According to one embodiment, an RFID tag or label printer apparatus includes a print head to print a pattern on the RFID tag, which includes an RFID chip at a predetermined mounting position. A processor is configured to receive the predetermined mounting position and label information including a print position for the pattern information to be printed on the RFID tag. The processor is configured to compare the predetermined mounting position to the print position and then control the print head to print the pattern information if the print position does not overlap a region through which the RFID chip passes when RFID tag is conveyed along a conveying direction past the print head for printing.

The present invention embraces a method and apparatus for an efficient and economical print quality setup for thermal printers. A thermal printhead of a thermal printer constitutes multiple printhead banks. The printhead banks may be controlled by strobe signals. While configuring print quality, each of the strobe signals may operate separately with different power causing the printhead banks to operate in different configurations while printing an identical pattern. As each the banks are operating in different configuration, they each print the identical pattern with a different print quality. One print quality may be selected from the different quality patterns printed by each printhead bank on a single printed label or media. The selected quality pattern corresponds to a quality factor. The method may reduce the time to select a configuration and may reduce the amount of usage of media or labels.

The present invention embraces a method and apparatus for an efficient and economical print quality setup for thermal printers. A thermal printhead of a thermal printer constitutes multiple printhead banks. The printhead banks may be controlled by strobe signals. While configuring print quality, each of the strobe signals may operate separately with different power causing the printhead banks to operate in different configurations while printing an identical pattern. As each the banks are operating in different configuration, they each print the identical pattern with a different print quality. One print quality may be selected from the different quality patterns printed by each printhead bank on a single printed label or media. The selected quality pattern corresponds to a quality factor. The method may reduce the time to select a configuration and may reduce the amount of usage of media or labels.

In a head body, a head controller inputs individual signals to multiple recording elements that form dots. The individual signals each include a non-waveform signal and a driving waveform signal. The non-waveform signal is input to the recording element during non-driving and the potential thereof is held at a standby potential. The driving waveform signal is input to the recording element during driving, and the potential thereof transitions from the standby potential to one or more displacement potentials. The standby potential of the non-waveform signal input to at least one of the multiple recording elements is different from the standby potential of the non-waveform signal input to at least another one of the multiple recording elements.

In a head body, a head controller inputs individual signals to multiple recording elements that form dots. The individual signals each include a non-waveform signal and a driving waveform signal. The non-waveform signal is input to the recording element during non-driving and the potential thereof is held at a standby potential. The driving waveform signal is input to the recording element during driving, and the potential thereof transitions from the standby potential to one or more displacement potentials. The standby potential of the non-waveform signal input to at least one of the multiple recording elements is different from the standby potential of the non-waveform signal input to at least another one of the multiple recording elements.

A media processing device is disclosed. An example media processing device includes memory including machine-readable instructions; and a processor to execute the machine-readable instructions to control a printhead assembly, the processor being configured to communicate with the printhead assembly in accordance with a pin configuration, wherein the pin configuration includes pin groups, and each of the pin groups includes a signal line and a reference voltage, wherein the signal line pin is coupled to a source of changing values, and the reference voltage pin is coupled to a constant voltage.

A media processing device is disclosed. An example media processing device includes memory including machine-readable instructions; and a processor to execute the machine-readable instructions to control a printhead assembly, the processor being configured to communicate with the printhead assembly in accordance with a pin configuration, wherein the pin configuration includes pin groups, and each of the pin groups includes a signal line and a reference voltage, wherein the signal line pin is coupled to a source of changing values, and the reference voltage pin is coupled to a constant voltage.

There are provided a thermal transfer printer and a method for producing a printed matter capable of suppressing deterioration in printing quality. A first energizing pulse is generated at the beginning of one line period. The first energizing pulse causes each heating element to perform offset heating. Second energizing pulses whose number corresponds to a tone level are generated in one line period. The second energizing pulses cause each heating element to perform heating. When the timings at which the first energizing pulse and the second energizing pulses are generated can be evenly distributed within one line period, the timings are evenly distributed within one line period. When the timings cannot be evenly distributed within one line period, the timings are distributed within one line period such that an unevenly distributed portion included in the timings is arranged in an initial period of one line period.

A thermal printer has an identification information holding circuit that has identification information, a line thermal head in which the identification information holding circuit is mounted, a control signal line through which a signal that controls the line thermal head is transmitted, a memory that stores specification information about the line thermal head corresponding to the identification information, and a controller that acquires the identification information that has been output from the identification information holding circuit through the control signal line and also acquires the specification information about the line thermal head from the memory according to the acquired identification information.

A thermal printer has an identification information holding circuit that has identification information, a line thermal head in which the identification information holding circuit is mounted, a control signal line through which a signal that controls the line thermal head is transmitted, a memory that stores specification information about the line thermal head corresponding to the identification information, and a controller that acquires the identification information that has been output from the identification information holding circuit through the control signal line and also acquires the specification information about the line thermal head from the memory according to the acquired identification information.