Patent US5432890A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5432890A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Character processing apparatus capable of automatic kerning
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1994-10-07
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Granted: 1995-07-11
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Expires: 2014-10-07
Abstract
Abstract A character processing apparatus includes a pattern memory for storing character patterns, a shift amount memory for storing shift amount data of the character patterns stored in the pattern memory and kerning amount data between character data, a printer or display unit for outputting the character pattern, and a kerning executor for kerning the character pattern on the basis of the shift amount data and the kerning amount data which are stored in the shift amount memory when the character pattern stored in the pattern memory is output by the printer or display unit.
Inventors
- 👤 Kiyoshi Watanabe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 04:44
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G5/00; G09G5/22; G09G5/24; G09G5/243; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K2215/00; G06K2215/0002; G06K2215/0062; G06K2215/0065; G06K2215/0068
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A character processing apparatus comprising: storage means for storing character patterns and shift amounts of the character patterns; output means for outputting the character patterns stored in said storage means; means for calculating a minimum distance between an end of a character pattern and a left end of an adjacent character pattern, based on the shift amounts stored in said storage means, prepatory to outputting of the character patterns stored in said storage means; and output control means for causing said output means to output the adjacent two character patterns spaced apart by an interval determined by the output control means in accordance with the minimum distance calculated by said calculating means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
A character processing apparatus comprising: storage means for storing character patterns and shift amounts of the character patterns; output means for outputting the character patterns stored in said storage means; means for calculating a minimum distance between an end of a character pattern and a left end of an adjacent character pattern, based on the shift amounts stored in said storage means, prepatory to outputting of the character patterns stored in said storage means; and output control means for causing said output means to output the adjacent two character patterns spaced apart by an interval determined by the output control means in accordance with the minimum distance calculated by said calculating means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said output means is a printer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said output means is a display unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising input means for inputting code data for designating the character patterns stored in said storage means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
125 words
A character processing apparatus comprising: memory means for storing a plurality of character patterns, shift amounts of the character patterns and character size data including space portions between the character patterns; output means for outputting the character patterns stored in said memory means; means for calculating a minimum distance between an end of a character pattern and a left end of an adjacent character pattern on the basis of the character patterns, the shift amounts of the character patterns and the character size data which are stored in said memory means; and output control means for causing said output means to output the adjacent two character patterns spaced apart by an interval based on a predetermined value when the minimum distance exceeds said predetermined value.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
125 words
A character processing apparatus comprising: memory means for storing a plurality of character patterns, shift amounts of the character patterns and character size data including space portions between the character patterns; output means for outputting the character patterns stored in said memory means; means for calculating a minimum distance between an end of a character pattern and a left end of an adjacent character pattern on the basis of the character patterns, the shift amounts of the character patterns and the character size data which are stored in said memory means; and output control means for causing said output means to output the adjacent two character patterns spaced apart by an interval based on a predetermined value when the minimum distance exceeds said predetermined value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said output means is a printer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said output means is a display unit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
129 words
A character processing apparatus comprising: memory means for storing character patterns, shift amounts of the character patterns and distances between the character patterns and ends of the shift amounts for each of plural segments of each of the character patterns; means for calculating a distance between an end of a character pattern and a left end of an adjacent character pattern on a given segment on the basis of the character patterns, the shift amounts of the character patterns and the distances which are read out from said memory means; output means for outputting the character patterns; and output control means for causing said output means to output the adjacent two character patterns spaced apart by an interval controlled in accordance with the distance calculated by said calculating means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
129 words
A character processing apparatus comprising: memory means for storing character patterns, shift amounts of the character patterns and distances between the character patterns and ends of the shift amounts for each of plural segments of each of the character patterns; means for calculating a distance between an end of a character pattern and a left end of an adjacent character pattern on a given segment on the basis of the character patterns, the shift amounts of the character patterns and the distances which are read out from said memory means; output means for outputting the character patterns; and output control means for causing said output means to output the adjacent two character patterns spaced apart by an interval controlled in accordance with the distance calculated by said calculating means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said output means is a printer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said output means is a display unit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising input means for inputting code information for designating the character patterns stored in said memory means.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for processing characters comprising the steps of: storing character patterns and shift amounts of the character patterns; outputting the character patterns that have been stored; calculating a minimum distance between an end of a character pattern and a left end of an adjacent character pattern, based upon the stored shift amounts, prepatory to outputting of the character patterns that have been stored; and causing two adjacent character patterns to be spaced apart by an interval determined in accordance with the minimum distance calculated during said calculating step.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for processing characters comprising the steps of: storing character patterns and shift amounts of the character patterns; outputting the character patterns that have been stored; calculating a minimum distance between an end of a character pattern and a left end of an adjacent character pattern, based upon the stored shift amounts, prepatory to outputting of the character patterns that have been stored; and causing two adjacent character patterns to be spaced apart by an interval determined in accordance with the minimum distance calculated during said calculating step.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method for processing characters according to claim 12, wherein the step of outputting the character patterns comprises printing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method for processing characters according to claim 12, wherein the step of outputting the character patterns comprises displaying.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method for processing character patterns according to claim 12, further comprising the step of inputting code data for designating the character patterns that have been stored.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for processing characters comprising the steps of: storing a plurality of character patterns, shift amounts of the character patterns and character size data including space portions between the character patterns; outputting the character patterns that have been stored; calculating a minimum distance between an end of a character pattern and a left end of an adjacent character pattern on the basis of the character patterns, shift amounts of the character patterns and the character size data which have been stored during said storing step; and causing two adjacent character patterns to be spaced apart by an interval based on a predetermined value when the minimum distance exceeds the predetermined value.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for processing characters comprising the steps of: storing a plurality of character patterns, shift amounts of the character patterns and character size data including space portions between the character patterns; outputting the character patterns that have been stored; calculating a minimum distance between an end of a character pattern and a left end of an adjacent character pattern on the basis of the character patterns, shift amounts of the character patterns and the character size data which have been stored during said storing step; and causing two adjacent character patterns to be spaced apart by an interval based on a predetermined value when the minimum distance exceeds the predetermined value.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method for processing characters according to claim 16, wherein the step of outputting the character patterns comprises printing.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method for processing characters according to claim 16, wherein the step of outputting the character patterns comprises displaying.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method for processing character patterns according to claim 16, further comprising the step of inputting code data for designating the character patterns that have been stored.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for processing characters comprising the steps of: storing character patterns, shift amounts of the character patterns, and distances between the character patterns and ends of the shift amounts for each of plural segments of each of the character patterns; calculating a distance between an end of a character pattern and a left end of an adjacent character pattern on a given segment on the basis of the character patterns, shift amounts of the character patterns and the distances which have been stored during said storing step; outputting the character patterns that have been stored; and causing two adjacent character patterns to be spaced apart by an interval controlled in accordance with the distance between the adjacent character patterns calculated during said calculating step.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for processing characters comprising the steps of: storing character patterns, shift amounts of the character patterns, and distances between the character patterns and ends of the shift amounts for each of plural segments of each of the character patterns; calculating a distance between an end of a character pattern and a left end of an adjacent character pattern on a given segment on the basis of the character patterns, shift amounts of the character patterns and the distances which have been stored during said storing step; outputting the character patterns that have been stored; and causing two adjacent character patterns to be spaced apart by an interval controlled in accordance with the distance between the adjacent character patterns calculated during said calculating step.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method for processing characters according to claim 20, wherein the step of outputting the character patterns comprises printing.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method for processing characters according to claim 20, wherein the step of outputting the character patterns comprises displaying.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method for processing character patterns according to claim 20, further comprising the step of inputting code information for designating the character patterns that have been stored.
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) | 1998-07-10 | 1999-01-09 | 1999-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-07-10 | 2003-01-09 | 2003-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-07-10 | 2007-01-09 | 2007-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |