US Patent 7391427 Parametric programmable thermal printer

A parametric programmable thermal printer is disclosed. The printer may include a controller that performs functions such as thermal history control and common mode voltage correction. The controller may be implemented in an integrated programmable medium such as a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). Functions performed by the controller may be parameterized, and parameter values may be stored in registers. The controller may be used with a different thermal printer by changing the parameter values and/or reprogramming the programmable medium, and without otherwise redesigning or remanufacturing the controller.