The world’s smallest printhead

Print Solutions Packaging Solutions

Kyocera Corporation has announced that it has developed what it says is the world’s smallest flat type thermal printhead for barcode printers. The new KMS Series consumes 20% less power and is available now.

The new compact printhead structure is 40% smaller than conventional products, with a design to reduce resistance loss helping to save power.

In previous models, the driver IC was mounted on the ceramic substrate in the conventional structure. In the new design of the KMS Series, it is mounted on the circuit substrate.

By changing the attachment method of the substrate and driver IC to wire bonding, the new product features a smaller depth of 9.9 mm, reduced by approximately 40% from 16.3 mm in conventional models.

Because portable printers utilise batteries for operation, there is a need for better energy performance to reduce power consumption. By utilising its technologies, which have been cultivated over the years, Kyocera optimised the wiring layout to reduce resistance loss and improve the thermal efficiency of the heating element, thus reducing power consumption by up to 20%. With its enhanced thermal efficiency, the KMS Series improves the energy performance of portable printers contributing to longer battery life and higher work efficiency in label printing.

Through these advantages, the new KMS Series contributes to a compact design and the improved energy efficiency of portable printers.