US4364024A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Signature presentation method and apparatus
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
•
Filing: 1979-12-07
•
Granted: 1982-12-14
•
Expires: 1999-12-07
Abstract
Abstract Signature image information is converted from scanner input data into lines of character spaces which can conveniently be presented on a matrix printer. Both the method of image conversion from input scans to output lines of characters and apparatus for interpreting control information accompanying character picture element information are disclosed. An efficient format for presenting the control information and reducing the amount of picture element data stored and handled is also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Karl Paetsch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 10:45
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/10; B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/485; B41J2/49; G06K2215/00; G06K2215/0082
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
A matrix printer for presenting an image of a signature, the improvement comprising: means for receiving and storing a count indicative of the number of lines of character spaces having a portion of said image and a count of the number of character spaces in said lines; means for contiguously receiving and storing a plurality of blank space indicator bits including a binary bit for each character space of a line of character spaces having a portion of said image; logic means responsive to said stored counts for examining each blank space indicator bit in sequence; stepping means controlled by said logic means to cause the print head of said printer to skip each character space position having a logical zero corresponding blank space indicator bit; data gates controlled by said logic means for gating slice data bytes to said print head at each character space having a logical one corresponding blank space indicator bit, said stepping means stepping said print head between each of said slice data bytes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
169 words
A matrix printer for presenting an image of a signature, the improvement comprising: means for receiving and storing a count indicative of the number of lines of character spaces having a portion of said image and a count of the number of character spaces in said lines; means for contiguously receiving and storing a plurality of blank space indicator bits including a binary bit for each character space of a line of character spaces having a portion of said image; logic means responsive to said stored counts for examining each blank space indicator bit in sequence; stepping means controlled by said logic means to cause the print head of said printer to skip each character space position having a logical zero corresponding blank space indicator bit; data gates controlled by said logic means for gating slice data bytes to said print head at each character space having a logical one corresponding blank space indicator bit, said stepping means stepping said print head between each of said slice data bytes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The matrix printer of claim 1 further comprising: line incrementing means controlled by said logic means to cause the relative position of said print head with respect to the paper to be incremented to print character spaces on a second line substantially contiguous with a first line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The printer of claim 1 wherein said count of the number of character spaces in each of said lines is in the form of a byte count and wherein the number of said blank space indicator bits for each of said lines is eight times said byte count.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3201512A
Cited
US3582884A
Cited
US3632867A
Cited
US3718908A
Cited
US4100580A
Cited
US4024506A
Cited
US4068224A
Cited
US4028733A
Cited
US4020463A
Cited
US4074254A
Cited
US4101959A
Cited
US4186415A
Cited
US4150400A
Cited
US4125873A
Cited
GB1558458A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-12-13 | 1986-06-14 | 1986-12-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-12-13 | 1990-06-14 | 1990-12-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-12-13 | 1994-06-14 | 1994-12-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |