JP2959612B2 - Method and apparatus for generating vector coordinates from dot pattern - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern for extracting contour points from the dot pattern and generating vector coordinates for scaling.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional dot pattern contour tracing method in a vector coordinate generating apparatus from a dot pattern, in the case of a dot pattern F having a plurality of dot widths as shown in FIG. Then, the outer contour A and the inner contour B are extracted. The contour tracking direction at this time is clockwise for the outer contour A (direction of arrow A) and counterclockwise for inner contour B (direction of arrow B). However, in the case of a dot pattern F1 having a one-dot width as shown in FIG. 19A, there is a problem that the outer contour A and the inner contour B have the same contour as shown in FIG. 19B. is there.

For this reason, conventionally, enlargement processing has been performed on one dot, and the outline coordinates have been obtained while correcting the dot according to the outline tracking direction. A specific example of obtaining the outline coordinates will be described with reference to FIG. 20, taking a rectangular pattern of 5 × 5 dots and a width of one dot as an example.

FIG. 20 shows that the upper left of the original dot pattern is XY.
They are arranged so as to match the origin of the coordinates. If an upper offset or a left offset originally exists in the original dot pattern, the pattern is arranged at a position in consideration of the offset value.

[0005] The original dot pattern is given an index number of 0, 1, 2, 3, ... one dot at a time from the point closer to the origin of the XY coordinates.
The coordinate value of the dot is used. The coordinates of the dot marked X in FIG. 20A are (4, 1).

Next, when the dot pattern is subjected to a five-fold enlargement process, a state shown in FIG. 20B is obtained. At this time,
Assuming that the coordinates before the enlargement processing are (X, Y) and the coordinates after the enlargement processing are (X ′, Y ′), the conversion processing is performed according to the following equation.

X '= X.times.5 + 2 Y' = Y.times.5 + 2 This represents the coordinates of the center of the dot magnified five times. As a result of this conversion process, the coordinates (4, 1) of the dot marked X in FIG. 20A are converted into the coordinates (22, 7) of the dot marked X in FIG. 20B.

Next, according to the tracing direction of the contour points, the coordinate correction processing is performed on the outside in the case of the outer contour, and the coordinate correction is performed on the inside in the case of the inner contour. The coordinates (22, 7) of the dot indicated by X in FIG. 20B are corrected to the coordinates (20, 7) of the dot indicated by ■ as the inner contour (hereinafter, the coordinate values after the coordinate correction are indicated by ■). ). In FIG. 20, as in the enlargement processing, the enlargement processing method with a magnification of 5 is used. In the conventional dot pattern contour tracking method, the enlargement ratio is set to an odd number so that the center of the dot can always be represented. The magnification processing method that is twice as large is used.

[0009]

However, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 20B, the vector coordinates of the outer contour obtained by extracting a dot pattern having a width of 5 dots by using an enlargement processing method with a magnification of 5 times are represented by (0, 0), ( 2
(4,0), (24,24), and (0,24), and the width is 24 dots. Essentially, if a dot pattern having a width of 5 dots is scaled by a factor of 5, the pattern width of that dot must be 25 dots. Further, when a dot pattern having a width of 5 dots is scaled by a factor of 100, the pattern width of 500 dots is changed to a pattern width of 480 dots.

As described above, in the conventional dot pattern contour tracing method in the apparatus for generating a vector coordinate from a dot pattern, the original dot pattern cannot be faithfully scaled when the dot pattern is scaled, and an error occurs. There were drawbacks.

Such a disadvantage is caused by adding one correction value as shown in FIG. 21 at the time of coordinate correction in the contour tracing direction after magnifying the dot pattern five times as shown in FIG. 20B. That is, the vector coordinates of the outer contour are defined as (0,
0), (25, 0), (25, 25), and (0, 25) can solve the problem.

However, if this is the case, there is no problem with the outer contour, but the inner contour points to be extracted at regular intervals as shown in FIG. In this case, contour points are unequally spaced, and for example, a place that should be a perfect circle becomes a non-perfect circle.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art described above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vector coordinate which can be faithfully scaled to an original dot pattern. An object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern that can be extracted.

[0014]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern, comprising the steps of: extracting an outline point sequence based on a dot pattern; Reference is made to the enlargement processing step of performing an even-number enlargement processing on the outline points of the outline point sequence extracted by the above, and the connection relation of the outlines connected to the outline points before being enlarged by the enlargement processing step. A coordinate correction processing step of performing coordinate correction processing of the contour points enlarged by the enlargement processing step based on the connection relationship of the contour lines connected to the outline points enlarged by the enlargement processing step. Features.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the even-number times is 4 times. It is characterized by being twice.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern according to the first aspect of the present invention. The coordinate correction process is performed at a position inside or outside a pixel corresponding to a contour point so that the shape of the pattern can be maintained even when the magnification is changed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the enlarging step comprises: When the contour point (X, Y) and the magnification (S) are set, X = X × S + S
/ 2, Y = Y × S + S / 2 to perform enlargement processing.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern, comprising the steps of: The contour point sequence generating means generates the contour point sequence of the outer contour and the inner contour of the dot pattern stored in the storage means, coordinate information indicating the coordinate position of each contour point of the generated contour point sequence, and dot pattern contour tracking. The direction information indicating the tracking direction of the method is added by the information adding means, and based on the added information, one dot of each contour point is enlarged by the enlargement processing means at an even multiple of the enlargement rate. The coordinate value of the contour point is corrected by a correction unit.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern, the method comprising generating vector coordinates for scaling from the dot pattern. A dot pattern as a basis for scaling the extracted contour coordinates to an arbitrary size is temporarily stored in the first storage means, and the outside of the stored dot pattern is traced clockwise by the dot pattern contour tracking method, and its locus is traced. It is extracted by a first extracting means as a coordinate point sequence, and the first
The inside of the dot pattern stored in the storage means is traced counterclockwise by the dot pattern contour tracking method, and the locus is extracted as a coordinate point sequence by the second extraction means, and each coordinate extracted by the first and second extraction means is obtained. The tracking direction of the point sequence is defined by a table, and based on the table, the positional relationship between the coordinate point sequences adjacent to each other is calculated by arithmetic means,
And enlarging each coordinate point sequence extracted by the second extracting means at an even magnification by the enlarging processing means, and correcting the coordinate values of the enlarged contour point sequence based on the tracking direction of each coordinate point sequence. It is characterized by the following.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern according to the sixth aspect of the present invention. The pattern shape is determined by the pattern shape determining means based on the positional relationship between the coordinate point strings adjacent to each other in the coordinate point strings extracted by the extracting means, and each coordinate point string is corrected by the correcting means based on the determined pattern shape. It is characterized by.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern according to the present invention. The dot judging means judges whether each coordinate point string extracted by the extracting means is one dot, and when it judges that it is one dot, generates four coordinate point strings from the dot pattern of one dot. It is characterized by being generated by means. In order to achieve the above object, a method for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern according to claim 9 of the present invention is characterized in that the method for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern according to claims 1 to 5 or 6 is applicable to a printing apparatus. Features. In order to achieve the above object, a method for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern according to claim 10 of the present invention is as follows.
Alternatively, the method of generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern described in 6 is applicable to a display device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for generating a vector coordinate from a dot pattern according to the present invention, wherein the extracting means extracts an outline point sequence based on the dot pattern. Enlargement processing means for performing an even number enlargement process on the contour points of the contour point sequence;
Without referring to the connection relation of the contour line connected to the contour point before being enlarged by the enlargement processing means, based on the connection relation of the contour line connected to the contour point enlarged by the enlargement processing means, And a coordinate correction processing means for performing a coordinate correction processing of the contour point enlarged by the enlargement processing means.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for generating a vector coordinate from a dot pattern according to the eleventh aspect of the present invention. It is characterized by being twice.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for generating a vector coordinate from a dot pattern according to the present invention. The coordinate correction process is performed at a position inside or outside a pixel corresponding to a contour point so that the shape of the pattern can be maintained even when the magnification is changed.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for generating a vector coordinate from a dot pattern according to the eleventh aspect of the present invention. When the contour point (X, Y) and the magnification (S) are set, X = X × S + S
/ 2, Y = Y × S + S / 2 to perform enlargement processing.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern which generates vector coordinates for scaling from the dot pattern. Storage means for storing the dot pattern; contour point sequence generating means for generating an outline point sequence of an outer contour and an inner contour of the dot pattern stored in the storage means; and a contour point sequence generated by the contour point sequence generating means Information adding means for adding, to each contour point, coordinate information indicating its coordinate position and direction information indicating the tracking direction of the dot pattern contour tracking method, and one dot for each contour point based on the information added by the information adding means. Enlargement processing at an even-number magnification, and correcting the coordinate values of each of the contour points enlarged by the enlargement processing means. Characterized by comprising a that correction means.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern, comprising the steps of: generating a vector coordinate from a dot pattern for scaling; First storage means for temporarily recalling a dot pattern serving as a basis for scaling the extracted contour coordinates to an arbitrary size; and tracing the outside of the dot pattern stored in the first storage means clockwise by a dot pattern contour tracing method. First extracting means for extracting the trajectory as a sequence of coordinate points, tracing the inside of the dot pattern stored in the first storage means counterclockwise by a dot pattern contour tracing method, and extracting the trajectory as a sequence of coordinate points And a tracking direction of each coordinate point sequence extracted by the first and second extracting means. For calculating the positional relationship between adjacent coordinate point sequences based on the table, and enlarging each coordinate point sequence extracted by the first and second extracting means at an even magnification. An enlargement processing unit for processing, and a correction unit for correcting the coordinate values of the outline point sequence enlarged by the enlargement processing unit based on the tracking direction of each coordinate point sequence are provided.

In order to achieve the above object, the apparatus for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern according to claim 17 of the present invention is the apparatus for generating vector coordinates from dot patterns according to claim 16. Pattern shape determining means for determining the pattern shape based on the positional relationship between adjacent coordinate point strings of each coordinate point string extracted by the extracting means, and correcting each coordinate point string with the pattern shape determined by the pattern shape determining means And a correcting means for performing the correction.

In order to achieve the above object, the apparatus for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern according to claim 18 of the present invention is the apparatus for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern according to claim 16. Dot determining means for determining whether or not each coordinate point sequence extracted by the extracting means is one dot;
And a coordinate point sequence generating means for generating one coordinate point sequence. In order to achieve the above object, the apparatus for generating a vector coordinate from a dot pattern according to claim 19 of the present invention is based on the fact that the apparatus for generating a vector coordinate from dot pattern according to claims 11 to 15 or 16 is applicable to a printing apparatus. Features. Furthermore, in order to achieve the above object, a vector coordinate generating apparatus from a dot pattern according to claim 20 of the present invention is applicable to a display device, wherein the vector coordinate generating apparatus from a dot pattern according to claim 11 to 15 or 16 is applicable. Features.

[0030]

[0031]

[0032]

[0033]

[0034]

[0035]

[0036]

[0037]

[0038]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printing apparatus which is an output apparatus including a vector coordinate (coordinate point sequence) generating apparatus from a dot pattern (for example, a dot font pattern) according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a printing apparatus main body; 2, a host computer serving as a data supply source; 3, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that controls all of the inside of the printing apparatus main body 1.
nit; central processing unit), 4 is an input interface for inputting data sent from the host computer 2, and 5 is a program ROM (Read Only) storing a control program including a program of a flowchart shown in FIG. Reference numeral 6 denotes a font ROM for storing a scalable font (characters represented by stroke information instead of dot signals and stored) corresponding to input character codes.
(Read Only Memory; fixed storage device), 7 is a built-in RAM serving as a memory medium including a work memory used when generating vector coordinates of a dot pattern
(Random Access Memory; constant-speed calling storage device) 8 is an output unit for printing and outputting information on paper or the like.

Next, a processing procedure for extracting vector coordinates from a dot pattern will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, in step S201, the CPU 3 acquires a dot pattern from which vector coordinates are to be extracted in the work memory. Next, the process proceeds to step S202 and the CPU 3
Extracts the contour point sequence of the outer contour and the inner contour of the dot pattern obtained in step S201 into the work memory by the contour point tracking method. The contour point sequence at this time has the same size as the original dot pattern. The coordinates of the contour point sequence are extracted, and at the same time, the tracking direction V and the change D of the tracking direction are stored in the work memory.

The tracking direction V is defined by the rule shown in FIG. In the figure, a point P is a point of interest, and is defined so as to increase clockwise with respect to the point P. That is, FIG. 3A shows the tracking direction V based on the point P.
From the position of point P in the same figure, 0 in the horizontal right direction, 1 in the diagonally lower right direction, 2 in the vertical lower direction, 3 in the diagonally lower left direction, 4 in the horizontal left direction, The upper left direction is defined as 5, the upper vertical direction is defined as 6, and the upper right direction is defined as 7.

[0043] With reference to FIG. 3 as an example (b) as an example, FIG. 3 (b), after the point P _i from the point P _i-1 toward the lower left direction, toward the horizontal left direction It is a figure which shows the contour point tracking state which goes to the point P _{i + 1} , and the tracking direction from the point P _i-1 to the point P _i is "3" according to the rule of FIG.
And the tracking direction from point P _i to point P _{i + 1} is shown in FIG.
And from the rules of (a) is "4", the tracking direction V _i of the point P _i would that V _i = 4.

As for the change D in the tracking direction of the point P, when the tracking direction of the point P is V _p and the tracking direction of the immediately preceding adjacent point is V _r , the following equation (1) is used. The change D of the tracking direction is defined.

D = | V _p −V _r | & 7 (1) Referring to FIG. 3B as an example, in the case of FIG. 3, V _p = 4, V _r
Since = 3, the change D _i of the tracking direction of the point P _i by the formula (1) will be referred to as D _i = 1.

Next, the process proceeds to step S203, where the CPU 3
Acquires the starting point of the contour, loops by the number of contours, and corrects each contour point sequence. Next, step S2
In step 04, the CPU 3 performs an enlargement process on the contour points with the enlargement ratio set to an even number (in this embodiment, quadruple enlargement). However, this enlargement process does not store the enlarged dot pattern in the work memory, but only performs the enlargement process in terms of coordinate values.

Assuming that the contour point currently being processed is P (X, Y), enlargement processing is performed by the following equations (2) and (3).

X = X × S + S / 2 (2) Y = Y × S + S / 2 (3) where S is a magnification.

Next, the process proceeds to step S205, where the CPU 3
Performs coordinate correction processing based on the tracking direction V that is the direction information of each contour point. In this process, the points are sorted according to whether the tracking direction V of the point is even or odd. If the tracking number V is even, the process proceeds to step S206. If the tracking number V is odd, the process proceeds to step S207. Will be sorted out.

That is, in step S206, D
= 0, processing 1; D = 1 or 7, processing 2;
If D = 2, process 3; if D = 3, process 4, D = 4
, Processing 5 is performed, and if D = 6, processing 6 is performed. In step S207, when D = 0, processing 1 is performed. When D = 1 or 2, processing 3 is performed.
, The processing 5 is performed when D = 4, and the processing 6 is performed when D = 6 or 7.

Hereinafter, processing 1 to processing 7 will be sequentially described.

[0052] Now, a contour point to be processed as P _i, the coordinates (X, Y), a tracking direction and V.

An array using the direction value W as an argument is defined by the following equations (4) and (5).

TX [W] = {2,2,0, −2, −2, −2,0,2} (4) TY [W] = {0,2,2,2,0, −2 , -2, -2} (5) where TX and TY are correction values.

In the above equation (4), the 0th, 1st and 7th of the TX are “2”, the 2nd and 6th are “0”,
The fifth is defined as "-2".

In the above equation (5), the 0th and 4th TY are “0”, the 1st to 3rd are “2”, and the 5th to 7th TY.
The second is defined as "-2". (Process 1) The point P _i is deleted. (Process 2) The coordinate values of the point P _i are calculated by the following equations (6), (7),
Convert according to (8).

W = (V + 6) & 7 (6) X = X + TX [W] (7) Y = Y + TY [W] (8) However, the numerical value 6 in the equation (6) is determined by the position to be corrected. Value.

[0058] FIG. 4 (a), after the point P _i from the point P _i-1 obliquely lower right direction, showing the contour point tracking state to go to the point P _{i + 1} towards the vertically downward a diagram, tracking direction V of the point P _i in this case, since it is "2" from the definition based on the rule in FIG. 3 (a), W by the equation (6) 2+
6 = 8, the value of W is ANDed with “7”, and when the value of W is “8”, it is “0”, so that W = 0.

From the definition of the above equation (4), TX
The second is “2”, and from the definition of the expression (5), TY is 0.
The number is “0”. This is, X coordinate (shifted two to the right) plus "2", Y-coordinate is to say to leave its therefore be corrected to ■ mark C ₁ coordinate values of FIGS. 4 (a) You.

[0060] FIG. 4 (b), after the point P _i from the point P _i-1 toward the lower left direction, illustrating the contour point tracking state to go to the point P _{i + 1} toward the leftward horizontal direction In this case, the tracking direction V of the point P _i is “4” according to the definition based on the rule of FIG. 3A, so that W is 4+
6 = 10, and the value of W and “&” of “7”
And when the value of W is “10”, it is “2”, so that W = 2.

From the definition of the above equation (4), TX 2
The second is “0”, which is 2 of TY from the definition of the expression (5).
The second is “2”. This means that the X coordinate is kept as it is, and the Y coordinate is added with “2” (displaced two downwards). Therefore, the coordinate value is corrected to the coordinate value of the mark C ₁ in FIG. Is done.

[0062] FIG. 4 (c), after the point P _i from the point P _i-1 obliquely lower right direction, showing the contour point tracking state to go to the point P _{i + 1} towards the right horizontal direction In this case, the tracking direction V of the point P _{i in} this case is “0” from the definition based on the rule of FIG. 3A, so that W is 0+
6 = 6, and the value of W is ANDed with “7”, and when the value of W is “6”, the value is unchanged, so W = 6.

From the definition of the above equation (4), TX 6
Is “0”, which is 6th of TY from the definition of the above equation (5).
The second is “−2”. This means that the X coordinate is kept as it is, and the Y coordinate is subtracted by “2” (shifted upward by two). Therefore, the coordinate value is corrected to the coordinate value of the mark C ₁ in FIG. You.

[0064] FIG. 4 (d), after the point P _i from the point P _i-1 toward the lower left direction, illustrating the contour point tracking state to go to the point P _{i + 1} towards the vertically downward In this case, the tracking direction V of the point P _i is “2” from the definition based on the rule of FIG. 3A, so that W is 2+
6 = 8, and therefore, as in the case of FIG. 4A, the X coordinate is obtained by adding “2” (shifted to the right by two) and leaving the Y coordinate as it is. ■ mark C
Corrected to the coordinate value of ₁ .

FIGS. 4A and 4B show the case of the outer contour, and FIGS. 4C and 4D show the case of the inner contour. (Process 3) The coordinate values of the point P _i are calculated by the following equations (9), (10),
Convert according to (11).

W = (V + 5) & 7 (9) X = X + TX [W] (10) Y = Y + TY [W] (11) However, the numerical value 5 in the equation (9) is determined by the position to be corrected. Value.

FIG. 5 (a) shows that after going from point P _i-1 to point P _{i in the} horizontal right direction, point P _i in the downward vertical direction
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a contour point tracking state going to _{i + 1. In} this case, the tracking direction V of the point P _i is “2” from the definition based on the rule of FIG. W is 2 + 5
= 7, and the AND value of this W value and “7” is ANDed. When the W value is “7”, the value is unchanged, so W = 7.

From the definition of the above equation (4), TX 7
The second is “2”, which is 7 of TY from the definition of the expression (5).
The second is “−2”. This means that the X coordinate adds "2" (shifts two to the right), and the Y coordinate subtracts "2" (shifts up by two). Therefore, ■ in FIG. It is corrected to the coordinate value of the mark C _1.

FIG. 5 (b) shows that after going from point P _i-1 to point P _i vertically downward, point P _i
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a contour point tracking state going to _{i + 1. In} this case, the tracking direction V of the point P _i is “4” according to the definition based on the rule of FIG. W is 4 + 5
= 9, and the value of W is ANDed with “7”, and when the value of W is “9”, it is “1”.
W = 1.

From the definition of equation (4), TX 1
The second is “2”, and from the definition of the above equation (5), 1 of TY
The second is “2”. This means that the X coordinate adds "2" (shifts two to the right), and the Y coordinate adds "2" (shifts two to the bottom). Therefore, ■ in FIG.
It is corrected to the coordinate value of the mark C _1.

[0071] FIG. 5 (c), after the point P _i from the point P _i-1 towards the right horizontal direction, showing the contour point tracking state to go to the point P _{i + 1} towards the lower right diagonal direction Since the tracking direction V of the point P _{i in} this case is “1” from the definition based on the rule of FIG. 3A, W is 1+ according to the above equation (9).
5 = 6, and the value of W is ANDed with “7”. When the value of W is “6”, the value is unchanged, so W = 6.

From the definition of the above equation (4), TX 6
Is “0”, which is 6th of TY from the definition of the above equation (5).
The second is “−2”. This is, X-coordinate is unchanged, Y coordinate is to say subtract "2" (shifting on two), therefore, is corrected to ■ mark C ₁ coordinate values shown in FIG. 5 (c) You.

[0073] FIG. 5 (d) after the point P _i from the point P _i-1 towards the vertically downward, shows a contour point tracking state to go to the point P _{i + 1} toward the lower left direction In this case, the tracking direction V of the point P _i is “3” from the definition based on the rule of FIG. 3A, so that W is 3+
5 = 8, and the value of W is ANDed with “7”, and when the value of W is “8”, it is “0”, so that W = 0.

From the definition of the above equation (4), 0 of TX
The second is “2”, and from the definition of the expression (5), TY is 0.
The number is “0”. This is, X coordinate (shifted into two right) the sum "2", Y-coordinate is to say it is, therefore, is corrected to ■ mark C ₁ coordinate values shown in FIG. 5 (d) .

[0075] FIG. 5 (e) after the point P _i from the point P _i-1 obliquely lower right direction, showing the contour point tracking state to go to the point P _{i + 1} toward the lower left direction In this case, the tracking direction V of the point P _{i in} this case is “3” from the definition based on the rule of FIG. 3A, and the X coordinate is “2” as in the case of FIG. 5D. Is added (shifted to the right by two), and the Y coordinate is kept as it is.
Corrected to the coordinate value of ₁ .

FIGS. 5A to 5E show the case of the outer contour. (Process 4) The coordinate values of the point _Pi are calculated by the following equations (12) and (1).
3) After once converting according to (14), the following equation (1)
5) Convert again according to (16) and (17).

W = (V + 5) & 7 (12) X = X + TX [W] (13) Y = Y + TY [W] (14) W = (V + 4) & 7 (15) X = X + TX [W] (16) Y = Y + TY [W] (17) However, the numerical values 5 and 4 in the equations (12) and (15) are values determined by the position to be corrected.

[0078] FIG. 6 (a), after the point P _i from the point P _i-1 obliquely lower right direction, showing the contour point tracking state to go to the point P _{i + 1} toward the leftward horizontal direction a diagram, tracking direction V of the point P _i in this case, because it is "4" from the definition based on the rule in FIG. 3 (a), W according to the equation (12) 4
+ 5 = 9, and an AND of the value of W and “7”
, And when the value of W is “9”, it is “1”, so that W = 1.

From the definition of the above equation (4), 1 of TX
The second is “2”, and from the definition of the above equation (5), 1 of TY
The second is also “2”. This means that the X coordinate adds "2" (shifts two to the right), and the Y coordinate also adds "2" (shifts two to the bottom). Do.

According to the above equation (15), W is 4 + 4 =
8, and the value of W is ANDed with “7”, and when the value of W is “8”, it is “0”.
= 0.

From the definition of the above equation (4), 0 of TX
The second is “2”, and from the definition of the expression (5), TY is 0.
The number is “0”. This means that "2" is added to the X coordinate (shifted to the right by two) and the Y coordinate is left as it is, and the second conversion process is performed according to this.

As a result, finally, the symbol C ₁ in FIG.
Is corrected to the coordinate value of.

FIG. 6 (b) shows that after going from point P _i-1 to point P _{i in the} vertical downward direction, point P _i in the horizontal left direction
FIG. 7B is a diagram showing a contour point tracking state going to _{i + 1. In} this case, the tracking direction V of the point P _i is “6” according to the definition based on the rule of FIG. W is 6+
5 = 11, and an AND of this value of W and “7”
, And when the value of W is “11”, it is “3”, so that W = 3.

From the definition of the above equation (4), 3
The third is “−2”, and the third of TY is “2” from the definition of the equation (5). This means that the X coordinate subtracts "2" (shifts two to the left) and the Y coordinate adds "2" (shifts two to the bottom), and the first conversion process is performed accordingly. Do.

According to the above equation (15), W is 6 + 4 =
10, which is an AND of the value of W and “7”. When the value of W is “10”, it is “2”, so that W = 2.

From the definition of the above equation (4), TX 2
The second is “0”, which is 2 of TY from the definition of the expression (5).
The second is “2”. This means that the X coordinate is kept as it is, and the Y coordinate is added by “2” (shifted down by two), and the second conversion process is performed according to this.

As a result, the symbol C ₁ in FIG. 6B is finally obtained.
Is corrected to the coordinate value of. (Process 5) The coordinate values of the point Pi are calculated by the following equations (18) and (1).
9) and (20), and between the point before the conversion and the point after the conversion, the following equations (21), (22),
A new contour point is generated according to (23).

W = (V + 3) & 7 (18) X = X + TX [W] (19) Y = Y + TY [W] (20) W = (V + 5) & 7 (21) X '= X + TX [W] (22) Y '= Y + TY [W] (23) However, the numerical values 3 and 5 in the above equations (18) and (21) are values determined by the position to be corrected.

FIG. 7 (a) shows that after going from point P _i-1 to point P _{i in the} horizontal right direction, point P _i in the horizontal left direction
_i-1 (corresponding to the point P _{i + 1} in the case of FIGS. 4 to 6 described above)
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a contour point tracking state returning to FIG.
_Since the tracking direction V of _i is “4” from the definition based on the rule of FIG. 3A, W is 4 + 3 =
7, which is an AND of the value of W and “7”. When the value of W is “7”, the value is unchanged, so that W = 7.

From the definition of the above equation (4), TX 7
The second is “2”, which is 7 of TY from the definition of the expression (5).
The second is “−2”. This means that the X coordinate adds "2" (shifts two to the right), and the Y coordinate subtracts "2" (shifts up to two). Therefore, ■ in FIG. It is corrected to the coordinate value of the mark C _1.

According to the above equation (21), W is 4 + 5 =
9, which is an AND of the value of W and “7”, and when the value of W is “9”, it is “1”.
= 1.

From the definition of the above equation (4), TX 1
The second is “2”, and from the definition of the above equation (5), 1 of TY
The second is also “2”. This means that the X coordinate adds "2" (shifts two to the right), and the Y coordinate also adds "2" (shifts two to the bottom). Therefore, in FIG.
Mark the new contour points to the coordinate values of the C ₂ is generated.

[0093] FIG. 7 (b), after the point P _i from the point P _i-1 towards the vertically downward, points toward a vertically upward direction P
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a contour point tracking state returning to _i-1 . In this case, the tracking direction V of the point P _i is “6” from the definition based on the rule of FIG. W is 6+
3 = 9, and the value of W is ANDed with “7”. When the value of W is “9”, it is “1”, so that W = 1.

From the definition of the above equation (4), TX 1
The second is “2”, and from the definition of the above equation (5), 1 of TY
The second is also “2”. This means that the X coordinate adds "2" (shifts two to the right), and the Y coordinate also adds "2" (shifts two to the bottom). Therefore, ■ in FIG.
It is corrected to the coordinate value of the mark C _1.

According to the equation (21), W is 6 + 5 =
11, and the value of W is ANDed with “7”, and when the value of W is “11”, it is “3”. Therefore, W = 3, and the above equation (4) is obtained. From the definition of, the third of TX is “−2”, and from the definition of equation (5), the third of TY is
The second is “2”. This means that the X coordinate subtracts “2” (shifts two to the left), and the Y coordinate adds “2” (shifts two to the bottom). Therefore, ■ in FIG.
Mark the new contour points to the coordinate values of the C ₂ is generated.

[0096] FIG. 7 (c), after the point P _i from the point P _i-1 obliquely lower right direction, showing the contour point tracking state back to the point P _i-1 toward the upper left direction In this case, the tracking direction V of the point P _{i in} this case is “5” from the definition based on the rule of FIG. 3A, so that W is 5 + 3 = 8 according to the equation (18). And the value of “7” is ANDed, and when the value of W is “8”, it is “0”, so that W = 0.

Then, from the definition of the above equation (4), 0 of TX
The second is “2”, and from the definition of the expression (5), TY is 0.
The number is “0”. This means that the X coordinate is obtained by adding “2” (shifted to the right by two), and the Y coordinate is not changed, and is therefore corrected to the coordinate value of the mark C ₁ in FIG. 7C. .

According to the equation (21), W is 5 + 5 =
10, and the value of W is ANDed with “7”, and when the value of W is “10”, it is “2”. Therefore, W = 2, and the above equation (4) is obtained. From the definition of (2), the second of TX becomes “0”, and from the definition of the above equation (5), the second of TY becomes “2”. This means that the X coordinate is
Y coordinate is to say adding the "2" (shifting to the two down), thus, ■ new contour points to the coordinate value of the mark C ₂ in FIG. 7 (c) is generated.

[0099] FIG. 7 (d), after the point P _i from the point P _i-1 toward the lower left direction, illustrating the contour point tracking state back toward the upper right direction to point P _i-1 In this case, the tracking direction V of the point P _i is “7” from the definition based on the rule of FIG. 3A, so that W is 7 + 3 = 10 according to the equation (18), and The value is ANDed with “7”, and “2” when the value of W is “10”
Therefore, W = 2.

From the definition of the above equation (4), TX 2
The second is “0”, which is 2 of TY from the definition of the expression (5).
The second is “2”. This means that the X coordinate is not changed, and the Y coordinate is added by “2” (shifted down by two). Therefore, the coordinate value is corrected to the coordinate value of the mark C ₁ in FIG. 7D. You.

According to the above equation (21), W is 7 + 5 =
12, which is an AND (&) of the value of W and “7”, and when the value of W is “12”, it is “4”, so that W = 4, and the above equation (4) is obtained. From the definition of the above, the fourth of TX becomes “−2”, and from the definition of the above equation (5), the fourth of the TY becomes
The number is “0”. This means that the X coordinate is subtracted by “2” (shifted to the left by two) and the Y coordinate is not changed. Therefore, a new contour point is added to the coordinate value of the mark C ₂ in FIG. Is generated. Formula coordinate values (process 6) points _{P i (24), (25} ), is converted in accordance with (26).

W = (V + 7) & 7 (24) X = X + TX [W] (25) Y = Y + TY [W] (26) However, the numerical value 7 in the equation (24) is determined by the position to be corrected. Value.

FIG. 8A shows a point P _{i going} from the point P _i-1 to the right in the horizontal direction and then to the point P _i in the vertical upward direction.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a contour point tracking state going to _{i + 1. In} this case, the tracking direction V of the point P _i is “6” from the definition based on the rule of FIG. W is 6+
7 = 13, and “&” of the value of W and “7”
And when the value of W is “13”, it is “5”, so that W = 5.

From the definition of the above equation (4), TX
The fifth is “−2”, and the fifth of the TY is “0” from the definition of the equation (5). This is, X coordinate (shifted into two left) "2" pull, Y coordinate is to say it is, therefore, is corrected to ■ mark C ₁ coordinate values shown in FIG. 8 (a) .

FIG. 8 (b) shows that after going from point P _i-1 to point P _i vertically downward, point P _i
FIG. 7B is a diagram showing a contour point tracking state going to _{i + 1. In} this case, the tracking direction V of the point P _i is “0” according to the definition based on the rule of FIG. W is 0+
7 = 7, and the value of W is ANDed with “7”, and when the value of W is “7”, the value is unchanged, so W = 7.

From the definition of the above equation (4), TX 7
The second is “2”, which is 7 of TY from the definition of the expression (5).
The second is “−2”. This means that the X coordinate adds "2" (shifts two to the right), and the Y coordinate subtracts "2" (shifts up to two). Therefore, ■ in FIG. It is corrected to the coordinate value of the mark C _1.

[0107] FIG. 8 (c), after the point P _i from the point P _i-1 obliquely lower right direction, showing the contour point tracking state to go to the point P _{i + 1} toward the upper right direction In this case, the tracking direction V of the point P _{i in} this case is “7” from the definition based on the rule in FIG. 3A, so that W is 7 + 7 = 14 according to the equation (24). And “7” are ANDed, and when the value of W is “14”, “6”
Therefore, W = 6.

From the definition of the above formula (4), TX 6
Is “0”, which is 6th of TY from the definition of the above equation (5).
The second is “−2”. This means that the X coordinate is kept as it is, and the Y coordinate is subtracted by “2” (shifted up by two). Therefore, the coordinate value is corrected to the coordinate value of the mark C ₁ in FIG. 8C. You.

[0109] FIG. 8 (d) after the point P _i from the point P _i-1 toward the lower left direction, illustrating the contour point tracking state to go to the point P _{i + 1} towards the lower right diagonal direction Since the tracking direction V of the point P _{i in} this case is “1” from the definition based on the rule of FIG. 3A, W is 1 + 7 = 8 according to the equation (24), and W And the value of “7” is ANDed, and when the value of W is “8”, it is “0”, so that W = 0.

From the definition of the above equation (4), 0 of TX
The second is “2”, and from the definition of the expression (5), TY is 0.
The number is “0”. This is, X coordinate (shifted into two right) the sum "2", Y-coordinate is to say it is, therefore, is corrected to ■ mark C ₁ coordinate values shown in FIG. 8 (d) .

[0111] FIG. 8 (e) after the point P _i from the point P _i-1 towards the right horizontal direction, shows a contour point tracking state to go to the point P _{i + 1} toward the upper right direction In this case, the tracking direction V of the point P _i is “7” from the definition based on the rule of FIG. 3A, and X is the same as in the case of FIG.
For the coordinates, "2" is added (shifted to the right by two), and the Y coordinate is left as it is. Therefore, the symbol C _{1 in} FIG.
Is corrected to the coordinate value of.

FIGS. 8A to 8E show the case of the inner contour. (Process 7) The coordinate values of the point _Pi are calculated by the following equations (27) and (2).
8), once converted according to (29), the following equation (3)
0), (31), and (32).

W = (V + 4) & 7 (27) X = X + TX [W] (28) Y = Y + TY [W] (29) W = (V + 5) & 7 (30) X = X + TX [W] (31) Y = Y + TY [W] (32) However, the numerical values 4 and 5 in the equations (27) and (30) are values determined by the position to be corrected.

FIG. 9 (a) shows that after going from point P _i-1 to point P _{i in the} horizontal right direction, point P _i in the diagonally downward direction
FIG. ₁₄ is a diagram showing a contour point tracking state going to _{i + 1. In} this case, the tracking direction V of the point P _i is “3” according to the definition based on the rule of FIG. W is 3+
4 = 7, and the value of W is ANDed with “7”. When the value of W is “7”, the value is unchanged, so W = 7.

From the definition of the above formula (4), TX 7
The second is “2”, which is 7 of TY from the definition of the expression (5).
The second is “−2”. This means that the X coordinate adds “2” (shifts two to the right), and the Y coordinate subtracts “2” (shifts up to two), and the first conversion processing is performed accordingly. Do.

According to the equation (30), W is 3 + 5 =
8, and the value of W is ANDed with “7”, and when the value of W is “8”, it is “0”.
= 0.

From the definition of the above equation (4), 0 of TX
The second is “2”, and from the definition of the expression (5), TY is 0.
The number is “0”. This means that "2" is added to the X coordinate (shifted to the right by two) and the Y coordinate is left as it is, and the second conversion process is performed according to this.

As a result, finally, the symbol C ₁ in FIG.
Is corrected to the coordinate value of.

[0119] FIG. 9 (b), after the point P _i from the point P _i-1 towards the vertically downward, shows a contour point tracking state to go to the point P _{i + 1} obliquely upper left direction In this case, the tracking direction V of the point P _i is “5” from the definition based on the rule of FIG.
+ 4 = 9, and an AND of this value of W and “7”
, And when the value of W is “9”, it is “1”, so that W = 1.

From the definition of the above formula (4), TX 1
The second is “2”, and from the definition of the above equation (5), 1 of TY
The second is also “2”. This means that the X coordinate adds "2" (shifts two to the right), and the Y coordinate also adds "2" (shifts two down), and the first conversion process is performed accordingly. Do.

According to the above equation (30), W is 5 + 5 =
10, which is an AND of the value of W and “7”. When the value of W is “10”, it is “2”, so that W = 2.

From the definition of the above formula (4), TX 2
The second is “0”, which is 2 of TY from the definition of the expression (5).
The second is “2”. This means that the X coordinate is kept as it is, and the Y coordinate is added by “2” (shifted down by two), and the second conversion process is performed according to this.

As a result, finally, the symbol C ₁ in FIG. 9B
Is corrected to the coordinate value of.

After the above processing 1 to processing 7 are performed,
Proceeding to step S208 in FIG. 2, it is determined whether the contour point currently being processed is the end point of the contour. If it is not the end point, the process proceeds to step S209 to acquire the next contour point, and returns to step S204 to return to step S20.
Repeat the processing of 4 and below. Step S208
If the end point is found, the process proceeds to step S210 to determine whether there is a next contour. If there is a next contour, the process returns to the step S203 to repeat the processing from the step S203. If there is no next contour, the processing ends.

FIG. 10A shows an inner contour point obtained by performing coordinate correction using the quadruple enlargement by the vector coordinate point sequence generator from the dot pattern of this embodiment, and FIG. Are respectively shown. As clearly shown in the figure, not only the outer contour points, but also the eight inner contour points are converted at equal intervals, so that vector coordinates that can be faithfully scaled to the original dot pattern are extracted. can do.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that the configuration of a printing apparatus including the vector coordinate generation device from the dot pattern according to the present embodiment is as follows.
Since it is the same as FIG. 1 of the first embodiment described above, the description will be made with reference to FIG. The present invention is characterized by a coordinate correction in which the enlargement processing is made even number times, and is applicable to a corner extraction processing as an integral part of a vector coordinate point sequence generation method in addition to a contour point extraction processing. Is applied to such a corner extraction process.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a procedure for extracting vector coordinates from a dot pattern including a corner extraction process, and the procedure will be described below with reference to this flowchart.

First, in step S1101, the CPU 3
Acquire the dot pattern for which you want to extract vector coordinates in the work memory. Next, the process proceeds to step S1102 and the CP
U3 extracts the contour point sequence of the outer contour and the inner contour into the work memory by the contour point tracking method. At this time, the contour point sequence has the same size as the original dot pattern, and the tracking direction V and the change D of the tracking direction are stored in the work memory at the same time as the coordinates of the contour point sequence are extracted.

Then, the flow advances to step S1103 to perform the processing for correcting each contour point described in the first embodiment. Next, the process proceeds to step S1104, where the start point of the contour is acquired, the loop is looped by the number of contours, and each contour point sequence is corrected. Next, based on the conditions 1 to 4 described later, the processes 8 to 11 described later are executed. That is, step S
If the condition is 1 in 1105, the process 8 is performed in step S1106, if the condition is 2 in step S1107, the process 9 is performed in step S1108. If the condition is 3 in step S1109, the process 10 is performed in step S1110.
If condition 4 is satisfied in step S1111, processing 11 is performed in step S1112.

Hereinafter, condition 1 to condition 4 and process 8 to process 1
1 will be described.

[0131] and from now processed contour point P _{i (i-th} contour points), the coordinates (X _i, Y _i), direction V _i, a change of direction and D _i.

A distance function is defined by the following equation (33), where the coordinate value of the _i- th contour point is (X _i , Y _i ).

The D _i . _{i + 1 = | X i +} 1 -X i | + | Y i + 1 -Y i | ... The (33), defining an array, an argument direction value W by the equation (34) and (35) I do.

TX [W] = {2,2,0, −2, −2, −2,0,2} (34) TY [W] = {0,2,2,2,0, −2 , -2, -2} (35) where TX and TY are correction values.

In the above equation (34), the 0th, 1st and 7th TX are defined as “2”, the 2nd and 6th are defined as “0”, and the 3rd to 5th are defined as “−2”. is there.

In the equation (35), the 0th and 4th TY are “0”, the 1st to 3rd are “2”, and the 5th to 5th TY.
The seventh is defined as "-2". (Condition 1) D _i == 7 and D _{i + 1} == 7 and V _i & 1 == 1 and D _i . _{i + 1} <= CONST1 (constant) and D _i-1 . _i > = CONST2 (constant) or D _{i + 1} . _{i + 2} > = CONST2 (constant) (Process 8) The coordinate values of the point P _i are expressed by the following equations (36) to (38).
After that, the point P _{i + 1} is deleted.

[0137] W = V as _{i-1 ... (36) X} i = X i + TX [W] ... (37) Y i = Y i + TY [W] ... (38) FIG. 12 (a), the point P _i There ■ the coordinates i mark C _1, the point P
_{i + 1} indicates a state positioned respectively to the coordinate values of the mark C ₂ ■,
(B) shows a state where the state from the point P _i is ■ mark C ₁ of the correction to the coordinate values and the point P _{i + 1} is deleted in (a). (Condition 2) D _i == 7 and D _i + 1 == 6 and D _i + 2 == 7 and D _{i. i + 1} <= CONST1 (constant) and D _{i + 1} . _{i + 2} ≤ CONST1 (constant) and D _i-1 . _i > = CONST2 (constant) or D _{i + 2} . _i + 3> = CONST2 (constant) the following formula a coordinate value of (processing 9) points P _i (39) ~ (41)
, And then converted by the following equations (42) and (4)
After the conversion according to 3) again, the point P _{i + 1} is deleted.

Assuming that W = (V _{i + 1} +1) & 7 (39) X _i = X _i -TX [W] (40) Y _i = Y _i -TY [W] (41) X _{i + 2} = X _{i + 1} + TX [W] (42) Y _{i + 2} = Y _{i + 1} + TY [W] (43) FIG. 13A shows that the point P _i is the coordinate value of the triangle C ₁ . Point P _{i + 1}
There the coordinate values of the ■ mark C2, showing a state in which the point P _{i + 2} are respectively positioned on the coordinate values of the mark C ₃ ■, FIG. 13 (b), the point from the state of (a) P _i and the point P _{i +2} indicates a state in which the coordinate values of the triangles C ₁ and C ₃ have been corrected, and the point P _{i + 1} has been deleted. (Condition 3) D _i == 7 and D _i + 1 == 6 and V _i & 1 == 1 and D _{i. i + 1} <= CONST1 (constant) and D _i-1 . _i > = CONST2 (constant) or D _{i + 1} . _i + 2> = CONST2 (constant) (process 10) points following formula coordinate values of P _i (44) ~ (4
Convert according to 6).

Assuming that W = (V _{i + 1} ) & 7 (44) X _i = X _i + TX [W] (45) Y _i = Y _i + TY [W] (46) FIG. the point P _i is the coordinate value of the mark C ₁ ■, point P _{i + 1}
There shows a state positioned respectively to the coordinate values of the mark C ₂ ■, FIG. 14 (b), as it is the point P _{i + 2} from the state of FIG. 14 (a), the point P _i is ■ mark C ₁ coordinate This shows the state corrected to the value. (Condition 4) D _i == 6 and D _i + 1 == 7 and V _i & 1 == 1 and D _{i. i + 1} <= CONST1 (constant) and D _i-1 . _i > = CONST2 (constant) or D _i-1 . _i-2> = CONST2 (constant) (process 11) points following formula coordinate values of P _i (47) ~ (4
Convert according to 9).

Assuming that W = (V _{i + 3} ) & 7 (47) X _i = X _i + TX [W] (48) Y _i = Y _i + TY [W] (49) FIG. the point P _i is the coordinate value of the mark C ₁ ■, point P _{i + 1}
There shows a state positioned respectively to the coordinate values of the mark C ₂ ■,
(B) shows a state in which the point P _i remains unchanged from the state of (a) and the point P
_{i + 2} indicates a corrected state to ■ mark C ₂ coordinate values.

After executing such processing, the process proceeds to step S1.
Proceeding to 113, it is determined whether or not the contour point currently being processed is the end point of the contour. If it is not the end point, step S111
4 and acquire the next contour point.
The process returns to step S1105, and the processing from step S1105 onward is repeated. If it is the end point in step S1113, the flow advances to step S1115 to determine whether the next contour point exists. If the next contour point exists, the process returns to step S1104 to repeat the processing from step S1104 onward. If not, the processing operation ends.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, a printing apparatus including the vector coordinate point sequence generation apparatus from the dot pattern according to the present embodiment,
Since it is the same as FIG. 1 of the first embodiment described above, the description will be made with reference to FIG.

The present invention is characterized by a coordinate correction in which the enlargement processing is made even number times. In addition to the above-described first and second embodiments, one of the methods as a part of the vector coordinate point sequence generation method is one.
The present invention is also applicable to the extraction processing in the case where one outline is made up of only one dot, and the present embodiment is applied to the extraction processing in the case where one outline is made up of only one dot.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a procedure for extracting vector coordinates from a dot pattern including a process in the case where only one dot is included in one contour. The following description will be made with reference to this flowchart.

First, in step S1601, the CPU 3
Acquire the dot pattern for which you want to extract vector coordinates in the work memory. Next, the process proceeds to step S1602, where the CPU
3 extracts a contour point sequence of an outer contour and an inner contour into a work memory by a contour point tracking method. At this time, the outline point sequence has the same size as the original dot pattern. The coordinates of the outline point sequence are extracted, and at the same time, the tracking direction V and the change D of the tracking direction are stored in the work memory.

Then, the process proceeds to step S603, where the CPU 3
Acquires the start point of the contour, loops by the number of contours, and corrects each contour point sequence. Next, proceeding to step S1604, the CPU 3 performs an even number enlargement process (in the present embodiment, quadruple enlargement). P (X,
If Y), enlargement processing is performed by the following equations (50) and (51).

X = X × 4 + 2 (50) Y = Y × 4 + 2 (51) However, in the formulas (50) and (51), “4” is used.
Is a scaling factor, and “2” is a value obtained by dividing the scaling factor by two.

Next, the process proceeds to step S1605, where the CPU
No. 3 judges whether the number of contour points is one dot, and if the contour point is not a contour of only one dot, the process proceeds to step S1606 to proceed to C1.
After performing the processing described in the above-described first embodiment as the normal processing, the PU 3 proceeds to the next step S1607 and determines whether or not it is the end point of the contour. If it is not the end point, the process proceeds to step S1608, and the CPU 3 obtains the next contour point, and then returns to step S1604 to repeat the processing from step S1604. If it is the end point in step S1607, the process proceeds to the next step S1609, and the CPU 3 determines whether or not there is a next contour. Then, if there is the next contour, the step S
Returning to step 1603, the processing from step S1603 is repeated. If there is no next contour, the processing ends.

On the other hand, in step S1605, 1
If the contour is only a dot, the process proceeds to step S1610, and the CPU 3 performs a process 12 as an exception process.

Hereinafter, the processing 12 will be described.

Now, assume that the contour point of one dot to be processed is P,
The coordinates are (X, Y).

An array using the direction value W as an argument is defined by the following equations (52) and (53).

TX [W] = {2,2,0, −2, −2, −2,0,2} (52) TY [W] = {0,2,2,2,0, −2 , -2, -2} (53) where TX and TY are correction values.

In the equation (52), the 0th, 1st, and 7th TX are defined as “2”, the 2nd and 6th are defined as “0”, and the 3rd to 5th are defined as “−2”. is there.

In the equation (53), the 0th and 4th TY are “0”, the 1st to 3rd are “2”, and the 5th to
The seventh is defined as "-2". (Process 12)
The coordinates of four points are extracted by the following equation, and the point (X ′, Y ′) is added to the vector coordinates.

[0156] for (j = 7; j>1; j- = 2) X '= X + TX [j] Y' = Y + TY [j] FIG. 17 (a), the point P _i of 1 dot ■ mark C ₁ shows a state in which the positioned coordinate values, FIG. 17 (b) shows the four points are extracted is located on the coordinate values of the ■ mark C ₁ ~ ■ mark C ₄ state.

After the process 12 is executed in this way, the process skips the steps S1606 and S1607 and proceeds to the step S1609 to determine whether or not there is a next contour.

The method and apparatus for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern according to the present invention are not limited to only a printing apparatus, but may be a CRT (Cathod Ray Tub).
e; cathode ray tube) or LCD (Liquid Crystal)
al Display; a liquid crystal display).

[0159]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
According to the method for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern described above and the apparatus for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern according to claim 11, a contour point sequence is extracted based on a dot pattern, and a contour point of the extracted contour point sequence is extracted. Perform an even-number magnification process on the basis, without referring to the connection relationship of the contour line connected to the contour point before the enlargement process, based on the connection relationship of the contour line connected to the enlarged contour point, Since the coordinate correction of the enlarged contour points is performed, vector coordinates that can be faithfully scaled to the original dot pattern can be extracted, and the contour point correction processing can be lightened.

[0160]

[0161]

[0162]

Further, according to the method for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern according to the fifth aspect of the present invention and the apparatus for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern according to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, The contour point sequence generating means generates the contour point sequence of the outer contour and the inner contour of the dot pattern stored in, and the coordinate information indicating the coordinate position of each contour point of the generated contour point sequence and the tracking of the dot pattern tracking method. Direction information indicating the direction is added by the information adding means,
Based on the added information, one dot of each contour point is enlarged by the enlargement processing means at an even multiple of the enlargement ratio, and the coordinate value of the enlarged contour point is corrected by the correction means. There is an effect that vector coordinates that can be faithfully scaled to the dot pattern can be extracted.

According to the method for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern according to the invention of claim 6 of the present invention and the apparatus for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern according to the invention of claim 16 of the present invention. A dot pattern serving as a basis for scaling the outline coordinates to an arbitrary size is temporarily stored in the first storage means, the outside of the stored dot pattern is traced clockwise by a dot pattern outline tracking method, and the locus is traced to a coordinate point. Extracted as a column by the first extraction means, traces the inside of the dot pattern stored in the first storage means counterclockwise by the dot pattern contour tracking method, and extracts the locus as a coordinate point sequence by the second extraction means, The tracking direction of each coordinate point sequence extracted by the first and second extracting means is defined by a table, and the coordinate positions adjacent to each other are defined based on the table. The positional relationship of the point sequence is calculated by the arithmetic means, and the enlargement processing is performed by the enlargement processing means on the respective coordinate point strings extracted by the first and second extraction means so that the enlargement ratio is an even number times. Since the coordinate value of the point sequence is corrected by the correction means based on the tracking direction of each coordinate point sequence,
There is an effect that it is possible to extract vector coordinates that can be more faithfully scaled to the original dot pattern.

According to the method for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern according to the seventh aspect of the present invention and the apparatus for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern according to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention. In addition to the method for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern according to the sixth aspect of the present invention and the apparatus for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern according to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, each vector extracted by the first and second extracting means is provided. The pattern shape is determined by the pattern shape determining means based on the positional relationship between adjacent coordinate points in the coordinate point sequence, and the coordinate value of each coordinate point sequence is corrected by the correcting means based on the determined pattern shape. This makes it possible to extract vector coordinates that can be faithfully scaled to the dot pattern of (1).

Further, according to the method for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern according to the eighth aspect of the present invention and the apparatus for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern according to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, In addition to the method for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern according to the sixth aspect of the invention and the apparatus for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern according to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, Whether or not the coordinate point sequence is one dot is determined by the dot determining unit. When it is determined that the coordinate point sequence is one dot, four coordinate point sequences are generated from the dot pattern of one dot by the coordinate point sequence generating unit. Vector coordinates that can correspond to a dot pattern of one dot and can be more faithfully scaled to the original dot pattern An effect that it is possible to extract.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus which is an output apparatus including a dot pattern vector coordinate generation apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a vector coordinate extracting process of the vector coordinate generating apparatus from the dot pattern according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing rules for defining a contour tracking direction V based on a point P in the apparatus for generating a vector coordinate from a dot pattern according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining processing 2 in the vector coordinate generation apparatus from a dot pattern according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a process 3 in the apparatus for generating a vector coordinate from a dot pattern according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a process 4 in the apparatus for generating a vector coordinate from a dot pattern according to the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining process 5 in the apparatus for generating a vector coordinate from a dot pattern according to the embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a view for explaining processing 6 in the apparatus for generating a vector coordinate from a dot pattern according to the embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining process 7 in the apparatus for generating a vector coordinate from a dot pattern according to the embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a diagram for describing an effect of the apparatus for generating a vector coordinate from a dot pattern according to the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a vector coordinate extraction processing procedure of the vector coordinate generation device from a dot pattern according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining process 8 in the apparatus for generating a vector coordinate from a dot pattern according to the embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a process 9 in the apparatus for generating a vector coordinate from a dot pattern according to the embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining a process 10 in the apparatus for generating a vector coordinate from a dot pattern according to the embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining a process 11 in the apparatus for generating a vector coordinate from a dot pattern according to the embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a vector coordinate extraction process of the vector coordinate generation device from a dot pattern according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining processing 12 in the apparatus for generating a vector coordinate from a dot pattern according to the embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining a dot pattern contour tracking method in a conventional dot pattern vector coordinate generating apparatus.

FIG. 19 is a diagram for describing a problem in a conventional apparatus for generating a vector coordinate from a dot pattern.

FIG. 20 is a diagram for explaining a problem in a conventional apparatus for generating a vector coordinate from a dot pattern.

FIG. 21 is a diagram for describing a problem in a conventional apparatus for generating a vector coordinate from a dot pattern.

FIG. 22 is a diagram for explaining a problem in a conventional apparatus for generating a vector coordinate from a dot pattern.

[Explanation of symbols]

3 CPU (first and second extraction means, calculation means, enlargement processing means, coordinate correction processing means, pattern shape determination means,
Dot determination means, coordinate point sequence generation means, contour point sequence generation means, information addition means, dot pattern acquisition means) 5 program ROM (table) 7 built-in RAM (first and second storage means)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G06T 3/40 G06T 5/00

Claims (20)

(57) [Claims] An extracting step of extracting a contour point sequence based on a dot pattern; an enlarging process step of performing an even-number-times enlarging process on the contour points of the contour point sequence extracted by the extracting step; The enlargement processing step is performed based on the connection relation of the contour lines connected to the contour points enlarged by the enlargement processing step without referring to the connection relation of the contour lines connected to the contour points before being enlarged by the step. And a coordinate correction processing step of performing a coordinate correction processing of the contour point enlarged by the above method. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the even number is four times. 3. The coordinate correction processing step includes performing coordinate correction processing on a position inside or outside a pixel corresponding to a contour point so that the shape of the pattern is maintained even when the magnification is changed. 1. A method for generating vector coordinates from the dot pattern described in 1. 4. The enlargement processing step comprises the steps of:
Y), when the magnification (S) is set, X = X × S + S / 2,
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the enlargement process is performed by setting Y = Y * S + S / 2. 5. A method for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern by generating vector coordinates for scaling from the dot pattern, wherein the contour point sequence of the outer contour and the inner contour of the dot pattern stored in the storage means is generated by the contour point sequence generating means. The coordinate information indicating the coordinate position and the direction information indicating the tracking direction of the dot pattern contour tracking method are added to each contour point of the generated contour point sequence by the information adding means, and based on the added information, A method of generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern, wherein one dot of each contour point is enlarged by an enlargement processing means at an even multiple of an enlargement ratio, and the coordinate value of each enlarged contour point is corrected by a correction means. . 6. A method for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern for generating vector coordinates for scaling from the dot pattern, the method comprising: temporarily storing a dot pattern serving as a basis for scaling an extracted outline coordinate to an arbitrary size in a first storage means. The outer side of the stored dot pattern is traced clockwise by the dot pattern contour tracing method, and the locus is extracted as a coordinate point sequence by the first extracting means,
The inside of the dot pattern stored in the first storage means is traced counterclockwise by the dot pattern contour tracking method, and the locus thereof is extracted as a coordinate point sequence by the second extraction means, and is extracted by the first and second extraction means. The tracking direction of each coordinate point sequence is defined by a table, and the positional relationship between the coordinate point sequences adjacent to each other is calculated by the arithmetic means based on the table,
Each of the coordinate point sequences extracted by the first and second extraction means is enlarged by an enlargement processing means at an even magnification, and the coordinate values of the enlarged contour point sequence are determined based on the tracking direction of each coordinate point sequence. A method of generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern. 7. A pattern shape judging means judges a pattern shape based on a positional relationship between adjacent coordinate point strings of each coordinate point string extracted by said first and second extracting means. 7. The method of generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern according to claim 6, wherein each coordinate point sequence is corrected by a correction unit. 8. A dot judging unit judges whether each coordinate point sequence extracted by the first and second extracting units is one dot, and when it is judged that it is one dot, the dot pattern of the one dot 7. A method of generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern according to claim 6, wherein four coordinate point sequences are generated by the coordinate point sequence generating means. 9. A method for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern according to claim 1, wherein the method for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern is applicable to a printing apparatus. 10. A method for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern according to claim 1, wherein the method for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern is applicable to a display device. 11. Extraction means for extracting a contour point sequence based on a dot pattern, enlargement processing means for performing an even-number-times enlargement process on the contour points of the contour point sequence extracted by the extraction means, The enlargement processing means based on the connection relation of the contour lines connected to the contour points enlarged by the enlargement processing means without referring to the connection relation of the contour lines connected to the contour points before being enlarged by the means. And a coordinate correction processing means for performing a coordinate correction process on the contour point enlarged by the processing according to (1). 12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the even number is four times. 13. The coordinate correction processing means according to claim 11, wherein the coordinate correction processing means performs the coordinate correction processing on a position inside or outside a pixel corresponding to the contour point so that the shape of the pattern is maintained even if the magnification is changed. Vector coordinate generator from the described dot pattern. 14. The enlargement processing means according to claim 1, wherein the contour point (X,
Y), when the magnification (S) is set, X = X × S + S / 2,
12. The apparatus for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern according to claim 11, wherein the enlargement processing is performed by setting Y = Y * S + S / 2. 15. A device for generating a vector coordinate from a dot pattern for generating vector coordinates for scaling from a dot pattern, a storage means for storing the dot pattern, an outer contour and an inner contour of the dot pattern stored in the storage means. Contour point sequence generating means for generating a contour point sequence, coordinate information indicating the coordinate position of each contour point of the contour point sequence generated by the contour point sequence generating means, and a direction indicating the tracking direction of the dot pattern contour tracking method Information adding means for adding information; enlargement processing means for enlarging one dot of each contour point at an even multiple of magnification based on the information added by the information adding means; An apparatus for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern, comprising: a correction unit configured to correct the coordinate value of each contour point. 16. An apparatus for generating a vector coordinate from a dot pattern for generating vector coordinates for scaling from the dot pattern, wherein a first storage for temporarily storing a dot pattern serving as a basis for scaling an extracted outline coordinate to an arbitrary size. Means for tracing the outside of the dot pattern stored in the first storage means clockwise by the dot pattern contour tracing method, and extracting the trajectory as a sequence of coordinate points; and storing in the first storage means. Second extracting means for tracing the inside of the dot pattern counterclockwise by the dot pattern contour tracking method and extracting the trajectory as a sequence of coordinate points, and tracing each coordinate point sequence extracted by the first and second extracting means A table for defining a direction, and arithmetic means for calculating a positional relationship between a series of coordinate points adjacent to each other based on the table Enlarging processing means for enlarging each coordinate point sequence extracted by the first and second extracting means at an even-numbered magnification ratio; An apparatus for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern, comprising: a correction unit configured to perform correction based on a tracking direction. 17. A pattern shape judging means for judging a pattern shape based on a positional relationship between adjacent coordinate point strings of each coordinate point string extracted by said first and second extracting means, and 17. The apparatus for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern according to claim 16, further comprising correction means for correcting each coordinate point sequence based on the determined pattern shape. 18. A dot judging means for judging whether or not each coordinate point sequence extracted by the first and second extracting means is one dot, and when the dot judging means judges that it is one dot, 1
2. A coordinate point sequence generating means for generating four coordinate point sequences from a dot pattern of dots.
A device for generating vector coordinates from the dot pattern according to 6. 19. The apparatus for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern according to claim 11, wherein the apparatus for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern is applicable to a printing apparatus. 20. The apparatus for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern according to claim 11, wherein the apparatus for generating vector coordinates from a dot pattern is applicable to a display device.