Character display system

Claim 2

A stroke signal generating system, comprising, a memory for storing a plurality of groups of digital words, each word representing in coded form a stroke to be traced, each group representing the strokes required to write one character, said memory being divided into a plurality of blocks each having the same number of adjacent addresses and each block being for storing two groups of words at addresses beginning at opposite ends thereof, means for selecting a desired one of said blocks, means for selecting one of the ends of said block and for reading sequentially the words in that group which are stored at addresses beginning at the selected end, and means for decoding said words and deriving from each signals indicative of stroke direction and intensity.

Claim 3

A system in accordance with claim 1 in which said means for selecting and for reading includes an up-down counter for sequentially reading words in the selected block beginning at that end determined by the counting direction selected.

Claim 4

A system in accordance with claim 1 in which each of said words includes coded information specifying whether the next stroke shall be defined as a continuation of the instant stroke or whether it shall be defiNed by the next succeeding word.

Claim 5

A stroke signal generating system including signal generating apparatus for deriving signals suitable for directing a marker to traverse any of a plurality of predetermined patterns of strokes, each pattern representing a different character, wherein said apparatus comprises, a memory for storing a plurality of digital words, each representing in coded form a stroke to be traced in a predetermined direction in a predetermined time, said words being stored in groups, each group representing the pattern of strokes required for one character, said memory being divided into a plurality of blocks each containing the same number of addresses and each being for storing a pair of groups of words corresponding to a preselected pair of characters, one of the groups of each pair being stored at those adjacent addresses beginning at one end of its blocks while the other group of each pair is stored at those adjacent addresses beginning at the other end of its block, first means responsive to an instruction to write a particular character for selecting that block in which the corresponding group of words is stored, second means responsive to an instruction to write a particular character for selecting that end of the selected block in which the group of words corresponding to that particular character is stored and for reading sequentially the words in that group which are stored at addresses beginning at the selected end, and means for decoding the words so read and for deriving therefrom a series of digital signals indicative of the intensity and direction of movement of a marker required to write the selected character.

Claim 6

A stroke signal generating system including signal generating apparatus for deriving signals suitable for directing a marker to traverse any of a plurality of predetermined patterns of strokes, each pattern representing a different character, wherein said apparatus comprises, a memory for storing a plurality of digital words, each representing in coded form a stroke to be traced in a predetermined direction in a predetermined time, said words being stored in groups, each group representing the pattern of strokes required for one character, said memory being divided into a plurality of blocks each containing the same number of addresses and each being for storing a pair of groups of words corresponding to a preselected pair of characters, one of the groups of each pair being stored at those adjacent addresses beginning at one end of its blocks while the other group of each pair is stored at those adjacent addresses beginning at the other end of its block, first means responsive to an instruction to write a particular character for selecting that block in which the corresponding group of words is stored, second means responsive to an instruction to write a particular character for selecting that end of the selected block in which the group of words corresponding to that particular character is stored and for reading sequentially the words in that group which are stored at addresses beginning at the selected end, and means for decoding the words so read and for deriving therefrom a series of digital signals indicative of the intensity and direction of movement of a marker required to write the selected character.

Claim 7

A system in accordance with claim 4 in which each of said groups includes a word specifying that the pattern has been completed.

Claim 8

A system in accordance with claim 4 in which each group that includes two words calling for successive strokes having opposite vertical directions at the top or bottom of the pattern, includes an auxiliary word, interposed between said two words, containing coded instructions to blank said marker and hold it at its then attained position.

Claim 9

A system in accordance with claim 4 in which said second means includes an up-down counter, conditioned by said instruction to count either up or down depending upon the end of the selected block in which the corresponding group of words is stored, said counter being for reading sequentially the words of that group which are stored at addresses beginning at the selected end.

Claim 10

A stroke signal generating system comprising circuitry, responsive to an instruction to write a selected one of a repertoire of characters, for generating a series of signals indicative of the direction of movement and writing intensity required of a marker to trace the selected character, characterized in that such circuitry includes a memory having stored therein a plurality of digital words arranged in groups, each word representing in coded form the characteristics of a stroke, each group representing the characteristics of all the strokes required to write one character, characterized in that said memory is divided into a plurality of blocks of addresses, each block being for storing two groups of words at addresses beginning at opposite ends thereof, and in that said circuitry includes means responsive to the aforesaid instruction for selecting that block in which the group of words corresponding to the selected character is stored and for reading the words of one of the groups stored in that block beginning at one or the other end of the block depending upon which end includes addresses of words in the group corresponding to the selected character, whereby the required series of signals is generated.

Claim 11

A stroke signal generating system comprising circuitry, responsive to an instruction to write a selected one of a repertoire of characters, for generating a series of signals indicative of the direction of movement and writing intensity required of a marker to trace the selected character, characterized in that such circuitry includes a memory having stored therein a plurality of digital words arranged in groups, each word representing in coded form the characteristics of a stroke, each group representing the characteristics of all the strokes required to write one character, characterized in that said memory is divided into a plurality of blocks of addresses, each block being for storing two groups of words at addresses beginning at opposite ends thereof, and in that said circuitry includes means responsive to the aforesaid instruction for selecting that block in which the group of words corresponding to the selected character is stored and for reading the words of one of the groups stored in that block beginning at one or the other end of the block depending upon which end includes addresses of words in the group corresponding to the selected character, whereby the required series of signals is generated.

Claim 14

A system in accordance with claim 9 in which said means responsive includes means for inhibiting that pulse next following the pulse which initiates decoding of that word which included said first condition.

Claim 15

A system in accordance with claim 9 in which said circuit includes an AND circuit interposed between said clock and said counter and said decoder and buffer and in which said means responsive includes means for blocking the passage through said AND circuit of that pulse next following the pulse which initiated decoding of that word which included said first condition.

Claim 16

A system in accordance with claim 11 in which said means responsive includes a flip flop circuit actuated by pulses received directly from said clock and enabled by the reading out of said first condition for blocking said AND circuit.