Laser Control Device for Thermal Media Overlap Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laser irradiation devices struggle to prevent excessive heating and subsequent damage to thermal rewritable media due to gaps or overlaps between strokes, which are influenced by the thickness of strokes and size of characters, leading to deteriorated image quality and reduced medium lifespan.
Innovation Solution
A control device that acquires and processes drawing information to detect overlapping line segments, divides or shortens them to prevent overlap, and optimizes the drawing order to eliminate gaps and overlaps, thereby controlling the laser irradiation device to minimize excessive heating and maintain image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If laser irradiation is applied to draw characters on thermal rewritable medium, then visible information can be recorded on the medium, but excessive heating occurs at intersections and turn-back parts causing medium damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the character drawing into multiple line segments and processes them in a specific sequence. By segmenting the drawing process and controlling the irradiation order, the system prevents simultaneous heating at intersections and turn-back parts, thereby avoiding excessive temperature accumulation and medium damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary processing by determining the irradiation order of line segments before actual laser irradiation. By pre-calculating the optimal sequence and adding waiting times between irradiation of adjacent segments, the system prevents excessive heating at intersections and turn-back parts before damage can occur.
2Manufacturing precision
If stroke thickness is increased for better visibility, then image quality improves, but gaps and overlaps between strokes increase causing excessive heating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different processing strategies to different parts of the character drawing. At intersections and turn-back parts where overlaps occur, the system adds waiting times and adjusts irradiation parameters locally, while maintaining standard stroke thickness elsewhere. This localized approach preserves image quality while preventing excessive heating at critical locations.
3Productivity
If drawing speed is increased for higher productivity, then recording efficiency improves, but gaps and overlaps between strokes occur more frequently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces periodic waiting times between the irradiation of adjacent line segments. By implementing regular pauses in the drawing process at critical locations (intersections and turn-back parts), the system maintains high overall recording speed while preventing gaps and overlaps that would occur with continuous rapid drawing.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively prevents overheating and medium degradation by ensuring precise control over line segments, maintaining image quality and extending the lifespan of thermal rewritable media.
Implementation Method 1
By irradiation of a laser beam, the medium absorbs the laser beam and is thereby heated, so that visible information, including characters, numbers, and symbols, is recorded on the medium
Implementation Method 2
the thermal paper or thermal rewritable medium is heated by irradiation of the laser beam to color a recording layer of the thermal paper or thermal rewritable medium
Implementation Method 3
the metal or plastic is heated by irradiation of the laser beam to burn or eliminate the metal or plastic so that the visible information is printed on the metal or plastic
Implementation Method 4
the metal or plastic is heated by irradiation of the laser beam to burn or eliminate the metal or plastic
Data Source
AI summary
A control device controls a laser irradiation device to record visible information on a medium by irradiation of a laser beam. The control device includes a drawing information storage unit which stores drawing information of line segments contained in line images of characters, numbers, and symbols. A drawing information acquiring unit acquires drawing information of a line image as an object to be drawn. A thickness information acquiring unit acquires thickness information which specifies a thickness of each line segment. An overlapping line segment detecting unit detects a pair of line segments drawing ranges of which, inclusive of the line segment thickness, overlap each other, based on the thickness information and the drawing information. A line dividing/shortening unit divides or shortens at least one of the pair of line segments so that the drawing ranges of the pair of line segments do not overlap each other.