| 摘要 |
<p>A gradational printing method for performing a gradational printing by energizing a plurality of heat emitting elements arranged on a thermal head correspondingly to respective bits of digital gradation data representing a gray level. In case of this method, the plurality of heat emitting elements are divided into two or more blocks and the blocks are energized correspondingly to different bits of the digital gradation data. Thus, an energizing time, during which a maximum current should be supplied, can be reduced. Further, the weight of the printer can be light. Moreover, if the maximum electric current of a printer is equal to that of the conventional method, the duration thereof can be equal to the minimum duration of the energizing pulses corresponding to the bits of the gradation data. Consequently, the capacities of a power supply and a printer employing this method can be small. Further, the size and manufacturing cost of the power supply and the printer can be small.</p> |
