Patent US3924723A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3924723A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Centering of textual character fields about a point
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1973-12-26
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Granted: 1975-12-09
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Expires: 1993-12-26
Abstract
Abstract A system and method are disclosed for providing automatic centering of textual character fields about a chosen horizontal point on a printing line. A keyboard is electrically connected to a recirculating dynamic shift register memory capable of storing m data codes, each of the codes including n parallel bits. An n bit operation flag code recirculates along with the data codes to define an operating point within the memory. Control circuitry responsive to the keyboard generation of a centering control code enables the input of a center flag code into the memory immediately preceding the operation flag code. Character codes that are subsequently generated by the keyboard are input into the memory immediately preceding the operation flag code, between the center flag code and the operation flag code. Backspace codes corresponding to alternate character codes (2nd, 4th, etc.) are also input into the memory immediately succeeding the center flag code. A printer connected to the memory backspaces one space for each backspace code as the backspace codes are entered into the memory. Thus, the printer executes a no-print backspace, beginning at the chosen horizontal point, for each 2nd, 4th, 6th, etc., character code entered from the keyboard. When a keyboard generated field-end code (such as a carrier return or tab) is detected, the character codes are printed. The center flag code may be preceded by a tab code corresponding to the desired center point location on the printed record, or the center flag code may be preceeded by spaces or backspaces to position the print carrier to the chosen center point before keying the text. An error-correct feature is also disclosed for deleting the character codes and backspace codes from the memory in the event of an error.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald Walter Cooper
- 👤 James Bradley Unruh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 22:29
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J21/00; B41J21/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
233 words
A system for arranging and storing a sequence of textural codes upon input of said codes into a recirculating memory having an operation flag code defining an operating point therein, said codes being arranged and stored in said memory to facilitate centering of said codes about a chosen point when said codes are output to a printer, said system comprising: first means for generating textural character codes and one or more escapement control codes capable of causing printer escapement to said chosen point; second means for generating backspace codes; escapement control code input means for inputting said one or more escapement control codes into said memory preceding said operation flag code; textual character input means for inputting each textual character code generated by said first means into said memory immediately preceding said operation flag code; and backspace input means for inputting a backspace code into said memory in response to the generation of every other escaping textual code, said backspace codes being input into said memory preceding the first entered textual character code and succeeding said one or more escapement control codes; said character input means and said backspace input means cooperating with said first and second generating means and said memory for causing the storage in said memory of a contiguous stream of textural character codes, preceded by a contiguous stream of backspace codes, preceded by one or more escapement control codes.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
233 words
A system for arranging and storing a sequence of textural codes upon input of said codes into a recirculating memory having an operation flag code defining an operating point therein, said codes being arranged and stored in said memory to facilitate centering of said codes about a chosen point when said codes are output to a printer, said system comprising: first means for generating textural character codes and one or more escapement control codes capable of causing printer escapement to said chosen point; second means for generating backspace codes; escapement control code input means for inputting said one or more escapement control codes into said memory preceding said operation flag code; textual character input means for inputting each textual character code generated by said first means into said memory immediately preceding said operation flag code; and backspace input means for inputting a backspace code into said memory in response to the generation of every other escaping textual code, said backspace codes being input into said memory preceding the first entered textual character code and succeeding said one or more escapement control codes; said character input means and said backspace input means cooperating with said first and second generating means and said memory for causing the storage in said memory of a contiguous stream of textural character codes, preceded by a contiguous stream of backspace codes, preceded by one or more escapement control codes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said first means further comprises means fOr generating a centering control code and said system further includes means responsive to the generation of said centering control code, before said generation of any of said textual codes, for inputting a centering flag code into said memory immediately preceding said operation flag code.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said backspace input means further comprises means for inputting each of said backspace codes into said memory immediately succeeding said centering flag code.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 2 further comprising a printing means and means, upon the input of said backspace codes into said memory, for transmitting said backspace codes to said printing means, whereby said printing means backspaces once for each of said transmitted backspace codes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system of claim 4 wherein said first means further comprises means for generating an error-correct control code and said second means includes means for generating delete codes and said systems further includes means, upon the generation of an error-correct control code, for replacing said textural character codes and said backspace codes in said memory with delete codes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 5 further comprising means, upon the generation of said error-correct control code, for spacing said printing means forward one space for each of the backspace codes replaced with delete codes in said memory.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 6 further comprising means, upon the replacement of said textural character codes and backspace codes with delete codes, for removing said delete codes from said memory.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
The system of claim 4 wherein said first means further comprises means for generating a field-end code and said system further includes means, upon the generation of a field-end code, for transmitting said textual character codes in said memory to said printing means in the order of the input of said textual character codes into said memory.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 8 further comprising means for removing said centering flag code from said memory.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 9 wherein said memory comprises a dynamic shift register.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 10 wherein each of said textual codes, control codes, and flag codes recirculated in said dynamic shift register comprise combinations of n binary digits.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 11 wherein said first means further comprises an electrical keyboard.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
228 words
A method for arranging and storing a sequence of textural codes upon input of said codes into a recirculating memory having an operation flag code defining an operating point therein, said codes being arranged and stored in said memory to facilitate centering of said codes about a chosen point when said codes are output to a printer, said method comprising: a. generating one or more escapement control codes capable of causing printer escapement to said chosen point; b. inputting said one or more escapement control codes into said memory preceding said operation flag code; c. generating a centering control code; d. inputting, in response to the generation of said centering control code, a centering flag code into said memory immediately preceding said operation flag code; e. generating textual character codes; f. generating backspace codes; g. inputting said textual character codes into said memory immediately preceding said operation flag code; and h. inputting one of said backspace codes into said memory in response to the generation of every other escaping textual code, each of said backspace codes being input into said memory immediately succeeding said centering flag code, thereby storing in said memory said one or more escapement control codes, succeeded by said centering flag code, succeeded by a contiguous stream of backspace codes, succeeded by a contiguous stream of textual character codes, succeeded by said operation flag code.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
228 words
A method for arranging and storing a sequence of textural codes upon input of said codes into a recirculating memory having an operation flag code defining an operating point therein, said codes being arranged and stored in said memory to facilitate centering of said codes about a chosen point when said codes are output to a printer, said method comprising: a. generating one or more escapement control codes capable of causing printer escapement to said chosen point; b. inputting said one or more escapement control codes into said memory preceding said operation flag code; c. generating a centering control code; d. inputting, in response to the generation of said centering control code, a centering flag code into said memory immediately preceding said operation flag code; e. generating textual character codes; f. generating backspace codes; g. inputting said textual character codes into said memory immediately preceding said operation flag code; and h. inputting one of said backspace codes into said memory in response to the generation of every other escaping textual code, each of said backspace codes being input into said memory immediately succeeding said centering flag code, thereby storing in said memory said one or more escapement control codes, succeeded by said centering flag code, succeeded by a contiguous stream of backspace codes, succeeded by a contiguous stream of textual character codes, succeeded by said operation flag code.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 13 further comprising: g. generating an error-correct code; and h. deleting said texTual character codes and said backspace codes from said memory upon the generation of said error-correct code.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-08 | 1979-06-09 | 1979-12-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-08 | 1983-06-09 | 1983-12-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-08 | 1987-06-09 | 1987-12-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |