US 7,542,060 B2
Thermal printer and thermal printer control method
Akira Koyabu, Shiojiri (Japan); Satoshi Nakajima, Azumino (Japan); and Yuji Takiguchi, Shiojiri (Japan)
Assigned to Seiko Epson Corporation, (Japan)
Filed on Jul. 24, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/492,489.
Claims priority of application No. 2005-213800 (JP), filed on Jul. 25, 2005.
Prior Publication US 2007/0019062 A1, Jan. 25, 2007
Int. Cl. B41J 2/36 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 347—195  [347/196] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A thermal printer that controls print speed based on print speed control factors comprising:
a thermal print head;
a hysteresis coefficient setting unit for setting a hysteresis coefficient for the thermal print head based upon the thermal print head energizing history;
an energizing time calculation unit for calculating the energizing time during which drive signal(s) are to be applied to the thermal print head for printing based on the setting of the hysteresis coefficient;
a print head control unit for generating the drive signal(s) to be applied to the print head in response to the calculated energizing time;
a print speed determination unit for determining change in the print speed and when the print speed is decelerating; and
a coefficient changing unit for changing the setting of the hysteresis coefficient when a decelerating print speed change is determined to a new setting which is greater than the hysteresis coefficient setting immediately before deceleration.