Patent Document ID: 5535308
Application ID: 08461219
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. A method for printing wherein a printhead is successively scanned in a line direction to print a plurality of dots extending in said line direction, and a recording medium is fed at right angles to said line direction, comprising the steps of: receiving and storing in a memory original dot data representative of an original dot pattern for a given line, in said line direction, said original dot pattern including one of fonts and graphics; said original dot data being representative of the original dot pattern having individual original dots spaced from a preceding individual original dot by integer multiples of a minimum interval d.sub.1 ; converting each portion of said original dot data representative of said individual original dots and blanks into a portion of secondary dot data representing n(n .gtoreq.2) secondary dots and blanks respectively, arranged in the line direction in the given line; said portions of second dot data representing said second dots and spaced by secondary intervals equal to d.sub.1 /n, and occupying intervals d.sub.1 of said given line having a position associated with respective ones of said individual original dots in said given line; storing said portions of secondary dot data in said memory in locations corresponding to associated positions in said given line; selecting ones of said secondary dot data representing dots occurring adjacent every m.sup.th one of said secondary intervals in said given line wherein n and m are integers, (2n-1).gtoreq..sub.m .gtoreq.(n+1), and said selected m.sup.th ones of said secondary dots having a minimum selected interval d.sub.2 between said selected dots, wherein d.sub.2 =m/n .times.d.sub.1 ; storing in said memory secondary dot data for said given line representing blanks in memory locations associated ones of said secondary dot data which are not selected; and printing using said secondary dot data the selected ones of said secondary dots.