JPH03113497A - Character generating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To generate characters whose frames are the same and whose styles of hand-writing are different from each other from one font data by reading out stored font information, detecting the part of a deformation object from the read-out information, deforming the detected part of a deformation object and generating a font pattern by the deformation. CONSTITUTION:A character code of a character generated from an external device 90 is received and stored in an input buffer 70. Subsequently, in accordance with the received character code, outline font data is read out of a font memory 50 and the deformation object part such as a corner of the line end and a corner of 'KUCHI' (mouth) is detected, deformation information corresponding to the deformation part is read out of a deformation information memory 60 and the deformation object part is deformed. Next, outline data obtained by the deformation is brought to conversion processing to dot data, outputted to an output buffer 80, and from the output buffer 80, dot data whose style of handwriting is deformed is transmitted to an output device 100. In such a way, characters whose frames are the same and whose style of handwriting are different can be generated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a character generator, and more particularly, to a character generator that generates characters based on font data.

[Prior art] Normally, each character has font data (here,
outline data). As a similar technique, there is a method of generating outline characters, characters with shadows, etc. from one font data.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in order to increase the number of character types (fonts), it is sufficient to be able to generate a plurality of fonts from one piece of data, taking into account issues such as data capacity and development.

In addition, in the conventional example, even if the characters were transformed, it only gave the impression that it was simply a decoration of the typeface (there was a drawback that it was not possible to create the impression that it was a different typeface).

The present invention has been made in view of the drawbacks of the conventional examples described above, and its purpose is to generate characters that have the same character skeleton but different fonts from a single font data. The point is to provide equipment.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the objectives, a character generation device according to the present invention includes a storage means for storing font information, and a reading device for reading out the stored font information. a detecting means for detecting a part to be transformed from the read font information, a transforming means for transforming the detected part to be transformed, and a generating means for generating a font pattern by the transformation.

[Operation] According to this configuration, the storage means stores font information, reads out the stored font information, the detection means detects a part to be transformed from the read font information, and the transformation means detects the detected transformation. The target part is transformed, and the generating means generates a font pattern by the transformation.

[Embodiments] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First Example> First, a first example will be described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of the first embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 1 indicates a storage means, which stores font data in which characters are represented by outline lines, that is, an outline font. Here, it is assumed that you have memorized the general Gothic font. Reference numeral 2 indicates a deformation information storage means, which stores deformation information such as information on rounding the horizontal corners of characters with a certain curvature and information on rounding the corners of characters with a certain curvature. Here, transformation information is stored as a parameter, and the data of the outline font stored in the storage means 1 is transformed based on various transformation information. 3 indicates a generation/transformation means, which is a transformation information storage means. The font data (outline font) received from the storage means 1 is transformed based on the transformation information obtained from step 2 to generate a character pattern.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the character generator of the first embodiment. In the figure, numeral 10 indicates a character generating device that generates a font pattern for character images used for printing and display. Reference numeral 20 indicates a central processing unit (CPU) that controls all operations of character generation processing. 30 stores a control program, an error processing program, a program according to a flowchart shown in FIG. 3, which will be described later, and the like. The CPU 20 executes the control procedure shown in FIG. 3 to generate various character patterns. Reference numeral 40 indicates a RAM used as a work area for various programs and a temporary save area during error processing. 50 indicates a font memory storing outline font data;
A Gothic outline font is used here.

This font memory 50 corresponds to the storage means 1 shown in FIG. Reference numeral 60 denotes a transformation information memory, which stores various transformation information for the CPU 20 to transform the outline font data received from the font memory 50. This deformation information memory 60 corresponds to the deformation information storage means 2 shown in FIG. Reference numeral 90 indicates an external device that outputs a character code for character generation by a host computer or the like. Reference numeral 70 indicates a large power buffer, which temporarily stores input data from the external device 90. 80
indicates an output buffer, which temporarily stores font data generated as a result of processing by the CUP 20. lOO indicates an output device that displays or prints a character image based on font data output from the output buffer 80.

Next, the principle of character transformation according to the first embodiment will be explained.

Figure 4 (A), (B), (C) and Figure 5 (A), (B
) and (C) are diagrams illustrating types of modification information in the first embodiment. FIGS. 6('A), 6(B), and 6(C) are diagrams showing characters before and after transformation according to the first embodiment.

First, in the first embodiment, a Gothic font is used as the font of the outline font data, such as the character "Sou" shown in FIG. 6(A). Deformed parts include vertical and horizontal drawings, edges of diagonal lines, corners of diagonal curves, or the “mouth”.
This applies to the corners of squares such as. For example, as shown in FIG. 4(A), when deforming the edge of the lateral surface that becomes the deformed part, it may be formed into a circle (as shown in FIG. 4(B)) or As shown in Fig. 5(A), different typefaces are generated by forming wedge-shaped decorations.Similarly, as shown in Fig. 5(A), the corners of squares such as ゛mouth゛, which are the deformed parts, are deformed. In this case, different typefaces are generated by forming round shapes as shown in Figure 5(B) or forming wedge-shaped decorations as shown in Figure 5(C).Based on the above transformation method, , When transforming the character "phase j" shown in FIG. 6(A), the above-mentioned deformed part is detected from the original outline font data and, for example, as shown in FIG. 6(B), A character "phase" in a typeface with rounded corners is generated, or a character "phase j" in a typeface with decorated corners as shown in FIG. 6(C) is generated.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be explained.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of font conversion processing by the CPU 20 of the first embodiment.

First, when the character code of a character to be generated is received from the external device 90, the character code is stored in the power buffer 70 (step SL, step S2). Next, outline font data is read from the font memory 50 according to the received character code (step S3
), and parts to be transformed, such as the corners of line ends and the corners of the "mouth", are detected from the data (step S4). Then, the deformation information corresponding to the deformed part of the data is stored in the deformation information memory 6.
0 is read out (step S5), and the region to be transformed is transformed (step S6). The outline data obtained by this transformation is converted into dot data (
Step S7), and then output to the output buffer 8o (Step S8). Then, the dot data with the modified font is transmitted from the output buffer 80 to the output device 100 (step S9).

Here, as a method for detecting the corner in step S4 described above, a plurality of methods can be considered, such as detecting from the direction of the vector of the outline of the outline font. In addition, since the above-mentioned process is a transformation of the font for -characters, the method for selecting the type of font is not described, but there are several methods for selecting the font type, such as character by character and page by page, which are well-known methods. Therefore, the explanation will be omitted.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, it is possible to generate an infinite number of font data from one outline font data, and it is possible to diversify the fonts of output character images. At the same time, it not only reduces the enormous amount of time traditionally required to develop typefaces (it also requires less memory capacity for font data).

Now, a modification of the first embodiment will be described below.

(1) In the first embodiment described above, corners are detected and transformed at the outline font data stage and converted to a dot font. However, after converting an outline font to a dot font, corners are detected and the corners are It is also possible to make some modifications.

(2) In the first embodiment described above, the original font data is Gothic, but the present invention is not limited to this (as long as it does not depart from the spirit of the present invention,
Other fonts such as Mincho font may also be used.

(3) In the first embodiment described above, the original font data is an outline font, but it goes without saying that skeleton fonts, vector fonts, dot fonts, etc. may also be used.

(4) Although the first embodiment described above has parameters as transformation information, it is also possible to have the pattern itself and transform it by replacing the modified portion.

(5) In the first embodiment described above, the "corner" is detected every time by the CPU 20, but the "corner" information is included in the outline font data in advance (by doing so, the step shown in FIG. It is also possible to replace the step of detecting the "corner" in S4 with the step of detecting "corner information".

Second embodiment> Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

Since the second embodiment has almost the same overall configuration as the first embodiment, the overall explanation will be omitted and only the different points will be explained. In the first embodiment, the deformation information storage means 2 stores information such as rounding the side edges of characters with a certain curvature, and information rounding the corners of characters with a certain curvature. In the embodiment, information for curving a straight line part of a character with a certain curvature depending on its length, etc. is stored in the transformation information storage means 2 (not shown), and information for transforming the outline font data stored in the storage means 1 is stored. parameters, that is, deformation information are stored.Therefore, the deformation information memory 60° (not shown) stores the above deformation information.

Next, character transformation processing in the second embodiment will be explained.

FIGS. 8(A), 8(B), and 8(C) are diagrams for explaining types of modification information in the second embodiment. Figure 9 (A), (B), (
C) is a diagram showing characters before and after deformation according to the second embodiment.

In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the font of the original outline font data is Gothic. In the second embodiment, the straight part (or curved part) of the outline is the part to be transformed, and when a straight part (or curved part) is detected in the outline font data, the end of the line is changed to a certain given curvature. deforms into a curve. For example, in the case of a part of the character shown in Figure 8 (A), the part to be transformed is a straight line part, and according to the transformation method to the typeface shown in Figure 8 (B), it is deformed so as to bulge outward. According to the method of transforming the font shown in FIG. 8(C), the font is transformed so as to be concave inward. However, in the case of the typeface shown in Figure 8 (C), if the angle at which two straight lines collide in the outline of the outline font is less than 180°, normal transformation will be performed, and if the angle exceeds 180°, , the straight line part to be deformed is left undeformed. Therefore, the Gothic letters "
When transforming the font ``Sou'', the deformation method shown in Figure 8(B) results in a rounded typeface as shown in Figure 9(B), and the font has a rounded shape as shown in Figure 8(C). With the above modification method, a font with a narrowed shape as shown in FIG. 9(C) is obtained.

In the character ``Ao'' shown in Figure 9 CC), the part where the outline forms the ``mouth'' is not modified;
This is because, as described above, the angle at which the straight lines of the contour lines collide exceeds 180°. The above modification information is stored in a modification information memory 60' (not shown).

Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be explained.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of font conversion processing by the CPU of the second embodiment.

In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the fonts of the characters are transformed, so only the different processes will be explained. In FIG. 7, the same numbers are added to steps S that are the same as those in the first embodiment shown in FIG.

The difference in processing is that in contrast to step S4 (Fig. 3) in which corner parts were detected in the first embodiment, in the second embodiment straight parts are detected from the original outline font ( Step 514).

Thereafter, in the same way as reading the corner deformation information in the first embodiment, the deformation information is read from the deformation information memory 60' (not shown) using the deformation method shown in FIGS. 8(B) and 8(C). Transform the font and output. Note that a plurality of methods can be considered for detecting the straight line in step S4 described above, such as detecting from the direction of the vector of the contour line of the outline font. In addition, since the above-mentioned process is a transformation of the font for -characters, the method for selecting the type of font is not described, but there are several methods for selecting the font type, such as character by character and page by page, which are well-known methods. Therefore, the explanation will be omitted.

In this way, the second embodiment can also provide the same functions and effects as the first embodiment.

Now, a modification of the second embodiment will be described below.

(1) In the second embodiment described above, straight lines are detected and transformed at the outline stage to create a dot font, but it is also possible to transform the first read outline into a dot font and then detect straight lines and transform it. It is possible.

(2) In the second embodiment described above, the original font data is Gothic, but the present invention is not limited to this, and as long as it does not depart from the spirit of the present invention.
Other fonts such as Mincho font may also be used.

(3) In the second embodiment described above, the original font data is an outline font, but it goes without saying that a skeleton font, vector font, or dot font may also be used.

(4) In the second embodiment described above, the value (
(parameters), but it is also possible to have the pattern itself and transform it by replacing the Bakun part.

(5) In the second embodiment described above, the CPU detects a "straight line" every time, but it is also possible to include "straight line" information in the outline font data in advance (actually, this type data).

In this case, the step of detecting a "straight line" in step S14 in FIG. 7 may be replaced with the step of detecting "straight line information"("straight line flag").

Now, the first point mentioned above. Although the second embodiment has been described separately, it is possible to instruct transformation into each of the above-mentioned fonts by commands from an external device, thereby further increasing the number of font types using the same character generator. It's okay.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to generate an infinite number of font data from one outline font data, and it is possible to diversify the fonts of output character images. At the same time, it not only reduces the enormous amount of time traditionally required to develop typefaces (it also requires less memory capacity for font data).

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the character generator of the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the font conversion process by the CPU 20 of the first embodiment. Flowchart explaining the operation, Fig. 4 (A), (B)
, (C) and FIGS. 5(A), (B), and (C) are diagrams explaining the types of deformation information of the first embodiment. FIGS. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the font conversion process by the CPU of the second embodiment. FIGS. FIGS. 9(A), 9(B), and 9(C) are diagrams showing before and after character transformation according to the second embodiment. In the figure, 1... storage means, 2... deformation information storage means,
3... Generating/transforming means, 10... Character generating device, 2
0...CPU, 30...ROM, 40...RAM
. 50... Memory for font, 60... Memory for deformation information, 70... Input buffer, 80... Output buffer, 9o... External device, 100... Output device.

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) Storage means for storing font information; reading means for reading out the stored font information; detection means for detecting a part to be transformed from the read font information; and a part to be transformed from the detected part to be transformed. A character generating device comprising: a deforming means for deforming a part; and a generating means for generating a font pattern by the deformation. (2) The character generating device according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means uses line ends and corners of strokes constituting a character as parts to be transformed. (3) The character generating device according to claim 2, wherein the storage means stores the part to be transformed in font information in advance. (4) The character generating device according to claim 1, wherein the detecting means deforms a straight part or a curved part of a stroke constituting a character. (5) The character generating device according to claim 4, wherein the storage means stores the part to be transformed in font information in advance.