Patent US4335968A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4335968A
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Tint restoring device employing a thermal printing head
Assignee: Thales SA
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Filing: 1980-11-10
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Granted: 1982-06-22
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Expires: 2000-11-10
Abstract
Abstract A reading head scans a document to be reproduced line by line and delivers an analog signal the amplitude variations of which represent the variations in tint on the document. An analog-digital converter preceded by a sampler for sampling the analog signal delivers, in respect of each line scanned, n digital samples (where n is a positive integer) corresponding to the tints to be reproduced on a line of a sheet of thermosensitive paper. For each line to be reproduced, a set of storage shift registers generates n control signals which are functions of the digital values of the n samples associated to the tints to be reproduced. These signals control power supply means for feeding n resistors on a thermal printing head.
Inventors
- 👤 Luc Regnault
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 21:55
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N1/405; H04N1/4055; H04N1/4056; H04N1/40025; H04N1/40031
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
194 words
A device for restoring p tints (where p is a positive integer) comprising: a thermal printing head with n heating resistors (where n is a positive integer); a reading head for scanning a document line by line and delivering an analog signal the variations in amplitude of which are representative of variations in tint on the document; a sampler for sampling said signal and delivering n signal samples for each line scanned; an analog-digital converter for converting said signal samples and delivering, in respect of each sample, a binary number having q bits (where q is a positive integer); means for storing the n binary numbers delivered by the converter during scanning of a line in the document; power supply means for applying a voltage to each of the n resistors of the thermal printing head, said power supply means having n control inputs; and control means having q inputs for receiving the q bits forming each of the n binary numbers stored by said storage means and n outputs respectively coupled to said n control inputs of the power supply means whereby to deliver n control signals for controlling the resistor heating time.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
194 words
A device for restoring p tints (where p is a positive integer) comprising: a thermal printing head with n heating resistors (where n is a positive integer); a reading head for scanning a document line by line and delivering an analog signal the variations in amplitude of which are representative of variations in tint on the document; a sampler for sampling said signal and delivering n signal samples for each line scanned; an analog-digital converter for converting said signal samples and delivering, in respect of each sample, a binary number having q bits (where q is a positive integer); means for storing the n binary numbers delivered by the converter during scanning of a line in the document; power supply means for applying a voltage to each of the n resistors of the thermal printing head, said power supply means having n control inputs; and control means having q inputs for receiving the q bits forming each of the n binary numbers stored by said storage means and n outputs respectively coupled to said n control inputs of the power supply means whereby to deliver n control signals for controlling the resistor heating time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
119 words
A tint restoring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control means comprise: a set of storage shift registers having q inputs to receive the q bits of each of the n binary numbers stored by the storage means, n outputs electrically connected respectively to the n control inputs of the power supply means whereby to simultaneously deliver the n equally-weighted bits of the n binary numbers received by the set of storage shift registers, and an auxiliary input for receiving an auxiliary control signal for controlling the time for which the equally-weighted bits must be delivered by the n outputs from the set of storage shift registers; and a control device for generating the auxiliary control signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
103 words
A restoring device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the auxiliary control signal generated by the control device is such that the bits of equal weight W (where 0≦w≦q-1, and where w is a positive integar) are delivered by the set of storage shift registers for a time lapse t 1 w+1 -t 1 r , in which t 1 r assumes the value 0 for w equal to 0 and the value t 1 w for w not equal to 0, where t 1 is the time for which the resistor must be heated in order to obtain the lightest desired half-tint.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-06-21 | 1985-12-21 | 1986-06-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-06-21 | 1989-12-21 | 1990-06-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-06-21 | 1993-12-21 | 1994-06-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |