Rohm Co., Ltd.

Masato Sakai

Mitsuhiko Fukuda

Takaya Nagahata

Takashi Ueda

Shigeo Ota

Masayoshi Yamaguchi

Mineo Nishikawa

Michio Ishijima

Yoshiaki Nagato

Junichi Shudo

Tutomu Nakamura

A print head for which the number of bits can be set to a predetermined value when a plurality of driver ICs are connected. Data input through a data input pin is passed through an internal shift register and output through a data output pin. The data output pin of one driver IC is connected to a data input pin of another, thereby providing any desired number of shift register bits. Each driver IC has additional data output pins and can output intermediate data through one of the data output pins. Therefore, the additional data output pins can be used to change the number of significant bits of the driver IC. Consequently, when the driver ICs are connected to each other, the number of shift register bits can be adjusted.

Print head comprising a plurality of driver ICS having additional data

In a thermal head driving integrated circuit, input serial data are converted into parallel data by a shift register. The ANDs of the parallel data obtained and a strobe signal is obtained, and transistors are driven in accordance with the ANDs. An input selection circuit determines the serial/parallel conversion timing and the transistor driving timing in accordance with the value input from select signal input terminals. The serial/parallel conversion timing and the transistor driving timing are constantly different from each other, so that latch circuits for latching the parallel data are obviated. The select signal input terminals are selectively pulled up/down.

Thermal head driving integrated circuit and thermal head driving circuit

A thermal printing head comprises a support member, a head circuit board supported on the support member, a connector board overlapped on the head circuit board, and a presser member for pressing the connector board against the head circuit board. The support member is flexible with a modulus of elasticity lying within a range of 1.times.10.sup.4 -5.times.10.sup.5 kg/mm.sup.2. The head circuit board carries a comb-like terminal portion arranged in a limited central portion which is substantially smaller in length than the head circuit board. The connector board also carries a comb-like terminal portion corresponding to the terminal portion of the head circuit board, and the length of the connector board is substantially smaller than that of the head circuit board.

Thermal printing head

The present invention provides a thermal printing head which comprises an elongate heat sink plate, an elongate head circuit board mounted on the heat sink plate, a connector board partially overlapping the circuit board, and an elongate presser cover mounted on the heat sink plate to press the connector board into contact with the circuit board. The circuit board has a reduced number of connection terminals arranged locally at a central portion of the circuit board. The connector toward is correspondingly reduced in length. Thus, for pressing the connector board into uniform contact with the circuit board, it is only necessary to provide only a pair of pressure applying screws adjacent the central portion of the circuit board.

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Kyoto, Japan

Masato Sakai