US 5,353,359 A · Methods for generating character pattern data and making image

Abstract

A method for generating character pattern data includes steps of providing contour information of a character having m.sub.1 .times.m.sub.2 coordinate values in a coordinate space; and making and outputting gradated character pattern data of l.sub.1 .times.l.sub.2 picture elements for an output device having n gradiations per picture element (where m.sub.1, m.sub.2, l.sub.1, l.sub.2, and n are positive integers). In an image making method, picture subelements provided by dividing an original picture element are set as a scanning unit and an image is made by scanning conversion using the picture element having a gradation to perform a coloring operation with respect to the interior of a two-dimensional contour line. The image making method includes representing and processing a numeric value such as a coordinate value of a line segment constituting the contour line as a virtual real number having a decimal point in a word; providing positions for starting and completing the coloring operation easily by the representation of the virtual real number; and providing a brightness of a displayed picture element at a high speed by only adding an integer value to a region on one line in an output device.

Claims5

Dependent claims

A method for generating character pattern data using an apparatus having an electronic memory, an electronic processor, and an output device having n gradations per picture element, the method comprising the steps of:

a) reading from the electronic memory point data representing contour information of a character stored in the electronic memory and having m.sub.1 .times.m.sub.2 coordinate values in a coordinate space from the electronic memory, wherein m.sub.1 and m.sub.2 are positive integers;
b) using the electronic processor:
1) virtually making character data of ( .sqroot.n .times.l.sub.1).times.( .sqroot.n .times.l.sub.2) picture elements from the point data read from the electronic memory;
and
2) forming gradated character pattern data of l.sub.1 .times.l.sub.2 picture elements for the output device that has n gradations per picture element by converting the virtually made character data of ( .sqroot.n .times.l.sub.1).times.( .sqroot.n .times.l.sub.2) picture elements to data of l.sub.1 .times.l.sub.2 picture elements, the gradated character pattern data also having n gradations per picture element;
wherein:
i) l.sub.1, l.sub.2 and n are positive integers;
and
ii) .sqroot.n designates a minimum integer not less than .sqroot.n;
and
c) outputting to the output device that has n gradations per picture element the gradated character pattern data.

8 more elements

A method for setting a brightness of respective picture elements of an image using an apparatus having a scanning device, an electronic memory, and an output device having n gradations per picture element, the method comprising the steps of:

a) using the scanning device, scanning picture sub-elements in a direction along one coordinate axis of two-dimensional coordinate axes on contour lines of the image, the picture sub-elements being set by virtually dividing the respective picture elements with respect to one direction along one coordinate axis of the two-dimensional coordinate axes and another direction along another coordinate axis of the two-dimensional coordinate axes;
b) calculating respective numeric values of two-dimensional coordinates on contour lines of the image by using the electronic processor as the picture sub-elements are scanned by the scanning device;
c) with the electronic processor, detecting the number of the picture sub-elements with respect to the respective picture elements, wherein at least part of the picture sub-elements are included in an inside region of the image defined by the contour lines of the image, based on (1) scanned results of the picture sub-elements and on (2) calculated results of the respective numeric values;
and
d) with the electronic processor, setting a brightness of the respective picture elements on the image to be output to the output device which has n gradations per picture element, the brightness setting being based on the detected number of picture sub-elements;
wherein:
1) the respective numeric values are such that floating-point values are represented by integers;
and
2) floating-point calculations are performed as integer calculations.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Methods for generating character pattern data and making image

Life of this patent

Methods for generating character pattern data and making image

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims5