US5260715A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of and apparatus for thermally recording image on a transparent heat sensitive material
Assignee: Fujifilm Corp
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Filing: 1992-04-17
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Granted: 1993-11-09
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Expires: 2012-04-17
Abstract
Abstract An image is recorded on a transparent heat sensitive material having a transparent support and a transparent heat sensitive layer disposed on the transparent support. The transparent heat sensitive material is moved in an auxiliary scanning direction. Image information is recorded on the transparent heat sensitive material in a main scanning direction substantially normal to the auxiliary scanning direction with a thermal head having an array of as many heating elements as the number of pixels along the main scanning direction, so that the transparent heat sensitive material is two-dimensionally scanned to record an image in an image area thereon. A non-image area of the heat sensitive material other than the image area thereof is recorded at a predetermined density level. The array of heating elements has a length larger than the width of the transparent heat sensitive material in the main scanning direction, so that the entire surface of the non-image area can be recorded at the predetermined density level.
Inventors
- 👤 Kazutomo Kishimi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 20:19
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41M; B41M5/00; B41M5/26; B41M5/382; B41M5/38207; B41M5/38221
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A method of recording an image on a transparent heat sensitive material having a transparent support and a transparent heat sensitive layer disposed on the transparent support, said method comprising the steps of: initializing memory means to an initial value corresponding to a predetermined density level; moving the transparent heat sensitive material in an auxiliary scanning direction; recording image information on the transparent heat sensitive material in a main scanning direction substantially normal to said auxiliary scanning direction with a thermal head having an array of as many heating elements as a number of pixels along said main scanning direction, so that the transparent heat sensitive material is two-dimensionally scanned to record an image in an image area thereon; and recording a non-image area of the transparent heat sensitive material other than said image area thereof at said predetermined density level based on said initial values.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
146 words
A method of recording an image on a transparent heat sensitive material having a transparent support and a transparent heat sensitive layer disposed on the transparent support, said method comprising the steps of: initializing memory means to an initial value corresponding to a predetermined density level; moving the transparent heat sensitive material in an auxiliary scanning direction; recording image information on the transparent heat sensitive material in a main scanning direction substantially normal to said auxiliary scanning direction with a thermal head having an array of as many heating elements as a number of pixels along said main scanning direction, so that the transparent heat sensitive material is two-dimensionally scanned to record an image in an image area thereon; and recording a non-image area of the transparent heat sensitive material other than said image area thereof at said predetermined density level based on said initial values.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said array of heating elements has a length larger than a width of the transparent heat sensitive material in said main scanning direction, so that an entire surface of said nonimage area can be recorded at said predetermined density level.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method of recording an image on a transparent heat sensitive material, according to claim 1, wherein said step of recording a non-image area is performed in response to a predetermined number of pulses corresponding to said predetermined density level.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said memory means corresponds to a line buffer memory, and said initializing step stores said initial value in every address of said line buffer memory.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said memory means constitutes a frame memory and said initializing step stores said initial value in every address of said frame memory.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said memory means constitutes a frame memory and said initializing step stores said initial value only in addresses of said frame memory corresponding to said non-image area of said transparent heat sensitive material.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
245 words
An apparatus for recording an image on a transparent heat sensitive material having a transparent support and a transparent heat sensitive layer disposed on the transparent support, said apparatus comprising: means for moving the transparent heat sensitive material in an auxiliary scanning direction; a thermal head having an array of as many heating elements as a number of pixels along a main scanning direction substantially normal to said auxiliary scanning direction; a frame memory for storing a frame of input image data; a line buffer memory for storing a line of input image data corresponding to a scanning line and supplied from said frame memory, said line buffer memory having at least memory areas corresponding respectively to said heating elements; initial data input means for supplying initial density level data corresponding to one scanning line to said line buffer memory, wherein one of said frame memory and said line buffer memory initially store said initial density level data; thermal head drive means for energizing said heating elements to record image information on the transparent heat sensitive material in said main scanning direction while the transparent heat sensitive material is being moved in said auxiliary scanning direction, so that the transparent heat sensitive material is two-dimensionally scanned to record an image in an image area thereof; and means for recording a non-image area of the heat sensitive material other than said image area thereof at a predetermined density level represented by said initial density level data.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
245 words
An apparatus for recording an image on a transparent heat sensitive material having a transparent support and a transparent heat sensitive layer disposed on the transparent support, said apparatus comprising: means for moving the transparent heat sensitive material in an auxiliary scanning direction; a thermal head having an array of as many heating elements as a number of pixels along a main scanning direction substantially normal to said auxiliary scanning direction; a frame memory for storing a frame of input image data; a line buffer memory for storing a line of input image data corresponding to a scanning line and supplied from said frame memory, said line buffer memory having at least memory areas corresponding respectively to said heating elements; initial data input means for supplying initial density level data corresponding to one scanning line to said line buffer memory, wherein one of said frame memory and said line buffer memory initially store said initial density level data; thermal head drive means for energizing said heating elements to record image information on the transparent heat sensitive material in said main scanning direction while the transparent heat sensitive material is being moved in said auxiliary scanning direction, so that the transparent heat sensitive material is two-dimensionally scanned to record an image in an image area thereof; and means for recording a non-image area of the heat sensitive material other than said image area thereof at a predetermined density level represented by said initial density level data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said array of heating elements has a length longer than a width of the transparent heat sensitive material in said main scanning direction, so that an entire surface of said non-image area can be recorded at said predetermined density level.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus for recording an image on a transparent heat sensitive material, according to claim 7, wherein said means for recording a non-image area operates in response to a predetermined number of pulses corresponding to said predetermined density level.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein every address of said line buffer memory is set initially to equal said initial density level data.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein every address of said frame memory is set initially to equal said initial density level data.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein only memory addresses of said frame memory, corresponding to said non-image area, is set initially to equal said initial density level data.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
241 words
An apparatus for recording an image on a transparent heat sensitive material having a transparent support and a transparent heat sensitive layer disposed on the transparent support, said apparatus comprising: means for moving the transparent heat sensitive material in an auxiliary scanning direction; a thermal head having an array of as many heating elements as a number of pixels along a main scanning direction substantially normal to said auxiliary scanning direction; a frame memory for storing a frame of input image data; a line buffer memory for storing a line of input image data corresponding to a scanning line and supplied from said frame memory, said line buffer memory having at least memory areas corresponding respectively to said heating elements; initial data input means for supplying initial density level data corresponding to one scanning line, said initial level density data being initially stored in one of said frame memory and said line buffer memory; thermal head drive means for energizing said heating elements to record image information on the transparent heat sensitive material in said main scanning direction while the transparent heat sensitive material is being moved in said auxiliary scanning direction, so that the transparent heat sensitive material is two-dimensionally scanned to record an image in an image area thereof; and means for recording a non-image area of the heat sensitive material other than said image area thereof at a predetermined density level represented by said initial density level data.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
241 words
An apparatus for recording an image on a transparent heat sensitive material having a transparent support and a transparent heat sensitive layer disposed on the transparent support, said apparatus comprising: means for moving the transparent heat sensitive material in an auxiliary scanning direction; a thermal head having an array of as many heating elements as a number of pixels along a main scanning direction substantially normal to said auxiliary scanning direction; a frame memory for storing a frame of input image data; a line buffer memory for storing a line of input image data corresponding to a scanning line and supplied from said frame memory, said line buffer memory having at least memory areas corresponding respectively to said heating elements; initial data input means for supplying initial density level data corresponding to one scanning line, said initial level density data being initially stored in one of said frame memory and said line buffer memory; thermal head drive means for energizing said heating elements to record image information on the transparent heat sensitive material in said main scanning direction while the transparent heat sensitive material is being moved in said auxiliary scanning direction, so that the transparent heat sensitive material is two-dimensionally scanned to record an image in an image area thereof; and means for recording a non-image area of the heat sensitive material other than said image area thereof at a predetermined density level represented by said initial density level data.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said array of heating elements has a length longer than width of the transparent heat sensitive material in said main scanning direction, so that entire surface of said non-image area can be recorded at said predetermined density level.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus for recording an image on a transparent heat sensitive material, according to claim 13, wherein said means for recording a non-image area operates in response to a predetermined number of pulses corresponding to said predetermined density level.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein every address of said line buffer memory is set initially to equal said initial density level data.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein every address of said frame memory is set initially to equal said initial density level data.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein only memory addresses of said frame memory, corresponding to said non-image area, is set initially to equal said initial density level data.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
227 words
An apparatus for recording an image on a transparent heat sensitive material having a transparent support and a transparent heat sensitive layer disposed on the transparent support, said apparatus comprising: means for moving the transparent heat sensitive material in an auxiliary scanning direction; a thermal head having an array of as many heating elements as a number of pixels along a main scanning direction substantially normal to said auxiliary scanning direction; a frame memory for storing initial density level data in all memory addresses thereof and for subsequently storing a frame of input image data in a predetermined portion of said frame memory over the stored initial image data; a line buffer memory for storing a line of input image data corresponding to a scanning line and supplied from said frame memory, said line buffer memory having at least memory areas corresponding respectively to said heating elements; thermal head drive means for energizing said heating elements to record image information on the transparent heat sensitive material in said main scanning direction while the transparent heat sensitive material is being moved in said auxiliary scanning direction, so that the transparent heat sensitive material is two-dimensionally scanned to record an image in an image area thereof; and means for recording a non-image area of the heat-sensitive material other than predetermined density level represented by said initial density level data.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
227 words
An apparatus for recording an image on a transparent heat sensitive material having a transparent support and a transparent heat sensitive layer disposed on the transparent support, said apparatus comprising: means for moving the transparent heat sensitive material in an auxiliary scanning direction; a thermal head having an array of as many heating elements as a number of pixels along a main scanning direction substantially normal to said auxiliary scanning direction; a frame memory for storing initial density level data in all memory addresses thereof and for subsequently storing a frame of input image data in a predetermined portion of said frame memory over the stored initial image data; a line buffer memory for storing a line of input image data corresponding to a scanning line and supplied from said frame memory, said line buffer memory having at least memory areas corresponding respectively to said heating elements; thermal head drive means for energizing said heating elements to record image information on the transparent heat sensitive material in said main scanning direction while the transparent heat sensitive material is being moved in said auxiliary scanning direction, so that the transparent heat sensitive material is two-dimensionally scanned to record an image in an image area thereof; and means for recording a non-image area of the heat-sensitive material other than predetermined density level represented by said initial density level data.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said array of heating elements has a length longer than a width of the transparent heat sensitive material in said main scanning direction, so that an entire surface of said non-image area can be recorded at said predetermined density level.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus for recording an image on a transparent heat sensitive material, according to claim 19, wherein said means for recording a non-image area operates in response to a predetermined number of pulses corresponding to said predetermined density level.
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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) | 1996-11-08 | 1997-05-10 | 1997-11-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-11-08 | 2001-05-10 | 2001-11-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-11-08 | 2005-05-10 | 2005-11-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |