Apparatus and method for thermal printers that employ a battery or other portable power source

摘要

A thermal printer includes a capacitor and a power converter operable to step a voltage of a power source, and coupled to charge the capacitor. Printing is controlled based at least in part on a charge state of the capacitor. Delays in charging the capacitor may be avoided where a current line of print data is blank. Operation may be curtailed where the voltage of the power source is below a threshold.