Smith Corona Corp.

Scm Corporation

R William Gray

Howard C Duncan, Iv

Donald T Adams

Joseph P Battista

A portable electronic typewriter having a memory incorporating a low-cost spelling-check dictionary and including a multi-character display. The typewriter is operable in a 'List' mode according to which the operator can call up display of a portion of the dictionary, sequentially in alphabetical order and one word at a time. The display consists of each stored word sharing an initial set, or 'string', of n characters (termed a 'template') defined by the operator via the keyboard of the typewriter. In a preferred version, when the typist becomes aware of uncertainty as to spelling, the List Mode may be initiated either before or after partial entry of the desired word. In particular, if the characters entered include an erroneous one, (the typist being alerted of this by an audible alarm, for example), initiation of the List Mode thereafter causes the string to be truncated just before the erroneous character. The resultant template is appropriate for entry into the word listing of the Dictionary and display of successive words (under control of the typist), all of them beginning with the previously defined characters. When the desired word appears on the display the typist can cause that word to be added replacingly to Memory and to the printed text.

Dictionary memory with visual scanning from a selectable starting point

A word-processing system or memory typewriter has the usual keyboard, input display and/or printer; together with a spelling dictionary stored within the memory, and an error signal generating device activated upon entry of an incorrect word. For greater efficiency and ease of use by the operator, the memory also stores several kinds of correction information--e.g., typographical correction, transposition reversal, phonetic substitutions, etc.--suitable for amending the incorrect word to display a trial word which matches one from the above-mentioned stored dictionary, the amending occurring by depression of a special key whenever entry of an incorrect word activates the error-signal device. Statistical control of selection of the class of correction information is provided, the order of utilization of the various classes depending upon the relative extent of the operator's prior successful usage of each class of information. If the trial word displayed is not satisfactory, the operator can depress the usual Index key 20I on the keyboard for presentation of yet another amended word matching the contents of the dictionary, and so on until the operator is satisfied with the one presented and signals the system to print that choice. If a match cannot be obtained with any of the information, the display indicates this fact to the operator.

Word processor having spelling corrector adaptive to operator error

A method and apparatus for adding a low-cost spelling check dictionary feature to document preparation systems such as portable electronic typewriters, the spelling check being performed on a character-by-character basis and an error signal emitted upon the earliest determination that an input character does not conform to that of any word listed in the dictionary. Semiconductor ROM is used for storage of the dictionary listing and for program control of the spelling check. Text compression methods are utilized to permit storage of large vocabularies (about 35,000 words) while minimizing the ROM capacity required (about 3 IC's of 256K bits each).

Spelling check dictionary with early error signal

A low-cost spelling-check dictionary apparatus for incorportation in a portable electronic typewriter. Semiconductor ROM is used for storage of the dictionary's word listing and for program control of the spelling check. Text compression methods are utilized to permit storage of large vocabularies (about 35,000 words) while minimizing the ROM capacity required (about 3 IC's of 256K bits each). In particular, the words are alphabetically arranged in a set of three interconnected tables together with extensions of the third table in highly compressed fashion. The tables verify the spelling order of the first three character inputs, while the extensions verify the fourth and subsequent inputs, if any. The tables have a first 'look-up structure' format, whereas the extensions are arranged in a different 'tree structure' type of format utilizing a 'Huffman code' for the characters.

Compact spelling-check dictionary

An electronic typewriter with an electronic spelling dictionary feature included therein automatically adds a code signal to a code memory register corresponding to a print position of a printed error. The printed error is detected by the dictionary feature in response to printing operations. The electronic typewriter also automatically repositions a print hammer of a printing mechanism to the printed error position from a position beyond the printed error. This is accomplished by an operator actuating a key or a multiple key sequence for finding the printed error by the electronics searching for and finding the added code signal.

Spelling error finding feature including an electronic spelling

In an electronic correcting typewriter, a character correction and replacement system is disclosed for facilitating the task of correcting typed character errors. The typewriter includes a printing and a correcting mechanism operated under electronic control and a correction buffer is associated with the electronic control for storing the last plurality of printed characters. To automatically erase any previously printed character which character has its code stored in the correction buffer and print a new replacement character, the typist locates the carrier opposite the unwanted character and actuates the character key of the desired replacement character. Under control of the electronics, the unwanted character code is recalled from the correction buffer, the correcting mechanism is operated to erase that character and the printing mechanism is operated to print the new character. Operator setting of an overstrike flag provides character overprint capability.

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Ithaca, NY, United States of America

R William Gray