Apparatus and method for forming image by detecting thermal print head type
First Claim
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1. An image forming apparatus with a thermal print head which prints an image by heating a medium, comprising:
- a data input unit which receives data regarding an image to be printed;
a controller which determines the thermal print head type and generates driving signals for driving the thermal print head according to the thermal print head type; and
the thermal print head which prints the image by applying heat to the medium in response to the driving signals;
wherein the controller detects a data signal of a data line connected to the thermal print head and determines the thermal print head type based on the detected data signal.
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Abstract
Provided are an apparatus and method for forming an image by determining a thermal print head type and generating driving signals for driving the thermal print head according to the thermal print head type. The apparatus includes a data input unit which receives data regarding an image to be printed, a controller which determines the thermal print head type and generates driving signals for driving the thermal print head according to the thermal print head type, and the thermal print head which prints the image by heating a medium.
8 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An image forming apparatus with a thermal print head which prints an image by heating a medium, comprising:
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a data input unit which receives data regarding an image to be printed; a controller which determines the thermal print head type and generates driving signals for driving the thermal print head according to the thermal print head type; and the thermal print head which prints the image by applying heat to the medium in response to the driving signals; wherein the controller detects a data signal of a data line connected to the thermal print head and determines the thermal print head type based on the detected data signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for determining the type of a thermal print head that prints an image by heating a medium, comprising:
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a memory which stores information regarding various types of thermal print heads; a driving unit which determines the thermal print head type, reads information regarding the thermal print head type from the memory, and generates the driving signals for driving the thermal print head based on the information regarding the thermal print head type; and an output buffer which outputs the driving signals to the thermal print head under the control of the driving unit; wherein the driving unit receives a determination data signal which determines the thermal print head type from the thermal print head, and determines the thermal print head type. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A method of forming an image using a thermal print head which prints the image by heating a medium, comprising the steps of:
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determining a type of the thermal print head; receiving data regarding the image to be printed; generating driving signals which drive the thermal print head, according to the thermal print head type; and driving the thermal print head to print the image by heating the medium, in response to the driving signals; wherein the step of determining the type of the thermal print head comprises the steps of detecting a data signal of a predetermined one of a plurality of data lines of the thermal print head; and determining the thermal print head type using the detected data signal. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer readable recording medium storing a program executed by a computer comprising the steps of:
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determining a type of the thermal print head; receiving data regarding the image to be printed; generating driving signals which drive the thermal print head based on the thermal print head type; and driving the thermal print head to print the image by heating the medium, in response to the driving signals; wherein the step of determining the type of thermal print head comprises the steps of; detecting a data signal of a predetermined one of a plurality of data lines of the thermal print head; and determining the thermal print head type using the detected data signal.
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Specification