US5006865A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of recording gradation image in thermal printer
Assignee: Fujifilm Holdings Corp
•
Filing: 1989-04-20
•
Granted: 1991-04-09
•
Expires: 2009-04-20
Abstract
Abstract A gradation image is recorded on a thermosensitive medium with heating elements in a thermal printer by generating first pulse signals each for forming a one-gradation image and second pulse signals each for forming a plural-gradation image from an image signal, and energizing the heating elements with the first and second pulse signals which are combined together to record a gradation image with the one-gradation image as a minimum density unit thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoshihiko Kuroiwa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 08:48
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J29/00; B41J29/02; B41J11/00; B41J11/66; B41J11/70; B41J2/00; B41J2/315; B41J2/32; B41J2/35; B41J2/355; B41J2/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of recording a gradation image on a thermosensitive medium in a thermal printer with heating elements by using recording pulse signals, each of said recording pulse signals including an idle-time portion, comprising the steps of: generating first recording pulse signals, each for forming a one-gradation image, and second recording pulse signals each for forming a plural-gradation image from an image signal; and energizing the heating elements with said first and second recording pulse signals which are combined together to record said gradation image with said one-gradation image as a minimum density unit thereof, thereby minimizing the sum of idle-time portions between adjacent recording pulse signals.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of recording a gradation image on a thermosensitive medium in a thermal printer with heating elements by using recording pulse signals, each of said recording pulse signals including an idle-time portion, comprising the steps of: generating first recording pulse signals, each for forming a one-gradation image, and second recording pulse signals each for forming a plural-gradation image from an image signal; and energizing the heating elements with said first and second recording pulse signals which are combined together to record said gradation image with said one-gradation image as a minimum density unit thereof, thereby minimizing the sum of idle-time portions between adjacent recording pulse signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said first recording pulse signals include a first unit pulse signal and a second unit pulse signal, said method further comprising the steps of: energizing said heating elements with said first unit pulse signal; then energizing said heating elements with said second recording pulse signals; and thereafter energizing said heating elements with said second unit pulse signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of: adjusting the time duration of said second unit pulse signal with respect to the time duration of said first unit pulse signal to adjust the density of the gradation image recorded on said thermosensitive medium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said first recording pulse signals are generated based on low-order bit data of the image signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said second recording pulse signals are generated based on other bit data than low-order bit data of the image signal.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of recording a gradation image on a thermosensitive medium in a thermal printer with heating elements, comprising the steps of: generating first pulse signals each for forming a one-gradation image, said first pulse signals each including a first unit pulse signal and a second unit pulse signal; generating second pulse signals each for forming a plural-gradation image from an image signal; energizing said heating elements with said first and second pulse signals which are combined together to record said gradation image with said one-gradation image as a minimum density unit thereof; wherein the step of energizing said hating elements further comprises: energizing said hating elements with said first unit pulse signal; then energizing said heating elements with said second pulse signals; thereafter energizing said heating elements with said second unit pulse signal.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of recording a gradation image on a thermosensitive medium in a thermal printer with heating elements, comprising the steps of: generating first pulse signals each for forming a one-gradation image, said first pulse signals each including a first unit pulse signal and a second unit pulse signal; generating second pulse signals each for forming a plural-gradation image from an image signal; energizing said heating elements with said first and second pulse signals which are combined together to record said gradation image with said one-gradation image as a minimum density unit thereof; wherein the step of energizing said hating elements further comprises: energizing said hating elements with said first unit pulse signal; then energizing said heating elements with said second pulse signals; thereafter energizing said heating elements with said second unit pulse signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of: adjusting the time duration of said second unit pulse signal with respect to the time duration of said first unit pulse signal to adjust the density of the gradation image recorded on said thermosensitive medium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 6, wherein said first pulse signals are generated based on low-order bit data of the image signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 6, wherein said first pulse signals are generated based on other bit data than low-order bit data of the image signal.
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) | 1994-04-08 | 1994-10-08 | 1995-04-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-04-08 | 1998-10-08 | 1999-04-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-04-08 | 2002-10-08 | 2003-04-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |