Airborne thermal printer

• US 5,392,126 A
• Filed: 12/29/1993
• Issued: 02/21/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Summit Avionics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Summit World Trade Corp.
• Inventors: McLean, Philip W., Tartamella, Michael D., Cochrane, Goeffrey G., Taylor, Samual K., Heipp, Christ H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hartary, Joseph W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FRAHM, ERIC S
• Application Number:
  US08/175,187
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• Field of Search: 346/76 PH, 346/8, 395/129, 395/135, 395/147, 358/103, 358/296, 235/88 N, 73/178 R, 342/407, 342/409, 342/410, 348/113
• US Class Current: 358/296
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 15/04 Supporting, feeding, or guiding devices; Mountings for web rolls or spindles

Abstract

A mobile printer having features particularly suited for use in a mobile conveyance such as an airplane. The printer stores a first data set in a memory that is accessed under control of a programmable controller. The printer then receives a second data set via a communications transceiver. Data from the first and second data sets are combined to form a composite bit mapped image which is printed by means of a thermal printhead controlled by the programmable controller.

Claims

1. A method of printing a composite bitmapped image with an airborne printer having a printhead for applying visible marks to paper comprising the steps of:

a) providing a printer memory and storing a first data set in a non-volatile portion of the printer memory and organizing the first data set for access by a printer controller having means to selectively access data within the printer memory;

b) receiving a data packet including a second data set and command data from outside an airplane carrying the printer by means of a communications transceiver and storing the data packet second data set in a region of the printer memory for selective access by said printer controller;

c) causing the printer controller to interpret the data packet command data and based on the command data to select and extract print data from the first data set and combine the print data from the first data set with data selected and extracted from the second data set stored in the printer memory to compose a composite bitmapped data set; and

d) sending control signals from the printer controller to the printhead to cause the composite bitmapped data set to be printed in the form of a composite bitmapped image.

2. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising the step of composing a greyscale bitmapped image from the composite bitmapped image.

3. An airplane printer for printing a composite bitmapped image on paper comprising:

a) a printer memory for storing static data including geographical and graphics images in a first memory portion of said printer memory and for storing dynamic data in a second memory portion of said printer memory;

b) a transceiver for receiving a combination of dynamic data and command data from a remote location outside an airplane wherein the airplane printer is located;

c) printer control means for storing the dynamic data from the transceiver in the second memory portion and selecting and extracting static data from the first memory portion and selecting and extracting dynamic data from the second memory portion based upon the command data received by the transceiver and for composing a composite bitmapped image from the static data extracted from the printer memory and the dynamic data extracted from the printer memory;

d) print means for applying the composite bitmapped image formed from the static and dynamic data onto the paper; and

e) interface means coupling the printer control means to the print means to transmit image signals corresponding to the composite bitmapped image from the control means to the print means.

4. The airplane printer of claim 3 wherein the printer control means comprises a microprocessor including means for loading said bitmapped composite image into an output memory portion of said printer memory prior to activating the print means to apply the composite bitmapped image onto the paper.

5. The airplane printer of claim 4 wherein the microprocessor includes means for:

a) transferring data representing a line of the composite bitmapped image from the output memory portion of said printer memory to a shift register;

b) activating the print means to access the data in the shift register and apply the line of the composite bitmapped image represented by the data onto the paper; and

c) sequentially repeating steps (a) and (b) until each line of the composite bitmapped image is applied onto the paper.