Laser diode thermal transfer printhead
A thermal transfer printhead is disclosed. The printhead includes a backplane having one or more one connector receptacles. The printhead also includes one or more modules each of which includes a connector adapted to interface with the connector receptacles. The modules also include a laser diode array having laser diodes. The module interfaces with the backplane at a predetermined angle with respect to a printing direction and pitch to achieve a desired printhead density.
1. A thermal transfer printhead comprising:
a backplane including at least one connector receptacle;
a plurality of modules each of which includes a connector adapted to interface with the at least one connector receptacle and a laser diode array having a plurality of laser diodes, each of the laser diodes adapted to project a channel onto a print media, wherein the at least one module interfaces with the backplane at a predetermined angle with respect to a printing direction and pitch to project a predetermined number of channels per unit of spacing of the print media.
2. A thermal transfer printhead as in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of modules are arranged parallel to each other.
3. A thermal transfer printhead as in claim 1 , wherein each of the modules further includes a laser diode driver adapted to control current flow through the at least one laser diode.
4. A thermal transfer printhead as in claim 1 , wherein each of the modules further includes a heatsink.
5. A thermal transfer printhead as in claim 1 , further comprising at least one lens window adapted to focus beam of light from the at least one laser diode.
6. A thermal transfer printhead as in claim 1 , wherein each of the modules further includes a control circuit adapted to control timing of firing of the at least one laser diode.
7. A thermal transfer printhead as in claim 6 , wherein the control circuit is further adapted to determine duty cycle for the at least one laser diode and to control gray scale of a dot produced by the laser diode as a function of the duty cycle.
8. A thermal transfer printhead module comprising:
a connector adapted to interface with at least one connector receptacle; and
a laser diode array having a plurality of laser diodes, each of the laser diodes adapted to project a channel onto a print media, wherein the at least one module interfaces with the backplane at a predetermined angle with respect to a printing direction and pitch to project a predetermined number of channels per unit of spacing of the print media.
9. A thermal transfer printhead module as in claim 8 , wherein the at least one connector receptacle is disposed on a backplane of a thermal transfer printhead.
10. A thermal transfer printhead module as in claim 9 , wherein the backplane includes a plurality of connector receptacles and at least other module, wherein the thermal transfer modules are arranged parallel to each other.
11. A thermal transfer printhead module as in claim 8 , further comprising a laser diode driver adapted to control current flow through the at least one laser diode.
12. A thermal transfer printhead module as in claim 8 , wherein the module further includes a heatsink.
13. A thermal transfer printhead module as in claim 8 , further comprising at least one lens window adapted to focus beam of light from the at least one laser diode.
14. A thermal transfer printhead module as in claim 8 , further comprising a control circuit adapted to control timing of firing of the at least one laser diode.
15. A thermal transfer printhead module as in claim 14 , wherein the control circuit is further adapted to determine duty cycle for the at least one laser diode and to control gray scale of a dot produced by the laser diode as a function of the duty cycle.