A non-transitory storage medium stores instructions readable by an information processing apparatus. The instructions cause the information processing apparatus to: obtain a type of a printer; obtain a combination between a type of a printing medium and a color of a coloring agent for printing of a code; determine whether the obtained combination is included in a first combination or whether the obtained combination is included in a second combination; and output an alert message when the obtained combination is included in the second combination or not included in the first combination. A combination between the color and the type of the printing medium printable by the printer of the obtained type includes the first combination in which a probability of reading of the code is a first value and the second combination in which the probability is a second value less than the first value.

A non-transitory storage medium stores instructions readable by an information processing apparatus. The instructions cause the information processing apparatus to: obtain a type of a printer; obtain a combination between a type of a printing medium and a color of a coloring agent for printing of a code; determine whether the obtained combination is included in a first combination or whether the obtained combination is included in a second combination; and output an alert message when the obtained combination is included in the second combination or not included in the first combination. A combination between the color and the type of the printing medium printable by the printer of the obtained type includes the first combination in which a probability of reading of the code is a first value and the second combination in which the probability is a second value less than the first value.

A semiconductor device includes a first signal generator configured to generate a plurality of first signals and a second signal generator configured to generate a plurality of second signals. One of the plurality of first signals varies in one of a plurality of temperature sections. One of the plurality of second signals is substantially constant in one of the plurality of temperature sections.

Provided herein are devices, systems, methods and various means, including those related to printer systems and, more particularly, relate to methods, apparatuses, systems and other means for monitoring a printer ribbon. Some embodiments use a multi-element detector, which is configured to detect a particular type of light emitted from a light emitter. The multi-state detector can include two sensors, one of which includes a polarizer filter that blocks polarized light. Embodiments can be used to determine, among other things, whether or not a printer ribbon is installed in a printer without the use of a snap plate.

Provided herein are devices, systems, methods and various means, including those related to printer systems and, more particularly, relate to methods, apparatuses, systems and other means for monitoring a printer ribbon. Some embodiments use a multi-element detector, which is configured to detect a particular type of light emitted from a light emitter. The multi-state detector can include two sensors, one of which includes a polarizer filter that blocks polarized light. Embodiments can be used to determine, among other things, whether or not a printer ribbon is installed in a printer without the use of a snap plate.

A transfer printing device includes a transfer ribbon, a print unit, a mark sensor and a controller. The transfer ribbon includes a transfer layer that is attached to a carrier layer. The transfer layer includes a series of transfer sections. The controller is configured to perform a print operation, in which a transfer section that is available for printing is selected by detecting an absence of a used mark in a predetermined position on the transfer ribbon corresponding to the transfer section using the mark sensor. An image is printed to the selected transfer section and a used mark is printed on the transfer ribbon using the print unit. At least a portion of the used mark is in a predetermined position relative to the selected transfer section and is outside the selected transfer section.

In a method of operating a transfer printing device, which includes a transfer ribbon having a series of transfer sections, a print unit, and a mark sensor, the transfer ribbon is fed in a feed direction. A transfer section that is available for printing is selected through the detection of an absence of a used mark in a predetermined position on the transfer ribbon corresponding to the transfer section using the mark sensor. An image is printed to the selected transfer section using the print unit. A used mark corresponding to the selected transfer section is printed in a predetermined position on the transfer ribbon.