JPH01306892A - Document image processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a document image processing system, and more particularly to a document image processing system that includes a document image editing device and a printing device.

[Prior Art] In document processing devices such as word processors, FYjt uses symbols and marks that are not provided in the device itself, as well as some old fonts (hereinafter simply referred to as external characters). If you want to input (display) data into the document you are editing, you need to create a custom character pattern for it.

Normally, when creating a new custom character pattern, each dot of the character font to be registered is displayed in an enlarged format.
Turn each dot on (“1°゛”) or off (○°°
).

A keyboard is used as an input device, and the desired dot state is determined by operating cursor keys.

In this way, when the creation of a new custom character pattern is completed (or even at the beginning), the operator sets the character code corresponding to the new custom character pattern. The external character pattern is stored in the memory address corresponding to the character code.

After this, you can input the registered external characters into a document using Operate in exactly the same way as normal characters.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, creating a custom character pattern using the above-mentioned operations requires a certain level of skill, and the operability seems to be lacking.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a document image processing device that enables registration of external character patterns with simple operations.

[Means for Solving the Problem] In order to solve this problem, the present invention includes the following configuration.

That is, in a document processing system that includes a document image processing device that processes editing or creation of a document image and a printing device that prints the document image, a reading means that reads the image, and a reading device that processes the read image and processes the document image processing. a first pattern conversion unit that converts the image read by the reading unit into a pattern of the size of the display font of the device; and a second pattern conversion unit that converts the image read by the reading unit into a pattern of the size of the printing font of the printing device. means; and the first. and registration means for registering each pattern converted by the second pattern conversion means based on the same character code.

[Function] In the configuration of the present invention, the image read by the reading means is first read. The second pattern conversion means converts the patterns, and each converted pattern is registered in the same character code by the registration means.

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

1. Schematic description of the configuration (FIG. 1) FIG. 1 shows a block configuration diagram of a document image processing system in an embodiment.

In the figure, 100 is a document image processing device, 200 is a printing device (in the embodiment, it is a laser beam printer), 3
00 is a scanner that reads the image.

The scanner 300 of the embodiment scans a document image in 2048×204
It shall be possible to read with an accuracy of 8 dots.

The document image processing device l○○ also includes a ROM 2 that stores a CPUI that controls the entire device, programs related to document and image editing, and programs based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, which will be described later. It is composed of elements. 3. When editing documents and images,
RAM that expands that information, and some CPU
It is used as a work area for 1. 4 is a keyboard for inputting various commands and characters, and 5 is a display unit for displaying documents and images to be edited.

6 is an input I/F for inputting image data output from the scanner 300, and 7 is a buffer memory for temporarily expanding the input image data. Reference numeral 8 denotes a pattern conversion unit that converts the image data developed in the buffer memory 7 into a predetermined size. Reference numeral 9 denotes a character generator that generates a character font pattern corresponding to a character code, and in this embodiment, it is constructed from a writable nonvolatile memory (for example, E2PROM). 10
is an output I/F for outputting an edited document and an image input into the document to the printing device 200.

Further, the printing device 200 has the following configuration.

21 is an LBP control unit that controls the printing device. A character generator 22 generates a printed character pattern corresponding to a character code, and is constructed of a writable nonvolatile memory similar to the character generator 8 described above. Reference numeral 23 denotes a modeling section, which is not explained in detail, but is composed of a photosensitive drum for forming an electrostatic latent image, a scanning system for scanning laser light, and a system for developing, transferring, and fixing the electrostatic latent image. be done. 24 is the document image processing device 10
Input I/F that inputs data output from 0, 2
5 is a buffer memory that temporarily stores the data.

26 normally develops an image pattern in the input buffer memory 25, and upon receiving a predetermined instruction from the document image processing device 100, converts the image pattern into the same size as the character pattern generated from the character generator 22. This is a pattern converter that converts the pattern into the following pattern.

Although the explanation may be complicated, the character pattern stored in the character generator 9 in the document image processing device 100 may be 16X as long as it is a character that can be confirmed by the operator.
It consists of 16 dots. Furthermore, since high definition is required for printed characters, it is assumed that the character pattern stored in the character generator 22 in the printing device 200 is composed of 32×32 dots.

<Explanation of Processing Overview (FIG. 2)> Now, the normal processing in the document image processing system of this embodiment with the above-mentioned configuration is as follows.

In the document image processing apparatus 100, the keyboard 4 and the like are operated to edit and create documents. At this time, the operator reads a desired image using the scanner 300 and creates a document image containing a mixture of images.

After creating a series of document images in this way, by performing a predetermined operation, the data is output to the printing device 200 and printed out. Note that when editing a document, the user looks at the characters, images, etc. displayed on the display section 5, and it goes without saying that these characters are character patterns generated by the character generator 9.

By the way, in this embodiment, when registering a font other than character patterns possessed by the character generator 9 (referred to as external characters), instead of turning on/off each pixel of the font pattern using the keyboard 4, the method shown in FIG. I followed the process shown below. The contents will be explained below.

First, after giving an instruction to perform a custom character registration process, the scanner 300 reads a document in which the custom character to be registered is written, and the pattern is developed in the buffer memory 7. C.P.
U1 waits for this development process to be completed and then gives a pattern conversion instruction to the pattern conversion section 8. There is a RAM for 16 x 16 dots (32 bytes) inside the pattern conversion unit 8, and in response to this instruction, 2048 pixels are expanded into the buffer 7.
The image pattern of 2048 x 16 dots is converted to a size of 16 x 16 dots and stored in this RAM. CPU
After this processing, the 16×16 dot l- pattern developed in the RAM in the pattern converter 8 is registered in the character generator 8 based on the character code specified by the keyboard 4.

Thereafter, the image data developed in the buffer memory 7 is output to the printing device 200. At this time, a control code indicating that the data to be output is not intended for printing but data related to external character registration and a character code for registration are added to the beginning of the data and output.

When the LBP control unit 21 in the printing device 200 determines that the input data is related to external character registration, the LBP control unit 21 in the printing device 200 similarly stores the 2048X204 data expanded in the buffer memory 25.
The pattern conversion section 25 is driven to convert the 8-dot image data into a size of 32x32 dots, and the data is registered in the character generator 22 based on the designated character code.

Description of Processing Procedure (FIGS. 3 and 4)> FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the CPU 1 of the document image processing apparatus 100.

First, in step S1, key input is performed manually, and in step S2, it is determined whether the input key is a key related to a non-standard character registration instruction. If it is determined that the key is a normal character key, etc., the process advances to step S3, and corresponding processing (for example, document creation processing, etc.) is performed. If it is determined that it is an instruction to register a non-standard character, the process advances to step S4, and a character code to be registered is input. When a character code is input, the process proceeds to step S5, where it is determined with reference to the character generator 9 whether or not that character code has already been registered. If it is determined that the registration has already been completed, an error message is displayed in step S6.

If it is determined that the character code is new, the scanner 300 is activated in step S7, image data is input in step S8, and the image data is developed in the buffer memory 7 in step S9. Thereafter, in step SIO, the image data developed in the buffer memory 7 is converted into a display font size of 16×16 dots. The principle of this conversion is, for example, by dividing the input 2048 x 2048 dots into squares of 128 x 128 dots (16 x 16 squares are formed), and dividing the input 2048 x 2048 dots into squares of 128 x 128 dots (16 x 16 squares are formed). When the number is greater than or equal to a predetermined number, the dot of the corresponding display font pattern is set to ``1'', but this is not limiting.

Once the font pattern is converted into a display font pattern in step SIO, the previously input character code is assigned and registered in the character generator 9 in step Sll. Then, in the next step S12, the control code related to external character registration is output to the printing device 200 via the output I/F 10, and the image data developed in the buffer memory 7 and the previously assigned character code are also output in the same way. Output to the printing device 200. Thereafter, until there is a response from the printing device 200 indicating completion of external character registration, step S13
I'll have to wait there. Note that although this is a response from the printing device 200, there is no need to provide a special signal line. For example, a BUSY signal is included in a group of status signals output from a normal printing device. The printing device only needs to keep this BUSY signal "l" (active) from the time it receives the last byte of a series of data until the registration process is completed.In other words, this BUSY signal remains "0". You should wait until it becomes. In any case, when there is a response from the printing device 200 indicating the end of the process related to registering a custom character, it is determined in step S14 whether there is a custom character to be registered next (
(detects the press of a predetermined key provided on the keyboard 4)
. If there is an instruction to end the private character registration process, the process returns to step S1, and if the next private character registration instruction is detected, the process returns to step S4.

Next, the processing contents in the printing apparatus will be explained according to the flowchart shown in FIG. Note that the program related to the flowchart in the figure is stored in a ROM (not shown) in the LBP control section 21.

First, when data reception is detected in step S20, the process proceeds to step S21, where it is determined whether the received data is data related to external character registration. This determination is made based on whether or not the control code indicates that, as described above. If it is determined that it is a control code related to private character registration, the processing from step 823 onwards is performed; if not, (
(character code, etc.), the process advances to step S22 and normal printing processing is performed.

Now, in step S23, the character code and image data for the registered non-standard character are input and expanded into the buffer memory 25. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S24, in which the pattern converter 26 is driven to convert the pattern into a 32x32 pattern, and in the next step S25, the converted pattern is registered in the character generator 22 based on the character code.

Then, in step S26, the document image processing apparatus 100 is notified that the series of processing has been completed.

Description of another embodiment (FIG. 5)> In the above example, the document image processing device 100 which is the host
Although the external character is registered and then the printing device 200 registers it, the invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the printing device 200° may receive image data from the scanner 300'', and then the document image processing device may receive the image data.

Normally, the number of dots in a character pattern for display is smaller than that for printing, so the external character image data output from the printing device 200 may be the image itself registered in the printing device itself. This is because when a printing character font is composed of 32x32 dots, a 16x16 dot display character font can be created from it, but if the reverse is done, a crude printing font will be created. Therefore, in the illustrated case, the buffer memory 7' only needs to have a very small capacity. The processing procedure for registering each custom character is almost the same as the previous process, so the explanation will be omitted, but the printing device 200° requires an operation panel 27° for inputting the character code of the custom character to be registered. become.

Furthermore, in the embodiments described above, it is assumed that the printing apparatus itself has a character generator, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can also be applied to a document image processing device that has character fonts for both display and printing (a printing device prints out only bit image data).

Furthermore, in the embodiment, the original image input from the scanner 300 is described as 2048x2048, and character patterns to be registered as external characters are also read in this size. With this, the external characters you try to read (register) must always be the same size. In order to make it possible to set the size of the external characters to be registered as desired, first display the image read by the scanner, use the pointing device to set a rectangle that circumscribes the image, and then The pattern may be converted based on the size of the rectangle.

As explained above, according to this embodiment, external characters for display and printing can be registered with a simple operation.
It becomes possible to reduce the burden on the operator.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention #, external characters for display and printing can be registered with a simple operation.
It becomes possible to reduce the burden on the operator.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of the document image processing system in the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the concept of custom character registration processing in the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the document image processing device in the embodiment. , FIG. 4 is a flowchart 1 showing the processing procedure of the printing apparatus in the embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of the document image processing system in another embodiment. In the figure, l...CPU, 2...ROM, 3...RA
M, 4...keyboard, 5...display section, 6 and 24
...Input cuff I/F, 7 and 25...Buffer memory, 8 and 26...Pattern converter, 9 and 22...
Character generator, 10... Output I/F, 21
...LBP control section, 23... Image forming section, 100...
・Document image processing device, 200...Printing device, 300・
...It's a scanner. Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim] A document processing system comprising a document image processing device that processes editing or creation of a document image, and a printing device that prints the document image, comprising: a reading means for reading an image; and a reading means for reading the read image. a first pattern converting means for converting an image read by the reading means into a pattern of a display font size of the document image processing device; and a first pattern converting means for converting the image read by the reading means into a pattern of a print font size of the printing device. 1. A document image processing system comprising: second pattern conversion means; and registration means for registering each pattern converted by the first and second pattern conversion means based on the same character code.