Dean Dayton Ballard

Title: Dean Dayton Ballard: Innovator in Glyph Rendering Technology

Introduction

Dean Dayton Ballard is a notable inventor based in Seattle, WA (US), recognized for his contributions to the field of glyph rendering technology. With a total of 8 patents to his name, Ballard has made significant advancements that enhance the efficiency and accuracy of character display in digital formats.

Latest Patents

One of Ballard's latest patents is a method for rendering endpoints of segments during scan conversion of a glyph. This innovative scan converter supports the efficient and accurate display of character outlines by pixel-oriented display devices. To conserve memory resources, the improved scan converter accurately determines an upper bound for the memory required for scan conversion calculations. It achieves improvements in speed and character image quality by rendering spline segments of a character outline using a second-order equation to calculate an implicit function based on the control points of each segment. Furthermore, the scan converter systematically addresses the rendering of endpoints located on a scan line, determining whether the associated pixel should be activated based on the direction of approach and exit from the endpoint. This method reduces the number of calculations requiring sub-pixel precision, thereby providing an improved solution for dropout conditions.

Another significant patent involves laying out a paragraph by defining all characters as a single text run. This process utilizes a layout services library to substitute glyphs for the characters of the text run and position them accordingly. The length of the text run is compared to the line length, and if it exceeds the line length, the text run is divided into parent and child text runs. If justification is enabled, the parent text run is justified, and the process continues until the last child text run does not exceed the line length.

Career Highlights

Throughout his career, Dean Dayton Ballard has worked with prominent companies, including Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC. His work has significantly impacted the way text and glyphs are rendered in digital applications, showcasing his expertise in the field.

Collaborations

Ballard has collaborated with various professionals, including Eliyezer Kohen, to further enhance his innovative projects and patents.

Conclusion

Dean Dayton Ballard's contributions to glyph rendering technology have paved the way for advancements in digital text display. His innovative methods and patents continue to influence the industry, demonstrating his commitment to improving character rendering efficiency and quality.