JPS6195952A - Device for generating text and other character by various constitution - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to code generators for constructing lines of text from alphanumeric characters and other similar characters, and more particularly to code generators for constructing lines of text from alphanumeric characters and other similar characters, and more particularly to code generators for constructing lines of text from alphanumeric characters and other similar characters. Or automatically perform character rotation to generate a character on a slope and character division to generate two half characters that when combined form a composite character twice the height of the standard scale. Regarding equipment.

For example, to generate special codes and lettering such as those found in advertisements, notices, instructions, or information, the composition of codes and the actual generation of code text characters may be
U.S. Patent No. 4,467, issued Aug. 28, 984.
, 525, greatly simplified and improved with the advent of automated code generators, such as those disclosed and described in US Pat. Code text characters generated by the code generator defined by the aforementioned patents can only be positioned in a straight text line arrangement by text lines located parallel to the baseline.

To produce a particular effect, namely a slanted line in the text,
It is highly desirable to rotate text characters either up or down relative to the baseline. Additionally, it may be desirable to place text characters along arcs. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device for realizing text character rotation and arc lettering.

It is also highly desirable to generate text characters that are larger in height than is available on the sheet members used in constructing other symbols.

One way to generate a text character that is larger than the height of the sheet member is to generate the lower half of the character on one sheet and the upper half on the other sheet, then the lower and upper halves of the character It is the matching of the sheets to give a composite character. It is therefore another object of the invention to provide an apparatus for generating split characters to generate composite characters having a scale height twice the standard scale height.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention resides in an apparatus for rotating characters in an apparatus for generating text lines of characters through the use of a computer and associated memory devices. Means are provided for processing the character-determining data based on a given program in order to generate rotation data that determines the character at a desired rotation angle.

The invention further resides in the means for arranging text characters along arcs. A computer processes the data for each character along the arc and determines an arc length assignment for each character. Other means are provided for determining the center point of the assigned arc length of each character and the tangential rotation angle for each of the characters along the arc. The computer processes each of the characters and data determining a tangential rotation angle for the character based on a given program to generate rotation data that determines the tangential alignment of the characters at positions along the arc. .

The invention further resides in an apparatus for dividing a character along a midpoint parallel to the character's baseline. Data representing the stored standard height of the character is processed in a computer according to a given program and the midpoint is processed to generate height data that determines the upper half of the character at twice the height standard. It is compared to its toughness. Either the top or bottom half is selected and generated twice at normal height.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automated code generator lO embodying the invention. The generator lO generates the text character rotation characteristic (ROTATE) of the present invention, the arc lettering characteristic (
ABC) and split character characteristics (HALF-F, O
NT) and with some related changes described in detail below, U.S. Pat.
No. 7,525. This US patent is incorporated herein by reference and reference may be made thereto for further details.

For the present invention, the generator 10 is the sheet member carrier 1
It is sufficient to know that the text line designated 12 on 4 is intended for plotting only. A pair of sprockets (not shown in FIG. 1) extend along opposite longitudinal edges of the carrier 14 to move the carrier 14 in the X coordinate direction. 18.18. A computerized control mechanism within generator 10 automatically moves tool head 16 and carrier 14 simultaneously in the X and Y coordinate directions to generate the desired text characters on the carrier. In the operation plot mode, the carrier 14 is one party, and the tool 20, referenced by the tool head 916, is a pencil or other writing instrument, so that it is typically used for checking generator settings and functions, i.e. for setting operations. A character is drawn on the carrier in order to perform a test run beforehand. In the cutting mode 8 of operation, the carrier 14 comprises a thermoplastic vinyl top layer removably supported by a pressure sensitive adhesive to a bottom support layer, such as a layer of silicone coated fairly heavy paper. The tool 20 of the tool head 16 is a cutter. The cutter operates to cut characters from the top vinyl layer of the carrier for use in creating the code.

The code generator 10 in the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 is a microprocessor-based implementation with a data keyboard having a -set of keys 22. Characters to be included in the text line are selected by the keys and other information is entered into the control device by the keys. Another row of keys 24, referred to as function keys, is located behind the keyboard 22 and controls data entry and device operation. In the present invention, the row of keys 24 is set to "rotate".
key 26, "arc" key 28 and "half font (
half-font) J key 30 is sufficient.

The data keyboard'' 22, which is the same as the keyboard 9 of a standard typewriter, allows the operator of the device to specify coded text characters and to construct a coded text from a selected glyph of the character. The fonts are stored by various strokes in a memory disk or other device that is read by a drive unit into a random access memory (RAM) connected to the microprocessor.Alternatively, the fonts are stored in a series of write-only memories of a generator. IJ @)
M) incorporated into. During the text entry mode, the entered character appears in the visual display 32 when a key is pressed. If the length of the text exceeds the capacity of the display, the scrolling process leaves the most recently entered characters visible. While text is being input, tool spatula) #16 and carrier 1
Supro sending 4 (Kerat is inactive).

By using the rotation key 26 on the keyboard and the appropriate data keys, the operator can enter a desired rotation angle of up to 90 degrees; the sign of the input angle determines the direction of character rotation relative to the base reference line. do. The positive sign is
Counterclockwise rotation is indicated; negative sign indicates clockwise rotation.

Arc key 28 causes text characters entered by the operator to be placed along an arc. The operator can select the desired arc curvature by entering the radius order for the desired arc curvature. The curvature of the arc is set with respect to the upper and lower edges of the text characters to be printed along the arc. The upward arc is below the character.
An edge is placed along the arc, and a character is defined as an arc extending radially outward from the arc.

A downward arc is defined as an arc along which the upper edge of the character extends radially outward from the arc. The operator can select an upward arc from K by entering a radius with a positive sign, and a downward arc from K by entering a radius with a negative sign.

The operator can split a text character using the half font key 30 so that the upper and lower halves of the character are generated separately at twice the height standard information stored for the character font. Ru. The standard stored font height for characters is 1 inch, which means that all stored data contains 1 inch tall characters. When the half-font characteristic is selected, the stored data is transformed so that the height information at each point in the upper or lower half of the character is doubled. for example,
Standard height strokes drawn in % inches are drawn in 1 inch when the half font feature is selected.

FIG. 2 shows the overall configuration of a microprocessor-based structure that controls the operation of the code generator. Although the various functional elements of the processor are depicted separately, in actual construction, a single microprocessor, such as the model Z8002 by Zilsg, has additional memory for various fonts, text, and command data. In addition, the illustrated data processing functions can be performed. Machine program memory is not shown but is typically 48KF.
An iOM is used and has sufficient capacity for machine programs with the functionality shown in FIGS. 2-16.

In FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the dotted lines between the various functional elements represent the command 9 signal channels, and the wide bands indicate buses for transmitting addresses and data between the functional elements. For example, key input data from keyboard 22 passes between keyboard input decoder 34 and operator interface 36 along with command signals from functional keyboard 24 which are also decoded by the decoder.

However, only addresses and data flow between the operator interface, text data storage memory 38 and parameter data storage memory 40.

Operator interface 36 includes keyboard 22,'
It serves as the main control element for processing both data and commands between 24 and the rest of the microcomputer. Additionally, the interface is
Responsive to a portion of the machine program, the display output decoder 42 causes the visual display 32 to operate with appropriate data based on the function selected by the operator via the keypad h'24.

A text data storage memory 38 receives and retains text characters as they are keyed in by the operator from the keyboard 22, and then the tool head transfers the data to either the code member or the plotter. During execution 7 of the machine operation, this stored text is sent to a code data processor 44 for conversion into a form to be visually represented.Conformally, memory 38 is a random access memory; In one embodiment, this memory has a storage capacity of 8, sufficient to hold a line of text consisting of 255 characters.

Similarly, the parameter data storage memory 40 receives parameters entered from the keyboard ``'' 22 when the machine operator initially sets various machine parameters such as text character rotation, arc lettering, and half fonts. Memory 40 is a random access memory and has a storage capacity of 8 in one embodiment.

The illustrated embodiment of FIG. 2 includes a font data storage memory 46 containing all of the data that determines one complete font of a text character.

If desired, additional font data storage memories can be added to define other fonts.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of the font data storage memory 46. The header section 48 is accessed by the operator interface 36 and stores in its storage specific codes and other standardization information for all of the font characters. For example, a height standard represents a standard by which the heights of all font characters are assigned. All of the upper case letters have the same height as the height standard, while the lower case haze is in % of the height standard and the lower case rbJ is in % of the height standard.

An index section 50 follows the header section 48 . The index portion 50 includes a kern for adjusting the standard strokes provided in the font data. A cologne constitutes a separate character in the data that forms a text line, and is functionally the same as an incremental backspace. Several cairns of different lengths are included in each font.

The main part of the index section 50 is a pointer that addresses a bulk data file 52 in a storage device in which each character registration of the font and the strokes or vectors that completely define the profile of the character are located, along with geometric information about the character. It consists of. Each character is defined within the Sipulc data file by an incremental vector that represents cutting or plotting lines that, when connected together, represent the outline of the character. In the index portion 50, each letter or other character is identified by an ASCII numeric code and is accessible via the operator interface 36 from the keyboard 22.Height of the header portion 48 is on the same scale as the standard. The width of the character is included in the code, as well as the space and space dimensions that are added before and after each character to provide adequate spacing between most combinations of characters.

When an operator constructs coded text during a text entry operation and commands special characters from the font, direct access to the characters is obtained in the index by the character code.

Only index data is loaded into the text data storage memory 38 that is addressed by the appearance of the characters in the text in a logical sequence. The stroke data in bulk data file 52 is not needed in memory and is not used until the plotting or cutting command 9 is executed.

FIG. 3 shows the general command signal and data flow channels for the various commands and data pieces that can be commanded by the operator via the operator face 36. It shows. In the encoder interface 36, the command video decoder 5
4 receives command signals from the functional keyboard 24;
These signals are processed based on subroutines corresponding to various functions specified on the board. Some of these subroutines are included within block 56 and are described in detail in the aforementioned US patents. Rotation, arc lettering, and split character features are discussed in further detail below.

A command 9 signal, e.g., generated by key 26 of FIG. 1, is decoded and executed by the rotation subroutine 58 to execute a program in code data processor 44 to generate the text input with the rotation just made. directed towards. Similarly, the signal generated by key 28 of FIG. I'm heading towards 60.

The half font signal generated by key 30 of FIG. 1 is decoded and programmed into the code data processor. Execution is directed to the half font subroutine 62 to split the input text character and generate either the commanded top half or bottom half. The code data processor 44 program includes data and coding circuitry 64 contained within subroutine block 56.
．． 66 and 68 and the text encoder circuit,
Data Memo 1) Pertains to all of the relative positioning and data characteristics commanded and stored in 38.40. Each of the encoder circuits receives command signals from the decoder 54 and data signals from the keyboard 22. Only the data specified in font index 50 is located in text data memory 38 when text is keyed into keyboard 22. The bulk data defining character strokes in the bulk data portion 52 of the storage memory is not used during the data input portion of the code generation operation.

The rotation commands processed within subroutine 58 require character stroke data taken from the font data and stored in parameter data storage memory 40 prior to performing the symbol plotting or cutting operation. The rotate command allows a text character or text character line to be rotated up to 90 degrees above or below the text baseline.

The rotation algorithm executed within subroutine 58 to provide the rotation function uses the incremental vector information that determines the text character to determine the character at the desired rotation.
゛Use standard equations for coordinate rotation to modify to generate complex vector information. The equations used in the rotation algorithm are shown in FIG. 16, where X and Y are the coordinates to be modified and angle α is the desired rotation angle. XR and YR are the X and Y coordinates modified by the rotation algorithm;
These modified coordinates are used to generate characters during symbol plotting or cutting operations.

The arc commands processed within the arc subroutine 60 are:
Before performing a symbol plotting or cutting operation, the stroke and width data taken from the font index and the stroke data taken from the font data stored in the parameter data storage memory 40 are required. do. The arc command allows text lines to be lettered along upward or downward arcs. The arc function algorithm executed within the arc subroutine 60 uses the algorithm illustrated in Figure 1) to determine the text length to be fitted to the desired arc. 1) The text length algorithm shown in Figure 1 is a simple addition calculation that takes the width of a specified character (5) and the spaces before and after each intermediate character (2S). , a space (-s) after the first character, and a space (Sa) before the last character.
Sk) is determined by the whole glume. This sum represents the total length L) of the printed line text assuming that the line is not forced to a particular line length. In the latter case, compressed or expanded length standard processing options are also used.

The desired curvature of the arc is set by the oilator during data entry and is defined by the size of the radius representing the circle to which the arc fits. The length of the arc segment S is set equal to the text length direction determined by the text length algorithm illustrated in Figure 1). The angle theta (θ) of the arc is determined by dividing by the arc length s1 radius H.

The tangential rotation angle for text characters placed along an arc is determined by the arc function algorithm in subroutine 60. The length of the arc S is divided by the space required for each text character using the width of the character and the space data. The ri,l assignment algorithm in subroutine 60 is used to assign a space along an arc to each of the characters, and also defines the beginning and ending positions of each of the characters. The tangential angle of rotation for each character is determined at the center point of the character, rather than at the beginning of the character, so that when the character is rotated, the base of the character lies on an arc without distortion. This rotation algorithm is used to determine the X and Y coordinates to rotate the character to the tangential rotation angle calculated by the arc function algorithm.

The tangential rotation angle for a text character lettered along a downward arc is such that the top of the character is positioned more tangentially along the arc to prevent cramming of the text character than the bottom of the character. determined by the same algorithm used for the upward arc, except that a constant offset is added to the character stroke data.

In the case of lettering along a downward arc, subroutine 60 modifies the height data from the font index with offset data. This offset data is calculated by the arc function algorithm and combined with the height data to generate new vector information that determines the character at the calculated offset, so that the character and offset are rotated equally.

The half font commands processed within the half font subroutine 62 combine the stroke data taken from the font data 52 stored in the parameter storage memory 40 and the font index 50 before performing the symbol plotting or cutting operation. height data is required. The half font function algorithm executed within subroutine 62 clips the stored stroke data of the character at boundaries determined by half the standard height as dictated by the height data taken from font index 50. Uses a window algorithm. In the code generator defined by the aforementioned US patent, the height data stored in font index 50 generates inch characters. The half font algorithm determines the clip boundaries 1 inch above the baseline, assuming 1 inch character height data. first,
``Considering the occurrence of the bottom half of a text character, the half font algorithm accumulates incremental vector information in the Y direction so that each incremental vector Compare with the accumulated sum when added to give the absolute value knit point at the end of . If the vector does not fit into the window, it is kept in memory for use in generating new vector information. Vectors entering the window are ignored.

This algorithm generates new height data as defined by the stroke data for each retained incremental vector such that the lower half of the character is twice the standard 1 inch height stroke data. Generate new coordinate information for all vector points below the clip boundary to generate. When the half font function is used to generate the lower half of a character, only S-multiplied incremental vector sums having absolute values less than the clip boundary are stored in parameter data storage memory 40. When the algorithm is used to generate the top half of a character, the accumulated incremental vector sum is compared to the clip boundaries to determine whether this sum is greater than % inches, and if the sum is greater than That endpoint is accumulated in the parameter data storage memo IJ 40 and used to generate new vector information defining the upper half of the character at twice the one inch standard height stroke data. This algorithm subtracts inches from each vector point stored for the top half of the character, so that the top half of the character is either plotted or cut from the reference baseline below the baseline corresponding to the 1 inch clip boundary. be done.

In response to commands from subroutines 58, 60, and 62, code data processor 44 retrieves data from memory 38.40 and font storage 50.52 to determine the relationship between the tool and head 16 and code member 14. Machine-controlled ink face 70 to generate target movement
Generates motor commands used by motors.

A detailed diagram of the connections to code data processor 44 and machine control interface 70 of FIG. 2 is shown in FIG. When a test print or print command is commanded (by the fourth controller), data from the memory 38.52 enters the command signal generator 72, which generates a signal based on the stored data and text and the machine program. Absolute position and tool commands are generated sequentially. One of the machine program instructions 74 used repeatedly during text display operations fetches stored text characters into memory 38 in the order in which the characters appear in the coded text. Next, the sub-instruction 76 executes the font data section 52
Draw each of the character's strokes extracted from the . The stroke information is converted to absolute position embodied in, for example, nine words of 32-bit commands for each coordinate axis, which are then processed sequentially by the half-font algorithm 78. The algorithm 78 receives and takes modified height information from the parameter data memory 40 in response to the set half font command 80.

The half-font algorithm 78 performs data modifications on each absolute position data point above or below the clip boundary, as illustrated in Figure 13, "Text Character Phthalo", and performs data modifications on each absolute position data point above or below the clip boundary, as illustrated by the operator during the data entry operation. Shifts the point upward or downward by an amount proportional to the cumulative sum of stroke data at that point for the upper or lower half of the selected text character. As a result, half of each character is
It is twice the height compared to the standard height when used for the character. FIG. 14 illustrates the lower half of the text character rIJ of FIG. 13 as determined by the half-font algorithm, and FIG. 15 illustrates the upper half.

When a rotation command is issued by the operator, the stroke information is converted to absolute position, and this command 9 is then processed sequentially by rotation algorithm 82. This algorithm 82 receives sine α and cosine α information from set rotation information 84 . Set rotation information 84
generates the sine and cosine of the rotation angle α entered by the operator during the data entry operation. This rotation algorithm performs a modification of the data on each absolute position data point for a text character, such as shown in FIG. 6A, and based on the angle .alpha. x position data points to rotate the occurring text character in a counterclockwise direction (or below if a clockwise rotation is commanded) above baseline B (as illustrated in Figure 1).

When an arc command is directed by the fourth rater, this command 9 is processed sequentially by the arc text generator 86. Arc text generator 86 performs a number of algorithms to generate information that determines the tangential rotation angle for positioning each text character along the desired arc.

The arc text generator automatically determines the tangential rotation angle for each character of the text line to be lettered along the arc, and rotates the rotational abilism 82.
The angle α for that character is given to the cent rotation information cent 84 for the calculation of the sine α and cosine α information used. Each text character is placed tangentially along the arc at the center of its allocated space. The rotation arc (IJ rhythm 82) rotates the character either counterclockwise or clockwise above and below its baseline, as described above for upward or downward arcs, respectively.

Arc text generator 86 receives text character lines, such as those illustrated in FIG. 7, for example. A suitable algorithm may be implemented on the text character line to place the character along an upward arc as illustrated in Figure 8 or along a downward arc as illustrated in Figure 9. Ru. Included in the algorithm for generating the tangential rotation angle is an algorithm that determines the angular allocation of each text character to be placed along an arc. This algorithm uses the first
Figure 2 is similar to that shown. FIG. 10 illustrates the tangential rotation angles for some of the text characters of FIG. 8 as determined by the algorithm contained within the arc text generator 86.

If the text character is modified based on rotation, arc, or half font commands, the absolute data is processed by scaling algorithm 88. Here, the commanded height parameters (standard or modified) and other commands 9 from the data storage memory 40
The parameters specified modify the position data to scale the character based on the command.

The data processed by the command signal generator 72 by the rotation, half-font and scale algorithms determines the absolute position of the cutting or plotting tool relative to any origin determined by the machine operator. This is the absolute signal to be determined.

In addition to the absolute signals, tool signals are also generated by generator 72 to cause the tool to engage the member and place it in its lower limit position, or out of engagement and in its raised position. It can be seen that the sole signal is part of the information stored in the font data 52 since many alphabetic characters are generated by the machine by tool down and U tool amp strokes.

After the command signals have been modified with appropriate rotation, half-font, and scale information, they are processed by the machine control interface 70. This interface 70 converts the absolute position data into incremental vectors that quadrature the actual movement of the sole and member with respect to each other.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1m is a perspective view of the automated code generator of the present invention, and Figure 2 is a control system for the code generator. Figure 3 shows the flow of control and data to other elements via the controller interface in the controller; Figure 4 shows various elements of the code data processor of the controller. FIG. 5 shows the structure of the font data storage, FIG. 6A shows the text characters generated by the code generator in the form of text, and FIG. 6B shows the text characters of FIG. 6A rotated by the rotation algorithm. text character? FIG. 7 is a diagram showing text character lines; FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the text characters of FIG. 7 arranged on an upward arc;
9 shows the text characters of FIG. 7 arranged on a downward arc; FIG. 1O shows the tangential rotation angles for some of the text characters of FIG. 8;
1) Is the figure an algorithm for determining text length? Figure 12 is a diagram showing an algorithm for determining the entire allocation portion of an arc for each character for use in determining the tangential rotation angle for each character along the arc. Figure 14 shows the lower half of the text character ['' in Figure 13 determined by the half-font algorithm; Figure 15 shows the lower half of the text character ['' determined by the half-font algorithm. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the coordinate rotation equation used in the rotation algorithm. 10: Automated code generator, 12: Text line, 14
: Sheet member carrier, 16: Tool head, 18:
hole, 20: tool, 22: data keyboard, 24: function key, 26 double rotation key, 28: arc key, 30: half font key, 32: display. 1-'-・"a"Sa"wb"2sb◆wc・2Sc"----
-1-%l5kIILFIG, II'□cri. Day G. FIG. , GoRFIG, 13

Claims (6)

[Claims] (1) A device for rotating characters in a device that generates text lines of characters by the use of a computer and associated memory devices that describes the font of a character of a given size and determines the character shape in each of these. memory means (46) for storing data comprising a first data set to be stored;
, 50, 52), means (60, 64, 84) for generating data representative of a desired angle of rotation;
means (38, 74, 7) for reading from (46, 50, 52)
6), the data determining each of the characters in the sequence and the data determining the rotation angle based on a given program to generate rotation data determining each of the characters at the rotation angle; means (40, 44, 58, 64) for processing in the computer;
and means (44, 82) for generating rotated lines of characters using, in generating each character, said rotation data for each of said characters obtained by said processing of said data determining said each character.
), a device for rotating a character. (2) In a device for positioning characters along an arc in a device that generates text lines of characters by the use of a computer and associated memory devices, the device describes the font of a character of a given size and each of the characters The first step is to determine the shape of the character.
and a second data set determining the width of the selected character to be generated as a text line along said circular arc. means for reading data about the sequence from said memory means (46, 50, 52);
38, 74, 76), means (40, 44, 76) for processing said data in said computer to determine each of said characters in said sequence based on a given program to determine the length of said text line; 60
, 66) and means (44, 60, 66) for setting the length of said arc equal to the length of said text line; means (4) for processing in said computer said data determining each of said characters in said sequence and said data determining said arc based on a given program for assigning;
4, 66), and means (44, 60) for determining the center of each of said characters assigned a length of an arc, a tangent associated with each of said characters at the center point for each character along said arc; means (40, 64, 84, 86) for determining an angle of rotation in said sequence, based on a given program, for generating rotation data determining each of said characters in an angle of rotation in a tangential direction; means (40, 44, 60, 66, 86) for processing in said computer said data determining each of the characters and said tangential rotation angle data associated with the character; and upon generation of each character; means (44) for generating a character along an arc using the tangential rotation data for each of the characters obtained from the processing of the data determining each character and the data determining the arc; , 82, 86), A device for positioning a character along a circular arc. (3) In claim 2, means (82,
84, 86) and means for dividing the stretching angle in half (
86), means (86) for adding said half value of said spanning angle up to 90 degrees to an angle with respect to a first vector determining the beginning of said arc; for each of said characters to be generated along said arc; means (86) for dividing said extending angle using said assigning means (40, 60, 66) to determine the absolute angle of the character; means (60, 86) for subtracting 1/2 of the absolute angular value associated with the first character in the sequence from the angular value of the first vector to determine an absolute angular value; means (60, 66, 86) for determining the angular value of the supplementary angle of said absolute value of a second vector; Device for positioning a character along an arc, characterized in that it consists of means (60, 66, 86) for subtracting angular values. (4) Describing the font of a character of a given size in a device that divides the character along a midpoint parallel to the baseline of the character in a device that generates text lines of characters through the use of a computer and associated memory devices. and for each of the characters, a first data set that determines the shape of the character, a second data set that determines the width of the character, and a third data set that determines the height of the character. and memory means (46, 5
0, 52), means (38, 74, 7) for reading from said memory means (46, 50, 52) data for a selected sequence of characters to be generated as a text line;
6) means (54, 62, 68, 80) for generating data representing the midpoint of height standard data describing said font of a character; processing in the computer the data determining each of the characters in the sequence and the data determining the midpoint of the height based on a given program to generate height data determining the lower half; means (40, 44, 62, 68) for determining said 1/2 of each character, obtained from the processing of said data determining said each character and said data determining said midpoint; Apparatus for dividing a character along a midpoint parallel to the baseline of the character, characterized in that it comprises means (44, 78) for generating one-half of each of the characters using the height data. (5) In claim 4, means (44, 62) for calculating an absolute standard height value of a selected character data point determining said character.
, and means (44, 62, 68) for comparing the calculated height at each point to the midpoint height. . (6) In claim 5, means (40) for storing an absolute height value for each data point selected for a value greater than the midpoint height;
, 62), and an offset value equal to the value of the midpoint height from each stored absolute value for generating height data determining the upper half of the character relative to the baseline relative to the midpoint. A device for dividing a character along a midpoint parallel to the baseline of the character, characterized in that it comprises means (62) for subtracting .