Patent · US Expired

Pixel preheat system for an automated thermal transfer device

US4859093A · kind A · utility

8Cited by
4References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMar 21, 1988
Grant dateAug 22, 1989
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 21, 2008

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB41J2/38
  • WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A pixel preheat system for a thermal transfer device in which a selected image is transferred from a strip of color carrying ribbon to a strip of image carrying tape achieves precise control of the temperature of the individual pixel heating elements in a thermal printhead by combining the pixel data values just printed with the pixel data values to be printed to generate a pixel preheat value whenever either of the pixel data values is off or white. The present invention maintains the temperature of the individual pixel heating elements closer to the transition temperature of the thermal transfer ribbon and uses fewer circuit components.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.