Method and apparatus for generating aesthetically alterable character designs

Patent 4933866 Issued on June 12, 1990. Estimated Expiration Date:

November 17, 2008. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

Typesetter character generating apparatus
Patent #: 4254468
Issued on: 03/03/1981
Inventor: Craig

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Method for producing a scaleable typeface data
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Inventors

Assignee

Vital Lasertype, Inc.

Application

No. 274347 filed on 11/17/1988

US Classes:

345/471Alteration of stored font

Examiners

Primary: Harkcom, Gary V.
Assistant: Zimmerman, Mark

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Nydegger & Harshman

International Class

G06F 015/62

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.