JPH0330960A - Thermal head control circuit - Google Patents

Thermal head control circuit

Info

Publication number
JPH0330960A
JPH0330960A JP1164925A JP16492589A JPH0330960A JP H0330960 A JPH0330960 A JP H0330960A JP 1164925 A JP1164925 A JP 1164925A JP 16492589 A JP16492589 A JP 16492589A JP H0330960 A JPH0330960 A JP H0330960A
Authority
JP
Japan
Prior art keywords
head
thermal head
voltage
power source
converter
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
JP1164925A
Other languages
Japanese (ja)
Other versions
JP2961611B2 (en
Inventor
Shinji Nureki
濡木 伸二
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Seiko Instruments Inc
Original Assignee
Seiko Instruments Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Seiko Instruments Inc filed Critical Seiko Instruments Inc
Priority to JP16492589A priority Critical patent/JP2961611B2/en
Publication of JPH0330960A publication Critical patent/JPH0330960A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of JP2961611B2 publication Critical patent/JP2961611B2/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Landscapes

  • Accessory Devices And Overall Control Thereof (AREA)
  • Electronic Switches (AREA)
  • Printers Or Recording Devices Using Electromagnetic And Radiation Means (AREA)
  • Cathode-Ray Tubes And Fluorescent Screens For Display (AREA)

Abstract

PURPOSE:To achieve printing of suitable printing density by controlling electrification energy of a head by a method wherein after connecting a power source terminal of the thermal head to a power source via a current control circuit with a switch circuit, one or more dots in the thermal head are electrified, and voltage of the power source terminal of the thermal head is detected. CONSTITUTION:A switch circuit 2 is made off. A power source terminal of a head is connected to a power source via a voltage dividing resistance 3, and only a dot of a head driver 5 is electrified with the head driver 5. Then, voltage of the power source terminal of the head is read with an AD converter 4. At that time, an output data of the AD converter 4 is reflected with a resistant value (r) of a dot. A CPU 6 is connected to a conversion table 8, aid converts the data read from the AD converter 4 to failure information or electrification energy information to be capable of being taken out. When the converted information is failure information, the failure can be reported to the outside via an IO 7. When electrification energy information, printing can be performed by an optimum electriflcation energy by controlling electrification time of the head and applied voltage of the head.

Description

【発明の詳細な説明】 [産業上の利用分野] この発明は、サーマルへノドを用いたプリンタ等、文字
図形出力装置に関する。
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a character/figure output device such as a printer using a thermal gutter.

[発明の概要] この発明はサーマルヘッドを用いた文字図形出力装置に
おいて、サーマルヘッドの電源端子と電源をTL電流制
限回路介して接続するスイッチ回路と、該サーマルヘッ
ドの電源端子電圧を検出する手段と、検出した電源端子
電圧を元にヘッドの通電エネルギを制御する手段と、検
出した電源端子電圧を元にヘッドの故障を判定し外部に
知らせる手段を持つことにより、サーマルヘッドの故障
診断を行うと同時に、ヘットの通電エネルギ制御を行う
ことにより、文字図形出力装置の信顛性を高め、印字品
位を向上させるサーマルヘッド制御回路である。
[Summary of the Invention] The present invention provides a character/figure output device using a thermal head, which includes a switch circuit that connects a power terminal of the thermal head to a power source via a TL current limiting circuit, and means for detecting the voltage of the power terminal of the thermal head. Thermal head failure diagnosis is performed by having a means for controlling the energizing energy of the head based on the detected power terminal voltage, and a means for determining head failure based on the detected power terminal voltage and notifying the outside. At the same time, this is a thermal head control circuit that increases the reliability of the character/graphic output device and improves the print quality by controlling the energization energy of the head.

[従来の技術] 従来のサーマルヘッドを用いた文字図形出力装置では、
へ、ド制御端子上に、ヘッド抵抗値判定用パターンや、
ヘッド抵抗値判定用の抵抗等を設けることにより、ヘッ
ドの通電エネルギ制御を行っていた。また、ヘッドの経
時的な劣化や、破壊等は印字出力結果を見て判断してい
た。
[Prior art] In a character/figure output device using a conventional thermal head,
On the control terminal, there is a pattern for determining the head resistance value,
The energization energy of the head was controlled by providing a resistor for determining the head resistance value. In addition, deterioration or destruction of the head over time was determined by looking at the print output results.

[発明が解決しようとする課題] 従来の方法では、サーマルヘッド制御回路が知ることが
できるのはヘッドの初期的なIff抗値だけで、ヘッド
の経時的な劣化や破壊等は制御回路で検出できなかった
ため、文字図形出力装置の信頬性が低かった。
[Problem to be solved by the invention] In the conventional method, the thermal head control circuit can only know the initial If resistance value of the head, and the control circuit cannot detect deterioration or destruction of the head over time. As a result, the reliability of the text and graphic output device was low.

また、ヘッドの製造段階でヘッドの抵抗値を測定し、そ
の結果を判定用パターンや、判定用抵抗としてヘッド制
御端子上に設ける必要があったため、ヘッドのコストア
ップをまねいていた。
Furthermore, it is necessary to measure the resistance value of the head at the head manufacturing stage and provide the result as a determination pattern or determination resistor on the head control terminal, which increases the cost of the head.

〔課題を解決するための手段〕[Means to solve the problem]

そこで本発明は、従来のこのような問題点を解決するた
めに、第1発明としてサーマルヘッドの電源端子と電源
とを接続する電流制限回路とスイッチ回路とからなる並
列回路と、該サーマルヘッドの電R端子電圧を検出する
手段と、検出した電a端子電圧を元にヘッドの通電エネ
ルギを制御する手段を設けるとともに、第2発明として
第1発明に加えて検出した電′tA端子電圧を元にヘッ
ドの故障を判定し外部に知らせる手段を新たに設けた。
Therefore, in order to solve these conventional problems, the present invention provides, as a first invention, a parallel circuit consisting of a current limiting circuit and a switch circuit that connect the power terminal of the thermal head and the power source, and a parallel circuit of the thermal head. A means for detecting the electric R terminal voltage and a means for controlling the energizing energy of the head based on the detected electric A terminal voltage are provided, and as a second invention, in addition to the first invention, there is provided a means for detecting the electric terminal A voltage. We have added a new means of determining head failure and notifying the outside world.

[作用] 上記の構成において、スイッチ回路によりサーマルヘッ
ド電源端子を電流制限回路を介して電源に接続した後、
サーマルヘッド内の一つ以上のトノl−を通電し、サー
マルヘッド電源端子の電圧を検出すれば、検出された電
圧は通電したドツトの抵抗値を反映した値となる。
[Function] In the above configuration, after the thermal head power supply terminal is connected to the power supply via the current limiting circuit by the switch circuit,
When one or more dots l- in the thermal head are energized and the voltage at the thermal head power supply terminal is detected, the detected voltage will be a value that reflects the resistance value of the energized dots.

この検出された電圧を元にヘッドの通電エネルギを制御
することにより適正な印字濃度で印字を行うことができ
る。
By controlling the energization energy of the head based on the detected voltage, printing can be performed with appropriate printing density.

また、検出された電圧によりサーマルヘッドの接続不良
や、経時的な劣化や、破壊等の故障を判定し外部に知ら
せることができるのである。
Further, based on the detected voltage, it is possible to determine failures such as poor connection of the thermal head, deterioration over time, and destruction, and notify the outside of the thermal head.

[実施例] 以下に本発明の実施例を図面に基づいて説明する。第1
図と第2図は本発明の実施例の回路図である。
[Example] Examples of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings. 1st
2 and 2 are circuit diagrams of embodiments of the present invention.

第1図は電流制限回路として分圧用抵抗を用いた実施例
である。第1図において、サーマルヘッドlの電源端子
は、スイッチ回路2と、分圧用抵抗3に接続されている
。ヘッドの電源端子は、スイッチ回路2がオンならN’
tAと接続され、オフなら分圧用抵抗3を介して電源と
接続される。通常の印字の場合はスイッチ回路2はオン
にしておく。
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment in which a voltage dividing resistor is used as a current limiting circuit. In FIG. 1, a power terminal of a thermal head l is connected to a switch circuit 2 and a voltage dividing resistor 3. The power terminal of the head is N' if switch circuit 2 is on.
It is connected to tA, and if it is off, it is connected to the power supply via the voltage dividing resistor 3. In the case of normal printing, the switch circuit 2 is kept on.

CPU6は制御用のマイクロコンピュータで、+07に
指令を出してスイッチ回路2をオン、」フすることがで
き、同様にヘソドドライハ5によりサーマルヘッドlの
中の任意のドツトを選択して通電することができる。
The CPU 6 is a microcomputer for control, and can issue commands to +07 to turn on and off the switch circuit 2. Similarly, the hemlock dryer 5 can select any dot in the thermal head l and energize it. can.

またヘッド電源端子はAD変換器4にも接続されており
、CPU6はヘッドの電源端子の電圧をAD変換器4を
介して読み取ることができる。
The head power supply terminal is also connected to the AD converter 4, and the CPU 6 can read the voltage at the head power supply terminal via the AD converter 4.

サーマルヘッド中のあるドツトの抵抗値を求める手順は
次のようになる。
The procedure for finding the resistance value of a certain dot in the thermal head is as follows.

スイッチ回路2をオフにして、ヘッド電源端子を分圧用
抵抗3を介して電源に接続し、へ・7ドドライバ5でそ
のドツトのみを通電する0次に、AD変換器4によりヘ
ッドの1tfJ端子の電圧を読み取る。今、it源電電
圧V、分圧用抵抗3の抵抗値をR、ヘッドの電源端子の
電圧をEとすると、そのドツトの抵抗値rは次式で求め
ることができる。
Turn off the switch circuit 2, connect the head power supply terminal to the power supply via the voltage dividing resistor 3, and energize only that dot with the head driver 5. Next, the AD converter 4 connects the head's 1tfJ terminal. Read the voltage. Now, assuming that the IT power supply voltage is V, the resistance value of the voltage dividing resistor 3 is R, and the voltage of the power supply terminal of the head is E, the resistance value r of the dot can be determined by the following equation.

r=R/ (V/E−1) つまり、このときのAD変換器4の出力データはドツト
の抵抗値rを反映している。
r=R/(V/E-1) That is, the output data of the AD converter 4 at this time reflects the resistance value r of the dot.

CPLI6は変換テーブル8にIff)Jされており、
AD変換器4から読み取ったデータを故障精籾や通電エ
ネルギ情報Gこ変換して取り出すことができる。こうし
て変換した情報が故障情相であればlO7を介して故障
を外部に知らせることができ、iJ1電エネルギ情報で
あれば、ヘッドのiJ1電時開時間ヘッドの印加電圧を
制御して最適な通電エネルギで印字することができるの
である。
CPLI6 is converted into conversion table 8 as If)J,
The data read from the AD converter 4 can be converted into malfunctioning rice grains and energization energy information G and taken out. If the information converted in this way indicates a failure condition, the failure can be notified to the outside via lO7, and if it is iJ1 electric energy information, the voltage applied to the iJ1 electric time open time head is controlled to optimize the energization. Printing can be done using energy.

第2図は電流制限回路として定電流回路を用いた実施例
で、第1図の分圧用抵抗3を定電流回路9に置き換えた
以外は、第1図と同様の構成である。
FIG. 2 shows an embodiment in which a constant current circuit is used as the current limiting circuit, and the configuration is the same as that in FIG. 1 except that the voltage dividing resistor 3 in FIG. 1 is replaced with a constant current circuit 9.

第2図においてサーマルヘッド中のあるドツトの抵抗値
を求める手順は次のようになる。
In FIG. 2, the procedure for determining the resistance value of a certain dot in the thermal head is as follows.

スイッチ回路2をオフにして、ヘッド電源端子を定電流
回路9を介して?i源に接続し、ヘソドドライバ5でそ
のドツトのみを通電する。次に、AD変換器4によりヘ
ッドの電源端子の電圧を読み取る。今、定電流回路9が
流す電流値を1、ヘッドの電源端子の電圧をEとすると
、そのドツトの抵抗値rは次式で求めることができる。
Turn off the switch circuit 2 and connect the head power terminal to the constant current circuit 9? i source, and the head dot driver 5 energizes only that dot. Next, the AD converter 4 reads the voltage at the power supply terminal of the head. Now, if the current value passed by the constant current circuit 9 is 1, and the voltage at the power supply terminal of the head is E, then the resistance value r of the dot can be determined by the following equation.

r=E/1 つまり、このときのA D 1lAi!S 4の出力デ
ータも第1図の場合と同様にド・7トの抵抗値rを反映
しており、第1図と同様に変換テーブル8で変換した情
報により、故障を外部に知らせたり、最適な通電エネル
ギで印字することができるのである。
r=E/1 In other words, A D 1lAi at this time! The output data of S4 also reflects the resistance value r of do 7 as in the case of Fig. 1, and similarly to Fig. 1, the information converted by the conversion table 8 is used to inform the outside of the failure. It is possible to print with the optimum energizing energy.

第3図は変換テーブル8の内容を示したブロック図であ
る。変換テーブルはROM等のメモリで構成されている
。
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the contents of the conversion table 8. The conversion table is composed of a memory such as a ROM.

AD変換器4に8ビツトの分解能のものを使うと、その
出力データは256J[の場合に分けられる。AD変換
器4の出力データをアドレスとして変換テーブル8に書
き込まれているデータを読み出すことで、そのドツトが
オーブンしているか、ショートしているか、劣化してい
るか等の故障情報や、故障していないときは、そのドツ
トの抵抗値に最適な通電エネルギ情報を得ることができ
るのである。
If an AD converter 4 with 8-bit resolution is used, the output data will be divided into 256J cases. By reading the data written in the conversion table 8 using the output data of the AD converter 4 as an address, you can obtain failure information such as whether the dot is open, short-circuited, or deteriorated. If not, it is possible to obtain the optimum energization energy information for the resistance value of that dot.

このようにして得た情報によりCPU6は、オープンや
ショートであれば+07を介してヘッドの故障を外部に
知らせ、劣化であれば+07を介してヘッドの劣化を外
部に知らせてヘッドの交)桑を促す。また、通電エネル
ギ情報であればその情報に基づいて、ヘッドの通電時間
やヘッドの印加電圧を制御することにより、そのヘッド
に最適な通電エネルギを与えて適正な印字濃度で印字す
ることができるのである。
Based on the information obtained in this way, the CPU 6 notifies the outside of the head failure via +07 if it is open or short, and if it has deteriorated, informs the outside of the head deterioration via +07 and replaces the head. encourage. In addition, if it is energization energy information, by controlling the energization time of the head and the applied voltage to the head based on that information, it is possible to give the optimum energization energy to the head and print with the appropriate print density. be.

[発明の効果] 以上説明したように、本発明によればサーマルヘッドや
、サーマルヘッド制御端子に特別なカロエをすることな
く、制御回路に接続されたヘッドの経時的な劣化や故障
等を判断すると同時に、そのヘッドの抵抗値に最適な通
電エネルギを知ることができるので、文字図形出力装置
の信頼性を高め、印字品位を向上する効果を有する。
[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to judge the deterioration or failure over time of the head connected to the control circuit without applying any special damage to the thermal head or the thermal head control terminal. At the same time, it is possible to know the optimum energization energy for the resistance value of the head, which has the effect of increasing the reliability of the character/figure output device and improving the printing quality.

【図面の簡単な説明】[Brief explanation of drawings]

第1図は電流制限回路に分圧用抵抗を用いた本発明の一
実施例を示す回路図、第2図は電流制限回路に定電流回
路を用いた本発明の他の実施例を示す回路図、第3図は
第1図および第2図の実施例に用いるAD変換器出力デ
ータの変換テーブルを表す図である。 ■・・サーマルヘッド 2・・スイッチ回路 3・・分圧用抵抗 4・・AD変換器 5・・ヘッドドライバ 6・・CPU 7・・10 8・・変換テーブル 9・・定電流回路 以上
Fig. 1 is a circuit diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention in which a voltage dividing resistor is used in the current limiting circuit, and Fig. 2 is a circuit diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention in which a constant current circuit is used in the current limiting circuit. , FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a conversion table of AD converter output data used in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2. ■Thermal head 2... Switch circuit 3... Voltage dividing resistor 4... AD converter 5... Head driver 6... CPU 7... 10 8... Conversion table 9... Constant current circuit or higher

Claims (1)

【特許請求の範囲】[Claims] (1)サーマルヘッドの電源端子と電源とを接続する、
電流制限回路とスイッチ回路とからなる並列回路と、該
サーマルヘッドの電源端子電圧を検出する手段と、検出
した電源端子電圧を元にヘッドの通電エネルギを制御す
る手段とからなるサーマルヘッド制御回路。(2)請求
項1記載のサーマルヘッド制御回路において、検出した
電源端子電圧を元にヘッドの故障を判定し外部に知らせ
る手段を具備することを特徴とするサーマルヘッド制御
回路。
(1) Connect the power terminal of the thermal head and the power supply,
A thermal head control circuit comprising a parallel circuit comprising a current limiting circuit and a switch circuit, means for detecting a power supply terminal voltage of the thermal head, and means for controlling energization energy of the head based on the detected power supply terminal voltage. (2) The thermal head control circuit according to claim 1, further comprising means for determining a malfunction of the head based on the detected power supply terminal voltage and notifying the outside.
JP16492589A 1989-06-27 1989-06-27 Thermal head control circuit Expired - Lifetime JP2961611B2 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP16492589A JP2961611B2 (en) 1989-06-27 1989-06-27 Thermal head control circuit

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP16492589A JP2961611B2 (en) 1989-06-27 1989-06-27 Thermal head control circuit

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
JPH0330960A true JPH0330960A (en) 1991-02-08
JP2961611B2 JP2961611B2 (en) 1999-10-12

Family

ID=15802451

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
JP16492589A Expired - Lifetime JP2961611B2 (en) 1989-06-27 1989-06-27 Thermal head control circuit

Country Status (1)

Country Link
JP (1) JP2961611B2 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2003502194A (en) * 1999-06-17 2003-01-21 タレス・ウ−トランサクシオン・エス・アー Printing device for tickets, especially transport tickets of various sizes

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS56169077A (en) * 1980-06-02 1981-12-25 Ricoh Co Ltd Heat generating recording device
JPS6195536U (en) * 1984-11-29 1986-06-19
JPS6485780A (en) * 1987-09-29 1989-03-30 Toshiba Corp Thermal head protection device
JPH01196351A (en) * 1988-01-30 1989-08-08 Canon Inc recording device

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS56169077A (en) * 1980-06-02 1981-12-25 Ricoh Co Ltd Heat generating recording device
JPS6195536U (en) * 1984-11-29 1986-06-19
JPS6485780A (en) * 1987-09-29 1989-03-30 Toshiba Corp Thermal head protection device
JPH01196351A (en) * 1988-01-30 1989-08-08 Canon Inc recording device

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2003502194A (en) * 1999-06-17 2003-01-21 タレス・ウ−トランサクシオン・エス・アー Printing device for tickets, especially transport tickets of various sizes

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP2961611B2 (en) 1999-10-12

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