DECORATIVE CHARACTER PRINTER

Abstract: In a word processor capable of setting printout format for each line, a decorative character printer in which format data comprising various format data bits includes decorative character font-identifying bits.

Description: The present invention relates to a word processor for editing and printing out words data in a prescribed format according to format data. Printing can especially be done either as character printing or as dot printing. In the case of dot printing, for each dot location within a dot line, information is provided indicating whether a dot should be printed at a respective location or not. Character printing based on such individual dot information is very flexible, however, needs a high storage capacity. In the case of character printing, the printing process is performed in character lines. Each character line comprises a plurality of dot lines. A plurality of dots in line direction and column direction, respectively, is allocated to each character. In such a case it is only necessary to store character information for the characters within one line (e.g. 70 characters) instead of storing individual information for all the dots within the dot lines allocated to each character line. Based on the character information, dot information is retrieved from a storage means storing so called font data. So far, two alternatives are known for using format data in relation with words data. The conventional Japanese word processor sets the format data for an entire document. It is not possible to use different decorative characters within one document. Such a processor for editing and printing of words data in a prescribed decorative character format comprises means for selecting either a format data input mode or a words data input mode, means for inputting format data or words data depending on the selected mode, a storage for the data, means for determining whether or not said format data include decorative character-related data, and means for developing decorative characters from the words data when said determination means determines that the format data require the developing of decorative characters from the words data. On the other hand, it is known from US-A-4,254,409 to add size data to each character data. The size data is added to data related to that point of a dot line, at which the character to be printed begins, whereby it is possible to change the size of characters at each place within a document. Word processors having such a capability need very high memory capacity. The method as disclosed in the mentioned US-patent reduces the memory requirement. However, still rather high storage capacity is necessary for storing all the individual dot data and for storing the size data for each character. It is the object of the present invention to provide a word processor which has especially low memory requirements, however, makes it possible to change decorative character fonts within a document. The word processor according to the present invention managing decorative characters for editing and printing out words data in character lines in a prescribed format according to format data comprises: means for selecting either a format data input mode or a words data input mode; means for inputting format data or words data, respectively, depending upon the mode selected by said selection means; a storage for the format data and the words data; means for determining whether or not said format data include decorative character-related data; and means for developing decorative characters from the words data, when said determination means determines that the format data which controls the words data has decorative character-related data; whereby format setting data is added to each line or smaller unit of words which shall be printed with decorative characters, and data is added to said format data, indicating which unit of words is set for decorative character-printing. The word processor according to the present invention needs comparably low memory capacity but anyhow is rather flexible in managing decorative characters. It is obvious that this word processor is much more flexible than the described conventional Japanese word processor since each arbitrary unit of words may be handled as a unit to be printed with decorative characters, whereas the conventional processor treats decorative character information for a document as a whole only. In comparison to the word processor according to US-A-4 254 409, the word processor of the present invention has almost the same flexibility in managing decorative characters, but needs a much lower memory capacity. Such lower memory capacity requirement is based on the fact that format setting data is not added to each character but only to units of words which should be printed with decorative characters. Preferably, the unit of words is a line. It is sufficient to add the format setting data to the head or the tail of the line, as the format data allocated to each document store data indicating which unit of words is set for decorative character printing. The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention and wherein: Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the hardware construction of a decorative character printer of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic chart for explaining the data bits in the format data; Fig. 3 is a front view of a CRT display presenting an example of format setting picture; Fig. 4 is a flow chart for the procedure of generating decorative characters; Figs. 5 (a) through 5 (d) respectively show samples of decorative characters; Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing the basic construction of a decorative character generator; Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing the construction of a circumferential information reading device; Figs. 8 and 16 are original dot patterns for explaining the present invention; Figs. 9 and 17 are stereoscopically decorated character dot patterns achieved by the present invention; Fig. 10 is a dot pattern read in the shift register of the circumferential information reading device; Fig. 11 shows the content of a decorative character pattern memory; Figs. 12 and 14 are logic circuits of a decorator 14; Figs. 13 and 15 respectively shows patterns in the decorator of an embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 18 shows a decorative character printed out by the printer of the present invention. An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the construction of a decorative character printer of the present invention. Decorative character font indicative data are contained in the format data which are set from a keyboard 1. Words data and the format data thus input from the keyboard 1 are presented on a CRT2. A printer 5 is operated via a character generator 3 and a printer controller 4 to print out characters as required. These operations are controlled by a CPU6, program for which is preliminerily stored in an ROM7. The CPU6 controls each component according to the program stored in the ROM7. The words data and format data input from the keyboard 1 are stored in an RAM9. The words data is read out from the RAM9 and printed out via the character generator 3 and the printer controller 4 on the printer 5, as controlled by the CPU6. Here, the decorative character printer refers to a word processor that can print out decorative characters. In the following description, therefore, the term "word processor" is used in place of a decorative character printer. For the purpose of description, it is assumed that a word processor of an embodiment of the present invention can print out three types of character in size: standard, double or quadruple (standard < double < quadruple) and that it can print out decorative characters only in the quadruple mode. When the quadruple mode is set from the keyboard 1, decorative characters of the type designated in the format data can be printed out for each line. Some of decorative character fonts are shown in Fig. 5: (a) stereoscopically decorated black character, (b) stereoscopically decorated white character, (c) white decorative character, and (d) thick decorative character. Now, operation for inputting words data in the word processor and printing them out with decorative characters for only a particular line is described. To input words data, power switch of the word processor is turned on. At this time, a program and a dictionary data required for processing the words data may be stored in the RAM9. The format key on the keyboard 1 is depressed for setting the entire printout format suitable for the words data to be input. Then, the CRT2 gives a picture for setting paper size (B5, A4, B4), number of characters on a line, line feed pitch, character size and font of decorative character. Using this picture, desired format is set for registration by depressing numeric keys, alphabet keys and cursor keys. The format data thus input is stored in the format data area of the RAM9. After the format setting (or after the format setting mode is released), words data is input from the keyboard 1. The words data thus input is edited according to the preset format. To print out only a particular line with decorative characters, the format setting is conducted as follows. Position the cursor to the head or end of the particular line on the CRT2 and depress the format key to enter the format setting mode. Then, the CRT2 displays the format setting picture: i.e. paper size, number of characters on a line, line feed pitch, character size and decorative character font that were set before inputting words data. Format setting for printing out only the particular line with decorative characters is achieved by changing necessary part of the format setting. Namely, set the character size for quadruple mode and designate the intended decorative character font. Then, store the modified format data in the format data area of the RAM9. When format has been set for decorative character printing of a particular line, format setting data is added to the head or tail of the particular line of the words data, indicating that the line is set for decorative character printing. Simultaneously, data is added to the format data, indicating which line of the words data is set for decorative character printing. (The position information for the particular line may be generated with reference to the line feed information.) Thus, when words data printing reaches the particular line, the CPU6 recognizes the format setting data added to the head or tail of the line, reads the format data stored in the format data area: i.e. presence or absence of decorative character designation, etc., and allows the line to be printed out according to the corresponding format data. The present invention is characterized in that decorative character can be designated when setting the format for a particular line of words data. Fig. 2 shows a data packet 8 for setting format data. The packet 8 is composed of eight bytes, one of which is allocated for decorative character font information. The byte comprises eight bits, the lower five bits for identifying decorative character font and the remaining three bits retained for future possible expansion. The other seven bytes are used for information such as paper size, number of characters on a line, line feed pitch and character size. Among the five bits for decorative character font information, three are used for classification and the remaining two for sub-classification of the decorative character fonts. The decorative character font-identifying three bits are set to (000), (001), (010) and (011) for standard quadruple, stereoscopic, white and thick black characters, respectively. The two bits for sub-classification may be used, for example, for designating stereoscopic characters in black or white. Thus, it is possible to designate desired decorative character font for a particular line by punching keys on the key boards 1 when changing the number of characters for the line, line feed pitch, etc. of the preset format data. That is, decorative characters can be designated by lines. Fig. 3 shows an example of format setting picture including decorative character fonts on the CRT2. In this example, any of (a) standard, (b) stereoscopic 1, (c) stereoscopic 2, (d) white and (e) thick black character can be designated by the cursor as quadruple character. The example shows that "stereoscopic 1" has been selected as decorative character. The process of developing the actual character image for printing from the words data will now be described referring to the flow chart of Fig. 4. After editing a line of words data, the character print image generation process is branched into the processes for decorative characters and for standard quadruple characters, either of the branch processes being followed according to the format data setting. The format data which is referred to at this stage is the same as that before setting for quadruple mode. At the step 1 ○, the CPU determines if the quadruple mode has been designated or not. If not, words data is processed for normal or double size character printing. If the quadruple mode has been designated, on the other hand, the program proceeds to the step 2 ○ where the format data is retrieved. At the step 3 ○, the CPU searches the three-bit portion of the character font-setting byte to see whether decorative or standard quadruple character is designated. If decorative character has been designated, the program proceeds to the step 4 ○ to develop and print out the designated decorative characters. Meanwhile, if it is not determined in the step 3 ○ that decorative character has been designated, then standard quadruple characters are printed out. Through these processes, it is possible to print out the words data with different kinds of decorative characters for different lines. Now, process of generating and printing stereoscopic characters is described, assuming that each character of the registered words data is formed with necessary dots selected from among multiple dots arranged in a matrix. Fig. 6 shows the basic construction of the decorative character generator. A character font memory 11 stores dot matrix character font to be decorated. When a character-designating signal "S" is sent form the CPU6 to the character font memory 11 to select a character font, the original dot pattern of the character font is temporarily stored in an original dot pattern memory 12. Here, the original dot pattern means the dot pattern of each character before being processed for decoration. A circumferential information reading device 13 determines if there are dots around each dot of the original dot pattern stored in the original dot pattern memory 12. Based on the information output from the circumferential information reading device 13, a decorator 14 arranges a dot in a decorative character pattern memory 15 at the proper position for decoration. Decoration is thus conducted dot by dot. A timing pulse generator 16 supplies timing signals to each of the above components. Fig. 7 show the construction of the circumferential information reading device 13 which comprises a shift register 131 for storing four lines of an original dot pattern and four serial in-parallel out 4-bit shift registers 132. Original dot pattern is sequentially input from the original dot pattern memory 12 to the shift register 131. When bit data corresponding to the concerned dot of the original dot pattern comes at the position "C" of the shift registers 132, the state of the bits "A" through "G" coincides with the dot state around the concerned dot of the original dot pattern. In this way, the circumferential information reading device 13 identifies the condition around the concerned dot. Procedure for stereoscopic character decoration is described below to explain the embodiment of the invention. Through the stereoscopic decoration process, the stereoscopic character pattern shown in Fig. 9 is obtained from the pattern shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 8 shows a part of a 32 x 32 dot pattern for a Chinese character. Assuming the dot (I) of the character pattern is subjected to decorative process, the circumferential information reading device 13 reads the dot state around the dot (I). The dot pattern corresponding to the data input to the shift registers 132 is shown in Fig. 10 in which the bits for A, B, F and G are "0" indicating no dot at the positions corresponding to the bits while the bits for C, D and E are "1" indicating that there are dots at the corresponding positions. In Fig. 10, the shaded circle corresponds to the dot (I) in Fig. 8 or the bit "C" of the shift registers 132, and the white circles respectively correspond to the two dots to the right of the dot (I) in Fig. 8 or the bits "D" and "E" of the shift registers 132. The information on the circumference of the dot (I) is transmitted to the decorator 14. The decorator 14 first positions the dot (I) in the decorative character pattern memory 15. The dot (I) is written in the shaded circle position in the decorative character pattern memory 15 as shown in Fig. 11. The decorater 14 then forms dots at the intermediate points "a" and the end point "b" for the stereoscopic side of the character pattern as shown in Fig. 11, based on the circumferential information input. Fig. 12 shows a logic circuit for forming dots at the intermediate points "a" for the stereoscopic side. The inputs "A", "B", "F", "D", "E" and "G" respectively correspond to the states of the bits "A", "B", "F", "D", "E" and "G" of the shift registers 132. Fig. 13 shows four patterns where the logic circuit outputs "0" for "a". These four patterns illustrate possible dot positions except for the dot positions at the bits "E" and "G" of the shift registers 132. Since any one of the four patterns of Fig. 13 does not coincide with the dot pattern of Fig. 10, the logic circuit of Fig. 12 outputs "1" for "a", so that two dots are written diagonally to the lower right of the dot (I) by the predetermined procedure, thus constituting the intermediate points "a" in the decorative character pattern memory 15 as shown in Fig. 11. As a result, two dots "a" are developed for the stereoscopic side intermediate points of the stereoscopic character pattern shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 14 shows a logic circuit for the decorator 14 to form a dot at the end point "b" of the stereoscopic side. The inputs "D", "F", "E" and "G" respectively correspond to the states of the bits "D", "F", "E" and "G" of the shift registers 132. Fig. 15 shows a dot pattern where the logic circuit outputs "0" for "b". The pattern illustrates a possible dot position except for the dot positions at the bits "E" and "G" of the shift registers 132. Since the dot pattern of Fig. 10 does not coincide with the pattern of Fig. 15, the logic circuit of Fig. 14 outputs "1" for "b", so that a dot is written for the stereoscopic side end point "b" in the decorative character pattern memory 15 by the predetermined procedure, following the dot (I) and the stereoscopic side intermediate points "a". Through this process, a dot "b" is developed for the stereoscopic side end point of the stereoscopic character pattern of Fig. 9. The same procedure is repeated for each dot following the dot (I) of the original dot pattern. Specifically, stereoscopic side intermediate dots and end dot are formed on the basis of the circumferential dot information around each concerned dot of the original dot pattern. For the dot (II) of the original dot pattern of Fig. 8, dots are not formed at the stereoscopic side intermediate points "c" but a dot formed at the stereoscopic side end point "d", as shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 16 shows a part of a 64 x 64 dot pattern of the Chinese character and Fig. 17 shows a character pattern generated by stereoscopically decorating the dot pattern of Fig. 16. As shown in Fig. 17, a decorative dot "e" is formed for the dot (III) by the same procedure as above. (In this case, however, one more dot or total three dots are required for each stereoscopic side formation, compared with two dots for the previous case.) Thus, according to the present invention, it is possible to develop a decorative character pattern, irrespective of the original dot pattern size in principle. A printout example of a stereoscopically decorated character of is shown in Fig. 18. In addition, since decoration is carried out by dots, stereoscopically decorated character scan be successively printed out by sequentially decorating parts of each character and transmitting the data to the printer as the parts of each character is printed out sequentially. Stereoscopic decoration of characters has been described in the above. It is not to mention that various other decorations are possible by modifying the logic of the decorator 14. According to the present invention, as mentioned above, since each character is decorated by dots on the basis of the circumferential condition of each concerned dot, it is possible to decorate a character of dot matrix pattern, thereby increasing the process speed compared to the decoration of a vector-based character. Furthermore, since each character is printed out sequentially by dots, only a part of the entire character may be decorated at one time and transmitted to the printer. This permits a smaller buffer capacity and parallel operation of decoration with printing as well, thus enhancing the process efficiency. In addition, various decorations are achieved irrespective of the original pattern size simply by adding or modifying the logic. According to the present invention, as understood from the above, words data can be printed out with different kinds of decorative characters for different lines. Decorative character font-identifying data is input and stored by bits, facilitating adaptation of the present invention to more diversified decorative character fonts. In addition, the same operation can be used for designating any of various decorative character fonts, and the designated decorative character font can be changed easily by format setting operation. Furthermore, the same control code as quadruple character code is used in identifying decorative character font. Since decorative characters thus developed are of quadruple size, they are quite useful for use in titles or headings. In the above embodiment, printout format can be set for each line of the words data and decorative characters can be printed out only in the quadruple character mode. Alternatively, the invention may be modified to permit the printout format to be set for each word, and decorative characters to be printed out in other sizes than quadruple size. It is alos possible to modify the invention so that words data is printed out with different decorative character fonts for different words (this can be achieved by the same process as for printing out the data with different decorative character fonts for different lines).

Claims: A word processor managing decorative characters for editing and printing out words data in character lines in a prescribed format according to format data, said processor comprising: means for selecting either a format data input mode or a words data input mode; means for inputting format data or words data, respectively, depending upon the mode selected by said selection means; a storage for the format data and the words data; means for determining whether or not said format data include decorative character-related data; and means for developing decorative characters from the words data, when said determination means determines that the format data which controls the words data has decorative character-related data; characterized in that format setting data is added to each line or smaller unit of words which shall be printed with decorative characters, and data is added to said format data, indicating which unit of words is set for decorative character-printing.

Inventors: MARUIDO, HIROKI, YANARU, HIROFUMI
Applicants: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1986
Main classification: B41J2
IPC codes: G06K15, B41J5, G06F17, B41J2, G06F3