JPH11134488A - Gradation shared data generator and gradation shared data restoration device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a gradation shared data generator to generate gradation shared data to share plural kinds of gradation data consisting of the mutually different numbers of maximum gradation without increasing data quantity and in addition, without generating the deterioration of data to be restored and to provide a gradation shared data restoration device to restore the gradation data from the gradation shared data. SOLUTION: The gradation shared data generator is provided with a contour information extension and reduction part 102 to generate the gradation data whose number of gradation are 2 and 3 from contour information, a fundamental gradation value calculation part 103 and a gradation shard data generation part 105 to generate the gradation shard data whose number of gradation is 4 from the generated gradation data whose numbers of gradation are 2 and 3. In addition, the gradation shared data restoration device is provided with a number of gradation selection part 108 to select the number of gradation 2 or 3, a first gradation data restoration part 109 and a second gradation data restoration part 110 to restore the gradation data whose number of gradation are 2 and 3 according to selection respectively.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gray scale shared data generating apparatus for generating gray scale shared data for sharing a plurality of types of gray scale data expressing a character or a graphic by using gray scales, and a method for generating gray scale shared data. The present invention relates to a gradation sharing data restoring device for restoring gradation data from selected and generated gradation sharing data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, CRTs of personal computers have been developed.
, Display devices, such as TVs, portable information devices, and digital satellite broadcast receiving terminals, the importance of display quality is increasing.

In general, display devices such as TVs and CRTs of personal computers have a lower resolution than printers. Therefore, jagged edges of images and characters are not noticeable and details cannot be expressed. Display quality is poor. In the display device, in order to improve the apparent resolution and make it closer to the quality of the printed matter by compensating for this, an intermediate color of these colors other than the foreground color and the background color is used to express the gradation of each pixel.

As for the gradation data, the display quality is improved as the number of gradations that can be used for one pixel increases, but the number of gradations that can be actually used depends on the display device. Determined by display capability.

Particularly, in a system in which data representing characters is transmitted / received via a communication line, broadcast, or the like, when a device for generating gradation data is different from a device for performing display using the gradation data, the display device needs If the number of colors that can be displayed simultaneously is limited and the number of gradations that can be used (assignable to characters) differs depending on the display content, the data transmitting device must determine what It is not possible to uniquely determine whether to prepare gradation data. For example, in such a data transmission / reception system, when distributing multimedia content and performing reproduction on many types of terminal devices, if the number of gradations and types of data that can be displayed by the terminal devices are different, , the transmitting apparatus side, it is impossible to decide whether to utilize any neutral advance.

Conventionally, even in such a case, when a terminal device such as a personal computer has a multi-gradation display capability such as 65536 colors, the data of the maximum gradation number provided in the terminal device is provided. By displaying approximation to
A certain display quality is obtained. Also, if the terminal device is 25
When the display capability using the six color palettes is provided, the minimum display quality is secured by allocating intermediate colors to unused palettes among the 256 palettes and displaying them.

FIG. 33 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a first conventional gradation shared data processing system. This first
The prior art shared gradation data processing system includes a shared gradation data generation device and a shared gradation data restoration device (corresponding to the terminal device described above). Here, for convenience of explanation, it is determined in advance by the gradation shared data restoring device that which of the two types of gradation data, two gradation data and three gradation data, is used in the gradation shared data restoring device. It is assumed that it cannot be specified, but the same applies to three or more types of gradation data.

The gradation shared data generating device of the first conventional shared gradation data processing system includes a contour information holding unit 20.
1. outline information scaling section 202, 2 gradation data generation section 2
03, a three-gradation data generation unit 204 and a gradation sharing data generation unit 205. Further, the gradation shared data restoring device includes a gradation shared data extracting unit 206, a gradation number selecting unit 20.
7, 2 gradation data restoration section 208, 3 gradation data restoration section 2
09.

In the two-tone data, the tones used for each pixel are two colors of a foreground color and a background color. Here, a tone value of 1 for the foreground color and 0 for the background color is used. assign.
With respect to the two gradation data, the gradation value of one pixel can be represented by one bit.

In the three-tone data, the tones used for each pixel are three colors of a foreground color, an intermediate color, and a background color, and here, 2 for the foreground color, 1 for the intermediate color, and 1 for the background color. On the other hand, a gradation value of 0 is assigned. With respect to the three gradation data, the gradation value of one pixel can be represented by two bits.

Further, the grayscale shared data is obtained by connecting three grayscale data after two grayscale data.

In such a gradation shared data generating apparatus,
From outline data representing outlines of characters and figures,
The procedure of processing up to the generation of the gradation shared data will be described as (Process 1) to (Process 5). (Process 1) First, the outline information holding unit 201 extracts and holds outline information for a requested character from a storage unit that stores outline data. Here, it is assumed that contour information as shown below as an example is extracted and held.

FIGS. 34A and 34B are diagrams showing examples of outline information included in outline data representing characters, figures, and the like. Here, the contour information expresses the Gothic alphabet “A” as a set of straight lines on 1000 × 1000 coordinates (hereinafter, referred to as 1000 meshes). (The outline data has outline information of each character together with data such as a font name and the number of meshes for a plurality of characters having a unit such as an alphabet or a kanji.) Outline information of "A" Consists of coordinate points representing two contours as shown in FIG. 34 (b), and the contour can be drawn by connecting each coordinate point in order. ((125,7
5), (450, 925), ..., (225, 75)
Are successively connected, contour 1 can be drawn, and (375, 450), (625, 450), (5
00, 800) in order, the contour 2 can be drawn. Here, it is assumed that the end point coordinates and the start point coordinates of the contour are automatically connected,
A quadratic curve, a cubic curve, or the like can be used together with the straight line. (Process 2) Next, the contour information enlarging / reducing unit 202 enlarges / reduces the outline information held by the outline information holding unit 201 in (Process 1) to the required number of pixels. Here, it is assumed that the outline information is reduced to a width of 10 pixels and a height of 10 pixels. (A pixel is used in the same meaning as a pixel.) Normally, 10 × 10 pixels (width 10 pixels, height 10 pixels)
Pixel) data is requested, 100
The outline information of 0 mesh should be reduced to 10 mesh, but in order to generate the gradation data, it is necessary to determine the gradation value for each pixel. Therefore, 1
One pixel is divided into smaller sub-pixels, and the outline information is reduced corresponding to the sub-pixels, and is included inside the outline (including the outline) in one pixel
A gradation value is determined according to the number of sub-pixels.

For example, one pixel has a width of 4 and a height of 4
, One pixel is subdivided into 4 × 4 = 16 sub-pixels. Hereinafter, a mesh that subdivides one pixel is referred to as a “submesh”, a boundary between pixels is referred to as a “pixel boundary”, and a boundary between subpixels is referred to as a “subpixel boundary”.

FIG. 35 shows 10 × 10 divided into 16 sub-pixels per pixel to generate gradation data.
FIG. 36 (a) and FIG. 36 (b) show pixels.
It is a figure which shows the data after reducing the outline information shown to 4 (a) and (b).

In FIG. 35, a thick line represents a pixel boundary, and a thin line represents a sub-pixel boundary. When reducing the outline information represented by 1000 meshes to 10 × 10 pixels, the outline information is reduced to 40 × 40 sub-pixels, and
The gradation value is determined according to the number of sub-pixels included in the outline in one pixel.

Contour information scaling section 202 (see FIG. 33)
Makes each coordinate value representing the outline information of “A” shown in FIG. 34B 40/1000 times. FIG. 36 (a), (b)
Shows the result of the contour information reduced in this way. The coordinate value as a result of the reduced outline information takes a value in sub-pixel units. (Process 3) The two-gradation data generating unit 203 generates two-gradation data by calculating the gradation value of each pixel from the data shown in FIG. 36B generated by the contour information scaling unit 202. .

More specifically, for each pixel, the number of sub-pixels included in the outline formed by the outline information after scaling generated by the outline information scaling unit 202 is obtained, and the number of sub-pixels of this sub-pixel is determined. If the number is equal to or more than a certain ratio among all the sub-pixels constituting one pixel, the foreground color, ie, 1 is set as the gradation value, and if less than the certain ratio, the background color, ie, 0, is set as the gradation value. Here, if eight or more sub-pixels are included in the outline among the 16 sub-pixels forming one pixel, the gradation value of the pixel is set to 1, and less than eight sub-pixels are included in the outline. If it is included, the gradation value of the pixel is set to 0. FIG. 37 is a diagram illustrating the two-gradation data for “A” generated by the two-gradation data generation unit 203 according to the above procedure. (Process 4) Tri-level data generator 204 (see FIG. 33)
FIG. 36B generated by the outline information scaling unit 202
By calculating the gradation value of each pixel from the data shown in (3), three gradation data is generated.

Specifically, similarly to the above-mentioned (process 3),
According to the number of sub-pixels included in the outline within one pixel, the gradation value of the pixel is assigned to one of the foreground color, ie, 2, the intermediate color, ie, 1, and the background color, ie, 0. Here, if 11 or more sub-pixels are included in the outline among the 16 sub-pixels constituting one pixel, the gradation value of the pixel is 2, 5 or more and less than 11 sub-pixels. If the pixel is included in the outline, the gradation value of the pixel is set to 1, and if less than 5 subpixels are included in the outline, the gradation value of the pixel is set to 0. FIG. 38 is a diagram illustrating the three-gradation data for “A” generated by the three-gradation data generation unit 204 according to the above procedure. (Process 5) Next, the gradation shared data generation unit 205 (FIG. 3)
3) generates grayscale shared data from the two grayscale data generated by the two grayscale data generation unit 203 and the three grayscale data generated by the three grayscale data generation unit 204.
Here, three gradation data is connected after two gradation data. FIG. 39 is a diagram showing the gradation shared data generated by the gradation shared data generation unit 205 in this manner.

In the gradation shared data generation device, the gradation shared data is generated from the outline data by the processing in (Process 1) to (Process 5) as described above.

Next, the processing procedure for restoring the shared gradation data generated by the shared gradation data generating apparatus by the shared gradation data restoring apparatus will be described (Process 6), (Process 6). The processing will be described as processing 7), (processing 8-1), and (processing 8-2). (Process 6) The gradation shared data extraction unit 206 (see FIG. 33) extracts the gradation shared data generated by the gradation shared data generation device. (Process 7) The gradation number selection unit 207 performs the two gradation data restoration unit 208 if the requested gradation number is two gradations, and the three gradation data if the requested gradation number is three gradations. Data restoration unit 209
Start (Either of (Processing 8-1) and (Processing 8-2) shown below is selected depending on whether the requested number of gradations is two or three.) Process 8-1) If the requested number of tones is two,
The two-gradation data restoring unit 208 includes the two-gradation shared data extracting unit 2
06 extracts a two-gradation data portion (the first half of the gradation sharing data shown in FIG. 39) from the extracted gradation sharing data.
As a result of this extraction, two-gradation data (similar to the two-gradation data generated by the gradation sharing data generation device) shown in FIG. 37 is obtained. (Process 8-2) If the requested number of gradations is three,
The three-gradation data restoring unit 209 includes the three-gradation shared data extracting unit 2
06 extracts the three gradation data portion (the latter half of the gradation sharing data shown in FIG. 39) from the extracted gradation sharing data.
As a result of this extraction, the three-gradation data shown in FIG. 38 (similar to the three-gradation data generated by the gradation sharing data generation device) is obtained.

When an instruction is given when required, a character is displayed on the display unit based on either the two-tone data or the three-tone data obtained as described above.

As described above, in the first conventional gradation shared data processing system, the amount of generated gradation shared data is increased as compared with the amount of 2 gradation data or 3 gradation data. Resulting in. In order to prevent such an increase in the amount of data, only data having a higher order number of gradations is generated, and when data having a lower order number of gradations is requested on the restoration apparatus side, thinning processing, dither processing, and the like are performed. In general, a method of converting the number of gradations by using the following method is used.

FIG. 40 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a second conventional gradation shared data processing system using such a method. The second prior art shared gradation data processing system includes a shared gradation data generation device and a shared gradation data restoration device, like the first shared gradation data processing system, and has two gradations. Data, and three gradation data, two gradation data are used, and two gradation data and three gradation data have the same gradation as the gradation in the first conventional gradation shared data processing system. Shall be assigned a value.

The gradation shared data generation device of the second conventional shared gradation data processing system includes a contour information holding unit 30.
1. An outline information enlarging / reducing unit 302 and a higher-order gradation data generating unit 303 are provided. Further, the gradation shared data restoring device includes a higher-order gradation data extracting unit 304, a gradation number selecting unit 30.
5, a low-order gradation data restoration unit 306 and a high-order gradation data restoration unit 307.

In such a gradation shared data generating device,
First, the processing procedure from the outline data to the generation of higher-order gradation data will be described as (Process 1) to (Process 3). (Process 1) First, the contour information holding unit 301 (see FIG. 40) retrieves and holds the requested contour information of the outline data from the storage unit that stores the outline data. (Here, the held contour information is shown in FIG.
This is the same as that shown in FIG. (Process 2) Next, the contour information enlarging / reducing unit 302 enlarges / reduces the contour information held by the contour information holding unit 301 in (Process 1) to the required number of pixels. Here, similarly to the gradation sharing data processing system of the first conventional example, the outline data has a width of 10 pixels,
It is assumed that gradation shared data composed of 10 pixels in height is generated. The data generated by the contour information enlarging / reducing unit 302 is the same as that shown in FIG. (Process 3) Subsequently, the higher-order gradation data generation unit 303
By calculating the gradation value of each pixel from the data shown in FIG. 36A generated by the contour information enlargement / reduction unit 302 in the same manner as in the gradation sharing data processing system of the first conventional example, three gradations are obtained. Generate data. The resulting 3
The gradation data is the same as that shown in FIG.

As described above, by the processing in (Process 1) to (Process 3), the higher-level gray-scale data (3 gray levels are higher than 2 gray levels) in the gray scale shared data generation device. Is generated).

Next, the procedure of processing when the higher-order gradation data (gradation shared data) generated by the gradation shared data generating device as described above is restored by the gradation shared data restoring device. To (Process 4), (Process 5), (Process 6-1),
This will be described as (Process 6-2). (Process 4) The higher-order gradation data extraction unit 304 (see FIG. 40) extracts the higher-order gradation data (three gradation data) generated by the gradation shared data generation device. (Process 5) The number-of-gradations selection unit 305 performs the low-order gradation data restoration unit 306 if the requested number of gradations is two, and the high-order gradation data restoration unit 306 if the requested number of gradations is three. Gradation data restoration unit 3
07 is started. (Depending on whether the requested number of gradations is two or three, the following (processing 6-1)
One of (Process 6-2) is selected. (Process 6-1) If the requested number of gradations is 2 gradations,
The low-order gradation data restoration unit 306 generates two-gradation data from the three-gradation data extracted by the high-order gradation data extraction unit 304.

More specifically, a higher-order gradation value calculated for each pixel is extracted and converted to a lower-order gradation value by performing some sort of thinning-out processing.

Here, if the gradation value of the extracted three gradation data is 0, the gradation value of the two gradation data is set to 0, and if the gradation value of the extracted three gradation data is 1 or 2, the second gradation data is obtained. Assume that the tone value of the tone data is 1. FIG. 41A is a diagram showing two-tone data restored from three-tone data for “A” by performing the above-described processing on all pixels.

Here, if the gradation value of the extracted three gradation data is 0 or 1, the gradation value of the two gradation data is set to 1, and if the gradation value of the extracted three gradation data is 2, Assume that the gradation value of the two gradation data is 1. FIG. 41 (b)
Is restored from the three gradation data for “A” by performing the above-described processing on all the pixels.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing gradation data. (Process 6-2) If the requested number of gradations is three,
The higher-order gradation data restoration unit 307 outputs the three-gradation data extracted by the higher-order gradation data extraction unit 304 as it is.
The three-gradation data for "A" generated in this manner is the same as that shown in FIG.

If an instruction is given when required, characters are displayed on the display unit based on either the two-tone data or the three-tone data obtained as described above.

However, according to the gradation shared data restoring device of the second conventional gradation shared data processing system,
Two-level data to be restored (see FIGS. 41A and 41B)
Is significantly deteriorated in quality as compared with the two-tone data to be originally restored shown in FIG.

[0034]

As described above, in the first conventional gradation shared data processing system, only two gradation data or three gradation data is generated for the generated gradation shared data. There is a problem that the data amount is significantly increased as compared with a case where only data is generated. As a result, the data amount of the storage unit for storing the gradation shared data increases, and the price of the entire apparatus increases,
Furthermore, when such data is transmitted and received using a communication line or broadcast, the amount of communication data increases, resulting in a decrease in processing performance.

On the other hand, in the gradation shared data processing system of the second conventional example, the data amount of the generated gradation shared data is the same as that of the higher-order gradation data. There is a problem that the conversion of the number of gradations to the gradation data deteriorates the quality of the low-order gradation data. Image data, font data, and the like are treated as gradation data. In particular, when gradation data having a complicated shape such as font data is generated, the quality deterioration accompanying the above-described conversion may be reduced. This has a great effect, and it may be impossible to read the character represented by the low-order gradation data.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and its purpose is to provide different data without increasing the data amount and without deteriorating the restored data. A gradation shared data generation device that generates gradation shared data that shares a plurality of types of gradation data having the maximum number of gradations, and a gradation shared data that can restore the gradation data from the gradation shared data. A data restoration device is provided. It is another object of the present invention to provide a gradation data processing device for expressing characters and graphics using higher quality gradations.

[0037]

In order to achieve the above object, a gradation shared data generating apparatus according to the present invention uses a contour information indicating a contour of a symbol including a character or a graphic to determine a pixel representing a gradation. A gradation shared data generating apparatus for generating gradation shared data corresponding to a predetermined number and sharing a plurality of types of gradation data for representing the symbols, wherein
The maximum number of gradations qα (where p is an integer of 2 or more, α =
1, 2,..., P, and qα is 2 ≦ q ₁ <q ₂ <... <Q _p , 2 ^m−1 <q _p <2 ^m , where m is an integer of 2 or more.
<Q ₁ + q ₂ +... + Q _p are integers) and p number of gray scale data generating means for generating gray scale data; (N is q
gray level shared data generating means for generating gray level shared data ( _p <n ≦ 2 ^m ).

Further, the gradation shared data generating apparatus according to the present invention expresses a gradation from contour information indicating a contour of a symbol including a character or a figure and stroke information indicating a position of a stroke constituting the symbol. A plurality of types of gradation data for representing the symbol corresponding to a predetermined number of pixels are shared,
This is a shared gradation data generating device that generates shared gradation data, and performs hint processing on the basis of the outline information and the stroke information and generates p kinds of maximum gradation numbers qα (where p is an integer of 2 or more, α = 1, 2,..., P and qα
, Where m is an integer of 2 or more, 2 ≦ q ₁ <q ₂ <... <
and p pieces of gradation data generating means for generating tone data of q _p, a _{^{2 m-1 <q p <}} 2 m < integer satisfying _{q 1 + q 2 + ··· +} q p), the generated From the p kinds of gradation data, the maximum gradation number n (n is an integer satisfying q _p <n ≦ 2 ^m )
And gray scale shared data generating means for generating the gray scale shared data.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a gray scale shared data restoring apparatus for gray scale data for representing a symbol including a character or a figure corresponding to a predetermined number of pixels representing a gray scale. Is a gradation shared data restoring device for restoring gradation data from gradation shared data sharing a plurality of kinds, wherein the gradation shared data is p kinds of maximum gradation number qα (p is an integer of 2 or more, α = 1, 2,..., p and qα
, Where m is an integer of 2 or more, 2 ≦ q ₁ <q ₂ <... <
From the gradation data of q _p , 2 ^m−1 <q _p <2 ^m <q ₁ + q ₂ +... + q _p ), the maximum gradation number n (n
Is an integer that satisfies q _p <n ≦ 2 ^m ). The maximum gradation number selection means for selecting the maximum gradation number, and the generated gradation shared data, A gradation shared data restoring unit for restoring the gradation data of the selected maximum number of gradations.

Further, in order to achieve the above-mentioned other object, a gradation data processing apparatus according to the present invention provides a gradation data processing apparatus for representing symbols including characters or figures corresponding to a predetermined number of pixels representing gradations. This is a gradation data processing device that processes gradation data. The gradation data processing device processes three or more gradation data from data specifying a foreground color and data specifying a background color in a color look-up table specified in advance. Calculating means for calculating data specifying one or more intermediate colors (excluding the foreground and background colors); and calculating the data in the color lookup table for each of the one or more intermediate colors. Allocating means for allocating a color included in a predetermined range from the obtained data.

[0041]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A gradation sharing data processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, a gradation sharing data processing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the function of the gradation sharing data processing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the gradation sharing data included in the gradation sharing data processing system. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a data generation device and a gradation shared data restoration device.

The gradation shared data processing system includes a gradation shared data generation device and a gradation shared data restoration device. As shown in FIG. The devices are a storage unit 1 and a ROM, respectively.
2, a RAM 3, a CPU 4, a display unit 5, and an input unit 6.

The storage unit 1 is a secondary storage device such as a hard disk, a floppy disk, and a DVD-RAM.
Stores program files, data files, etc. R
The OM 2 stores a program (gradation shared data generation device) for generating gradation shared data as described below and a program (gradation shared data restoration device) for restoring the gradation shared data. The RAM 3 is a memory used as a work area for temporary work.

The CPU 4 mainly executes a program stored in the ROM 2 to generate, from the outline data, gradation shared data of a size designated by the input unit 6 or the program (gradation shared data generating device). Also, it restores the gradation data of the number of gradations specified by the input unit 6 or the program from the gradation sharing data and displays it on the display unit 5 (gradation sharing data restoration device).

The display unit 5 has a display device such as a liquid crystal panel or a CRT capable of displaying gradations, and displays characters or figures based on gradation data. When generating or restoring the gradation shared data, the input unit 6 receives an operation instruction from a user such as designation of the size of a character or a figure, the number of gradations, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 1, each of the gradation shared data generating device and the gradation shared data restoring device constituted by such hardware is realized by the CPU 4 executing the program of the ROM 2. Functions are included. Here, for convenience of explanation, it is not possible to specify in advance which of the two types of gradation data having the (maximum) number of gradations is to be used in the gradation shared data restoring device, It is assumed that grayscale shared data is generated from two types of grayscale data, but the present invention can be similarly applied to grayscale data having three or more (maximum) grayscale numbers.

The gradation shared data generation device includes a contour information holding unit 101, a contour information scaling unit 102, a basic gradation value calculation unit 103, a development buffer 104, and a gradation shared data generation unit 105. The shared data restoration device includes a gradation shared data extraction unit 106, a development buffer 107, a gradation number selection unit 108, a first gradation data restoration unit 109, and a second gradation data restoration unit 110.

The contour information holding unit 101, the development buffer 104, and the development buffer 107 of the gradation shared data restoring device shown in FIG. 1 are provided with areas on the RAM 3 in the respective devices. The other functions are realized by the CPU 4 executing the program stored in the ROM 2 in each device.

The operation of each unit of the gradation shared data generating device and the gradation shared data restoring device shown in FIG. 1 will be described.

In the gradation shared data generating apparatus, the outline information holding unit 101 corresponds to each character (or figure) from outline data to be subjected to gradation shared data generation, and defines contour features on predetermined coordinates. The contour information represented as a set of points to be represented is extracted and held. Here, as before,
Gothic alphabet "A" shown in FIG.
Is used as a set of outlines on the coordinates of 1000 meshes for explanation. As shown in FIG. 34 (b), the outline information of “A” is made up of points on coordinates that can be divided into outline 1 and outline 2 for each continuous outline. An outline is drawn. In addition, here, “A” consisting of only a straight line will be described, but the present invention can be similarly applied to a character in which a quadratic curve or a cubic curve is used in combination.

Outline information scaling section 102 (see FIG. 1)
Expands / contracts the contour information held in the contour information holding unit 101 in accordance with the requested size instructed. Here, similarly to the gradation shared data generation device of the conventional gradation shared data processing system, the designated request size is set to 10 × 1.
It is assumed that 0 pixel and 1 pixel are composed of 4 × 4 sub-pixels, and the gradation value of each pixel is determined based on sub-pixels included in the outline (including on the outline). . (A number other than 4 can be used as the sub-mesh.) The basic tone value calculation unit 103 includes a contour information scaling unit 102.
Based on the (enlarged or reduced) outline information, a basic tone value for each pixel is calculated. The basic tone value of each pixel is a value that is used as a basis for determining the tone when generating tone data of a plurality of tone levels. Each pixel is composed of 4 × 4 = 16 sub-pixels, and basic gradation values of 0 to 16 are assigned according to the number of sub-pixels included in the outline of the character.

The development buffer 104 is a temporary buffer that holds the basic gradation value data of each pixel calculated by the basic gradation value calculation unit 103 in the process of generating the gradation shared data, and The basic tone value data is held in sub-pixel units determined by the number of pixels according to the size and the number of sub-pixels dividing one pixel. Here, the requested size indicated is 10 × 10 pixels,
Since one pixel is composed of 4 × 4 sub-pixels, an area of 40 × 40 sub-pixels for one character is occupied on the development buffer 104.

Further, the gradation shared data generation unit 105 generates, for each pixel of the basic gradation value data developed in the development buffer 104 by the basic gradation value calculation unit 103, a gradation having the first gradation number. A tone value having a tone value and a second tone number is obtained, and tone shared data for sharing a plurality of types of tone data having a plurality of different tone numbers is generated.

In the gradation shared data restoring device, the gradation shared data extracting section 106 extracts the gradation shared data generated by the gradation shared data generating device, and
To be stored. The development buffer 107 is a temporary buffer that stores the gradation shared data extracted by the gradation shared data extracting unit 106 (in the process of restoring the gradation shared data).

The gradation number selection section 108 selectively activates either the first gradation data restoration section 109 or the second gradation data restoration section 110 according to the requested gradation number.

The first gradation data restoring unit 109 responds to an instruction from the gradation number selection unit 108 to obtain the first gradation number for each pixel from the gradation shared data stored in the development buffer 107. Is obtained, and first gradation data is generated. Further, the second gradation data restoring unit 110 responds to an instruction from the gradation number selection unit 108 to
The second gradation data is generated by obtaining a gradation value having a second gradation number for each pixel from the gradation shared data stored in the.

A device for generating gradation shared data such as these,
The procedure of processing in the gradation shared data restoration device will be described.

Here, it is assumed that two gradation data is treated as the first gradation data and three gradation data is treated as the second gradation data. As in the first and second prior art gradation shared data processing systems, the gradation value of the two gradation data (for each pixel) is 1 for the foreground color and 0 for the background color.
Are assigned to the foreground color, 1 to the intermediate color, and 0 to the background color.

The procedure from the outline data representing outlines of characters and figures to the generation of shared gradation data in the shared gradation data generating apparatus will be described as (Process 1) to (Process 4). I do. Here, similar to the description of the first and second conventional gradation sharing data processing systems, the processing for the alphabet "A" will be described as an example.
Kanji, Hiragana, Katakana, and other characters that represent languages,
The present invention can be similarly applied to other figures. (Process 1) First, the outline information holding unit 101 (see FIG. 1) retrieves outline information for a requested character from a storage unit that stores outline data (corresponding to the storage unit 1 in FIG. 2). Hold. Here, the first and second
As in the conventional gradation shared data processing system of FIG.
The outline information shown in (b) is obtained from the outline data and held. (Process 2) The contour information enlarging / reducing unit 102 converts the contour information expressed on the coordinates of 1000 meshes extracted by the contour information holding unit 101 into the required size of 10 × 1
Reduce (enlarge) to fit 0 pixels (40 × 40 sub-pixels, one pixel consisting of 4 × 4 sub-pixels). (The outline information enlarging / reducing unit 102 can enlarge the outline information as necessary, but performs reduction here.) More specifically, each coordinate value included in the outline information is expressed by (Equation 1) ( (Expression 1)).

[0062]

(Equation 1) Here, SP is the coordinate value after reduction, OP is the coordinate value before reduction, Np is the number of pixels of the required size, Nsp is the number of submesh, EM is the number of meshes for the original contour information, and trunc (X) Is a function that rounds the value of the argument X. In the present gradation shared data generation device, Np is 10,
Nsp is 4 and EM is 1000.

For example, the coordinate value (1
25, 75), when (Equation 1) is applied, the coordinate values (5,
Reduced to 3). By repeating such reduction for the coordinate values included in the outline information shown in FIG. 34B, the outline information after reduction using the coordinate values corresponding to the sub-pixels shown in FIG. Desired. (Process 3) The basic tone value calculation unit 103 (see FIG. 1)
The basic tone value of each pixel is obtained from the reduced outline information obtained by the outline information enlarging / reducing unit 102 and is expanded in the expansion buffer 104. As described above, the basic gradation value of each pixel is, of the sub-pixels constituting the pixel,
Although it is determined by the number of objects included in the outline represented by the outline information, the basic gradation value can be obtained by other calculations.

The above-described contour information enlarging / reducing unit 102 (process 2) and the basic tone value calculating unit 103 (process 3)
Will be described in more detail using a flowchart.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the procedure of processing in the outline information enlarging / reducing unit 102 and the basic tone value calculating unit 103. FIG. 4 shows an outline information enlarging / reducing unit 102.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state of the development buffer 104 at the time when the processing in FIG. 5 is completed, and FIG. 5 is a view showing a state of the development buffer 104 at the time when the processing in the basic tone value calculation unit 103 is completed. is there.

In the processing of the outline information enlarging / reducing unit 102, first, it is determined whether or not there is an unprocessed outline (corresponding to the outline 1 and the outline 2 of "A" shown in FIG. 34B). S
11). If there is an unprocessed contour (Ye in S11)
s), unprocessed contour information included in this contour (FIG. 34)
It is determined whether or not there is (corresponding to the coordinate values included in contour 1 and contour 2 shown in (b)) (S12).

If there is unprocessed contour information (at S12,
(Yes), the unprocessed outline information is scaled and extracted (S13), the coordinate values are plotted in the development buffer 104, and the process proceeds to S12 (S1).
4). If there is no unprocessed contour information (No in S12), all coordinate values plotted in the development buffer 104 are connected by a straight line (S15), and the process proceeds to S11. When all the coordinate values forming the contour are connected by a straight line, the end point coordinates and the start point coordinates are connected by a straight line.

After these processes are repeated, if there are no unprocessed contours (No in S11), the process proceeds to the process of the basic tone value calculation unit 103.

The state of the expansion buffer 104 at the time when the processing by the outline information enlarging / reducing unit 102 is completed is as shown in FIG. FIG. 4 shows a state in which only the outline of “A” is drawn on the coordinates composed of the sub-pixels.

Following the processing by the outline information enlarging / reducing unit 102, in the processing of the basic tone value calculating unit 102, it is first determined whether or not there is an unprocessed pixel (S16). If there is an unprocessed pixel (Yes in S16), the unprocessed pixel is extracted from the expansion buffer 104 in a predetermined order (S17), and the basic floor for the pixel is determined based on the number of subpixels included in the contour. An adjustment value is obtained (S18).

After these processes are repeated, if there are no unprocessed pixels (No in S16), this process is terminated.

The state of the expansion buffer 104 at the time when the processing by the basic tone value calculation unit 103 is completed is as shown in FIG. FIG. 5 shows a state in which the basic tone value has been calculated for each pixel as described above. (The gradation value of two gradations = 1 and the gradation value of three gradations = 1 in FIG. 5 will be described later.) (Process 4) The gradation shared data generation unit 105 (see FIG. 1)
Is the gradation value shared by the two gradation data and the three gradation data (the gradation value for the gradation shared data) from the basic gradation value for each pixel of the development buffer 104 (in the state shown in FIG. 5). Ask for. This processing will be described in more detail with reference to a flowchart.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the procedure of processing in the gradation shared data generation unit 105. FIG. 7 shows the gradation value of the two gradation data in the gradation shared data generation unit 105,
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a matrix table used for obtaining grayscale shared data from grayscale values of three grayscale data. FIG. 8 shows a matrix for each pixel of the alphabet “A” obtained by using the matrix table. It is a figure showing the tone value of key share data.

In the gradation shared data generation unit 105, first,
It is determined whether there is an unprocessed pixel (S2).
1). If there is an unprocessed pixel (Ye in S21)
s), the basic tone value Lorg for this pixel is extracted from the development buffer 104 (S22). The extracted basic tone values Lorg include (Equation 2) and (Equation 3)
([Equation 2]) is applied to obtain two gradation values (S23, S24, S25).

[0075]

(Equation 2) Here, L2 is a gradation value in two gradation data, SP is the number of sub-pixels constituting one pixel, and TH2 is a foreground color (gradation value 1) in two gradations. And a threshold value for allocating to the background color (gradation value 0) from 0 to S
Take an integer value up to P.

In this gradation shared data generation apparatus, SP = 1
6, and TH2 = 8. That is, if the number of sub-pixels inside the outline of the character is 8 or more, that is, if half or more of the pixels fall inside the outline,
The gradation value is set to 1, and in other cases (less than half of the pixel fits inside the contour), the gradation value is set to 0. Any other value can be used as the threshold value TH2. In order to determine the gradation value of the two gradation data, a value other than (Expression 2) and (Expression 3) (for example, the basic gradation value And 2
For example, a table representing the correspondence between the gradation data and the gradation values) may be used.

Subsequently, the basic gradation value Lorg is given by (Equation 4)
Equation (6) (Equation 3) is applied to obtain three gradation values (S26, S27, S28, S29, S3).
0).

[0078]

(Equation 3) Here, L3 is a gradation value of three gradation data, and TH3
1. TH32 (TH31 <= TH32) is for distributing the basic gradation value into a foreground color (gradation value 2), an intermediate color (gradation value 1), and a background color (gradation value 0) in three gradations. 0 at threshold
Take an integer value from to SP.

In this gradation shared data generation device, TH31
= 5 and TH32 = 11. That is, when the number of sub-pixels inside the outline of the character is 16 to 11, the gradation value is 2; when the number is 10 to 5, the gradation value is 1; Has a gradation value of 0. Similarly to the above, other values can be used for the threshold values TH31 and TH32, and other than (Expression 4) to (Expression 6) in order to determine the gradation value of the three gradation data (for example, , A table representing the correspondence between the basic gradation values and the gradation values of the three gradation data).

After these processes, the matrix table shown in FIG. 7 is used in accordance with the gradation values (0 or 1) for the two gradation data and the gradation values (any of 0 to 2) for the three gradation data. A gradation value for the gradation shared data is obtained (S31).

For example, a pixel having a basic gradation value of 9 shown in FIG. 5 is calculated as a gradation value of 1 with 2 gradation data and a gradation value of 1 with 3 gradation data by the above-described processing. Using the table, a gradation value 2 for the gradation shared data is obtained. (A matrix table other than that shown in FIG. 7 can be used as the matrix table for obtaining the gradation value for the gradation shared data. A value can be obtained.) By using the grayscale shared data for each pixel as described above, the grayscale value of the grayscale shared data for each pixel as shown in FIG. 8 is obtained.

In this gradation shared data processing system, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, the gray scale shared data is expressed by 2 bits (having a value from 0 to 3) for one pixel, and is divided into three gray scale data having gray scale values of 0, 1, and 2. It will have the same data size.

Next, the processing procedure for restoring the shared gradation data generated by the shared gradation data generating apparatus by the shared gradation data restoring apparatus will be described (Process 5). The processing will be described as processing 6), (processing 7-1), and (processing 7-2). (Process 5) Gradation shared data extraction unit 106 (see FIG. 1)
Extracts the grayscale shared data generated by the grayscale shared data generation device and expands it in the expansion buffer 107. (Process 6) The number-of-tones selection section 108 performs the first-level-data restoration section 109 when the requested number of levels is two, and the second-level data when the requested number of levels is three. Gradation data restoration unit 1
Start 10 (Depending on whether the requested number of gradations is two or three, the following (processing 7-1)
One of (Processing 7-2) is selected. FIG. 9 (a)
FIG. 9B is a diagram showing a conversion table when the first gradation data restoration unit 109 converts the gradation value of the gradation shared data into the gradation value of the two gradation data, and FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a conversion table when the tone data restoring unit 110 converts the tone values of the tone shared data into the tone values of three tone data. (In addition to using these conversion tables, conversion of the gradation value can be performed using a threshold value or the like.) (Process 7-1) If the required number of gradations is two,
The first gradation data restoration unit 109 extracts the gradation value of the gradation shared data for each pixel, which is developed in the development buffer 107, and applies the conversion table shown in FIG. Then, a gradation value of the two gradation data is obtained. (Process 7-2) If the requested number of gradations is three,
The second gradation data restoration unit 110 extracts the gradation value of the gradation shared data for each pixel, which is developed in the development buffer 107, and applies the conversion table shown in FIG. 9B to this gradation value. Then, the gradation value of the three gradation data is obtained.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the alphabet "A" based on the two gradation data generated from the gradation shared data by (Process 7-1), and FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the gradation shared data by (Process 7-2). FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an alphabet “A” based on three-tone data generated from.

As described above, in the gradation shared data generating apparatus of the present gradation shared data processing system, the gradation value of 2 gradation data (1 bit) and the gradation value of 3 gradation data (2 bits) are obtained from the outline data. Tone values are calculated, and tone shared data (2 bits) is generated from them without increasing the data amount. In the gradation shared data restoring device, the same data as the two-gradation data and the three-gradation data obtained by the gradation shared data generating device is restored from the gradation shared data without deteriorating the quality.

A gradation shared data generation device such as these,
The shared gradation data processing system including the shared gradation data restoration device can be used in a satellite broadcasting system as shown in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a configuration of a satellite broadcasting system using the present gradation shared data processing system. FIG. 13 shows the first gradation shared data stored in the set-top box (STB) 503 of the satellite broadcasting system.
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a second configuration example of the gradation shared data stored in the STB 503;
FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a third configuration example of the gradation shared data stored in the STB 503.

This satellite broadcasting system includes a broadcasting station 501, an artificial satellite 502, an STB 503, and a television 504.

The broadcasting station 501 transmits video information, audio information, character information, and the like to the STB 503 via the artificial satellite 502. The STB 503 receives the information, decodes the video information, audio information, and character information, reproduces the video and audio on the television 504, and displays the characters. Here, ST for restoring gradation shared data according to character information
B503 is the gradation shared data decoding device described above (see FIG. 1).
To generate such gradation shared data and
An apparatus at the time of manufacturing the STB 503 used for storing the data in the STB 503 can correspond to the above-described gradation shared data generation apparatus.

In the present satellite broadcasting system, characters are displayed based on the reception of character information (character codes) from broadcasting station 501, and thus STB 503 operates as described above for a plurality of characters (or graphics). Grayscale shared data
The information is stored in a configuration as shown in FIGS. 13, 14, and 15 together with a plurality of pieces of additional information. (For specific characters such as external characters, the gradation shared data can be transmitted from the broadcasting station 501 to the STB 503 only when display is performed. Also, the gradation shared data extraction shown in FIG. 1 is performed. The unit 106 performs processing on the subsequent expansion buffer 107 and gradation number selection unit 108 by inputting a character code in the same manner as when grayscale shared data is input.) As shown, STB 503 includes gradation shared data for the first character (for example, “A”), gradation shared data for the second character (for example, “B”), and third character (for example, “ C "), gradation sharing data for
.. Are stored collectively in order (for example, as a set of all letters of the alphabet). In STB 503, in accordance with the identification of the character by receiving the character code from broadcast station 501, necessary data is selected from stored gradation shared data corresponding to a plurality of characters, and television 50 is selected.
4 for display on the display.

As shown in FIG. 14, index data can be added to gradation shared data for a plurality of characters. The index data includes a character code and a pointer indicating the position of the storage unit in which the gradation sharing data corresponding to the character code is stored, and the index data indicates the character requested to be displayed from the storage unit. The processing such as the extraction of the gradation shared data corresponding to the above can be performed quickly.

Further, as shown in FIG. 15, additional information including the data length of the gray scale shared data, the number of included gray scales, the number of gray scales of each gray scale, etc. is added to the gray scale shared data for each character. Can be added. With this additional information, various processes including the processes described above can be performed quickly, and the grayscale shared data restoration device can be simplified.

Data including such gray scale shared data and additional information corresponding to the gray scale shared data can be recorded on a data recording medium such as a floppy disk or an optical disk, and the data recording medium can be distributed.

In the above-described satellite broadcasting system using the gradation shared data, the display capability of the STB 503 (which cannot be known by the broadcasting station 501) (how many colors can be displayed at maximum) and the contents of the video (currently The number of gradations that can be represented by this data is selected from the gradation sharing data (font data) stored in the STB 503, depending on the number of colors used, and the floor for displaying characters. Keys can be assigned to pallets.

In the gradation sharing data processing system of the above embodiment, two gradation data (one bit data)
Although it is assumed that 2-bit grayscale shared data is generated from and 3 grayscale data (2 bit data), for example,
Generating 4-bit grayscale shared data from 7 grayscale data (3 bit data) and 10 grayscale data (4 bit data), and 2 grayscale data (1 bit data) and 3rd grayscale data It is possible to generate 3-bit gradation shared data from the gradation data (2-bit data) and the 5-gradation data (3-bit data). In other words, when generalized, the maximum gradation number qα of p (p is an integer of 2 or more) types
(Α = 1, 2,..., P, m is an integer of 2 or more, and qα is 2 ≦ q ₁ <q ₂ <... <Q _p , 2 ^m−1 <q _p
<2 ^m <q ₁ + q ₂ +... + Q _p is an integer that satisfies the maximum gradation number n (n is q _p <n ≦ 2 ^m).
) Can be generated.

Further, in the gradation shared data generation device of the gradation shared data processing system of the above embodiment, the gradation data (the above-mentioned two gradation data,
The three-level data is generated from the outline data. However, depending on conditions such as when the size required at the time of generation is fixed, the gray-scale shared data is not stored in the outline data but in the pre-stored gray-scale data. It can be generated from itself. In this case, the outline information holding unit 101 (see FIG. 1), the outline information enlargement / reduction unit 102, and the basic tone value calculation unit 103 become unnecessary.
Instead, a gradation data extraction unit for extracting the gradation data that is the basis of the generated gradation shared data from the storage unit is added.

Further, in the shared gradation data generating apparatus, the shared gradation data generation unit 105 uses the thresholds (described above) used when generating 2 gradation data and 3 gradation data from the basic gradation value data. TH2, TH31, and TH32) are fixed, but these thresholds can be changed according to a user or program request. Accordingly, when information such as display characteristics of a display device having the display unit 5 on the gradation shared data restoration device side is predetermined, based on this information,
It is possible to generate gradation sharing data that can maximize the performance of the display device.

In the gradation shared data generation unit 105 of the gradation shared data generation device, the gradation shared data is obtained based on the basic gradation value obtained by the basic gradation value calculation unit 103. From the contour information obtained by the contour information enlargement / reduction unit 102 after the enlargement / reduction, it is also possible to directly generate gradation shared data by area calculation processing using integration or the like. Thereby, the basic tone value calculation unit 103 becomes unnecessary, and the apparatus can be further simplified.

Further, a designated gradation number determination unit for determining whether or not the gradation number requested from the outside is included in the gradation shared data is provided to the gradation number selection unit 108 of the gradation shared data restoring device. Further, when the requested number of gradations is not included in the gradation shared data, an error processing unit that notifies the outside that the data of the requested number of gradations cannot be generated can be added. This makes it possible to improve the stability of processing in the gradation shared data restoration device.

Further, a designated gradation number judging section for judging whether or not the gradation number requested from the outside is included in the gradation shared data, And when the requested gradation number is not included in the gradation sharing data, the gradation number closest to the requested gradation number among the gradation numbers that can be generated from the gradation sharing data. , And an optimum number-of-gradations calculating unit that notifies the number-of-gradations selecting unit 108 can be added. Thereby, even when the requested number of gradations is not included in the gradation sharing data, the display on the display unit 5 can be performed, and the stability of processing in the gradation sharing data restoration device is improved. be able to. In this case, information (for example, information for facilitating the calculation of the optimum number of gradations by the optimum gradation number calculation unit for the gradation shared data)
By adding all the gradation numbers included in the gradation shared data), the configuration of the optimum gradation number calculation unit can be simplified.

Next, a gradation shared data processing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram for explaining a configuration of a gradation sharing data processing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The shared gradation data processing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a shared gradation data generation device and a shared gradation data restoration device, similarly to the shared gradation data processing system according to the first embodiment. I have. In the gradation shared data processing system of the second embodiment, only the gradation shared data generation device is different from the gradation shared data generation device of the gradation shared data processing system of the first embodiment. The gradation shared data generation device will be described. (The details of the configuration, operation, and the like of the gradation shared data generation device other than those described below are based on those of the gradation shared data generation device of the gradation shared data processing system of the first embodiment.) The gradation shared data generation device includes a contour information holding unit 2
101, a stroke information holding unit 2102, a first contour information scaling unit 2103, a first gradation value calculation unit 2104, a second
Contour information enlargement / reduction unit 2105, second gradation value calculation unit 210
6, a gradation shared data generation unit 2107 is included.

The contour information holding unit 2101 stores the outline data to be subjected to the gradation shared data generation similarly to the contour information holding unit 101 of the gradation shared data generation device of the gradation shared data processing system of the first embodiment. , Contour information corresponding to each character (or figure) and represented as a set of points representing contour features on predetermined coordinates is extracted and held.

The stroke information holding unit 2102 holds the stroke information based on the outline information to be generated and stored in the outline information holding unit 2101 and to be subjected to the generation of the gradation shared data. The stroke information is information used for adjusting the stroke width after scaling, and is generally called a hint.

FIGS. 17 (a) and 17 (b) are diagrams showing outline information of a kanji character "3" for which gradation shared data is to be generated by the present gradation shared data generating apparatus. c)
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing stroke information of “three”. Here, “three” is represented in Gothic type, and the contour information indicating this is represented by a set of straight lines on the coordinates of 1000 meshes. Further, the stroke information is held as a combination of the Y coordinate values of the lower straight line and the upper straight line constituting the three horizontal strokes included in “3”, and the horizontal stroke width can be obtained as a difference between these. The width of the horizontal stroke 1, the horizontal stroke 2, and the horizontal stroke 3 constituting the "three" is 70 in all cases.

The horizontal stroke information includes, in addition to the above,
It may be stored as a combination of the Y coordinate value of the lower straight line and the stroke width, or may be stored as an attribute of a coordinate point added to the outline information. The horizontal stroke information is one of the stroke information. When a vertical stroke exists, the vertical stroke information is held similarly.

The first contour information enlarging / reducing unit 2103, together with the following first tone value calculating unit 2104, is the first number of tones to be expressed in the shared tone data (here, two tones).
And the stroke information holding unit 2102
The outline information held in the outline information holding unit 2101 is scaled up or down according to the requested size instructed based on the stroke information held in.

The first gradation value calculation unit 2104 calculates a gradation value for the first gradation number for each pixel based on the outline information enlarged and reduced by the first outline information enlargement / reduction unit 2103.

The second contour information enlarging / reducing unit 2105 works together with the following second tone value calculating unit 2106 to represent the second number of tones to be expressed in the shared tone data (here, three tones).
And the stroke information holding unit 2102
The outline information held in the outline information holding unit 2101 is scaled up or down according to the requested size instructed based on the stroke information held in.

The second gradation value calculation unit 2106 calculates a gradation value for the second gradation number for each pixel based on the outline information enlarged and reduced by the second outline information enlargement / reduction unit 2105.

The gradation shared data generation unit 2107 includes a gradation value for the first gradation number gradation data for each pixel calculated by the first gradation value calculation unit 2104, and a second gradation value calculation unit 2106. The grayscale value of the grayscale shared data is obtained using the grayscale value of the grayscale data of the second grayscale number for each pixel calculated by the above, and the grayscale shared data is generated.

The procedure of processing in such a gradation shared data generation device will be described as (Process 1) to (Process 7). Similarly to the grayscale shared data generation device of the first grayscale shared data processing system, it is assumed that two grayscale data is handled as the first grayscale data and three grayscale data is handled as the second grayscale data. Further, for the gradation value of the two gradation data (for each pixel), a gradation value of 1 is assigned to the foreground color and 0 for the background color, and for the gradation value of the three gradation data,
It is assumed that 2 is assigned to the foreground color, 1 to the intermediate color, and 0 to the background color. (In the following, the processing for the kanji "3" is taken as an example, but hiragana, katakana,
The present invention can be similarly applied to alphabets, characters representing other languages, and figures other than these. (Process 1) First, the contour information holding unit 2101 (FIG. 16)
) Retrieves and holds the outline information for the requested character from the storage unit that stores the outline data. Here, the outline information shown in FIG. 17B is obtained from the outline data and held. (Process 2) The stroke information holding unit 2102 extracts the stroke information for the requested character from the storage unit and holds the stroke information (the stroke information is stored in the storage unit in advance). Here, the stroke information shown in FIG. 17C is obtained and held. (Process 3) The first contour information enlarging / reducing unit 2103 uses the stroke information held by the stroke information holding unit 2102 to convert the outline information held by the outline information holding unit 2101 to a required size of 10 × 10 pixels, Reduce (enlarge) to fit the gradation. (The first outline information enlarging / reducing unit 2103 can enlarge the outline information as necessary, but performs reduction here.) The (process 3) in the first outline information enlarging / reducing unit 2103 will be described with reference to a flowchart. This will be described in more detail.

FIG. 18 shows a first outline information enlarging / reducing unit 210.
3 (the second contour information enlarging / reducing unit 2 as described later)
It is a flow chart showing the procedure of (the same applies to the processing at 105). The processing here can be broadly divided into horizontal stroke enlargement / reduction processing and outline information enlargement / reduction processing.

In the horizontal stroke enlargement / reduction processing, first,
It is determined whether or not there is unprocessed horizontal stroke information (corresponding to “three” horizontal strokes 1 to 3 shown in FIG. 17C) (S41). If there is unprocessed horizontal stroke information (Yes in S41), the unprocessed horizontal stroke information is extracted (S4).
2).

In this case, the horizontal coordinate information is constructed by assuming that the Y coordinate value of the lower straight line is L and the Y coordinate value of the upper straight line is U, and that one of the horizontal strokes corresponds to (L, U). As for “three” shown in FIG.
Stroke information (155, 225) for three horizontal strokes 1 to 3 as shown in FIG.
(475, 545) and (780, 850) are sequentially extracted.

Subsequently, for the extracted horizontal stroke information, the horizontal stroke width Worg is obtained by the following (Equation 7) (Equation 4) (S43). "three"
, The stroke width of all three horizontal strokes is 70.

[0117]

(Equation 4) The horizontal stroke width obtained in this way is scaled up or down according to the required size (S44). Also,
This enlargement / reduction is performed so as to be suitable for generating the two-gradation data. In the two-tone data, the tone value of each pixel is 1, 0
Therefore, by setting the stroke width after enlargement / reduction to a value in pixel units, the gradation value can be determined while preventing the stroke width from being irregular due to a rounding error.
Such a process is called a hint process, and is generally used particularly when two-tone data is generated from outline data indicating characters. Here, the following (Equation 8)
By (Equation 5), the stroke width W2 after scaling is obtained.

[0118]

(Equation 5) Here, Np is the number of pixels of the required size, Nsp is the number of submeshes, EM is the number of meshes for the original contour information, and trunc (X) is a function for rounding the value of the argument X. In the present gradation shared data generation device, Np is 1
0, Nsp is 4, and EM is 1000. This (Equation 8)
According to the above, the stroke width after scaling of three horizontal strokes for “3” is all four subpixels, that is, one pixel.

Next, the Y coordinate value of the lower straight line of the horizontal stroke is enlarged or reduced (S45). Here, as in the case where the stroke width is enlarged / reduced, the enlargement / reduction is performed so as to be suitable for the generation of the two gradation data. If the scaling is performed so that the coordinate values after the scaling become pixel boundaries, it is possible to minimize the influence of the rounding error that occurs when obtaining the gradation value for the two gradation data. Here, the Y coordinate value L2 of the lower straight line of the horizontal stroke after scaling is obtained by (Equation 9) (Equation 6) shown below.

[0120]

(Equation 6) Thereafter, the stroke width W2 after the enlargement / reduction obtained as described above and the Y coordinate value L of the lower straight line of the horizontal stroke are obtained.
2 is used, the Y coordinate value U2 of the upper straight line of the horizontal stroke is obtained by (Equation 10) ((Equation 7)) (S
46).

[0121]

(Equation 7) Here, the Y coordinate value of the upper straight line is obtained after scaling the Y coordinate value of the lower straight line of the horizontal stroke, but is used after calculating the Y coordinate value of the upper straight line of the horizontal stroke. Can be used to determine the Y coordinate value of the lower straight line. In this case, the Y coordinate value of the upper straight line of the horizontal stroke after scaling is obtained by (Equation 11) (Equation 8), and the Y coordinate value of the lower straight line is (Equation 1).
2).

[0122]

(Equation 8) With the horizontal stroke enlargement / reduction processing as described above, 2
Horizontal stroke information after enlargement / reduction suitable for generation of gradation data can be obtained. Stroke information after (enlargement) reduction with respect to three horizontal strokes of “three” is (8, 1
2), (20, 24) and (32, 36).

When the processing for all the horizontal stroke information is completed as described above (N in S41,
o) In the outline information enlargement / reduction processing, the outline information is enlarged / reduced using the horizontal stroke information after the enlargement / reduction.

In the outline information enlargement / reduction processing, first, it is determined whether or not there is unprocessed outline information (corresponding to “three” outlines 1 to 3 shown in FIG. 17B) (S 47). .
If there is unprocessed contour information (Yes in S47), the unprocessed contour information is extracted (S48). "three"
For contour 1 to contour 3 as shown in FIG.
Are sequentially extracted as processing targets.

Subsequently, the Y coordinate value Yorg is extracted from the extracted contour information (S49), and the Y coordinate value Yorg is enlarged and reduced as follows, and the Y coordinate value after the enlargement and reduction is obtained.
The coordinate value Y2 is obtained (S50). If Y2 after scaling is obtained for all the outline information as described below (No at 47), the present process is terminated.

If the Y coordinate value Yorg is equal to the Y coordinate value U of the upper straight line or the Y coordinate value L of the lower straight line of the original 1000-mesh horizontal stroke, the Y coordinate value Y2 after the scaling is calculated as described above. The Y-coordinate value U2 of the upper straight line or the Y-coordinate value L2 of the lower straight line of the horizontal stroke after the enlargement / reduction obtained in the horizontal stroke enlargement / reduction processing is set.

Also, if the Y coordinate value Yorg is 100
Y coordinate value U of upper straight line of horizontal stroke of 0 mesh
If not equal to any of the Y coordinate values L of the lower straight line and the lower straight line, the Y coordinate value Y2 after scaling is a value obtained by linearly interpolating between the Y coordinate value of the upper straight line and the Y coordinate value of the lower straight line of each horizontal stroke. Is required.

In the present gradation shared data generation device, the Y coordinate value Y2 after scaling is obtained from the Y coordinate value Yorg by the following (Equation 13) to (Equation 27) (Equation 9).

[0129]

(Equation 9) As described above, the contour information on the coordinates of the 1000 mesh is
It is (enlarged) reduced to data on 40 × 40 sub-pixels suitable for generating two-tone data.

Here, only the coordinate values on the upper straight line and the lower straight line of the horizontal stroke exist, but the outline data including the coordinate values representing the straight lines and the curves other than the strokes can also be obtained by the above (Equation 13) to Using (Equation 27),
Appropriately corrected data can be obtained by reducing (enlarging) the Y coordinate value Yorg to the Y coordinate value Y2 (the position in the Y direction of certain two data is reversed before and after the enlargement / reduction). Scaling can be performed so that no

Here, since there is no vertical stroke, all the X coordinate values are expressed by (Equation 28) ([Equation 1
0]), appropriate data can be obtained.

[0132]

(Equation 10) When the outline information including the vertical stroke is scaled, similarly to the above, first, the X coordinate value that determines the position of the vertical stroke is scaled so as to be suitable for the number of gradations of the gradation data. X to determine the position of the vertical stroke
By linearly interpolating between coordinate values and enlarging or reducing other values, appropriate data can be obtained.
The enlargement / reduction can be performed so that the positions of the two data in the X direction are not reversed before and after the enlargement / reduction.)

FIGS. 19 (a), (b) and (c) show FIGS. 17 (a), (b) and (c) so as to be suitable for generating two gradation data as described above. FIG. 20 is a diagram showing data obtained by enlarging or reducing the outline information and stroke information shown in FIG. 20. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing outline information of a.

In FIG. 19A, a solid line indicates an outline obtained by performing the above-described hint processing, and a dashed line indicates a simple enlargement / reduction without performing the above-described hint processing. The outline at the time is shown.

According to FIG. 20, since all coordinate values characterizing the outline of “three” are on the pixel boundary, it is understood that these reduced coordinate values are suitable for generating two-tone data. (Process 4) The first gradation value calculation unit 2104 calculates the gradation value of the two gradation data for each pixel from the contour information after scaling obtained by the first contour information scaling unit 2103. Regarding the calculation of the gradation value, the processing of the gradation shared data generation device of the gradation shared data processing system of the first embodiment (S21 in FIG.
To S25), the description will not be repeated here.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing the tone values of the two tone data for each pixel, obtained by the first tone value calculation unit 2104 from the scaled-out “three” outline information of FIG. It is. As shown in FIG. 21, the gradation value 1 is generated according to the outline of “three”. (Process 5) The second outline information enlarging / reducing unit 2105 uses the stroke information held by the stroke information holding unit 2102 to convert the outline information held by the outline information holding unit 2101 into a required size of 10 × 10 pixels, 3 × 10 pixels, Reduce (enlarge) to fit the gradation. (The second contour information enlarging / reducing unit 2105 can enlarge the contour information as needed, like the first contour information enlarging / reducing unit 2103.
Here, reduction is performed. The procedure for enlarging / reducing the Y coordinate is shown in FIG.
The procedure is the same as that described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 7 for the enlargement / reduction for generating the two-tone data in the first contour information enlargement / reduction unit 2103. In order to perform scaling so as to be suitable for generating gradation data, the formulas for scaling are different. Each of the equations (8) to (27) (see [Equation 5] to [Equation 9]) used in the first contour information scaling section 2103 is used in the second contour information scaling section 2105 (Equation 5). 29) to (Equation 48) (see [Equation 11]).

[0137]

[Equation 11] Here, W3 is the stroke width after scaling up and down so as to be suitable for 3-gradation data, L3 is the coordinate value of the lower straight line of the horizontal stroke after scaling up and down so as to be suitable for 3-gradation data, and U3 is 3 This is the coordinate value of the upper straight line of the horizontal stroke after scaling is performed so as to be suitable for the gradation data.

FIGS. 22 (a), (b) and (c) show FIGS. 17 (a), (b) and (c) so as to be suitable for generating three gradation data as described above. FIG. 23 is a diagram showing data obtained by enlarging or reducing the outline information and stroke information shown in FIG. 23. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing outline information of a.

According to FIG. 23, since the coordinate values characterizing the outline of “three” are all on the sub-pixel boundary (not on the pixel boundary), these reduced coordinate values generate three gradation data. It turns out that it is suitable for. (If the coordinate values characterizing the outline of “three” are all on the pixel boundary, there is no need to use an intermediate color.) (Process 6) The second gradation value calculation unit 2106 enlarges / reduces the second outline information A gradation value of three-gradation data for each pixel is calculated from the contour information after scaling obtained by the unit 2105. For the calculation of the gradation value, the first gradation value calculation unit 2
Similarly to 104, it is assumed that the processing is similar to that of the gradation shared data generation device of the gradation shared data processing system of the first embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing the tone values of the three tone data for each pixel, obtained by the second tone value calculation unit 2106 from the scaled-out “three” outline information of FIG. It is. As shown in FIG. 24, the gradation value 1 is generated according to the outline of “three”. (Comparing with the gradation values of the two gradation data shown in FIG. 21, it can be seen that the position of the lowermost horizontal stroke is shifted downward by one pixel.) (Process 7) The gradation shared data generation unit 2107 Are the gradation values of the two gradation data for each pixel calculated by the first gradation value calculation unit 2104, and the gradation values of the three gradation data for each pixel calculated by the second gradation value calculation unit 2106. Using the tone value, the tone value of the shared tone data is obtained from a matrix table (similar to the shared tone data processing system of the first embodiment) shown in FIG.

FIG. 25 shows a gradation shared data generation unit 2107.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the gradation values of the gradation shared data for “3” generated in FIG.

Comparing the gradation value of the two gradation data (see FIG. 21) and the gradation value of the three gradation data (see FIG. 24) for each pixel, the position of the bottom horizontal stroke of “3” is obtained. Only one pixel differs in the vertical direction by one pixel. In response to this, the gradation value 2 of the gradation shared data is generated corresponding to the other two horizontal strokes, whereas the gradation value 1 of the gradation shared data is generated corresponding to the lowermost horizontal stroke. Has been generated.

As described above, in the present gradation shared data generation device, gradation shared data is generated without increasing the data amount while performing the hint processing. The grayscale data restored from the grayscale shared data generated in such a manner is of high quality, and the present grayscale shared data generation device has a particularly high fidelity to the expression of its shape such as character data. Is suitable for generating required data.

Next, a description will be given of a modification of the shared gradation data generation device of the shared gradation data processing system according to the second embodiment. As described above, in the gradation shared data generation device of the gradation shared data processing system of the second embodiment,
In order to reproduce the shape indicated by the original outline information as faithfully as possible, simple enlargement / reduction as in the gradation shared data generation device of the gradation shared data processing system of the first embodiment is not performed. Then, a hint process suitable for the gradation data is performed for each gradation data, and scaling is performed.

With the hint processing, the quality of the generated gradation data is improved. However, there is a case where a displacement of a pixel unit occurs in the stroke position between the gradation data of different gradation numbers. . In fact, for “3”, as described above, the gradation value of the two gradation data (see FIG. 21) is compared with the gradation value of the three gradation data (see FIG. 24), and Are different in the vertical direction by one pixel.

When two-tone data is generated from such tone-sharing data using the tone-sharing data restoring device according to the rule shown in FIG. 9A, the lowermost horizontal stroke is erased. , "Three" cannot be read.
FIG. 26 is a diagram showing two-gradation data for "three" restored from the above-described gradation sharing data by the gradation sharing data restoration device of the present gradation sharing data processing system.

In order to avoid such inconvenience, in the gradation shared data generating device of this modification, a stroke adjusting unit for adjusting the stroke position is added, and the first contour information enlarging / reducing unit 2103 (see FIG. 16) is added. The stroke information is provided to the second contour information enlargement / reduction unit 2105 so that the displacement of the stroke does not occur.

Hereinafter, the stroke adjusting unit of the gradation shared data generating device of this modification will be described. FIG. 27 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of processing for each horizontal stroke of two-gradation data using the stroke adjustment unit of the gradation-sharing data generation device of the present modification.

Here, when a positional displacement of the stroke occurs, the horizontal stroke information enlarged and reduced so as to be suitable for two gradations is corrected in accordance with the horizontal stroke information enlarged and reduced so as to be suitable for three gradations. The horizontal stroke information enlarged and reduced to be suitable for three gradations can be corrected in accordance with the horizontal stroke information enlarged and reduced to be suitable for two gradations.

In the process of adjusting the stroke, first, similarly to the above-mentioned (process 3) (see FIG. 18), the horizontal stroke width W2 and the Y coordinate value L2 of the lower straight line scaled up and down so as to be suitable for two gradations are obtained. (S51), and the horizontal stroke width W3 enlarged and reduced so as to be suitable for the three gradations and the Y coordinate value L3 of the lower straight line are calculated in the same manner as in the above-mentioned (Process 5) (see FIG. 18) (S52). ).

The Y-coordinate value L2 of the lower straight line, which has been scaled so as to be suitable for the two gradations, obtained as described above, is scaled so as to be suitable for the three gradations for the same stroke as follows. The position of the stroke, which is corrected according to the positional relationship with the Y coordinate value L3 of the lower straight line and scaled up and down so as to be suitable for two gradations, is adjusted. Figure 2 shown below
8 (a), FIG. 29 (a) and FIG. 30 (a), a thick line indicates a pixel boundary, and a thin line indicates a sub-pixel boundary. here,
The horizontal stroke widths W2 and W3 are one pixel,
The same can be said for more cases.

The Y coordinate value L2 is located at the pixel boundary because scaling suitable for two gradations is performed.
3 is located at a sub-pixel boundary because enlargement / reduction suitable for three gradations is performed. When the Y coordinate values L2 and L3 are on the pixel boundary and the subpixel boundary, the Y coordinate values L2 and L3 are included in the pixels and subpixels having these lower boundaries.

FIG. 28A shows a case where the Y coordinate values L2 and L3 are included in the same pixel.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the positions of different Y coordinate values L2 and L3.
8 (b) is a gradation value of two gradation data for the target pixel and a gradation value of three gradation data corresponding to the position of the Y coordinate value L2 and the Y coordinate value L3 in this case, and a floor generated from these. It is a figure showing the tone value of key share data. (The gradation value of the gradation shared data is obtained from the gradation value of the two gradation data and the gradation value of the three gradation data in accordance with the matrix table shown in FIG. Then, the gradation values of the two gradation data and the gradation values of the three gradation data are restored from the gradation shared data according to the conversion tables shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B.) Referring to b), the Y coordinate value L2 and the Y coordinate value L
If 3 would be included in the same pixel, 2
When the grayscale value of the grayscale data is 0 even though the grayscale value of the grayscale data is 1, that is, the difference between the Y coordinate value L2 and the Y coordinate value L3 is 3 subpixels. Only when the horizontal stroke is not restored when the two-gradation data is restored from the generated gradation shared data.

In response to these, the stroke adjusting unit
The following processing is performed. For each of the scaled horizontal strokes (following S52 of FIG. 27), Y
It is determined whether the coordinate value L2 and the Y coordinate value L3 are included in the same pixel (S53). If these are included in the same pixel (Yes in S53), it is determined whether the difference between L2 and L3 is 3 or more (S54), and L2
If the difference between L3 and L3 is 3 or more (Ye in S54)
s), 4 is added to L2 (S55), and the horizontal stroke in which L2 indicates the Y coordinate value of the lower straight line is moved upward by 4 subpixels, that is, 1 pixel, and thereafter, the process proceeds to S59. Is advanced. Also, L2 and L3
If the difference is not 3 or more (No in S54), the process proceeds to S59.

FIG. 29A shows four types of the Y coordinate value L3 with respect to the Y coordinate value L2 when the pixel including the Y coordinate value L2 contacts below the pixel including the Y coordinate value L3. FIG. 29B is a diagram showing the position.
In this case, according to the positions of the Y coordinate value L2 and the Y coordinate value L3, the gradation value of the two gradation data for the target pixel, the gradation value of the three gradation data, and the gradation of the gradation shared data generated therefrom. It is a figure showing an adjustment value.

Referring to FIG. 29B, the Y coordinate value L2
Is always in contact with the pixel that includes the Y-coordinate value L3, the level of the grayscale shared data is always irrespective of the fact that the grayscale value of the two grayscale data is 1. It can be seen that the tone value is 0, and the horizontal stroke is not restored when the two-gradation data is restored from the generated tone sharing data.

In response to these, the stroke adjusting section
The following processing is performed. If the Y coordinate value L2 and the Y coordinate value L3 are not included in the same pixel (S
At 53, it is determined whether or not L3 is included in the pixel below L2 (S56). If L3 is not included below L2, that is, in the case described above (No in S56), 4 is added to L2 (S55), and the horizontal stroke in which L2 indicates the Y coordinate value of the lower straight line is four substrokes. The pixel is moved upward by one pixel, that is, one pixel, and the process proceeds to S59.

FIG. 30A shows the Y coordinate value (L3 + W3) with respect to the Y coordinate value L2 when the pixel including the Y coordinate value L2 is in contact with the pixel including the Y coordinate value L3. FIG. 30 is a diagram showing street positions, and FIG.
(B) is a gradation value of two-gradation data and a gradation value of three-gradation data for a target pixel corresponding to the position of the Y-coordinate value L2 and the Y-coordinate value L3 in this case. It is a figure showing the tone value of key share data. This Y coordinate value L2
Is in contact with the pixel that includes the Y coordinate value L3, the Y coordinate value (L3 + W3) of the upper straight line of the horizontal stroke scaled up and down to be suitable for three gradations is L2 Affects the gradation value of the target pixel.

Referring to FIG. 30B, the Y coordinate value L2
Is included above the pixel that includes the Y-coordinate value L3, the gray-scale value of the gray-scale shared data is notwithstanding that the gray-scale value of the 2-grayscale data is 1. Becomes 0 because the Y coordinate value (L3 + W3) of the upper straight line of the horizontal stroke scaled so as to be suitable for three gradations
It can be seen that the difference between the same horizontal stroke and the Y coordinate value L2 of the lower straight line scaled up and down to be suitable for two gradations is 1 subpixel or less. When two-tone data is restored from the generated tone-sharing data, the horizontal stroke is not restored.

In response to these, the stroke adjusting unit
The following processing is performed. If L3 is included below L2, that is, in the case described above (at S56 in FIG. 27,
Yes), it is determined whether the difference between L3 + W3 and L2 is 1 or less (S57), and the difference between L3 + W3 and L2 is 1
If not (Yes in S57), 4 is subtracted from L2 (S58), and the horizontal stroke in which L2 indicates the Y coordinate value of the lower straight line is moved downward by 4 subpixels, that is, 1 pixel. After that, the process proceeds to S59. If the difference between L3 + W3 and L2 is not equal to or smaller than 1 (No in S57), the process is directly performed in S59.
Proceed to.

As described above, when the Y coordinate value L2 is displaced from the Y coordinate value L3, the Y coordinate value L2 is corrected, and (S54, S55, S57, S58).
The processing is advanced from the step (S59) to obtain the Y coordinate value of the upper straight line of the horizontal stroke scaled up and down to be suitable for two gradations (S59). The Y coordinate value is obtained (S6
0).

Actually, the horizontal stroke 1 that constitutes “three”
(155, 225) (see FIG. 17 (c)) is reduced (enlarged) to a horizontal stroke 1 (8, 12) (see FIG. 19 (c)). Although the position shift has occurred, the horizontal stroke 1 (4, 8) is reduced (enlarged) by the processing in the stroke adjusting unit as described above, and the position shift is corrected.
By enlarging or reducing the outline information using the stroke information after such enlargement / reduction, it is possible to generate gradation shared data capable of restoring the two gradation data without deteriorating the quality.

As described above, in the present gradation shared data generating apparatus, the hint processing is performed, and the stroke for which the hint processing is performed is corrected as necessary, so that the gradation sharing data without increasing the data amount is obtained. Data is generated.

Next, a gradation shared data processing system according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 31 is a block diagram for explaining a configuration of a gradation sharing data processing system according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The shared gradation data processing system according to the third embodiment of the present invention includes a shared gradation data generation device and a shared gradation data restoration device as in the shared gradation data processing system of the first embodiment. I have. In the gradation shared data processing system of the third embodiment, only the gradation shared data restoration device is different from the gradation shared data restoration device of the gradation shared data processing system of the first embodiment. The gradation shared data generation device will be described. (Details of the configuration, operation, and the like of the gradation shared data restoring device other than those described below are based on those of the gradation shared data restoring device of the gradation shared data processing system of the first embodiment.) The gradation shared data restoring device includes a CLUT search unit 390.
1, drawing gradation number selection unit 3902, first gradation data drawing unit 3903, second gradation data drawing unit 3904, gradation shared data extraction unit 106, development buffer 107, first gradation data restoration unit 109, A two-gradation data restoration unit 110 is included.

Among them, the gradation shared data extracting unit 10
6, expansion buffer 107, first gradation data restoration unit 10
9. The second gradation data restoration unit 110 is the same as the corresponding unit of the gradation shared data restoration device of the gradation shared data processing system of the first embodiment, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

The CLUT search section 3901 specifies a color lookup table (obtained by referring to video data from a predetermined video data input device) (a palette number and an actual color) in which a specified color is externally input. (A table indicating the correspondence with the data to be processed), and returns the search result to the drawing gradation number selection unit 3902.

The drawing gradation number selection unit 3902 is externally instructed for each of the gradation numbers of the gradation data stored in the gradation sharing data (instructed from the video data of a predetermined video data input device). The CLUT search unit 3901 searches whether or not all of the intermediate colors (the number of gradations−2) corresponding to the foreground color and the background color exist.
As a result of this search, the drawing gradation number selection unit 3902 responds to the number of gradations for which it is determined that all intermediate colors exist, and
Gradation data restoration unit 109, second gradation data restoration unit 110
To launch selectively. Also, a drawing gradation number selection unit 3902
Corresponds to the gradation data corresponding to the number of gradations,
Gradation data drawing section 3903, second gradation data drawing section 39
04, data representing the foreground color, the background color, and the intermediate color of the (gradation number-2) color is output.

The first gradation data drawing section 3903 converts the gradation value of the first gradation data having the first gradation number obtained by the first gradation data restoration section 109 into the drawing gradation number. The foreground color and the background color (the number of gradations−
2) Assign an intermediate color.

The second gradation data drawing section 3904 converts the gradation value of the second gradation data having the second gradation number obtained by the second gradation data restoration section 110 into the drawing gradation number. The foreground color and the background color (the number of gradations−
2) Assign an intermediate color.

The processing procedure in such a gradation shared data restoring device will be described below. However, the description of the restoration of the gradation shared data is omitted because it is the same as that of the gradation shared data restoring device of the gradation shared data processing system of the first embodiment, and mainly the color lookup table is searched. The selection of the number of gradations after this will be described. Also in this case, the first gradation data is the two gradation data, and the second gradation data is the second gradation data.
The gradation data is assumed to be three gradation data.

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing an example of the color look-up table. This color look-up table shows correspondence between palette numbers for 16 colors used for screen display and colors represented by four values of (Y, U, V, α).

Here, Y, U, and V are values obtained by normalizing each element of color designation in the YUV color system to a range of 0 to 255. In general, in a drawing apparatus using a color look-up table, the contents of this table are instructed to hardware for display, and subsequent color designation is performed by a pallet number. Also in this case, the foreground color, the background color, and the intermediate color of the (gradation number-2) color are specified by the pallet number.

In the color lookup table shown in FIG. 32, pallet number 0 is assigned (0, 128, 128,
(0) is transparent and pallet number 1 is assigned (0, 128,
128, 255) are black and pallet number 2 is assigned (1
28, 128, 128, 255) are opaque gray with a density of 0.5 and have a palette number of 3 (255, 128, 255).
128, 255) represents opaque white.

In the present gradation shared data restoring apparatus, using the color look-up table designated in this way, palette number 1 (that is, black) for gradation data for the foreground color and gradation data for the background color Is instructed to draw with pallet number 3 (that is, white).

This CLUT search unit 3901 has the following two functions. (Function 1) Returns the value of YUVα for the pallet number given as input. (Function 2) It is checked whether or not the YUVα value given as an input exists in the color look-up table, and if it exists, the pallet number is returned.

The color look-up table can be represented by an array variable, (Function 1) simply by returning the specified element of the array, and (Function 2) by performing a linear search on the array variable. Functions can be implemented.

Using the CLUT search unit 3901 having such a function, the drawing gradation selection unit 3902 performs processing according to the procedures shown in (Process 1) to (Process 3). (Process 1) First, the YUVα values of the foreground and background colors are represented by C
It is determined from the pallet number using the LUT search unit 3901. Hereinafter, the foreground color is (Yf, Uf, Vf, αf), and the background color is (Yg, Ug, Vg, αg). (Process 2) Subsequently, (process 2-1) and (process 2-2) are repeated for the number of gradations of the gradation data, that is, here, 2 gradations and 3 gradations. (Processing 2-1) An intermediate gradation value of the (gradation number-2) color is obtained. Assuming that the number of gradations is G, Y for the nth intermediate color,
U, V and α are represented by (Equation 49) to (Equation 52) ([Equation 12]).
Is obtained as shown in FIG.

[0179]

(Equation 12) (Process 2-2) For all of the intermediate colors determined in (Process 2-1), the CLUT search unit 3901 is used.
Search whether it exists in the color lookup table. (Process 3) For the gradation data in which all intermediate colors are found to exist in the color look-up table, the corresponding gradation data restoration unit (either the first gradation data restoration unit 109 or the second gradation data restoration unit 110). ), And the palette numbers for each intermediate color obtained as a result of the search, along with the palette numbers for the foreground and background colors,
The data is output to the gradation data drawing unit (either the first gradation data drawing unit 3903 or the second gradation data drawing unit 3904).

In the above-described search for the intermediate colors, if there are a plurality of gradation levels in which all the intermediate colors exist in the color look-up table, the image with the highest quality is selected by selecting the one having the largest gradation level. Obtainable.

Actually, if the above procedure is applied when the foreground color is designated as palette number 1 and the background color is designated as palette number 3, the following processing is performed.

First, in (Process 1), the foreground color is changed to (0,
128, 128, 255), and the background color is (0, 128, 1)
28, 255).

In (Process 2), for the two gradations, the number of intermediate colors is 0, so that it is found that drawing in the two gradations is possible without searching the color lookup table. In (Process 2), for three gradations,
In (Process 2-1), there is one intermediate color, which is (12)
8, 255, 255, 255). Further, in (Process 2), the CLUT search unit 3901 is used in (Process 2-2) for three gradations, and it is searched that the intermediate color is set to the pallet number 3.

Subsequently, in (Process 3), it has been found that drawing can be performed at any of two gradations and three gradations. , The pallet number 3 for the background color is output, and the pallet number 2 for the intermediate color is output.

The second gradation restoration unit 110 obtains gradation values for three gradation data for each pixel in the same manner as in the gradation shared data restoration device of the gradation shared data processing system of the first embodiment. The second gradation data drawing section 390
In No. 4, a background color (here, pallet number 3), an intermediate color (here, pallet number 2),
The display unit is instructed to perform drawing using the foreground color (here, pallet number 1).

According to these procedures, appropriate gradation data among a plurality of types of gradation data is selected for the foreground color, the background color, and the color lookup table (provided from the outside). Can be drawn.

As described above, in the present gradation shared data restoring apparatus, while using the color look-up table specified from the outside, the appropriate gradation number is obtained from the gradation shared data which does not increase the data amount. Is selected, and high-quality gradation data is restored.

Next, a modified example of the gradation shared data restoring device of the gradation shared data processing system according to the third embodiment will be described. As described above, in the gradation shared data restoring device of the gradation shared data processing system according to the third embodiment,
When the CLUT search unit 3901 (see FIG. 31) searches for an intermediate color, the colors are compared based on whether the values exactly match or not. By searching for a color that is similar to the intermediate color, it is possible to perform drawing with a high number of gradations even when there is no color that exactly matches the target intermediate color in the color lookup table.

The operation of the CLUT search unit 3901 that can select an approximate color of (Y, U, V, α) of the gradation shared data restoring apparatus of this modification will be described below.

The CLUT search unit 3901 targets three gradation data and gives the given background color (Yb, Ub, V
b, αb) and the foreground color (Yf, Uf, Vf, αf), an error of ± 10% in the luminance Y and an error of ± 3 degrees in the chroma ring formed by U / V are allowed. At this time, as the intermediate colors (Ym, Um, Vm, αm), those that meet the following (Condition 1) to (Condition 4) ([Equation 13]) among the colors in the color lookup table are selected. You.

[0191]

(Equation 13) Of the colors in the color look-up table, according to (Condition 1), a color similar to the foreground color and having a translucency of about half is suitable, and according to (Condition 2), a color similar to the background color and having a translucency of about half is suitable. The colors match, and according to (Condition 3), the YUV is similar to the intermediate color between the background color and the foreground color, and
Colors that are not transparent or translucent match, and according to (Condition 4), Y
A color near the neutral color is suitable for UVα.

As described above, in the gradation shared data restoring device of this modification, the intermediate color used is determined from the foreground color and the background color as necessary while using the externally specified color lookup table. An appropriate number of gradations is selected from the gradation sharing data that is approximated and does not involve an increase in the data amount, and high-quality gradation data is restored.

In the gradation shared data restoring device of this modification, in order to approximate an intermediate color, (condition 1) to (condition 4)
However, other conditions can be used.

Further, in the gradation shared data restoring device of this modification, the color is designated by the YUVα value in the color lookup table. However, the color lookup expressed in another color space such as RGB is used. A table can also be used.

Further, in the gradation shared data restoring device of this modification, the gradation data is restored from the gradation shared data. However, the selection of the number of gradations for a given color look-up table is not possible. The present invention can also be applied to a system using a plurality of normal gradation data without sharing the gradation data.

[0196]

According to the present invention, there is provided a gradation shared data generating apparatus for representing a symbol corresponding to a predetermined number of pixels representing a gradation from contour information indicating a contour of a symbol including a character or a figure. A gradation shared data generation device for generating gradation shared data by sharing a plurality of types of gradation data, wherein p types of maximum gradation numbers qα (where p is an integer of 2 or more, α = 1, 2,..., P, and qα is 2 ≦ q ₁ <q ₂ <... <Q _p , 2 ^m−1 <
( _p is an integer satisfying q _p <2 ^m <q ₁ + q ₂ +... + q _p ), and p gradation data generation means for generating the gradation data of p types. Maximum number of gradations n
(N is an integer satisfying q _p <n ≦ 2 ^m ).

According to the present gradation shared data generating device, p-type gradation data of the maximum number of gradations qα satisfying the above conditions are generated from the contour information. The gradation sharing data of the maximum gradation number n to be satisfied is generated.

[0198] Thus, the gradation shared data maximum gradation number n is represented by the same number of bits as the gradation data of the maximum gradation number q _p, The gradation data of p species of the maximum gradation number qα Is generated from a plurality of types of grayscale data having different maximum grayscale numbers without increasing the data amount (compared with the grayscale data) and without deteriorating the restored data. Can be generated. The above-mentioned gradation shared data generation device includes basic gradation data generation means for generating, from the contour information, basic gradation data indicating a ratio of an area of an inside portion of the contour occupying each of the pixels, Each of the grayscale data generating means may generate grayscale data corresponding to the maximum grayscale number qα from the basic grayscale data.

According to the present gradation shared data generating apparatus, basic gradation data indicating the ratio of the area of the inside portion of the contour to each pixel is generated from the contour information, and the maximum gradation number qα is generated from the basic gradation data. Is generated according to the
The gray scale shared data of the maximum gray scale number n is generated from the p kinds of gray scale data.

[0200] Thus, the gradation shared data maximum gradation number n is represented by the same number of bits as the gradation data of the maximum gradation number q _p, The gradation data of p species of the maximum gradation number qα Is generated from a plurality of types of grayscale data having different maximum grayscale numbers without increasing the data amount (compared with the grayscale data) and without deteriorating the restored data. Can be generated. Further, the above-mentioned gradation shared data generation device includes a setting unit for setting a threshold value, and each of the p number of gradation data generation units includes:
It is possible to generate gradation data according to the maximum gradation number qα using the set threshold value.

According to the present gradation shared data generating apparatus, basic gradation data indicating the ratio of the inside portion of the contour to each pixel is generated from the contour information, and the set threshold is set from the basic gradation data. Is used to generate grayscale data corresponding to the maximum grayscale number qα, and the grayscale shared data with the maximum grayscale number n is generated from the p types of grayscale data.

[0202] Thus, the gradation shared data maximum gradation number n is represented by the same number of bits as the gradation data of the maximum gradation number q _p, The gradation data of p species of the maximum gradation number qα Is generated from a plurality of types of grayscale data having different maximum grayscale numbers without increasing the data amount (compared with the grayscale data) and without deteriorating the restored data. Can be generated. Further, by setting these threshold values in accordance with a request from a user or a program, it is possible to generate grayscale shared data capable of maximizing display capability based on information such as display characteristics. In the above-described gradation shared data generation device, the gradation shared data generation means may perform (q ₁ × q ₂ ×... ×) with respect to the gradation that each of the gradation data of the maximum gradation number qα can take.
By assigning the possible gradations of the gradation data of the maximum gradation number n to q _p ) combinations, the gradation data of the maximum gradation number n can be generated.

According to the present gradation shared data generating device, p kinds of gradation data of the maximum gradation number qα are generated from the contour information, and the gradation data of each of the gradation data of the maximum gradation number qα is obtained by ( q ₁ × q ₂ ×... × q _p ), by assigning the possible gradations of the gradation data of the maximum gradation number n to n Different kinds of gradation shared data are generated.

[0204] Thus, the gradation shared data maximum gradation number n is represented by the same number of bits as the gradation data of the maximum gradation number q _p, The gradation data of p species of the maximum gradation number qα Is generated from a plurality of types of grayscale data having different maximum grayscale numbers without increasing the data amount (compared with the grayscale data) and without deteriorating the restored data. Can be generated. Further, the gradation shared data generation device according to the present invention, based on contour information indicating a contour of a symbol including a character or a graphic and stroke information indicating a position of a stroke constituting the symbol, determines a predetermined pixel representing a gradation. A plurality of types of gradation data for representing the symbol corresponding to the number of
This is a shared gradation data generating device that generates shared gradation data, and performs hint processing on the basis of the outline information and the stroke information and generates p kinds of maximum gradation numbers qα (where p is an integer of 2 or more, α = 1, 2,..., P and qα
, Where m is an integer of 2 or more, 2 ≦ q ₁ <q ₂ <... <
and p pieces of gradation data generating means for generating tone data of q _p, a _{^{2 m-1 <q p <}} 2 m < integer satisfying _{q 1 + q 2 + ··· +} q p), the generated From the p kinds of gradation data, the maximum gradation number n (n is an integer satisfying q _p <n ≦ 2 ^m )
And gray scale shared data generating means for generating the gray scale shared data.

According to the present gradation shared data generating apparatus, p-type gradation data of the maximum gradation number qα is generated from the contour information and the stroke information while performing the hint processing. The gradation shared data of the maximum gradation number n is generated from the gradation data of the gradation number qα.

[0206] Thus, the gradation shared data maximum gradation number n is represented by the same number of bits as the gradation data of the maximum gradation number q _p, The gradation data of p species of the maximum gradation number qα Is generated from a plurality of types of grayscale data having different maximum grayscale numbers without increasing the data amount (compared with the grayscale data) and without deteriorating the restored data. Can be generated. Further, since the gradation data is generated while the hint processing is being performed and the gradation shared data is generated, high-quality gradation data can be restored from the gradation shared data. The above-described gradation shared data generating device is configured to generate stroke information for generating other (p-1) types of gradation data based on stroke information for one type of gradation data among the generated p types. May be included.

According to the present gradation shared data generating apparatus, the hint processing is performed from the contour information and the stroke information, and the stroke information for one of the p types of gradation data to be generated is used as a reference. And the other (p-
1) While the stroke information for generating the kinds of gradation data is adjusted, the p kinds of gradation data of the maximum gradation number qα are generated, and the gradation data of the p kinds of maximum gradation number qα are generated. The gradation sharing data of the maximum gradation number n is generated.

[0208] Thus, the gradation shared data maximum gradation number n is represented by the same number of bits as the gradation data of the maximum gradation number q _p, The gradation data of p species of the maximum gradation number qα Is generated from a plurality of types of grayscale data having different maximum grayscale numbers without increasing the data amount (compared with the grayscale data) and without deteriorating the restored data. Can be generated. Further, while the hint processing is performed and the stroke information to be hint-processed is corrected as necessary, the gradation data is generated and the gradation shared data is generated. High gradation data can be restored. The grayscale shared data decoding device according to the present invention converts grayscale shared data that shares a plurality of types of grayscale data for representing a symbol including a character or a figure corresponding to a predetermined number of pixels representing grayscales, from the grayscale shared data. .., P, where p is an integer of 2 or more and α = 1, 2,..., P. And qα is m with 2
As the above integer, 2 ≦ q ₁ <q ₂ <... <Q _p , 2 ^m-1
From the gradation data of <q _p <2 ^m <q ₁ + q ₂ +... + Q _p ), the maximum gradation number n (n is q _p <n
≦ 2 ^m ), the maximum gradation number selecting means for selecting the maximum gradation number, and the selected maximum floor number from the generated gradation shared data. Gradation shared data restoring means for restoring gradation data of a tonal number.

According to the present gradation shared data restoring device, the maximum number of gradations is selected, and the gradation data of the selected maximum gradation number is restored from the gradation shared data.

[0210] Thus, the maximum gradation number n of gradation shared data represented by the same number of bits as the gradation data of the maximum gradation number q _p, without causing deterioration of the data, the gradation data is restored You. In the above-mentioned gradation shared data restoring device, the gradation shared data restoring means is configured to select a gradation which can be taken by the gradation shared data with respect to a gradation which can be taken by the selected maximum number of gradation data. By assigning
The gradation data may be restored.

According to the present gradation shared data restoring apparatus, the maximum number of gradations is selected, and the gradation that can be taken by the gradation shared data is compared with the gradation that can be taken by the selected maximum number of gradation data. Is assigned, the gradation data of the selected maximum number of gradations is restored from the gradation sharing data.

[0212] Thus, the maximum gradation number n of gradation shared data represented by the same number of bits as the gradation data of the maximum gradation number q _p, without causing deterioration of the data, the gradation data is restored You. Further, the above-mentioned gradation shared data restoring device includes a storage means for storing a p-type table for associating each possible gradation of the p-type gradation data with a possible gradation of the gradation shared data. Wherein the gradation shared data restoring means performs the allocation using a table corresponding to the selected gradation data of the maximum number of gradations among the stored p types of tables. it can.

According to the present gradation shared data restoring apparatus, the maximum number of gradations is selected, and the possible gradations of each of the p kinds of gradation data are associated with the possible gradations of the gradation shared data.
Using the table corresponding to the selected maximum gradation number of gradation data among the kinds of tables, the gradation shared data is used for the gradation that can be taken by the selected maximum gradation number of gradation data. By assigning possible gradations, the gradation data of the selected maximum number of gradations is restored from the gradation sharing data.

[0214] Thus, using a simple configuration, the data is not degraded from the gray scale shared data of the maximum gray scale number n expressed by the same number of bits as the gray scale data of the maximum gray scale number q _p , The gradation data is restored. Further, the above-mentioned gradation shared data restoring device includes a judging means for judging whether or not the gradation data of the selected maximum gradation number is included in the gradation shared data, When it is determined that the grayscale data of the tonal number is not included in the grayscale shared data, an external notification unit that notifies the outside that the grayscale data of the selected maximum grayscale number cannot be restored is provided. Can be included.

According to the gradation shared data restoring device, the maximum number of gradations is selected, the gradation data of the selected maximum gradation number is restored from the gradation shared data, and the selected maximum gradation number is restored. When the gradation data is not included in the gradation sharing data, this is notified to the outside.

[0216] Thus, the maximum gradation number n of gradation shared data represented by the same number of bits as the gradation data of the maximum gradation number q _p, without causing deterioration of the data, the gradation data is restored You. Further, when the selected gradation data of the maximum number of gradations is not included in the gradation sharing data, this is notified to the outside, so that the processing can be performed stably in response. Further, the above-mentioned gradation shared data restoring device includes a judging means for judging whether or not the gradation data of the selected maximum gradation number is included in the gradation shared data, A second maximum grayscale that selects a maximum grayscale number having a small difference from the selected maximum grayscale number when it is determined that the grayscale data of the tonal number is not included in the grayscale shared data; Number selecting means.

According to this gradation shared data restoring device, the maximum number of gradations is selected, the gradation data of the selected maximum gradation number is restored from the gradation shared data, and the selected maximum gradation number is restored. When the grayscale data is not included in the grayscale shared data, the maximum grayscale number having a small difference from the selected maximum grayscale number is reselected, and the maximum grayscale number is selected again from the grayscale shared data. The maximum number of gradation data is restored.

[0218] Thus, the maximum gradation number n of gradation shared data represented by the same number of bits as the gradation data of the maximum gradation number q _p, without causing deterioration of the data, the gradation data is restored You. Further, when the gradation data of the selected maximum gradation number is not included in the gradation shared data, the maximum gradation number having a small difference from the selected maximum gradation number is reselected and the gradation data is re-selected. Is restored, so when symbols are displayed using these gradation data in real time,
Display can be performed smoothly without interruption, and stable processing can be performed. Further, the above-mentioned gradation shared data restoring device may include an assigning means for assigning a color in a color look-up table designated in advance to a gradation which can be taken by the restored gradation data.

According to the present gradation shared data restoring apparatus, the maximum number of gradations is selected, the gradation data of the selected maximum gradation number is restored from the shared gradation data, and the restored gradation data is obtained. The colors in the color look-up table specified in advance are assigned to the obtained gradation.

[0220] Thus, the maximum gradation number n of gradation shared data represented by the same number of bits as the gradation data of the maximum gradation number q _p, without causing deterioration of the data, the gradation data is restored You. Furthermore, a color in the color look-up table designated in advance is assigned to a gradation that can be taken by the restored gradation data, so that a high-quality gradation can be obtained. In addition, the above-mentioned gradation shared data restoring device, based on the data specifying the foreground color and the data specifying the background color in the color look-up table specified in advance, obtains the restored gradation data of three or more gradations. Calculating means for calculating data specifying each of the intermediate colors of one or more gradations (excluding the foreground and background colors) for
An assigning unit that assigns a color included in a predetermined range from the calculated data in the color look-up table to each of the intermediate colors of one or more gradations may be included.

According to the present gradation shared data restoring device, the maximum gradation number is selected, the gradation data of the selected maximum gradation number is restored from the gradation shared data, and the color look-up table designated in advance is used. From the data for specifying the foreground color in the middle and the data for specifying the background color, each of the intermediate colors of one or more gradations (excluding the foreground and background colors) for the restored gradation data of three or more gradations Data to be specified is calculated, and a color included in a predetermined range from the calculated data in the color look-up table is assigned to each of the intermediate colors of one or more gradations.

[0222] Thus, the maximum gradation number n of gradation shared data represented by the same number of bits as the gradation data of the maximum gradation number q _p, without causing deterioration of the data, the gradation data is restored You. Further, since a color included in a predetermined range from the calculated data in the color look-up table is assigned to each of the intermediate colors of one or more gradations, a higher quality gradation can be obtained. A gradation data processing device according to the present invention is a gradation data processing device for processing gradation data for representing a symbol including a character or a figure corresponding to a predetermined number of pixels representing gradations. From the data specifying the foreground color and the data specifying the background color in the color look-up table
Calculating means for calculating data for specifying an intermediate color of one or more gradations (excluding the foreground color and the background color) for the gradation data of the gradation or more;
Allocating means for allocating colors included in a predetermined range from the calculated data in the color lookup table.

According to the present gradation data processing device, the data for specifying the foreground color and the data for specifying the background color in the color look-up table specified in advance are used for the gradation data of three or more gradations. And data that specifies each of the intermediate colors of one or more gradations (excluding the background color and the background color). For each of the intermediate colors of one or more gradations, the data is calculated from the above calculated data in the color lookup table. Colors included in a predetermined range are assigned.

As a result, characters and figures can be expressed using high-quality gradations. The gradation shared data generating device according to the present invention includes a plurality of gradation data for representing a symbol corresponding to a predetermined number of pixels representing a gradation, from contour information indicating a contour of a symbol including a character or a figure. A gradation shared data generation device for generating gradation shared data for sharing seeds, a first gradation data generation unit configured to generate gradation data having a maximum number of gradations of 2 from the contour information, A second grayscale data generating means for generating grayscale data having a grayscale number of 3, and a maximum grayscale number of 4 from the generated grayscale data having a maximum grayscale number of 2 and the grayscale data having a maximum grayscale number of 3; And gray scale shared data generating means for generating the gray scale shared data.

According to the present gradation shared data generating apparatus, gradation data having a maximum gradation number of 2 and gradation data having a maximum gradation number of 3 are generated from the contour information. The gradation shared data of Expression 4 is generated.

As a result, the gradation shared data having the maximum number of gradations of 4 is expressed by the same number of bits as the gradation data having the maximum number of gradations of 3 and is generated from two types of gradation data. It is possible to generate grayscale shared data without increasing the amount and without deteriorating the restored data. The gradation shared data restoring device according to the present invention converts a gradation shared data that shares a plurality of kinds of gradation data for representing a symbol including a character or a figure corresponding to a predetermined number of pixels representing gradations, from the gradation shared data. A grayscale shared data restoration device for restoring grayscale data, wherein the grayscale shared data includes a maximum grayscale number of 4 from a maximum grayscale number of 2 grayscale data and a maximum grayscale number of 3 grayscale data. Was created to have
Maximum gradation number selection means for selecting the maximum gradation number 2 or maximum gradation number 3, and gradation shared data restoring means for restoring the selected maximum gradation number of gradation data from the gradation shared data And

According to the present gradation shared data restoring apparatus, the maximum gradation number 2 or the maximum gradation number 3 is selected, and the gradation data of the selected maximum gradation number is restored from the above gradation shared data. You.

As a result, the gray scale data is restored from the gray scale shared data of the maximum number of gradations 4 expressed by the same number of bits as the gradation data of the maximum number of gradations 3 without deteriorating the data. It will be. The gradation shared data generating method according to the present invention is characterized in that a plurality of gradation data for representing a symbol corresponding to a predetermined number of pixels representing a gradation is obtained from contour information indicating a contour of a symbol including a character or a figure. This is a gradation shared data generation method for generating gradation shared data in which the types are shared, wherein p types of maximum gradation numbers qα (where p is an integer of 2 or more, α = 1, 2,... , P and qα is m
Is an integer of 2 or more, 2 ≦ q ₁ <q ₂ <... <Q _p ,
_{^{2 m-1 <q p <}} 2 m <q 1 + q 2 + ··· + q and p pieces of gradation data generating _{step p} generates grayscale data of an integer) satisfying the generated p species And generating a gray scale shared data of a maximum gray scale number n (n is an integer satisfying q _p <n ≦ 2 ^m ) from the gray scale data.

According to the present gradation shared data generation method, p kinds of gradation data of the maximum number of gradations qα satisfying the above conditions are generated from the contour information. The gradation sharing data of the maximum gradation number n to be satisfied is generated.

[0230] Thus, the gradation shared data maximum gradation number n is represented by the same number of bits as the gradation data of the maximum gradation number q _p, The gradation data of p species of the maximum gradation number qα Is generated from a plurality of types of grayscale data having different maximum grayscale numbers without increasing the data amount (compared with the grayscale data) and without deteriorating the restored data. Can be generated. Further, the gradation shared data generation method according to the present invention is characterized in that a predetermined pixel for a gradation is determined from outline information indicating an outline of a symbol including a character or a figure and stroke information indicating a position of a stroke constituting the symbol. A plurality of types of gradation data for representing the symbol corresponding to the number of
This is a gradation shared data generation method for generating gradation shared data, wherein p types of the maximum number of gradations qα (where p is an integer of 2 or more, α = 1, 2,..., P and qα
, Where m is an integer of 2 or more, 2 ≦ q ₁ <q ₂ <... <
( _p is an integer that satisfies 2 ^{m -1} <q _p <2 ^m <q ₁ + q ₂ +... + q _p ); maximum number of gradations n from p kinds of tone data (n is an integer satisfying q _p <n ≦ 2 ^m) and a grayscale shared data generating step of generating a gray level shared data.

According to the present gradation shared data generating method, p-type gradation data of the maximum gradation number qα is generated from the contour information and the stroke information while performing the hint processing. The gradation shared data of the maximum gradation number n is generated from the gradation data of the gradation number qα.

As a result, the gray scale shared data of the maximum gray scale number n is expressed by the same bit number as the gray scale data of the maximum gray scale number q _p , and the _p gray scale data of the maximum gray scale number qα Is generated from a plurality of types of grayscale data having different maximum grayscale numbers without increasing the data amount (compared with the grayscale data) and without deteriorating the restored data. Can be generated. Further, since the gradation data is generated while the hint processing is being performed and the gradation shared data is generated, high-quality gradation data can be restored from the gradation shared data. The method for restoring grayscale shared data according to the present invention is based on grayscale shared data sharing a plurality of types of grayscale data for representing a symbol including a character or a figure corresponding to a predetermined number of pixels representing grayscales. And a method of restoring tone data, wherein said tone shared data comprises p kinds of maximum number of gradations qα (where p is an integer of 2 or more, α = 1,
2,..., P, and qα is 2 ≦ q ₁ <q ₂ <... <Q _p , 2 ^m−1 <q _p <2 ^m <q, where m is an integer of 2 or more.
₁ + q ₂ +... + Q _p ) are generated so as to have the maximum number of gradations n (n is an integer satisfying q _p <n ≦ 2 ^m ). A maximum gradation number selection step of selecting a maximum gradation number, and a gradation shared data restoring step of restoring the selected maximum gradation number of gradation data from the generated gradation shared data. It has.

According to the present method for restoring gray scale shared data, the maximum number of gradations is selected, and the gradation data having the selected maximum number of gradations is restored from the shared gradation data.

As a result, the number of bits is represented by the same number of bits as the gradation data of the maximum number of gradations q _p , and p types of maximum gradations
The gray scale data is restored from the gray scale shared data of the maximum gray scale number n generated from the gray scale data of α without deteriorating the data. The gradation data processing method according to the present invention comprises:
A gradation data processing method for processing gradation data for representing a symbol including a character or a figure corresponding to a predetermined number of pixels representing gradations, and foreground colors in a color look-up table specified in advance. A calculating step of calculating, from the data to be specified and the data to specify the background color, data to specify each of the intermediate colors of one or more gradations (excluding the foreground color and the background color) for the gradation data of three or more gradations And allocating a color included in a predetermined range from the calculated data in the color look-up table to each of the one or more intermediate colors.

According to the present gradation data processing method, the data for specifying the foreground color and the data for specifying the background color in the color look-up table specified in advance are used to determine (foreground color) And data that specifies each of the intermediate colors of one or more gradations (excluding the background color and the background color). For each of the intermediate colors of one or more gradations, the data is calculated from the above calculated data in the color lookup table. Colors included in a predetermined range are assigned.

As a result, characters and figures can be expressed using high-quality gradations. Further, the gradation shared data generating method according to the present invention is characterized in that, from the contour information indicating the contour of a symbol including a character or a figure, the gradation data for representing the symbol corresponds to a predetermined number of pixels representing the gradation. A shared grayscale data generating method for generating shared grayscale data, wherein a first grayscale data generating step of generating grayscale data having a maximum number of grayscales of 2 from the outline information; A second grayscale data generating step of generating grayscale data having a maximum grayscale number of 3 from
And a gradation shared data generating step of generating gradation shared data having a maximum gradation number of 4 from the gradation data having the maximum gradation number of 3.

According to the present gradation shared data generation method, gradation data having a maximum gradation number of 2 and gradation data having a maximum gradation number of 3 are generated from the contour information. The gradation shared data of Expression 4 is generated.

As a result, the gradation shared data having the maximum number of gradations of 4 is represented by the same number of bits as the gradation data having the maximum number of gradations of 3 and is generated from two types of gradation data. It is possible to generate grayscale shared data without increasing the amount and without deteriorating the restored data. The method for restoring grayscale shared data according to the present invention is based on grayscale shared data sharing a plurality of types of grayscale data for representing a symbol including a character or a figure corresponding to a predetermined number of pixels representing grayscales. This is a method for restoring tone data, wherein the tone shared data is obtained by converting a maximum number of gradations of 4 from gradation data of a maximum number of gradations of 2 and gradation data of a maximum number of gradations of 3. Was created to have
A maximum gradation number selection step of selecting the maximum gradation number 2 or the maximum gradation number 3, and a gradation shared data restoring step of restoring the selected maximum gradation number of gradation data from the gradation shared data And

According to the present gradation shared data restoring method, the maximum gradation number 2 or the maximum gradation number 3 is selected, and the gradation data of the selected maximum gradation number is restored from the above gradation shared data. You.

As a result, the gradation data is restored from the gradation sharing data of the maximum gradation number 4 expressed by the same bit number as the gradation data of the maximum gradation number 3 without deteriorating the data. It will be. A computer-readable recording medium for recording a program according to the present invention includes, based on contour information indicating a contour of a symbol including a character or a figure, a level corresponding to a predetermined number of pixels representing a gradation and representing the symbol. A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for generating tone-sharing data for sharing a plurality of tone data is recorded.
(Where p is an integer of 2 or more, α = 1, 2,..., P, and qα is 2 ≦ q ₁ <q _{2 where} m is an integer of 2 or more.)
^{_{<··· <q p, 2 m}} -1 <q p <2 m <q 1 + q 2 + ··· +
( _p is an integer that satisfies q _p ), and the maximum number of gradations n (n is
( _p <n ≦ 2 ^m ).

According to this program, p-type gradation data satisfying the above condition is generated from the contour information, and the maximum gradation number satisfying the above condition is generated from the p-type gradation data. The n gray scale shared data is generated.

[0242] Thus, the gradation shared data maximum gradation number n is represented by the same number of bits as the gradation data of the maximum gradation number q _p, The gradation data of p species of the maximum gradation number qα Is generated from a plurality of types of grayscale data having different maximum grayscale numbers without increasing the data amount (compared with the grayscale data) and without deteriorating the restored data. Can be generated. A computer-readable recording medium that records a program according to the present invention includes a pixel representing a gradation based on contour information indicating a contour of a symbol including a character or a figure and stroke information indicating a position of a stroke constituting the symbol. A plurality of pieces of gradation data for representing the symbol corresponding to a predetermined number of pieces, and a computer-readable recording medium recording a program for generating gradation shared data, wherein the contour information and the stroke information are stored. From the above, while performing the hint processing, the maximum number of gradations qα of p kinds
(Where p is an integer of 2 or more, α = 1, 2,..., P, and qα is 2 ≦ q ₁ <q _{2 where} m is an integer of 2 or more.)
^{_{<··· <q p, 2 m}} -1 <q p <2 m <q 1 + q 2 + ··· +
( _p is an integer that satisfies q _p ), and the maximum number of gradations n (n is
( _p <n ≦ 2 ^m ).

According to this program, from the contour information and the stroke information, while performing the hint process, the gradation data of the maximum number of gradations qα of the p kinds are generated, and the maximum gradation number qα of the p kinds of the gradation data is generated. From the grayscale data, grayscale shared data of a maximum grayscale number n is generated.

[0244] Thus, the gradation shared data maximum gradation number n is represented by the same number of bits as the gradation data of the maximum gradation number q _p, The gradation data of p species of the maximum gradation number qα Is generated from a plurality of types of grayscale data having different maximum grayscale numbers without increasing the data amount (compared with the grayscale data) and without deteriorating the restored data. Can be generated. Further, since the gradation data is generated while the hint processing is being performed and the gradation shared data is generated, high-quality gradation data can be restored from the gradation shared data. A computer-readable recording medium for recording a program according to the present invention is a gradation sharing device that shares a plurality of types of gradation data for representing a symbol including a character or a figure corresponding to a predetermined number of pixels representing gradation. A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for restoring gradation data from data is recorded. The gradation shared data includes p kinds of maximum gradation numbers qα (where p is an integer of 2 or more, α = 1, 2,..., P, and qα is 2 ≦ q ₁ <q ₂ <... <Q _p , 2 ^{m −1} <, where m is an integer of 2 or more.
From the gradation data of q _p <2 ^m <q ₁ + q ₂ +... + q _p ), the maximum gradation number n (n is q _p <n)
≦ 2 ^m ), selecting the maximum number of gradations, and converting the gradation data of the selected maximum number of gradations from the generated gradation shared data. It is characterized by restoration.

According to this program, the maximum number of gradations is selected, and the gradation data of the selected maximum number of gradations is restored from the gradation sharing data.

[0246] Thus, the maximum gradation number n of gradation shared data represented by the same number of bits as the gradation data of the maximum gradation number q _p, without causing deterioration of the data, the gradation data is restored You. A computer-readable recording medium that records a program according to the present invention is a computer that records a program that processes gradation data for representing a symbol including a character or a figure corresponding to a predetermined number of pixels representing a gradation. This is a readable recording medium. The data for specifying the foreground color and the data for specifying the background color in the color look-up table specified in advance are used for the gradation data of three or more gradations (foreground and background colors). Except)
Calculate data specifying each of the intermediate colors of one or more gradations,
A color included in a predetermined range from the calculated data in the color look-up table is assigned to each of the one or more intermediate colors.

According to this program, the data for specifying the foreground color and the data for specifying the background color in the color look-up table specified in advance are used for the gradation data of three or more gradations (foreground and background colors). (Excluding) is calculated to specify each of the intermediate colors of one or more gradations.
A color included in a predetermined range from the above calculated data in the color look-up table is assigned to each of the intermediate colors having the gradation or higher.

As a result, characters and figures can be expressed using high-quality gradations. A computer-readable recording medium for recording a program according to the present invention includes, based on contour information indicating a contour of a symbol including a character or a figure, a level corresponding to a predetermined number of pixels representing a gradation and representing the symbol. A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for generating gradation shared data for sharing a plurality of types of gradation data is recorded. Tone data and a maximum number of tones of 4 from the two types of generated tone data.
Is generated.

According to this program, the maximum gradation number 2 and the maximum gradation number 3 are generated from the contour information, and the maximum gradation number 2 is generated from the generated two kinds of gradation data. 4 is generated.

As a result, the gradation shared data having the maximum number of gradations of 4 is represented by the same number of bits as the gradation data having the maximum number of gradations of 3 and is generated from two types of gradation data. It is possible to generate grayscale shared data without increasing the amount and without deteriorating the restored data. A computer-readable recording medium for recording a program according to the present invention is a gradation sharing device that shares a plurality of types of gradation data for representing a symbol including a character or a figure corresponding to a predetermined number of pixels representing gradation. A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for restoring gradation data from data is recorded, wherein the gradation shared data is a combination of gradation data having a maximum gradation number of 2 and gradation data having a maximum gradation number of 3. Generating the maximum number of gradations, selecting the maximum number of gradations, and restoring the gradation data of the selected maximum number of gradations from the generated gradation shared data. It is characterized by.

According to this program, the maximum number of gradations is selected, and the gradation data of the selected maximum number of gradations is restored from the generated gradation shared data.

As a result, the gradation data is restored from the gradation sharing data of the maximum gradation number 4 expressed by the same number of bits as the gradation data of the maximum gradation number 3 without deteriorating the data. It will be. A computer-readable recording medium for recording gradation shared data according to the present invention corresponds to a predetermined number of pixels representing gradation and shares a plurality of types of gradation data for representing symbols including characters or figures. This is a computer-readable recording medium on which gradation shared data is recorded. This gradation shared data includes p kinds of maximum gradation numbers q each generated from contour information indicating the contour of the symbol.
α (where p is an integer of 2 or more, α = 1, 2,..., p
And qα is 2 ≦ q ₁ <, where m is an integer of 2 or more.
q ₂ <... <q _p , 2 ^{m -1} <q _p <2 ^m <q ₁ + q ₂ +.
(+ Q _p is an integer), and is generated so as to have the maximum number n of gradations.

The gradation sharing data has a maximum gradation number qα.
P-type gradation data generated from contour information
Is generated so as to have the maximum number of gradations n.
Number q _pCan be expressed with the same number of bits as the grayscale data of
And p-type gradation data can be obtained without causing data degradation.
Can be restored. Further, the gradation sharing data according to the present invention.
Computer-readable recording medium for recording data
Corresponds to a predetermined number of pixels representing gradations,
Shares multiple types of gradation data to represent symbols including figures
Computer reading the shared gradation data
It is a possible recording medium, and the gradation shared data is
Maximum number of tones generated from contour information indicating the contour of
From the two gradation data and the maximum three gradation data,
It is generated so as to have a large number of gradations of four.
You.

The gray scale shared data is generated from the two types of gray scale data generated from the contour information so that the maximum gray scale number is 2 and the maximum gray scale number is 3 so that the maximum gray scale number is 4. Therefore, the gradation data can be expressed by the same number of bits as the gradation data of the maximum gradation number 3, and the two kinds of gradation data can be restored without deteriorating the data.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating functions of a gradation sharing data processing system according to a first embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a gradation shared data generation device and a gradation shared data restoration device included in the gradation shared data processing system.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of processing in a contour information enlarging / reducing unit 102 and a basic tone value calculating unit 103;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state of a development buffer 104 at the time when processing in an outline information enlarging / reducing unit 102 has been completed.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state of a development buffer 104 at the time when a process in a basic tone value calculation unit 103 is completed.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of processing in a gradation shared data generation unit 105;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a matrix table used by the gradation shared data generation unit 105 to obtain gradation shared data from gradation values of two gradation data and gradation values of three gradation data.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing gradation values of gradation sharing data for each pixel of the alphabet “A” obtained by using a matrix table.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a conversion table when converting the grayscale value of the grayscale shared data into the grayscale values of two-level data and three-level data.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an alphabet “A” based on two-gradation data generated from the gradation sharing data.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an alphabet “A” based on three gradation data generated from gradation sharing data.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a configuration of a satellite broadcasting system using the present gradation shared data processing system.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a first configuration example of gradation shared data stored in an STB 503.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a second configuration example of the gradation shared data stored in the STB 503.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a third configuration example of the gradation shared data stored in the STB 503.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a gradation sharing data processing system according to a second embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing outline information and stroke information of a Chinese character “3” for which gradation shared data is to be generated by the gradation shared data generation device.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of processing in a first contour information enlarging / reducing unit 2103 (the same applies to processing in a second contour information enlarging / reducing unit 2105 as described later).

FIG. 19 is suitable for generating two gradation data.
It is a figure which shows the data after enlarging and reducing the outline information and stroke information shown to FIG. 17 (a), (b), (c).

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing the contour information of FIG. 19B developed on a submesh.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing the tone values of the two tone data for each pixel, obtained by the first tone value calculation unit 2104 from the scaled-out “three” outline information in FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is suitable for generating three gradation data.
It is a figure which shows the data after enlarging and reducing the outline information and stroke information shown to FIG. 17 (a), (b), (c).

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing the contour information of FIG. 22B developed on a submesh.

24 is a diagram showing the tone values of three tone data for each pixel, obtained by the second tone value calculation unit 2106 from the scaled-out “three” outline information of FIG. 23.

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating the grayscale value of the grayscale shared data for “3” generated by the grayscale shared data generation unit 2107.

FIG. 26 shows “3” restored from the gradation shared data by the gradation shared data restoration device of the gradation shared data processing system.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing two-tone data for the two.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of processing for each horizontal stroke of two-gradation data using the stroke adjustment unit of the gradation sharing data generation device of the present modification.

FIG. 28 shows four types of Y coordinate values L assumed when Y coordinate values L2 and L3 are included in the same pixel.
2, L3, Y-coordinate value L2, and Y-coordinate value L3 corresponding to the position of the Y-coordinate value L3, the gray-scale value of the 2-gray-scale data for the target pixel, and the gray-scale value of the 3-gray-scale data; FIG. 3 is a diagram showing data gradation values.

FIG. 29 shows a case where a pixel that includes a Y coordinate value L2 is Y
The four positions of the Y coordinate value L3 with respect to the Y coordinate value L2 when touching below the pixel that will include the coordinate value L3, and the two positions for the target pixel according to the positions of the Y coordinate value L2 and the Y coordinate value L3 FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the gradation values of gradation data, the gradation values of three gradation data, and the gradation values of gradation shared data generated from these.

FIG. 30 shows a case where a pixel that includes the Y coordinate value L2 is Y
Y coordinate value (L3 + W3) = 4 with respect to Y coordinate value L2 when touching above a pixel that will include coordinate value L3
Values of the two-tone data for the target pixel corresponding to the three positions and the positions of the Y coordinate value L2 and the Y coordinate value L3, 3
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the gradation values of gradation data and the gradation values of gradation shared data generated from these.

FIG. 31 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a gradation sharing data processing system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating an example of a color lookup table.

FIG. 33 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a gradation sharing data processing system of a first conventional example.

FIG. 34 is a diagram illustrating an example of outline information included in outline data representing characters, figures, and the like.

FIG. 35 is a diagram showing 10 × 10 pixels divided into 16 sub-pixels per pixel to generate gradation data.

FIG. 36 is a diagram showing data after the contour information shown in FIGS. 34 (a) and (b) is reduced.

FIG. 37 is a diagram showing two-tone data for “A” generated by the two-tone data generation unit 203;

FIG. 38 is a diagram showing three-tone data for “A” generated by the three-tone data generation unit 204;

FIG. 39 is a diagram showing the gradation shared data generated by the gradation shared data generation unit 205;

FIG. 40 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a gradation sharing data processing system of a second conventional example.

FIG. 41 is a diagram showing two-tone data restored from three-tone data for “A”.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 101 contour information holding unit 102 contour information enlargement / reduction unit 103 basic gradation value calculation unit 104 development buffer 105 gradation shared data generation unit 106 gradation shared data extraction unit 107 development buffer 108 gradation number selection unit 109 first gradation data Restoring unit 110 Second tone data restoring unit 2101 Contour information holding unit 2102 Stroke information holding unit 2103 First contour information scaling unit 2104 First tone value calculation unit 2105 Second contour information scaling unit 2106 Second tone value Calculation unit 2107 gradation shared data generation unit 3901 CLUT search unit 3902 drawing gradation number selection unit 3903 first gradation data drawing unit 3904 second gradation data drawing unit

Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Takashi Kakiuchi 1006 Kadoma Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (30)

[Claims] 1. A gradation sharing method in which a plurality of types of gradation data for representing a symbol corresponding to a predetermined number of pixels representing gradations are shared from contour information indicating a contour of a symbol including a character or a figure. A gray-scale shared data generation device for generating data, wherein p types of maximum gray-scale numbers qα (where p is an integer of 2 or more, α = 1, 2,..., P, qα Is
When m is an integer of 2 or more, 2 ≦ q ₁ <q ₂ <... <
and p pieces of gradation data generating means for generating tone data of q _p, a _{^{2 m-1 <q p <}} 2 m < integer satisfying _{q 1 + q 2 + ··· +} q p), the generated The maximum number of gradations n (n
Is an integer that satisfies q _p <n ≦ 2 ^m ). 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: generating basic grayscale data from the outline information, the basic grayscale data indicating a ratio of an area of an inner portion of the outline occupying each of the pixels; 2. The gradation shared data generation device according to claim 1, wherein each of the generation units generates gradation data corresponding to the maximum gradation number qα from the basic gradation data. 3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising setting means for setting a threshold value, wherein each of the p number of grayscale data generating means uses the set threshold value to calculate the maximum grayscale level from the basic grayscale data. 3. The gradation shared data generation device according to claim 2, wherein the gradation data according to the number qα is generated. 4. The gradation shared data generating means performs (q ₁ × q ₂ ×... × q _p ) combinations of gradations that can be taken by each of the gradation data of the maximum gradation number qα. 2. The grayscale shared data generation device according to claim 1, wherein the grayscale data having the maximum grayscale number n is generated by assigning grayscales that can be taken by the grayscale data having the maximum grayscale number n. 5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said symbol corresponding to a predetermined number of pixels representing gradation is determined from outline information indicating an outline of a symbol including a character or a figure and stroke information indicating a position of a stroke constituting said symbol. What is claimed is: 1. A gradation sharing data generating apparatus for generating gradation sharing data by sharing a plurality of kinds of gradation data for representing, wherein a hint process is performed from the contour information and the stroke information to obtain p kinds of maximum floors. .., P, where p is an integer of 2 or more, and qα is m
Is an integer of 2 or more, 2 ≦ q ₁ <q ₂ <... <Q _p ,
( _P is an integer satisfying 2 ^m-1 <q _p <2 ^m <q ₁ + q ₂ +... + Q _p )); The maximum number of gradations n (n
Is an integer that satisfies q _p <n ≦ 2 ^m ). 6. Based on stroke information for one type of gradation data among p types to be generated, another (p-
6. The gradation shared data generating apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: an adjusting unit that adjusts stroke information for generating 1) kinds of gradation data. 7. A gray scale for restoring gray scale data from gray scale shared data corresponding to a predetermined number of pixels representing gray scales and sharing a plurality of types of gray scale data for representing symbols including characters or figures. A shared data restoring device, wherein the gradation shared data is p kinds of maximum gradation numbers qα (p is 2
Α, 1, 2,..., P, and q
α is 2 ≦ q ₁ <q ₂ <...
From the gradation data of <q _p , 2 ^m−1 <q _p <2 ^m <q ₁ + q ₂ +... + Q _p ), the maximum gradation number n (n
Is an integer that satisfies q _p <n ≦ 2 ^m ), and a maximum gradation number selecting unit for selecting a maximum gradation number; and the generated gradation shared data, A grayscale shared data generation device comprising: grayscale shared data restoring means for restoring the selected maximum number of grayscale data. 8. The gradation shared data restoring means assigns a gradation that can be taken by the gradation shared data to a gradation that can be taken by the selected maximum number of gradation data, The gradation sharing data restoration device according to claim 7, wherein the gradation data is restored. 9. A storage device for storing a p-type table for associating each possible gradation of the p-type gradation data with a possible gradation of the gradation shared data, 9. The gradation shared data restoring apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the restoration unit performs the assignment using a table corresponding to the selected gradation data of the maximum number of gradations among the stored p types of tables. . 10. A determining means for determining whether or not the selected maximum gradation number gradation data is included in the gradation shared data; and wherein the selected maximum gradation number gradation data is 8. The external notification unit according to claim 7, further comprising an external notification unit that, when it is determined that the grayscale data is not included in the grayscale shared data, externally notifies that the grayscale data of the selected maximum number of grayscales cannot be restored. Tone sharing data restoration device. 11. A determining means for determining whether or not the grayscale data of the selected maximum grayscale number is included in the grayscale shared data; And a second maximum gradation number selecting means for selecting a maximum gradation number having a small difference from the selected maximum gradation number when it is determined that the maximum gradation number is not included in the gradation shared data. Item 9. A gradation shared data restoration device according to Item 7. 12. An assigning means for assigning a color in a color look-up table designated in advance to a tone that can be taken by the restored tone data.
5. The gradation sharing data restoration device according to item 1. 13. A method according to claim 1, wherein said foreground color and said background color specified in the color look-up table specified in advance are used to determine the foreground color and background color of the restored three or more gray levels. Calculating means for calculating each of the intermediate colors of one or more gradations, and the calculated data in the color look-up table for each of the one or more intermediate colors. 8. The gradation shared data restoration device according to claim 7, further comprising an assignment unit that assigns a color included in a predetermined range from the data. 14. A gradation data processing apparatus for processing gradation data for representing a symbol including a character or a figure corresponding to a predetermined number of pixels representing a gradation, comprising: From the data for specifying the foreground color and the data for specifying the background color in the table, the data for specifying the intermediate color of one or more gradations (excluding the foreground and background colors) for the gradation data of three or more gradations Tone data comprising: a calculating means for calculating; and an allocating means for assigning a color included in a predetermined range from the calculated data in the color look-up table to each of the one or more intermediate colors. Processing equipment. 15. A plurality of types of gradation data for representing a symbol corresponding to a predetermined number of pixels representing gradations are shared from contour information indicating a contour of a symbol including a character or a graphic.
What is claimed is: 1. A gray scale shared data generating device for generating gray scale shared data, comprising: first gray scale data generating means for generating gray scale data having a maximum gray scale number of 2 from the contour information; A second grayscale data generating means for generating three grayscale data, and a maximum grayscale number of 4 from the generated maximum grayscale number of 2 grayscale data and maximum grayscale number of 3 grayscale data. A gradation shared data generation device, comprising: gradation shared data generation means for generating shared data. 16. A gray scale for restoring gray scale data from gray scale shared data corresponding to a predetermined number of pixels representing gray scales and sharing a plurality of types of gray scale data for representing symbols including characters or figures. A shared data restoring device, wherein the grayscale shared data includes grayscale data having a maximum grayscale number of 2,
Maximum gradation number selection means for generating the maximum gradation number of 4 from the gradation data of the maximum gradation number of 3, and selecting the maximum gradation number of 2 or 3; A gradation shared data restoration device comprising: gradation shared data restoration means for restoring the selected maximum number of gradation data from the gradation shared data. 17. A method of sharing a plurality of types of gradation data for representing a symbol corresponding to a predetermined number of pixels representing a gradation from contour information indicating a contour of a symbol including a character or a graphic.
It is a method of generating gradation shared data, which generates p kinds of maximum gradation numbers qα (where p is an integer of 2 or more and α = 1, 2,..., P) from the contour information. And qα is
When m is an integer of 2 or more, 2 ≦ q ₁ <q ₂ <... <
( _p is an integer that satisfies 2 ^m-1 <q _p <2 ^m <q ₁ + q ₂ +... + q _p ); The maximum number of gradations n (n
Is an integer that satisfies q _p <n ≦ 2 ^m ). 18. A method according to claim 1, wherein said symbol corresponding to a predetermined number of pixels representing gradation is determined from outline information indicating an outline of a symbol including a character or a figure and stroke information indicating a position of a stroke constituting said symbol. A gradation sharing data generation method for generating gradation sharing data by sharing a plurality of types of gradation data for representing, wherein a hint process is performed from the contour information and the stroke information to obtain p types of maximum floors. .., P, where p is an integer of 2 or more, and qα is m
Is an integer of 2 or more, 2 ≦ q ₁ <q ₂ <... <Q _p ,
_{^{2 m-1 <q p <}} 2 m <q 1 + q 2 + ··· + q and p pieces of gradation data generating _{step p} generates grayscale data of an integer) satisfying the generated p species The maximum number of gradations n (n
Is an integer that satisfies q _p <n ≦ 2 ^m ). 19. A gray scale for restoring gray scale data from gray scale shared data sharing a plurality of types of gray scale data for representing a symbol including a character or a figure corresponding to a predetermined number of pixels representing the gray scale. A method of restoring shared data, wherein the gradation shared data is p-type maximum gradation number qα (p is 2
Α, 1, 2,..., P, and q
α is 2 ≦ q ₁ <q ₂ <...
From the gradation data of <q _p , 2 ^m−1 <q _p <2 ^m <q ₁ + q ₂ +... + Q _p ), the maximum gradation number n (n
Is an integer that satisfies q _p <n ≦ 2 ^m ), and a maximum gradation number selection step of selecting a maximum gradation number; and the generated gradation shared data, A grayscale shared data restoring method for restoring the grayscale data of the selected maximum number of grayscales. 20. A gradation data processing method for processing gradation data corresponding to a predetermined number of pixels representing gradation and representing a symbol including a character or a figure, the method comprising: From the data for specifying the foreground color and the data for specifying the background color in the table, each of the intermediate colors of one or more grayscales (excluding the foreground and background colors) for the grayscale data of three or more grayscales is specified. A calculating step of calculating data; and an allocating step of allocating a color included in a predetermined range from the calculated data in the color look-up table to each of the one or more intermediate colors. Key data processing method. 21. A plurality of types of gradation data for representing a symbol corresponding to a predetermined number of pixels representing gradations are shared from contour information indicating a contour of a symbol including a character or a figure.
A gradation shared data generation method for generating gradation shared data, comprising: a first gradation data generation step of generating gradation data having a maximum gradation number of 2 from the contour information; and a maximum gradation number from the contour information. A second grayscale data generating step of generating three grayscale data, and a maximum grayscale number of 4 from the generated maximum grayscale number of 2 grayscale data and maximum grayscale number of 3 grayscale data. A shared gradation data generating step of generating shared data. 22. A gray scale for restoring gray scale data from gray scale shared data sharing a plurality of types of gray scale data for representing a symbol including a character or a figure corresponding to a predetermined number of pixels representing the gray scale. A method of restoring shared data, wherein the gradation shared data includes gradation data having a maximum number of gradations of two,
A maximum gradation number selection step of selecting the maximum gradation number of 2 or 3 from the gradation data of the maximum gradation number of 3; A gray scale shared data restoring method for restoring the selected maximum number of gray scale data from the gray scale shared data. 23. A plurality of types of gradation data for representing a symbol corresponding to a predetermined number of pixels representing gradations are shared from contour information indicating a contour of a symbol including a character or a graphic.
A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for generating gradation shared data is recorded, wherein p types of maximum gradation numbers qα (where p is an integer of 2 or more, α = 1, 2,... , P, and qα is
When m is an integer of 2 or more, 2 ≦ q ₁ <q ₂ <... <
q _p , 2 ^{m -1} <q _p <2 ^m <q ₁ + q ₂ +... + q _p ), and generates the maximum number of gradation data from the generated p kinds of gradation data. The number of gradations n (n is q _p <n ≦
A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for generating gradation shared data of 2 ^m ) is generated. 24. Based on contour information indicating a contour of a symbol including a character or a figure and stroke information indicating a position of a stroke constituting the symbol, the symbol is determined in correspondence with a predetermined number of pixels representing gradation. A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for generating gradation shared data is recorded, in which a plurality of types of gradation data for representing are shared, wherein a hint process is performed based on the contour information and the stroke information. .., P, where p is an integer of 2 or more, and qα is m
Is an integer of 2 or more, 2 ≦ q ₁ <q ₂ <... <Q _p ,
2 ^{m -1} <q _p <2 ^m <q ₁ + q ₂ +... + Q _p ), and generates the maximum number of gradations from the generated p kinds of gradation data. A computer-readable recording medium recording a program, wherein n (n is an integer satisfying q _p <n ≦ 2 ^m ) is generated. 25. A program for restoring tone data from tone shared data that shares a plurality of types of tone data for representing symbols including characters or graphics corresponding to a predetermined number of pixels representing tone. A computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded, wherein the gradation shared data includes p kinds of maximum gradation numbers qα (p is 2
Α, 1, 2,..., P, and q
α is 2 ≦ q ₁ <q ₂ <...
From the gradation data of <q _p , 2 ^m−1 <q _p <2 ^m <q ₁ + q ₂ +... + Q _p ), the maximum gradation number n (n
Is an integer that satisfies q _p <n ≦ 2 ^m ), selects the maximum number of gradations, and calculates the selected maximum gradation from the generated gradation shared data. A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for restoring a number of gradation data is recorded. 26. A computer-readable recording medium in which a program for processing gradation data for representing a symbol including a character or a figure corresponding to a predetermined number of pixels representing gradation is recorded. From the data for specifying the foreground color and the data for specifying the background color in the color look-up table obtained, the intermediate color of one or more gradations (excluding the foreground and background colors) for the gradation data of three or more gradations Is calculated, and for each of the one or more intermediate colors,
A computer-readable storage medium storing a program, wherein colors included in a predetermined range from the calculated data in the color look-up table are assigned. 27. A plurality of types of gradation data for representing a symbol corresponding to a predetermined number of pixels representing a gradation are shared from contour information indicating a contour of a symbol including a character or a figure.
A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for generating gradation shared data is recorded, wherein gradation data having a maximum gradation number of 2 and gradation data having a maximum gradation number of 3 are generated from the outline information, A computer-readable recording medium on which a program is recorded, wherein grayscale shared data having a maximum number of grayscales of 4 is generated from the generated two types of grayscale data. 28. A program for restoring tone data from tone shared data sharing a plurality of types of tone data for representing symbols including characters or figures corresponding to a predetermined number of pixels representing the tone. A recorded computer-readable recording medium, wherein the gradation shared data is generated from gradation data having a maximum gradation number of 2 and gradation data having a maximum gradation number of 3 so as to have a maximum gradation number of 4. A computer-readable recording program for selecting a maximum number of gradations and restoring the selected maximum number of gradations from the generated gradation shared data. Possible recording medium. 29. Computer-readable recording on which shared gradation data is recorded, corresponding to a predetermined number of pixels representing gradations and sharing a plurality of types of gradation data for representing symbols including characters or figures. A medium, wherein p is generated from outline information indicating an outline of the symbol.
The maximum number of gradations qα (where p is an integer of 2 or more, α =
1, 2,..., P, and qα is 2 ≦ q ₁ <q ₂ <... <Q _p , 2 ^m−1 <q _p <2 ^m , where m is an integer of 2 or more.
Is an integer satisfying <q ₁ + q ₂ +... + Q _p ). recoding media. 30. Computer-readable recording on which shared gradation data is recorded, corresponding to a predetermined number of pixels representing gradation and sharing a plurality of types of gradation data for representing symbols including characters or figures. A medium having a maximum number of gradations of 4 from gradation data of a maximum number of gradations of 2 and gradation data of a maximum number of gradations of 3 which are respectively generated from outline information indicating outlines of the symbols; A computer-readable recording medium on which gradation shared data is recorded.