Computerized typesetting correction system

A computerized typesetting correction system comprising:

• (a) input means including a keyboard for inputting data identifying characters to be typeset, wherein the characters are to be typeset positioned serially adjacent one another in a line extending in a serial direction, and each character has a contour which includes an intermediate portion and opposite side portions on opposite sides of said intermediate portion in the serial direction, a character width associated therewith, and a selected spacing from an adjacent character, and further wherein at least some of said characters have edge elements on side portions of their contours which become juxtaposed with edge elements on facing side portions of respective adjacent characters;
• (b) a first memory portion for storing data on widths and spacings assigned to a plurality of characters of a typestyle;
• (c) a second memory portion for storing representations of the contours of the characters of said typestyle;
• (d) a third memory portion for storing correction data on a correction table representing combination pairs of adjacent characters, wherein each combination pair has juxtaposed edge elements of which at least one of the characters has an edge element of its contour to be corrected;
• (e) computer means for executing a typesetting program, said typesetting program having a mode for determining the widths and spacings of input characters based on said data in said first memory portion, and for assembling a plurality of said input characters in a typesetting unit of a specified total line width;
• (f) means including a first program section of said typesetting program for comparing the input characters with said correction table of said third memory portion for identifying combination pairs of adjacent characters having contour edge elements to be corrected;
• (g) means including a second program section of said typesetting program for performing a specified correction function to correct the contour representation stored in said second memory portion for the edge element to be corrected of each said identified combination pair in accordance with the corresponding correction data stored in said third memory portion;
• and
• (h) output means for providing a typeset output of contours based on the contour representations, including said corrected contour representation, for said assembled characters in said typesetting unit.

In a computerized typesetting method for a system including a computer for executing a typesetting program for assembling characters to be typeset, wherein the characters are to be typeset positioned serially adjacent one another in a line extending in a serial direction, and each character has a contour which includes an intermediate portion and opposite side portions on opposite sides of said intermediate portion in the serial direction, and further wherein at least some of said assembled characters have edge elements on side portions of their contours which become juxtaposed with edge elements on facing side portions of respective adjacent characters, a memory including a first portion for storing contour representations of a plurality of characters of a typestyle, a keyboard for inputting data identifying characters to be typeset, and means for providing an output of typeset characters based upon said contour representations stored in said memory for said assembled characters, the improvement comprising the steps of:

• (a) storing correction data on a correction table in a second portion of said memory representing combination pairs of adjacent characters, wherein each combination pair has juxtaposed edge elements of which a character has an edge element of its contour to be corrected;
• (b) specifying a correction function to be applied to an edge element of at least one of the characters in each combination pair represented on said correction table stored in said second memory portion;
• (c) operating a first typesetting program section on said computer for comparing input characters with combination pairs represented on said correction table and identifying combination pairs of adjacent characters each having a contour edge element to be corrected;
• and
• (d) operating a second typesetting program section on said computer for performing said specified correction function for correcting the contour representation of the edge element of the at least one character in each identified combination pair in accordance with corresponding correction data stored in said second memory portion.

In a digital typesetting system of the type having a computer for executing a typesetting program, a memory for storing digital contour representations of a plurality of characters of at least one typestyle, a keyboard for entering data identifying characters to be typeset, wherein the characters are to be typeset positioned serially adjacent one another in a line extending in a serial direction, and each character has a contour which includes an intermediate portion and opposite side portions on opposite sides of said intermediate portion in the serial direction, a character width associated therewith, and a selected spacing from an adjacent character, said typesetting program having a mode for determining the widths and spacings of characters and assembling a line of characters of a selected total line width to be typeset, and means for providing an output of contours of said assembled characters corresponding to said contour representations stored in memory, and further wherein at least some of said assembled characters have edge element on side portions of their contours which become juxtaposed with edge elements on facing side portions of respective adjacent characters,

• the improvement of a typesetting correction system comprising:
• (a) a first portion of said memory for storing correction data on a correction table for each combination pair of adjacent characters having juxtaposed edge elements of which at least one of the characters has an edge element of its contour to be corrected, each said correction data including an address portion specified by said combination pair, an edge element portion identifying the edge element of the contour of the at least one character of the pair to be corrected, and a correction value portion specifying the correction value amount by which said edge element is to be corrected;
• (b) means including a first program section executed on said computer for comparing characters input on said keyboard with said correction table stored in said first portion of said memory, for identifying each combination pair of adjacent characters which corresponds to an address portion of correction data on said correction table, and for retrieving the respective edge element portion and correction value portion of said correction data which corresponds to said address portion addressed by each said combination pair;
• and
• (c) means including a second program section executed on said computer for performing a correction function for correcting the contour representation of the edge element of each said identified combination pair identified by said retrieved edge element portion by the amount specified by said correction value portion of said correction data.

In a method of performing digital typesetting in a system having a computer for executing a typesetting program, a memory for storing digital contour representations of a plurality of characters of at least one typestyle, a keyboard for entering data identifying characters to be typeset, wherein the characters are to be typeset positioned serially adjacent one another in a line extending in a serial direction, and each character has a contour which includes an intermediate portion and opposite side portions on opposite sides of said intermediate portion in the serial direction, a character width associated therewith, and a selected spacing from an adjacent character, said typesetting program having a mode for determining the widths and spacings of characters and assembling a line of characters of a selected total line width to be typeset, and means for providing an output of contours of said assembled characters corresponding to said contour representations stored in memory, and further wherein at least some of said assembled characters have edge elements on side portions of their contours which become juxtaposed with edge elements on facing side portions of respective adjacent characters,

• the improvement of a typesetting correction method comprising the steps of:
• (a) storing correction data on a correction table in a first portion of said memory for each combination pair of adjacent characters has an edge element of its contour to be corrected, each said correction data including an address portion specified by said combination pair, an edge element portion identifying the edge element of the contour of the at least one character of the pair to be corrected, and a correction value portion specifying the correction value amount by which said edge element is to be corrected;
• (b) comparing characters input on said keyboard with said correction table stored in said first portion of said memory, identifying each combination pair of adjacent characters which corresponds to an address portion of correction data on said correction table, and retrieving the respective edge element portion and correction value portion of said correction data which corresponds to said address portion addressed by each said combination pair;
• and
• (c) performing a correction function for correcting the contour representation of the edge element of each said identified combination pair identified by said retrieved edge element portion by the amount specified by said correction value portion of said correction data.