Abstract: A thermal printer apparatus has a configuration which avoids adverse influences caused by a voltage variation and a change in printing speed so that superior printing quality is obtained. A temperature of a thermal head is measured based on an output signal of a thermistor contained in the thermal head, and a voltage applied to the thermal head is measured by a thermal head voltage detecting circuit. A CPU calculates a maximum energizing pulse width based upon the measured temperature and head-applied voltage, a main pulse width based on the maximum energizing pulse width and a printing speed, and a preselected ratio of a sub-pulse width with respect to the maximum energizing pulse width in response to a drive history. The CPU supplies the energizing pulse to the thermal head and the energizing pulse has a width set as the smaller of the sum of the pulse widths of the main pulse and the sub-pulse, and the maximum energizing pulse width.

Abstract: A line thermal printer in which a plurality of heating elements are disposed at a line thermal head, with the plurality of heating elements being subjected to a divided energization process in order to energize every several number of heating elements by dividing an energization process into a plurality of portions. The line printer includes a controller, including a correction factor table which stores correction factors that have been previously computed using a previously provided exponential functional formula, for performing a controlling operation so that the energization of the heating elements is carried out in accordance with an energization time that has been obtained by a correction factor corresponding to a measured temperature of each of the heating elements, obtained from the correction factor table.

Abstract: A temperature control apparatus for controlling a temperature of a heating resistor included on a thermal head of a printer. The temperature control apparatus includes a sensing circuit for sensing the temperature of the heating resistor from a current flowing through the heating resistor. The temperature control apparatus includes a switching device for switching the current activated by a status signal, and a holding circuit, which holds the status signal indicating whether each heating resister is to be heated. The holding circuit is cleared when the temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: An input unit inputs printing data. A detecting unit detects a current temperature of a thermal head which is used to print information associated with the printing data. A memory unit stores, instead of prints, a data packet of the printing data if it is determined that the current temperature of the thermal head provided by the detecting unit results in controlling the thermal head so it is not used for printing out the data packet of the printing data.

Abstract: In a liquid jet recording head having a plurality of discharge ports for discharging liquid therethrough, energy generating elements are provided correspondingly to the discharge ports and generate energy to discharge a liquid. A temperature detecting element for detecting temperature and the energy generating elements are provided on the same support member. The temperature detecting element extends in a direction intersecting a group of the energy generating elements and/or a group of wirings for the energy generating elements.

Abstract: The improved thermal recording apparatus for forming an image in accordance with image data on a thermal recording material using a thermal head comprises a correction data storage unit for holding shading correction data for the image data and at least one of weighting functions for performing weighting on a coefficient of shading correction of the image data, and an image processing unit that weights the shading correction data on the basis of at least one of the weighting functions, that calculates the coefficient of the shading correction and which then performs at least the shading correction on the image data. The correction data storage unit holds at least one of the respective weighting functions of shading correction coefficient associated with a recording density of the image data, a temperature of the thermal head, a recording speed of the image, temperature and humidity of the thermal recording material and a gradient of the thermal recording material.

Abstract: The improved thermal image recording method for forming an image to be recorded corresponding to image data on a thermal recording material using a thermal head, includes the steps of dividing the image to be recorded on one screen into a specified number of regions each having a specified number of pixels and calculating for each of the regions a representative value of the image data within that region; calculating a predicted value of temperature for each of the regions from the representative value of the image data within that region and an initial value of temperature as detected with a specified number of thermistors; calculating a value of temperature correction for each of the regions from the predicted value of temperature for that region; interpolating the values of temperature correction for the regions to calculate a value of temperature correction for each of the pixels in the image to be recorded on one screen; and performing temperature compensation on the image data of each of the pixels.

Abstract: An information printing apparatus that applies predetermined print energy to a printhead to print data received from an external data source, includes a receiver for receiving printing data from the external data source, a detector for detecting a current temperature of the printhead which is used to print information associated with the received printing data and memory for storing the received printing data.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printer comprises a temperature detector which detects the temperature of a thermal head, a heating controller which performs heating processing on the thermal head to increase the thermal head temperature to a temperature higher than a print-permit temperature, a heat radiation controller which performs heat radiation processing on the thermal head to reduce the thermal head temperature to the print-permit temperature, and a control unit which controls a temperature slope of the thermal head to be a descending slope to be the print-permit temperature by radiating heat from the thermal head. The thermal transfer printer obtains an excellent print result.

Abstract: The improved thermal recording apparatus using a thermal head comprises an image processing unit which receives image data from an image supply source and which performs sharpness compensation and other image processing jobs on the received image data to construct data for the image to be recorded thermally and thermistor for measuring a temperature of the thermal head, wherein the image processing unit changes the coefficient of sharpness compensation in accordance with the temperature of the thermal head. The thermal recording apparatus can sufficiently reduce the drop in image sharpness due to an increased temperature of the thermal head and, optionally, the drop in image sharpness due either to an increased recording speed or to a reduced gamma value of the thermal material or to both factors to ensure the consistent production of unblurred, high-quality images.

Abstract: An image receiving sheet comprises a paper substrate, a foamed layer formed on a paper substrate and a color receptor layer formed on the foamed layer. The image receiving sheet and an ink sheet are attached to each other in an overlapped fashion so that a printing energy from the thermal head is applied to all printing area at a time of image forming, the printing energy including an image-wise energy corresponding to image data and a background energy being applied to all printing area of the image receiving sheet and being defined in a look-up table, the image data is controlled by the look-up table.According to a thermal transfer recording method of the present invention, a good quality image can be formed on the image receiving sheet.

Abstract: A thermal demand printer for printing on media is a novel system which includes a case structure including a hinged cover panel, easily removable guide structures and media hanger, and a single central support wall to which the various components are attached. The printer includes a power supply circuit for receiving power from an external source and conditioning it for operation of the printer. An input device is provided for receiving command signals related to the operation of the printer. A control circuit for processing the command signals and generating corresponding control signals for controlling the operation of the printer and a printhead assembly for processing the control signals and generating corresponding control signals for controlling the operation of the printer are mounted in the case structure and coupled to the input device and the power supply circuit. The printhead assembly includes a printhead support structure which controls the printhead.

Abstract: An image recording method using a reversible thermosensitive recording material which is capable of assuming a transparent state when heated to a first temperature which is above room temperature, and a colored state when heated to a second temperature which is higher than the first temperature and then cooled, and a heating element, including the step of applying energy to the heating element for generating heat in such a manner as to form each picture element of an image to be formed in the recording material by a plurality of energy pulses applied thereto. An image recording apparatus for this image recording method is also described, which includes a pulse division device for dividing the energy to be applied to the heating element into the plurality of energy pulses, an ambient temperature measurement device for measuring the ambient temperature around the recording material, and a pulse-generation timing adjustment device for adjusting the timing for the generation of the plurality of energy pulses.

Abstract: A temperature controlling method and apparatus for a thermal printhead, in which a temperature of a thermosensitive recording material is detected by measuring a temperature change of the thermal printhead when a surface of the thermosensitive recording material contacts a surface of the resistant heater of the thermal printhead. The thermosensitive recording material is heated by the thermal printhead to a temperature suitable for recording or erasing an image on the thermosensitive recording material, with the temperature suitable for recording or erasing the image being changed as a function of the detected temperature of the thermosensitive recording material.

Abstract: An ink jet apparatus using an ink jet head having a heat generating element for generating thermal energy to be used to discharge ink, comprises a unit for deriving an amount .increment.Q.sub.i indicative of a heat amount stored in i (i.gtoreq.1) portions of said ink jet head sectioned by thermal time constants, corresponding to a heat amount applied to said ink jet head at a predetermined time interval .increment.t, a unit for multiplying an amount .increment.T.sub.i (n-1) indicative of the heat amount stored in the i-sectioned portion of the predetermined time interval .increment.t earlier by a predetermined constant E.sub.i corresponding to the sectioned thermal time constant, a unit for adding the amount .increment.Q.sub.i to the product, a unit for storing the sum as the amount .increment.T.sub.i (n) indicative of the heat amount stored in the i-sectioned portion, a unit for summing all amounts .increment.T.sub.1 (n) to determine an amount .increment.

Abstract: A thermal printer is provided with a first temperature sensor which is disposed in a substrate of a thermal head, and a second temperature sensor disposed in a housing of the thermal printer. The thermal head has an array of heating elements, each constituted of a resistance layer formed on the substrate, and a grazed glass layer is interposed between the resistance layer and the substrate. An average temperature of the grazed glass layers is calculated from first and second temperatures detected by the first and second temperature sensors, the heat resistance of a path from the substrate to the first temperature sensor, and the heat resistance of an atmosphere in the housing. Based on the calculated temperature, electric energy to be supplied to the thermal head is changed to control heat energy generated from the thermal head.

Abstract: Accumulated heat correcting data of an Nth line to be printed is subtracted from original heat data of the Nth line. This corrected heat data of the Nth line is supplied to a head driver which drives a thermal head to record dots of one line on a recording sheet. The corrected heat data of the Nth line is multiplied by a coefficient K1 to obtain first data. The first data is added to the accumulated heat correcting data of the Nth line, and sum data of the addition is written in a line memory as second data. In printing the (N+1)th line, the second data is read from the line memory. The second data is multiplied by a coefficient K2 to obtain the accumulated heat correcting data of the (N+1)th line, which is used for accumulated heat correction of the original heat data of the (N+1)th line.

Abstract: A print head thermocontrol includes a combination of power electronics that can be preset with a software potentiometer and that regulates the amplitude of the print head voltage according to the ambient temperature, a control unit operating according to a predictive control method for supplying individual print elements with print pulses and preheating pulses of variable pulse duration and an allocated print control unit for producing a digital imprint.

Abstract: In the disclosed thermal gradation printing apparatus, heat elements in a line-type thermal head are divided into a plurality of groups, and an accumulated heat amount in the substrate of the thermal head for each group is estimated based on the pulse width data applied to each heat element considering the influences by heat accumulations in the main-scanning direction and in the sub-scanning direction. Based on the group division estimated accumulated heat amounts and the temperature of the body portion of the thermal head, a correction value for the pulse width data to be applied to each heat element. Moreover, the correction value is applied to the pulse width data for each heat element, so as to output the corrected pulse width data to the thermal head.

Abstract: A dynamic strobe compensation control for a battery powered barcode printer varies the strobe time for the thermal printhead of the printer during the printing of a line of data to compensate for internal resistance losses in the thermal printhead. The control varies the strobe time based upon the measured voltage of the battery powering the printhead when the battery is not loaded by the thermal printhead and when the battery is load by the thermal printhead. The print quality is thus maintained across the width of a line of print data as well as over multiple lines of print data.

Abstract: In a driving method of a thermal printer, in which method heating elements are driven by strobe pulses consisting of preheat pulses and subsequent drive pulses that depend on a gradation level, the preheat pulse width and the frequency of basic clock pulses that are used to generate the strobe pulses are switched linearly with the temperature of a thermal head unit. In particular, based on data of preheat pulse widths and basic clock pulse frequencies for respective experimental head temperatures, preheat pulse widths and basic clock pulse frequencies for the other temperatures are calculated.

Abstract: The present provides a thermal head apparatus wherein temperatures of heat generation elements resulted from heat generation can be individually detected directly so that an abnormal condition of any heat generation element can be detected. A plurality of unit heat generation elements each formed from a resistor whose electric resistance value varies depending upon a temperature of itself are arranged in a row. A driving circuit is provided for each unit heat generation element and supplies an electric current to the unit heat generation element, and a temperature detection circuit is provided for each unit heat generation element and extracts, from the unit heat generation element, an electric signal which is obtained as a result of a variation of a resistance value caused by a variation in temperature of the unit heat generation element itself.

Abstract: A thermal recording apparatus records information on a thermal recording sheet, the thermal recording sheet having a thermal characteristic by which the information is recorded through heating the thermal recording sheet to a first temperature and information which has been recorded on the thermal recording sheet is erased therefrom by heating the thermal recording sheet to a second temperature. The thermal recording apparatus includes, a thermal head for heating the thermal recording sheet in a pattern, a recording controller for driving the thermal head so that the thermal recording sheet is heated to the first temperature in a pattern corresponding to the information to be recorded, and an erasing controller for supplying thermal energy to the thermal recording sheet on which information has been recorded by using the thermal head so that the thermal recording sheet is heated to the second temperature.

Abstract: In a thermosensitive stencil printer, a sensor responsive to the temperature of a thermal head and at least either of a sensor responsive to the temperature of ink and keys for entering a desired image density are provided. Cutting energy to be applied to the head is controlled on the basis of ink temperature and head temperature, thereby maintaining image density constant without regard to changes in ink temperature. The density of a printing is easily variable to desired density.

Abstract: The invention provides a thermal head apparatus of the type which includes, as a heat generation element, a resistor member whose resistance value varies depending upon the temperature thereof, wherein the accuracy in detection of the temperature of a medium is improved to assure an improved quality of printing.

Abstract: In the disclosed thermal gradation printing apparatus, heat elements in a line-type thermal head are divided into a plurality of groups, and an accumulated heat amount in the substrate of the thermal head for each group is estimated based on the pulse width data applied to each heat element considering the influences by heat accumulations in the main-scanning direction and in the sub-scanning direction. Based on the group division estimated accumulated heat amounts and the temperature of the body portion of the thermal head, a correction value for the pulse width data to be applied to each heat element. Moreover, the correction value is applied to the pulse width data for each heat element, so as to output the corrected pulse width data to the thermal head.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a heat generating element which is driven to generate heat and thereby effect image recording on a recording medium. In the apparatus, a reference voltage for driving the heat generating element is set, and a driving voltage based on the reference voltage is output. A signal is detected which corresponds to an amount of electric power supplied to the heat generating element during image recording. A control unit controls the outputting of the driving voltage based on the amount of electric power, and adjusts the energy to be applied to the heat generating element.

Abstract: A system for controlling the temperature of the printing elements of a thermal printhead. The printhead is provided with a plurality of spaced apart temperature sensor that measure the temperature at various locations on the printhead. A processor receiving outputs from the sensors determines the approximate temperature of each printing element based upon its proximity to at least one temperature sensor and the temperature sensor outputs. The processor then uses the approximate temperature of the printing elements to formulate either a strobe signal or a serial data stream that is applied to the respective printing element. Each printing element thus receives a quantity of energy that is a function of whether the printing element will contribute to the printing of an image during a scan line as well as the approximate temperature of the printing element.

Abstract: A mounted thermal head is energized to determine a thermal change state of the thermal head and a driving condition of the mounted thermal head is set in accordance with the determined thermal change state. The drive condition of the recording head can be self-set at a high precision with a simple construction and stabilization of the recording characteristics and a long lifetime are attained.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a thermal printer, with a thermal print head having a series of electrically drivable heating elements, with a microprocessor transferring data to be printed into a register associated with the thermal print head. In order to increase the printing speed, a buffer storage connected to the microprocessor via a parallel data line as well as a separate load state monitoring circuit are proposed, the monitoring circuit being connected to the buffer storage and causing data to be transferred from the buffer storage into the register when the data written into the buffer storage from the microprocessor has reached a defined quantity. As an alternative or addition, it is recommended to insert a pulse generator and a stepping motor driver between the output of the microprocessor and the stepping motor for driving the platen roll.

Abstract: A printer for recording a multitone image in which pulse width correction data is generated based on a temperature output of a thermistor for detecting the temperature of a head mount of a thermal head and an output of a data cumulating circuit for cumulating pulse width data inputted to the thermal head; and an adding circuit which adds the pulse width data to an output obtained by conversion, from inputted tone data, made by a .gamma. correcting circuit, thus accomplishing a temperature compensation. The temperature compensation constants necessary for calculating pulse width correction data are also determined.

Abstract: A thermal printer is equipped with apparatus for allowing the thermal printer to be quickly and easily adapted to the type of paper currently being used without the need for testing and adjusting to obtain an essentially optimum print quality. The printer can also be equipped with a temperature sensor, attached to the thermal print head and connected to the computer control to essentially also produce printed images of uniformly high quality regardless of temperature fluctuations of the thermal print head. The necessary information for providing the adjustment values for producing the high quality print can be stored in a read/write memory connected to the processor.

Abstract: In a liquid ejection recording apparatus provided with a liquid ejection recording head having an orifice for ejecting liquid and an electricity-heat conversion member for generating thermal energy used for ejecting the liquid, the apparatus includes a temperature detecting unit for detecting a change in the temperature of the liquid ejection recording head over time, and a control unit for controlling the recording head and/or liquid ejection recording apparatus in accordance with the temperature change of the recording head detected by the detecting unit.

Abstract: An apparatus and method compensates for a voltage drop of electrical pulse signals selectively applied to a plurality of heater elements on a printhead of an ink jet printing device. A number of heater elements to be pulsed at a given time is determined and a time duration of each of the pulse signals is selected based on information including the determined number of heater elements to be pulsed. In another aspect, the position on the printhead of the heater elements to be pulsed is determined and the time duration of the pulse signals is selected further based on the determined position. By varying the time duration of the pulse signals applied to the heater elements, a voltage drop across the heater elements due to the number of heater elements simultaneously pulsed and/or the position of the heater elements on the printhead is compensated for, maintaining reliable jetting performance while minimizing the voltage by which operating printing voltage needs to exceed the threshold printing voltage.