JP2001265314A - Display system, data display method, shadowed character font generating method, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily read characters by improving visibility of the characters when they are displayed superimposed on picture data. SOLUTION: Each character font stored in a font file 11 is given to a shadowed font generating part 12 to generate a shadowed font, which is stored in a shadowed font file 13. Each character font in the font file 11 and each shadowed font in the shadowed font file 13 are read in memory 15, and when a character is specified to be displayed, the character font and shadowed font corresponding to the specified character are sent to a font synthesizing part 16. The font synthesizing part 16 generates a shadowed character font by superposing the shadowed character font on the shadowed font with the mutual coordinate positions put in order. It becomes possible to discriminate the character data from the picture data and easily read the character by displaying this shadowed character font superimposed on the externally inputted picture data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a display system for superimposing and displaying characters on image data, a data display method used in the display system, a method for generating a shadowed character font, and a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a system for displaying image data such as an object received by a radar or a map on a display, characters to be displayed are displayed as they are on the image data.

Here, when characters are superimposed and displayed on image data, the characters can be read if the image data is monotonous, but if the image data is complicated and color display is performed, Characters may be buried in the image data, and the visibility may be significantly reduced, making the characters unreadable.

[0004]

As described above, simply superimposing a character on image data as it is,
As the image data becomes more complicated, the visibility of the characters decreases, and there is a problem that it becomes difficult to read the characters on the screen.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and a display system for improving the visibility of characters and making it easier to read when characters are superimposed on image data, and a display system for the display system. It is an object of the present invention to provide a data display method, a shaded character font generation method, and a recording medium used in a computer.

[0006]

A display system according to the present invention comprises: first storage means for storing a plurality of character fonts formed in a bitmap format in advance; and each of the character fonts stored in the first storage means. Shadow font generating means for generating a shadow font by filling a predetermined number of bits around the character outline portion of the bitmap data constituting the character font for each character font; and each shadow font generated by the shadow font generating means. A second storage unit for storing, and a character font and a shadow font corresponding to the specified character are read out from the first and second storage units in accordance with designation of a character to be displayed, and the character font is stored on the shadow font. A shaded character font generating means for generating a shaded character font by overlapping fonts at the same coordinate position,
Display means for superimposing and displaying the shaded character font generated by the shaded font generation means on image data given from the outside.

According to such a configuration, a shadow font is generated from a character font prepared in advance in the first storage means. This shadow font is held in the second storage means and is read out together with the character font at the time of display. Then, a shaded character font is generated by combining the shadow font and the character font, and is superimposed and displayed on image data from the outside. As described above, since the characters are displayed with shadows on the image data, the visibility of the characters can be secured, and the characters can be easily read.

The display color of the shadow portion of the character font and the display color of the character portion are set based on the display color of the image data, and the shadow portion of the character font with the shadow is set by the set display color. By displaying the character portion in color, the distinction from the image data becomes clear, and the visibility of the character can be further improved.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a display system according to one embodiment of the present invention. This system, when displaying image data received by radar etc.,
Characters are superimposed and displayed on the image data. The present system is realized by a computer which reads a program recorded on a recording medium such as a magnetic disk and the operation of which is controlled by the program.

Functionally showing this system, a font file 11, a shadow font generation unit 12, a shadow font file 13, an operation unit 14, a memory 15, a font synthesis unit 1
6, a color setting unit 17, a display processing unit 18, and a display unit 19.

The font file 11 is a file in which various pre-defined character fonts such as alphabets and numerals are stored in a bitmap format, and is actually composed of two files in which character fonts having different sizes are separately stored. I have. The shadow font generation unit 12 performs a process of generating a shadow font for each character font stored in the font file 11. The shadow font file 13 is a file for storing a shadow font corresponding to each character font generated by the shadow font generation unit 12. This shadow font file 13 is also actually composed of two files corresponding to the size of the character font.

The operation unit 14 is an input device for designating a character to be displayed, and includes, for example, a keyboard. The memory 15 stores the font file 11
This is a storage device for reading and storing various character fonts and various shadow fonts of the shadow font file 13, and has a character font storage area 15a and a shadow font storage area 15b. Various character fonts in the font file 11 are stored in the character font storage area 15a, and various shadow fonts in the shadow font file 13 are stored in the shadow font storage area 15b in association with each other by an identifier or the like.

The font synthesizing unit 16 performs a synthesizing process of a character font corresponding to a character designated as a display target by the operation unit 14 and a shadow font to generate a shadowed character font. The color setting unit 17 sets the display color of the character part and the display color of the shadow part of the shaded character font generated by the font combining unit 16 based on the display color of the image data. The display processing unit 18 performs display processing such as superimposing a shaded character font on a predetermined position of external image data. The display unit 19 is a display device for displaying image data and character fonts with shadows.
thode-ray tube) and LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)
And the like, and a display device capable of color display.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a method of generating a shadowed character font realized by the present system. FIG. 2A shows a character font, FIG. 2B shows a shadow font, and FIG. Indicates a shaded character font.

In this system, a shadow font is created by using a prepared character font (dot font) prepared in advance, and the shadow font and the character font are combined at the time of display to create a shadow character font. Generate.

As shown in FIG. 2A, in the bitmap data constituting the character font, the data of the character portion 21 is represented by a black bit "1", and the other data is represented by a white bit "0". Have been. First, as a preliminary operation, a shadow font is generated from this character font. That is, 1
By detecting the character outline portion of the character font while scanning the bitmap data line by line, a predetermined number of surrounding bits are set to black bits “1” and painted. As a result, a shadow font corresponding to the character shape as shown in FIG. 2B is obtained. In the bitmap data constituting the shadow font, data of the shadow portion 22 is represented by a black bit “1”, and other data is represented by a white bit “0”.

Such shadow fonts are prepared for each type of character font, and when a character to be displayed is specified, a character font and a shadow font corresponding to the specified character are used, and FIG. The shaded character font as shown in () is generated. This shaded character font is realized by overlaying the character font on the shadow font with their coordinate positions aligned.

When a shadow is added to a character, FIG.
There are a method of opening the closed area 21a of the character as shown in (a) and a method of filling the closed area 21a of the character as shown in (b) of the figure. Either of these methods may be used.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example of characters and images in the present system.

In the present system, for example, when characters are superimposed and displayed on image data such as a target object or a map received by a radar, the visibility is ensured by using the above-described shadowed character font. I have to. In the figure, 31 is image data, and 32 is a character font with shadow. In this case, the character portion 32a of the shaded character font 32 is the image 3
1, and the shadow portion 32b is displayed in a color that can be identified from the character portion 32a.

Hereinafter, referring to FIGS. 5 and 6,
The processing operation of the present system will be described.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the shadow font generation process in the present system.

In the font file 11 shown in FIG. 1, a large number of pre-established character fonts are stored in advance, and these character fonts are read out one by one from the font file 11 one by one and given to the shadow font generation unit 12. (Step A11). The shadow font generator 12 scans the bitmap data constituting the character font for each character font read from the font file 11 line by line in a predetermined direction, and searches for the point of the black bit “1”. (Step A12). By this scanning, the black bit "1"
Is detected (Yes in step A13), the shadow font generation unit 12 changes the data of the points corresponding to a predetermined number of bits around the point to black bits "1" (step A14).
The point of the black bit “1” corresponds to a character portion, and by changing data of points around the predetermined number of bits to the black bit “1”, the outside of the character outline portion is painted out.

As described above, the outside of the character outline is painted while scanning the bitmap data line by line, so that a shadow font corresponding to the character font is generated. When scanning of all lines is completed (Yes in step A15), the shadow font generation unit 12 stores the shadow font obtained by the above-described filling process in the shadow font file 13 in association with the character font (step A16).

The above process is repeated for all character fonts stored in the font file 11 (step A17). As a result, the shadow font file 13 contains
A shadow font corresponding to each character font in the font file 11 is created. Since two types of character fonts having different sizes are actually prepared in the font file 11, two types of shadow fonts corresponding to these sizes are created in the shadow font file 13.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the display processing in the present system.

The above-mentioned font file 11 and shadow font file 13 are read into the memory 15 and used for display. This memory 15 is provided with a character font storage area 15a and a shadow font storage area 15b. The character font storage area 15a stores various character fonts in the font file 11 and the shadow font storage area 15b.
Various shadow fonts in the shadow font file 13 are stored in b.

When a character to be displayed is specified through the operation unit 14 during display, a character font and a shadow font corresponding to the specified character are read from the character font storage area 15a and the shadow font storage area 15b of the memory 15. The output is provided to the font synthesizing unit 16 (step B11). The font combining unit 16 combines the character font read from the memory 15 with the shadow font to generate a shadowed character font (step B12). More specifically, a character font corresponding to the shadow font is overlaid on the shadow font with their coordinate positions aligned to generate a character font with shadow.

Here, the color setting unit 17 sets the display color for the shaded character font generated by the font synthesizing unit 16. The color setting unit 17 sets the display color of the shadow part of the shaded character font to a color that can be distinguished from the image data based on the display color of the image data provided from the outside, and sets the display color of the character part to the shaded part. The color is set to a color that can be distinguished from the display color (step B13). It is also possible for the user to arbitrarily set the display color of the shadow portion and the character portion for the shadowed character font through the operation unit 14. When the display color is set, information indicating the set display color is added to the data of the shadow portion and the data of the character portion of the shadowed character font, respectively.
Given to.

When the display processing unit 18 receives the shaded character font after setting the display color, the display processing unit 18 superimposes the shaded character font on a predetermined position (character insertion position) of the external image data and superimposes the shadowed character font on the display unit 19. By outputting, the image data and the shaded character font are displayed on the display (step B14). At this time, the shadow portion and the character portion of the character font with shadow are displayed in color with the set color.

As described above, a shadow can be given to a character font by using an existing character font. Thereby, when characters are superimposed on the image data, the distinction from the image data becomes clear, and the visibility can be ensured.

Further, since the character portion and the shadow portion are set and displayed in identifiable colors according to the display color of the image data, the character is not buried in the image data. Therefore, even for complex image data,
Characters can be easily read.

The method described in the above-described embodiment is, for example, a magnetic disk (floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, or the like) or an optical disk (CD
-ROM, DVD, etc.), writing to a recording medium such as a semiconductor memory and applying to various devices, or transmitting to a communication medium and applying to various devices. A computer that realizes the present apparatus reads the program recorded on the recording medium, and executes the above-described processing by controlling the operation of the program.

[0035]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to add a shadow to a character font using an existing character font, and use the shadowed character font to add a character to image data. By performing the superimposed display of characters, the visibility of the characters can be ensured, and the interpretation on the screen can be made easy.

Further, by displaying the character portion and the shadow portion in colors that can be identified according to the display color of the image data, it is possible to prevent the characters from being buried in the image data. Can be further improved. Therefore, even for complicated image data, characters can be easily read, and a character display effective for a system that needs to display important information with characters together with an image can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a display system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a shadow character font generation method realized by the display system;
FIG. 2A is a diagram showing a character font, FIG. 2B is a diagram showing a shadow font, and FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view for explaining how to apply a shadow to a closed area of a character.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example of characters and images in the display system.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of shadow font generation processing in the display system.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation of a display process in the display system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 11 font file 12 shadow font generation unit 13 shadow font file 14 operation unit 15 memory 15a character font storage area 15b shadow font storage area 16 font synthesis unit 17 color setting unit 18 display processing unit 19 ... Display unit 21 ... Character part 22 ... Shadow part 21a ... Closed area of character 31 ... Image data 32 ... Character font with shadow 32a ... Character part 32b ... Shadow part

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A first storage means in which a plurality of character fonts previously formed in a bitmap format are stored, and a bit constituting the character font for each character font stored in the first storage means. Shadow font generating means for generating a shadow font by filling a predetermined number of bits around the character outline portion of the map data; second storage means for storing each shadow font generated by the shadow font generating means; In accordance with the specification of the character to be read, the character font and the shadow font corresponding to the specified character are read out from the first and second storage means, and the coordinate positions of the character font are aligned on the shadow font and aligned. , A shaded character font generating means for generating a shaded character font, and a shadowed character generated by the shaded font generating means. Display system characterized by comprising a display means for displaying by superimposing Onto on the image data given from outside. 2. A color setting means for setting a display color of a shadow part and a display color of a character part of the shaded character font based on a display color of the image data, wherein the display means comprises: 2. The display system according to claim 1, wherein a shadow portion and a character portion of the shadowed character font are displayed in color in a display color set by the control unit. 3. A method according to claim 1, wherein each of said character fonts is sequentially read out one by one from a first memory in which a plurality of character fonts previously formed in a bitmap format are stored. A shadow font is generated by filling a predetermined number of bits around the portion, and a shadow font corresponding to each of the character fonts is stored in the second memory. A corresponding character font and a shadow font are read from the first and second memories, and the character font is overlaid on the shadow font with their coordinate positions aligned to generate a shadowed character font. A data display method characterized by superimposing and displaying a character font on image data given from outside. 4. A bitmap data constituting a character font prepared in advance is scanned in a predetermined direction for each line, and when a black data point is detected by this scanning, a predetermined number of bits around the point are detected. By changing the points to black data and creating a shadow font that fills the periphery of the character outline, and overlaying the shadow font on the generated shadow font with the coordinate positions aligned with each other, the shadow font A method for generating a shadowed character font, comprising: 5. A recording medium storing a program for superimposing and displaying characters on image data, wherein a plurality of character fonts previously formed in a bitmap format are stored in a computer having a display device. Each of the above character fonts from the first memory is
A process of sequentially reading out characters one by one; a process of generating a shadow font by filling a predetermined number of bits around a character contour portion of the bitmap data constituting each of the character fonts; In accordance with the specification of a character to be displayed, a character font and a shadow font corresponding to the specified character are read from the first and second memories, and the character font is written on the shadow font. A process of generating a shadowed character font by superimposing fonts at the same coordinate position, and a process of superimposing the shadowed character font on externally provided image data and outputting the same to the display device. A computer-readable recording medium on which a program to be executed is recorded. 6. A recording medium on which a program for generating a shadowed character font is recorded, wherein a computer scans bitmap data constituting the character font prepared in advance in a predetermined direction line by line. And when a point of black data is detected by this scanning, a process of changing a predetermined number of bits around the point to black data to generate a shadow font in which the periphery of the character outline is filled, A computer-readable recording medium recording a program for executing a process of generating a shadowed character font by superimposing the shadow font on the shadow font with the same coordinate position.