Abstract: The printer (1) includes a control unit (20) including a function reproducing multiple tones by outputting energization data that is dot control data in multiple cycles in line units to a head unit (10) including a plurality of dot generating elements disposed in a line. The control unit (20) includes: a thermal head control circuit (60) supplying the energization data of each cycle and a latch signal for the energization data of each cycle to the head unit (10); and a mask circuit (70) operable when the energization data of the current cycle is the same as the energization data of the previous cycle, to erase the current energization data and the signal for latching to be supplied to the head unit (10).

Abstract: A POS register includes a printer that prints receipt information including a content of a payment by a user onto a sheet; a touch panel that displays a button for selecting whether printing of the receipt information is necessary; an input unit that enables the user to input a transmission destination address to which the receipt information is to be transmitted via a computer network; and an output unit that transmits the receipt information to the transmission destination address if the transmission destination address has been inputted when it is selected whether printing of the receipt information is necessary using the button.

Abstract: The printer (1) includes a control unit (20) including a function reproducing multiple tones by outputting energization data that is dot control data in multiple cycles in line units to a head unit (10) including a plurality of dot generating elements disposed in a line. The control unit (20) includes: a thermal head control circuit (60) supplying the energization data of each cycle and a latch signal for the energization data of each cycle to the head unit (10); and a mask circuit (70) operable when the energization data of the current cycle is the same as the energization data of the previous cycle, to erase the current energization data and the signal for latching to be supplied to the head unit (10).

Abstract: A unit (20) controlling a printer (1) includes: a unit (22) supplying a variable-period strobe signal, which is a strobe signal controlling an energization time of heating elements (11) and whose period is variable when forming an image with m tones, (m-1) times to a thermal head; a unit (21) supplying energization data, which is energization data controlling energization of the respective heating elements according to the strobe signal and includes (m-1) components for each of the heating elements, divided into the (m-1) times for each line to the thermal head; and a unit (23) supplying a latch signal with a variable period and latches components of the next energization data, to the thermal head in synchronization with the variable-period strobe signal.

Abstract: A method of producing an image that can eliminate an f? lens is provided. This method of producing an image includes producing the image from a plurality of dots with varying intervals that are to be formed by linearly scanning an image forming surface with light that has been modulated using image data for producing by a polygon mirror that rotates at a constant angular velocity, and generating, before the producing the image, the image data for producing to form the image with the plurality of dots with varying intervals from original image data that forms a target output image with a plurality of dots with constant intervals. The step of generating the image data for producing includes setting a state of a first dot included in the plurality of dots with varying intervals at a state of a second dot that is included in the plurality of dots with constant intervals obtained from the original data and is at a position that is close to a position of the first dot.

Abstract: A method of generating a second bit map, improved in first-direction resolution, from a first bit map having a plurality of image-forming pixels arranged two-dimensionally, the method comprising a first detection step of detecting first and second edges appearing in a second direction orthogonal to a first direction in a first bit map, and the first addition step of adding at least an edge extending in the first direction, when a portion between the first and second edges permits interpolation, to between third and fourth edges on the second bit map respectively corresponding to the first and second edges so as to effect interpolation between the third and fourth edges. Since the first and second edges, if detected, permit smoothing, a look-up table is not needed, and even a long-range unevenness can be smoothed without a smoothing range being limited to a predetermined region.