International Business Machines Corporation

Joanne L Mumola

Kent R Demke

Michael Anthony Ko

Jerold D Dwire

Clay E Boyd

John C Jones

A technique is disclosed which allows the display of a representation of a full page of text on the comparatively small CRT screen of a word processing system. For each character comprising a page of text a single bit is stored in the display buffer. On output each bit is displayed in one of two configurations of a 2.times.4 character box. In this way format and spatial relationship of text to page size can be displayed while a particular line is entered or edited to enable an operator to have a better perspective on the developing result.

Displaying a full page representation

There is disclosed a technique for displaying scrollable operating and scale lines simultaneously with an active miniature full page representation. Displayed on the operating line along with active characters is a cursor character. Displayed in the miniature full page are text indicators for representing accurately to the operator the format of the whole page of text. The miniature page is updateable upon keying. The position of the cursor within the miniature full page representation is indicated by blinking the associated character position and displaying peripheral arrows adjacent the outline of the miniature full page representation.

Interactive combination display

There is disclosed a technique for displaying on a relatively small CRT display, using less than the entire screen, a representation of a full page of text. The full page is represented using character indicators rather than recognizable characters. The full page representation is surrounded by an outline generated using the same character indicators as the formatted text representation rather than known graphic symbols. The outline is proportional to the ultimate hardcopy indicated by the user, and character indicators can be displayed right up to the page outlines.

Displaying a proportionally outlined miniature page

A system and method for generating properly proportioned alphanumeric characters and symbols in two vertical heights with a single character generator and a minimum of associated circuitry. The bits of video data stored in the character generator are stored such that the vertical segments of diagonal portions of the characters and symbols include no more than two bits per vertical segment of the diagonal portion. The video data bits representative of the pels of circular portions of the symbols are stored in an arrangement to generate a horizontally elongated elliptical shape when the character or symbol is displayed in the shorter of the two heights. Whenever possible, the diagonal portions of characters include no more than two diagonally disposed pels in the single high character size. For representation of a single dot portion of one of the characters or symbols, a pair of video data bits is stored to generate a pair of horizontally disposed pels on the display when the character or symbol is displayed in the shorter of the two vertical heights. Translation logic is described to efficiently provide for two sizes of characters with a minimum of additional hardware and with no additional character generator memory beyond that required for the smallest characters or symbols.

Multiple height proportioned character generation

Apparatus for rotating a cathode ray tube (CRT) which is operated as a graphic display through 90 degrees such that different size pages of data may be displayed while minimizing the control circuitry required. The display deflection yoke is fixedly attached to a support frame for the display. The CRT is rotatably mounted within the yoke and held by annular thrust bearing which allows the CRT to be rotated 90 degrees. A switch is actuated by the rotation of the CRT to select between sets of control resistors to control the raster scan of the CRT in accordance with its orientation.

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

Joanne L Mumola