US5959634A — Character generating system employing thickening …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 146 words

A character processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting weight information; read means for reading coordinate data for a character to be output; process means for thickening or narrowing the coordinate data read by said read means based on the weight information input by said input means, wherein a frame size of a character to be output is expanded or reduced based on a thickening or narrowing process, respectively; correction means for correcting the frame size of the character to be output so that it remains the same after the thickening or narrowing process as before the thickening or narrowing process; size change means for enlarging or reducing the coordinate data corrected by said correction means to a size of the character to be output; and generation means for generating dot pattern data based on the coordinate data enlarged or reduced by said size change means.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 146 words

A character processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting weight information; read means for reading coordinate data for a character to be output; process means for thickening or narrowing the coordinate data read by said read means based on the weight information input by said input means, wherein a frame size of a character to be output is expanded or reduced based on a thickening or narrowing process, respectively; correction means for correcting the frame size of the character to be output so that it remains the same after the thickening or narrowing process as before the thickening or narrowing process; size change means for enlarging or reducing the coordinate data corrected by said correction means to a size of the character to be output; and generation means for generating dot pattern data based on the coordinate data enlarged or reduced by said size change means.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 80 words

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said correction means corrects the thickened or narrowed coordinate data in accordance with the following equations: X= (x+Fx)×Bx!/(Bx+Fx×2), and Y= (y+Fy)×By!/(By+Fy×2), where X and Y are horizontal and vertical coordinates after correction, x and y are horizontal and vertical coordinates for which a thickening or narrowing process is performed, Fx and Fy are horizontal and vertical thickening values, and Bx and By are horizontal and vertical widths of an original character frame, respectively.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 65 words

An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising determination means for determining whether the coordinate data read by said read means form an interior outline or an exterior outline, wherein said process means thickens or narrows the coordinate data forming the interior outline and the coordinate data forming the exterior outline distinguishably from each other in response to a determination made by said determination means.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 32 words

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said process means thickens or narrows the coordinate data in the vertical direction and the coordinate data in the horizontal direction independently of each other.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 21 words

An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising output means for outputting the dot pattern data generated by said generation means.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 13 words

An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said output means comprises a printer.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 13 words

An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said output means comprises a display.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 16 words

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coordinate data comprises an entire-outline-type outline font data.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 16 words

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coordinate data comprises a stroke-type outline font data.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 43 words

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said correction means further corrects the coordinate data thickened or narrowed by said process means so that the frame size remains the same after the thickening or narrowing process as before the thickening or narrowing process.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 62 words

An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said correction means corrects the coordinate data by reducing the coordinate data after the thickening process by said process means and by enlarging the coordinate data after the narrowing process by said process means so that the frame size remains the same after the thickening or narrowing process as before the thickening or narrowing process.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 141 words

A character processing method comprising the steps of: inputting weight information; reading coordinate data for a character to be output; processing the coordinate data read in said reading step by thickening or narrowing the coordinate data based on the weight information input in said inputting step, wherein a frame size of a character to be output is expanded or reduced based on a thickening or narrowing process, respectively; correcting the frame size of the character to be output so that it remains the same after the thickening or narrowing processing step as before the thickening or narrowing processing step; size changing step for enlarging or reducing the coordinate data corrected by said correcting step to a size of the character to be output; and generating dot pattern data based on the coordinate data enlarged or reduced by said size changing step.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 141 words

A character processing method comprising the steps of: inputting weight information; reading coordinate data for a character to be output; processing the coordinate data read in said reading step by thickening or narrowing the coordinate data based on the weight information input in said inputting step, wherein a frame size of a character to be output is expanded or reduced based on a thickening or narrowing process, respectively; correcting the frame size of the character to be output so that it remains the same after the thickening or narrowing processing step as before the thickening or narrowing processing step; size changing step for enlarging or reducing the coordinate data corrected by said correcting step to a size of the character to be output; and generating dot pattern data based on the coordinate data enlarged or reduced by said size changing step.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 80 words

A method according to claim 12, wherein said correcting step corrects the thickened or narrowed coordinate data in accordance with the following equations: X= (x+Fx)×Bx!/(Bx+Fx×2), and Y= (y+Fy)×By!/(By+Fy×2), where X and Y are horizontal and vertical coordinates after correction, x and y are horizontal and vertical coordinates for which a thickening or narrowing process is performed, Fx and Fy are horizontal and vertical thickening values, and Bx and By are horizontal and vertical widths of an original character frame, respectively.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 62 words

A method according to claim 12, further comprising determining whether the coordinate data read by said reading step form an interior outline or an exterior outline, wherein said processing step thickens or narrows the coordinate data forming the interior outline and the coordinate data forming the exterior outline distinguishably from each other in response to a determination made by said determining step.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 32 words

A method according to claim 12, wherein said processing step thickens or narrows the coordinate data in the vertical direction and the coordinate data in the horizontal direction independently of each other.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 18 words

A method according to claim 12, further comprising outputting the dot pattern data generated by said generating step.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 15 words

A method according to claim 16, wherein said outputting step comprises outputting to a printer.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 15 words

A method according to claim 16, wherein said outputting step comprises outputting to a display.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 16 words

A method according to claim 12, wherein the coordinate data comprises an entire-outline-type outline font data.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 16 words

A method according to claim 12, wherein the coordinate data comprises a stroke-type outline font data.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 44 words

A method according to claim 12, wherein said correcting step further includes correcting the coordinate data thickened or narrowed in said processing step so that the frame size remains the same after the thickening or narrowing process as before the thickening or narrowing process.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 59 words

A method according to claim 21, wherein said correcting step includes correcting the coordinate data by reducing the coordinate data after the thickening process is performed and by enlarging the coordinate data after the narrowing process is performed so that the frame size remains the same after the thickening or narrowing process as before the thickening or narrowing process.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 154 words

A recording medium having recorded thereon a computer implementable code for controlling a character apparatus, which upon execution will cause the character processing apparatus to perform the steps comprising: inputting weight information; reading coordinate data for a character to be output; processing the read coordinate data by thickening or narrowing the coordinate data based on the input weight information, wherein a frame size of a character to be output is expanded or reduced based on a thickening or narrowing process, respectively; correcting the frame size of the character to be output so that it remains the same after the thickening or narrowing processing step as before the thickening or narrowing processing step; size changing step for enlarging or reducing the coordinate data corrected in said correcting step to a size of the character to be output; and generating dot pattern data based on the coordinate data enlarged or reduced in said size changing step.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 154 words

A recording medium having recorded thereon a computer implementable code for controlling a character apparatus, which upon execution will cause the character processing apparatus to perform the steps comprising: inputting weight information; reading coordinate data for a character to be output; processing the read coordinate data by thickening or narrowing the coordinate data based on the input weight information, wherein a frame size of a character to be output is expanded or reduced based on a thickening or narrowing process, respectively; correcting the frame size of the character to be output so that it remains the same after the thickening or narrowing processing step as before the thickening or narrowing processing step; size changing step for enlarging or reducing the coordinate data corrected in said correcting step to a size of the character to be output; and generating dot pattern data based on the coordinate data enlarged or reduced in said size changing step.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 81 words

A recording medium according to claim 23, wherein said correcting step corrects the thickened or narrowed coordinate data in accordance with the following equations: X= (x+Fx)×Bx!/(Bx+Fx×2), and Y= (y+Fy)×By!/(By+Fy×2), where X and Y are horizontal and vertical coordinates after correction, x and y are horizontal and vertical coordinates for which a thickening or narrowing process is performed, Fx and Fy are horizontal and vertical thickening values, and Bx and By are horizontal and vertical widths of an original character frame, respectively.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 63 words

A recording medium according to claim 23, further comprising determining whether the coordinate data read by said reading step form an interior outline or an exterior outline, wherein said processing step thickens or narrows the coordinate data forming the interior outline and the coordinate data forming the exterior outline distinguishably from each other in response to a determination made by said determining step.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 33 words

A recording medium according to claim 23, wherein said processing step thickens or narrows the coordinate data in the vertical direction and the coordinate data in the horizontal direction independently of each other.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 19 words

A recording medium according to claim 23, further comprising outputting the dot pattern data generated by said generating step.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 16 words

A recording medium according to claim 27, wherein said outputting step comprises outputting to a printer.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 16 words

A recording medium according to claim 27, wherein said outputting step comprises outputting to a display.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 17 words

A recording medium according to claim 23, wherein the coordinate data comprises an entire-outline-type outline font data.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 17 words

A recording medium according to claim 23, wherein the coordinate data comprises a stroke-type outline font data.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 45 words

A recording medium according to claim 23, wherein said correcting step includes further correcting the coordinate data thickened or narrowed in said processing step so that the frame size remains the same after the thickening or narrowing process as before the thickening or narrowing process.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 60 words

A recording medium according to claim 32, wherein said correcting step includes correcting the coordinate data by reducing the coordinate data after the thickening process is performed and by enlarging the coordinate data after the narrowing process is performed so that the frame size remains the same after the thickening or narrowing process as before the thickening or narrowing process.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 129 words

A character processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting a parameter for designating an amount by which a character is to be thickened or narrowed; process means for thickening or narrowing an outline of a character, represented by coordinate data, based on the parameter input by said input means; adjustment means for adjusting the coordinate data of the character outline by reducing the coordinate data after a thickening process by said process means and by enlarging the coordinate data after a narrowing process by said process means such that a frame size of the character remains the same after the thickening or narrowing process as before the thickening or narrowing process; and generation means for generating a character pattern based on the coordinate data adjusted by said adjustment means.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 129 words

A character processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting a parameter for designating an amount by which a character is to be thickened or narrowed; process means for thickening or narrowing an outline of a character, represented by coordinate data, based on the parameter input by said input means; adjustment means for adjusting the coordinate data of the character outline by reducing the coordinate data after a thickening process by said process means and by enlarging the coordinate data after a narrowing process by said process means such that a frame size of the character remains the same after the thickening or narrowing process as before the thickening or narrowing process; and generation means for generating a character pattern based on the coordinate data adjusted by said adjustment means.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 69 words

An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said process means thickens or narrows the coordinate data in a direction in which an angle formed by vector AB and vector BC is divided, where A, B, and C are coordinate data on the outline, where B represents coordinate data to be moved in the thickening or narrowing process, and A and C represent coordinate data adjacent to the coordinate B.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 46 words

An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the parameter input by said input means designates an amount by which the character is thickened or narrowed in horizontal and vertical directions, and said process means thickens or narrows the coordinate data in the horizontal and vertical directions.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 20 words

An apparatus according to claim 34, further comprising output means for outputting the character pattern generated by said generation means.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 13 words

An apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said output means comprises a display.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 13 words

An apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said output means comprises a printer.

Claim 44

Independent Claim 113 words

A method for a character processing apparatus, said method comprising the steps of: inputting a parameter for designating an amount by which a character is to be thickened or narrowed; thickening or narrowing an outline of a character, represented by coordinate data, based on the input parameter; adjusting the coordinate data of the character outline by reducing the coordinate data after the thickening step is performed and by enlarging the coordinate data after the narrowing step is performed such that a frame size of the character remains the same after the thickening or narrowing step as before the thickening or narrowing step; and generating a character pattern based on the adjusted coordinate data.

Claim 45

Independent Claim 113 words

A method for a character processing apparatus, said method comprising the steps of: inputting a parameter for designating an amount by which a character is to be thickened or narrowed; thickening or narrowing an outline of a character, represented by coordinate data, based on the input parameter; adjusting the coordinate data of the character outline by reducing the coordinate data after the thickening step is performed and by enlarging the coordinate data after the narrowing step is performed such that a frame size of the character remains the same after the thickening or narrowing step as before the thickening or narrowing step; and generating a character pattern based on the adjusted coordinate data.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 73 words

A method according to claim 40, wherein the coordinate data is thickened or narrowed, in said thickening or narrowing step, in a direction in which an angle formed by vector AB and vector BC is divided, where A, B, and C are coordinate data on the outline, where B represents coordinate data to be moved in the thickening or narrowing step, and A and C represent coordinate data adjacent to the coordinate B.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 46 words

A method according to claim 40, wherein the input parameter designates an amount by which the character is thickened or narrowed in horizontal and vertical directions, and the coordinate data is thickened or narrowed in the horizontal and vertical directions in said thickening or narrowing step.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 16 words

A method according to claim 40, further comprising the step of outputting the generated character pattern.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 16 words

A method according to claim 43, wherein the generated character pattern is output to a display.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 16 words

A method according to claim 43, wherein the generated character pattern is output to a printer.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 126 words

A storage medium storing computer readable program instructions for controlling, when executed, a character processing apparatus, the instructions comprising: instructions for receiving a parameter for designating an amount by which a character is to be thickened or narrowed; instructions for thickening or narrowing an outline of a character, represented by coordinate data, based on the parameter; instructions for adjusting the coordinate data of the character outline by reducing the coordinate data after the thickening process is performed and by enlarging the coordinate data after the narrowing process is performed such that a frame size of the character remains the same after the thickening or narrowing process as before the thickening or narrowing process; and instructions for generating a character pattern based on the adjusted coordinate data.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 126 words

A storage medium storing computer readable program instructions for controlling, when executed, a character processing apparatus, the instructions comprising: instructions for receiving a parameter for designating an amount by which a character is to be thickened or narrowed; instructions for thickening or narrowing an outline of a character, represented by coordinate data, based on the parameter; instructions for adjusting the coordinate data of the character outline by reducing the coordinate data after the thickening process is performed and by enlarging the coordinate data after the narrowing process is performed such that a frame size of the character remains the same after the thickening or narrowing process as before the thickening or narrowing process; and instructions for generating a character pattern based on the adjusted coordinate data.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 76 words

A storage medium according to claim 46, wherein the coordinate data is thickened or narrowed, by said instructions for thickening or narrowing, in a direction in which an angle formed by vector AB and vector BC is divided, where A, B, and C are coordinate data on the outline, and where B represents coordinate data to be moved in the thickening or narrowing process, and A and C represent coordinate data adjacent to the coordinate B.

Claim 54

Dependent Claim 47 words

A storage medium according to claim 46, wherein the parameter designates an amount by which the character is thickened or narrowed in horizontal and vertical directions, and the coordinate data is thickened or narrowed in the horizontal and vertical directions by said instructions for thickening or narrowing.

Claim 55

Dependent Claim 16 words

A storage medium according to claim 46, further comprising instructions for outputting the generated character pattern.

Claim 56

Dependent Claim 17 words

A storage medium according to claim 49, wherein the generated character pattern is output to a display.

Claim 57

Dependent Claim 17 words

A storage medium according to claim 49, wherein the generated character pattern is output to a printer.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-09-27	2003-03-29	2003-09-28	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-09-27	2007-03-29	2007-09-28	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-09-27	2011-03-29	2011-09-28	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Character generating system employing thickening or narrowing of characters

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