US4933866A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for generating aesthetically alterable character designs
Assignee: MINDABIT Inc
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Filing: 1988-11-17
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Granted: 1990-06-12
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Expires: 2008-11-17
Abstract
Abstract A process and system for generating an aesthetically altered character design with the aid of a computer includes the steps of providing the computer with coordinates defining a wide fixed reference character shape, providing the computer with corresponding coordinates defining a narrow fixed reference character shape, providing the computer with a desired degree of alteration to be made to the character shape in relation to one of the reference character shapes, and calculating in the computer coordinates of an aesthetically alterable character shape. Each of the calculated coordinates for the aesthetically altered shape is generated by interpolating in an amount equal to the desired degree between corresponding coordinates to the wide fixed and narrow fixed reference character shapes. When the desired degree of alteration is outside corresponding coordinates of the wide fixed and narrow fixed reference character shape, the calculated coordinates are generated by extrapolating between the corresponding coordinates of the wide fixed and narrow fixed reference character shapes.
Inventors
- 👤 Jay Markoff
- 👤 John R. Deubert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 16:27
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G09; G09G; G09G5/00; G09G5/22; G09G5/24; G06K2215/00; G06K2215/0002; G06K2215/004; G06K2215/0054
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
224 words
A process for generating an altered character image design for display and use in the printing industry, with the aid of a computer, comprising the steps, executed by said computer, of: establishing a wide fixed character shape, said wide fixed character shape being of a particular typeface; establishing a narrow fixed character shape, said narrow fixed character shape also being of said particular typeface; providing the computer with data representing coordinates defining said wide fixed reference character shape; providing the computer with data representing corresponding coordinates defining said narrow fixed reference character shape; providing the computer with a desired percentage of alteration in relation to one of said reference character shapes; calculating in the computer new coordinates of an altered character shape having said desired percentage of alteration, each of said calculated coordinates being generated, when said desired percentage of alteration specifies compression of said one character shape, by interpolating between said corresponding coordinates of said wide fixed and narrow fixed reference character shapes in an amount equal to said desired percentage, and when said desired percentage of alteration specifies expansion of said one character shape, by extrapolating beyond said corresponding coordinates of said wide and narrow fixed reference character shapes in an amount equal to desired percentage; and generating for display on an output device said altered character shape having said new coordinates.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
224 words
A process for generating an altered character image design for display and use in the printing industry, with the aid of a computer, comprising the steps, executed by said computer, of: establishing a wide fixed character shape, said wide fixed character shape being of a particular typeface; establishing a narrow fixed character shape, said narrow fixed character shape also being of said particular typeface; providing the computer with data representing coordinates defining said wide fixed reference character shape; providing the computer with data representing corresponding coordinates defining said narrow fixed reference character shape; providing the computer with a desired percentage of alteration in relation to one of said reference character shapes; calculating in the computer new coordinates of an altered character shape having said desired percentage of alteration, each of said calculated coordinates being generated, when said desired percentage of alteration specifies compression of said one character shape, by interpolating between said corresponding coordinates of said wide fixed and narrow fixed reference character shapes in an amount equal to said desired percentage, and when said desired percentage of alteration specifies expansion of said one character shape, by extrapolating beyond said corresponding coordinates of said wide and narrow fixed reference character shapes in an amount equal to desired percentage; and generating for display on an output device said altered character shape having said new coordinates.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said degree of alteration is defined by a desired percentage of compression of overall width of said character design, while maintaining character height.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said degree of alteration is defined by a desired percentage of expansion of overall width of said character design, while maintaining character height.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said interpolation is between corresponding wide fixed and narrow fixed shape coordinates based on a linear function.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said interpolation is between corresponding wide fixed and narrow fixed shape coordinates based on a logarithmic function.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said extrapolation is with reference to corresponding wide fixed and narrow fixed coordinates based on a linear function.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said extrapolation is in relation to corresponding wide fixed and narrow fixed shape coordinates based on a logarithmic function.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said wide fixed and narrow fixed reference character shapes each have an overall character height, and each of said character heights are the same, and wherein one of said wide fixed and narrow fixed reference character shapes has an increased "x" height.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said character designs are sans-serif typeface characters.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said wide fixed reference character shape is a standard typeface font.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
231 words
A system for generating an altered character image shape for display and use in the printing industry, with the aid of a computer, comprising: means for establishing a wide fixed character shape, said wide fixed character shape being of a particular typeface; means for establishing a narrow fixed character shape, said narrow fixed character shape also being of said particular typeface; means for providing the computer with data representing coordinates defining said wide fixed reference character shape; means for providing the computer with data representing corresponding coordinates defining said narrow fixed reference character shape; means for providing the computer with a desired percentage of alteration in relation to one of said reference character shapes; means for calculating in the computer new coordinates of an altered character shape having said desired percentage of alteration, each of said calculated coordinates being generated, when said desired percentage of alteration specifies compression of said one character shape, by interpolating between said corresponding coordinates of said wide fixed and narrow fixed reference character shapes in an amount equal to said desired percentage, and when said desired percentage of alteration specifies expansion of said one character shape, by extrapolating beyond said corresponding coordinates of said wide and narrow fixed reference character shapes in an amount equal to desired percentage; and means for generating for display on an output device said altered character shape having said new coordinates.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
231 words
A system for generating an altered character image shape for display and use in the printing industry, with the aid of a computer, comprising: means for establishing a wide fixed character shape, said wide fixed character shape being of a particular typeface; means for establishing a narrow fixed character shape, said narrow fixed character shape also being of said particular typeface; means for providing the computer with data representing coordinates defining said wide fixed reference character shape; means for providing the computer with data representing corresponding coordinates defining said narrow fixed reference character shape; means for providing the computer with a desired percentage of alteration in relation to one of said reference character shapes; means for calculating in the computer new coordinates of an altered character shape having said desired percentage of alteration, each of said calculated coordinates being generated, when said desired percentage of alteration specifies compression of said one character shape, by interpolating between said corresponding coordinates of said wide fixed and narrow fixed reference character shapes in an amount equal to said desired percentage, and when said desired percentage of alteration specifies expansion of said one character shape, by extrapolating beyond said corresponding coordinates of said wide and narrow fixed reference character shapes in an amount equal to desired percentage; and means for generating for display on an output device said altered character shape having said new coordinates.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 11, wherein said degree of alteration is defined by a desired percentage of compression of overall width of said character designs, while maintaining character height.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 11, wherein said degree of alteration is defined by a desired percentage of expansion of overall width of said character design, while maintaining character height.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 11, wherein said interpolation is between corresponding wide fixed and narrow fixed shape coordinates based on a linear function.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 11, wherein said interpolation is between corresponding wide fixed and narrow fixed shape coordinates based on a logarithmic function.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 11, wherein said extrapolation is with reference to corresponding wide fixed and narrow fixed coordinates based on a linear function.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 11, wherein said extrapolation is in relation to corresponding wide fixed and narrow fixed shape coordinates based on a logarithmic function.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system of claim 11, wherein said wide fixed and narrow fixed reference character shapes each have an overall character height, and each of said character heights are the same, and wherein one of said wide fixed and narrow fixed reference character shapes has an increased "x" height.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 11, wherein said character designs are sans-serif typeface characters.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 11, wherein said wide fixed reference character shape is a standard typeface font.
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) | 1993-06-11 | 1993-12-11 | 1994-06-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-06-11 | 1997-12-11 | 1998-06-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-06-11 | 2001-12-11 | 2002-06-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |