Method for determining the optimum angle for displaying a line on raster output devices

In a computer system, a method of controlling a raster scanned graphic output device having an array of pixels controlled by electronic signals which are transmitted to said output device in said system in order to display a line at an improved angle at various raster resolutions, which line is a portion of a glyph, said method comprising:

• storing in a memory means a first plurality of electronic signals representing control points specifying outlines of said line with a first angle with respect to a first axis;
• executing an instruction to modify said first angle of said line, said step of executing causing certain of said control points to be selected for manipulation;
• determining an improved angle for display of said line on said raster scanned graphic output device for finding a second angle at which said line has a minimal pixel repetition period;
• manipulating the location of said certain of said control points to adjust said line to have said improved angle on said raster scanned graphic output device;
• displaying a plurality of pixels representing said line at said improved angle on said raster scanned graphic output device by transmitting a plurality of second electronic signals representing said plurality of pixels to said output device, each of said second plurality of electronic signals having a value which specifies the intensity of said pixel corresponding with said each of said second plurality of electronic signals.

In a computer system, a method for controlling a raster scanned graphic output device having an array of pixels controlled by electronic signals which are transmitted to said output device in said system in order to display a line at an improved angle at various raster resolutions, which line is a portion of a glyph, said method comprising:

• storing in memory means a plurality of electronic signals representing control points specifying said line with a first angle with respect to a first axis;
• executing an instruction to modify said first angle of said line, said step of executing causing certain of said control points to be selected for manipulation;
• determining an improved angle to be used for display on said raster scanned graphic output device by finding a second angle at which a weighted sum of an angular variable and a corresponding distance variable is minimized;
• manipulating the location of said certain of said control points to adjust said line to have said improved angle on said raster scanned graphic output device, said improved angle being said second angle;
• displaying a plurality of pixels by transmitting a plurality of second electronic signals to said output device, said plurality of second electronic signals representing said line at said improved angle on said raster scanned graphic output device.

In a computer system, an apparatus for controlling a raster scanned graphic output device having an array of pixels in order to display a line at an improved angle at various raster resolutions on said raster scanned graphic output device comprising:

• memory means for storing a first plurality of electronic signals representing a first plurality of control points specifying outline of said line;
• selection means for selecting at least one of said first plurality of control points of said outlines for manipulation;
• relation means for relating a penalty with a weighted sum of an angular variable and a corresponding distance variable for said at least one of said first plurality of control points;
• minimization means for minimizing said penalty for determining said angle on said raster scanned graphic output device;
• and
• display means for receiving a second plurality of electronic signals from said minimization means and displaying a plurality of pixels representing said line at said angle on said raster scanned graphic output device due to said second plurality of electronic signals.

In a computer system, an apparatus for controlling a raster scanned graphic output device having an array of pixels, each of said array of pixels generated by electronic signals in order to display a line at an improved angle at various raster resolutions, which line is a portion of a glyph, comprising:

• storage means for storing a first plurality of electronic signals in a memory means representing a first plurality of control points specifying outlines of said line with a first angle with respect to a first axis;
• instruction execution means for executing an instruction to modify said first angle of said line, said executing causing certain of said control points to be selected for manipulation;
• improved angle determination means for finding a second angle at which said line has a minimal pixel repetition period on said raster scanned graphic output device;
• location manipulation means for manipulating the location of said certain of said control points to adjust said line to have said improved angle on said raster scanned graphic output device;
• display means for receiving a second plurality of electronic signals and displaying a plurality of pixels due to said second plurality of electronic signals for representing said line at said improved angle on said raster scanned graphic output device.

In a computer system, an apparatus for controlling a raster scanned graphic output device having an array of pixels controlled by electronic signals in order to display a line at an improved angle at various raster resolutions, which line is a portion of a glyph, comprising:

• memory means for storing a plurality of first electronic signals representing a first plurality of control points specifying said line with a first angle with respect to a first axis;
• instruction execution means for modifying said first angle of said line, said means causing certain of said control points to be selected for manipulation;
• improved angle determination means for finding a second angle at which a weighted sum of an angular variable and a corresponding distance variable is minimized on said raster scanned graphic output device;
• location manipulation means for moving said certain of said control points to adjust said line to have said second angle;
• display means for receiving a second plurality of electronic signals and displaying a plurality of pixels due to said second plurality of electronic signals for representing said line at said second angle on said output device.

In a computer system comprising a memory, a processor, and a raster scanned graphic output device, a method for controlling said raster scanned graphic output device having an array of pixels controlled by electronic signals which are transmitted to said output device in said system in order to display a line at an improved angle at various raster resolutions, said method comprising the steps of:

• storing in said memory a first plurality of electronic signals representing control points specifying at least one outline of said line;
• said processor selecting at least one of said control points of said at least one outline for manipulation;
• said processor relating a penalty with a weighted sum of an angular variable and a corresponding distance variable;
• said processor minimizing said penalty for determining said angle on said raster scanned graphic output device;
• and
• displaying a plurality of pixels representing said line at said angle on said raster scanned graphic output device by transmitting a second plurality of electronic signals for said plurality of pixels to said output device, each of said second plurality of electronic signals having a value which specifies the intensity of said pixel corresponding with each of said second plurality of electronic signals.

An apparatus for controlling a raster scanned graphic output device having an array of pixels in order to display a line at an improved angle at various raster resolutions on said raster scanned graphic output device comprising:

• a memory for storing a first plurality of electronic signals representing a first plurality of control points specifying outlines of said line;
• a selection circuit for selecting at least one of said first plurality of control points of said outlines for manipulation;
• a relation circuit for relating a penalty with a weighted sum of an angular variable and a corresponding distance variable for said at least one of said first plurality of control points;
• a minimization circuit for minimizing said penalty for determining said angle on said raster scanned graphic output device;
• and
• a display circuit for receiving a second plurality of electronic signals from said minimization circuit and displaying a plurality of pixels representing said line at said angle on said raster scanned graphic output device due to said second plurality of electronic signals.

An apparatus comprising:

• a. a raster scanned graphic output device having an array of pixels controlled by electronic signals;
• b. a memory coupled to said raster scanned graphic output device for providing said electronic signals;
• and
• c. a processor coupled to said memory, said processor controlling said raster scanned graphic output device by storing said electronic signals in said memory in order to display a line at an improved angle at various raster resolutions, said processor storing in said memory a first plurality of electronic signals representing control points specifying at least one outline of said line, selecting at least one of said control points of said at least one outline for manipulation, relating a penalty with a weighted sum of an angular variable and a corresponding distance variable, minimizing said penalty for determining said angle on said raster scanned graphic output device and storing a second set of electronic signals in said memory representing said line at said angle on said raster scanned graphic output device, each of said second plurality of electronic signals having a value which specifies the intensity of said pixel corresponding with each of said second plurality of electronic signals.