Patent US3712443A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3712443A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for spacing or kerning typeset characters
Assignee: AT&T Inc
•
Filing: 1970-08-19
•
Granted: 1973-01-23
•
Expires: 1990-08-19
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for producing improved print quality of alphanumeric character combinations. Each character is preassigned closest spacing points at the top, middle, and bottom. Successive characters are positioned so that one leftmost point of a new character coincides with one right-most point of the previous character, thereby insuring close intercharacter spacing. Distance measurements from the character body to each spacing point are retained in memory. The left measurements at top, middle and bottom of a new character to be positioned in the print line are subtracted from the right measurements of the top, middle and bottom, respectively, of the previous character in the print line using subtractor circuitry. Maximum value circuits are used to select the largest of the differences thus formed. The print line is displayed on an oscilloscope. The invention may also be practiced using a general purpose digital computer suitably programmed.
Inventors
- 👤 M Mathews
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 14:44
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41B; B41B27/00; B41B27/28; G; G09; G09G; G09G5/00; G09G5/22; G09G5/24; G09G5/243
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
The improved machine method of typesetting characters comprising the steps of: generating for each character a multiplicity of spacing measurements directed to the right and to the left of each character; subtracting the right directed measurements associated with a first character from the left directed measurements associated with a second character; selecting a maximum of the resulting differences; and spacing said second character from said first character according to said selected maximum.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
72 words
The improved machine method of typesetting characters comprising the steps of: generating for each character a multiplicity of spacing measurements directed to the right and to the left of each character; subtracting the right directed measurements associated with a first character from the left directed measurements associated with a second character; selecting a maximum of the resulting differences; and spacing said second character from said first character according to said selected maximum.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
67 words
The method of spacing alphanumeric characters along a linear display comprising the steps of establishing, for each character, optimum spacing values for a plurality of registered positions vertically displaced from one another on each said character; comparing said spacing values at all registered positions for pairs of said characters to be displayed juxtaposed; and displaying said pairs with a spacing corresponding to the optimum compared spacing values.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
67 words
The method of spacing alphanumeric characters along a linear display comprising the steps of establishing, for each character, optimum spacing values for a plurality of registered positions vertically displaced from one another on each said character; comparing said spacing values at all registered positions for pairs of said characters to be displayed juxtaposed; and displaying said pairs with a spacing corresponding to the optimum compared spacing values.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
91 words
Apparatus for spacing a new character over from a previous character in a character compositor comprising storage means containing data describing each charActer and data comprising a multiplicity of spacing measurements for each character; means for subtracting the multiplicity of spacing measurements of the previous character from the multiplicity of spacing measurements of the new character; means for selecting the maximum of the differences thus formed; and means for positioning the new character at a position wherein the new character is spaced over from the previous character by said maximum difference.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
91 words
Apparatus for spacing a new character over from a previous character in a character compositor comprising storage means containing data describing each charActer and data comprising a multiplicity of spacing measurements for each character; means for subtracting the multiplicity of spacing measurements of the previous character from the multiplicity of spacing measurements of the new character; means for selecting the maximum of the differences thus formed; and means for positioning the new character at a position wherein the new character is spaced over from the previous character by said maximum difference.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
100 words
In a character compositor, an improved means for spacing characters comprising: means for storing a multiplicity of spacing measurements for each character, some of said measurements directed to the right of each character, some of said measurements directed to the left of each character; means for subtracting the right directed measurements of a first character from the left directed measurements of a second character thereby producing a multiplicity of tentative width measurements; means for selecting the maximum of said width measurements; and means for displaying said second character at a position spaced from said first character by said selected measurement.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
100 words
In a character compositor, an improved means for spacing characters comprising: means for storing a multiplicity of spacing measurements for each character, some of said measurements directed to the right of each character, some of said measurements directed to the left of each character; means for subtracting the right directed measurements of a first character from the left directed measurements of a second character thereby producing a multiplicity of tentative width measurements; means for selecting the maximum of said width measurements; and means for displaying said second character at a position spaced from said first character by said selected measurement.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB665889A
Cited
US2672794A
Cited
US2890634A
Cited
US3188929A
Cited
US3165045A
Cited
US3267454A
Cited
US3471848A
Cited
US3311908A
Cited
US3422419A
Cited
US3513968A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-23 | 1976-07-24 | 1977-01-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-23 | 1980-07-24 | 1981-01-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-23 | 1984-07-24 | 1985-01-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |