US5636331A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Patterned intensities printer
Assignee: HID Global Corp
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Filing: 1996-06-26
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Granted: 1997-06-03
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Expires: 2016-06-26
Abstract
Abstract A printer providing time coded heating energy applications to printhead resistors to provide variable volmetric densities. Variable densities can also be provided through integrating dithering with the varying of volumetric densities. The printer can provide either one of two kinds of printing technologies by selection.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary M. Klinefelter
- 👤 Michael R. Tolrud
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:50
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/028; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N1/40025; H04N1/40031; H04N1/405; H04N1/4055; H04N1/4056; H04N1/46; H04N1/52; G06K2215/00; G06K2215/0082; G06K2215/0094
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
A printer for printing an image and a recording sheets, comprising: a thermal printhead having a plurality of electrical resistors providing a plurality of printhead resistor areas; a supply of coloring material adjacent the printhead for deposition on to the recording sheet; input means for receiving a binary weighted data having a plurality of discrete values related to a desired volumetric density of the coloring material to be deposited onto the recording media; and control means for converting the binary weighted data into an energy signal applied to an electrical resistor of the printhead thereby transferring the desired volumetric density of coloring material from the supply of coloring material to the recording sheet adjacent a resistor area providing a continuous tone printed area on the recording sheet wherein the desired volumetric density is related to duration of the energy signal as represented in the binary weighted data and each of the plurality of discrete values relate to a duration having a relationship to a duration by another discrete value selected based upon the supply of coloring material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
A printer for printing an image and a recording sheets, comprising: a thermal printhead having a plurality of electrical resistors providing a plurality of printhead resistor areas; a supply of coloring material adjacent the printhead for deposition on to the recording sheet; input means for receiving a binary weighted data having a plurality of discrete values related to a desired volumetric density of the coloring material to be deposited onto the recording media; and control means for converting the binary weighted data into an energy signal applied to an electrical resistor of the printhead thereby transferring the desired volumetric density of coloring material from the supply of coloring material to the recording sheet adjacent a resistor area providing a continuous tone printed area on the recording sheet wherein the desired volumetric density is related to duration of the energy signal as represented in the binary weighted data and each of the plurality of discrete values relate to a duration having a relationship to a duration by another discrete value selected based upon the supply of coloring material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The printer of claim 1 wherein the energy signal comprises a plurality of pulses having duration related to the binary weighted data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The printer of claim 1 including dither means for modulating the binary weighted data for the continuous tone printed area and at least one adjacent continuous printed area thereby selectively providing an additional continuous tone through the dithered combination of at least two adjacent printed areas.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The printer of claim 3 wherein a four by four matrix of continuous tone printed areas form the additional continuous tone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The printer of claim 1 wherein the binary weighted data comprises four bits representative of 16 continuous tones.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The printer of claim 1 wherein the binary weighted data comprises a plurality of bits each representative of an energizing duration.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The printer of claim 6 wherein each successive energizing duration is twice as long as a previous energizing duration.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The printer of claim 1 including a temperature sensor providing a temperature output related to printhead temperature and wherein the control means adjusts the energy signal in response to the temperature output.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The printer of claim 1 including a voltage sensor providing a sensor output related to a supply voltage and wherein the control means adjusts the energy signal in responses to the sensor output.
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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) | 2000-06-02 | 2000-12-02 | 2001-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-06-02 | 2004-12-02 | 2005-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-06-02 | 2008-12-02 | 2009-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |