Modified high-speed printer performs x-y plotting of digital data. The device produces a 7-inch square plot with any number of points in less than 25 seconds and has a resolution of 0.2 percent

Oglesbee, J.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

April 1970
	 Brief 70-10002 
1]	 NASA TECH BRIEF 
- 
NASA Tech Briefs are issued to summarize specific innovations derived from the U.S. space program, 
to encourage their commercial application. Copies are available to the public at 15 cents each 
from the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information, Springfield, Virginia 22151. 
Device for Printing Alphanumeric 
Listings and Digital Data Plots 
A commercially available high-speed printer has 
been modified to perform x-y plotting of digital data. 
The resulting device performs the dual function of 
printing and plotting at relatively low cost. 
In the plotting mode, the device is capable of pro-
ducing a typical (7-inch square) plot in less than 25 
seconds. Any number of points can be plotted in this 
time, with a resolution of I part in 500 (0.2%). Several 
variables can be plotted simultaneously using a dif-
ferent symbol for each variable. The plotter generates 
any one of a number of different grid patterns, com-
plete with titles, axes-labels, and numerical scales. 
When not plotting, the device can be used as a 300 
per second character printer. 
The unmodified printer was designed to write on 
electrosensitive paper using a moving conductive 
stylus. Characters were made up from elements of 
a 5 x 7 dot matrix that was printed by applying cur-
rent pulses to the scanning stylus. A special translator 
was required for use with the printer to translate input 
information into the pulse sequence required by the 
printer. 
Modification of the printer to a plotting device re-
quired three developments. The paper advance mech-
anism of the printer was modified to allow printing to 
be done in the blank areas forming the vertical spacing 
between alphanumeric lines. The synchronizing system 
used with the moving stylus was improved, with a 
resulting improvement in the resolution of the print-
ing device. A small digital computer was used to re-
place the original character translator, allowing the 
generation of additional printing elements required for 
plotting. In many cases, the device will find applica-
tions in existing computer-oriented systems without 
additional computer hardware. 
Notes: 
I. The following documentation is available from: 
Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific 
and Technical Information 
Springfield, Virginia 22151 
Single document price $3.00 
(or microfiche $0.65) 
Reference: NASA-TN-D-5474 (N69-38654), 
A Device for Producing Both Hard Copy 
Alphanumeric Listings and Digital Data 
Plots 
Technical questions may be directed to: 
Tech'nlogy Utilization Officer 
Lewis Research Center 
21000 Br'okpark Road 
Cleveland"bhio 44135 
Reference: B70-10002 
Patent status: 
No patent action is dontemplated by NASA. 
Source: J. Oglesbee 
Lewis Research Center 
(LEW- 10954) 
Category 02 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States
Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
information contained in this document, or -warrants that such use 
will be free from privately owned rights.
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Device for printing alphanumeric listings and digital data plots

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