US4492482A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermal head driving system
Assignee: Sony Corp
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Filing: 1983-01-25
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Granted: 1985-01-08
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Expires: 2003-01-25
Abstract
Abstract A thermal transfer printing system for printing data on a medium employing a plurality of aligned heat elements has a memory for receiving data and a driver for driving or energizing selected ones of the heat elements to print the stored data in a timed sequence which prevents preheating of certain heat elements. In one arrangement, upon driving the heat elements, every other heat element is first driven or energized to print the respective data, and then the remainder of the heat elements are driven. After all heat elements are energized according to the data to be printed, a stepping motor is actuated and the medium is advanced in preparation for printing a next line of data.
Inventors
- 👤 Yasuhito Eguchi
- 👤 Izumi Kariya
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 09:18
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/315; B41J2/32; B41J2/35; B41J2/355; G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/028
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
58 words
An apparatus for thermally printing data onto a medium, comprising: thermal head means having a plurality of heat elements arranged in a line; memory means for storing data to be printed by said thermal head means; and means for driving selected ones of said heat elements to print said data stored in said memory means onto said medium.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
58 words
An apparatus for thermally printing data onto a medium, comprising: thermal head means having a plurality of heat elements arranged in a line; memory means for storing data to be printed by said thermal head means; and means for driving selected ones of said heat elements to print said data stored in said memory means onto said medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus for thermally printing data according to claim 1; in which said first and second driving means include respectively first and second shift register means each connected for receiving stored data from said memory means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
An apparatus for thermally printing data according to claim 1; in which said first and second driving means further include respective first and second latch means electrically arranged between said first shift register means and said first and second driving means and between said second shift register means and second driving means, respectively.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus for thermally printing data according to claim 1; in which said means for selectively activating said first and second driving means comprises means for alternating the order in which said first and second driving means drive the corresponding heat elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus for thermally printing data according to claim 1; in which said means for selectively activating said first and second driving means comprises timing means for selectively controlling the length of time of driving said selected ones of said heat elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
An apparatus for thermally printing data according to claim 1; in which said means for selectively activating said first and second driving means includes timing means for controlling the lengths of time said first and second groups of heat elements are respectively driven, and in which said second group of heat elements is driven for a time less than the time during which said first group of heat elements is driven.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus for thermally printing data according to claim 1; further comprising gray scale comparator means for comparing said stored data with preselected gray scale values for weighting said data based on said comparison.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus for thermally printing data according to claim 1; in which said data is input as serial data and further comprising analog-to-digital convertor means for arranging said serial data into parallel data fed to said memory means.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
143 words
An apparatus for thermally printing data onto a medium, comprising: thermal head means having a plurality of heat elements arranged substantially in a line, said thermal head means including first and second groups of heat elements, the heat elements of said groups being mutually interleaved one with another; storage means for storing data to be printed; driver means for driving said heat elements to print said data onto said medium; and means for selecting sequentially said first group of heat elements made up of odd-numbered heat elements in said line to be driven simultaneously by said driver means during a first time period and said second group of heat elements made up of even-numbered heat elements in said line to be driven simultaneously by said driver means during a second time, separate from an in non-overlapping time relationship with said first time period.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
143 words
An apparatus for thermally printing data onto a medium, comprising: thermal head means having a plurality of heat elements arranged substantially in a line, said thermal head means including first and second groups of heat elements, the heat elements of said groups being mutually interleaved one with another; storage means for storing data to be printed; driver means for driving said heat elements to print said data onto said medium; and means for selecting sequentially said first group of heat elements made up of odd-numbered heat elements in said line to be driven simultaneously by said driver means during a first time period and said second group of heat elements made up of even-numbered heat elements in said line to be driven simultaneously by said driver means during a second time, separate from an in non-overlapping time relationship with said first time period.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus for thermally printing data according to claim 9; further comprising means for controlling the respective lengths of said first time and said second time, during which said first and second groups of heat elements are driven by said driver means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus for thermally printing data according to claim 10; in which said means for controlling the length of time said first and second groups of heat elements are driven includes means establishing said second time to be less than said first time.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
69 words
An apparatus for thermally printing data according to claim 9; in which said driver means comprises first and second driver means, said first driver means is arranged for driving every other one of said heat elements and said second driver means is arranged for driving the remaining ones of said heat elements, whereby said data is printed on said medium sequentially during said first time and said second time.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus for thermally printing data according to claim 12; further comprising first and second shift register means for receiving data stored in said storage means and feeding the same to said first and second driver means, respectively.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus for thermally printing data according to claim 13; further comprising first and second latch means electrically arranged between said first shift register and first driver means, and between said second shift register and second driver means, respectively.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus for thermally printing data according to claim 9; in which said means for selecting includes means for alternating the order in which said first and second times occur.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
58 words
An apparatus for thermally printing data according to claim 15; in which said means for selecting includes means for controlling the respective lengths of said first and second times during which said first and second groups of heat elements are respectively driven whereby a subsequently driven group is driven for a lesser time than an initially driven group.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus for thermally printing data according to claim 9; further comprising gray scale comparison means for comparing said stored data with predetermined gray scale values and weighting said stored data based on said comparison.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus for thermally printing data according to claim 9; in which said stored data represents a frame of a video signal.
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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) | 1988-01-08 | 1988-07-09 | 1989-01-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-01-08 | 1992-07-09 | 1993-01-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-01-08 | 1996-07-09 | 1997-01-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |