Apparatus and method for generating character pattern data
AssigneeSeiko Epson Corporation
InventorKazuhiro Kajimoto
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A character pattern generating apparatus providing a character pattern which can be reduced or enlarged in size providing high fidelity. The apparatus stores outline data of the dot patterns to be displayed. The outline data includes line segments and/or subcurves and associated correction data. In computing the display coordinates for the selected outline data, the line segments and/or subcurves forming the outline are multiplied by a scaling factor modified by the correction data.
Claims18
An apparatus for generating different sizes of a dot pattern having an outline being generated based on a code signal representing a selected dot pattern and corresponding multiplying factor, comprising:
- outline data storage means for storing outline data representing the outline of at least one dot pattern and correction data, the outline having a predetermined size and including at least line segments or subcurves;
- readout means for receiving the code signal and selecting from the outline data storage means outline data and correction data in response to the code signal;
- arithmetic means for computing display coordinates for the selected dot pattern and multiplying factor, wherein the multiplying factor is used in the computations to determine calculated display coordinates from selected outline data, the arithmetic means modifying the calculated display coordinates in accordance with a value represented by the selected correction data to correct errors within the outline in spacing between line segments or subcurves when the multiplying factor is less than one, the arithmetic means producing display coordinates for the selected size of the selected dot pattern in integer form when the magnification factor is less than one, said selected outline data and selected correction data being read out by the readout means from the outline data storage means;
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- dot pattern generating means for producing the selected dot pattern represented by the code signal and defining a region enclosed therein and by filling in with dots the region enclosed by the corrected calculated display coordinates.
An apparatus for generating different sizes of a dot pattern having an outline being generated based on a code signal representing a selected dot pattern and corresponding multiplying factor, comprising:
- outline data storage means for storing outline data representing the outline of at least one dot pattern and correction data, the outline having a predetermined size and including at least line segments or subcurves, each line segment and subcurve being defined by an initial point coordinate and terminal point coordinate, the initial point and terminal point coordinates each including an x axis value and y axis value, wherein the multiplying factor is applied to at least a portion of the outline data being modified in accordance with a value represented by the correction data;
- readout means for receiving the code signal and selecting from the outline data storage means outline data and correction data in response to the code signal;
- arithmetic means for computing display coordinates for the selected dot pattern and multiplying factor, wherein the multiplying factor is used in the computations to determine calculated display coordinates from selected outline data, the arithmetic means modifying the calculated display coordinates in accordance with a value represented by the selected correction data to correct errors within the outline in spacing between line segments or subcurves when the multiplying factor is less than one, the arithmetic means producing the calculated display coordinates by integer processing after application of the multiplying factor and thereafter applying the correction data to at least a portion of the dot pattern when the multiplying factor is less than one, said selected outline data and selected correction data being read out by the readout means from the outline data storage means, the arithmetic means applying the correction data to the display coordinates when the multiplying factor is less than one to change at least one of the x axis values and y axis values of the initial and terminal coordinates by an integer;
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- dot pattern generating means for producing the selected dot pattern represented by the code signal and defining a region enclosed therein and by filling in with dots the region enclosed by the corrected calculated display coordinates.
A method for generating different sizes of a dot pattern, each dot pattern having an outline and being generated based on a code signal representing a selected dot pattern and corresponding multiplying factor, comprising the steps of:
- storing outline data representing the outline of at least one dot pattern, said outline having a predetermined size, and correction data, wherein the multiplying factor is applied to at least a portion of the outline data;
- selecting from the data storage means outline data and correction data in response to the code signal;
- computing display coordinates for the selected dot pattern and multiplying factor, wherein the multiplying factor is used in the computation to produce calculated display coordinates from the selected outline data and the calculated display coordinates are modified in accordance with a value represented by the correction data to correct errors in the modified outline data representing errors within the outline when the multiplying factor is less than one, said corrected calculated display coordinates being in the form of integers;
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- generating the selected dot pattern by filling in with dots a region enclosed by the corrected calculated display coordinates.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.