Importance

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Abstract

A print timing circuit for a printer has a reciprocating carriage and at least one printing element mounted on the carriage. The print timing circuit includes a carriage controller for reciprocating the carriage and an encoder for detecting the speed of movement of the carriage and generating an encoder signal representative of the speed of movement of the carriage. An oscillator produces a print timing signal to control operation of the printing element. A frequency divider and comparator divides the encoder signal by N, where N is an integer. It also divides the print timing signal by M, where M is an integer. Then, it compares the phase relationship of the divided signals and provides an adjustment signal representative of the phase relationship of the divided signals to the oscillator. The oscillator is adapted to adjust the printing signal produced thereby in response to the adjustment signal so that the print timing signal causes the print element to print at a pitch equal to a fraction M/N of a reference pitch. In addition, another frequency dividing element can be utilized to arbitrarily designate one of the phase locked states for improved positional control of the print timing signals.

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First Claim