Output display apparatus

Claim 1

An apparatus for producing a set of dots as an output from two patterns, said apparatus comprising: first storage means for storing a first set of dots representing a first one of said patterns as a graphic pattern; second storage means for storing a second set of dots representing a second one of said patterns as an alphanumeric pattern different from said first pattern, said second pattern covering a common portion of said first pattern in said output; third storage means for storing an OR-WRITE/OVER-WRITE distinction code indicating either an OR-WRITE mode, in which said second pattern is to be logically added to said first pattern in said common portion, or an OVER-WRITE mode, in which said second pattern is to replace said first pattern in said common portion; pattern forming means, coupled to said first, second, and third storage means, for logically adding said first and second sets of dots and storing a resultant set of dots into said first storage means when said OR-WRITE/OVER-WRITE distinction code indicates an OR-WRITE mode, and for storing said second set of dots into locations in said first storage means corresponding to the common portion when said distinction code indicates an OVER-WRITE mode; and output means for outputting the set of dots stored in said first storage means by said pattern forming means wherein said second pattern includes a plurality of second dot patterns corresponding to different sets of dots.

Claim 2

An apparatus for producing a set of dots as an output from two patterns, said apparatus comprising: first storage means for storing a first set of dots representing a first one of said patterns as a graphic pattern; second storage means for storing a second set of dots representing a second one of said patterns as an alphanumeric pattern different from said first pattern, said second pattern covering a common portion of said first pattern in said output; third storage means for storing an OR-WRITE/OVER-WRITE distinction code indicating either an OR-WRITE mode, in which said second pattern is to be logically added to said first pattern in said common portion, or an OVER-WRITE mode, in which said second pattern is to replace said first pattern in said common portion; pattern forming means, coupled to said first, second, and third storage means, for logically adding said first and second sets of dots and storing a resultant set of dots into said first storage means when said OR-WRITE/OVER-WRITE distinction code indicates an OR-WRITE mode, and for storing said second set of dots into locations in said first storage means corresponding to the common portion when said distinction code indicates an OVER-WRITE mode; and output means for outputting the set of dots stored in said first storage means by said pattern forming means wherein said second pattern includes a plurality of second dot patterns corresponding to different sets of dots.

Claim 7

A method for superposing a first pattern, which is a graphic pattern, onto a second pattern, which is an alphanumeric pattern different from said graphic pattern, the second pattern being stored as a second dot pattern in a page memory, the method comprising the steps of: generating a first dot pattern corresponding to the first pattern; setting a mode distinction code indicting how the first pattern is to be superposed on a second dot pattern corresponding to the second pattern; calculating an address of said page memory indicating where the first dot pattern should be superposed on the second dot pattern; storing into the page memory at the calculated address the logical addition of the first dot pattern and the second dot pattern if the mode distinction code is set at a first value; and storing the second dot pattern into the page memory at the calculated address if the mode distinction code is set at a second value.

Claim 8

A method for superposing a first pattern, which is a graphic pattern, onto a second pattern, which is an alphanumeric pattern different from said graphic pattern, the second pattern being stored as a second dot pattern in a page memory, the method comprising the steps of: generating a first dot pattern corresponding to the first pattern; setting a mode distinction code indicting how the first pattern is to be superposed on a second dot pattern corresponding to the second pattern; calculating an address of said page memory indicating where the first dot pattern should be superposed on the second dot pattern; storing into the page memory at the calculated address the logical addition of the first dot pattern and the second dot pattern if the mode distinction code is set at a first value; and storing the second dot pattern into the page memory at the calculated address if the mode distinction code is set at a second value.