GB2221778A

GB2221778A - Converting system for Chinese character address codes

Info

Publication number: GB2221778A
Application number: GB8818867A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Senor Chiou
Original assignee: AUTONIC SCIENCE CO Ltd
Current assignee: AUTONIC SCIENCE CO Ltd
Priority date: 1988-08-09
Filing date: 1988-08-09
Publication date: 1990-02-14
Also published as: GB8818867D0

Abstract

A converting system for the address codes of Chinese characters, has six table memories (21-26), each defining a one-to-one relationship between a respective category of address codes for Chinese characters and a predetermined type of address codes for Chinese characters; and a switch (30) for enabling one of the table memories and disabling the others at the same time. A microprocessor (10) receives a code belonging to one of the categories of address codes and retrieves a corresponding code belonging to the predetermined type of address codes from the enabled table memory. <IMAGE>

Description

(#()N#F}?TING SYSTEM FOR CHINESE CHARACTER ADDRESS CODES The present invention relates to a converting system for the address codes of Chinese characters, and more pirticularly to a system for converting various ralegories of address codes for Chinese characters into a predetermined type of address code.

As those ordinarily skilled in this art know, the coding manner for Chinese characters is quite different from that of English. A Chinese character is not formed by one or by the combination of several letters of the alphabet, as an English word is. To accurately process Chinese characters in computers, each Chinese character must be assigned a different code. In general, the assigned codes act as the address codes of the Chinese characters in a memory device within which the pattern data of Chinese characters are stored.

At present, many computer companies have developed their own Chinese computer systems with different coding manners for Chinese characters. For example, there are six categories of common coding manners on the market, inriuding the so-called National Standard (N.S.) code, the D.C. code, the M.T. code, the C.D.C. code, the IBM 550 code (IBM 5550 is a trademark of IBM Corp.) and the BIG 5 code. For example, the address code for the pattern data (or assigned code) of the Chinese character " @ ", is 2744 H (hexadecimal number) in the N.S. code, 2E21 H in the D.C. code, 2D22 H in the M.T. code, 8C6A H in the IBM 5550 code, and A46A H in the BIG 5 code.

Consequently, different computers manufactured by different companies frequently find great difficult in communicating information in Chinese with each other. In addition, printers for Chinese manufactured by one company often cannot be used with a Chinese computer manufactured by other company.

Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a converting system for ~ ot erting any one category of address codes for Chinese characters into a predetermined type of address codes.

The predetermined type of address codes may be one of the above-stated categories of address codes, or may be a new category of address codes which is developed by the inventor and has been named "United Code". For example, the address code of the above-described Chinese cllaracter " @ " in the "United Code" is 1129 H.

In accordance with the present invention, a concerting system for the address codes of Chinese characters, comprises a first table means for defining a one-to-one relationship between a first category of address codes for Chinese characters and a predetermined type of address codes for Chinese characters; a second table means for defining a one-to-one relationship between a second category of and the predetermined type of address codes for Chinese characters; means, coupled to the first and second table means, for enabling one of the first and second table means and for disabling the otller at the same time; and means for receiving an inputted code belonging to one of the first and second categories of address codes and for retrieving a corresponding code belonging to the predetermined type of address codes from the enabled table means in accordance with its defined relationship.

The present invention can be more fully understood with reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, which form an integral part of this application: Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a converting system according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a flow chart of a control program in the converting system of Fig. 1.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the converting system of the present invention includes a microprocessor 10, eight table memories 21 through 28, respectively coupled to the microprocessor 10 through a data bus and an address bus, anri a multi-position switch 30 coupled to each of the enable inpiits (EN) of the table memories 21 through 28.

The switch 30 can be switched to enable one of the table memories, and at the same time disable the other table memories. As shown in Fig. 1, the table memory 23 is enabled, and the other table memories 21, 22, 24 through are disabled. Each of the table memories 21 through 26 is utilized to build up a table defining a one-to-one relationship between one of the above-stated categories of address codes to the "United Code". The address of the table memory corresponds to the address code belonging to one category of the prior coding manners, an#1 the content in the address corresponds to the address code belonging to the "United Code"#in relation to the category of the prior coding manner.For example, the table memory 21 is for the N.S. code to the "United Code". The content in the address 2744 H of the table memory 21 is 1129 H, standing for the Chinese character " * ". The table memory 22 is for the D.C. code to the "invited Code", and the content in its address 2E21 H is 1129 H and so on. In this preferred embodiment, each table memory is a read only memory (ROM). The table memories 27 and 28 are preserved for future expansion.

The microprocessor 10 receives the input of the address code belonging to any one category of the prior coding manner at its DI inputs via a bus 12, and outputs the converted address code at its DO outputs via a bus 14. The microprocessor 10 may include a central processing unit (CPU) (not shown), such as TOSHIBA 90C41 anfl the like, and a read only memory (ROM) (not shown) stored therein the control program for the converting system of the present invention.

The operation of the converting system will be described in detail with further reference to Fig. 2.

When one uses the converting process, an input informing signal will first appear at the input HI of the microprocessor 10. Then, the microprocessor 10 will read in an inputted address code to be converted via the bus 12, and will send it out via its AD outputs. When the AD outputs are steady, a logical low pulse will be sent out at its RD output to retrieve the "United Code", norresponding to the inputted address code from the table memory which is enabled by the switch 30. Finally, an oiitput informing pulse will be sent out at the HO output of the microprocessor 10, and the "United Code" sent out via the bus 14.

The converting system can be manufactured as an interface device capable of being mounted either in a computer or a printer. In the case of a printer, a memory in which the pattern data of the Chinese characters for the "United Code" is stored, is further provided within the printer. Regardless of which category of address code is sent from the computer, the corlverting system of the present invention can convert it into the "United Code". Then, the pattern of the corresponding Chinese character can be retrieved from the memory for printing out. It should be noted the converting system of the present invention can also be cotlstructed entirely by software.

Claims

CI.AIMS

1. A converting system for the address codes of Chinese characters, comprising: a first table means for defining a one-to-one relationship between a first category of address codes for Chinese characters and a predetermined type of address codes for Chinese characters; a second table means for defining a one-to-one relationship between a second category of and the predetermined type of address codes for Chinese characters; means, coupled to the first and second table means, for enabling one of the first and second table means and for disabling the other at the same time; and means for receiving an inputted code belonging to one of the first and second categories of address codes and for retrieving a corresponding code belonging to the predetermined type of address codes from the enabled table means in accordance with its defined relationship.

2. A converting system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a third table means for defining a one-to-one relationship between a third category of and the predetermined type of address codes for Chinese characters; a fourth table means for defining a one-to-one relationship between a fourth category of and the predetermined type of address codes for Chinese characters; a fifth table means for defining a one-to-one relationship between a fifth category of and the predetermined type of address codes for Chinese characters; and a sixth table means for defining a one-to-one relationship between a sixth category of and the predetermined type of address codes for Chinese characters: and tvilereill the enabling means is a multi-position siitrh coupled to the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth table means, respectively, for being switched to selectively enable one of the table means and to disable the other at the same time, and the inputted code belongs to one of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth an(1 sixth categories of address codes.

3. A converting system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the predetermined type of address code is one of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth categories of address code for Chinese characters.

t. A converting system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 whprejn each table means is a memory means within which the address codes belonging to the predetermined type are stored in the corresponding addresses of the memory means in accordance with the corresponding category of address codes.

5. A converting system for the address codes of Chinese characters substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.