Character generating method and system

Abstract

A digital character generator method and system encode characters based on a normalized quad in accordance with coordinates of initial starting points of outlines of the character and variational parameters defining changes in those outlines such as slope and curvature. All characters of all formats are encoded for a maximum point size display. Vertical scaling factors permit character generation at any desired point size display. Horizontal scaling factors are employed both for transforming computations based on the encoded parameters for the normalized quad to a desired point size of display and also to adapt cyclic computations to the stroking density of a display CRT. .Iadd.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A character generator for generating characters encoded in accordance with a normalized quad of X Y coordinates wherein each successive X coordinate value corresponds to a computation cycle, each character being encoded in a succession of data instructions related to outlines of the character segments and including a beginning line instruction identifying the initial Y coordinate of each of a related pair of outlines, outline change instructions specifying variously fixed and variable directions of outline, and termination of an outline pair, and an instruction designating the end of a character, each change instruction including an identification of the outline to which it relates, and a number designating the computation cycles to a subsequent instruction, means responsive to a beginning line instruction to identify an initial pair of outlines and to store in relation thereto their respective Y coordinates,   means responsive to a change instruction for a related outline, as identified and stored, for computing, in each successive computation cycle, a new Y coordinate value for each identified outline in accordance with its associated change instruction, said means maintaining a stored Y coordinate value for an outline for which there is no change instruction,   means for updating the Y coordinate values in said storing means in accordance with the computed new value thereof, as computed in each computation cycle, and   means responsive to the encoded computation cycle number of each successive change instruction to request and receive the next successive instruction for the character upon completion of the encoded number of computation cycles of a present instruction.   
     
     
       2. A character generator as recited in claim 1, wherein there is provided: means for storing plural sets of instructions corresponding to plural sets of characters;   a buffer storage means for storing the successive instructions for each character of a selected set of characters to be generated; and   means for supplying the successive instructions for each character of a selected set thereof to said buffer storage means.   
     
     
       3. A character generator as recited in claim 1, wherein said means responsive to a beginning line instruction comprises a Y unit including a Y memory for storing the initial Y coordinates of an initial pair of outlines, said Y memory having a number of storage positions corresponding to a maximum number of outlines in a given computation cycle and addressable in accordance with the identification .[.number.]. of each outline. 
     
     
       4. A character generator as recited in claim 3 wherein said Y unit further comprises a further memory having a plurality of incremental Y coordinate changes stored therein and addressable in accordance with a corresponding identification number of an instruction encoded to specify a fixed increment of change of the Y coordinate for an identified outline, and means operable in each computation cycle to add to the current Y coordinate from the Y memory and the increment of Y from the further memory to compute a new value of Y updated by the increment and means for storing the updated Y value in the Y memory position for the outline, in each successive computation cycle until a further change instruction for the outline or an end of character instruction.   
     
     
       5. A character generator as recited in claim 3 wherein one of the change instructions includes a change slope instruction encoded in accordance with a designated slope and each slope being defined as a predetermined increment of Y in each computation cycle, and wherein: said Y unit further includes a Y increment memory having a plurality of storage positions addressable by an encoded slope designation and storing in the corresponding position the value of the Y increment, and said updating means includes:   means operable in each computation cycle for addressing the Y memory for the outline identified by a change slope instruction and for addressing the incremental Y memory in accordance with the slope designation to derive the corresponding Y coordinate value and Y increment values, and   means for adding the derived Y coordinate and Y increment values to compute a new value of Y thereform, and   said updating means updates the Y memory with the thus computed new value of Y.   
     
     
       6. A character generator as recited in claim 5 wherein said computing means further comprises an M unit having an M memory addressable in accordance with the outline number of a change slope instruction to store in a corresponding memory position the slope designation of the instruction, said M memory supplying the slope designation for each outline to the Y increment memory of said Y unit. 
     
     
       7. A character generator as recited in claim 6, wherein a further outline change instruction comprises a change of curvature instruction for an identified outline and wherein each designated curvature corresponds to an increment of change in slope, defining a succession of slope values updated by the said increment, each said updated slope value being utilzed for a predetermined number S N  of computation cycles to effect a corresponding number of updates of the Y coordinate to establish a desired radius of curvature of the resulting outline, and said computing means further comprises: a K memory addressable in accordance with the identified outline of a change curvature instruction to store in the corresponding memory position the curvature designation of the instruction; K decode logic means responsive to a curvature designation derived from the K memory for supplying the increment of slope corresponding to the designated curvature; and     a further memory having stored therein a plurality of values S N  respectively corresponding to the number of computation cycles of Y updates for each of the updated values of slope for a given curvature designation and addressable in accordance with the designated curvature of a change curvature instruction and each of the updated values of the slope, in succession, to supply the corresponding S N  value as as output.   
     
     
       8. A character generator as recited in claim 7, wherein: said computing means further includes an S unit for accumulating a count S as a function of the number of updates of the Y coordinate for each of the succession of slope values related to a given curvature,   said S unit including an S memory addressable in accordance with the outline identification to store in the corresponding memory position a current value S corresponding to the number of Y updates at a given slope,   said K decode logic means of said K unit furthermore provides an S increment ΔS for a given curvature designation, and said S unit further includes   an adder for adding in each computation cycle, corresponding thereby to each Y update, the value ΔS supplied by said K decode logic to the S value for the corresponding outline stored in said S memory, and   means for updating, in accordance with the summation output of said adder, the value of S stored in said S memory for the corresponding outline.   
     
     
       9. A character generator as recited in claim 8, wherein said S unit further comprises: a comparator for comparing the updated S value from said S memory with the stored value S N  of the predetermined number of Y updates from said memory of said K unit in accordance with a present slope value, to determine when the accumulated S value corresponds to said predetermined value S N  of Y updates, and   means responsive to said comparator to continue the addition by said adder of an incremental S value ΔS to the stored S value when the S value is less than said predetermined number S N  and alternatively to supply a reset value S O  in lieu of the updated S value when the latter equals or exceeds a predetermined number of Y updates.   
     
     
       10. A character generator as recited in claim 9, wherein there is further provided decode logic responsive to the slope value and to the curvature designation for defining respectively corresponding reset values S O . 
     
     
       11. A character generator as recited in claim 9, wherein there is further provided means responsive to the output of said comparator when the incremented value of S equals or exceeds the predetermined number of Y updates thereby to enable update of the slope designation in accordance with the increment of slope change supplied by said decode logic in response to the curvature designation. 
     
     
       12. A character generator as recited in claim 11 wherein said curvature designation identifies positive or negative curvatures and wherein the succession of slope values defined for a given curvature correspondingly are incremented or decremented. 
     
     
       13. A character generator as recited in claim 12 wherein said Y unit further includes means for recognizing alternatively the incrementing or decrementing effect of incremental changes of slope to supply corresponding incrementing or decrementing Y coordinate increments to said added for producing correspondingly incrementing or decrementing Y update changes whereby outlines of positive and negative curvatures are selectively defined. 
     
     
       14. A character generator as recited in claim 10, wherein said further memory of said K unit having stored therein the predetermined number of successive updates for a given curvature designation defines for unitary increments of the value S the base radius of curvature and wherein different radii of curvature are derivable from the stored number of updates for a given radius of curvature by selectively or in combination incrementing the S count in accordance with non-unitary values and incrementing or decrementing the slope in accordance with non-unitary values, and wherein said decode logic receiving the output of said K memory correspondingly provides integer ΔM I  and fraction ΔM F  values of said slope increments and integer ΔS I  and fractional ΔS F  values of the S count update values. 
     
     
       15. A character generator as recited in claim 14, wherein there is further provided a memory having stored therein fractional S values S F  and an associated further added for adding each fractional S update value ΔS F  to the stored S F  value, and means to update the S F  memory by storing the updated value S F  +ΔS F  for outline in the S F  memory, and   means for supplying said carry output to said adder for the S and ΔS I  update increments when the successive updates of the value S F , as defined by the output of the S F  and ΔS F  adder, reaches unity.   
     
     
       16. A character generator as recited in claim 1, wherein said means responsive to the encoded computation cycle number comprises: a counter set to the encoded number in response to each change instruction and   means responsive to completion of the computation for all outlines computed in a given cycle to decrement the counter by unity value, and   means responsive to a zero count of said counter for requesting a successive instruction for the character.   
     
     
       17. A character generator as recited in claim 1, wherein there is further provided a sequencing unit storing the outline .[.identification numbers.]. .Iadd.identifications .Iaddend.in a sequence corresponding to an ordered succession of Y coordinate values of the thereby identified outlines. 
     
     
       18. A character generator as recited in claim 17, wherein there is further provided a control unit including a temporary memory and a temporary memory address counter and means responsive to the sequence of outline number designations stored in said sequence unit for supplying updated Y coordinates of the outlines in each computation cycle to said temporary memory in an ordered sequence of coordinate values. 
     
     
       19. A character generator as recited in claim 18 for use with a display means having scanning means effecting a succession of horizontally displaced vertical strokes, each vertical stroke having a fixed ramp rate and said scanning means being normally blanked, and wherein the updated Y coordinate values of a given computation cycle are employed to control blanking and unblanking of a scanning beam in a corresponding stroke of the beam, further comprising a vertical scaling unit for scaling the Y coordinate values of the normalized quad to the deflection of the beam in each stroke, and   a comparator for comparing the effective scaled coordinate position of the stroke relative to the Y coordinates of the normalized quad with the ordered succession of updated Y coordinate values of the said temporary memory to produce unblanking and blanking control outputs in alternate succession for each comparison of the vertically scaled unit output being equal to or greater than the stored and updated Y coordinate stored in the temporary memory, for each such stored Y coordinate value of the ordered succession thereof.   
     
     
       20. A character generator as recited in claim 19, further comprising means for storing in association with the last Y coordinate value an identification of the absence of further coordinate values in said temporary memory, and means responsive to said stored identification upon said last coordinate value being supplied to said comparator to identify the conclusion of Y coordinate information and thereby terminate the current stroke.   
     
     
       21. A character generator as recited in claim 19, wherein there is further provided: means for generating a clocking signal during each vertical stroke and related to the ramp rate of the stroke, and   said vertical scaling unit includes means for receiving a vertical scaling factor relating the size of a character to be displayed to a maximum point size corresponding to the encoding of the character in the normalized quad, and   a counter and means to increment the counter in response to each clock pulse during a stroke by an amount corresponding to the vertical scaling factor.   
     
     
       22. A character generator as recited in claim 19, wherein each vertical stroke of the display means is performed at a predetermined horizontal spacing in accordance with a desired stroke density, and there is further provided: a horizontal scaling unit for receiving and storing a horizontal scale factor relating the computation cycles of the normalized quad for a maximum size character display to the desired size of the character to be displayed and to the stroke density, and   means for decrementing said stored horizontal scale factor in accordance with completion of said computation cycle and producing an output upon the stored scale factor being decremented to a minimum value, and   means enabling a successive scanning stroke of the display means in response to said output for controlling the blanking and unblanking of the scanning means in accordance with the ordered sequence of Y coordinate values of the preceding, completed computation cycle.   
     
     
       23. A character generator as recited in claim 22, wherein said horizontal scaling unit comprises first and second storage means for storing .[.horizontal.]. .Iadd.integral .Iaddend.and fractional portions of the horizontal scale factor, respectively, an adder for receiving the horizontal fractional scale factor in each computation cycle and adding that fraction to a fraction summation value,   a fraction summation register for storing said fraction summation value and supply thereof to said adder,   a counter for storing the horizontal scale factor supplied thereto by said first storage means, and   gating means for decrementing the integer count stored in said counter for each computation cycle and for incrementing the count thereof in response to a carry output from said adder when the addition of the fractional scale factor to the fraction summation of said register thereby is equal to or greater than unity.   
     
     
       24. A character generator as recited in claim 23, wherein said means responsive to the minimum output of said counter for thereby enabling the stroke effects loading of the horizontal scale factor into said counter for a successive operation. 
     
     
       25. A character generator as recited in claim 17, wherein said sequencing unit comprises a first recirculating shift register having a number of storage positions corresponding to the maximum number of outlines capable of being processed,   a second recirculating shift register of a corresponding number of storage positions and recirculating in synchronism with said first shift register, and   gating means for inserting a flag bit in each stage of said second shift register for which a valid outline number is stored in the corresponding stage of the first shift register.   
     
     
       26. A character generator as recited in claim 25, wherein each of said shift registers includes parallel outputs and there is further provided decode logic responsive to the parallel outputs of said second shift register to identify in accordance with the position of a flag bit therein the storage position of said first shift register having, at any given point in time, the outline number corresponding to the lowest ordered Y coordinate outline value, and a data selector for reading out the stored outline identification numbers from said first shift register supplied at said parallel outputs thereof from the position identified by the decode logic, in succession for the plurlity of identification numbers stored therein, thereby to avoid delays in requiring complete recirculation of each shift register to obtain outputs of the stored identification numbers therefrom.   
     
     
       27. A character generator as recited in claim 25, wherein there is further provided first and second gating means respectively associated with said first and second shift registers, means operable in response to each stored identification number for comparing the corresponding Y coordinate value with the Y coordinate value of a newly received beginning line instruction to determine whether the stored Y coordinate value is greater than the encoded Y coordinate value of the instruction, and   said gating means responding to said comparison when the stored Y coordinate value exceeds the Y coordinate value of the instruction to interrupt the recirculation of the corresponding identification number in said first shift register and insert in advance thereof the identification number of the new outline encoded in the instruction.   
     
     
       28. A character generator as recited in claim 27, wherein said second gating means is operable in parallel with said first gating means to insert a further flag bit in the corresponding shift register position of said second shift register. 
     
     
       29. A character generator as recited in claim 25, wherein there is further provided gating means associated with said second shift register to control the recirculation of data therein, and there is further provided: means responsive to an end of line pair instruction to store the outline identification number encoded therein for comparison with the stored identification numbers recirculating in said first shift register, and   said gating means for said first shift register responding to the comparison of a currently recirculating outline number and the stored outline number from the instruction to inhibit further recirculation of that outline number.   
     
     
       30. A character generator as recited in claim 23, wherein said gating means is connected to said first shift register to receive and recirculate the contents thereof from a stage displaced from the last stage in response to inhibiting recirculation of a terminated outline number thereby to maintain the recirculating outline numbers in consecutive order position in the shift register. 
     
     
       31. A character generator as recited in claim 30, wherein said gating means for said second shift register is operated in parallel with said gating means for said first shift register to eliminate the corresponding flag bit and to recirculate remaining flag bits from a stage of the shift register displaced from the last stage thereby to maintain the flag bits in the corresponding positions of the second shift register for identifying valid outline numbers in the first shift register. 
     
     
       32. A method for automatically generating characters with respect to a normalized encoding quad of X-Y coordinates having predetermined Y coordinate values wherein for at least one parameter of directional variations of a line within the quad, there are selected a plurality of fixed values of the parameter variations, the fixed values respectively relating to Y coordinate increments to successive X coordinate positions and wherein a first and each successive X coordinate position defines a computation cycle, each character capable of being generated being encoded in an instruction set in accordance with storing the initial Y coordinates of the outlines of each pair of outlines of a character as an instruction identifying the beginning of the outline pair,   storing, in relation to each outline having a directional variation, the corresponding parameter value as a parameter change instruction,   determining the number of X coordinate positions from the first and each successive parameter change instruction to the respectively next successive instruction, and storing the determined number as a number of computation cycles in associated with the first of each two said successive instructions,   storing an end of character instruction, and   storing the termination of an outline pair intermediate the beginning and end of a character as an end of outline pair instruction, and the generating method comprising:   providing a set of instructions in accordance with the aforesaid encoding of a character to be generated, for each character available to be generated,   identifying a desired character to be generated and selecting, in succession, the instructions of the corresponding said set thereof for processing, in accordance with   responding to each begin outline pair instruction corresponding to outline pairs initiating with the first X coordinate position of the character to identify and store the Y coordinate and thereby establish a starting point for each such outline relative to the quad, and   in each successive computation cycle, computing the Y coordinate position of each outline in accordance with the stored value thereof and any encoded parameter change instructions for the outline and storing said computed Y coordinate values, and   storing the number of computation cycles from a first instruction encoded therewith and reducing that number by a predetermined amount upon completion of computations in each of successive computation cycles and, in response to said number being reduced to a predetermined value, selecting the next successive instruction of said set for said character.   
     
     
       33. A method for automatically generating characters as recited in claim 32, further comprising: computing a new Y coordinate value of each outline in accordance with the Y coordinate increment stored for the value of the parameter change instruction for that outline in each successive computation cycle in response to a parameter change instruction for that outline and, upon completion of a number of computation cycles corresponding to the stored, determined number of X coordinate positions from a given instruction, computing a Y coordinate value in accordance with the next successive instruction for the outline to which that next successive instruction relates, and   terminating computations of Y coordinate values in response to an end of outline pair instruction as to the outlines of the terminated pair and terminating all computations in response to an end of character instruction.   
     
     
       34. A method for automatically generating characters encoded in a normalized quad of predetermined X and Y coordinate values wherein successive X coordinates define successive computation cycles and wherein each outline is encoded in a begin outline pair instruction for each outline thereof as to its initial Y coordinates, in a parameter change instruction as to at least a first parameter of directional variations comprising one of a plurality of fixed values of the first parameter, each said fixed value defining a Y coordinate increment; an end of outline pair instruction for the outlines of a pair terminating intermediate the beginning and end of a character; each foregoing instruction furthermore being encoded with an outline number identifying the outline to which it relates; and an end of character instruction for terminating all outlines of the character; each instruction excepting the begin outline pair instruction and the end of character instruction furthermore being encoded with the number of computation cycles corresponding to the number of X positions to the next encoded instruction for the character, comprising: providing a set of instructions in accordance with the aforesaid encoding of a character to be generated for each character available to be generated,   identifying a desired character to be generated and selecting, in succession, the instructions of the corresponding said set thereof for processing, in accordance with,   in a first computation cycle, responding to each begin outline pair instruction corresponding to an outline pair initiating at an initial X coordinate position of the character to establish an initial Y coordinate value for each such outline relative to the quad,   in each successive computation cycle, generating the Y coordinate value of each outline in accordance with its Y coordinate value generated in the respectively next preceding computation cycle and any current instruction as to that outline, to define the Y coordinate value for the corresponding X coordinate position in relation to the quad, including for each outline having a parameter change instruction, computing a new y coordinate value in accordance with modifying the initial value by the amount of the increment identified by the parameter value encoded in the instruction, and   terminating the computation of Y coordinate values for each outline pair identified by an end of outline pair instruction, and   storing the number of computation cycles from a first instruction encoded therewith and reducing that number by a predetermined amount upon completion of generating the Y coordinate values of each outline in each of successive computation cycles and, in response to said number being reduced to a predetermined value, selecting the next successive instruction of said set for said character,     terminating the computation of Y coordinate values for all outlines for a given character in response to an end of character instruction.   
     
     
       35. A method for automatically generating characters as recited in claim 34, further comprising: responding to each begin outline pair instruction subsequent to an initial such instruction to identify initial Y coordinate values for the outlines of each such subsequent pair at an X coordinate position of the quad corresponding to the elapsed number of computation cycles of preceding instructions, thereby to initiate the generation of new outlines of the character.   
     
     
       36. A method for automatically generating characters as recited in claim 35, wherein the characters further are encoded as to a second parameter having a plurality of fixed values each thereof defining a succession of incremental changes in the first parameter and wherein the change of the first parameter in accordance with the increment is a function of a predetermined number of changes in the Y coordinate in accordance with each successively changed value of the first parameter, comprising: responding to each instruction of a change in the second parameter for a given outline, to compute the Y coordinate for the outline in each of successive computation cycles by identifying the increment of change of the first parameter in accordance with the second parameter and computing the value of the first parameter therefrom,   identifying the incremental value of change of the Y coordinate in accordance with the computed first parameter value and computing a new Y coordinate value therefrom in each of successive computation cycles for the predetermined number of changed values of Y,     and continuing to compute new successive values of the first parameter upon completion of computations for the predetermined number of changed values of Y in accordance with said identified increment of change of the first parameter corresponding to the value of the second parameter and computing new changed values of Y in accordance with the new computed value of the first parameter for the predetermined number of changes in values of Y in successive computation cycles.   
     
     
       37. A method for automatically generating and displaying characters encoded in a normalized quad of predetermined X and Y coordinate values wherein successive X coordinates define successive computation cycles and wherein each outline is encoded in a begin outline pair instruction for each outline thereof as to its initial Y coordinates, in a parameter change instruction as to at least a first parameter of directional variations comprising one of a plurality of fixed values of the first parameter, each said fixed value defining a Y coordinate increment; an end of outline pair instruction for the outlines of a pair .[.of.]. terminating intermediate the beginning and end of a character; each foregoing instruction furthermore being encoded with in outline number identifying the outline to which it relates; and an end of character instruction for terminating all outlines of the character; each instruction excepting the begin outline pair instruction and the end of character instruction furthermore being encoded with a number of computation cycles corresponding to the number of X positions to the next encoded instruction for the character, comprising: generating characters in accordance with: providing a set of instructions in accordance with the aforesaid encoding of a character to be generated, for each character available to be generated,   identifying a desired character to be generated and selecting, in succession, the instructions of the corresponding said set thereof for processing, in accordance with,     in a first computation cycle, responding to each begin outline pair instruction corresponding to an outline pair initiating at an initial X coordinate position to establish initial Y coordinates for each such outline relative to the quad,   in each successive computation cycle, generating the Y coordinate value of each outline in accordance with its Y coordinate value generated in the respectively next preceding computation cycle and any current instruction as to that outline, to define the Y coordinate value for the corresponding X coordinate position in relation to the quad, including for each outline having a parameter change instruction, computing a new Y coordinate value in accordance with modifying the initial value by the amount of the increment identified by the parameter value encoded in the instruction, and   terminating the computation of Y coordinate values for each outline pair identified by an end of outline pair instruction, and   storing the number of computation cycles from a first instruction encoded therewith and reducing that number by a predetermined amount upon completion of computations in each successive computation cycles and, in response to said number being reduced to a predetermined value, selecting the next successive instruction of said set for said character,     terminating the computation of Y coordinate values, for all outlines of a given character in response to an end of character instruction, and   displaying characters thus generated on a display means including means for effectively horizontally displaced vertical strokes on a display element in accordance with a desired stroking density and wherein the scanning means may be selectively controlled to blank and unblank each stroke on the display element, in accordance with:   correlating the size of the display character in the X coordinate direction, in accordance with the effective displacement of successive X positions of the quad, to the stroke density of the display means to define a first component value of a horizontal scaling factor thereby to control character size in the X coordinate direction .[.by control of stroke density on said display means, in the character generation operation.]. .Iadd.as the character is displayed upon the display means.Iaddend., and   controlling the unblanking and blanking of the scanning beam during each stroke in accordance with the computed Y coordinate values for the cycle correlated with the stroke.   
     
     
       38. A method of characte generation and display as recited in claim 37 further comprising: correlating the size of the characters to be displayed with respect to the maximum size in accordance with which the character is encoded to define a second component value of the horizontal scaling factor, and   defining a series of numbers of computation cycles in accordance with the horizontal scaling factor,   storing a first number of said series of numbers of computation cycles and reducing same by a predetermined amount for each successive computation cycle and producing an output when the said stored number is reduced to a predetermined value thereby to select the computation cycle from which the Y coordinate information is obtained to control the scanning means in each stroke thereof, and   storing a successive number of said series thereof in response to said output and upon completion of a prior stroke, thereby to initiate a successive number of computation cycles for control of a subsequent, correlated stroke of said scanning means.   
     
     
       39. A method of character generation and display as recited in claim 38 wherein each stroke of the vertical scan in performed at a known, fixed ramp rate of displacement on the display element, and wherein the characters are encoded in the normalized quad for a maximum size character display, further comprising: correlating the size of the charactes to be displayed with respect to the maximum size in accordance with which the character is encoded and with respect to the ramp rate to define a vertical scaling factor, and   unblanking and blanking the scanning means during each stroke in accordance with the Y coordinate values of the outlines defined in the computation cycle corresponding to the stroke as those values are scaled by the vertical scaling factor.   
     
     
       40. A method of automatically generating characters with respect to a normalized encoding quad of X-Y coordinates having predetermined Y coordinate values wherein each character capable of being generated is encoded in accordance with selecting and designating a plurality of slopes, each slope having a value defined as a corresponding, fixed increment of the Y coordinate for a unit change in the X coordinate,   selecting and designating a plurality of slopes, each slope having a value defined as a corresponding, fixed increment of the Y coordinate for a unit change in the X coordinate,   selecting and designating a plurality of curvatures, each curvature having a succession of incrementally changing values of slopes, with each incrementally changed slope having a related predetermined number of changes in Y in accordance with the Y increment for a given slope value,   relating each of the characters to be encoded to the normalized quad, and, for each character,   defining and identifiying outlines of the character, wherein the outlines are related in pairs, each pair containing therebetween a solid continuous segment of the character,   storing in a corresonding beginning of line instruction the initial Y coordinate of each outline of the character,   storing, for each outline having a slope, the outline identification and the corresonding slope designation in a slope change instruction,   storing, for each outline having a curvature, the outline designation and the corresponding curvature designation in a change curvature instruction,   storing in at least each instruction subsequent to the beginning of line instruction and prior to the end of a character, the number of X coordinate positions to the next successive instruction for the character as a corresponding number of computation cycles,   storing an end of character instruction, and   said method of character generation comprising:   providing at least one set of instructions, each such set defining a corresponding character to be generated,   identifying a desired character to be generated and selecting, in succession, the instructions of the corresponding said set thereof for processing in accordance with   responding to each begin outline pair instruction of said at least one set corresponding to an outline pair initiating with the first X coordinate position of the character to identify and store the initial Y coordinate and establish a starting point for that outline relative to the quad, and   in each successive computation cycle, determining the Y coordinate value of each outline for the corresponding X coordinate position of the quad in accordance with: maintaining the initial Y coordinate value in the absence of a change instruction for the outline;   computing a new, changed Y coordinate value in response to a change instruction for the outline, and storing said new Y coordinate value, and   storing the number of computation cycles from a first instruction encoded therewith and reducing that number by a predetermined amount upon completion of computations in each of successive computation cycles and, in response to said number being reduced to a predetermined value, selecting the next successive instruction of said set for said character.     
     
     
       41. A method for automatically generating characters as recited in claim 40, further comprising: in response to a slope change instruction for an outline, computing a new Y coordinate value of that outline in accordance with the Y coordinate increment stored for the designated slope of the slope change instruction in each successive computation cycle, and   in response to an end of outline pair instruction, terminating computations of Y coordinate values for the outlines of the terminated pair, and   terminating all computations in response to an end of character instruction.   
     
     
       42. A method for automatically generating characters as recited in claim 41, further comprising: in response to a curvature change instruction for an outline, determining the increment of change of slope for the encoded, designated curvature and computing a first slope value,   determining the said predetermined number of changes in Y, and the increment of change of Y for the computed first slope,   computing new values of Y in accordance with the determined Y increment in each computation cycle of said predetermined number, and   computing a successive slope value and determining the increment for computing new values of Y in successive computation cycles upon each completion of the corresonding predetermined number of such new valueof Y computations.   
     
     
       43. A system for automatically generating characters with respect to a normalized encoding quad of first and second coordinates wherein each character capable of being generated includes at least one outline and the character is encoded as to that outline with respect to a normalized encoding quad to define values of the first coordinate with respect to successive values of the second coordinate and including a beginning of line instruction definining the initial first coordinate value for each outline, a slope change instruction for each outline having a slope, a curvature change instruction for each outline having a curvature, each foregoing instruction identifying the outline to which it relates and designating the number of successive positions of the second coordinate prior to the next successive instruction for the character, an end of outline instruction and an end of character instruction, comprising: means defining a computation cycle with respect to each successive position of the second coordinate of the encoding quad,   means responsive to a begin outline instruction corresponding to an outline initiating at the first position of the second coordinate to identify the initial value of the first coordinate, thereby to establish a starting point for that outline relative to the quad, and   means operative in each successive computation cycle to determine the value of the second coordinate for each outline with respect to the corresponding position of the first coordinate of the quad, including means for maintaining the said initial value of the second coordinate system in the absence of a change instruction for the outline, and means for computing a new, changed value for the outline in response to a change instruction of the outline.   
     
     
       44. A system as recited in claim 43, wherein said outlines correspond as pairs of outlines defining therebetween a solid segment of the character to be generated, the begin outline instruction being encoded for both outlines of the pair to constitute a begin outline pair instruction, and wherein said means responsive to each begin outline pair instruction thereby identifies the initial value of the second coordinate as the starting point for the said pair of outlines relative to the quad.   
     
     
       45. A system for displaying characters wherein each character to be displayed is encoded in relation to a normalized encoding set of first and second coordinates and wherein a character is defined by at least .[.one outline.]. .Iadd.first and second outline segments .Iaddend.encoded .Iadd.respectively .Iaddend.in .[.a set.]. .Iadd.first and second sets .Iaddend.of .[.instructions defining, for a first value of the second coordinate, a value of the first coordinate corresponding to a point on the outline and at least one value.]. .Iadd.manifestations, each set including a manifestation .Iaddend.indicative of the .Iadd.variable .Iaddend.extent relative to the second coordinate for which .[.the stored value of the first coordinate cooresponds to.]. .Iadd.its set of manifestations defines .Iaddend.points on .[.the.]. .Iadd.its .Iaddend.outline .Iadd.segment.Iaddend., comprising: means for generating the character for display, including means for computing a first coordinate value corresponding to a point on the outline .Iadd.segment .Iaddend.for each successive second coordinate value in accordance with the encoded .Iadd.first .Iaddend.set of .[.instructions.]. .Iadd.manifestations .Iaddend.for the .[.character.]. outline .Iadd.segment.Iaddend..   .Iadd.means responsive to the manifestation of the first set for requesting and receiving the second set of manifestations. .Iaddend.   display means including a display element and means for scanning the display element in scan paths of a desired pattern controlled to encompass a .Iadd.selected .Iaddend.region of the display element on which the character is to be displayed, and means for controlling said scanning means between a display state for producing a display and a blanked state for producing no display,   said means for computing including means for correlating the second coordinate values and the computed first coordinate values of the outline .Iadd.segment .Iaddend.with the scan pattern and .Iadd.selected .Iaddend.region of display, and   said scanning control means controlling said scanning means to switch from one to the other of the display and blanked states when the scanning in each scan path crosses the correlated and computed coordinate values of the outline .Iadd.segment.Iaddend..  .[.46. A system for displaying characters wherein each character to be displayed is encoded in relation to a normalized encoding set of first and second coordinates and wherein a character is defined by at least one outline encoded in a set of instructions defining for a first value of the second coordinate, a value of the first coordinate cooresponding to a point on the outline and at least one value indicative of the extent relative to the second coordinate for which the stored value of the first coordinate corresponds to points on the outline, comprising:   means for generating the character for display, including means for computing a first coordinate value corresponding to a point on the outline for each successive second coordinate value in accordance with the encoded set of instructions for the character outline,   display means including a display element and means for scanning the display element in scan paths of a desired pattern controlled to encompass a region of the display element on which the character is to be displayed, and means for controlling said scanning means between a display state of producing a display and a blanking state for producing no display,   said means for computing including means for correlating the second coordinte values and the computed first coordinate values of the outline with the scan pattern and region of dislay, and   said scan controlling means controlling the scanning means in each scan path to switch from the current to the opposite one of dislay and blanked states at each intersection of the scan path and the computed outline,   
     
     
        except at tangential intersections thereof..]. 47. A character generator for generating characters encoded in accordance with a normalized quad of first and second coordinates wherein each successve value of the .[.first.]. .Iadd.second .Iaddend.coordinate corresponds to a computation cycle of the generator, each character being encoded in a set of data instructions related to outlines of the character segments and including a beginning line instruction identifying the intial value of the first coordinate of each of a related pair of outlines for a given second coordinate value, outline change instructions specifying, variously, fixed and variable directions of associated outlines and termination of an outline pair, and an instruction designating the end of a character, each change instruction including an identification of the outline to which it relates, and a number designating the computation cycles to a subsequent instruction, comprising: means responsive to a beginning line instruction to identify an initial pair of outlines and to store in relation thereto their respective coordinate values of the said first coordinate,   means responsive to a change instruction for a related outline, as identified and stored, for computing, in each successive computation cycle, a new coordinate value of said first coordinate for each identified outline in accordance with its associated change instruction, and for maintaining a stored value of said first coordinate for an outline for which there is no change instruction,   means for updating the value of the first coordinate in said storing means in accordance with the computed new value thereof, as computed in each computation cycle, and   means responsive to the encoded computation cycle number of each successive change instruction to request and receive the next successive instruction for the character upon completion of the encoded number of computation cycles of a present instruction. .Iadd. 48. A character generator for generating characters encoded in accordance with a normalized quad of first and second coordinates, each character being encoded in a succession of sets of data, each related to an outline segment of the character and including a beginning line manifestation identifying the initial first coordinate of its outline, segment and outline change manifestations specifying directions of outline, each change manifestation including an identification of the outline to which it relates, and an indication of the number of incremental lengths along the second coordinate to a subsequent set of data, said character generator comprising:   means responsive to a beginning line manifestation for storing the manifestation identifying the initial first coordinate,   means responsive to a change manifestation for a related outline segment, as identified and stored, for computing, in each of its successive computation cycles, a new first coordinate value for its outline in accordance with its associated change manifestation, said means maintaining a stored first coordinate value for an outline segment for which there is no change manifestation,   means for updating the first coordinate values in accordance with the computed new value thereof, as computed in each computation cycle, and   means responsive to the indication of the number of incremental lengths of each successive change manifestation to request and receive the next successive set of data for the character upon completion of the encoded number of incremental lengths of the present set of data. .Iaddend. .Iadd.   
     
     
        9.  A character generator as recited in claim 48, wherein there is provided: means for storing plural sets of data corresponding to plural sets of characters;   a buffer storage means for storing the successive sets of data for each character of a selected set of characters to be generated; and   means for supplying the successive sets of data for each character of a selected set thereof to said buffer storage means. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 50. A method for automatically generating and displaying characters encoded in a normalized quad of predetermined first and second coordinate values, wherein each outline segment of the character is encoded as to its initial first coordinate, and a parameter change manifestation as to at least a first parameter of directional variations comprising one of a plurality of fixed values of the first parameter, each said fixed value defining a coordinate increment; each manifestation furthermore being encoded with an indication of the number of incremental lengths along the second coordinate to the next encoded manifestation for the character, said method comprising the steps of:   generating characters in accordance with: providing a set of manifestations in accordance with the aforesaid encoding of a character to be generated, for each character available to be generated,   identifying a desired character to be generated and selecting, in succession, the manifestations, of the corresponding said set thereof for processing, in accordance with,   defining and identifying outline segments of a selected character, wherein the outline segments are related in pairs,     in a first computation cycle, responding to the identification of each outline pair to initiate an initial second coordinate position to establish an initial first coordinate for each such outline segment,   in each successive computation cycle, generating the first coordinate value of each outline segment in accordance with its first coordinate value generated in the respectively next preceding computation cycle and any current manifestation as to that outline segment, to define the first coordinate value for the corresponding second coordinate position, including for each outline segment having a parameter change manifestation, computing a new first coordinate value in accordance with modifying the initial value by the amount of the increment identified by the parameter value encoded in the manifestation, and   storing the indication of the number of incremental lengths and reducing the number by an amount upon completion of computations in each successive computation cycle, and in response to said number being reduced to a value, selecting the next successive set of manifestations for said character,   displaying characters thus generated on a display means including means for scanning horizontally displaced vertical strokes in accordance with a given stroking density and wherein the scanning means may be selectively controlled to blank and unblank each stroke on the display element, in accordance with: coorelating the size of the display character in the second coordinate direction, in accordance with the effective displacement of successive second coordinate positions of the quad, to stroke density of the display means to define a first component value of a horizontal scaling factor thereby to control character size in the second coordinate direction for the display of the character upon the display means, and   controlling the unblanking and blanking of the scanning means during each stroke in accordance with the computed first coordinate values. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 51. A method for automatically generating characters as recited in claim 50, further comprising:     correlating the size of the display character in the Y coordinate direction, in accordance with a vertical scaling factor, by effectively multiplying the computed Y coordinate value for a corresponding Y coordinate position of the character outline by the vertical scaling factor, to thereby control character size in the Y coordinate direction as the character dislayed upon the display means. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 52. A system for displaying characters wherein each character to be displayed is encoded in relation to a normalized encoding set of first and second coordinates and wherein a character is defined by at least first and second outline segments, each outline segment encoded in a set of manifestations defining, for a first value of the second coordinate, a value of the first coordinate corresponding to its point on the outline segment and at least one value indicative of the extent relative to the second coordinate for which the set of manifestations defines values of the first coordinates corresponding to points on the character outline segment, comprising:   means for receiving a set of manifestations and for generating the character for display, including means for computing a first coordinate value corresponding to a point on the outline segment for each successive second coordinate value in accordance with the encoded set of manifestations for the character outline segment,   display means including a display element and means for scanning the display element in scan paths of a desired pattern controlled to encompass a region of the display element on which the character is to be displayed, and means for controlling said scanning means between a display state for producing a display and blanked state for producing no display,   said means for computing including means for correlating the second coordinate values and the computed first coordinate values of the outline with the scan pattern and region of display,   said scanning control means controlling said scanning means to switch from one to the other of the display and blanked states when the scanning in each scan path crosses the correlated and computed first and second coordinate values of the outline segment, and   means operative in relation to the scanning of said display means for transferring after the computing of the first coordinate values of the points on the first outline segment, the set of manifestations encoding the second outline segment to said means for computing to provide therefrom correlated and computed first and second coordinate values of the second outline segment to be displayed by said display means after the   
     
     
        display of the first outline segment. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 53.  The system for displaying characters as claimed in claim 52, wherein said correlating means correlates the second coordinate values and the computed first coordinate values in accordance with corresponding second and first scaling factors to define the size of the character displayed by said display means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 54. The system for displaying characters as claimed in claim 53, wherein said correlating means comprises first means for multiplying each of the computed first coordinate values corresponding to a series of points for each successive second coordinate on the character outline, by the first scaling factor to define the size of the character in the first coordinate direction as displayed by said display means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 55. The system for displaying characters as claimed in claim 53, wherein said scanning means scans the scan paths in a pattern whereby the scan paths are spaced from each other along the second coordinate in accordance with a given density of said scan paths, and said correlating means comprises means for selecting the number of scan paths by which to display the points of the character outline segment in accordance with said given density and said first scaling factor. .Iaddend..Iadd. 56. The system for displaying characters as claimed in claim 52, wherein said transferring means is responsive to the number of computations by said computing means of the first coordinate value corresponding to each point on the outline segment to obtain an indication of the number of computations and for comparing said indication to said one value indicative of the relative extent of the character outline for providing a call to obtain the next set of manifestations, when said indication has a predetermined relationship to said one value. .Iaddend..Iadd. 57. The system for displaying characters as claimed in claim 52, wherein display means comprises a cathode ray tube (CRT) for deflecting an electron beam in a vertical, Y direction corresponding to the first coordinate and for successively spacing the position of the electron beam in a second horizontal direction corresponding to the second coordinate to provide a series electron beam scan spaced from each other in accordance with a given scan line density. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 58. The character generator for generating characters as claimed in claim 57, wherein said scanning means includes means for deflecting the electron beam of said CRT along the first coordinate; said scanning control means comprising means for receiving an indication of the computed first coordinate value corresponding to a point on the outline segment and means responsive to the amount of deflection of the electron beam along the first coordinate direction for providing an indication thereof; and means for comparing the computed value of the first coordinate and the indication of beam deflection to determine when the scanning in each scan path crosses the correlated and computed first coordinate value of the outline segment to thereby cause said scanning means to switch from one to the other of the display and blank states. .Iaddend..Iadd. 59. A system for generating and displaying characters encoded in accordance with a normalized quad of first and second coordinates, and wherein a character is defined by at least one character outline segment encoded in a set of instructions defining for a first value of the second coordinate, a value of the first coordinate corresponding to its point on the outline segement, and at least one value indicative of the extent relative to the second coordinate for which the set of instructions defines values of the first coordinates corresponding to points on the character outline segment, comprising: means for displaying a character including means for scanning a pattern of strokes extending in the first direction and spaced from each other along the second coordinate in accordance with a given density, and scan control means for controlling said scanning means to selectively control the blanking and unblanking of each stroke of the pattern;   means for generating the character to be displayed by said display means, including means for computing first coordinate values corresponding to each point on the outline segment for each successive second coordinate value in accordance with the encoded set of instructions of the character outline segment;   said computing means including means for correlating the size of the display character in the second coordinate direction, in accordance with the effective displacement of second coordinate positions of the quad, to the given density of said displaying means to define a first component value of a horizontal scaling factor to control character size in the second coordinate direction for the display of the character by said displaying means; and   said scan control means controlling said scanning means to switch from one to the other of display and blank states when the scanning of each stroke crosses the correlated computed first, coordinated values of the character   
     
     
        ouline segment. .Iaddend..Iadd. 60.  The system for displaying characters as claimed in claim 59, wherein said correlating means correlates the computed first coordinate values in accordance with a vertical scaling factor to define the size of the character along the first coordinate direction as displayed by said display means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 61. The system for displaying characters as claimed in claim 59, wherein said correlating means comprises first means for multiplying each of the computed first coordinate values corresponding to a series of points for each successive second coordinates on the character outline segment, by the vertical scaling factor to define the size of the character in the first coordinate direction as displayed by said display means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 62. The system for displaying characters as claimed in claim 59, wherein said correlating means comprises means for selecting the number of strokes by which to display the points of the character outline segment in accordance with said given density and a horizontal scaling factor. .Iaddend..Iadd. 63. The system for displaying characters as claimed in claim 59, wherein there is further included means responsive to the number of computations effected by said computing means of the first coordinate value corresponding to each point on the outline segment to obtain an indication of the number of computations, and for comparing said indication to said one value indicative of the relative extent of the character outline segment for providing a call to obtain the next set of instructions, when said indicator has a predetermined relationship to said one value. .Iaddend..Iadd. 64. The system for displaying characters as claimed in claim 59, wherein display means comprises a cathode ray tube (CRT) for deflecting an electron beam in a vertical, Y direction corresponding to the first coordinate direction and for successively spacing the position of the electron beam in a second horizontal direction corresponding to the second coordinate direction to provide a series electron beam strokes spaced from each other in accordance with said given stroke density. .Iaddend..Iadd. 65. The character generator for generating characters as claimed in claim 64, wherein said scanning means includes means for deflecting the electron beam of said CRT along the first coordinate direction, said scanning control means comprising means for receiving an indication of the computed first coordinate value corresponding to a point on the outline segment and means responsive to the amount of deflection of the electron beam along the first coordinate direction for providing an indication thereof, and means for comparing the computed value of the first coordinate and the indication of beam deflection to determine when the scanning in each stroke crosses the correlated and computed first coordinate value of the outline segment to thereby cause said scanning means to switch from one to the other of the display and blank states. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 66. A character generator for generating characters encoded in accordance with a normalized quad of first and second coordinates, each character being encoded in a succession of sets of manifestations, each set related to an outline segment of the character and including a beginning line manifestation identifying the initial first coordinate of each outline and an outline change manifestation specifying the change of direction of the outline, said character generator comprising: means for receiving a set of manifestations and generating the character for display, including means for computing a first coordinate value corresponding to a point on the outline segment for each successive second coordinate value in accordance with the outline change manifestation for its outline segment,   display means including a display element and means for scanning the display element in a series of scan paths spaced from each other along the second coordinate in accordance with a given density of said scan paths, and means for controlling said scanning means between a display state for producing a display and a blank state for producing no display, said scanning control means controlling said scanning means to switch from one to the other of the display and blank states when the scanning in each scan path crosses the correlated and computed first coordinate value of the outline segment, and   said computing means including means for correlating the first coordinate value of the outline segment with the scan pattern and region of display in accordance with at least one scaling factor indicative of character size in the second coordinate direction, said correlating means for selectively effecting the computation of the first coordinate value of a point on the outline segment in accordance with the one scaling factor and the change of direction manifestation. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 67. The character generator as claimed in claim 66, wherein said correlating means effects a selected number of computations according to the one scaling factor. .Iaddend..Iadd. 68. The character generator as claimed in claim 66, wherein said correlating means effects the computation of the first coordinate value of a point on the outline segment in accordance with a second scaling factor indicative of character size in the first coordinate direction. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 69. The display system as claimed in claim 45, wherein each set of manifestations includes a second manifestation indicative of a change of the first coordinate with respect to the second coordinate, and said generating means is responsive to the second manifestation for computing a first coordinate value coresponding to a point on the outline segment for each successive second coordinate value. .Iaddend..Iadd. 70. The display system as claimed in claim 46, wherein the set of manifestations includes a second manifestation indicative of a change of the first coordinate with respect to the second coordinate, and said generating means is responsive to the second manifestation for computing a first coordinate value corresponding to a point on the outline segment for each successive second coordinate value. .Iaddend..Iadd. 71. The display system as claimed in claim 70, wherein said relating means relates the first coordinate value of the outline segment with the scan pattern and region of the display in accordance with one scaling factor indicative of character size in the second coordinate direction, said relating means for selectively effecting the computation of the first coordinate value of the outline segment in accordance with the one scaling factor and the second manifestation. .Iaddend..Iadd. 72. A character generator for generating characters from stored electrical signals coded in accordance with a master quad of first and second master coordinates, each character being encoded in a succession of sets of manifestations defining the outline segments of a character, said character generator comprising:   display means including a display element and means for scanning said display element in a series of scan paths directed along a first display coordinate and spaced from each other along a second display coordinate in accordance with a given density of the scan paths, said display means capable of displaying a character in accordance with a selected one of a plurality of character sizes; and   means for receiving a set of manifestations and for performing computations of the values of the first master coordinates corresponding to respective points on the outline segment for successive ones of the second master coordinates of the master quad, said computing means comprising means responsive to the selected one of the plurality of character sizes for determining the ratio of the number of the computations effected by said receiving and performing means to the number of scan paths effected by said display means to generate the outline of the character in accordance with the selected one of the plurality of character sizes and the given density of the scan paths. .Iaddend..Iadd. 73. The character generator as claimed in claim 72, wherein there is a scaling factor corresponding to the selected one of the plurality of the character sizes and said determining means is responsive to the scaling factor for determining said ratio. .Iaddend..Iadd. 74. The character generator as claimed in claim 73, wherein the scaling factor represents a non-integral value of said ratio, and said determining means provides an approximation of the non-integral value by periodically using first and second whole numbers. .Iaddend..Iadd. 75. The character generator as claimed in claim 74, wherein said determining means determines the first and second numbers to be the nearest integral values to the non-integral value. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 76. A character generator for generating characters of a size selected in accordance with a scaling factor, each character generated from stored electrical signals encoded in accordance with a master quad of X and Y master coordinates, each character being encoded in a succession of sets of manifestations, defining the outline segments of a character, said character generator comprising:   a cathode ray tube including a display screen and means for scanning said display screen with an electron beam in a raster-like pattern comprised of a series of beam scans directed along the Y coordinate of said cathode ray tube and spaced from each other along the X coordinate of said cathode ray tube in accordance with a fixed density of the beam scans, said cathode ray tube capable of displaying a character in accordance with a scaling factor; and   means for receiving a set of the manifestations and for performing computations of the Y master coordinate corresponding to points on the outline for successive ones of the X master coordinates, said computing means comprising means for selecting the ratio of the number of computations effected by said computing means to the number of beam scans of said cathode ray tube to define the dimension of the character displayed upon said cathode ray tube along its X coordinate in accordance with said fixed density of beam scans and with said scaling factor. .Iaddend..Iadd. 77. The character generator as claimed in claim 76, wherein said computing means further comprises means for adjusting the computed value of the Y coordinate in accordance with a second scaling factor to determine the extent of scan of the beam along the Y coordinate of said cathode ray tube. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 78. The character generator as claimed in claim 77, wherein said scanning means includes means for deflecting its electron beam along its Y coordinate and means for controlling said scanning means to switch between a display state for emitting the electron beam and a blanked state for inhibiting the emission of the electron beam, said computing means comprising means for providing an indication of the degree of deflection of the electron beam along the Y coordinate and means for receiving and comparing the computed and adjusted value of the first coordinate and the degree of deflection indication for determining when each beam scan crosses the adjusted and computed Y coordinate value of the outline segment to thereby cause said scanning means to switch from one to the other of its display and blank states. .Iaddend..Iadd. 79. A character generator for generating characters from stored electrical signals encoded in accordance with a normalized quad of first and second coordinates, each character being encoded in a succession of sets of manifestations, defining the outline segments of a character, at least one including a beginning line manifestation identifying the initial first coordinate of each outline segment and an outline manifestation specifying the direction of its outline, said character generator comprising:   means for receiving a set of manifestations and for generating a character for display, including means for computing the first coordinate value cooresponding to a point on the outline segment for each successive second coordinate value in accordance with the outline manifestation for its outline segment,   display means including a display element and means for scanning the display element in a series of scan paths spaced from each other along the second coordinate in accordance with a given density of said scan paths, and   means for controlling said scanning means between its display state for producing a display and its blank state for producing no display, said controlling means controlling said scanning means to switch from one to the other of its display and blank states when the scanning in each scan path crosses the computed first coordinate value of its outline segment. .Iaddend..Iadd. 80. A character generator for generating characters from stored electrical signals encoded in accordance with a normalized quad of first and second master coordinates, each character encoded in a succession of sets of manifestations, defining outline segments of a character, said generator comprising:   display means including a display element and means for scanning said display element in a series of scan paths directed along a first display coordinate and spaced from each other along a second display coordinate in accordance with a given density of said scan paths, said display means capable of displaying a character in accordance with a selected one of a plurality of scaling factors, at least one of said scaling factors representative of a non-integral value, and;   means for receiving a set of manifestations and for computing values of the first display coordinate corresponding to points on the outline segment of each scan path of said display means, said computing means comprising means for determining and using a first number of and a second different number of the second master coordinates to generate corresponding first and second portions of an outline segment of the character in accordance with said given density of the scan paths and said one non-integral scaling factor. .Iaddend..Iadd. 81. A character generator for generating characters from stored electrical signals encoded in accordance with a master quad of first and second master coordinates, each character being encoded in a succession of sets of manifestations defining the outline segments of a character, said character generator comprising:   display means including a display element and means for scanning said display element in a series of scan paths directed along a first display coordinate and spaced from each other along a second display coordinate in accordance with a given density of said scan paths, said display means capable of displaying a character in accordance with a scaling factor indicative of the ratio of the second master coordinates to the second display coordinates, said ratio comprising an integral number and a fraction; and   means for receiving a set of manifestations and for computing values of the first display coordinate corresponding to points on the outline segment for each scan path of said display means, said computing means comprising first and second means for storing respectively the integral number and the fraction of said ratio, means for selecting a given number of the second master coordinate to be used to generate an outline segment in accordance with the integral number and said given density of scan paths, and means for varying said number of the second master coordinates in   
     
     
        accordance with the fraction. .Iaddend. 82. A character generator for generating characters from stored electrical signals encoded in accordance with a master quad of first and second master coordinates, each character being encoded in a succession of sets of manifestations defining the outline segments of a character, said character generator comprising: display means including a display element and means for scanning said display element in a series of scan paths directed along a first display coordinate and spaced from each other along a second display coordinate in accordance with a given density of said scan paths; and   means for receiving a set of the manifestations and for computing values of the first display coordinate corresponding to points for each scan path on an outline segment, said receiving and computing means comprising means responsive to the set of manifestations for providing a manifestation indicative of the direction of the outline segment, and first coordinate computing means responsive to said direction manifestation for computing   
     
     
        values of the first display coordinates. .Iadd. 83.  The character generator as claimed in claim 82, wherein said computing means comprises means for determining the values of the first and second display coordinate for an initial point on the outline segment. .Iaddend..Iadd. 84. The character generator as claimed in claim 83, wherein said first coordinate computing means is responsive to the initial values of the first and second display coordinate and to the direction manifestation for computing the value of the first display coordinate of the next successive point on the outline segment. .Iaddend..Iadd. 85. The character generator as claimed in claim 83, wherein said direction manifestation comprises a tangent function of the corresponding outline segment. .Iaddend..Iadd. 86. The character generator as claimed in claim 82, wherein at least one of said sets of manifestations includes a manifestation indicative of the variable extent relative to the second master coordinate for which its set of manifestations define points on its outline segment, said receiving and computing means responsive to the manifestation of a first occurring set of manifestations for requesting and receiving a second, subsequent set of manifestations. .Iaddend..Iadd. 87. A character generator for generating characters from stored electrical signals coded in accordance with a master quad of first and second master coordinates, each character being encoded in a succession of first and second sets of manifestations, each of the first and second sets defining an outline segment of a character and including a manifestation indicative of the variable extent relative to the second master coordinate for which its set of manifestations defines points on its outline segment, said character generator comprising: display means including a first display element and means for scanning said display element in a series of scan paths directed along a first display coordinate and spaced from each other along a second display coordinate in accordance with a given density of said scan paths,   means for generating the character for display including means for computing a first master coordinate value corresponding to a point on the outline segment for regularly periodic ones of the second master coordinates in accordance with the first set of manifestations, and   means responsive to the manifestations of the first set for requesting and receiving the second set of manifestations. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 88. The character generator as claimed in claim 87, wherein there is further included means for storing the manifestation of the first set and for decrementing the manifestation of the first set upon the computation of the value of each first master coordinate and upon decrementing the manifestation to a predetermined value, for initiating said responsive means to request and receive the second set of manifestations. .Iaddend..Iadd. 89. A character generator for generating characters from stored electrical signals encoded in accordance with a master quad of first and second master coordinates, each character being encoded in a succession of sets of manifestations defining the outline segments of a character, said generator comprising:   display means including a display element and scanning means for scanning said display element in a series of scan paths directed along a first display coordinate and spaced from each other along a second display coordinate in accordance with a given density of said scan paths, said display means capable of displaying a character in accordance with a selected one of a plurality of character sizes; and   means for receiving a set of manifestations and for performing computations of the values of the first master coordinates corresponding to points on the outline, each computation corresponding to successive ones of the second master coordinate of the master quad, said computing means comprising means for adjusting the computed values of the first master coordinates of the outline to provide adjusted values of the first display coordinates of the outline segment in accordance with the selected character size. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 90. The character generator as claimed in claim 89, wherein the character size corresponds with a scaling factor, said adjusting means adjusting the ratio of the number of computations effected by said receiving and performing means to the number of beam scans effected by said display means, to define the dimension of the character displayed upon said display means along its second display coordinate in accordance with the given density of the scan paths and with the scaling factor. .Iaddend..Iadd. 91. A character generator for generating characters from stored electrical signals in accordance with a normalized quad of first and second master coordinates, wherein regularly periodic ones of the second master coordinates define successive computation cycles, each character being encoded in a succession of sets of manifestations defining the outline segments of a character, said character generator comprising:   display means including a display element and means for scanning said display in a series of scan patterns spaced from each other along a second display coordinate;   means for performing a plurality of successive computation cycles, each computation cycle computing a value of the first master coordinate; and   means for selecting ones of the computed values of the first master coordinate to provide values of the first display coordinates corresponding to points on the outline segment for each of the second dislay coordinates. .Iaddend..Iadd. 92. The character generator as claimed in claim 91, wherein said performing means comprising means for computing a change of the value of the first master coordinate for the present computation cycle with respect to the next preceding computation cycle. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 93. The character generator as claimed in claim 92, wherein said performing means comprises means for accumulating the changes of the values of the first master coordinates in successive computation cycles. .Iaddend..Iadd. 94. The character generator as claimed in claim 93, wherein said performing means comprises means responsive to a set of manifestations for providing a manifestation indicative of the slope of the corresponding outline, and means responsive to the slope manifestation for computing the change in value of the first master coordinate for the present computation cycle with respect to the next preceding cycle. .Iaddend..Iadd. 95. The character generator as claimed in claim 94, wherein said display means scans said display element in scan paths spaced from each other in accordance with a given density of said scan paths. .Iaddend..Iadd. 96. The character generator as claimed in claim 95, wherein the spacing between the second master coordinates is substantially equal, and said performing means computes in each computation cycle the change of the value of the first master coordinate for the present computation cycle with respect to the next preceding cycle, in accordance with the equal spacing. .Iaddend..Iadd. 97. The character generator as claimed in claim 95, wherein said display means comprises a cathode ray tube including a display screen, means for scanning said display screen with an electron beam in a raster-like pattern comprised of a series of beam scans directed along said first display coordinate and spaced from each other along said second display coordinate in accordance with the equal spacing, and means for controlling said scanning means between a display state for producing the electron beam and a blanked state for producing no electron beam; said computing means comprising means for providing an indication of the degree of deflection along the first display coordinate, and means for receiving and comparing the computed value of the first master coordinate and the degree of deflection modification for determining when each beam scan crosses the computed value of the first master coordinate value of the outline segment to thereby cause said cathode ray tube to switch from one to the other of its display and blank states. .Iaddend..Iadd. 98. The character generator as claimed in claim 91, wherein the character is defined by a plurality of outline segments, wherein for a given second master coordinate of the master quad there is defined a corresponding plurality of points, each having a different first master coordinate, said performing means successively performing the calculation of the values of the first master coordinates for each of said plurality of outlines in a first, single computation cycle and thereafter computing the values of the first coordinates for each of the plurality of outlines in a second, successive computation cycle. .Iaddend..Iadd. 99. The character generator as claimed in claim 98, wherein said display means comprises means for controlling said scanning means between a display state for producing a display and a blank state for producing no display, said controlling means responsive to the values of the first display coordinates to successively control said scanning means to switch between a display state and a blank display in the course of a first scan pattern, while said performing means is calculating the values of the first display coordinates to be applied to said display means during a second scan pattern. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 100. The character generator as claimed in claim 99, wherein there is included storage means coupled to said performing means for receiving and storing the values of the first master coordinates for a given computation cycle in the order they are to be used by said controlling means to control said scanning means between its display and blank states. .Iaddend.