Abstract: A thermal printing device comprises a continuous bar of electrically resistive material, with patterns of electrical conductors on each side of the bar. Connections are made to the bar from the conductor patterns at closely spaced positions. The conductor patterns are formed as columns on one side and rows on the other side to enable connections between columns and bar and rows and bar such that the number of external connections is minimized. The connections to the bar from the conductor patterns are staggered on one side of the bar relative to the other side. This doubles the center-to-center distance of such connections as correspond with connections which are opposite each other. This enables wider connection paths while still maintaining the original resolution.