Provided are a thermal head driving integrated circuit and a method of manufacturing the thermal head driving integrated circuit. The thermal head driving integrated circuit includes: an input terminal and an output terminal for a data signal transfer clock signal; an IC internal wiring line arranged between the input terminal and the output terminal; and a duty ratio correction circuit connected to the output terminal. The duty ratio correction circuit includes: a first first-conductivity-type MOS transistor; a second first-conductivity-type MOS transistor; a first second-conductivity-type MOS transistor; a second second-conductivity-type MOS transistor; a first resistor circuit including a first resistor and a first fuse connected in parallel to each other; and a second resistor circuit including a second resistor and a second fuse connected in parallel to each other. The method includes cutting a fuse of the resistor circuit.

A printer includes a thermal head, an electrical connector capable of being connected to and disconnected from the thermal head, and a head cover of the thermal head. The head cover moves between a first position and a second position different from the first position to connect and disconnect the thermal head and the electrical connector.

A thermal print head includes a head substrate (11) having a main surface (11a) on which a convex part (12) is formed, a resistor layer (21) that is formed on the main surface (11a) and the convex part (12), a wiring layer (22) that covers the resistor layer (21) such that the resistor layer (21) is exposed at a heat generating part (20) formed at a part of the convex part (12), and a protective layer (25) that is formed on the main surface (11a) of the head substrate (11) and covers the resistor layer (21) and the wiring layer (22). The resistor layer (21) has a main resistor layer that contains tantalum, and at least one of a first sub-resistor layer that contains tantalum nitride and is stacked below the tantalum layer and a second sub-resistor layer that contains tantalum nitride and is stacked on the tantalum layer. The nitrogen content of tantalum nitride contained in the first sub-resistor layer and the second sub-resistor layer exceeds a predetermined value such that the tantalum nitride is deposited in a stable structure.

An image forming apparatus includes a print head including heating elements for applying a thermal energy to an imaging material, an operation unit configured to operate the plurality of heating elements of the print head by using a first pulse for preheating the color developing layers and a second pulse for developing the colors of the color developing layers, and a generation unit configured to, in a case where a spatial frequency of the image to be recorded based on image data for forming an image on the imaging material is lower than a predetermined frequency, generate the first pulse so that a temperature to be applied to the imaging material by the first pulse is lower than a temperature to be applied to the imaging material in a case where the spatial frequency of the image data is equal to or higher than the predetermined frequency.

Provided is a printable coating, printable media and printable labels thereof, usable in both inkjet and direct thermal printing applications. The coating comprises leuco dye blended into an inkjet coating formulation, wherein the coating is applied on the first face of an appropriate paper or film to form the printable media. The coating may be applied as a single, homogenous topcoat thereby streamlining the manufacturing process and reducing potential printing errors. The coating may provide a printable area compatible for use with both direct thermal printers and inkjet printers. On the opposite face of the paper or film, an adhesive may be applied, in combination with an optional release liner, to form printable label stock. Each step of the process, e.g. application of the coating, application of the adhesive and liner, and die-cutting of labels, may occur in any order combination relative to one another. In addition, reverse printing may also be utilized to print and form the labels.

Provided is a printable coating, printable media and printable labels thereof, usable in both inkjet and direct thermal printing applications. The coating comprises leuco dye blended into an inkjet coating formulation, wherein the coating is applied on the first face of an appropriate paper or film to form the printable media. The coating may be applied as a single, homogenous topcoat thereby streamlining the manufacturing process and reducing potential printing errors. The coating may provide a printable area compatible for use with both direct thermal printers and inkjet printers. On the opposite face of the paper or film, an adhesive may be applied, in combination with an optional release liner, to form printable label stock. Each step of the process, e.g. application of the coating, application of the adhesive and liner, and die-cutting of labels, may occur in any order combination relative to one another. In addition, reverse printing may also be utilized to print and form the labels.

An ink contains water, an organic solvent, a polyurethane resin, and a cyclic ester including a structure represented by Chemical formula I, wherein the proportion of the cyclic ester having a crystal having a particle diameter of 1 μm or greater is less than 4 ppm of the total of the ink after the ink is allowed to stand at a temperature range of from 20 to 30 degrees C. for 30 days. ##STR00001##

A thermal head includes a substrate, an electrode, a bonding material, an electrically conductive member, and a sealing material. The electrode is located on the substrate. The bonding material is located on the substrate or the electrode. The electrically conductive member is located on the bonding material and is electrically connected to the electrode via the bonding material. The sealing material is located on the substrate and covers the bonding material and the electrically conductive member. The bonding material includes a protruding portion located at an outer circumferential edge of the electrically conductive member away from the substrate and the electrically conductive member.

A thermal head includes a substrate, an electrode, a bonding material, an electrically conductive member, and a sealing material. The electrode is located on the substrate. The bonding material is located on the substrate or the electrode. The electrically conductive member is located on the bonding material and is electrically connected to the electrode via the bonding material. The sealing material is located on the substrate and covers the bonding material and the electrically conductive member. The bonding material includes a protruding portion located at an outer circumferential edge of the electrically conductive member away from the substrate and the electrically conductive member.

A thermal head includes a substrate, a bonding material, an electrically conductive member, and a gold electrode. The bonding material is located on the substrate and contains gold and tin. The electrically conductive member is located on the bonding material. The gold electrode is located on the substrate and electrically connected to the bonding material.