US6266444B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Character processing apparatus and method therefor
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1997-10-03
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Granted: 2001-07-24
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Expires: 2017-10-03
Abstract
Abstract The present invention intends to generate non-intersecting entire outline data from intersection-involving stroke data at a high speed, thereby outputting characters and graphics of higher quality at a higher speed. Every pair of the strokes are extracted from all the strokes of a registered character, then the curve data of the extracted strokes are straightened, and there is discriminated whether the line segments of the every extracted pair of the strokes mutually intersect. If an intersection is present, the coordinate of such intersection is calculated and stored. Then the outline is re-connected according to a predetermined rule, based on the stored coordinate of intersection.
Inventors
- 👤 Masayuki Yoshida
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:59
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T11/00; G06T11/20; G06T11/23; G09; G09G; G09G5/00; G09G5/22; G09G5/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
An outline data processing apparatus, comprising: a first setter arranged to set a reference outline and an object outline; a line segment discriminator arranged to discriminate whether line segments of the reference outline and object outline set by said first setter have an intersection with one another; a register unit arranged to change the reference outline and object outline set by said first setter to form at least one closed outline and register the at least one closed outline if said line segment discriminator discriminates that the line segments have an intersection with one another; and a second setter arranged to set a next object outline if said line segment discriminator discriminates that the line segments have no intersections with one another.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
An outline data processing apparatus, comprising: a first setter arranged to set a reference outline and an object outline; a line segment discriminator arranged to discriminate whether line segments of the reference outline and object outline set by said first setter have an intersection with one another; a register unit arranged to change the reference outline and object outline set by said first setter to form at least one closed outline and register the at least one closed outline if said line segment discriminator discriminates that the line segments have an intersection with one another; and a second setter arranged to set a next object outline if said line segment discriminator discriminates that the line segments have no intersections with one another.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
85 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising an outline discriminator arranged to discriminate whether the reference outline and the object outline set by said first setter have an intersection with one another, wherein said line segment discriminator is enabled if said outline discriminator discriminates that the reference outline and the object outline have an intersection with one another, and said second setter is enabled if said outline discriminator discriminates that the reference outline and the object outline have no intersections with one another.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
An apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein said outline discriminator discriminates that the reference outline and the object outline set by said first setter have an intersection, if a line segment of the reference outline has a maximum or minimum value that exists between maximum and minimum coordinates of a line segment of the object outline.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the reference outline and the object outline include character data.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a straightening unit arranged to straighten curve data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
125 words
An outline data processing method comprising the steps of: a first setting step of setting a reference outline and an object outline; a line segment discriminating step of discriminating whether line segments of the reference outline and object outline set in said first setting step have an intersection with one another; a registering step of changing the reference outline and object outline set in said first setting step to form at least one closed outline and registering the at least one closed outline if said line segment discriminating step discriminates that the line segments have an intersection with one another; and a second setting step of setting a next object outline if said line segment discriminating step discriminates that the line segments have no intersection.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
125 words
An outline data processing method comprising the steps of: a first setting step of setting a reference outline and an object outline; a line segment discriminating step of discriminating whether line segments of the reference outline and object outline set in said first setting step have an intersection with one another; a registering step of changing the reference outline and object outline set in said first setting step to form at least one closed outline and registering the at least one closed outline if said line segment discriminating step discriminates that the line segments have an intersection with one another; and a second setting step of setting a next object outline if said line segment discriminating step discriminates that the line segments have no intersection.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
90 words
A method according to claim 6 , further comprising an outline discriminating step of discriminating whether the reference outline and the object outline set in said first setting step have an intersection with one another, wherein said line segment discriminating step is enabled if said outline discriminating step discriminates that the reference outline and the object outline have an intersection with one another, and said second setting step is enabled if said outline discriminating step discriminates that the reference outline and the object outline have no intersections with one another.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method according to claim 7 , wherein said outline discriminating step discriminates that the reference outline and the object outline set in said first setting step have an intersection, if a line segment of the reference outline has a maximum or minimum value that exists between maximum and minimum coordinates of a line segment of the object outline.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 6 , wherein the reference outline and the object outline include character data.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 6 , further comprising a straightening step of straightening curve data.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
132 words
A memory medium storing computer-readable instructions for performing an outline data processing method, the method comprising the steps of: a first setting step of setting a reference outline and an object outline; a line segment discriminating step of discriminating whether line segments of the reference outline and object outline set in said first setting step have an intersection with one another; a registering step of changing the reference outline and object outline set in said first setting step to form at least one closed outline and registering the closed outline if said line segment discriminating step discriminates that the line segments have an intersection with one another; and a second setting step of setting a next object outline if said line segment discriminating step discriminates that the line segments have no intersection.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
132 words
A memory medium storing computer-readable instructions for performing an outline data processing method, the method comprising the steps of: a first setting step of setting a reference outline and an object outline; a line segment discriminating step of discriminating whether line segments of the reference outline and object outline set in said first setting step have an intersection with one another; a registering step of changing the reference outline and object outline set in said first setting step to form at least one closed outline and registering the closed outline if said line segment discriminating step discriminates that the line segments have an intersection with one another; and a second setting step of setting a next object outline if said line segment discriminating step discriminates that the line segments have no intersection.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
133 words
A program product which includes computer-readable code for executing an outline data processing method, the method comprising the steps of: a first setting step of setting a reference outline and an object outline; a line segment discriminating step of discriminating whether line segments of the reference outline and object outline set in said first setting step have an intersection with one another; a registering step of changing the reference outline and object outline set in said first setting step to form at least one closed outline and registering the closed outline if said line segment discriminating step discriminates that the line segments have an intersection with one another; and a second setting step of setting a next object outline if said line segment discriminating step discriminates that the line segments have no intersection.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
133 words
A program product which includes computer-readable code for executing an outline data processing method, the method comprising the steps of: a first setting step of setting a reference outline and an object outline; a line segment discriminating step of discriminating whether line segments of the reference outline and object outline set in said first setting step have an intersection with one another; a registering step of changing the reference outline and object outline set in said first setting step to form at least one closed outline and registering the closed outline if said line segment discriminating step discriminates that the line segments have an intersection with one another; and a second setting step of setting a next object outline if said line segment discriminating step discriminates that the line segments have no intersection.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-07-23 | 2005-01-22 | 2005-07-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-07-23 | 2009-01-22 | 2009-07-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-07-23 | 2013-01-22 | 2013-07-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |