Dot printer and method for grey level recording with different bit-depth dimensions

Claim 1

A non-impact recording apparatus for recording grey level exposures of pixels with different bit-depth dimension, the recording apparatus comprising: a recording element; means for providing first image data signals of a first predetermined multibits per pixel bit-depth dimension and for providing second image data signals of a second predetermined multibits per pixel bit-depth dimension; means for providing a third signal representing the first bit-depth dimension and for providing a fourth signal representing the second bit-depth dimension; an exposure clock counter means for counting exposure clock pulses and outputting a count signal in response to said clock pulses, said count signal representing a count value, said counter means being an up/down counter having a down and up-counting modes; adjusting means responsive to said third signal for adjusting counting in said counter means in accordance with the multibits per pixel bit-depth dimension of said first image data signals to provide count values associated with the first bit-depth dimension and responsive to said fourth signal for adjusting counting in said counter means in accordance with the multibits per pixel bit-depth dimension of said second image data signals to provide count values associated with the second bit-depth dimension; comparator means for comparing a multibits-per-pixel image dam signal with the count signal from said counter means and generating a signal; and means responsive to said signal from said comparator means for controlling the recording element to control a recording duration.

Claim 5

A method for non-impact recording of grey level pixels, the method comprising the steps of: providing image data representing a pixel to be recorded, the image data for each pixel in one image being represented by signals having a first bit-depth dimension, and the image data for each pixel in a second image being represented by signals having a second bit-depth dimension, the first and second bit-depth dimensions being each greater than one and of different dimensions; generating exposure clock pulses for timing an exposure duration; counting exposure clock pulses in a counter and outputting a count signal in response to said clock pulses, said count signal representing a count value, said counter counting in down and up-counting modes; adjusting a bit-depth dimension of said count signal output by said counter in accordance with the first or the second bit-depth dimension of said image data signal; comparing a multibits-per-pixel image data signal with the count signal and generating a timing signal; and in response to said timing signal controlling a recording element for a recording duration.

Claim 6

A method for non-impact recording of grey level pixels, the method comprising the steps of: providing image data representing a pixel to be recorded, the image data for each pixel in one image being represented by signals having a first bit-depth dimension, and the image data for each pixel in a second image being represented by signals having a second bit-depth dimension, the first and second bit-depth dimensions being each greater than one and of different dimensions; generating exposure clock pulses for timing an exposure duration; counting exposure clock pulses in a counter and outputting a count signal in response to said clock pulses, said count signal representing a count value, said counter counting in down and up-counting modes; adjusting a bit-depth dimension of said count signal output by said counter in accordance with the first or the second bit-depth dimension of said image data signal; comparing a multibits-per-pixel image data signal with the count signal and generating a timing signal; and in response to said timing signal controlling a recording element for a recording duration.