US4918462A — Method and apparatus for driving a solid scan typ…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 209 words

A method for driving a solid scan type recording head having a plurality of elements having a function such as light emission, exothermic and discharge, comprising the steps of: generating a plurality of pulse signals different from each other in one of a frequency and duty ratio thereof over a fixed time, depending on a difference in characteristics of said plurality of elements, each of said pulse signals varying in level so as to rise the power level of the related element in a rise response characteristic thereof before the power level of said related element completely falls to a predetermined lowest power level in accordance with a fall response characteristic thereof; selecting one of said plurality of pulse signals for each of said plurality of elements, depending on the characteristic of the element of concern; and generating a driving signal for each of said plurality of elements from the corresponding selected one of said plurality of pulse signals and corresponding image data, said driving signal being supplied to the corresponding one of said elements, said driving signal changing in accordance with the corresponding pulse signal so that the power level of the related element changes without becoming equal to said predetermined lowest power level over said fixed time.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 209 words

A method for driving a solid scan type recording head having a plurality of elements having a function such as light emission, exothermic and discharge, comprising the steps of: generating a plurality of pulse signals different from each other in one of a frequency and duty ratio thereof over a fixed time, depending on a difference in characteristics of said plurality of elements, each of said pulse signals varying in level so as to rise the power level of the related element in a rise response characteristic thereof before the power level of said related element completely falls to a predetermined lowest power level in accordance with a fall response characteristic thereof; selecting one of said plurality of pulse signals for each of said plurality of elements, depending on the characteristic of the element of concern; and generating a driving signal for each of said plurality of elements from the corresponding selected one of said plurality of pulse signals and corresponding image data, said driving signal being supplied to the corresponding one of said elements, said driving signal changing in accordance with the corresponding pulse signal so that the power level of the related element changes without becoming equal to said predetermined lowest power level over said fixed time.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 53 words

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of pulse signals alternately and repetitively rises and falls the power level of the related element in a range between a first power level and a second power level, said range containing an ideal power level of the element of concern.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 34 words

A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first power level is equal to or lower than a maximum power level of the element of concern and larger than said ideal power level.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 35 words

A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said predetermined lowest power level is equal to zero, and wherein said second power level is not equal to zero and lower than said ideal power level.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 27 words

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said frequency of each of said plurality of pulse signals is higher than a frequency of said image data.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 28 words

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said selected one of said plurality of pulse signals is supplied in common to a group consisting of said elements.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 221 words

An apparatus for driving a solid scan type recording head having a plurality of elements having a function such as light emission, exothermic and discharge, comprising: first means for generating a plurality of pulse signals different from each other in one of a frequency and duty ratio thereof over a fixed time, depending on a difference in characteristics of said plurality of elements, each of said pulse signals varying in level so as to rise the power level of the related element in a rise response characteristic thereof before the power level of said related element completely falls to a predetermined lowest power level in accordance with a fall response characteristic thereof; second means, connected to said first means, for selecting one of said plurality of pulse signals for each of said plurality of elements, depending on the characteristic of the element of concern; and third means, connected to said second means, for generating a driving signal for each of said plurality of elements from the corresponding selected one of said plurality of pulse signals and corresponding image data, said driving signal being supplied to the corresponding one of said elements, said driving signal changing in accordance with the corresponding pulse signal so that the power level of the related element changes without becoming equal to said predetermined lowest power level.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 221 words

An apparatus for driving a solid scan type recording head having a plurality of elements having a function such as light emission, exothermic and discharge, comprising: first means for generating a plurality of pulse signals different from each other in one of a frequency and duty ratio thereof over a fixed time, depending on a difference in characteristics of said plurality of elements, each of said pulse signals varying in level so as to rise the power level of the related element in a rise response characteristic thereof before the power level of said related element completely falls to a predetermined lowest power level in accordance with a fall response characteristic thereof; second means, connected to said first means, for selecting one of said plurality of pulse signals for each of said plurality of elements, depending on the characteristic of the element of concern; and third means, connected to said second means, for generating a driving signal for each of said plurality of elements from the corresponding selected one of said plurality of pulse signals and corresponding image data, said driving signal being supplied to the corresponding one of said elements, said driving signal changing in accordance with the corresponding pulse signal so that the power level of the related element changes without becoming equal to said predetermined lowest power level.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 147 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said first means comprises; clock generating means for generating a series of clock pulses; counter means for counting said clock pulses generated by said clock generating means, and outputting the counted value; a plurality of flip-flop means each for outputting the corresponding one of said plurality of pulse signals; and logic means, connected to said counter means and said plurality of flip-flop means, for generating first control signals used for setting, at the same time, all the plurality of flip-flop means from said counted value supplied from said counter means and second control signals used for separately resetting said plurality of flip-flop means from said counted value supplied from said counter means, the duty ratio of said plurality of pulse signals being different from each other, the frequency of said plurality of pulse signals being identical to each other.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 70 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said logic means generates said first control signals when said counter means counts a predetermined number of said clock pulses corresponding to said fixed time, and generates said second control signals for resetting said corresponding flip-flop means, when said counter means counts said clock pulses by a predetermined number of clock pulses selected individually for each of said plurality of flip-flop means.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 38 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein each of said flip-flop means comprises a JK type flip-flop having a J-terminal supplied with the corresponding first control signal, and a K-terminal supplied with the corresponding second control signal.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 162 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said first means comprises: clock generating means for generating a series of clock pulses; counter means for counting said clock pulses generated by said clock generating means by a predetermined number of pulses; a plurality of monostable multivibrator means each for outputting the corresponding one of said plurality of pulse signals; and logic means, connected to said counter means and said plurality of monostable multivibrator means, for generating a control signal supplied to all the plurality of said monostable multivibrator means when said counter means counts said predetermined number of clock pulses, wherein when said control signal is simultaneously supplied to all the plurality of said monostable multivibrator means, said plurality of monostable multivibrator means are activated, and then output the corresponding pulse signals, so that the duty ratio of said plurality of pulse signals is different from each other, and the frequency of said plurality of pulse signals is identical to each other.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 52 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said first means comprises oscillator means for generating a plurality of pulse signals having mutually different frequencies and an identical fixed duty ratio, said plurality of pulse signals generated by said oscillator means being said plurality of pulse signals supplied to said second means.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 18 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said oscillator means is reset for every said fixed time.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 75 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said first means comprises clock generating means for generating a clock signal, and a plurality of frequency-dividing means each for dividing said clock signal supplied from said clock generating means at a predetermined frequency-dividing ratio defined for each of said frequency-dividing means, oscillator means for generating a plurality of pulse signals having mutually different frequencies and an identical fixed duty ratio, thereby outputting said corresponding pulse signals.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 53 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of said plurality of pulse signals alternately and repetitively rises and falls the power level of the related element in a range between a first power level and a second power level, said range containing an ideal power level of the element of concern.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 34 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said first power level is equal to or lower than a maximum power level of the element of concern and larger than said ideal power level.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 35 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said predetermined lowest power level is equal to zero, and wherein said second power level is not equal to zero and lower than said ideal power level.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 27 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said frequency of each of said plurality of pulse signals is higher than a frequency of said image data.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 28 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said selected one of said plurality of pulse signals is supplied in common to a group consisting of said elements.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 114 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said third means comprises: AND gates provided for said plurality of elements, and each of said AND gate has a first input terminal provided with the corresponding selected one of the pulse signals generated by said first means, a second input terminal provided with the corresponding image data, and an output terminal through which the result of an AND operation is outputted; and driving means connected to sad output terminal of each of said AND gates, for amplifying the results of the AND operation executed in the AND gates so as to generate said said driving signal to be supplied to s id plurality of elements.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1993-04-16	1993-10-16	1994-04-17	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1997-04-16	1997-10-16	1998-04-17	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2001-04-16	2001-10-16	2002-04-17	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for driving a solid scan type recording head

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