BANDED VECTOR TO RASTER CONVERTER

A vector to raster converter system in which vectors are delivered to the system and stored in a vector memory in groups. Each group includes all vectors which have at least a portion in a particular area of the output plot called a vector band. Vectors are serially read out of the vector memory and converted into a series of coordinates of points along the vector. The coordinates of each point are analyzed to determine if the point lies in a second particular area within the vector band called a raster band. The coordinates in the raster band are stored in a raster memory. After the entire vector band has been rasterized the contents of the raster memory are output to a plotter. The contents of the vector memory is then rasterized again and a determination is made as to whether each pair of coordinates is in the next raster band. This process continues until all of the raster bands in the vector band have been processed. All of the vectors in the next vector band are then loaded into the vector memory and the process continues.