Patent US3814848A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3814848A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Photographic type face reproducers
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1972-11-30
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Granted: 1974-06-04
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Expires: 1992-11-30
Abstract
Abstract The signals required to control reproduction of characters on the print-out cathode ray tube in a photo-typesetting machine consist of a series of binary codes indicating successive line positions in a raster at which the beam is to be switched on and off in re-forming a character on the print-out tube. To create such a binary code series, a ring of transparent characters on a rotary opaque carrier (or vice-versa) are selectively illuminated from one side of the ring for flooding each required character in turn as the carrier rotates and a line of miniature photo-diode devices is arranged on the other side of the ring in scanning position relative to the illuminating means to detect and signal the physical two-dimensional position on a raster basis in a character area of each ON and OFF change in illumination on the diodes. Detector means successively scan the photo-diodes at high speed relative to the rotational speed of the character carrier and detect the ON and OFF changes in their electrical condition the coordinate positions of which in a character area are signalled to code-responsive means.
Inventors
- 👤 D Kyte
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 17:25
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41B; B41B19/00; B41B19/01; B41B19/16; B41B27/00; B41B27/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
280 words
In a device for producing a plurality of electrical signals for typesetting purposes which signals define the shape of a number of visual characters such as letters of the alphabet or the like, the improvement comprising: a character carrier member, a scanning member, means connected to one of said members to move it repeatedly along a given path with respect to the other member so that there is cyclical relative motion between the members along said path with the motion being at a given rate, said character carrier member having means to visually display each of said characters against a photo-differential background in a sequential series parallel to said path so that with said relative motion there is first an approach to a character, then a stage of movement adjacent that character and then a separation from the next character in turn and the scanning member, with said stage of movement adjacent the character taking place in a given period of time, said carrier member having indexing means indicative of which character is in said stage, said scanning member including means for scanning transversely of said path at a rate such that a plurality of sweeps across each character takes place during said stage whereby during each sweep an electrical signal is produced which signal represents a portion of the character and at the time of the subsequent sweep there has been relative motion between the character and the scanning member so that said subsequent sweep traverses, and produces electrical signals indicative of, an adjacent portion of the character, said scanning member including means positioned to sense and respond to said indexing for identifying which character is in said stage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
280 words
In a device for producing a plurality of electrical signals for typesetting purposes which signals define the shape of a number of visual characters such as letters of the alphabet or the like, the improvement comprising: a character carrier member, a scanning member, means connected to one of said members to move it repeatedly along a given path with respect to the other member so that there is cyclical relative motion between the members along said path with the motion being at a given rate, said character carrier member having means to visually display each of said characters against a photo-differential background in a sequential series parallel to said path so that with said relative motion there is first an approach to a character, then a stage of movement adjacent that character and then a separation from the next character in turn and the scanning member, with said stage of movement adjacent the character taking place in a given period of time, said carrier member having indexing means indicative of which character is in said stage, said scanning member including means for scanning transversely of said path at a rate such that a plurality of sweeps across each character takes place during said stage whereby during each sweep an electrical signal is produced which signal represents a portion of the character and at the time of the subsequent sweep there has been relative motion between the character and the scanning member so that said subsequent sweep traverses, and produces electrical signals indicative of, an adjacent portion of the character, said scanning member including means positioned to sense and respond to said indexing for identifying which character is in said stage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
126 words
In a device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said carrier member comprises a rotatable drum having an inside and an outside and having portions which are at least partially transparent and portiOns which are non-transparent, which portions define said characters and also define lines at each side of each character which lines form part of said means for identifying which character is in said stage, and means at one of said sides of the drum for shining light through the at least partially transparent portions to produce said visual display, and said scanning member is stationary on the other of said sides of the drum in a position at which the light from said at least partially transparent portions falls on said scanning means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
In a device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for scanning transversely comprises a plurality of photodiodes positioned sequentially in a line generally normal to said path with the end diodes in the sequence being spaced apart sufficient to extend across the corresponding dimension of said visual display.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
126 words
In a device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said carrier member comprises a rotatable drum having an inside and an outside and having portions which are at least partially transparent and portions which are non-transparent, which portions define said characters and also define lines at each side of each character which lines form part of said means for identifying which character is in said stage, and means at one of said sides of the drum for shining light through the at least partially transparent portions to produce said visual display, and said scanning member is stationary on the other of said sides of the drum in a position at which the light from said at least partially transparent portions falls on said scanning means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
In a device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said indexing means includes a visual mark transverse to said path and positioned between each character and further visual marking means to identify each time that the cycle of relative movement repeats.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
In a device as set forth in claim 5, wherein said means for scanning transversely comprises a plurality of photodiodes positioned sequentially in a line generally normal to said path with the end diodes in the sequence being spaced apart sufficient to extend across the corresponding dimension of said visual display.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
126 words
In a device as set forth in claim 6, wherein said carrier member comprises a rotatable drum having an inside and an outside and having portions which are at least partially transparent and portions which are non-transparent, which portions define said characters and also define lines at each side of each character which lines form part of said means for identifying which character is in said stage, and means at one of said sides of the drum for shining light through the at least partially transparent portions to produce said visual display, and said scanning member is stationary on the other of said sides of the drum in a position at which the light from said at least partially transparent portions falls on said scanning means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-03 | 1977-12-03 | 1978-06-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-03 | 1981-12-03 | 1982-06-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-03 | 1985-12-03 | 1986-06-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |