JPH09101770A - Character data converter - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: A character data converter for converting binary character data into gradation character data, which can be processed at high speed even in a device having a low arithmetic processing capacity. SOLUTION: Binary character data is read (S3
1) Referring to specific pixel data representing a specific pixel stored in advance, a specific pixel of the binary character data is set to OFF (S32), and the binary character data is made to have multiple gradations (S33). The gradation character data A is generated by taking the density of the pixel as the average value with the density of the pixel on the left of the pixel (S34). Here, if the composition flag is ON, the gradation character data B is generated by averaging the density of each pixel with the density of the pixel adjacent thereto (S37), and the gradation character data A and B are combined. Character data C is generated (S38). If the synthesis flag is off, the gradation character data A is directly output as the gradation character data (S36).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a correction conversion process for expressing a character shape in high quality in an output device such as a CRT (display) or an inkjet printer capable of displaying or outputting an image having gradation. The present invention relates to a character data conversion device that can be executed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, many output devices capable of expressing gradation by inputting a digital signal have been widely used in ink jet printers and displays. However, in these output devices, the shape data (hereinafter referred to as character image data) that defines the shape of characters or symbols (hereinafter referred to as characters) for printing / displaying is often expressed in binary. Those with a tone are not popular. Therefore, even in this type of output device, the image of the character is often output in binary.

Generally, when a character is represented by a binary image, a jagged portion (hereinafter referred to as "jaggie") in a hatched portion is conspicuous and a beautiful image of the character cannot be obtained. , This jagi is known to be inconspicuous.
In this way, if the output device stores in advance a character image (called a gradation character image) that is expressed in gradation using halftones as shape data (hereinafter referred to as gradation character data), it can be expressed in gradation easily. A character image can be output, but when expressing gradation character image data, the data capacity must be several times the data amount of the binary character image shape data (hereinafter referred to as binary character data). And, it greatly affects the cost of the product.

As a solution to this, as in the conventional case, a binary character data is stored, and a character data conversion device for converting the vicinity of the contour into gradation character data in which halftones are expressed is provided, and data equivalent to the conventional case is provided. An output device has been proposed which can express the shape of a character by gradation with a capacity. Various character data conversion devices have been proposed, and one of them is the character data conversion device proposed in the previous application (Japanese Patent Application No. 7-257514) filed by the present applicant.

This device expresses the pixels in the ON state among the pixels of the binary character data by a predetermined first density (for example, the maximum density of the output device), and the pixels in the OFF state in advance. Monotonic character data, which is multi-tone image data expressed by a predetermined second density (for example, the lowest density of the output device), is generated, and the density of each pixel of the character shape is set in the monotone character data. The gradation character data is generated by setting an intermediate density of a predetermined ratio (for example, an average) between the density of the pixel and the density of the adjacent pixel (for example, the left adjacent pixel).

Further, as an application of this method, the gradation character data A generated by setting the adjacent pixel when determining the above-mentioned intermediate density to be horizontally adjacent (for example, left adjacent) and vertically adjacent (for example, above) Adjacent) and generated gradation character data B
And the density of each pixel of the character is expressed by the intermediate density when at least one of the corresponding pixels in the two gradation character data is the intermediate density,
In other cases, there has been a method of generating gradation character data by setting a predetermined first density or second density.

Since this character data conversion device can convert binary character data into gradation character data in which the vicinity of the contour is expressed in halftone using only simple arithmetic processing, it has a low arithmetic processing capability. There was a feature that even the device worked well.

[0008]

However, in the character data conversion device described in the above-mentioned prior art (Japanese Patent Application No. 7-257514), in the binary character data, the pixels which are turned on both vertically and horizontally are included. Had a problem in that some of them were not converted to halftone even though they were near the contour.

This will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 shows intermediate data generated by the above processing.
FIG. 9A shows that, in the binary character data displayed in the 6 × 6 dot pattern, the ON pixels have a density of 15,
FIG. 9B shows monotonic character data in which pixels that are off are represented by densities of 0, and FIG. 9C shows the gradation character data A expressed in halftone by setting an intermediate density of (value), and FIG. 9C shows the density of each pixel as a predetermined ratio between the density of the pixel and the density of the pixel adjacent to the upper side (this In this case, the grayscale character data B represented by halftone by showing an intermediate density of the average value) is shown. FIG. 9D shows the density of each pixel as the intermediate density when at least one of the corresponding pixel densities of the gradation character data A and B is the intermediate density, and in other cases, it is previously set. The gradation character data to be output, which is generated by setting the density to a predetermined value, is shown. Note that the pixels in the grid (6 × 6) in FIG. 9 define pixels, and the numerical value in each grid represents the density of the pixel at that position.

However, as is clear from FIG.
At the position of the pixel 100 in FIG. 9A, the density is the same as the density of the upper adjacent pixel and the density of the right and left adjacent pixels,
9B, the conversion to the intermediate density by the average value with the density of the pixel on the left side and the conversion of the average value with the density of the pixel on the upper side of FIG. 9C to the intermediate density cannot be realized. The density at the position of the pixel 100 cannot be expressed in halftones, even though it is the boundary of the character.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and in the process of converting binary character data into gradation character data in which the vicinity of the contour is expressed by gradation in halftone, An object of the present invention is to provide a character data conversion device that can function well even with a device having an arithmetic processing capability and can obtain a high-quality output result.

[0012]

In order to achieve this object, a character data conversion device according to a first aspect of the present invention is a binary bit map in which the shape of a character is represented by pixel on / off information. In a character data conversion device for converting defined binary character data into gradation character data defined by a multi-gradation image represented by pixel density information, a specific pixel having the shape of the binary character data is identified. A specific pixel identification means, a corrected binary character generation means for generating corrected binary character data in which a pixel identified by the specific pixel identification means as a specific pixel of the binary character data is turned off; Pixels in the ON state of the pixels of the corrected binary character data generated by the value character generation means are expressed by a predetermined first density. If a monotonic character generating means for generating monotonic character data, which is multi-gradation image data in which the pixels in the off state are expressed by a predetermined second density, and one pixel in the shape of the character are specified, A density calculation means for calculating an intermediate density of a predetermined ratio between the density of a designated pixel in the character data and the density of a pixel adjacent in a predetermined direction in the monotone character data, and each pixel is designated in the density calculation means. The gradation character generating means for generating gradation character data, which is multi-gradation image data expressing each pixel with the intermediate density obtained in this way, is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a character data conversion device for converting binary character data, which defines a character shape by binary bit map representing pixel on / off information, into pixel density. In a character data conversion device for converting into gradation character data defined by a multi-gradation image represented by the information of 1., specific pixel identification means for identifying a specific pixel in the shape of the binary character data, and the specific pixel identification. Generated by the corrected binary character generation means for generating corrected binary character data in which a pixel identified as a specific pixel of the binary character data is turned off by the means, and the corrected binary character generation means. Pixels in the corrected binary character data that are in the ON state are expressed by a predetermined first density, and are in the OFF state. When a monotone character generating means for generating monotone character data, which is multi-tone image data expressed by a predetermined second density, and one pixel of the character shape are designated, the designated monotone character data is designated. Lateral density calculating means for calculating an intermediate density at a predetermined ratio between the density of a pixel and the density of a pixel adjacent in the left or right direction in the monotone character data, and one pixel in the shape of the character is designated. Then, a vertical direction density calculating means for calculating an intermediate density of a predetermined ratio between the density of a designated pixel in the monotone character data and the density of a pixel adjacent in a predetermined upward or downward direction in the monotone character data. , Express the pixel with the intermediate density obtained by designating each pixel in the lateral density calculation means. The horizontal gradation character generating means for generating horizontal gradation character data, which is multi-gradation image data, and the intermediate density obtained by designating each pixel in the vertical density calculating means represent the pixel. Vertical gradation character generation means for generating vertical gradation character data that is multi-gradation image data, and the horizontal gradation character data and the horizontal gradation character data corresponding to the density of each pixel of the character shape. When at least one of the densities of the pixels in the vertical gradation character data is the intermediate density, it is expressed by the intermediate density, and in other cases, the horizontal gradation character data and the vertical gradation character are expressed. A step which is multi-gradation image data expressed by a predetermined first density or second density among pixel densities in the data. And a synthetic gradation character generating means for generating the gradation character data.

According to the character data converter of the third aspect of the present invention, the shape of the character is turned on / off of the pixel.
In a character data conversion device for converting binary character data defined by a binary bitmap represented by OFF information into gradation character data defined by a multi-gradation image represented by pixel density information, It is multi-tone image data in which the pixels of the value character data in the ON state are expressed by a predetermined first density, and the pixels in the OFF state are expressed by a predetermined second density. A monotone character generating means for generating monotone character data, a specific pixel identifying means for identifying a specific pixel in the shape of the monotone character data, and a pixel identified as a specific pixel for the monotone character data by the specific pixel identifying means. Corrected monotone character generation means for generating corrected monotonic character data expressed by the second density, and the shape of the character When one pixel is designated, a density calculating means for calculating an intermediate density of a predetermined ratio between the density of the designated pixel in the corrected monotone character data and the density of a pixel adjacent in a predetermined direction in the corrected monotone character data. And gradation character generation means for generating gradation character data, which is multi-gradation image data expressing the pixel with the density obtained by designating each pixel in the density calculation means.

Further, in the character data conversion device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the shape of the character is changed to the pixel on / off state.
In the character data conversion device, which converts binary character data defined by a binary bitmap represented by OFF information into gradation character data defined by a multi-gradation image represented by pixel density information, The multi-gradation image data in which the pixels in the on state of the pixels of the binary character data are represented by a predetermined first density, and the pixels in the off state are represented by a predetermined second density. A monotone character generating means for generating certain monotone character data, a specific pixel identifying means for identifying a specific pixel in the shape of the monotone character data, and a specific pixel identifying means for identifying a specific pixel of the monotone character data. A corrected monotone character generating means for generating corrected monotone character data in which pixels are expressed by the second density; When one pixel in the shape of the data is designated, the density of the designated pixel in the corrected monotone character data and the density of the pixel adjacent in the predetermined left or right direction in the corrected monotone character data are in the middle of a predetermined ratio. When the horizontal direction density calculating means for calculating the density and one pixel of the shape of the character are designated, the density of the designated pixel in the corrected monotone character data and the predetermined upward or downward direction in the corrected monotone character data A vertical density calculating means for calculating an intermediate density of a predetermined ratio with the density of a pixel adjacent to the pixel, and a multi-gradation expressing the pixel with the intermediate density obtained by designating each pixel in the horizontal density calculating means. The horizontal gradation character generating means for generating the horizontal gradation character data which is the image data of the By specifying vertical density character generation means for generating vertical gradation character data, which is multi-gradation image data representing the pixel with the intermediate density obtained by designating, and the density of each pixel of the character shape. Is represented by the intermediate density when at least one of the densities of the pixels in the horizontal gradation character data and the vertical gradation character data corresponding to the pixel is the intermediate density, and in other cases. Is a gradation character data that is multi-gradation image data expressed by a predetermined first density or second density of the pixel densities in the horizontal gradation character data and the vertical gradation character data. And a synthetic gradation character generating means for generating.

In the character data conversion device according to the second and fourth aspects, whether or not the vertical gradation character data and the horizontal gradation character data are combined by the composite gradation character generating means. And a vertical direction gradation character generated by the vertical direction gradation character generation means or the horizontal direction gradation character generation means when the combination instruction means for instructing The gradation character that outputs the gradation character data generated by the composite gradation character generating means when the data or the horizontal gradation character data is instructed to be combined by the combining instructing means. It may be provided with a selected gradation character generating means for generating it as data.

Further, in the character data conversion device according to the present invention, calculation of an intermediate density of a predetermined ratio in the density calculation means, the horizontal direction density calculation means, and the vertical direction calculation means. May be calculated as an average value.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the embodiments described below, a display device and an inkjet device capable of expressing a prestored binary character bitmap image with output densities of pixels of 0 to 15 (the higher the density is, the higher the density is, and so on). An example in which the present invention is applied to a device for generating a character image for output in a character display device equipped with a printer as an output device is shown.

The character display device in this embodiment is
2 according to a command from a host device such as a host computer
It is possible to switch so as to display a value character image, or to display a multi-gradation character image in which the vicinity of the contour is expressed in halftone. Where 2
The method of displaying the character image of the value is a well-known technique that has already been put into practical use, and is not the main part of the present invention, so the description thereof will be omitted. Only the part related to the process of generating a multi-tone character image in which the vicinity of the contour is expressed in halftone in the present embodiment will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of the present character display device. The central processing unit (CPU) 10 includes:
Program memory 12 and working memory 14
, Font memory 16 and output image memory 18
An input unit 112, a display control unit 114 and a CRT 115 as a display device, and a printer control unit 11.
7 and the inkjet printer 118 are connected by a bus 110.

The CPU 10 controls to realize the functions of the apparatus of this embodiment, and the program memory 12 is composed of a read-only memory (ROM), and C
It stores a program defining a control procedure performed by the PU 10. The working memory 14 also processes the programs stored in the program memory 12 by C.
It stores temporary data when it is executed by the PU 10, and includes a monotone buffer memory 141, a gradation buffer memory A142, and a gradation buffer memory B143 used in the processing in this embodiment described later.

The font memory 16 stores binary character image data and specific pixel data for each character. This binary character image data is data that represents the shape of the character by the binary value of ON / OFF of the output pixel. Further, the specific pixel data is information indicating the position of a pixel which is not a halftone but is a dot which represents the boundary of the character. That is, taking the character of FIG. 9 as an example, the pixel 10 in FIG.
This information represents the position of 0. A plurality of this information can be stored for each character.

The output image memory 18 also stores gradation character data generated by the processing of this embodiment. The input unit 112 inputs the character code of the character to be output and the synthesis flag. The combination flag is information used in the process in the present embodiment described later, and is information indicating that the combination is performed if the flag is on, and that no combination is performed if the flag is off. Display controller 114
Displays the gradation character data stored in the output image memory 18 and displays it on the CRT 115. Similarly, the printer controller 117 controls the output image memory 18
The gradation character data stored in is read out, and the inkjet printer 118 prints and displays it on a recording medium such as paper. It should be noted that the processing of displaying an image expressed in gradation on the CRT 115 or the inkjet printer 118 is a technology that has already been put to practical use in various systems, and is not the main part of the present invention. Therefore, detailed description is omitted for the purpose of clarifying the gist of the present invention.

The logical format of character data used in this embodiment will be described in detail below. As described above, the image of the character handled in this embodiment includes
There are binary character images and gradation character images. Both of these are information of each pixel forming the image of the character, and the binary character image data is shape data in which the density of the pixel is displayed in binary of ON / OFF, and ON is 1 and OFF is 0. Show. Further, the gradation character image data is shape data in which the density of each pixel is represented by a numerical value. 2A shows a conceptual diagram of a binary character image, and FIG. 2B shows a conceptual diagram of a gradation character image. Numerical values written in the grid representing the pixels indicate information attached to each pixel.

The binary character data shown in FIG. 2A represents ON when 1 and OFF when 0, and the gradation character data in FIG. 2B is a numerical value of 0 to 15 and represents the density of the pixel. Is represented. Density 15 is the highest density, density 0 is the lowest density and is an invisible pixel in reality, and density 7 is the density of an intermediate gradation. The process of converting the binary character image into the gradation character image of this embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. It should be noted that this process starts after the character code and the synthesis flag are input from the input unit 112.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the process is started,
A process of reading binary character data from the input unit 112 from the font memory 16 is executed (S31). Next, a process of generating the corrected binary character data is executed by setting a specific pixel in the ON state of the read binary character image to the OFF state (S).
32). This processing corresponds to the corrected binary character data generating means, and details thereof will be described later with reference to a subroutine flowchart in FIG.

After this processing, the on-pixels of the binary character image are expressed with a density of 15 and the off-pixels are expressed with a density of 0 to generate multi-gradation gradation character data (S33). The generated gradation character data is a monotone buffer memory 14a in the working memory 14.
To be stored. Therefore, S33 becomes a monotone character data generation means.

Next, in S34, the image in the monotone buffer memory 14a is read out, the adjacent pixel is designated as the left neighbor, and the gradation character image A in which the vicinity of the contour line is expressed in halftone is generated, and the working memory is created. That is, the processing for storing in the gradation buffer memory A14b in 14 is executed. The process of S34 is a horizontal gradation character generating means, and details of this process will be described later.

Next, the composition flag input from the input unit 112 is checked to determine whether composition is required (S3).
5). If the synthesis flag is off here (S35: n
o), execute S36. If it is on (S3
5: yes), S37 to S38 are executed. S36 is a process of writing the gradation character data A stored in the gradation buffer memory A14b of the working memory 14 into the output image memory 18.

In step S37, the image data in the monotone buffer memory 14a of the working memory 14 is read, the adjacent pixels are designated as the upper neighbors, and the gradation character data B in which the vicinity of the contour line is expressed in halftone is generated, This is a process of storing in the gradation buffer memory B143 in the working memory 14. The details of this process will be described later as with the process of S34.

In step S38, the gradation character data A in the gradation buffer memory A14b in the working memory and the gradation character data B in the gradation buffer memory B14c.
Is a process of synthesizing and to generate the gradation character data C and writing the same in the output image memory 18. This combination is performed when the density of each pixel of the gradation character data C is an intermediate density in at least one of the density of the pixel of the corresponding gradation character data A and the density of the pixel of the gradation character data B. Means an intermediate density, and in other cases, a predetermined density is used for synthesis.

This system has a structure corresponding to claim 5. That is, S33 is a monotone character generation means, S34 is a lateral gradation character generation means, and S35.
Indicates a vertical gradation character generating means, S38 corresponds to a combined gradation character generating means, S35 to S38 correspond to a selected gradation character generating means, and a combining flag input from the input section 112 corresponds to a combining instructing means. .

Next, the correction binary character data generation process of S32 described above will be described with reference to the subroutine flowchart of FIG. When the corrected binary character data generation process is started, first, the target pixel position is initialized to point to the pixel at the processing start position (S41). Next, it is identified whether the pixel of interest is a specific pixel (S4
2). That is, it is searched whether the position information of the pixel of interest is stored in the specific pixel data (not shown) in the font memory 16, and if it is stored (S42: yes),
A process of turning off a specific pixel is executed (S43), and it is determined whether or not the off process is completed for all pixels (S4).
4) If not all pixels have been completed (S4
4: no), after moving the pixel of interest to the position of the next pixel (S45), the process returns to S42 and the processes (S42 to S44) are repeated.

If the specific pixel is not stored (S4
2: No), and it is determined whether or not all the pixels are finished (S4).
4) If not all pixels have been completed (S4
4: no), after moving the pixel of interest to the position of the next pixel (S45), the process returns to S42 and the processes (S42 to S44) are repeated. Note that S42 corresponds to the specific pixel identifying means, and S43 corresponds to the corrected binary character data generating means.

Next, the process of generating the gradation character data in S34 and S37 described above will be described with reference to the subroutine flowchart of FIG. In addition,
In order to simplify the description, the flow of processing will be described by using an example in which the adjacent pixel set in S34 is set to the left side in the horizontal direction.
Setting the adjacent pixel to the right next to the pixel or setting it in the vertical direction such as up and down is simply a difference in the data reading of the adjacent pixel, and can be easily imagined by those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is assumed that all of these cases have been described by describing an example in which the adjacent pixel is set to the left adjacent direction.

When the gradation character data generation processing (S34) is started in FIG. 5, initialization is performed so that the pixel position of interest is designated as the pixel at the processing start position (S51). Then, the monotonic buffer memory 1 in the working memory 14
4a, the densities of the pixel of interest and the adjacent pixel to the left of the pixel of interest are read out (S52), and the average value of the densities as the read intermediate densities is calculated (S53). It is stored as the density of the corresponding pixel in the tone buffer memory A14b (S54).

Then, it is determined whether or not the processing has been completed for all pixels (S55), and if not completed (S5).
5: no), the position of the pixel of interest is moved to the position of the next pixel (S56), and the processing from S52 onward is repeated. Note that S5
Reference numeral 3 corresponds to density calculating means (horizontal density calculating means, vertical density calculating means). In this embodiment, in S53,
The density of the pixel of interest was obtained by calculating the average value of the density of the pixel of interest and the density of the adjacent pixel. In S53, the intermediate value of a preset predetermined ratio of the density of the pixel of interest and the density of the adjacent pixel is calculated. This is a calculation process, and thus this ratio can be changed in any way.

The intermediate density calculation process will be described more specifically with reference to FIG. In order to facilitate understanding, a part of the character image is cut out and shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b). FIG. 6A shows a monotone character image in a horizontal row of pixels 61 to 67, and FIG. 6B shows a gradation character image in a horizontal row of pixels 70 to 75 generated. Pixel 62 is pixel 70, and pixel 63 is pixel 71.
The pixel 64 corresponds to the pixel 72, the pixel 65 corresponds to the pixel 73, the pixel 66 corresponds to the pixel 74, and the pixel 67 corresponds to the pixel 75. In this figure, first, the pixel position of interest is set to the pixel 62 (S51). At this time, the pixel on the left is
The pixel 61. Next, the density of the pixel 62 of interest is 0
And the density 0 of the pixel 61 which is the adjacent pixel is read (S5
2). When the average of the two concentrations is calculated (S53), it becomes 0. Next, this value is written in the gradation buffer memory A14b as the density of the pixel 70 corresponding to the gradation character data (S54). Since there are still unprocessed pixels (S55), the pixel of interest is set to the next pixel 63 (S55).
56), the process for the pixel is performed. The pixel adjacent to the left of the pixel 63 is the pixel 62. These densities are read (S52), the average 127 of the densities is calculated (S53), and is stored in the gradation buffer memory A14b as the densities of the pixels 71 (S54). By repeating such processing, the gradation character image of FIG. 6B is generated from the monotone character image of FIG. 6A.

Next, referring to FIG. 2 and FIG.
The gradation character data conversion processing of 31 to S38 will be specifically described. As described above, FIG. 2A is a data diagram showing the binary character image of the 6 × 6 dot pattern as ON (1) and OFF (0). FIG. 2B shows the data of the gradation character image in which the maximum density is 15 and the minimum density is 0, and the vicinity of the contour line is represented by halftone (intermediate density 7).
That is, the data corresponding to the gradation character image C in the processing of S31 to S38 is shown. That is, FIG.
(B) is CRT115 or inkjet printer 1
It is the data of the character image output (displayed) to 1.

Further, FIG. 2C is a diagram showing corrected binary character data. 7A shows monotone character data, FIG. 7B shows data corresponding to the gradation character image A, and FIG. 7C shows data corresponding to the gradation character image B. It is a figure. The specific pixel data (not shown) corresponding to this character is the pixel 10 of the binary character image of FIG.
The position of 1 is stored in the font memory 16.

When the character code indicating the character shown in FIGS. 2 and 7 and the information in which the composition flag is set to ON are input from the input unit 112, this processing is started. First,
The binary character data shown in FIG. 2A is read from the font memory 16 (S31), and the pixel indicated by the specific pixel data (not shown) in the font memory 16 is
By turning off the pixel of the pixel 101 of FIG. 2A, the corrected binary character data as shown in FIG. 2C is generated (S32: S41 to 45).

Next, the data shown in FIG. 2 (c) is converted into multiple gradations to generate the data of the monotone character image shown in FIG. 7 (a). That is, in FIG. 2A, the on (1) position is replaced by the first density of 15 and the off (0) position is replaced by the second density of 0, and this data (monotone character image data) is replaced. Is stored in the monotonic buffer memory 14a in the working memory 14 (S33).

Next, in the data of the monotone character image shown in FIG. 7A, the adjacent pixel is set to the left and the gradation character image A shown in FIG. The tone character data A) is stored in the gradation buffer memory A14b in the working memory 14 (S34: S51-56). That is, the pixel of interest has a density of 1
5 and the pixel on the left of the pixel has a density of 0, an intermediate density of 7 is set as the density of the pixel of interest. Similarly, when the pixel of interest has a density of 0 and the pixel to the left of it has a density of 15,
The density of the pixel of interest is set as the intermediate density 7. Therefore,
The density of the specific pixel 101 is 7.

Next, since the composition flag is turned on in S35, in the data of the monotone character image shown in FIG. 7 (a), the adjacent pixels are set to the upper side and the gradation character image shown in FIG. 7 (c). B is generated and its data (gradation character data B is stored in the gradation buffer memory B14c in the working memory 14 (S34, S37).

That is, in this case, the pixel of interest has a density of 15
And when the density of the adjacent pixel is 0, the intermediate density is 7
Is set as the density of the pixel of interest. Similarly, when the pixel of interest has a density of 0 and the pixel adjacent thereto has a density of 15, an intermediate density of 7 is set as the density of the pixel of interest. Therefore, the density of the specific pixel 101 is 7. Next, FIG. 7 in the grayscale buffer memory A14b in the working memory 14 will be described.
When at least one of the densities of each pixel of the gradation character data A of (b) and the gradation character data B of FIG. 7C in the gradation buffer memory B14c is an intermediate density, the intermediate density is set, In other cases, by setting the density to a predetermined value, the gradation character image C of FIG. 2B is generated and the data (gradation character data C) is stored in the output image memory 18. (S
38).

As a result of the above-described processing, the L-shaped character shown in FIG. 2A has an intermediate density at the location of the specific pixel 101 (the root portion between the horizontal portion and the vertical portion of the L-shaped character). As a result, an output in which all the densities at the positions of the contour lines of this character are converted into intermediate densities can be obtained. FIG. 8 shows a character image of another character (diagonal line character) having a 14 × 14 dot pattern.
FIG. 8A is a gradation obtained by processing the monotone character image obtained in S31 to S33 described above, and FIG. 8B is the gradation obtained by processing the data in FIG. 8A by the processing in S34 (lateral density calculation processing) described above. The character image A is shown.

In the gradation character image B obtained by subjecting the monotonic character image to the processing of S37 (vertical density calculation processing), the pixels 102, 103,
At 104, the intermediate density becomes 7, and at the pixel 105, only the density becomes 0, and there is only a slight difference from the gradation character image A shown in FIG. Therefore, it is clear that the gradation character image C obtained in S38 has only a slight difference from the gradation character image A.

In an apparatus in which high speed is desired even if the display (printing) quality is deteriorated to some extent, in such a case, that is, the gradation character images A and B are generated, and the data are combined. If the quality of the gradation character image C obtained in 1 is not significantly different from the quality of the gradation character image A or B, the gradation character image A or B can be output.

This is because the synthesis flag is turned off and the input unit 1
By inputting information from 12, the optional processing is omitted, that is, when the synthesis flag is off, the data of the gradation character image A is written as it is in the output image memory 18 (S35, S36). A gradation character image can be formed as output data. Also,
In order to reduce the amount of information to be input and to simplify the processing, the data of the gradation character image (gradation character data) may be formed in the output image memory 18 without using the above-described synthesis flag. It is possible. That is, it becomes possible by omitting the processes of S35 and S36 in the flowchart shown in FIG.

Further, when the present invention is applied to an apparatus in which a simple gradation character image is sufficient and requires a higher speed processing, the gradation generated by the processing of S31 to S34 described above. The data of the character image A may be stored in the output image memory 18 as it is. This system has a configuration corresponding to claim 1, and S34 corresponds to the gradation character generating means in the claim.

In the present embodiment, the pixel in the ON state is changed to OFF in the binary character data state by referring to the specific pixel data (not shown) in the font memory 16, but the present invention is not limited to this. Swapping the processes of S32 and S33 does not have any effect on the gist of the present invention. This processing corresponds to the corrected monotone character generating means. In the present embodiment, the horizontal gradation character generation means sets the adjacent pixels in the horizontal direction to obtain the gradation character data A first, and then sets the adjacent pixels in the vertical direction to set the vertical floor. The tone character generating means obtains the tone character data B. However, the tone character data B is reversed. First, the vertical tone character data is generated and then the horizontal tone character data is generated. It goes without saying that it is okay.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the binary character image is previously stored in the font memory 1 as font data.
Although an example using the one stored in 6 has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and the font memory 16 is provided with a rasterizer for storing an outline font and converting the outline font into bitmap data. It is also possible to use the map as a binary character image. Note that this rasterizer is a well-known technique that has already been put into practical use, and is not a main part of the present invention, so a description thereof will be omitted.

Besides, the present embodiment can be variously modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0054]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the first and third aspects of the present invention, each pixel is calculated only by calculating a predetermined ratio with respect to the density of an adjacent pixel. Since it is possible to calculate the density of, the conversion of binary character data into gradation character data in which the vicinity of the contour is expressed in gradation in halftone functions well even with a device with low arithmetic processing capability. In addition, it is possible to provide a character data conversion device that can process at high speed and can obtain a high-quality output result.

According to the character data converters of the second and fourth aspects of the invention, like the invention of the first aspect, high-speed processing is possible, and gradation is produced in the vertical and horizontal directions. Since the character data is converted, it is possible to provide a data conversion device capable of obtaining a more beautiful gradation character image. Further, according to the data conversion device of the invention of claim 5, it is possible to provide a data conversion device capable of processing at higher speed than that of the inventions of claims 2 and 4 by omitting redundant processing, and The gradation character data obtained by this character data conversion device has the effect of being of high quality.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a gradation character data conversion processing device of the present embodiment.

2A is a diagram of binary character image data, FIG. 2B is a diagram of gradation character image data according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2C is a diagram of corrected binary character image data.

FIG. 3 is a main flowchart of a gradation character data conversion process according to this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a subroutine flowchart of a corrected binary character image generation process of this embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a subroutine flowchart of a gradation character image generation process of this embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for specifically explaining the gradation character image generation processing of the present embodiment.

7A is a diagram of data of a monotone character image of the present embodiment, FIG. 7B is a data diagram of a gradation character image A, and FIG. 7C is a data diagram of a gradation character image B.

8A is a diagram of data of a monotone character image in another embodiment, and FIG. 8B is a data diagram of a gradation character image A.

9A and 9B are diagrams of a character image obtained by character data conversion processing according to the related art, where FIG. 9A is a diagram of monotone character data, FIG. 9B is a diagram of gradation character data A, and FIG. 9C is gradation character data B. 2D is a diagram of gradation character data to be output.

[Explanation of symbols]

 S32 Corrected binary character generation means S33 Monotonic character generation means S53 Density calculation means S34 Horizontal gradation character generation means S35 Synthesis instruction means S37 Vertical gradation character generation means S38 Synthetic gradation character generation means S53 Density calculation means

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. Binary character data in which a character shape is defined by a binary bit map representing pixel on / off information is defined by multi-gradation image data represented by pixel density information. In a character data conversion device for converting to gradation character data, a specific pixel identifying means for identifying a specific pixel in the shape of the character in the binary character data, and a pixel identified as a specific pixel by the specific pixel identifying means. The corrected binary character generation means for generating the corrected binary character data in the OFF state, and the pixel in the ON state among the pixels of the corrected binary character data generated by the corrected binary character generation means are determined in advance. Image of the multi-gradation image in which the pixel in the off state is expressed in the predetermined first density and the pixel in the off state is expressed in the predetermined second density. When a monotonic character generation unit that generates monotone character data that is data is designated and one pixel of the shape of the character is designated, the density of the designated pixel in the monotone character data is adjacent to the monotone character data in a predetermined direction. Density calculating means for calculating an intermediate density of a predetermined ratio with the density of the pixel, and a multi-gradation image data representing each pixel with the intermediate density obtained by designating each pixel in the density calculating means A character data conversion device, comprising: a gradation character generation means for generating gradation character data. 2. A floor for defining binary character data defined by a binary bit map in which a character shape is represented by pixel on / off information by a multi-gradation image represented by pixel density information. In a character data conversion device for converting tonality character data, a specific pixel identifying means for identifying a specific pixel of a character shape in the binary character data, and a pixel identified as a specific pixel by the specific pixel identifying means are turned off. The corrected binary character generation means for generating the corrected binary character data in the above state, and the pixel in the ON state among the pixels of the corrected binary character data generated by the corrected binary character generation means are predetermined. Image data of a multi-gradation in which the pixels in the off state are expressed in the first density and the pixels in the off state are expressed in the predetermined second density. A monotone character generating means for generating monotone character data, which is a data item, and when one pixel of the shape of the character is designated, the density of the designated pixel in the monotone character data and a predetermined left in the monotone character data. Alternatively, a lateral density calculating means for calculating an intermediate density of a predetermined ratio with the density of pixels adjacent to the right direction, and when one pixel of the shape of the character is designated, the density of the designated pixel in the monotone character data, By designating each pixel in the vertical density calculation means for calculating an intermediate density of a predetermined ratio with the density of a pixel adjacent in a predetermined upward or downward direction in the monotone character data, and by specifying each pixel in the horizontal density calculation means. The horizontal gradation character data that is multi-gradation image data expressing the pixel with the obtained intermediate density. And a vertical gradation character that is multi-gradation image data expressing the pixel with an intermediate density obtained by designating each pixel in the vertical density calculation means. Vertical gradation character generating means for generating data, and the density of each pixel of the character shape is at least the density of pixels in the horizontal gradation character data and the vertical gradation character data corresponding to the pixel. If one is the intermediate density, it is expressed by the intermediate density, and in the other cases, the predetermined density of the pixel density in the horizontal gradation character data and the vertical gradation character data is determined. A synthetic gradation character source for generating gradation character data, which is multi-gradation image data expressed in 1 density or 2 density, respectively. And a character data conversion device. 3. A floor in which binary character data defining a character shape by a binary bit map representing pixel on / off information is defined by a multi-gradation image represented by pixel density information. In a character data conversion device for converting tonal character data, among the pixels of the binary character data, pixels in an on state are expressed by a predetermined first density, and pixels in an off state are predetermined. By a monotone character generating means for generating monotone character data which is multi-tone image data expressed in the second density, a specific pixel identifying means for identifying a specific pixel in the shape of the monotone character data, and a specific pixel identifying means. Corrected monotone character generating means for generating corrected monotone character data in which the pixel identified as a specific pixel is expressed by the second density. And when one pixel of the shape of the character is designated, a predetermined ratio of the density of the designated pixel in the corrected monotone character data and the density of a pixel adjacent in a predetermined direction in the corrected monotone character data is intermediate. Density calculating means for calculating the density, and gradation character generating means for generating gradation character data, which is multi-tone image data expressing the pixel with the density obtained by designating each pixel in the density calculating means And a character data conversion device. 4. A floor in which binary character data defining a character shape by a binary bit map representing pixel on / off information is defined by a multi-gradation image represented by pixel density information. In a character data conversion device for converting tonal character data, among the pixels of the binary character data, pixels in an on state are expressed by a predetermined first density, and pixels in an off state are predetermined. Monotone character generating means for generating monotone character data, which is multi-tone image data expressed in the second density, specific pixel identifying means for identifying specific pixels in the shape of the monotone character data, and specific pixel identifying means. Corrected monotone character generation for generating corrected monotone character data in which a pixel identified as a specific pixel by the second density is expressed by the second density. And a density of a designated pixel in the corrected monotone character data and a density of a pixel adjacent in the predetermined left or right direction in the corrected monotone character data. When a horizontal direction density calculating means for calculating a predetermined ratio of intermediate density and one pixel of the shape of the character are specified, the density of the specified pixel in the corrected monotone character data and a predetermined value in the corrected monotone character data are determined. The vertical density calculation means for calculating the intermediate density of a predetermined ratio with the density of the pixel adjacent in the up or down direction, and the pixel expressed by the intermediate density obtained by designating each pixel in the horizontal density calculation means. Horizontal gradation character generating means for generating horizontal gradation character data, which is multi-gradation image data, and Vertical gradation character generation means for generating vertical gradation character data, which is multi-tone image data expressing the pixel with an intermediate density obtained by designating each pixel in the direction density calculation means, The density of each pixel of the character shape is set to the intermediate density when at least one of the density of the pixels in the horizontal gradation character data and the vertical gradation character data corresponding to the pixel is the intermediate density. In other cases, the multi-gradation image is expressed by the predetermined first density or the second density of the pixel densities in the horizontal gradation character data and the vertical gradation character data. A character data conversion device, comprising: a synthetic gradation character generating means for generating gradation character data which is data. 5. The character data conversion device according to claim 2, wherein an instruction is made as to whether or not said vertical gradation character data and horizontal gradation character data are to be combined by said combined gradation character generating means. If the composition instruction means and the composition instruction means not to compose,
When the vertical direction gradation character data or the horizontal direction gradation character data generated by the vertical direction gradation character generating means or the horizontal direction gradation character generating means is instructed to be combined by the combining instructing means. Is
A character data conversion device, comprising: selected gradation character generation means for generating the gradation character data generated by the combined gradation character generation means as the gradation character data to be output respectively. 6. The calculation of the intermediate density of a predetermined ratio in the density calculation means, the horizontal direction density calculation means, and the vertical direction calculation means is performed by calculating an average value. The character data conversion device according to any one of 1 to 5.