JPH0351894A - Information processing device equipped with a character pattern generation function using vector fonts - 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] The present invention relates to the improvement of word processors, office computers, DPS (data processing systems), workstations, electronic publishing systems, and other various information processing devices. In particular, when forming outline font characters using vector data, that is, when forming the outline pattern of each character using vector fonts, it is possible to This invention relates to an information processing device equipped with a character pattern generation function using vector fonts that enables compression of the amount of outline data and saves file capacity. Specifically, for example, for one type of Gothic outline font data, by using the common part font data and unique font data that differs for each typeface, two types of characters, square Gothic and round Gothic, can be created. This invention relates to an information processing device that can generate patterns and compress the amount of outline data.
Previously, in word processors, electronic publishing systems, and other various information processing systems, vector font information (outline font data) that forms the outline of characters has been used.
A character pattern generation function that stores the vector font information and outputs the outline of the character, a function that generates so-called outline font characters, has been added. Information on such a vector font is a group of information on the coordinate positions of each point connecting the outline forming the l character with a straight line. In other words, it is a group of one or more sets of coordinate position information that is composed of closed-loop coordinate information that connects each point from the starting point and always ends at the starting point. For example, the kanji ``一'' is 1
It is composed of a set of location information groups.

On the other hand, for example, the kanji character "平" is composed of three sets of positional information (see FIGS. 2 and 3 below).

In particular, in the case of kanji, the shapes are generally complex, so
Requires multiple sets of location information.

Furthermore, such vector font information needs to be prepared separately for each different typeface, so there is a problem that the amount of vector font data increases.

For example, even though the same Gothic typeface is used, square Gothic and round Gothic have different outline patterns, so different outline font data are required to accommodate the changes.

Therefore, in the conventional information processing apparatus of this type, there are disadvantages in that the file capacity for storing vector fonts becomes large and the cost also increases.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of the main structure of a character pattern generation section of an information processing apparatus equipped with a character pattern generation function using a conventional vector font.
In the drawing, 1 is a font data storage memory, la
-1n is a memory area in which font data for each typeface is stored, 2 is a font data succession section, 3 is an original coordinate production section, and 4 is a character frame production section.

The functions of each part of the block shown in FIG. 8 are roughly as follows.

The font data storage memory 1 includes memory areas 1a to 1n in which various types of outline font data required by the system, that is, font data for each typeface are stored.
It is organized from The font data successive unit 2 reads necessary font data from the font data storage memory 1 in which various types of outline font data are stored. The original coordinate generation section 3 has a function of generating original coordinates for the font data output from the font data succession section 2.

The character frame generator 4 has a function of forming and outputting the outline of a character based on the original coordinates output from the original coordinate generator 3. Based on the coordinates,
This character frame generating section 4 generates and outputs a pattern that shapes the outline of a character by vector raster conversion.

As already mentioned, in an information processing device equipped with a character pattern generation function using conventional vector fonts, even if the same Gothic font is used, square Gothic and round Gothic are
Vector font data corresponding to each is required. Therefore, the amount of vector font data inevitably increases, resulting in a large file size and an unavoidable increase in system costs. As another method to solve such inconveniences, an information processing device that uses stroke data (vector data) and parameters for fleshing out each typeface to perform conversion corresponding to the typeface has already been developed. Proposed.

However, in the method of forming a character outline pattern using this stroke data and parameters for fleshing out each typeface, it is necessary to perform logic processing to generate the outline pattern.

As a result, although the font data can be saved, the printing quality of the outline pattern deteriorates, which is a disadvantage.

An information processing device equipped with a character pattern generation function using a vector font according to the present invention solves these problems that occur in conventional information processing devices. The file size becomes large because it requires information on the coordinates of the connecting points that form the outline of the character, and it is also necessary to create the outline pattern of the character using stroke data and parameters for fleshing out each font. Although it is possible to save font data with this method, the printing quality of outline patterns deteriorates. Information processing that makes it possible to create two different character patterns, such as ``and Maru Gothic'', making it possible to reduce memory file capacity and cost, and to form high-quality character outlines. The purpose is to provide equipment.

The present invention includes a vector font storage means for storing vector information consisting of the coordinates of each connection point, and a pattern output means for forming the outline of a character using the vector information of the vector font storage means. In an information processing device equipped with a character pattern generation function, a font code is added to the vector information for each character to indicate whether it is used in common depending on the font or used uniquely for a certain font. vector information readout control means for storing the vector information in the font storage means and for controlling the reading of the vector information stored in the vector font storage means according to the added typeface code; The vector information reading control means outputs only the common font or both the common font and the unique font from the vector font storage means to form the outline of the character according to the information instructing the typeface. I have to. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, embodiments of an information processing apparatus having a function of generating character patterns using vector fonts according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In an information processing device equipped with a character pattern generation function using a vector font according to the present invention, coordinate information commonly used in different fonts can be distinguished from coordinate information used only in one font using vector font data of the same font. A font code is attached to each piece of coordinate information so that the outlines of various characters can be formed.

First, as an example, the relationship between the character pattern and the coordinate information will be explained in the case of the Gothic kanji character "hira".

Figure 2 shows the character pattern of the Kanji ``hira'' in square Gothic font and its coordinate position. In the drawings, 1 to 23 indicate the order and position of vector font data.

The following figure 3 shows the character pattern of the kanji ``hira'' in round Gothic font and its coordinate position.The circled part of the drawing is
This is a portion shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 5, which will be described later.

As is clear from comparing Figures 2 and 3, in the case of Gothic typefaces, the kanji ``hira'' in square Gothic typefaces,
The coordinates are almost the same as the round Gothic kanji ``hira''.

Therefore, in the information processing device of the present invention, focusing on such points, a font code indicating common use is added to the coordinate information of the position common to both Gothic types, and a font code indicating the common use is added to the coordinate information of the position common to both Gothic types. What about the coordinates? A font code is attached to the font to indicate that it is unique, so that when creating a character outline pattern, it can be read according to the specified font. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the coordinate information of the Gothic kanji character "hira" and the typeface code for an information processing apparatus equipped with a character pattern generation function using a vector font according to the present invention.

In this figure 4, coordinate information X■, x,, X3t...
...and X, ■, x3z, x33, ...
, and yte '/x+Yx+...and)'
s, + 'j 32 1 V 33?・・・・・・
are the coordinates of the square Gothic and round Gothic shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

In addition, as for the typeface code, "O" is a code common to both Gothic types, and rlJ is a code unique to Maru Gothic. According to the coordinate information (coordinate data) in Figure 4, for example, 24 points. It is possible to create outline patterns of a square Gothic font and a 39-point round Gothic font. Therefore, as a result, using only the coordinate information in Figure 4,
At least 24 points of corner Gothic coordinate information will be saved.

Also, if the coordinate information in Figure 4 is set so that a 39-point round Gothic font outline pattern is obtained, the square Gothic font outline pattern will be slightly smaller than this round Gothic font outline pattern. However, it is also possible to set it so that a sufficient size of 39 points can be obtained.

For example, in terms of height, the only difference between a square Gothic font and a round Gothic font is the roundness below the vertical line in the center of the round Gothic font. With this degree of difference, both can be made into a 39-point Gothic font.

In this way, in the information processing device of the present invention, the outline font data is divided into common part data and unique data for each typeface, and is stored as the same font data. For example, 2
A 4-point square Gothic font and a 39-point round Gothic font can be formed using font data for one of the round Gothic fonts.

Furthermore, font data for a 39-point round Gothic font can also be used as font data for both 39-point corner and round Gothic fonts. Therefore, compared to the conventional method, the amount of font data can be reduced to about 1/2, thereby achieving a significant data saving, that is, efficient data compression.

The next FIG. 5 is a diagram showing details of the enlarged portion shown in FIG. 3.

As shown in Figure 5, in the case of round Gothic,
Between i3 and 4, place! 31, 32, and 33 intervene,
The outline of a round Gothic font is formed. By performing such processing, it is possible to generate a square Gothic character pattern using common coordinate information, and it is also possible to generate a round Gothic character pattern using common coordinate information and unique coordinate information. It becomes possible to discipline.

The character pattern generation function using the vector font of the present invention described above is realized by the information processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 below.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of the main structure of a character pattern generation section of an information processing apparatus equipped with a character pattern generation function using a vector font according to the present invention. The symbols in the drawings are the same as in Fig. 8,
5 is a font data storage memory with a font code;
6 shows the typeface code detection/control unit. The font data storage memory 5 with typeface codes stores coordinate information and typeface codes as shown in FIG. 4 above. The font code detection/control unit 6 has a function of instructing the font data output unit 2 to read out outline font data in accordance with a designated font. The rest of the structure is the same as that shown in FIG. 8 above.

Next, with reference to a flowchart, the operation of the information processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, which is equipped with a character pattern generation function using a vector font according to the present invention, will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when using outline font data of a square Gothic font in an information processing apparatus equipped with a character pattern generation function using a vector font according to the present invention. In the drawings, #1 to #4 indicate steps.

If Gothic (square Gothic) is specified, this sixth
The flow shown in the figure starts, and in step #1, font data is read from the font data storage memory 5 with typeface code shown in FIG.

In step #2, it is determined whether reading of data has finished or not, and if there is still data remaining, the next step #2 is performed.
In step 3, it is determined whether or not the font code is common data. This judgment is made by the font code detection/control unit 6.
carried out by

In step #4, a straight line is drawn using the read coordinate information data, and the process returns to step #1 to repeat the same operation until there is no more data.

Through the processing in steps #1 to #4 above, the coordinate information of the common code rQJ is read from the outline font data of FIG. 4, and the outline pattern of the Gothic characters as shown in FIG. 2 is formed.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when characters are generated using round Gothic outline font data in an information processing apparatus equipped with a character pattern generation function using vector fonts according to the present invention. In the drawings, #11 to #14 indicate steps. When the round Gothic font is specified, the flow shown in FIG. 7 starts, and in step #11, font data is read from the font data storage memory 5 with typeface code shown in FIG.

In step #12, it is determined whether or not data reading has been completed, and if there is still data remaining, in the next step #13, it is determined whether the data is common data or round Gothic data for that font code. Decide whether or not. This determination is made by the font code detection/control unit 6. In step #14, a straight line is drawn using the read coordinate information data, and the process returns to step #1, and the same operation is repeated until there is no more font data.

Through the above steps #11 to #14, the coordinate information of the common code rQJ and the code "
The coordinate information of "1" is read out, and outline patterns of round Gothic characters as shown in partially enlarged views in FIGS. 3 and 5 are formed. In the above example, a case was explained in which one type of Gothic typeface has two types of outline patterns, square Gothic and round Gothic. However, it is not necessary that it is a Gothic typeface,
It goes without saying that the same method can be used for other typefaces as well. In the information processing device of this invention, outline font data (coordinate information) is divided into common part data and unique data for each typeface, and is stored as the same font data. It becomes possible to reduce the amount of information (coordinate data).

As a result, compared to conventional information processing devices, it is possible to significantly compress the amount of outline data, resulting in reductions in file capacity and costs. Moreover, many excellent effects such as being able to form a high quality print pattern can be achieved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the main part of the character pattern generation section of an information processing device equipped with a character pattern generation function using a vector font according to the present invention. Figure 3 is a diagram showing the character pattern of the kanji ``hira'' in round Gothic font and its coordinate position. Figure 4 is a diagram showing the character pattern of the kanji ``hira'' in round Gothic font and its coordinate position. For an information processing device equipped with a character pattern generation function using vector fonts, a diagram showing the coordinate information of the Gothic kanji ``hira'' and an example of the font code. Figure 5 shows details of the enlarged part shown in Figure 3. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when using square Gothic outline font data in an information processing device equipped with a character pattern generation function using a vector font according to the present invention; FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the process flow when generating characters using round Gothic outline font data in an information processing device equipped with a character pattern generation function using vector fonts according to the present invention. FIG. A block diagram showing an example of the main configuration of a character pattern generation section of an information processing device equipped with a character pattern generation function. In the drawing, 2 is a font data reading unit, 3 is an original coordinate generation unit, 4 is a character frame generation unit, 5 is a font data storage memory with a font code, and 6 is a font code detection/control unit. 4 Figure 5 Closed O 6 Figure 7 Otori

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A vector font storage means for storing vector information consisting of the coordinates of each connection point, and a pattern output means for forming the outline of a character using the vector information of the vector font storage means, In an information processing device equipped with a pattern generation function, the vector font is stored by adding a typeface code to the vector information for each character to indicate whether it is used in common depending on the typeface or used uniquely for a certain typeface. vector information read control means for controlling the reading of vector information stored in the vector font storage means according to the added typeface code; The vector information reading control means outputs only the common font or both the common font and the unique font from the vector font storage means to form the outline of the character, according to information instructing the vector font storage means. An information processing device characterized by: