US4121228A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Photocomposition machine with keyboard entry and CRT display
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1977-04-14
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Granted: 1978-10-17
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Expires: 1997-04-14
Abstract
Abstract An improved photocomposition machine is provided including a keyboard and a cathode ray tube (CRT) which displays various function commands, such as font, point size, and line length and their selected values, in a function field area on the CRT screen. Changes in point size and font values made by the operator within a line appear on the screen with the type line characters in a sequence which they were entered. Upon completion of a type line, the last selected point size and font values appear in the function field area as the completed line is shifted to a predetermined location on the CRT screen, whereby the operator is provided with a visual record of the point size and font values for both current and previous lines.
Inventors
- 👤 Alan B. Cowe
- 👤 Ronald A. Kubinak
- 👤 George G. Pick
- 👤 Richard M. Flanagan
- 👤 Francis S. Szabo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 06:59
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41B; B41B27/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
In a photocomposition machine for recording type characters on a photosensitive member in accordance with type characters, values, and commands entered from an operator input station, the improvement comprising: random access memory means for storing type character information data, value data and command data, data input peripheral means inlcuding keyboard means at the operator station for providing data representative of input commands, values and type characters selected by the operator, said input commands comprising function commands including point size, font and line length selected by the operator, control means for entering said command, value and type character data into said memory means, means for generating a line completion signal, display means at the operator station for visually displaying data stored in said memory in first, second and third predetermined viewing areas, said first viewing area displaying symbols representative of selected commands and values associated therewith, said second viewing area displaying finished data entered into said memory prior to the generation of the last preceding line completion signal, said third viewing area displaying data entered into said memory subsequent to the generator of the last preceding line completion signal, a phototypesetting unit, and means for sequentially reading finished data from said meory to control the operation of said phototypesetting unit at the same time said finished data is being displayed in said second viewing area for reference by the operator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
229 words
In a photocomposition machine for recording type characters on a photosensitive member in accordance with type characters, values, and commands entered from an operator input station, the improvement comprising: random access memory means for storing type character information data, value data and command data, data input peripheral means inlcuding keyboard means at the operator station for providing data representative of input commands, values and type characters selected by the operator, said input commands comprising function commands including point size, font and line length selected by the operator, control means for entering said command, value and type character data into said memory means, means for generating a line completion signal, display means at the operator station for visually displaying data stored in said memory in first, second and third predetermined viewing areas, said first viewing area displaying symbols representative of selected commands and values associated therewith, said second viewing area displaying finished data entered into said memory prior to the generation of the last preceding line completion signal, said third viewing area displaying data entered into said memory subsequent to the generator of the last preceding line completion signal, a phototypesetting unit, and means for sequentially reading finished data from said meory to control the operation of said phototypesetting unit at the same time said finished data is being displayed in said second viewing area for reference by the operator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said display means displays said selcted function commands and associated values at predetermined function display locations in said first viewing area, each location corresponding to a particular function.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
73 words
The structure set forth in claim 2 wherein said display means includes means for generating character codes corresponding to said type characters, values and commands, and circuit means responsive to said codes for displaying corresponding characters, said character generator means further providing function codes to said circuit means to cause display of symbols of predetermined functions at said function display locations, said selected function values being displayed adjacent the corresponding displayed function symbol.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said control means enters point size command and value data into said memory means in accordance with commands and values selected by the operator from said keyboard means during the entry of a type line, said display means displaying said selected point size commands and values within said third viewing area.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
The structure set forth in claim 4 wherein said selected point size commands and values and said selected type characters are displayed within said third viewing area in the same sequence in which such were selected by the operator from said keyboard means, whereby the operator is provided with a visual record of the type characters and their point size values within a type line.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The structure set forth in claim 5 wherein said control means includes means for causing said display means to display at the point size function display location the last selected point size value in response to said line completion signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
The structure set forth in claim 4 wherein said control means enters font command and value data into said memory means in accordance with commands and values selected by the operator from said keyboard means during the entry of a type line, said display means displaying said selected font command and values in said third viewing area.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
The structure set forth in claim 7 wherein said selected font commands and values and said selected type characters are displayed in said third viewing area in the same sequence in which such were selected by the operator from said keyboard means, whereby the operator is provided with a visual record of the type characters and their font values within a line.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The structure set forth in claim 8 wherein said control means causes said display means to display in said first viewing area the last selected font value displayed in said third viewing area in response to said line completion signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
61 words
The structure set forth in claim 4 wherein said control means includes means for accumulating width data of said selected type characters of the current type line for line justification, said width data being functionally related to said selected point size values provided by the operator from said keyboard means during the entry of data displayed in said third viewing area.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said control means includes erase control means responsive to said line completion signal for effectively erasing from said memory means data displayed in said second viewing area.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The structure set forth in claim 11 wherein said control means includes means responsive to said line completion signal to display, in said second viewing area, data formerly displayed in said third viewing area.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
94 words
The structure set forth in claim 2 wherein said control means for entering data into said memory includes buffer storage means for storing said command, value and type character data from said keyboard means, said control means including means for inhibiting the entry of type character data into said memory means from said buffer storage means unless predetermined ones of said input function commands and values therefor have been selected by the operator through said keyboard means, whereby the operator is prevented from inadvertently entering type characters without first selecting required function command values.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The structure set forth in claim 13 wherein said predetermined ones of said input function commands and values required to be selected include point size and line length commands and values.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The structure set forth in claim 14 wherein said predetermined ones of said input function commands and values required to be selected further include a font command and value.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The structure set forth in claim 15 wherein said predetermined ones of said input function commands and values required to be selected further include a leading command and value.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
193 words
A direct keyboard entry phototypesetter comprising, in combination, a random access memory for storing data comprising type characters, format commands and values associated with said format commands, data entry means including a keyboard for writing initial data into said memory, means for generating a line completion signal whenever the initial data accumulated in said memory contains sufficient finished data to represent a complete line of type, electronic display means for visually manifesting data stored in said memory in first, second and third predetermined viewing areas simultaneously, said first viewing area displaying symbols representing at least selected ones of said format commands and the values associated therewith, said second viewing area displaying finished data entered from said data entry means prior to the last preceding line completion signal, and said third viewing area displaying initial data entered subsequent to the last preceding line completion signal, and typesetting means initiated by said line completion signal for reading said finished data from said memory and for recording said finished data in the form of a line of character images on a recording medium simultaneously with the display of said finished data in said second viewing area.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
193 words
A direct keyboard entry phototypesetter comprising, in combination, a random access memory for storing data comprising type characters, format commands and values associated with said format commands, data entry means including a keyboard for writing initial data into said memory, means for generating a line completion signal whenever the initial data accumulated in said memory contains sufficient finished data to represent a complete line of type, electronic display means for visually manifesting data stored in said memory in first, second and third predetermined viewing areas simultaneously, said first viewing area displaying symbols representing at least selected ones of said format commands and the values associated therewith, said second viewing area displaying finished data entered from said data entry means prior to the last preceding line completion signal, and said third viewing area displaying initial data entered subsequent to the last preceding line completion signal, and typesetting means initiated by said line completion signal for reading said finished data from said memory and for recording said finished data in the form of a line of character images on a recording medium simultaneously with the display of said finished data in said second viewing area.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
A phototypesetter as set forth in claim 17 wherein said electronic display means includes a cathode ray tube screen and said viewing areas comprise predetermined zones on said screen.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
42 words
A phototypesetter as set forth in claim 18 wherein said format commands include commands for selecting the font style and size of said character images, the length of said line of character images, and the spacing between succesive lines of character images.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
42 words
A phototypesetter as set forth in claim 19 including means for displaying, in said first viewing area, a remaining line length value indicative of the amount of initial data which must be keyboarded in order to form a complete line of type.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
A phototypesetter as set forth in claim 20 wherein said line completion signal is generated in response to the manual depression of a return key on said keyboard to indicate the end of a line of type.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
68 words
A phototypesetter as set forth in claim 21 including editing means for revising the initial data displayed in said third viewing area, said editing means comprising, in combination, at least one key for erasing previously keyboarded initial data, and means for displaying a moving cursor mark in said third display area to indicate the position of the next type character to be entered from said data entry means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
51 words
A phototypesetter as set forth in claim 22 wherein said type characters and function commands and the values associated therewith are displayed in said second and third viewing areas in the sequence received from said data entry means whereby the operator is provided with a visual record of data previously keyboarded.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
41 words
A phototypesetter as set forth in claim 17 including means responsive to said line completion signal for updating selected values displayed in said first viewing area in accordance with the alterations to those values entered prior to said line completion signal.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
94 words
A phototypesetter as set forth in claim 21 including line justification means, said line justification means including means for comparing the line length established by one of said format commands with the length of the line which would be produced by the data displayed in said third display area, means for generating a first attention signal when the data displayed in said third area is adequate to form a line of character images, and means for forming a second attention signal whenever the data displayed in said third area exceeds the established line length.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
A phototypesetter as set forth in claim 25 wherein at least one of said attention signals is a visual indicia appearing in said third area.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
A phototypesetter as set forth in claim 26 including blink control means for causing said visual indicia to flash on and off at a predetermined rate.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
A phototypesetter as set forth in claim 26 wherein one of said attention signals is an audible alarm signal.
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) | 1981-10-16 | 1982-04-17 | 1982-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-10-16 | 1986-04-17 | 1986-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-10-16 | 1990-04-17 | 1990-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |