Printer control circuit and the printer controlled thereby

Abstract

A printer controller for use with a thermal printer. A thermal printer used as a computer terminal printer requires a high printing speed and high print-quality in addition to reducing the load on the computer terminal. The printer controller of the present invention integrates the complicated control functions of the electrical components of a thermal printer, (i.e. thermal-head, motor, and various sensors) into an integrated circuit or a one-chip IC. Printers incorporating this controller attain highly improved and simplified operability and miniaturized dimensions. The printer controller includes a host-interface to receive communication data transmitted from a system including a host-computer, a receiver controller for receiving the output of the host-interface inputted through a data-bus and for controlling the communication data to be supplied to the thermal-head, a head driving data controller which controls the driving data to be supplied to the thermal-head which is controlled according to the temperature and the supply voltage, a motor controller for controlling the paper-feeding motor, a total controller for controlling all of the controllers including the receiver and controller, head driving data controller, and the motor controller through respective dedicated control lines, a memory for storing at least one of the controller procedures, and a printer interface for outputting various signals necessary to drive various devices mounted in the printer.