KR102024072B1 - Printer to mount various types of thermal print heads - Google Patents

Abstract

A printer capable of replacing various types of thermal print heads is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a printer capable of mounting a thermal print head may include a head receiver configured to mount various types of thermal print heads; And a controller configured to control the first thermal print head according to the type of the first thermal print head when the first thermal print head is mounted in the head receiving portion, and the type applied to the first thermal print head. In accordance with the confirmation signal, identification information for identifying the type of the first thermal print head is instructed by the first thermal print head, and the control unit is further configured to identify the first thermal print head based on the indicated identification signal. Identify a type, set a control signal for controlling the first thermal print head according to the type of the first thermal print head, and control the first thermal print head using the set control signal, wherein the first thermal print head is controlled. At least some of the attributes of the control signal for controlling the first thermal print head may include a second thermal print having a different type from the first thermal print head. That at least one property of the control signal for controlling a head portion which is different can be characterized.

Description

Printer that can be equipped with various types of thermal print heads {PRINTER TO MOUNT VARIOUS TYPES OF THERMAL PRINT HEADS}

The following embodiments are directed to a printer capable of mounting various types of thermal print heads.

Printers exist as one of the representative methods of outputting images or text. According to the printing method of the printer can be divided into impact and non-impact type, non-impact type is typically inkjet printer, laser printer, thermal printer.

In addition, various types of printers can be mounted in the printer, and the printer controls the mounted print head to perform printing. At this time, the specifications of the print head may differ depending on the type of the print head. However, if the print head is controlled without considering the type of each print head, efficiency in the control of the print head may be reduced, print speed / quality may be degraded, and damage to the print head may occur. . For example, some inkjet printers, laser printers, and thermal printers use heat or generate heat in the print head during the printing process. Heat generation of the print head may cause the print head to overheat during continuous printing. At this time, depending on the type of the printhead, the critical heating temperature of each printhead may be different at the time of heat generation. However, without considering the type of the printhead, if all the printheads generate heat at a certain temperature in a batch, the temperature of the printhead may be higher than the critical heating temperature, and thus, the printhead may be damaged. Can be generated.

In recent years, in order to solve this problem, the technique of controlling a print head to be suitable for the type of a print head is researched.

One problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a printer that can easily identify the type of the print head, control the print head to meet the specifications of the identified print head, and prevent damage to the print head.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a control method of a printer that can easily identify the type of the printhead, and control the printhead to meet the specifications of the identified printhead, thereby preventing damage to the printhead. It is in doing it.

Another problem to be solved by the present invention is a control method of a printer that can easily identify the type of the print head, control the print head to meet the specifications of the identified print head, to prevent damage to the print head The present invention provides a recorded recording medium.

A printer capable of mounting a thermal print head according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a head accommodation portion capable of mounting various types of thermal print heads; And a controller configured to control the first thermal print head according to the type of the first thermal print head when the first thermal print head is mounted in the head receiving portion, and the type applied to the first thermal print head. In accordance with the confirmation signal, identification information for identifying the type of the first thermal print head is instructed by the first thermal print head, and the control unit is further configured to identify the first thermal print head based on the indicated identification signal. Identify a type, set a control signal for controlling the first thermal print head according to the type of the first thermal print head, and control the first thermal print head using the set control signal, wherein the first thermal print head is controlled. At least some of the attributes of the control signal for controlling the first thermal print head may include a second thermal print having a different type from the first thermal print head. That at least one property of the control signal for controlling a head portion which is different can be characterized.

Means for solving the problems of the present invention are not limited to the above-described solutions, and the solutions not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the present specification and the accompanying drawings. Could be.

According to the present invention, by controlling the print head according to the type of the print head, to prevent damage to the print head, to protect the head of the printer without a separate head protection circuit or a separate head protection algorithm applied to the printer, print quality It is possible to improve the efficiency of the print head and to use the print head efficiently.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a printer according to an exemplary embodiment.
2 is a block diagram illustrating a printer according to another exemplary embodiment.
3 to 5 are diagrams for describing a thermal print head according to one embodiment.
6 is a diagram for describing a thermal print head according to another exemplary embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a diagram for describing identification of a thermal print head based on the number of shift registers or characteristics of a heating element of the thermal print head, according to an exemplary embodiment.
8 is a diagram for describing an identification of a thermal print head based on a signal pattern, according to an exemplary embodiment.
9 is a diagram for describing control of a strobe signal, according to an exemplary embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a diagram for describing control of a transmission frequency of data transmitted to a thermal print head, according to an exemplary embodiment.
11 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a printer, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited or limited by the embodiments. Also, like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a printer according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, the printer 100 represents an apparatus for printing on paper, and may include a receipt printer, a label printer, a mobile printer, a thermal printer, an inkjet printer, a ribbon printer, a laser printer, and the like. Of course, the above-listed printers are exemplary, and in addition to the above-listed printers, all devices for printing on paper may be included in the printer 100.

The printer 100 may include a communication interface 110, a memory unit 120, a user input unit 130, an output unit 140, a printer unit 150, a controller 160, and the like. Since the components shown in FIG. 1 are not essential, an electronic device having more or fewer components may be implemented.

Hereinafter, the components will be described in order.

The communication interface 110 may include one or more modules that enable network communication between the printer 100 and an external device.

For example, the communication interface 110 may include a wireless Internet interface such as WLAN, Wifi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, WiGig, and RFID. Wireless communications such as near field communication interfaces such as Frequency Identification (NFC), Near Field Communication (NFC), Infrared Data Association (IrDA), Ultra Wideband (UWB), and WiHD (WiHD) It includes a module, and can communicate data with the outside through a wireless communication module.

Of course, the communication interface 110 may include a wired communication module as well as a wireless communication module. For example, through the communication unit 110, the printer 100 may communicate data with the outside by at least one communication method of a USB (USB) method, a serial method, and a parallel method.

The memory unit 120 may store various data required for the operation of the printer 100. For example, the memory unit 120 may store a program (for example, a program for controlling the printer unit 160) for the operation of the controller 160 and may store various data.

The memory unit 120 may include a flash memory type, a hard disk type, a multimedia card micro type, a card type memory (for example, SD or XD memory), At least one of Random Access Memory (RAM), Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), ReadOnly Memory (ROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable ReadOnly Memory (EEPROM), Programmable ReadOnly Memory (PROM) magnetic memory, magnetic disk, optical disk It may include a storage medium of the type.

The user input unit 130 may perform a function of receiving necessary data and / or commands from a user. The user input unit 130 may generate input data for controlling the operation of the printer 100 based on necessary data and / or commands received from the user.

The user input unit 130 may include a keyboard, a mouse, a key pad dome switch, a dip switch, a touch pad (static pressure / capacitance), a jog wheel, and a jog switch. It may include at least one.

In one embodiment, the user input unit 130 may receive information about the type of the paper, and may provide the information input to the control unit 160 to recognize the type of the paper in the control unit 160.

The output unit 140 is used to generate an output related to visual or audio, and may include an audio output unit 141 and a video output unit 142.

The audio output unit 141 audibly outputs information related to a function performed by the printer 100. The audio output unit 141 may include a speaker, a buzzer, and the like.

The video output unit 142 visually outputs information processed by the printer 100. For example, the printer 100 may display a graphical user interface (GUI) for interfacing with a user through the video output unit 142.

The video output unit 142 may include a liquid crystal display, a thin film transistor liquid crystal display, an organic light emitting diode, a flexible display, and a three-dimensional display (3D). display).

When the video output unit 142 and a sensor for detecting a touch motion (hereinafter referred to as a touch sensor) form a mutual layer structure (hereinafter, abbreviated as “touch screen”), the video output unit 142 may be In addition to the output device can also be used as an input device. The touch sensor may have, for example, a form of a touch film, a touch sheet, a touch pad, or the like.

The printer unit 150 is for performing printing under the control of the controller 160 and may include a head receiving unit 151. The head receiver 151 may be defined as an apparatus for receiving a print head. Here, the print head is a device for recording a signal from the control unit 160 on a sheet, and may include a thermal print head, an ink jet print head, a dot print head, a laser print head, and the like.

In addition, the head receiving unit 151 may accommodate various types of print heads. Here, the type of the print head may be defined based on various standards such as the type of the print head (eg, the thermal method, the ink method, the dot method, the laser method, etc.), the manufacturer, the model name, the serial number, and the like. For example, printheads manufactured by the same manufacturer may be classified as printheads of the same type. As another example, the print heads manufactured by the same manufacturer may be defined as different types of print heads when the model names are different. As another example, the thermal print head and the ink print head may be defined as different types of print heads even though the print heads are manufactured by the same manufacturer.

The controller 160 manages the overall operations of the printer 100. In particular, the controller 160 may control the operation of the printer 100 according to codes by an application (for example, firmware) installed in the printer 100. An application may include program codes for performing a function specific to the printer 100 as an application program. In addition, the above-described application may be implemented in the form of software, stored in the operating system and / or the application memory unit 120 implemented in the form of software, and, if necessary, through the control unit 160, necessary functions It can be provided to the printer 100.

In addition, the controller 160 may obtain print data from the host through the communication interface 110, and may print on the paper with the print head 150 based on the obtained print data.

In this case, the controller 160 may identify the type of the print head 150 when the specific print head 150 is mounted in the printer 100 among various types of print heads. According to the identification of the type of the print head 150, the controller 160 may control the print head 150 according to the type of the print head 150. For example, when the print head 150 is a thermal print head, the heat generating element of the thermal print head may generate heat according to a control signal from the controller 160. In this case, the heating element of the thermal print head may have a threshold temperature, and the threshold temperature of the heating element of the thermal print head may be different according to the type of the thermal print head. However, when a temperature higher than a threshold temperature is generated in the heat generating element of the thermal print head, the heat generating element may be damaged, and the quality of printed matter printed from the thermal print head may be deteriorated. In order to solve this problem, the controller 160 may control the thermal print head such that the temperature of the heat generating element of the thermal print head does not exceed the threshold temperature according to the type of the thermal print head.

Hereinafter, the control of the print head according to the type of the print head will be described. However, for the convenience of explanation, the control of the print head will be described based on the thermal print head. However, the following description is not limited to the thermal print head, and the description of the control of the print head will be described below. It can also be applied to laser print heads, dot print heads, and the like.

2 is a block diagram illustrating a printer according to another exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 2, the printer 200 may include a controller 210 and a thermal print head 220. The controller 210 may perform overall control including driving control of the thermal print head 220. The controller 210 may transmit a control signal for controlling the thermal print head 220 to the thermal print head 220. The control signal may be defined as a signal used to control the thermal print head 220. For example, the control signal may include a data signal including various data such as print data, the controller 210, and the thermal print head 220. ) May include a clock signal for synchronizing with each other, a latch signal for latching print data, a strobe signal for energizing the thermal print head 220, and the like. In addition, the controller 210 may transmit a control signal to the thermal print head 220 in a serial manner or in a parallel manner.

In one embodiment, the thermal print head 220 may be mounted to a head receptacle (not shown). The thermal print head 220 may include a control board, and the control board may receive a control signal from the controller 210, and the thermal print head 220 may be driven based on the received control signal.

In an embodiment, the controller 210 may apply a type confirmation signal to the thermal print head 220 to confirm identification information from the thermal print head 220. Here, the type confirmation signal may be a voltage signal having a predetermined voltage level or a signal having a predetermined current level, or may be a signal including request data for providing the identification signal. In addition, as the type confirmation signal is applied to the thermal print head 220, the thermal print head 220 may provide identification information indicating the type of the thermal print head 220. For example, the identification information may include a voltage level, a current level, a resistance value, a signal pattern, and a shift register included in the thermal print head 220 to identify the type of the thermal print head 220 among various types of thermal print heads. The number may include at least one of a number, a resistance value of a thermistor included in the thermal print head 220, a number of heating elements of the thermal print head 220, and a resistance value of the heating element.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the thermal print head 220 may include an identification information providing unit 221. The identification information providing unit 221 may provide identification information of the thermal print head 220. For example, the identification information providing unit 221 may obtain a type confirmation signal from the control unit 210 and provide the identification information in response to the type confirmation signal.

The controller 210 may identify the type of the thermal print head 220 based on the identification information. For example, print type information for identifying various types of thermal print heads may be stored in a memory unit (not shown) of the printer 200 in advance. The controller 210 may extract the type of the thermal print head 220 from the print type information by using the identification information. For example, the print type information may be stored in the form of a lookup table. In this case, the controller 210 may retrieve the type of the thermal print head 220 from the lookup table through the identification information.

After the type of the thermal print head 220 is identified, the controller 210 may set a control signal for controlling the thermal print head 220 according to the type of the thermal print head 220.

In one embodiment, the controller 210 may set properties of a control signal for controlling the thermal print head 220 whose type is identified. Here, the attribute of the control signal is an amplitude, a length, a cycle, an application time, a duration, a frequency (or a clock frequency) of the data signal, the clock signal, the latch signal, or the strobe signal including the print data. Characteristics (or parameters) of each control signal, such as the dot density of the print data included in the data, etc. At least some of the properties of the control signal may vary depending on the type of the thermal print head. At least some of the attributes of the control signal for controlling the thermal print head may be different from at least some of the attributes of the control signal for controlling the second thermal print head different in type from the first thermal print head. The period of the strobe signal of the first thermal print head may be different from the period of the strobe signal of the second thermal print head.

Further, in some embodiments of the present invention, the control unit 210 extracts the specification of the type of the thermal print head 220 identified in advance, stored in the memory unit (not shown), The property of the control signal can be set to correspond to the specification.

Also, in another embodiment, control signal information indicating information on a control signal corresponding to each of various types of thermal print heads may be stored in advance in the memory unit (not shown). At this time, at least some of the attributes of the control signal of each type of thermal print head may be different. For example, the control signal information includes information about a first strobe signal and a first data signal for controlling the first thermal print head, a second strobe signal and a second data signal for controlling the second thermal print head. Information may be included. In addition, the period of the first strobe signal and the second strobe signal may be different from each other, the first data signal and the second data signal may be different from each other in the transmission frequency.

The controller 210 may extract a control signal corresponding to the thermal print head of each type from the control signal information stored in the memory unit (not shown), and control the thermal print head using the extracted control signal. For example, the controller 210 may identify the type of the first thermal print head 220 and extract the first strobe signal and the first data signal from the control signal information according to the identified type. The controller 210 may control the first thermal print head 220 by transmitting the extracted first strobe signal and the first data signal to the first thermal print head 220.

In addition, the control signal information may be stored in the form of a lookup table.

In addition, when the printer 200 stores a plurality of applications for controlling each of the thermal print heads of various types in the memory unit (not shown), the controller 210 controls the thermal print head 220 among the plurality of applications. The thermal print head 220 may be controlled by selecting an application and driving the selected application.

3 to 5 are diagrams for describing a thermal print head according to one embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 3, the thermal print head 300 includes a terminal unit 310 for receiving a control signal from the control unit, a heat generating unit 320 including a plurality of heat generating elements to process print data, and data from the control unit. A shift register 330 for acquiring and storing the data in a serial or parallel manner, a latch register 340 for latching data stored in the shift register 330 by a latch signal from a controller, and a thermal print head. And a thermistor 350 for measuring the internal temperature of 300 and providing the measured temperature value to the controller.

In one embodiment, the heat generating unit 320 may include 512 heat generating elements, but is not limited thereto. The heat generating elements 320 may be configured in various numbers such as 832. In addition, although the shift register 330 and the latch register 340 are shown as one in the representation, this is only an example, and the shift register 330 and the latch register 340 may be configured in plural. For example, the number of shift registers 330 may be different depending on the type of the thermal print head.

In addition, in one embodiment, the thermal print head 300 receives the print data input from the controller through the data in terminal 311 and stores the print data in the shift register 330, and the data output from the shift register 330 It is output to the data out terminal 312. At this time, when all of the predetermined print data is input, the latch register 340 latches the print data input by the latch signal generated by the controller. The print data latched in the latch register 340 drives the heating elements included in the heating unit 320 by their respective values, thereby controlling the on / off of the heating elements. In addition, the controller may apply a strobe signal to the thermal print head 330, and the heating element is enabled by the applied strobe signal. That is, power is applied to each of the heating elements by the strobe signal, and heat of the heating element to which the power is applied is transferred to the paper (or the ribbon), so that printing can be performed. At this time, the level of heat generated in the heating element may be determined according to the duration (or on time) of the strobe signal, the period of the strobe signal, and the like. For example, when the duration of the strobe signal is relatively long, the heating element may generate relatively high heat.

In addition, the thermal print head 330 may include an identification information providing unit 360. The controller may provide a type confirmation signal through the type confirmation terminal 313, and the thermal print head 330 may provide identification information of the thermal print head 300 in response to the type confirmation signal.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the data out terminal 312 may be disconnected from the control unit, and the type check terminal 313 may be connected to the control unit instead of the data out terminal 312.

The data out terminal 312 provides the control unit with data output from the shift register 330, but in some cases, data output from the data out terminal 312 may be unnecessary in the calculation of the control unit. Accordingly, the type check terminal 313 is connected to the control unit instead of the data out terminal 312, thereby preventing unnecessary data from being input to the control unit. In addition, since only essential terminals of the terminal unit 310 are connected to the control unit, the connection between the control unit and the thermal print head 300 may be simplified. In some cases, the number of terminals of the terminal unit 310 connected to the controller may be limited. For example, only 21 terminals of the terminals of the terminal unit 310 may be connected to the control unit. However, when 21 terminals of the thermal print head 300 are already connected, the type checking terminal 313 may be connected to the control unit. You will not be able to connect. Accordingly, in order to connect the type check terminal 313 and the control unit, the type check terminal 313 may be connected to the control unit instead of the data out terminal 312 in the thermal print head 300.

Of course, the connection between the other terminal of the thermal print head 300 and the control unit may be disconnected instead of the data out terminal 312, and the type checking terminal 313 may be connected with the control unit. In addition, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the connection between the terminals of the thermal print head 300 and the control unit is not disconnected, and the type checking terminal 313 may be additionally connected with the control unit.

In the example of FIG. 3, the identification information providing unit 360 may include a resistance element 361 and a ground having a predetermined resistance value. The resistance element 361 may also be represented as a pull-down resistance element. In one embodiment, the resistance value of the resistance element 361 may differ depending on the type of thermal print head. For example, when the thermal print head is the first thermal print head, the resistance value of the resistance element 361 may be 5k ohm, and when the thermal print head is the second thermal print head, the resistance element 361. ) May be 2.5k ohms. The identification information providing unit 360 may generate different identification signals (ie, resistance values of the resistance element 361, a voltage signal, and / or a current signal) according to the type of the thermal print head due to the difference in the resistance values of the resistance elements. Can provide. For example, when the type confirmation signal applied through the type checking terminal 313 has a voltage level of 5 V, when the resistance value of the resistance element 361 is 5k ohms, the identification information providing unit 360 may use 1mA as identification information. When the resistance value of the resistance element 361 is 2.5k ohm, the current level of 2mA may be represented as identification information. As another example, when the type checking signal applied through the type checking terminal 313 has a current level of 2 mA, when the resistance value of the resistance element 361 is 5k ohms, the identification information may indicate a voltage level of 10V. When the resistance of the resistor 361 is 2.5k ohm, the identification information may indicate a voltage level of 5V. At this time, the voltage / current level of the type confirmation signal may be fixed or may be adjusted by the controller. As another example, the thermal print head 300 may provide the resistance value of the resistance element 361 as identification information through the type confirmation terminal 313.

In addition, in some embodiments of the present invention, the resistance element 361 may be replaced with another impedance element. For example, instead of the resistance element 361, a plurality of resistance elements may be included in the identification information providing unit 360, a capacitor element may be included in the identification information providing unit 360, and the resistance element and the capacitor element are identified together. It may be included in the information provider 360.

In addition, the controller may identify the type of the thermal print head 300 based on the identification information provided from the identification information providing unit 360. For example, in the memory unit (not shown), print type information for identifying various types of thermal print heads may be stored in the form of a lookup table. In addition, the look-up table stores information indicating that the first thermal print head is in the case where the identification information is i) a resistance value of 5 k ohms, a current level of 1 mA, or a voltage level of 10 V. In the case of a resistance value, a current level of 2 mA, or a voltage level of 5 V, information indicating the second thermal print head may be stored. The controller may identify the first thermal print head or the second thermal print head through the identification information from the lookup table.

Referring to FIG. 4, the thermal print head 400 may include a terminal part, a heat generating part, a shift register, a latch register, and a thermistor like the thermal print head 300 of FIG. 3. However, unlike the identification information providing unit 360 of the thermal print head 300, the identification information providing unit 410 of the thermal print head 400 may be connected to a ground part and a conductive line connected to the ground part and the type checking terminal 411. It may include. That is, the identification information providing unit 410 may be configured as a short circuit.

In one embodiment, the thermal print head 400 may obtain the type confirmation signal through the type confirmation terminal 411. For example, the type checking signal applied to the type checking terminal 411 may be a voltage of a predetermined level or a current of a predetermined level. In this case, the identification information providing unit 410 may provide a voltage or a current in the conductive line by the type identification signal as the identification signal. For example, the identification information providing unit 410 may provide a short circuit current applied to the conductive line as an identification signal by a type identification signal.

The controller may identify the type of the thermal print head 400 based on the identification information provided by the identification information providing unit 410. For example, the memory unit (not shown) may store information indicating the third thermal print head when the identification information is a short circuit current. The control unit may identify the third thermal print head from the information through the identification information.

Referring to FIG. 5, the thermal print head 500 may include a terminal unit, a heat generating unit, a shift register, a latch register, and a thermistor like the thermal print head 300 of FIG. 3. However, unlike the identification information providing unit 360 of the thermal print head 300, the identification information providing unit 510 of the thermal print head 500 is connected to the type checking terminal 5110, but not to the grounding unit. May contain unconducted conductors. That is, the identification information providing unit 510 may be configured as a circuit in an open state.

In one embodiment, the thermal print head 500 may obtain the type confirmation signal through the type confirmation terminal 511. For example, the type checking signal applied to the type checking terminal 511 may be a voltage of a predetermined level or a current of a predetermined level. In this case, the identification information providing unit 410 may provide a voltage or a current in the conductive line by the type identification signal as the identification signal. For example, the identification information providing unit 410 may provide, as identification information, an open voltage applied to the conductive line by a type identification signal.

The controller may identify the type of the thermal print head 500 based on the identification information provided by the identification information providing unit 510. For example, when the identification information is an open voltage, information indicating the fourth thermal print head may be stored in the memory unit (not shown). The controller may identify a fourth thermal print head through the identification information from the stored information.

6 is a diagram for describing a thermal print head according to another exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 6, the thermal print head 600 may include a terminal unit, a heat generating unit, a shift register, a latch register, and a thermistor like the thermal print head 300 of FIG. 3. However, unlike the thermal print head 300, the identification information providing unit 610 of the thermal print head 600 may be a thermistor.

The identification information providing unit 610, that is, the thermistor may include a resistor 612 having a predetermined resistance value and a ground unit. In some embodiments of the present invention, the resistance value of the resistor element 612 may be different depending on the type of the thermal print head.

For example, when the thermal print head is the first thermal print head, the resistance value of the resistance element 612 may be 4k ohms, and when the thermal print head is the second thermal print head, the resistance value of the resistance element 612. May be 2k ohms.

In one embodiment, the identification information providing unit 610 may obtain a type identification signal from the control unit, according to the type identification signal, as the identification information, the resistance value of the resistance element of the thermistor included in the thermal print head, the resistance At least one of a voltage level or a current level in the device may be provided. For example, when the resistance value of the resistance element 612 is 4k ohms, the identification information providing unit 610 may provide 4k ohms as the resistance value of the resistance element 612 as identification information through the thermistor terminal 611. Can be. In addition, when the type confirmation signal applied through the type confirmation terminal 313 has a voltage level of 4V, the identification information may indicate a current level of 1 mA, and when the type confirmation signal has a current level of 2 mA, identification information. It can represent a voltage level of 8V.

3 to 5, the control unit may include print type information for identifying various types of thermal print heads, and the identification information provided by the identification information providing unit 610 from the print type information. The type of the thermal print head 600 may be identified using

FIG. 7 is a diagram for describing identification of a thermal print head based on the number of shift registers or characteristics of a heating element of the thermal print head, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 7, (a) shows a heat generating element and a shift register of the first thermal print head, and (b) shows a heat generating element and a shift register of the second thermal print head. Here, the number of heating elements or the number of shift registers of the first thermal print head and the second thermal print head may be different from each other. For example, the heating element of the first thermal print head may be 512 and the shift register may be four, whereas the heating element of the second thermal print head may be 832, and the shift register may be thirteen.

In one embodiment, the controller of the printer may apply a type confirmation signal to the first thermal print head and the second thermal print head. According to the type confirmation signal, the first thermal print head and the second thermal print head may be As identification information, the number of heating elements or the number of shift registers may be provided. Although not shown in FIG. 7, the type confirmation signal may be applied through a type confirmation terminal, and identification information may be provided through the type confirmation signal.

3 to 5, the control unit may include print type information for identifying various types of thermal print heads, and the first thermal print head and the second thermal print head may be configured from the print type information. The identification information provided can be used to identify the type of thermal print head. For example, in the case where the identification information according to the print type information indicates the information that the number of the heating elements is 512 or the information that the number of the shift registers is four, the information indicating the first thermal print head is stored. Ii) When the identification information indicates information of the number of the heat generating elements of 832 or information of the number of the shift registers of 13, the information indicating the second thermal print head may be stored. The control unit may identify the first thermal print head or the second thermal print head through the identification information from the print type information.

In another embodiment, the heating element of each thermal print head may have a unique resistance value. For example, the resistance value of each of the heating elements of the first thermal print head may be 30 k ohms, and the resistance value of each of the heating elements of the second thermal print head may be 20 k ohms. The control unit of the printer may apply a type confirmation signal to the first thermal print head and the second thermal print head, and in response to the type confirmation signal, the first thermal print head and the second thermal print head are each thermal print as identification information. The resistance value of the heating element of the head, the voltage level or the current level in the heating element by the type confirmation signal can be provided.

Specifically, when the number of the heat generating elements of the first thermal print head is 512, according to the type confirmation signal, the first thermal print head has a resistance value of at least one heat generating element among the 512 heat generating elements, and the at least one heat generating element. It can provide the voltage level or current level in the device.

The control unit of the printer uses the at least one of the resistance value of the at least one heating element, the voltage level or the current level of the at least one heating element from the print type identification information to determine the first thermal print head or the second thermal print head. Can be identified.

8 is a diagram for describing an identification of a thermal print head based on a signal pattern, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 8, the controller of the printer may provide a type confirmation signal to the thermal print head, and the thermal print head may provide a signal pattern in which the type of the thermal print head can be identified as identification information according to the type confirmation signal. . That is, according to the type of the thermal print head, the signal pattern which the thermal print head provides to the controller as identification information may be different. For example, the thermal print head may include a signal generator, and each of the signal generators of various types of thermal print heads may generate a different signal pattern. In addition, the controller may identify the type of the thermal print head by using a signal pattern obtained from the thermal print head.

For example, in the example of FIG. 8, according to the type confirmation signal from the control unit, as the identification information, the thermal print head A provides the signal pattern 810, and the thermal print head B provides the signal pattern 820. Thermal print head C may provide signal pattern 830. As shown in the example of FIG. 8, the amplitude, signal length, period, etc. of the signal patterns 810, 820, and 830 may be different. Accordingly, each of the signal patterns 810, 820, and 830 may have a different pattern. Can be distinguished.

3 to 5, the control unit may include print type information for identifying various types of thermal print heads, and by using a signal pattern provided in each thermal print head from the print type information. Identify the type of thermal printhead.

9 is a diagram for describing control of a strobe signal, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 9, when the type of the thermal print head mounted in the printer is identified, the controller of the print sets a control signal for controlling the thermal print head in which the type is identified, and outputs the set control signal to the thermal print head. To control the thermal print head.

To this end, the controller may previously store control signal information indicating information on a control signal corresponding to each of various types of thermal print heads in a memory unit (not shown) of the print. The control unit may recognize a control signal for controlling the thermal print head of the type identified from the control signal information.

In one embodiment, the control unit may extract the strobe signal of the thermal print head of the identified type from the control signal information.

9A illustrates the strobe signals provided to the first thermal print head. The controller may identify the first thermal print head through the identification information. In response to the identification of the first thermal print head, the controller may extract, from the control signal information, a first strobe signal having a duration of T1 and a second strobe signal having a duration of T2. The controller may provide the extracted first strobe signal and the second strobe signal to the first thermal print head.

In addition, the example of FIG. 9B shows strobe signals provided to the second thermal print head. For example, the threshold temperature of the heating element of the second thermal print head may be lower than the threshold temperature of the heating element of the first thermal print head. In this case, the controller may extract a first strobe signal having a duration T1 'and a second strobe signal having a duration T2' from the control signal information. The controller may provide the extracted first strobe signal and the second strobe signal to the second thermal print head.

Further, in some embodiments of the present invention, the control unit may set an attribute of the control signal for controlling the thermal print head of the type identified based on the control signal information.

For example, when the first thermal print head is recognized as the type of the thermal print head through the identification information, the control unit may generate dots of the print data provided to the first thermal print head as attributes of the data signal from the control signal information. You can set the concentration. Here, the dot density indicates the number of printable dots at the reference length. For example, the dot density may be expressed in dots per inch (dpi). Since the number of heat generating elements of the thermal print head may correspond to the number of printable dots, the larger the number of heat generating elements may increase the number of printable dots. Accordingly, the controller can set the dot density of the print data corresponding to the number of heat generating elements of the identified type of thermal print head as an attribute of the data signal. For example, the controller may determine a dot density of the print data provided to the first thermal print head having 512 heat generating elements as 180 dpi (= 7 dots / mm) based on the control signal information, and generate 832 heat generating elements. The dot density of the print data provided to the second thermal print head can be determined to be 203 dpi (= 8 dots / mm). The controller may generate print data according to the determined dot density and provide the generated print data to the corresponding thermal print head.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for describing control of a transmission frequency of data transmitted to a thermal print head, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 10, the controller 1010 may include a processor 1011 and a data transmitter 1012. Here, the processor 1011 is a device that processes the processes for driving the printer, and may generate a control signal for providing to the thermal print head. For example, the processor 1011 may be a CPU, an MCU, or the like. In addition, the data transmitter 1012 may relay the control signal generated by the processor 1011 to the thermal print head 1020 between the processor 1011 and the thermal print head 1020. For example, the data transmitter 1012 may be a logical configuration such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or a programmable logic device (PLD), or may be a physical configuration such as an application specific IC (ASIC).

In an embodiment, the data transmitter 1012 may receive the control signals from the processor 1011 in a parallel manner and transmit the control signals to the thermal print head 1020 in a parallel manner. At this time, depending on the type of the thermal print head, the reception frequency (or clock frequency) of the thermal print head for receiving the control signal may be different. For example, the reception frequency of the first thermal print head may be 10 MHz, and the reception frequency of the second thermal print head may be 12 MHz. As such, as the reception frequency of the thermal print head is different, the transmission frequency of the data transmitter 1012 to the thermal print head 1020 may also vary. If the reception frequency of the thermal print head and the transmission frequency of the data transmission unit to the thermal print head 1020 are different by more than a predetermined range, an error may occur in transmission and reception of a control signal. Accordingly, the controller may extract a predetermined transmission frequency from the control signal information. In this case, the predetermined transmission frequency may correspond to the reception frequency of the thermal print head 1020. The controller may transmit a control signal to the thermal print head 1020 at the extracted predetermined frequency. Accordingly, the occurrence of an error in the transmission and reception of the control signal can be prevented.

11 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a printer, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 11, the printer may apply a type confirmation signal to the first thermal print head (1110).

Further, when the identification information for identifying the type of the first thermal print head is indicated by the first thermal print head according to the type confirmation signal, the printer selects the type of the first thermal print head based on the indicated identification signal. Can be identified (1120).

In addition, the printer may set a control signal for controlling the first thermal print head according to the type of the first thermal print head (1130).

In addition, the printer may control the first thermal print head using the set control signal (1140).

In this case, at least some of the attributes of the control signal for controlling the first thermal print head may be different from at least some of the attributes of the control signal for controlling the second thermal print head different in type from the first thermal print head. . Accordingly, the printer can control the thermal print head in accordance with the type of the thermal print head.

Since the contents described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 10 may be applied to the control method of the printer illustrated in FIG. 11, more detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

The method according to the embodiment may be embodied in the form of program instructions that can be executed by various computer means and recorded in a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium may include program instructions, data files, data structures, etc. alone or in combination. The program instructions recorded on the media may be those specially designed and constructed for the purposes of the embodiments, or they may be of the kind well-known and available to those having skill in the computer software arts. Examples of computer-readable recording media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tape, optical media such as CD-ROMs, DVDs, and magnetic disks, such as floppy disks. Magneto-optical media, and hardware devices specifically configured to store and execute program instructions, such as ROM, RAM, flash memory, and the like. Examples of program instructions include not only machine code generated by a compiler, but also high-level language code that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter or the like. The hardware device described above may be configured to operate as one or more software modules to perform the operations of the embodiments, and vice versa.

Although the embodiments have been described by the limited embodiments and the drawings as described above, various modifications and variations are possible to those skilled in the art from the above description. For example, the described techniques may be performed in a different order than the described method, and / or components of the described systems, structures, devices, circuits, etc. may be combined or combined in a different form than the described method, or other components Or even if replaced or substituted by equivalents, an appropriate result can be achieved.

Therefore, other implementations, other embodiments, and equivalents to the claims are within the scope of the claims that follow.

Claims (15)

In a printer capable of mounting various types of thermal print heads,
A head receptacle for mounting various types of thermal print heads; And
Control unit for controlling the first thermal print head according to the type of the first thermal print head, when the first thermal print head is mounted to the head receiving portion
Including,
In accordance with a type confirmation signal applied to the first thermal print head, identification information for identifying the type of the first thermal print head is indicated by the first thermal print head,
The control unit,
Identify a type of the first thermal print head based on the instructed identification signal, set a control signal for controlling the first thermal print head according to the type of the first thermal print head, and set the control signal To control the first thermal print head using,
At least some of the attributes of the control signal for controlling the first thermal print head are different from at least some of the attributes of the control signal for controlling the second thermal print head different in type from the first thermal print head,
The first thermal print head,
An identification information providing unit for providing the identification information,
The identification information providing unit,
Acquire the type confirmation signal through one type confirmation terminal included in the identification information providing unit,
Providing the identification information generated in response to the obtained type confirmation signal through the one type confirmation terminal,
The type confirmation signal is a signal having one level of voltage or one level of current,
The identification information may include a first resistance value, a second resistance value smaller than the first resistance value, a state in which the type confirmation terminal is connected to ground, and a type of the first thermal print head in a state where the type confirmation terminal is open. Voltage level or current level corresponding to the one determined according to,
The control unit may identify the type of the first thermal print head using a stored lookup table such that the type of the first thermal print head and the voltage level or current level of the identification information correspond to 1: 1.
Printer that can be equipped with various types of thermal print heads.
delete delete The method of claim 1,
The identification information providing unit,
A resistance element having the first resistance value or the second resistance value, the resistance element being connected to a ground portion;
Printer that can be equipped with various types of thermal print heads.
The method of claim 1,
The identification information providing unit,
Including a wire connected to the ground,
Printer that can be equipped with various types of thermal print heads.
The method of claim 1,
The identification information providing unit,
Characterized in that it comprises a conductive wire not connected to the ground,
Printer that can be equipped with various types of thermal print heads.
The method of claim 1,
The first thermal print head,
A data in terminal for inputting print data for printing the first thermal print head provided from the control unit into a shift register and a data out terminal for providing data output from the shift register to the control unit,
The connection between the data out terminal and the control unit is disconnected, and the type checking terminal is connected to a terminal provided in the control unit so as to be connected to the data out terminal therebetween.
Printer that can be equipped with various types of thermal print heads.
delete delete The method of claim 1,
At least one of the first resistance value and the second resistance value is a resistance value of a resistance element of a thermistor included in the first thermal print head.
Printer that can be equipped with various types of thermal print heads.
delete The method of claim 1,
The control signal,
It includes a strobe signal for controlling the heat generation time of the heat generating element of the first thermal print head,
The control unit,
Controlling an attribute of the control signal including at least one of an application time of the strobe signal, a duration of the strobe signal, or a period of the strobe signal so as not to exceed a threshold temperature of the heating element of the first thermal print head; Characterized in that
Printer that can be equipped with various types of thermal print heads.
The method of claim 1,
The control signal,
Including a data signal containing print data,
The control unit,
And control an attribute of the control signal comprising a frequency for transmission of the data signal to the first thermal print head so as to correspond to a clock frequency of the first thermal print head.
Printer that can be equipped with various types of thermal print heads.
delete delete

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