US4405929A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Thermal head device
Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
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Filing: 1981-06-26
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Granted: 1983-09-20
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Expires: 2001-06-26
Abstract
Abstract A thermal head device for use in a facsimile machine and the like as an output device is provided. The thermal head device comprises a plurality of heat-producing electrically resistive elements formed on an insulating substrate arranged in a single line to form a thermal array. A plurality of tape carriers, each comprised of an insulating film strip and conductive paths formed thereon in a desired pattern, are used to provide interconnections between the resistive elements and external circuits. An image information signal is applied to the resistive elements through the tape carriers thereby the resistive elements are selectively activated to produce heat in accordance with the signal supplied. Therefore, a visual image may be obtained by advancing a thermosensitive paper in contact with the thermal array in the direction perpendicularly thereto. The present invention provides numerous improvements in such a thermal head device.
Inventors
- 👤 Osamu Sugano
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 12:31
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/315; B41J2/32; B41J2/345; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/024; H04N1/032; H10; H10W; H10W70/00; H10W70/60; H10W70/611; H10W70/67; H10W70/688; H10W72/00; H10W72/071; H10W72/072; H10W72/07251; H10W72/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
281 words
A thermal head device for converting electrical signals, containing an image information, into heat signals to obtain a visual image on a medium such as a thermosensitive paper comprising: a first substrate; a plurality of resistive elements formed on said first substrate in the form of a single array having a lengthwise direction, said resistive elements being grouped into blocks, each block having a predetermined number of said resistive elements; a plurality of first electrodes individually connected to a respective resistive element(s) in each of said blocks, all of said first electrodes in one block being provided on the same side of said array with the positions of said first electrodes alternating from side to side relative to said array from block to block, said first electrodes in one block including at least horizontal sections which extend approximately in parallel with the lengthwise direction of said array to define at the end portions of said horizontal sections a group of contacts along an imaginary first contact line extending substantially perpendicularly to the lengthwise direction of said array so that said first contact line is defined on both sides of said array in an alternating manner with a pitch corresponding to the number of blocks defined along said array; second electrode means provided in opposed relation against said first electrodes with respect to said array; and interconnection means mounted on said first substrate with one for each block, said interconnection means having a group of contacts along a second imaginary contact line matchingly contactable with the corresponding first contact line and a predetermined number of conductive paths for forming interconnections between an external circuit and said contacts along said second contact line.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
281 words
A thermal head device for converting electrical signals, containing an image information, into heat signals to obtain a visual image on a medium such as a thermosensitive paper comprising: a first substrate; a plurality of resistive elements formed on said first substrate in the form of a single array having a lengthwise direction, said resistive elements being grouped into blocks, each block having a predetermined number of said resistive elements; a plurality of first electrodes individually connected to a respective resistive element(s) in each of said blocks, all of said first electrodes in one block being provided on the same side of said array with the positions of said first electrodes alternating from side to side relative to said array from block to block, said first electrodes in one block including at least horizontal sections which extend approximately in parallel with the lengthwise direction of said array to define at the end portions of said horizontal sections a group of contacts along an imaginary first contact line extending substantially perpendicularly to the lengthwise direction of said array so that said first contact line is defined on both sides of said array in an alternating manner with a pitch corresponding to the number of blocks defined along said array; second electrode means provided in opposed relation against said first electrodes with respect to said array; and interconnection means mounted on said first substrate with one for each block, said interconnection means having a group of contacts along a second imaginary contact line matchingly contactable with the corresponding first contact line and a predetermined number of conductive paths for forming interconnections between an external circuit and said contacts along said second contact line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said second electrode means is a common electrode connected to a reference voltage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The device of claim 1 wherein each of said first electrodes include a vertical section extending approximately perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of said array thereby connecting the corresponding resistive element to the corresponding horizontal section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said interconnection means is comprised of an insulating film strip and conductive paths formed on said film strip.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device of claim 4 wherein an electronic component is mounted on said film strip whereby said conductive paths are electrically connected to the internal circuit of said electronic component.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
The device of claim 1 further comprising driving means for driving said plurality of resistive means, said driving means including: first circuit means provided for each block of said resistive elements as connected therewith for driving said resistive elements to produce heat in accordance with the image information; and second circuit means for distributing the image information signal as appropriately divided to said first circuit means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
The device of claim 6 wherein said first circuit means of each block include transistors corresponding in number and individually connected to said resistive elements and a shift resister having the corresponding number of bits whereby the signal in each of said bits is supplied to the base of the corresponding transistor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
The device of claim 7 wherein said shift registers of alternate blocks are serially connected to form a pair of shift register chains and the image information signal is supplied as divided to said pair of shift register chains alternately every predetermined number of bits whereby the signals as supplied are transferred along the respective shift register chains by means of said second circuit means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
The device of claim 8 wherein said second circuit means include counter means to which a reference pulse is supplied and switching means for switching the flow of the image information signal to either of said shift register chains in association with the output from said counter means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The device of claim 1 wherein each of said resistive elements is comprised of a central heating section and pre-heating sections provided on opposite sides of said central heating section, which is in a serpentive-like shape to effectively increase the electrical resistance.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 10 wherein a cut-away portion is provided between the heating and pre-heating sections thereby eliminating the interaction between them.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
104 words
A thermal head device for use in a facsimile machine and the like as an output device comprising: a substrate made of an insulating mateiral; a thermal array formed on said substrate by a plurality of resistive elements arranged along a line, said resistive elements being selectively activated to produce heat in accordance with the image information signal received; and a plurality of tape carriers for providing electrical interconnections between said resistive elements and external circuits, each of said tape carriers including conductive means and insulating means for carrying thereon said conductive means with an electronic component mounted on each of said tape carriers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
104 words
A thermal head device for use in a facsimile machine and the like as an output device comprising: a substrate made of an insulating mateiral; a thermal array formed on said substrate by a plurality of resistive elements arranged along a line, said resistive elements being selectively activated to produce heat in accordance with the image information signal received; and a plurality of tape carriers for providing electrical interconnections between said resistive elements and external circuits, each of said tape carriers including conductive means and insulating means for carrying thereon said conductive means with an electronic component mounted on each of said tape carriers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
The device of claim 12 wherein said conductive means comprises a conductive path and a connection lead provided at least at one end of said conductive path and said plurality of tape carriers have at least two types which are different in location of said connection lead.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
The device of claim 12 wherein said tape carriers are of the stacked type in which two or more insulating film strips are placed on top of another with each of said insulating film strips carrying thereon conductive paths.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 12 wherein said conductive means comprises at least one cross-under or cross-over path.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
66 words
The device of claim 12 wherein said insulating means is an insulating film strip provided with an opening and first conductive paths are provided on a first surface of said film strip with first inner connection leads extending from said first conductive paths into said opening whereby an electronic component is mounted in said opening and has bumps in contact with said first inner connection leads.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
64 words
The device of claim 16 wherein second conductive paths are also provided on a second surface of said film strip, said second surface being the opposite surface of said first surface, and second inner connection leads also extend from said second conductive paths into said opening whereby said second inner connection leads are also in contact with the corresponding bumps of said electronic component.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-09-19 | 1987-03-21 | 1987-09-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-09-19 | 1991-03-21 | 1991-09-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-09-19 | 1995-03-21 | 1995-09-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |