Patent ID: 8098269

Claim:
A direct thermal printer device comprising: a thermal print head comprising a plurality of heating elements; a control circuit connected to the thermal print head that applies, during a first portion of a printing time, a first pulse pattern to the heating elements, and, during a second portion of the printing time, a second pulse pattern to the heating elements, and, during a third portion or the printing time, a third pulse pattern to the heating elements; wherein the first pulse pattern comprises a first plurality of pulses having a first average power, wherein each of the first plurality of pulses has a common energy: wherein the second pulse pattern comprises a second plurality of pulses having a second average power that is lower than the first average power, wherein each of the second plurality of pulses has the common energy; wherein the third pulse pattern comprises a third plurality of pulses having a third average power that is lower than the first average power and the second average power, wherein each of the third plurality of pulses has the common energy.