Printer Thermal Head Dot Energy Correction for Color Density
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printers struggle to independently adjust the energy applied to each type of dot on a print medium for precise color development, leading to inconsistent results due to environmental temperature variations, especially affecting colors developed at lower temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A printer with a thermal head having heating elements arranged in a line, where each element forms dots based on applied energy, and a controller adjusts the energy application and conveyor speed to calculate and apply specific correction times for each dot type, ensuring accurate dot formation across varying environmental conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the quantity of energy to be applied to the print medium is adjusted uniformly for all colors according to environmental temperature, then the color development density can be maintained constant, but it is not possible to change only the color development density of a single color and excessive energy may be applied to colors developable at lower temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the energy correction approach by dot type, dividing the print medium's dot formation into multiple categories (first to N-th types) based on energy requirements. Each dot type receives customized correction time adjustments rather than uniform adjustment, enabling independent control of color development density for each dot type while preventing excessive energy application to specific colors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing differentiated correction times (Xn) for each dot type based on their specific energy requirements and environmental sensitivity. Colors developable at lower temperatures receive appropriate energy adjustments without being adversely affected by corrections applied to other dot types, allowing precise local control of color development density.
2Reliability
If the quantity of energy to be applied to the print medium is increased to maintain color development density at higher temperatures, then colors developable at higher temperatures can be properly formed, but colors developable at lower temperatures may be excessively influenced by environmental temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of correction time (Xn) based on environmental temperature and dot type. By dynamically adjusting the correction time for each dot type according to temperature conditions, the system maintains reliable color development across varying temperatures without allowing environmental factors to excessively influence dot formation.
3Ease of operation
If a single correction time is applied to all dot types based on environmental temperature, then the control process is simple, but it is not possible to achieve precise control of energy application for each dot type
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the correction time parameter into dot-type-specific values (X1, X2, ..., Xn) rather than using a single correction time for all dots. This segmentation enables precise energy application control for each dot type while maintaining a systematic and manageable control process through automated calculation based on temperature and dot type characteristics.
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
This solution allows for precise control of energy application to each dot type, maintaining consistent color development density and quality even with changing environmental temperatures, enhancing the printer's ability to form a variety of dots accurately.
Implementation Method 1
a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements arranged in line along a particular direction, each heating element being configured to form, on a print medium, a plurality of types of dots in accordance with a quantity of energy applied to each heating element
Implementation Method 2
a conveyor configured to convey the print medium in a conveyance direction perpendicular to the particular direction
Data Source
AI summary
A printer includes a controller configured to, based on print data, perform acquiring a condition value, calculating, for each type of dots, an additional period of time an=(Tn+Xn)−(Tn-1Xn-1), where Tn represents a specified period of time for applying energy to a heating element to form an n-th type of dot, Xn represents a correction period of time that is added to the specified period of time Tn to correct a dot formation condition of the n-th type of dot in accordance with the condition value, a heating period of time An for forming the n-th type of dot is obtained by adding the correction period of time Xn to the specified period of time Tn, and is derived from adding the additional period of time an to a heating period of time An-1, and setting the heating period of time An=Σk=1nak, for each dot included in a target line.