US4740093A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Proportional spacing printing management
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1986-10-14
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Granted: 1988-04-26
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Expires: 2006-10-14
Abstract
Abstract A method of determining character width for proportional spacing printing based on information contained in a dot pattern table. For a selected character, the character dot pattern in the table is analyzed to determine leading blanks and the actual character width. To obtain an overall width for printing, a number of trailing blanks equal to the number of leading blanks is added to the number of leading blanks and the actual character width. As such, a character suitable for proportional spacing printing is in effect built.
Inventors
- 👤 Jerry W. Malcolm
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 15:06
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
In a matrix printing system which utilizes a character dot pattern table, a method of determining a character width for proportional spacing printing, said method comprising the steps of: (a) determining a number of leading blank columns in a dot pattern associated with a selected one of a plurality of characters stored in said character dot pattern table to be printed; (b) determining the number of columns containing dots in said dot pattern; and (c) generating the overall character width by adding the number of leading blank columns, said number of columns containing dots, and a number of trailing blank columns equal to said number of leading blank columns.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
In a matrix printing system which utilizes a character dot pattern table, a method of determining a character width for proportional spacing printing, said method comprising the steps of: (a) determining a number of leading blank columns in a dot pattern associated with a selected one of a plurality of characters stored in said character dot pattern table to be printed; (b) determining the number of columns containing dots in said dot pattern; and (c) generating the overall character width by adding the number of leading blank columns, said number of columns containing dots, and a number of trailing blank columns equal to said number of leading blank columns.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 1 including establishing a minimum overall character width.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 1 including establishing a maximum overall character width.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 2 including adding blanks to said overall character width when said overall width is less than said minimum.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 3 including subtracting blanks when said overall width when said character width exceeds said maximum.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4371274A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-04-26 | 1991-10-26 | 1992-04-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-04-26 | 1995-10-26 | 1996-04-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-04-26 | 1999-10-26 | 2000-04-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |