JPS59138478A - Controlling method for thermal printer - Google Patents
Controlling method for thermal printerInfo
- Publication number
- JPS59138478A JPS59138478A JP1291283A JP1291283A JPS59138478A JP S59138478 A JPS59138478 A JP S59138478A JP 1291283 A JP1291283 A JP 1291283A JP 1291283 A JP1291283 A JP 1291283A JP S59138478 A JPS59138478 A JP S59138478A
- Authority
- JP
- Japan
- Prior art keywords
- voltage
- driving voltage
- reference voltage
- drive voltage
- circuit
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Pending
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/315—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material
- B41J2/32—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material using thermal heads
- B41J2/35—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material using thermal heads providing current or voltage to the thermal head
- B41J2/355—Control circuits for heating-element selection
Landscapes
- Feedback Control In General (AREA)
- Electronic Switches (AREA)
Abstract
Description
【発明の詳細な説明】
技術分野
本発明はサーマルプリンタ制御方法に関し、特にサーマ
ルプリンタの印字ヘッドの駆動電圧を検出し、その検出
結果に従ってヘッドのヒートパルス幅を変化させるサー
マルプリンタ制御方法に関する。TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a thermal printer control method, and more particularly to a thermal printer control method that detects the drive voltage of a print head of a thermal printer and changes the heat pulse width of the head in accordance with the detection result.
従来技術
サーマルプリンタは各種電子機器の出力印字装置として
広く用いられているが、複数個の発熱素子を有するサー
マルヘッドを備えており、印字指令に従ってこれらの発
熱素子に駆動電圧を印加し発熱させ、感熱紙に対しであ
るいは熱転写テープを介して印字用紙に印字を行なう。Conventional thermal printers are widely used as output printing devices for various electronic devices, and are equipped with a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements.According to a printing command, a driving voltage is applied to these heating elements to generate heat. Printing is performed on printing paper on thermal paper or via thermal transfer tape.
この場合の印字濃度は駆動電圧の高低とその印加時間(
以下ヒートパルス幅と呼ぶ)の長さに従う。すなわち、
印字濃度は駆動電圧が高い程濃く、ヒートパルス幅が長
い程濃い。また駆動電圧が非常に高いヒートパルス幅が
長いとヘッドが焼損してしまう場合がある。In this case, the print density depends on the driving voltage level and its application time (
(hereinafter referred to as heat pulse width). That is,
The higher the drive voltage, the darker the print density, and the longer the heat pulse width, the darker the print density. Furthermore, if the drive voltage is extremely high and the heat pulse width is long, the head may burn out.
従ってサーマルプリンタを出力装置として用いておりそ
の駆動電圧が変化する機器、例えば駆動電圧の電源とし
て電池または小型のACアダプターを用いる電卓等の電
子機器においては、駆動電圧が変動することで印字濃度
がバラつくのを防ぐために、駆動電圧の高低に従ってヒ
ートパルス幅を制御している。Therefore, in devices that use a thermal printer as an output device and whose driving voltage changes, for example electronic devices such as calculators that use batteries or small AC adapters as the driving voltage power source, the print density may change due to fluctuations in the driving voltage. To prevent variations, the heat pulse width is controlled according to the drive voltage level.
その従来の制御方法は、印字の一行に一回または一行に
一回ごとに駆動電圧をある一定の基準電圧と比較するこ
とにより駆動電圧を検114L、検出された駆動電圧が
高ければヒートパルス幅を長く、低ければ短く決定する
制御方法であった。The conventional control method is to detect the drive voltage by comparing the drive voltage with a certain reference voltage once per printing line or once per line, and if the detected drive voltage is high, the heat pulse width is This was a control method that determined the length of the curve, and the shorter it was if it was lower.
しかし、このような制御方法によると、駆動電圧の電源
として小型のACアダプターを使用している機器の場合
には印字濃度がバラついてしまう。However, according to such a control method, in the case of a device that uses a small AC adapter as a power source for the drive voltage, the print density will vary.
というのはこのような場合には第1図に示すように駆動
電圧Vpに50 Hz または5 Q Hzの交流の電
圧変動いわゆるリップルが乗ってしまうのに対して一定
の基準電圧VREFとの比較で検出を行なうので、検出
のタイミングによって検出値が異なるからである。This is because in such a case, as shown in Figure 1, AC voltage fluctuations of 50 Hz or 5 Q Hz, so-called ripples, are added to the drive voltage Vp, whereas when compared with a constant reference voltage VREF, This is because since detection is performed, the detected value differs depending on the timing of detection.
たとえば第1図において駆動電圧Vp が最小値Vpm
in の時点で検出が行なわれ、ヒートパルス幅が最小
値Vpmin に対応して長く設定された場合、実際
の印字時に駆動電圧Vpが最大値Vpmax付近の時点
では印字が濃くなってしまう。またこれと正反対の場合
には印字が薄くなってしまう。For example, in Fig. 1, the driving voltage Vp is the minimum value Vpm.
If the detection is performed at the time of in and the heat pulse width is set to be long corresponding to the minimum value Vpmin, the print will become dark when the drive voltage Vp is around the maximum value Vpmax during actual printing. Moreover, in the opposite case, the printing becomes faint.
以上の欠点を解消するために従来駆動電圧Vpを検出す
る間隔を小さくしてリップルによる影響を吸収する制御
方法が提案されている。ところがこの制御方法では検出
回数が多数になるため、印字速度が低下するとともに消
費電力も大きくなるという欠点がある。In order to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks, a conventional control method has been proposed in which the interval at which the drive voltage Vp is detected is reduced to absorb the influence of ripples. However, this control method has the disadvantage that the number of detections is large, resulting in a decrease in printing speed and an increase in power consumption.
またリップルによる影響を排除する他の方法として駆動
電圧Vpの検出を複数回行ない、その検出値の平均値に
よってヒートパルス幅を決定する制御方法も提案されて
いる。ところかこの方法によっても、平均値を決定する
のに検出を複数回行なうため、検出回数が多数となり、
印字速度の低下と消費電力の増大を招く。Furthermore, as another method for eliminating the influence of ripples, a control method has been proposed in which the drive voltage Vp is detected multiple times and the heat pulse width is determined based on the average value of the detected values. However, even with this method, detection is performed multiple times to determine the average value, resulting in a large number of detections.
This results in a decrease in printing speed and an increase in power consumption.
目的
本発明は以上の点に鑑みてなされたもので、供給する駆
動電圧に交流のリップルが乗る電源を使用した場合にも
印字速度を低下させることなくしかも小さな消費電力で
痛止な印字濃度が得られるサーマルプリンタ制御方法を
提供することを目的とする。Purpose The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is possible to achieve impressive print density without reducing printing speed and with low power consumption even when using a power supply with alternating current ripples in the supplied drive voltage. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a thermal printer control method that can be obtained.
実施例
以下図面に示す実施例に基づいて本発明の詳細な説明す
る。第2図は本発明方法が適用されるプリンク伺電子式
卓上計算機(以下電卓と略称する)の要部構成を示す。EXAMPLES The present invention will be described in detail below based on examples shown in the drawings. FIG. 2 shows the main structure of a link electronic desk calculator (hereinafter abbreviated as calculator) to which the method of the present invention is applied.
ここでは本発明に関連する部分のみが示されている。Only the parts relevant to the present invention are shown here.
符号1で示すものは電卓の電源でこの場合乾電池ないし
ACアダプターである。符号2で示すものはレギュレー
タであり、電源1に接続されており、電源の幅の広い入
力電圧から一定の電圧VDDをLSI3に供給する。The reference numeral 1 is the power source for the calculator, which in this case is either a dry battery or an AC adapter. A regulator 2 is connected to the power supply 1 and supplies a constant voltage VDD to the LSI 3 from the wide input voltage of the power supply.
L S I 3は印字動作も含め電卓全体の動作を制御
するもので、このT、 S I 3にサーマルプリンタ
4のサーマルヘッド5を駆動するサーマルヘッドドライ
バ6が接続されている。サーマルヘッドドライバ6は電
源1にも接続され、その駆動電圧Vpが印加されている
。LSI3からのサーマルヘッド駆動信号に従ってサー
マルヘッドドライバ6は駆動電圧Vpをサーマルヘッド
5に印力剖ツー5それによりす将゛マルペイント6がヒ
ートされ印字が行なわれる。The LSI 3 controls the entire operation of the calculator including the printing operation, and a thermal head driver 6 for driving the thermal head 5 of the thermal printer 4 is connected to the LSI 3. The thermal head driver 6 is also connected to the power source 1, and its driving voltage Vp is applied thereto. In accordance with the thermal head drive signal from the LSI 3, the thermal head driver 6 applies a drive voltage Vp to the thermal head 5. Thereby, the thermal paint 6 is heated and printing is performed.
一方符号7で示されるものは基準電圧作成回路であり、
レギュレータ2から印加される電圧VDDに駆動電圧V
pの変動を乗せ、それを基準電圧VnEFとしてLSI
3内の駆動電圧検出回路8に供給する。On the other hand, what is indicated by the reference numeral 7 is a reference voltage generation circuit,
The driving voltage V is added to the voltage VDD applied from the regulator 2.
P fluctuation is added to the LSI using it as the reference voltage
The voltage is supplied to the drive voltage detection circuit 8 in 3.
駆動電圧検出回路8は駆動電圧Vpを基準電圧VRKF
と比較し、検出出力をLSI3に与える回路であり、こ
の出力に応じてL S I 3がサーマルヘッド5のヒ
ートパルス幅を制御する。The drive voltage detection circuit 8 converts the drive voltage Vp into a reference voltage VRKF.
This circuit provides a detection output to the LSI 3, and the LSI 3 controls the heat pulse width of the thermal head 5 according to this output.
駆動電圧検出回路8の構成は第3図に示すようになって
いる。検出時にはコンパレークに1〜KInのそれぞれ
の一方の入力端子には電源1の駆動電圧Vpが印加され
、他方の入力端子には基準電圧作成回路7から供給され
る基準電圧VREFが抵抗R1〜Rm+1 を介して分
圧された上でゲート01〜Gm を介して順次印加さ
れる。駆動電圧Vpと分圧された基準電圧VRKF
とがコンパレータに1〜hにより順次比較され、コンパ
レークK 1− Kmの出力によりLSI3は駆動電圧
Vpを検出する。The configuration of the drive voltage detection circuit 8 is as shown in FIG. At the time of detection, the driving voltage Vp of the power supply 1 is applied to one input terminal of each of comparators 1 to KIn, and the reference voltage VREF supplied from the reference voltage generation circuit 7 is applied to the other input terminal of the comparator. After the voltage is divided through the gates 01 to Gm, it is applied sequentially through the gates 01 to Gm. Drive voltage Vp and divided reference voltage VRKF
are sequentially compared by comparators 1 to h, and the LSI 3 detects the drive voltage Vp based on the output of the comparator K1-Km.
LSI3は検出結果に従ってサーマルヘッド5のヒート
パルス幅を・決定する。The LSI 3 determines the heat pulse width of the thermal head 5 according to the detection result.
以上の構成において、両川時には前述したように基準電
圧作成回路7はレギュレータ2から印加VRKFとして
駆動電圧検出回路8に供給する。従って電源1として駆
動電圧Vpに交流のリップルが乗る小型のACアダプタ
を使用した場合、基準電圧VREFは第4図に示すよう
に1駆動電圧Vpのリップルに対応して駆動電圧Vpと
同様に変動する。In the above configuration, the reference voltage generation circuit 7 supplies the applied voltage VRKF from the regulator 2 to the drive voltage detection circuit 8 as described above. Therefore, if a small AC adapter with an AC ripple on the drive voltage Vp is used as the power supply 1, the reference voltage VREF will fluctuate in the same way as the drive voltage Vp in response to the ripple of the drive voltage Vp, as shown in Figure 4. do.
そのため駆動電圧検出回路8において基準電圧VREF
と駆動電圧Vpとの電位差は常に一定である。コンパレ
ータKl−Kmは電位差の比較によって出力するので、
検出値はリップルに対する検出のタイミングにかかわら
ず一定である。Therefore, in the drive voltage detection circuit 8, the reference voltage VREF
The potential difference between the drive voltage Vp and the drive voltage Vp is always constant. Since the comparator Kl-Km outputs by comparing the potential difference,
The detected value is constant regardless of the timing of detection with respect to ripple.
例えば第4図において駆動電圧が最大値Vpmaxの時
点で検出を行なっても、最小値Vp m i nの時点
で検出を行なっても、内時点での駆動電圧Vpと基準電
圧V RKF との電位差は同一であるので駆動電圧
Vpの検出値は同一である。For example, in FIG. 4, whether the drive voltage is detected at the maximum value Vpmax or the minimum value Vp min, the potential difference between the drive voltage Vp and the reference voltage VRKF at the inner point is are the same, so the detected values of the driving voltages Vp are the same.
このように検出される駆動電圧Vpの値はリップルに対
する検出のタイミングにかかわらず一定となるため、検
出値から決定されるサーマルヘッドのヒートパルス幅す
なわち印字濃度は検出のタイミングにかかわらず一定と
なる。Since the value of the drive voltage Vp detected in this way is constant regardless of the timing of detection for ripples, the heat pulse width of the thermal head, that is, the print density determined from the detected value, is constant regardless of the timing of detection. .
以上のように本発明方法によれば駆動電圧の検出におい
て駆動電圧のリップルの影響を排除できるため、駆動電
源昇の検出を必要以上に多数回行なう必要がなくなる。As described above, according to the method of the present invention, the influence of ripples on the drive voltage can be eliminated in the detection of the drive voltage, so there is no need to detect the rise of the drive power source more times than necessary.
以上の実施例においては電卓に本発明方法を適用したが
、」ナーマルプ゛リンタを備えた他の機器にも広く本発
明方法を適用できるのは勿論である。In the above embodiments, the method of the present invention was applied to a calculator, but it goes without saying that the method of the present invention can be widely applied to other devices equipped with a thermal printer.
効果
以上の説明から明らかなように本発明方法によレバ、サ
ーマルプリンタの駆動電圧を検出するための基準電圧に
、駆動電圧の変動に対応する変動を与え、その基準電圧
との比較により駆動電圧を検出し、検出結果に従ってサ
ーマルプリンタのヘッドのヒートパルス幅を変化させる
構成であるので、駆動電圧の変動に対する検出のタイミ
ングにかかわらず駆動電圧を適正に検出できる。従って
サーマルプリンタの駆動電圧が交流のリップルの乗って
いる場合にも、リップルによる検出への影響を排除する
ことができ、検出を多数回行う必要がないため、印字速
度を低下させずしかも小さな消費電力で印字濃度を適正
に制御し、高い印字品位を得ることができる。Effects As is clear from the above explanation, the method of the present invention applies fluctuations corresponding to fluctuations in the driving voltage to the reference voltage for detecting the driving voltage of levers and thermal printers, and the driving voltage is determined by comparison with the reference voltage. Since the configuration is configured to detect the heat pulse width of the head of the thermal printer according to the detection result, the drive voltage can be appropriately detected regardless of the timing of detection with respect to fluctuations in the drive voltage. Therefore, even if the drive voltage of the thermal printer contains alternating current ripples, it is possible to eliminate the influence of ripples on detection, and there is no need to perform detection multiple times, so printing speed does not decrease and consumption is small. It is possible to appropriately control print density using electricity and obtain high print quality.
第1図は従来方法による駆動電圧の検出における駆動電
圧と基準電圧の状態を示す線図、第2図は本発明方法が
適用される電卓の構成を示すブロック図、第3図は第2
図中の駆動電圧検出回路の構成を示す回路図、第4図は
本発明方法による駆動電圧の検出における駆動電圧と基
準電圧の状態を示す線図である。
】・・・電源 2・・・レギュレータ3
・・・L S I 4・・・サーマルプリ
ンタ5・・・サーマルヘッド 7・・・基準電圧作成
回路8・・・駆動電圧検出回路
Vp・・・駆動電圧 VREF・・・基準電圧第
1図
特開昭59−138478 (4)
第3図FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the state of the drive voltage and reference voltage in drive voltage detection using the conventional method, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a calculator to which the method of the present invention is applied, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing the configuration of the drive voltage detection circuit shown in the figure, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the states of the drive voltage and reference voltage in the detection of the drive voltage by the method of the present invention. ]...Power supply 2...Regulator 3
...LSI 4...Thermal printer 5...Thermal head 7...Reference voltage creation circuit 8...Drive voltage detection circuit Vp...Drive voltage VREF...Reference voltage Figure 1 Special 1978-138478 (4) Figure 3
Claims (1)
の比較により検出し、その検出結果に従って前記ヘッド
のヒートパルス幅を変化させるサーマルプリンタ制御方
法において、前記基準電圧に駆動電圧の変動に対応する
変動を与えることを特徴とするサーマルプリンタ制御方
法。A thermal printer control method in which a driving voltage of a print head of a thermal printer is detected by comparing it with a reference voltage, and a heat pulse width of the head is changed according to the detection result, wherein a fluctuation corresponding to a fluctuation in the driving voltage is applied to the reference voltage. A thermal printer control method characterized in that:
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP1291283A JPS59138478A (en) | 1983-01-31 | 1983-01-31 | Controlling method for thermal printer |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP1291283A JPS59138478A (en) | 1983-01-31 | 1983-01-31 | Controlling method for thermal printer |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
JPS59138478A true JPS59138478A (en) | 1984-08-08 |
Family
ID=11818557
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
JP1291283A Pending JPS59138478A (en) | 1983-01-31 | 1983-01-31 | Controlling method for thermal printer |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
JP (1) | JPS59138478A (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0216684A2 (en) * | 1985-09-02 | 1987-04-01 | Schlumberger Industries | Apparatus and method for supplying a thermal-printing head |
-
1983
- 1983-01-31 JP JP1291283A patent/JPS59138478A/en active Pending
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0216684A2 (en) * | 1985-09-02 | 1987-04-01 | Schlumberger Industries | Apparatus and method for supplying a thermal-printing head |
FR2602180A2 (en) * | 1985-09-02 | 1988-02-05 | Enertec | THERMAL PRINTHEAD FEEDING DEVICE |
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