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US5201032A
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Method and apparatus for generating multi-level character
Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
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Filing: 1991-08-07
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Granted: 1993-04-06
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Expires: 2011-08-07
Abstract
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.
Inventors
- 👤 Morisumi Kurose
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 09:48
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41B; B41B19/00; B41B19/01; G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G09; G09G; G09G5/00; G09G5/22; G09G5/24; G06K2215/00; G06K2215/0002; G06K2215/004; G06K2215/006; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S345/00; Y10S345/947
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 56
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
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.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
98 words
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.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
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.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
82 words
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.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
82 words
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.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
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.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
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.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
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.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
107 words
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.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
107 words
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.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
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.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
82 words
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.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
82 words
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.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
66 words
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.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
66 words
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.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
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.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
101 words
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.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
101 words
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.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
62 words
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.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
78 words
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.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
78 words
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.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
63 words
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.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
63 words
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.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
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.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
110 words
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.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
110 words
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.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
62 words
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.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
78 words
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.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
78 words
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.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
63 words
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.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
63 words
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.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
35 words
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.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
134 words
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.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
134 words
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.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
29 words
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.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
145 words
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.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
145 words
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.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
29 words
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.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
150 words
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.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
150 words
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.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
31 words
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.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
161 words
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.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
161 words
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.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
31 words
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.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
112 words
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.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
112 words
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.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
29 words
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.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
123 words
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.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
123 words
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.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
29 words
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.
Claim 51
Independent Claim
128 words
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.
Claim 52
Independent Claim
128 words
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.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
31 words
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.
Claim 54
Independent Claim
138 words
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.
Claim 55
Independent Claim
138 words
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.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
31 words
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.
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