and all the upper ends of the capital letter are designed in accordance with this position. The x-height specifies the position of the upper end of the lowercase letter “x”. Even if the character has a shape without the upper part, such as “k” in the lowercase letter, or a character with the upper part, the character “k” The upper end of the shaded area extending to the upper right of the is designed to match this position. Baseline is "g"
The lower end of the character having no shape attached under etc. is designed in accordance with this position. The descender defines the position of the lower end of a character having a shape attached below "g" or "y", and the lower ends of these characters are designed in accordance with this position.

Further, another reference line dependent on the reference line, that is, a second reference line is set. Generally, when a square shape and a round shape or a pointed shape are aligned at the same height, the round shape or the pointed shape looks slightly lower than the square shape. When designing the shape of the character, in order to prevent such a phenomenon, as a visual effect, when the position to be aligned with the reference line is a round shape or a sharp shape, the character is designed to protrude slightly outside the reference line. The protruding portion is called an overshoot, and the second reference line is set outside each reference line by each overshoot. That is, when a portion to be aligned with the reference line of the character has a round shape or a sharp shape, the character is designed to match the second reference line.

For example, FIG. 9 shows the relationship between each reference line and the second reference line and the shape of the character. 9, reference numeral 91 denotes an H height, 911 denotes a second H height, 92 denotes an x height, and 921 denotes a second H height.
Is the second x-height, 93 is the baseline, 931 is the second
, 94 is a descender, and 941 is a second descender. As described above, “H” is designed so that the lower end coincides with the baseline and the upper end coincides with the H height. In contrast, “O” has the lower end coincident with the second baseline and the upper end coincident with the second H height. Also, “x” is designed so that the lower end matches the base line and the upper end matches the x height, whereas the portion of “g” that matches the x height, the base line, and the descender has a round shape. Designed to match 2 x-height, baseline and descender.

[0009]

However, when dot image data is generated from outline data by the conventional method as described above, an overshoot portion appears in the dot image data due to the relationship between the outline data and the position of the pixel screen. Or 10 in Fig. 10
Although the amount of overshoot is the same as in portions 1 and 102, the same amount of overshoot did not appear but the quality was significantly degraded.

When a small-size character is output, the ratio of the size of the pixel to the entire character is large, so that the overshoot of a small number of dots is enlarged as shown at 115 in FIG. In addition, the alignment of the characters deteriorates the quality due to the overshoot of dots corresponding to the overshoot.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and has a character generating apparatus capable of generating dot image data in which the appearance of an overshoot portion is always beautiful regardless of the output size. It is intended to provide.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, a character generating apparatus according to the present invention provides a character generating apparatus which is capable of forming a contour of a character represented by outline data in parallel to an x-axis direction and a y-axis direction orthogonal to each other. If it is assumed that pixels are superimposed on a pixel screen that defines pixels by a plurality of definition lines, dots corresponding to pixels included in a state that satisfies a certain criterion are included in the configuration lines that configure the character to indicate the existence of the configuration line of the character Data conversion means for converting outline data into dot image data by setting the data as data, and further includes a first data which is common to at least a part of the character and represents specific coordinates in the outline data. Position information storage means for storing position information composed of position information and subordinate second position information; Position information reading means for reading the position information stored in the position information storage means; and converting the coordinate value of the position information read by the position information reading means into a predetermined size to generate converted position information. From the distance between the first position information and the second position information in the converted position information generated by the coordinate conversion unit and the number of pixels to be set therein, or the position information, A difference amount determining means for determining the amount, and a first position information or a second position information to obtain a difference amount determined by the difference amount determining means between the first position information and the second position information in the converted position information. Position information correcting means for generating corrected position information by correcting at least one of the two pieces of position information and correcting the converted position information; and the corrected position generated by the position information correcting means. Identification means for identifying a point to be matched with the information from the outline data points; and identifying the outline data point identified by the identification means as the position of the first position information or the second position information in the corrected position information. And an outline correction means for correcting the outline data so as to match the outline data. The data conversion means converts the outline data corrected by the outline correction means into dot image data.

The character generating device includes a size input unit for inputting a character size to be output, and a size for determining whether the character size input by the size input unit is smaller than a reference threshold value. Determining means for determining that the input character size is smaller than a threshold value by the size determining means, the difference amount for the converted position information is less than one pixel. Otherwise, the difference amount is the distance between the first position information and the second position information in the converted position information, or the number of pixels to be set therein, or an amount corresponding to the position information. You may comprise so that it may be.

The character generating device may further comprise a distance calculating means for calculating a distance between the first position information and the second position information in the converted position information, and a distance calculated by the distance calculating means may be a reference value. Distance determining means for determining whether or not the distance is smaller than a threshold value. The difference amount determining means determines that the distance calculated by the distance calculating means is smaller than the threshold value by the distance determining means. In this case, the difference amount with respect to the converted position information is set to a number smaller than one pixel, otherwise, the difference amount is set to a distance between the first position information and the second position information in the converted position information. Alternatively, the amount may be set according to the number of pixels to be set therein or the position information.

[0015]

The position information storage means in the character generating apparatus according to the present invention having the above-described structure is a first position information which is data common to at least a part of the character and indicates specific coordinates in the outline data, and is dependent on the first position information. Second
The position information reading unit reads the position information stored in the position information storage unit, and the coordinate conversion unit reads the coordinate value of the position information read by the position information reading unit. The coordinate position is converted to a predetermined size to generate converted position information, and the difference amount determining means determines the distance between the first position information and the second position information in the converted position information generated by the coordinate converting means, or The difference amount is determined from the number of pixels to be set in the position information or the position information, and the position information correction unit determines the difference amount between the first position information and the second position information in the converted position information by the difference amount determination unit. First position information,
Alternatively, at least one of the second position information is moved to generate corrected position information in which the converted position information is corrected, and the identification unit determines a point to be matched with the corrected position information generated by the position information correction unit in the outline data. The outline data is identified from the points, and the outline correction means corrects the outline data so that the point of the outline data identified by the identification means coincides with the position of the first position information or the second position information in the corrected position information. The data conversion means converts the outline data corrected by the outline correction means into dot image data.

The size input means inputs a character size to be output, and the size input means determines whether or not the character size input by the size input means is smaller than a reference threshold value. When the difference amount determination means determines that the input character size is smaller than the threshold value by the size determination means, the difference amount with respect to the conversion position information is set to a number less than one pixel. The operation may be such that the difference amount is set to a distance between the first position information and the second position information in the converted position information, or the number of pixels to be set there, or an amount according to the position information. Good.

The distance calculating means calculates a distance between the first position information and the second position information in the converted position information, and the distance determining means uses the distance calculated by the distance calculating means as a reference. In addition to determining whether or not the distance is smaller than a threshold value, the difference amount determining means determines that the distance calculated by the distance calculating means is smaller than the threshold value by the distance determining means. The difference amount with respect to the position information is set to a number less than one pixel, and otherwise, the difference amount is set to the distance between the first position information and the second position information in the converted position information or to the distance. The operation may be performed so as to set the amount according to the number of power pixels or the position information.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

This embodiment is an example in which the present invention is suitably applied to an outline font processing unit of a laser printer.

FIG. 1 shows a control circuit of a laser printer.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram mainly illustrating a portion that converts outline font data into dot image data and outputs the dot image data. The microcomputer section 10 which forms the main part of the control circuit includes a CPU 12, a character ROM 13, a program ROM 14, a text memory 15, a working memory 16, a dot data memory 17, and a position information memory 11.
1 is provided. The CPU 12 and the like are connected by a bus 18, and the input unit 1 is connected to the bus 18.
9 and the printing unit 110 are connected.

Next, the outline of the configuration of each unit will be described.
The PU 12 performs processing for realizing the present embodiment in accordance with a given program.
Numeral 13 stores outline data of a character so that the character code can be read out one character at a time. The program ROM 14 stores a processing program for developing desired character data into a printable form, and the text memory 15 stores a character code and a character size input from the input unit 19. Further, the working memory 16 temporarily stores data necessary for executing the program, and the dot data memory 17 stores printable dot image data obtained by converting the outline data.

The input unit 19 inputs a character code and a character size supplied from the outside to the microcomputer unit 10, and the printing unit 110 prints the dot data read from the dot data memory 17 by an electrophotographic method. This is the part to do. The position information memory 111 goes out by the amount of overshoot corresponding to each of the H height, the x height, the baseline, and the descender (hereinafter, these are collectively referred to as a first reference line) described in the section of the related art. 2nd H
The positions of the height, the second x height, the second baseline, and the second descender (hereinafter collectively referred to as a second reference line) are stored as y coordinate values in the same coordinate system as the outline data.

In this embodiment, this data is common to all characters. However, in practice, it is also possible to prepare a plurality of these data sets and switch between these sets according to the type of character.

The position information conversion process in the process of converting outline data into dot image data according to the present embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

First, at S21, the position information memory 11
One set of position information from 1 is read out, that is, one first reference line and its dependent second reference line are read, and coordinate conversion is performed in S22 to apply the outline data to the outline data. This coordinate conversion is a process of converting outline data into a desired character size on a pixel screen. Next, a value obtained by rounding a value obtained by subtracting the coordinate value of the first reference line from the coordinate value of the second reference line of the set of position information read in S23 is an overshoot amount as viewed from the first reference line of this position information. And Then, in S24, the first reference line is moved to the boundary of the pixel closest to the first reference line, and the coordinate value is obtained by adding the overshoot amount to the first reference line that has moved the second reference line. Note that the first and second
The value after the movement of the reference line (after correction) is stored in association with the value before the movement. Then, the processes from S21 to S24 are performed for all the position information.

Between S22 and S23, a process of recognizing the character size by reading it from the text memory 15 (S31), and thereafter, a process of determining whether the size is smaller than a set threshold value or not. (S32) is provided,
Instead of S23, when it is determined in S32 that the overshoot amount is small, the overshoot amount may be determined to be 0, and otherwise, the overshoot amount may be determined (S33) as in S23.

Further, between S22 and S23, a process of calculating the distance between the first reference line and the second reference line (S41), and thereafter, it is determined whether or not the distance is smaller than a specified threshold value. Is provided (S42), and instead of S23, S
If it is determined in step 42 that the overshoot amount is small, the overshoot amount is determined to be 0, and otherwise, the process of determining the overshoot amount (S43) can be performed similarly to S23.

The threshold values of S32 and S42 can be input by a command from the host, either by using a value stored in advance or by allowing the user to input from the operation panel of the printer. It can be anything or any given value.

The dot data conversion process in the process of converting outline data into dot image data according to the present embodiment will be described below with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

First, outline data of a character to be output is read in S51, and coordinate conversion is performed in S52. This coordinate conversion is a process of converting outline data into a desired character size on a pixel screen.
Next, in S53, the outline data is corrected using the converted position information. This processing will be described later. Finally, in S54, assuming that the outline data corrected in S53 is superimposed on the pixel screen, it is determined whether or not the center of each pixel is inside the outline data, and the pixel determined to be inside is turned on. Generates dot image data. This processing is a known technique that has already been put into practical use, and is not the main part of the present invention, so that further description is omitted. Note that any method may be used to convert the outline data corrected in S53 into dot image data.

Next, the outline data correction processing in S53 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, in step S61, a point to be corrected in the outline data according to the position information is recognized. In this embodiment, this processing is performed by recognizing whether or not the y coordinate value of the outline data matches the coordinate value before the movement in S24 of the position information conversion processing of the position information. In this process, in addition to this method, information that can identify in advance which position information should be used for each point of the outline data or which point should not be corrected using the position information is added in advance. The outline data and the position information may be stored in the character ROM 13 and the position information memory 111 to check the coincidence of the coordinate values in a certain coordinate system. In addition, the point to be corrected may be recognized by any other method. Next, in S62, the shape is expanded or contracted in the y direction so that the y coordinate value of the point to be corrected obtained in S61 matches the corrected coordinate value of the position information corresponding to the point. Further, in S63, it is determined whether or not points to be corrected in all the outline data have been corrected, and if NO, the process returns to S61 to repeat the processing. If YES, this process ends.

Next, an example in which dot image data of "H" and "O" designed as shown in FIG. 9 are generated using this embodiment will be described. The outline data of the character shown in FIG. 9 is stored in the character ROM 13, and the position information is stored in the position information ROM 111.

First, "H" is set to the same size as in FIG.
And “O” are output. With this size, it is desirable that the amount of overshoot is appropriately produced. Therefore, it is assumed that the method of FIG. 3 or FIG. 4 is not used in the position information conversion processing, or if it is used, the threshold value of S32 or S42 is set so as to be determined to be large in this magnitude. .

As a result, the H height 103 and the second H height 1031 which have not been particularly corrected in the prior art are like the H height 71 and the second H height 711, and the base line 104 and the second base line 1041 are the base line 7
2. Each is converted like the second baseline 721 (other reference lines are omitted for ease of explanation), and the upper and lower ends of “H” are set in the outline data correction processing of S53 of the dot data conversion processing. The shape is expanded and contracted in the y direction so as to match the H height 71 and the base line 72, and the upper and lower ends of “O” are the second H height 711.
And the shape of y to match the second baseline 721
It expands and contracts in the direction. This outline data is transferred to S54.
When converted to dot image data, a character shape in which an overshoot portion appears beautifully as shown in the figure can be output.

"H" and "O" are output to the same size as in FIG. With this size, it is desirable that no overshoot is produced. Therefore, it is assumed that the threshold value of S32 or S42 is set to be determined to be small in this magnitude using the method of FIG. 3 or FIG. 4 in the position information conversion processing.

As a result, the H height 116 and the second H height 1161, which have not been particularly corrected in the prior art, match the H height 81 and the second H height 811 as shown in FIG.
Also, the base line 117 and the second base line 1171 are converted so as to match the base line 82 and the second base line 821 (similarly, other reference lines are omitted for easy explanation), S of data processing
In the outline data correction processing of 53, the upper and lower ends of “H” are expanded and contracted in the y direction so as to match the H height 81 and the base line 82, and the upper and lower ends of “O” are the second H height. 811 and the second baseline 82
The shape is expanded and contracted in the y direction so as to match 1. When this outline data is converted into dot image data in S54, a character shape with a beautifully aligned character whose overshoot portion is not emphasized as shown in the figure can be output.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described in detail above, and various changes can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

For example, in this embodiment, an example is shown in which the present invention is applied to a laser printer. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is necessary to convert outline data into dot data as well as other types of printers and display devices. It can be applied to any object.

Although the position information memory 111 of this embodiment is a single memory device, it may be provided in a part of the character ROM 13.

In this embodiment, only the position information in the y direction is used, but the position information in the x direction may be included.
Alternatively, it can be realized only in the x direction.

Further, the position information of the present embodiment uses a reference line and a reference line set at a position separated from the reference line by an overshoot. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

In this embodiment, only one second reference line is set for the first reference line. However, if it is desired to set a plurality of second reference lines, a new position where the first reference line is overlapped is set. If it is not necessary to set data or specially set a second reference line for a specific first reference line, the second
The reference line can be realized by setting data at the same position as the first reference line.

[0044]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the character generating apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to generate dot image data in which the appearance of the overshoot portion is always beautiful regardless of the output size.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a part that processes outline data according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a position information conversion process according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a modified part of the position information conversion processing according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a modified part of the position information conversion processing according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a dot data conversion process according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating outline data correction processing according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a relationship between outline data and position information processed by the embodiment and dot image data.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the relationship between outline data and position information processed by the embodiment and dot image data.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a character shape and position information.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the relationship between dot data and outline data and position information processed by a conventional character generation technique.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a relationship between outline data and position information processed by a conventional character generation technique and dot image data.

[Explanation of symbols]

19 Input unit (size input means) 111 Position information memory (position information storage means) S21 Position information read processing (position information read means) S22 Coordinate conversion processing (coordinate conversion means) S23 Overshoot amount determination processing (difference amount determination means) S24 Position information correction processing (position information correction means) S32 Size determination processing (size determination means) S41 Distance calculation means (distance calculation processing) S42 Distance determination processing (distance determination means) S54 Filling processing (data conversion means) S61 identification processing ( S62 Correction processing (outline data correction means)

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A case in which the outline of a character represented by outline data is assumed to be superimposed on a pixel screen that defines pixels by a plurality of definition lines parallel to each other in an x-axis direction and a y-axis direction that are orthogonal to each other. A data conversion unit that converts outline data into dot image data by setting dots corresponding to pixels included in a configuration line that composes a character in a state that satisfies a certain criterion to data representing the presence of the configuration line of the character. A character generating device comprising: data that is common to at least a part of a character;
Position information storage means for storing position information composed of first position information representing specific coordinates in the outline data and second position information dependent on the first position information, and the position information stored in the position information storage means Position information reading means to be read; coordinate conversion means for converting the coordinate value of the position information read by the position information reading means into a predetermined size to generate converted position information; A difference amount determining unit that determines a difference amount from a distance between the first position information and the second position information in the converted position information, or the number of pixels to be set there, or position information; The first position information or the second position information so as to obtain a difference amount determined by the difference amount determining means between the first position information and the second position information in the information. A position information correction unit that generates corrected position information by correcting at least one of the converted position information by moving at least one of the points; and a point that matches the corrected position information generated by the position information correction unit. And an outline correcting means for correcting the outline data so that the point of the outline data identified by the identifying means matches the position of the first position information or the second position information in the corrected position information. Wherein the data conversion means converts the outline data corrected by the outline correction means into dot image data. 2. A size input means for inputting a character size to be output, and size determining means for determining whether the character size input by the size input means is smaller than a reference threshold value, When the difference amount determination unit determines that the input character size is smaller than the threshold value by the size determination unit, the difference amount with respect to the conversion position information is set to a number less than one pixel. In this case, the difference amount is calculated as a distance between the first position information and the second position information in the converted position information,
2. The character generation device according to claim 1, wherein the number is set according to the number of pixels to be set therein or the position information. 3. A distance calculating means for calculating a distance between the first position information and the second position information in the converted position information, wherein the distance calculated by the distance calculating means is based on a reference threshold value. Distance determining means for determining whether or not the distance is small, when the difference amount determining means determines that the distance calculated by the distance calculating means is smaller than a threshold value, The difference amount with respect to the converted position information is set to a number less than one pixel, otherwise, the difference amount is set to the distance between the first position information and the second position information in the converted position information, or set there. 2. The character generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the amount is determined according to the number of pixels to be used or the position information.