Method and apparatus for generating multi-level character

• US 5,201,032 A
• Filed: 08/07/1991
• Issued: 04/06/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Kurose, Morisumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Herndon, Heather R.
• Application Number:
  US07/742,527
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 340/729, 340/730, 340/733, 340/734, 340/747, 340/750, 358/183, 395/150, 395/151, 395/110
• US Class Current: 345/170
• CPC Class Codes: B41B 19/01 having electron-beam tubes producing an image of at least one character which is photographed
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/02 using printers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/006 Anti-aliasing raster data
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/24 Generation of individual character patterns
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/947 Font character edge processing

Abstract

A method and apparatus for generating a multi-level character generates a plurality of outlines for one character. The outlines generated for the one character respectively correspond to mutually different levels of tone. By such outlines, the character can be described in three or more levels of tone.

Claims

1. A method of generating a multi-level character which is described in more than three levels of tone, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving an instruction to generate an object character; and

generating a plurality of outlines for the object character in response to said instruction, said outlines respectively corresponding to mutually different levels of tone, from the more than three levels of tone, of more than three regions which are defined by said outlines, wherein at least two of the more than three regions are contour regions separating a character core region from a character background region.

2. The method of generating a multi-level character as claimed in claim 1 which further comprises the step of filling each of the regions by a corresponding tone pattern to obtain an image data of the object character.

3. The method of generating a multi-level character as claimed in claim 2 wherein said step of filling includes a first substep of filling an entire region defined by an outline OLi which corresponds to a level of tone Gi, a second substep of filling an entire region defined by an outline OL(i-1), and a third substep of overlapping image data obtained by the first and second substeps, where i=n, . . . , 1 and G0 denotes a lowest level of tone.

4. The method of generating a multi-level character as claimed in claim 2 wherein said step of filling includes a first substep of filling an entire region defined by an outline OLi which corresponds to a level of tone Gi, a second substep of filling an entire region defined by an outline OL(i-1), and a third substep of overlapping image data obtained by the first and second substeps, where i=1, . . . , n and G0 denotes a lowest level of tone.

5. The method of generating a multi-level character as claimed in claim 2 wherein said step of filling includes a first substep of filling a region defined by an outline OLi which corresponds to a level of tone Gi, and a second substep of filling a region defined by an outline OL(i+1), where i=1, . . . , n and GO denotes a lowest level of tone.

6. The method of generating a multi-level character as claimed in claim 2 wherein said step of filling includes a first substep of filling a region defined by an outline OLi which corresponds to a level of tone Gi, and a second substep of filling a region defined by an outline OL(i-1), where i=n, . . . , 1 and GO denotes a lowest level of tone.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

filling the regions with levels of tone that are progressively darker toward a core region of the object character.

8. A method of generating a multi-level font made up of a set of characters respectively described in more than three levels of tone, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving an instruction to generate an object character of a font; and

generating a plurality of outlines for the object character in response to said instruction, said outlines respectively corresponding to mutually different levels of tone, from the more than three levels of tone, of more than three regions which are defined by said outlines, wherein at least two of the more than three regions are contour regions separating a character core region from a character background region.

9. The method of generating a multi-level character as claimed in claim 8 which further comprises the step of filling each of the regions by a corresponding tone pattern to obtain an image data of the object character.

10. The method of generating a multi-level character as claimed in claim 9 wherein said step of filling includes a first substep of filling an entire region defined by an outline OLi which corresponds to a level of tone Gi, a second substep of filling an entire region defined by an outline OL(i-1), and a third substep of overlapping image data obtained by the first and second substeps, where i=n, . . . , 1 and G0 denotes a lowest level of tone.

11. The method of generating a multi-level character as claimed in claim 9 wherein said step of filling includes a first substep of filling an entire region defined by an outline OLi which corresponds to a level of tone Gi, a second substep of filling an entire region defined by an outline OL(i-1), and a third substep of overlapping image data obtained by the first and second substeps, where i=1, . . . , n and G0 denotes a lowest level of tone.

12. The method of generating a multi-level character as claimed in claim 9 wherein said step of filling includes a first substep of filling a region defined by an outline OLi which corresponds to a level of tone Gi, and a second substep of filling a region defined by an outline OL(i+1), where i=1, . . . , n and G0 denotes a lowest level of tone.

13. The method of generating a multi-level character as claimed in claim 9 wherein said step of filling includes a first substep of filling a region defined by an outline OLi which corresponds to a level of tone Gi, and a second substep of filling a region defined by an outline OL(i-1), where i=n, . . . , 1 and G0 denotes a lowest level of tone.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

filling the regions with levels of tone that are progressively darker toward a core region of the object character.

15. An apparatus for generating a multi-level character which is described in more than three levels of tone, said apparatus comprising:

receiving means for receiving an instruction to generate an object character; and

generating means for generating a plurality of outlines for the object character in response to said instruction, said outlines respectively corresponding to mutually different levels of tone, from the more than three levels of tone, of more than three regions which are defined by said outlines, wherein at least two of the more than three regions are contour regions separating a character core region from a character background region.

16. The apparatus for generating a multi-level character as claimed in claim 15 wherein said generating means includes memory means for at least storing the outlines of the object character, and processing means for filling each of the regions defined by the outlines read out from said memory means by a corresponding tone pattern to obtain an image data of the object character.

17. The apparatus for generating a multi-level character as claimed in claim 16 wherein said processing means includes first means for filling an entire region defined by an outline OLi which corresponds to a level of tone Gi, second means for filling an entire region defined by an outline OL(i-1), and third means for overlapping image data obtained by the first and second means, where i=n, . . . , 1 and G0 denotes a lowest level of tone.

18. The apparatus for generating a multi-level character as claimed in claim 16 wherein said processing means includes first means for filling an entire region defined by an outline OLi which corresponds to a level of tone Gi, second means for filling an entire region defined by an outline OL(i-1), and third means for overlapping image data obtained by the first and second means, where i=1, . . . , n and G0 denotes a lowest level of tone.

19. The apparatus for generating a multi-level character as claimed in claim 16 wherein said processing means includes first means for filling a region defined by an outline OLi which corresponds to a level of tone Gi, and second means for filling a region defined by an outline OL(i+1), where i=1, . . . , n and G0 denotes a lowest level of tone.

20. The apparatus for generating a multi-level character as claimed in claim 16 wherein said processing means includes first means for filling a region defined by an outline OLi which corresponds to a level of tone Gi, and second means for filling a region defined by an outline OL(i-1), where i=n, . . . , 1 and G0 denotes a lowest level of tone.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

processing means for filling each of the regions defined by the outlines with levels of tone that are progressively darker toward a core region of the object character.

23. The apparatus for generating a multi-level character as claimed in claim 20 wherein said generating means includes memory means for at least storing the outlines of the object character, and processing means for filling each of the regions defined by the outlines read out from said memory means by a corresponding tone pattern to obtain an image data of the object character.

25. The apparatus for generating a multi-level character as claimed in claim 23 wherein said processing means includes first means for filling an entire region defined by an outline OLi which corresponds to a level of tone Gi, second means for filling an entire region defined by an outline OL(i-1), and third means for overlapping image data obtained by the first and second means, where i=1, . . . , n and G0 denotes a lowest level of tone.

26. The apparatus for generating a multi-level character as claimed in claim 23 wherein said processing means includes first means for filling a region defined by an outline OLi which corresponds to a level of tone Gi, and second means for filling a region defined by an outline OL(i+1), where i=1, . . . , n and G0 denotes a lowest level of tone.

27. The apparatus for generating a multi-level character as claimed in claim 23 wherein said processing means includes first means for filling a region defined by an outline OLi which corresponds to a level of tone Gi, and second means for filling a region defined by an outline OL(i-1), where i=n, . . . , 1 and G0 denotes a lowest level of tone.

22. An apparatus for generating a multi-level font made up of a set of characters respectively described in more than three levels of tone, said apparatus comprising:

receiving means for receiving an instruction to generate an object character of a font; and

generating means for generating a plurality of outlines for the object character in response to said instruction, said outlines respectively corresponding to mutually different levels of tone, from the more than three levels of tone, of more than three regions which are defined by said outlines, wherein at least two of the more than three regions are contour regions separating a character core region from a character background region.

24. The apparatus for generating a multi-level character as claimed in claim 22 wherein said processing means includes first means for filling an entire region defined by an outline OLi which corresponds to a level of tone Gi, second means for filling an entire region defined by an outline OL(i-1), and third means for overlapping image data obtained by the first and second means, where i=n, . . . , 1 and G0 denotes a lowest level of tone.

28. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising:

processing means for filling each of the regions defined by the outlines with levels of tone that are progressively darker toward a core region of the object character.

29. A method of automatically generating a multi-level character which is described in more than three levels of tone, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving an instruction to generate an object character;

automatically generating a plurality of outlines for the object character in response to said instruction, said outlines respectively corresponding to mutually different levels of tone, from the more than three levels of tone, of more than three regions which are defined by said outlines, wherein at least two of the more than three regions are contour regions separating a character core region from a character background region; and

filling each of the more than three regions by a tone pattern having a corresponding level of tone, from the more than three levels of tone, to obtain image data of the object character.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the filling step includes:

filling the regions with levels of tones that are progressively darker toward a core region of the object character.

31. A method of automatically generating a multi-level font which is made up of a set of characters respectively described in more than three levels of tone, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving an instruction to generate an object character of the font;

automatically generating a plurality of outlines for the object character in response to said instruction, said outlines respectively corresponding to mutually different levels of tone, from the more than three levels of tone, of more than three regions which are defined by said outlines, wherein at least two of the more than three regions are contour regions separating a character core region from a character background region; and

filling each of the more than three regions by a tone pattern having a corresponding level of tone, from the more than three levels of tone, to obtain image data of the object character.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the filling step includes:

filling the regions with levels of tones that are progressively darker toward a core region of the object character.

33. An apparatus for automatically generating a multi-level character which is described in more than three levels of tone, said apparatus comprising:

receiving means for receiving an instruction to generate an object character;

generating means, coupled to said receiving means, for automatically generating a plurality of outlines for the object character in response to said instruction, said outlines respectively corresponding to mutually different levels of tone, from the more than three levels of tone, of more than three regions which are defined by said outlines, wherein at least two of the more than three regions are contour regions separating a character core region from a character background region; and

processing means, coupled to said generating means, for filling each of the more than three regions by a tone pattern having a corresponding level of tone, from the more than three levels of tone, to output image data of the object character.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the processing means includes:

means for filling the regions with levels of tones that are progressively darker toward a core region of the object character.

36. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the processing means includes:

means for filling the regions with levels of tones that are progressively darker toward a core region of the object character.

35. An apparatus for automatically generating a multi-level font which is made up of a set of characters respectively described in more than three levels of tone, said apparatus comprising:

receiving means for receiving an instruction to generate an object character of a font;

generating means, coupled to said receiving means, for automatically generating a plurality of outlines for the object character in response to said instruction, said outlines respectively corresponding to mutually different levels of tone, from the more than three levels of tone, of more than three regions which are defined by said outlines, wherein at least two of the more than three regions are contour regions separating a character core region from a character background region; and

processing means, coupled to said generating means, for filling each of the more than three regions by a tone pattern having a corresponding level of tone, from the more than three levels of tone, to output image data of the object character.

37. A method of automatically generating a multi-level character which is described in more than three levels of tone, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving an instruction to generate an object character;

automatically generating a plurality of outlines for the object character in response to said instruction to define regions, the outlines substantially separating a character core region from a character background region by forming at least two contour regions between the character core region and the character background region; and

filling each of the regions by a tone pattern having a corresponding level of tone, from the more than three levels of tone, to obtain image data of the object character.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the filling step includes:

filling the regions with levels of tones that are progressively darker toward the core region of the object character.

39. A method of automatically generating a multi-level font which is made up of a set of characters respectively described in more than three levels of tone, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving an instruction to generate an object character of the font;

automatically generating a plurality of outlines for the object character in response to said instruction to define regions, the outlines substantially separating a character core region from a character background region by forming at least two contour regions between the character core region and the character background region; and

filling each of the regions by a tone pattern having a corresponding level of tone, from the more than three levels of tone, to obtain image data of the object character.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the filling step includes:

filling the regions with levels of tones that are progressively darker toward the core region of the object character.

41. An apparatus for automatically generating a multi-level character which is described in more than three levels of tone, said apparatus comprising:

receiving means for receiving an instruction to generate an object character;

generating means, coupled to said receiving means, for automatically generating a plurality of outlines for the object character in response to said instruction to define regions, the outlines substantially separating a character core region from a character background region by forming at least two contour regions between the character core region and the character background region; and

processing means, coupled to said generating means, for filling each of the regions by a tone pattern having a corresponding level of tone, from the more than three levels of tone, to output image data of the object character.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the processing means includes:

means for filling the regions with levels of tones that are progressively darker toward the core region of the object character.

43. An apparatus for automatically generating a multi-level font which is made up of a set of characters respectively described in more than three levels of tone, said apparatus comprising:

receiving means for receiving an instruction to generate an object character of a font;

generating means, coupled to said receiving means, for automatically generating a plurality of outlines for the object character in response to said instruction to define regions, the outlines substantially separating a character core region from a character background region by forming at least two contour regions between the character core region and the character background region;

processing means, coupled to said generating means, for filling each of the regions by a tone pattern having a corresponding level of tone, from the more than three levels of tone, to output image data of the object character.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the processing means includes:

means for filling the regions with levels of tones that are progressively darker toward the core region of the object character.