Constant writing rate digital stroke character generator having minimal data storage requirements
First Claim
1. In combination:
- means for storing data representing portions of straight line segments of characters to be displayed, said data comprising the magnitude and direction of each of said portions for at least two axes;
means for periodically accumulating said data at a constant rate for producing said straight line segments of said characters;
means for storing a digital number representing the number of said portions in each of said segments;
counting means operating in response to said number; and
means for displaying said characters.
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Abstract
A digital character generator with minimal storage requirements for use in random access display systems. Each character or symbol is made up of patterns of straight line segments called macro-strokes. Each macro-stroke in turn is made up of a predetermined number of connected portions or micro-strokes lying in a straight line. Each micro-stroke is of substantially the same length independent of the number of micro-strokes in a macro-stroke and of the directional orientation of the macrostroke. To store a character or symbol each macro-stroke is divided into its micro-strokes and the micro-strokes resolved into X and Y components. The X and Y components are stored along with the number of micro-strokes in the particular macro-stroke. Along with this information is stored the address and memory of the next macro-stroke within the character or symbol. The X and Y components of the micro-strokes are continuously accumulated until the end of the macro-stroke is reached as determined by the number of micro-strokes within the macro-stroke. The memory is then sequenced to the next address to begin the generation of the next macro-stroke.
27 Citations
22 Claims
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1. In combination:
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means for storing data representing portions of straight line segments of characters to be displayed, said data comprising the magnitude and direction of each of said portions for at least two axes; means for periodically accumulating said data at a constant rate for producing said straight line segments of said characters; means for storing a digital number representing the number of said portions in each of said segments; counting means operating in response to said number; and
means for displaying said characters. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A character generator for producing signals for deflecting the beam of a cathode-ray tube in predetermined character patterns, the character patterns being divided into straight line segments and said straight line segments each being divided into a predetermined number of portions, said character generator comprising in combination:
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a memory, said memory storing data representing the magnitude and direction of said portions and the number of said portions in each straight line segment; a plurality of registers for receiving said data from said memory and for storing said data; first counter means, said first counter means operating in response to said number; means for repetitively adding said data to a present stored position; and means for addressing said memory. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A character generator for producing signals for deflecting the beam of a cathode-ray tube in predetermined character patterns, said character patterns each being divided into straight line segments, each of said straight line segments being divided into a predetermined number of connected straight line portions, said character generator comprising in combination:
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a memory, a data word being stored in said memory for each of said segments in each of said character patterns, each of said data words comprising data representing the magnitude and direction of said straight line portions for each of two axes for the segment to which said data word corresponds, the number of said portions in said segment, and an address in said memory of the word corresponding to the next one of said segments; a first counter for addressing said memory, said counter being preset prior to the display of the first one of said segments in each of said characters by a code corresponding to said character and preset for each succeeding segment in said character by said address within said data word; a second counter for counting said number of said portions in each of said segments, said second counter being incremented one count for each of said segments, and said first counter being incremented in response to one or more outputs of said second counter; and two accumulators, said data representing said magnitude and direction of said straight line portions being coupled from said memory to said accumulators, one of said accumulators being provided for each of said axes. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification