US3909626A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control of AxB matrix thermal printhead
Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1973-12-28
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Granted: 1975-09-30
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Expires: 1993-12-28
Abstract
Abstract A semiconductor chip controls an A x B matrix of heaters in a thermal printhead in accordance with a digital code stored in a buffer register. A logic array gated to the register is programmed selectively to enable A control lines leading to columns of heaters. A counter sequentially enables B control lines leading to rows of heaters. Control logic is responsive to a function code to initiate a printing operation in which a counter operates in response to a condition in the control logic to immobilize the control logic and to initiate B successive burn/cool cycles each followed by incrementing the row counter. Responsive to a final condition in the row counter, the control logic is again rendered operable.
Inventors
- 👤 K Balasubramanian
- 👤 Joe F Sexton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 20:06
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/028
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A semiconductor chip for actuating an A X B matrix of heaters in a thermal printhead in accordance with a digital code stored in a buffer register comprising: a. a logic array gated to said register and programmed selectively to enable A control lines leading to columns of heaters in said printhead in response to said code, b. a row counter sequentially to enable B control lines leading to rows of heaters in said printhead, c. a control logic array programmed to be responsive to a function code to initiate a printing operation, d. a digit counter operable in response to a condition in said control logic array to immobilize said control logic array and to initiate B successive burn cycles each followed by a cool cycle and followed by incrementing said row counter, and e. means responsive to a condition in said row counter to enable change in said control logic array.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
A semiconductor chip for actuating an A X B matrix of heaters in a thermal printhead in accordance with a digital code stored in a buffer register comprising: a. a logic array gated to said register and programmed selectively to enable A control lines leading to columns of heaters in said printhead in response to said code, b. a row counter sequentially to enable B control lines leading to rows of heaters in said printhead, c. a control logic array programmed to be responsive to a function code to initiate a printing operation, d. a digit counter operable in response to a condition in said control logic array to immobilize said control logic array and to initiate B successive burn cycles each followed by a cool cycle and followed by incrementing said row counter, and e. means responsive to a condition in said row counter to enable change in said control logic array.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 in which said row counter is a B stage counter having an output of each stage connected to an enable circuit for each of said B control lines.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 in which said digit counter is a ring counter and in which means are provided to increment said ring counter at the end of each said cool cycle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
192 words
A thermal printer chip for printing a line of symbols in A X B dot matrix form in response to an associated calculator output by control of an A X B heater matrix in a printhead which is movable along said line comprising: a. a shift register to receive and store coded data representing n characters to be printed, b. a logic array connected between said register and A columns of said heater matrix programmed to convert said coded data to elements of a dot matrix, c. control means to circulate said coded data in said shift register one cycle per D time of said printer to cause a different digit code to successively appear at an input gate to said logic array during each said state time, d. a pointer means to transfer through said input gate a digit code to circuits leading to column control lines of said printhead, e. a row counter to enable row control lines leading to said printhead, and f. means to count a predetermined number of D times to turn said row lines on each for a burn time and off for a cool time.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
192 words
A thermal printer chip for printing a line of symbols in A X B dot matrix form in response to an associated calculator output by control of an A X B heater matrix in a printhead which is movable along said line comprising: a. a shift register to receive and store coded data representing n characters to be printed, b. a logic array connected between said register and A columns of said heater matrix programmed to convert said coded data to elements of a dot matrix, c. control means to circulate said coded data in said shift register one cycle per D time of said printer to cause a different digit code to successively appear at an input gate to said logic array during each said state time, d. a pointer means to transfer through said input gate a digit code to circuits leading to column control lines of said printhead, e. a row counter to enable row control lines leading to said printhead, and f. means to count a predetermined number of D times to turn said row lines on each for a burn time and off for a cool time.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 4 in which a selected D pulse from said calculator synchronizes the D time generation in said chip and a selected S pulse from said calculator syncs said chip to the state times of said calculator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
161 words
A thermal printer chip for printing a line of symbols in A X B dot matrix form in response to an associated calculator output by control of an A X B heater matrix in a printhead comprising: a. a shift register to receive and store coded data representing n characters to be printed, b. a logic array connected between said register and A columns of said heater matrix programmed to convert said coded data to elements of a dot matrix, c. control means to circulate said coded data in said shift register one cycle per D time of said printer to cause a different digit code to successively appear at the input to said logic array during eaCh said state time, d. means responsive to a condition in said calculator to initiate printing of symbols the codes for which successively appear at said array input, and e. means to selectively enable column and row control lines for control of said heaters.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
161 words
A thermal printer chip for printing a line of symbols in A X B dot matrix form in response to an associated calculator output by control of an A X B heater matrix in a printhead comprising: a. a shift register to receive and store coded data representing n characters to be printed, b. a logic array connected between said register and A columns of said heater matrix programmed to convert said coded data to elements of a dot matrix, c. control means to circulate said coded data in said shift register one cycle per D time of said printer to cause a different digit code to successively appear at the input to said logic array during eaCh said state time, d. means responsive to a condition in said calculator to initiate printing of symbols the codes for which successively appear at said array input, and e. means to selectively enable column and row control lines for control of said heaters.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 6 in which said condition comprises a selected D pulse from said calculator to synchronize D time generation in said chip and coincidence between a selected flag and S pulse from said calculator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
119 words
A semiconductor chip for actuating an A X B matrix of heaters in a thermal printhead in accordance with a digital code stored in a buffer register comprising: a. a logic array gated to said register and programmed selectively to enable A control lines leading to columns of heaters in said printhead in response to said code, b. a row counter sequentially to enable B control lines leading to rows of heaters in said printhead, c. a control logic array programmed to be responsive to a function code to initiate a printing operation, and d. means on said chip selectively and sequentially to enable column and row control lines for control of said heaters in accordance with said code.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
119 words
A semiconductor chip for actuating an A X B matrix of heaters in a thermal printhead in accordance with a digital code stored in a buffer register comprising: a. a logic array gated to said register and programmed selectively to enable A control lines leading to columns of heaters in said printhead in response to said code, b. a row counter sequentially to enable B control lines leading to rows of heaters in said printhead, c. a control logic array programmed to be responsive to a function code to initiate a printing operation, and d. means on said chip selectively and sequentially to enable column and row control lines for control of said heaters in accordance with said code.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
101 words
The method of operating a semiconductor chip for actuating an A X B matrix of heaters in a thermal printhead in accordance with a digital code stored in a buffer register comprising: gating a logic array to said register selectively to enable A control lines leading to columns of heaters in said printhead in response to said code, sequentially enabling B control lines leading to rows of heaters in said printhead, in response to a function code initiating a printing operation, and selectively and sequentially enabling column and row control lines for control of said heaters in accordance with said code.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
101 words
The method of operating a semiconductor chip for actuating an A X B matrix of heaters in a thermal printhead in accordance with a digital code stored in a buffer register comprising: gating a logic array to said register selectively to enable A control lines leading to columns of heaters in said printhead in response to said code, sequentially enabling B control lines leading to rows of heaters in said printhead, in response to a function code initiating a printing operation, and selectively and sequentially enabling column and row control lines for control of said heaters in accordance with said code.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
132 words
The method of actuating an A X B matrix of heaters in a thermal printhead through a semiconductor chip in accordance with a digital code stored in a buffer register on said chip comprising: in response to said code, selectively enabling A control lines on said chip which lead to columns of heaters in said printhead, sequentially enabling B control lines leading to rows of heaters in said printhead, programming a response to a function code to initiate a printing operation, counting on said chip to establish B successive burn cycles each followed by a cool cycle while one of said B control lines is enabled in response to a condition to generated on said chip and in response to a count condition enabling a different one of said B control lines.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
132 words
The method of actuating an A X B matrix of heaters in a thermal printhead through a semiconductor chip in accordance with a digital code stored in a buffer register on said chip comprising: in response to said code, selectively enabling A control lines on said chip which lead to columns of heaters in said printhead, sequentially enabling B control lines leading to rows of heaters in said printhead, programming a response to a function code to initiate a printing operation, counting on said chip to establish B successive burn cycles each followed by a cool cycle while one of said B control lines is enabled in response to a condition to generated on said chip and in response to a count condition enabling a different one of said B control lines.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2909993A
Cited
US3753246A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-29 | 1979-03-31 | 1979-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-29 | 1983-03-31 | 1983-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-29 | 1987-03-31 | 1987-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |