IP Library Granted Patent US 6,897,887
Granted Patent B2
US 6,897,887 · App. 10/623,532 · Granted May 24, 2005

Heat history control system, printer, and program

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,897,887
App. No.
10/623,532
Granted
May 24, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

A memory stores printing data. A CPU reads, from the memory, printing data on a target line to be printed subsequently and printing data on a plurality of immediately preceding lines, performs an arithmetic operation with respect to the read printing data to determine a history pattern, stores the determined history pattern in the memory, reads, from the memory, the history pattern of a history factor which is a dot exerting the influence of heat accumulation on a target dot to be printed subsequently, transmits the read history pattern to a thermal print head interface unit, and transmits a history timer value preliminarily allocated to the history factor to the thermal print head interface unit. The thermal print head interface unit drives a thermal print head based on the history pattern and on the history timer value.

Claims (46)

1. A heat history control system comprising: a CPU; a memory; a thermal print head having a heat generating element; and a thermal print head interface unit, wherein

said memory stores printing data,

said CPU reads, from said memory, printing data on a target line to be printed subsequently and printing data on a plurality of immediately preceding lines, performs an arithmetic operation with respect to the read printing data to determine a history pattern, stores the determined history pattern in said memory, reads, from said memory, the history pattern of a history factor which is a dot exerting influence of heat accumulation on a target dot to be printed subsequently, transmits the read history pattern to said thermal print head interface unit, and transmits a history timer value preliminarily allocated to said history factor to said thermal print head interface unit, and

said thermal print head interface unit drives said thermal print head based on said history pattern and on said history timer value.

2. The heat history control system of claim 1 , wherein said thermal print head interface unit determines an energization time for the heat generating element for printing said target dot as a time obtained by subtracting said history timer value of said energized history factor from an energization time when heat history control is not performed.

3. The heat history control system of claim 1 , wherein said history timer value is weighed in accordance with a degree of influence exerted by said history factor on said target dot.

4. The heat history control system of claim 1 , wherein said CPU performs the arithmetic operation by ignoring a 2nd previous history factor when a 1st previous history factor immediately preceding said target dot has been energized.

5. A heat history control system comprising: a CPU; a memory; and a thermal print head having a heat generating element, wherein

said memory stores printing data,

said CPU reads, from said memory, printing data on a target line to be printed subsequently and printing data on a plurality of immediately preceding lines, performs an arithmetic operation with respect to the read printing data to determine a history pattern, stores the determined history pattern in said memory, reads, from said memory, the history pattern of a history factor which is a dot exerting influence of heat accumulation on a target dot to be printed subsequently, and transmits, to said thermal print head, a drive signal generated based on the read history pattern and on a history timer value preliminarily allocated to said history factor, and

said thermal print head energizes the heat generating element based on said drive signal.

6. The heat history control system of claim 5 , wherein said CPU determines an energization time for the heat generating element for printing said target dot as a time obtained by subtracting said history timer value of said energized history factor from an energization time when heat history control is not performed.

7. The heat history control system of claim 5 , wherein said history timer value is weighed in accordance with a degree of influence exerted by said history factor on said target dot.

8. The heat history control system of claim 5 , wherein said CPU performs the arithmetic operation by ignoring a 2nd previous history factor when a 1st previous history factor immediately preceding said target dot has been energized.

9. A printer comprising: a CPU; a memory; a thermal print head having a heat generating element; and a thermal print head interface unit, wherein

said memory stores printing data,

said CPU reads, from said memory, printing data on a target line to be printed subsequently and printing data on a plurality of immediately preceding lines, performs an arithmetic operation with respect to the read printing data to determine a history pattern, stores the determined history pattern in said memory, reads, from said memory, the history pattern of a history factor which is a dot exerting influence of heat accumulation on a target dot to be printed subsequently, transmits the read history pattern to said thermal print head interface unit, and transmits a history timer value preliminarily allocated to said history factor to said thermal print head interface unit, and

said thermal print head interface unit drives said thermal print head based on said history pattern and on said history timer value.

10. The printer of claim 9 , wherein said thermal print head interface unit determines an energization time for the heat generating element for printing said target dot as a time obtained by subtracting said history timer value of said energized history factor from an energization time when heat history control is not performed.

11. The printer of claim 9 , wherein said history timer value is weighed in accordance with a degree of influence exerted by said history factor on said target dot.

12. The printer of claim 9 , wherein said CPU performs the arithmetic operation by ignoring a 2nd previous history factor when a 1st previous history factor immediately preceding said target dot has been energized.

13. A printer comprising: a CPU; a memory; and a thermal print head having a heat generating element, wherein

said memory stores printing data,

said CPU reads, from said memory, printing data on a target line to be printed subsequently and printing data on a plurality of immediately preceding lines, performs an arithmetic operation with respect to the read printing data to determine a history pattern, stores the determined history pattern in said memory, reads, from said memory, the history pattern of a history factor which is a dot exerting influence of heat accumulation on a target dot to be printed subsequently, generates a drive signal based on the read history pattern and on a history timer value preliminarily allocated to said history factor, and transmits the generated drive signal to said thermal print head, and

said thermal print head applies a voltage to the heat generating element based on said drive signal.

14. The printer of claim 13 , wherein said CPU determines an energization time for the heat generating element for printing said target dot as a time obtained by subtracting said history timer value of said energized history factor from an energization time when heat history control is not performed.

15. The printer of claim 13 , wherein said history timer value is weighed in accordance with a degree of influence exerted by said history factor on said target dot.

16. The printer of claim 13 , wherein said CPU performs the arithmetic operation by ignoring a 2nd previous history factor when a 1st previous history factor immediately preceding said target dot has been energized.

17. A program allowing a computer to perform the process steps of:

reading, from a memory, printing data on a target line to be printed subsequently and printing data on a plurality of immediately preceding lines;

performing an arithmetic operation with respect to the read printing data to determine a history pattern;

storing the determined history pattern in said memory;

reading, from said memory, the history pattern of a history factor which is a dot exerting influence of heat accumulation on a target dot to be printed subsequently;

transmitting the read history pattern to a thermal print head interface unit; and

transmitting a history timer value preliminarily allocated to said history factor to said thermal print head interface unit.

18. The program of claim 17 , wherein said history timer value is weighed in accordance with a degree of influence exerted by said history factor on said target dot.

19. The program of claim 17 , wherein said CPU performs the arithmetic operation by ignoring a 2nd previous history factor when a 1st previous history factor immediately preceding said target dot has been energized.

20. A program allowing a computer to perform the process steps of:

reading, from a memory, printing data on a target line to be printed subsequently and printing data on a plurality of immediately preceding lines;

performing an arithmetic operation with respect to the read printing data to determine a history pattern;

storing the determined history pattern in said memory;

reading, from said memory, the history pattern of a history factor which is a dot exerting influence of heat accumulation on a target dot to be printed subsequently; and

transmitting, to a thermal print head, a drive signal generated based on the read history pattern and on a history timer value preliminarily allocated to said history factor.

21. The program of claim 20 , wherein a time for said drive signal is determined as a time obtained by subtracting said history timer value of said energized history factor from an energization time when heat history control is not performed.

22. The program of claim 20 , wherein said history timer value is weighed in accordance with a degree of influence exerted by said history factor on said target dot.

23. The program of claim 20 , wherein said CPU performs the arithmetic operation by ignoring a 2nd previous history factor when a 1st previous history factor immediately preceding said target dot has been energized.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 3, 2015
From: NEC INFRONTIA CORPORATION
To: NEC PLATFORMS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 034881/0078 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 22, 2003
From: MIYAJIMA, TAKEO; SUZUKI, KEI
To: NEC INFRONTIA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 014315/0032 →