Typewriting machines – Typing by other than type-face or type-die – Thermal
Patent
1998-02-24
2000-08-22
Hilten, John S.
Typewriting machines
Typing by other than type-face or type-die
Thermal
B41J 2315
Patent
active
061061727
ABSTRACT:
Both a method and printer are provided that utilize a single microprocessor to modulate a thermal printhead and implement all other printing functions. In the method of the invention, the microprocessor expands numerical image data in the form of binary numbers indicative of the color tone of an image pixel into data bit streams. The microprocessor then stores at least a portion of each of the data bit streams in a temporary memory, and sequentially collates single bits of each of the data bit streams into a serial string of data bits which are then loaded into a shift register to modulate the thermal elements of the printhead. The storage of the expanded numerical image data into a temporary memory obviates the need for the microprocessor to expand each binary number of the image data a multiplicity of times, thereby allowing the microprocessor to modulate the thermal printhead while freeing up its capacity to implement all of the other necessary printing functions, thereby obviating the need for the ASIC used to modulate the printhead in prior art printers.
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Eastman Kodak Company
Hilten John S.
Nolan, Jr. Charles H.
Stevens Walter S.
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