US5157761A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for interfacing a thermal printer
Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Fund 83 LLC
•
Filing: 1991-07-30
•
Granted: 1992-10-20
•
Expires: 2011-07-30
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus are provided for interfacing a thermal printer with a selected processor. A strobe latch is provided with a bit position for each byte section in a line to be printed. By selectively loading one or more bits into the strobe latch, any combination of one or more sections may be strobed during a given strobe cycle. This permits the peak power requirements for the printer to be controlled.
Inventors
- 👤 Calvert T. Hawkes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 01:33
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/028
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
An interface for operating a printer from a selected processor, the printer having a print head containing a plurality of print elements, and a buffer having at least one bit corresponding to each print element, printing occurring when print elements are strobed, the interface comprising: means for loading a line of data to be printed into said buffer, data in said buffer being grouped into a plurality of multibit sections; means for indicating the one or more of said sections to be strobed during each strobe of the print head, the indication by said indicating means being independently settable for each strobe cycle; and means responsive to said indicating means for strobing said print head with data from said one or more sections.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
An interface for operating a printer from a selected processor, the printer having a print head containing a plurality of print elements, and a buffer having at least one bit corresponding to each print element, printing occurring when print elements are strobed, the interface comprising: means for loading a line of data to be printed into said buffer, data in said buffer being grouped into a plurality of multibit sections; means for indicating the one or more of said sections to be strobed during each strobe of the print head, the indication by said indicating means being independently settable for each strobe cycle; and means responsive to said indicating means for strobing said print head with data from said one or more sections.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
An interface as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for indicating includes a strobe latch having a bit position for each section of a data line, and means operative before each strobe for storing a bit into said latch in the one or more bit positions corresponding to the sections to be strobed during the next strobe.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
An interface as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for strobing may strobe a given line a plurality of times, and wherein said means for indicating includes means for indicating a different one or more sections of the line for each strobe thereof.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
128 words
A method for interfacing a printer to be operated from a selected processor, the printer having a print head containing a plurality of print elements, and a buffer having at least one bit corresponding to each print element, printing occurring when print elements are strobed, comprising the steps of: loading a line of data to be printed into a selected printer buffer, data in said buffer being grouped into a plurality of multibit sections; indicating the one or more of said sections to be utilized for strobing during each strobe of the print head, the indication during said indicating step being independently settable for each strobe cycle; and strobing said print head in response to said indication with data from the selected one or more of said sections.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
128 words
A method for interfacing a printer to be operated from a selected processor, the printer having a print head containing a plurality of print elements, and a buffer having at least one bit corresponding to each print element, printing occurring when print elements are strobed, comprising the steps of: loading a line of data to be printed into a selected printer buffer, data in said buffer being grouped into a plurality of multibit sections; indicating the one or more of said sections to be utilized for strobing during each strobe of the print head, the indication during said indicating step being independently settable for each strobe cycle; and strobing said print head in response to said indication with data from the selected one or more of said sections.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method as claimed in claim 4 including a strobe latch having a bit position for each section of data in the buffer; and wherein said indicating step includes the step, performed before each given strobe, of storing a bit in said latch in the one or more bit positions corresponding to the sections to be strobed during the given strobe.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein there may be at least two of said strobing steps for a line of data, with different sections of the line being indicated for each strobe step, whereby all data of a line may be strobed while controlling peak current.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein there may be at least two of said strobing steps for a line of data, with different sections of the line being selected for each strobe step, whereby all data of a line may be strobed while controlling peak current.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
An interface as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for strobing may strobe a given line a plurality of times, and wherein said means for selecting includes means for selecting a different one or more sections of a line for each strobe thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
An interface as claimed in claim 1 wherein a line may contain data to be printed in only a selected one or more of said sections; and wherein said means for indicating includes means for indicated only said selected one or more sections for said line.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
An interface as claimed in claim 1 wherein said printer is a thermal printer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as claimed in claim 4 herein a line may contain data to be printed in only a selected one or more of said sections; and wherein said indicating step includes the step of indicating only said selected one or more section for said line.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein said printer is a thermal printer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4835549A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-10-20 | 1996-04-20 | 1996-10-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-10-20 | 2000-04-20 | 2000-10-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-10-20 | 2004-04-20 | 2004-10-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |