US4254467A — Vector to raster processor

Claim 1

Independent Claim 219 words

In a vector to raster processor for converting vector coordinate information forming a plot into a raster scan line format for presentation to a plotter having a multi-electrode nib array constituting a scan line and addressable between incremental movements of a record medium in a direction transverse to said array comprising (a) means for receiving coordinate information of vectors within a current vector band, constituting a predetermined number of scan lines being one of a plurality of bands of equal but of predetermined length making up said plot, the length of said bands being largely dependent on the vector density of said plot, said vector coordinate information being received in random order within each band, (b) means for initializing said vector coordinate information to provide vector computational values for each vector, (c) means for storing said initialized vector values for each vector in parallel format in their received random order, (d) parallel processing means for accessing said storage means and comprising a plurality of parallel operated processor components, said parallel processing means simultaneously dequeuing in parallel format said initialized vector values, simultaneously processing said initialized vector values via one of said processor components and simultaneously requeuing in parallel format the initialized vector values in their previous stored random order into said storage means if the vector requires subsequent processing.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 219 words

In a vector to raster processor for converting vector coordinate information forming a plot into a raster scan line format for presentation to a plotter having a multi-electrode nib array constituting a scan line and addressable between incremental movements of a record medium in a direction transverse to said array comprising (a) means for receiving coordinate information of vectors within a current vector band, constituting a predetermined number of scan lines being one of a plurality of bands of equal but of predetermined length making up said plot, the length of said bands being largely dependent on the vector density of said plot, said vector coordinate information being received in random order within each band, (b) means for initializing said vector coordinate information to provide vector computational values for each vector, (c) means for storing said initialized vector values for each vector in parallel format in their received random order, (d) parallel processing means for accessing said storage means and comprising a plurality of parallel operated processor components, said parallel processing means simultaneously dequeuing in parallel format said initialized vector values, simultaneously processing said initialized vector values via one of said processor components and simultaneously requeuing in parallel format the initialized vector values in their previous stored random order into said storage means if the vector requires subsequent processing.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 80 words

In the vector to raster processor of claim 1 wherein said initialized vector values for each vector include the incremental distance in the major axis direction, the incremental distance in the minor axis direction, slope approximation of the major incremental change relative to the minor incremental change, the number of nibs to be set for a given vector length, and the location of the address of the nib to be set for a given scan line in the current band.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 44 words

In the vector to raster processor of claim 2 wherein there is raster buffer means to store the set nibs and means to output said raster buffer means when the nibs have been set for a given scan line in the current vector band.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 61 words

In the vector to raster processor of claim 1 wherein said storage means also includes a section for inputting initialized vector coordinate information for the next vector band, the amount of storage in said next vector band section governed by the amount of storage available in storing and processing the initialized vector values for the vectors in the current vector band.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 29 words

In the vector to raster processor of claim 1 wherein one of said initialized values comprises the vector type indicative of predetermined vector orientation relative to known Cartesian coordinates.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 27 words

In the vector to raster processor of claim 5 wherein said parallel processing means includes means to process each vector for rasterization according to its vector type.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 176 words

In a vector to raster processor for converting vector coordinate information into a raster scan line format for presentation to a terminal device, said coordinate information comprising a plurality of vectors constituting an original plot, each vector having a set of computed vector values, said processor characterized by parallel processing means which includes a plurality of parallel computational component means, vector memory means coupled to said computational component means to store in parallel format said vector value sets, said vector value sets received in random order in said vector memory means and not reordered therein to one or more of their computed vector values, and said vector value sets being retrieved in parallel format from said vector memory means and processed in parallel by said computational component means in their randomly received and stored order with final ordering of vectors falling in any given raster scan line being accomplished by queuing all of the stored vector value sets and requeing them into said vector memory means if the vector extends into the next raster scan line.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 176 words

In a vector to raster processor for converting vector coordinate information into a raster scan line format for presentation to a terminal device, said coordinate information comprising a plurality of vectors constituting an original plot, each vector having a set of computed vector values, said processor characterized by parallel processing means which includes a plurality of parallel computational component means, vector memory means coupled to said computational component means to store in parallel format said vector value sets, said vector value sets received in random order in said vector memory means and not reordered therein to one or more of their computed vector values, and said vector value sets being retrieved in parallel format from said vector memory means and processed in parallel by said computational component means in their randomly received and stored order with final ordering of vectors falling in any given raster scan line being accomplished by queuing all of the stored vector value sets and requeing them into said vector memory means if the vector extends into the next raster scan line.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 48 words

In the vector to raster processor of claim 7 wherein said vectors are received in vector bands, the total of said bands comprising the original plot, each band constituting a predetermined number of raster scan lines, said number based upon the density of vectors in the original plot.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 74 words

In the vector to raster processor of claim 8 wherein said vector memory means comprises a section for vector value sets for a current vector band and a section for some or all of the vector value sets in the next vector band, the amount of storage in said next vector band section governed by the amount of storage available in storing and processing vector value sets for vectors in the current vector band.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 53 words

In the vector to raster processor of claim 7 wherein one of said computational component means designates vector type as one of said computed vector values for each of said vectors and code subroutine means in said parallel processing means for processing the vector value sets in accordance with the designated vector type.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 26 words

In the vector to raster processor of claim 7 wherein said vectors are received in bands of vector, said bands comprising said plot in its entirety.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1984-03-02	1984-09-01	1985-03-03	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1988-03-02	1988-09-01	1989-03-03	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1992-03-02	1992-09-01	1993-03-03	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Vector to raster processor

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