| 摘要 |
This apparatus and method permit plotting a series of data values at an optimum scale expansion, even when the largest value is not known in advance, for permanent recording or transitory display. In response to each data value several display signals are derived, corresponding to representation of that data value at several different scale expansions. These several signals are used to position respective indicia on a visually readable medium. If desired the several display signals may all be recorded, as for example on magnetic tape, and the acutal plotting (i.e., production of indicia) performed later. The data-value magnitude is represented by respective displacements of the indicia in one direction from a baseline, at the several scale expansions. Thus indicia are produced for all of the scale expansions that correspond to on-scale positions. The medium moves relative to the indicia-producing apparatus, along a second, orthogonal direction. Preferred hardware includes a shift register with enough bits for the full range of data; but only the least-significant-bits end, the number of places equalling the display-medium resolution, is used to position indicia.
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