Processing multiple thermal elements with a fast algorithm using dot history

A method of processing a thermal element group to create a printed image, the method comprising:

• accessing, from a specific supply, printing parameters comprising a microstrobe number and microstrobe energy values and storing the microstrobe number and microstrobe energy values in a primer memory;
• determining a dot history pattern;
• determining a number of thermal elements for the thermal element group;
• assigning thermal elements to the thermal element group based on the number of thermal elements determined for the thermal element group;
• packing the thermal element group into the dot history pattern to generate a packed dot history pattern;
• determining a packed thermal element number based on the packed dot history pattern;
• creating a packed index having a packed index length, the packed index length based on the packed thermal element number, and determining packed index values to occupy the packed index length, the packed index values based on the packed dot history pattern;
• dividing microstrobes, the microstrobes based on the microstrobe number stored in the printer memory, such that divided microstrobes are produced;
• assigning packed binary pulse numbers to the divided microstrobes based on a strobe pattern, the packed binary pulse numbers corresponding to each of the packed index values occupying the packed index length;
• determining packed strobe numbers based on the packed binary pulse numbers, the packed strobe numbers corresponding to each of the packed index values occupying the packed index length;
• wherein the printed image is created by using a bit map pattern, the packed dot history pattern, the packed index values, the packed strobe numbers, and the microstrobe energy values.

A method of processing a thermal element group to create a printed image, the method comprising:

• accessing, from a specific supply, printing parameters comprising a microstrobe number and microstrobe energy values and storing the microstrobe number and microstrobe energy values in a printer memory;
• determining a dot history pattern;
• determining a number of thermal elements for the thermal element group;
• assigning thermal elements to the thermal element group based on the number of thermal elements determined for the thermal element group;
• packing the thermal element group into the dot history pattern to generate a packed dot history pattern;
• determining a packed thermal element number based on the packed dot history pattern;
• creating a packed index having a packed index length, the packed index length based on the packed thermal element number, and determining packed index values to occupy the packed index length, the packed index values based on the packed dot history pattern;
• dividing microstrobes, the microstrobes based on the microstrobe number stored in the printer memory, such that divided microstrobes are produced;
• assigning packed binary pulse numbers to the divided microstrobes based on a strobe pattern, the packed binary pulse numbers corresponding to each of the packed index values occupying the packed index length;
• determining packed strobe numbers based on the packed binary pulse numbers, the packed strobe numbers corresponding to each of the packed index values occupying the packed index length, until an entire raster line of packed strobe numbers is ascertained;
• wherein the printed image is created by using a bit map pattern, the packed dot history pattern, the packed index values, the entire raster lines of the packed strobe numbers, and the microstrobe energy values.