JPH03212689A - Image processor - 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] [Summary of the Invention] The present invention relates to an image processing device used in DTP equipment, etc. that employs an outline font, and aims to draw a line figure for an outline font that allows easy filling of the inside of the outline. , a dot representing the outline of a character or figure is generated from the line segment data of the character or figure and written in an image memory corresponding to the Y two-dimensional plane, and then the dots within the outline are scanned in the X direction for each Y value. An image processing apparatus for filling out characters and storing characters and graphic patterns in the memory is configured to include means for generating only one dot in the X direction for each Y value to represent the outline.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to an image processing device used in DTP equipment and the like that employs outline fonts.

Printing characters and figures requires pattern data of the characters and figures, and this includes dot patterns, vector data, and the like. Outline fonts are one of them.

[Conventional technology]

For example, the dot pattern is a 24x2 rectangular area surrounding a character.
The dots are divided into four small areas, and the small areas (dots) corresponding to the character part are black dots, and the remaining small areas are white dots, and the dot printer prints characters using this dot pattern.

Printing characters and figures requires processing such as enlarging, reducing, and rotating, but when such processing is performed with dot fonts, the enlargement is inflated.For example, if each dot is repeated twice horizontally, it becomes twice horizontally. (the expansion will be doubled), and the decrease will be thinning out (
For example, if only odd-numbered dots are used and packed in the horizontal direction, the reduction will be 172 in the horizontal direction), resulting in problems such as noticeable jagged edges and deformation due to missing pixels, resulting in poor quality. become.

For example, Fig. 5(a) is a dot pattern for the letter A, but if we add diagonal lines and reduce the size by removing the dots, we can see the 5th pattern.
As shown in Figure (b), in this example, the number is only 8, and the deformation and distortion are significant.

For this reason, D T P (Desk Top Publi
shing) devices use a combination of outline fonts and vector fonts. It is easy to enlarge, reduce, and rotate vector data, and there is no deformation after this processing, so it is possible to have the outline of a character figure pattern as a vector (approximate the outline with a straight line/curve, and represent each line segment with vector data). ), enlargement, reduction, and rotation processing are performed using this vector font, the processed font is outlined as an outline font, and the inside of the outline is filled in to form the character and figure dot pattern after enlargement, reduction, and rotation processing. .

To draw the outline of a character or figure using a vector font that has been enlarged, reduced, or rotated, for example, if it is a straight line vector, use D DA.
(Digital Differential An
Alyzer) is used to generate a group of dots. D
In DA, the longer one of the X and Y components of the straight line vector is simply incremented, that is, the longer one is
i, Yi), and if the dot pitch is ΔX, then Xt, xi+
ΔX, Xi+2Δx, "'"" If the increase in Y value at each X value is less than the dot pitch ΔY, a dot is generated in the \X direction, and if it is 67 or more and less than 2ΔY, it is generated at a point raised by ΔY. Since the process of generating dots is repeated, a diagonal vector becomes a staircase wave, and in this example, multiple dots are lined up in the X direction.

FIG. 6 shows the outline of the katakana letter A generated by DDA. The black circles (hatched circles) are dots generated by DDA, and the white circles are blank areas. The voids are filled by filling.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

Generate dots with DDA using vector data to create characters,
The outline of a figure is drawn and the inside of the outline is filled in to complete the character or figure, but this filling process is not easy.

This filling is searched for each horizontal line, and the first black circle found is the beginning of the character shape, so the following white circles are changed to black circles, and the black circle found is the end of the character shape, so filling is stopped, etc. If you follow the instructions, the 6th
Horizontal lines Lx and Lx in the diagram can be filled in as desired, but horizontal lines L, etc. cannot be filled in as desired.

For example, in Ll, if the first two black circles found are used as the start of a character figure, and the next white circles are changed to black circles, the non-character portions will be filled in to the end of the character area. The same goes for horizontal lines, etc.

In the horizontal line, there is no need to fill in part A (it is already filled in), and only white circle B needs to be filled in. However, in the above procedure, part C is filled in, and white circle B remains a white circle, and the white circle to the right of it does not need to be filled in. Filling resumes from the black circle, etc.

Filling is performed for each horizontal line after checking all adjacent dots and finding both ends inside the outline, which increases processing time.

It is an object of the present invention to improve the above points and to draw a line figure for an outline font in which the inside of the outline can be easily filled.

[Means to solve the problem]

As shown in FIG. 1, in the present invention, only one dot represents the outline of a character or figure in the X direction (scanning direction for filling), and multiple dots are not lined up.

Black circle P I+ P t+ P 3+ in Figure 1
is a dot generated by the contour dot generating means 10. In a normal DDA, a white circle is also generated for IdB (vector) Ca, but in the generating means IO of the present invention, this white circle dot is not generated.

[Effect]

If the outline dot is only one dot in the scanning direction, for example, the katakana character will look like the one shown in FIG. 7, making it easier and faster to fill in the outline.

That is, in this case, scanning in the X direction may simply determine that the odd-numbered black circle is the beginning of a character or figure, and the even-numbered black circle is the end of a character or figure. As is clear from Fig. 7, the horizontal lines Lx, Ls, etc. are exactly as shown, and the horizontal line 7
The same goes for In the horizontal line, there are four black circles; the first is the beginning of the figure, the second is the end, the third is the beginning, and the fourth is the end. In the horizontal line L+, since the end is after the beginning, there are no dots to be filled out. Naoko\
Here, two black circles are lined up, and the left side is the dot of the contour CI, and the right side is the dot of the contour C2, and the principle of one dot for the contour in the scanning direction is also observed here.

Note that in the case of a sharp edge of a character or figure, there is only one dot in the scanning direction, so it is possible that the starting edge and ending edge coincide (if two line segments generate the same dot).
If the above rules are used alone, erroneous filling may occur. Therefore,
If the starting edge and ending edge match, it is necessary to add that information when a dot is generated and to judge this when filling. However, even if such processing is added, the present invention is easier and faster to process compared to the filling in the conventional method as shown in FIG.

(Embodiment) Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of the present invention. 12 is a processor, 14 is an ODA calculation section, 16 is an address calculation section, 18 is a pixel mask generation section, 20 is an image memory, and 22 is an image memory. This is the access section.

As shown in FIG.
~R3, adder ADD, selector SEL.

It includes a drawing control circuit CNT.

In DDA, the long sleeve and short axis are determined from the length of the vector in the X and Y directions, and while updating the coordinates one by one in the long axis direction, the coordinates of the short axis are determined at the position determined by the ratio of the length of the long sleeve and the short axis. Update. In detail, calculate the following parameters (numeric values) A, B, and C: A=l minor axis length 1-1 major axis length 1/2° B=1 minor axis length 1. c = 1 minor axis length 1 - 1 major axis length 1 Update the major axis coordinates, and if A < 0, execute A = A + B, A ≧ 0
If (DDA carry has occurred), execute A=A+C and update the coordinates of the short axis. In normal DDA, A<O and A=A
While executing +B, dots are generated in the long axis direction each time the long sleeve is updated, but in the present invention, this dot generation is not performed when the long sleeve is in the X direction. A dot is generated only when A≧0 and a DDA carry occurs, and at this time, a dot is generated at a point determined by the updated long sleeve coordinate and the updated short axis coordinate. By repeating this process, the black circles in FIG. 1 are generated.

Parameters A, B, and C are set in registers R1 to R3, and parameter B is set in registers R2 and R3.

C is selected by selector SEL, and the selected value and parameter A of register R1 are added by adder ADD,
The result is written to register R1 through gate G to update it. When the value A of register R1 is positive (
When A≧0) signal [is generated, and this is the selector SEL
and DDA carry DDACYII.
become. The drawing control circuit CNT has this DDACYI,
A flag PF# indicating the direction of the major axis is input, and the latter is set to 0 if the major axis is in the Y direction, and 1 if the major axis is in the X direction (filling direction).

When PF# is 0 or DDACYII is O (occurrence), the drawing control circuit CNT outputs a signal CN indicating that the Y coordinate has changed.
TY is generated, and if P F # and DDACYI are both 1, the CNTY signal is not generated.

Image memory 20 is accessed in units of multiple dots (words). Since the DDA calculation unit 14 performs calculations in units of dots, the same address in the memory 20 is accessed as long as the dots are in the same word, and write data is masked except for the dots generated by the ODA calculation unit. do. 18 is this pixel mask noodle raw part. The pixel mask generation section 18 generates a pixel mask indicating the pixel position at the time of image memory access from the lower bits of the moxibustion address output by the address calculation section 16. The address calculation unit 16 is D
The address is updated based on the calculation result of the DA calculation unit 14.

The image memory access unit 22 also includes the DDA calculation unit 14.
According to the drawing instruction from the address calculation section 16 and the mask from the pixel mask generation section 18, drawing is performed on the image memory.

The operation of this device will be explained with reference to the operation explanatory diagram in FIG. 4. First, the CPU 12 calculates a memory address corresponding to the drawing start coordinate (vector starting end coordinate) and sets it in the address calculation unit 16. ■. Also CPU
12, calculate the above parameters A, B, and C, and calculate DD
■ Set in the A calculation section 14. Address calculation unit 16 generates an address and transfers it to image memory access 22 and pixel mask generation unit 18. In addition, the pixel mask generating section 18
generates a pixel mask from the address and transfers it to the image memory access unit.

The DDA calculation unit 14 generates the CNTY signal, and when it is not generated (assert), end point drawing is performed; and when it is not generated (negate), end point drawing is not performed. Endpoint drawing is performed using addresses and pixel masks.

In step ■, if the content A of register R1 is negative, DDA
The calculation unit 14 executes R1=R1+R2, that is, A=A+B, and if it is not negative, a 0DACY cloud is generated, the address calculation unit 16 updates the address in the minor axis direction, and the DDA calculation unit 14 executes R1=R1+R3, that is, A-A. Do 10C■
. After that, the address calculation unit updates the major axis direction address [phase], counts the length on the major axis side, and determines whether it is finished or not depending on whether it has reached the planned number or not. If the process has not been completed, the process returns to step (2).

The output signal CNTY of the DDA calculation unit 14 may be a write enable for the memory, and the address output by the address calculation unit I6 to the image memory access unit 22 may be a word address. Then, the memory 20 is read using this word address, and the read word data is read. Image mask generation part 1
8, one bit of it is made into a black dot with the address from the address calculation unit 16, and when CNTY is generated,
The word data held by the image mask generation section 18 may be written into the memory 20 as write data.

Furthermore, the present invention can be applied not only to the case where a contour is generated using vector data, but also to the case where a contour is generated using a function such as a spline function.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, it is easy to fill the inside of an outline font (using the even-odd rule, which makes it easy to determine the inside, that is, the rule that the point between an odd numbered point and an even numbered point is inside). ), high-quality characters and figures can be displayed and printed at high speed.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a diagram explaining the principle of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the invention, Fig. 3 is a detailed block diagram of a part of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is an explanation of the operation of Fig. 2. 5 is an explanatory diagram of character enlargement and reduction, FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an example of conventional character pattern generation, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an example of character pattern generation of the present invention. In Figure 1, P t, P t, ...... are 1 in the X direction.
Each dot generated only by a dot, IO is its contour dot generating means.

Claims (1)

[Claims] Dots representing the contours of characters and figures are generated from line segment data of the characters and figures and written into an image memory corresponding to a two-dimensional plane of 1, X, and Y, and then In an image processing device that scans in the direction and fills in dots within the outline to store character and graphic patterns in the memory, the dots representing the outline are filled in by one dot in the X direction for each Y value (
An image processing apparatus characterized by comprising means (10) for generating only P_1, P_2, . . . ).