Thermal a scan laser printer

United States Patent [19]

Baek et al.

ii I! t i n: in ill 11! in t ii i i ii ii 11 i;i ii i r 11

US005168288A

[ii] Patent Number: [45] Date of Patent:

5,168,288 Dec. 1,1992

4,772,582 9/1988 DeBoer 503/227

4.804.975 2/1989 Yip 346/76 L

4.804.976 2/1989 Ohmori et al 346/76 PH

4.804.977 2/1989 Long 346/76 L

4.859,093 8/1989 Plotnick 400/120

4.903.042 2/1990 Kaufi et al 346/76 L

4,935,403 6/1990 Yamaoki et al 505/1

Primary Examiner—Joseph W. Hartary
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Robert L. Randall

[57] ABSTRACT

A thermal printer is disclosed which is adapted to form an image on a thermal print medium of a type in which a donor element transfers dye to a receiver element upon receipt of a sufficient amount of thermal energy. The printer includes a plurality of diode lasers which can be individually modulated to supply energy to selected dots on the medium in accordance with an information signal. In order to increase the efficiency and versatility of the printer, the print head of the printer includes a fiber optic array having a plurality of optical fibers coupled to the diode lasers. The thermal print medium is supported on a rotatable drum, and the fiber optic array is movable relative to the drum.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets