Non-linear power control of a thermal print head in a plastic card printer
AssigneeEntrust Corporation
InventorWade Kragtorp
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Printing multi-color images on non-vinyl plastic identification documents in identification document printing systems. A non-linear pixel density adjustment curve is used to adjust the pixel density data of a multi-color image to be printed which adjusts the power applied to the thermal print head. The use of a non-linear pixel density adjustment curve to adjust the pixel density data improves the quality of the resulting multi-color printed image, reduces mass transfer of the dye donor layer, and reduces breaking of the carrier film of the print ribbon.
Claims20
A method of printing a multi-color image on a non-vinyl plastic identification card, having an integrated circuit chip, in a print station of an identification card printing system, comprising:
- generating modified pixel density data by adjusting pixel density data that is associated with print data corresponding to the multi-color image using a non-linear pixel density adjustment curve;
- and
- printing the multi-color image on the non-vinyl plastic identification card using a multicolor print ribbon and a thermal print head of the print station by controlling the thermal print head using the modified pixel density data.
A non-vinyl plastic identification card printing system, comprising:
- a card input configured to input a non-vinyl plastic identification card having an integrated circuit chip;
- a print station having a multicolor print ribbon and a thermal print head;
- a card transport mechanism configured to transport the non-vinyl plastic identification card from the card input to the print station;
- a printer controller connected to and controlling operation of the thermal print head, the printer controller is programmed to include a non-linear pixel density adjustment curve to adjust pixel density data of a multi-color image to be printed onto the non-vinyl plastic identification card.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.