Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling a stepping motor by storing in a memory, delay time values for the application of motor advance pulses and using motor feedback pulses to access the memory and read out corresponding time delay values after each of which a motor advance pulse is to be generated. The stored time delay values are optimized as to phase angle for the motor advance pulses for acceleration, constant run and deceleration modes of the motor after consideration of motor characteristics and load. Not all feedback pulses have a corresponding time delay value and certain feedback pulses may have two or more time delay values stored therefor. Also disclosed are improved motor coil switching circuits.

Abstract: Alphanumeric characters are stored in compressed form by creating a character list of information describing each character. The character is divided into rows and columns. To reconstruct the character, a position register is provided to accommodate successive positional values in a column where a transition from white/black (or vice versa) occurs. A decoder circuit, which has a number of outputs corresponding to the number of positional values possible, is coupled to the position register and provides an output associated with each of the transition values. The decoder circuit is followed by control means which is operable in response to the energized outputs of the decoder circuit to generate control signals which energize a utilization device to reconstruct continuous black areas in a column extending from transition value to transition value.