APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING VECTORS

摘要

Graphical data on a document is raster scanned and the resulting bit pattern is processed to provide a processes-bit-pattern which represents single-pel-wide lines indicative of the shapes of objects scanned on the document. These single-pel-wide lines may represent the outlines of objects on the centre lines. The processed bit pattern is then passed to a line follower in which bits representing contiguous pels are detected and tested for linearity. When contiguous pels fall the linearity test, a new vector is started and the vector being tracked is terminated. Hardware for performing these operations is described. The resulting vector list is stored until needed for display etc. Optionally a display station can be used to correct faulty vectors or to encode alphanumeric data in a more convenient format than vector coding.