Dot matrix

For other uses including the printer and display types, and fictional characters of this name, see Dot matrix (disambiguation).

"Bling Bling": Dot matrix-style skywriting.

A dot matrix is a 2-dimensional array of LED used to represent characters, symbols and images.

Typically the dot matrix is used in older computer printers and many digital display devices. In printers, the dots are usually the darkened areas of the paper. In displays, the dots may light up, as in an LED or CRT display, or darken, as in an LCD, however multicolour LCDs are sometimes initially dark and light up.

In the context of printers, the term mainly refers to impact printers, with a column of 8, 9 or 24 "pins" hitting an ink-impregnated fabric ribbon, like a typewriter ribbon, onto the paper. It was originally contrasted with daisy wheel printers and line printers.

Almost all modern computer printers also create their output as matrices of dots, but use a different technology like laser printing or inkjet printing, and are not called Dot Matrix printers. Dot Matrix printers survive where multi-part forms are needed, as the impact can make a carbonless copy, for security purposes.

A dot matrix is useful for marking materials other than paper. In manufacturing industry, many marking applications use dot matrix inkjet or impact methods. This can also be used to print 2D matrix codes, e.g. Datamatrix.

LED matrix

An LED matrix display scanning by rows to make the letter W

An LED matrix is a simple form of dot matrix display, useful both for industrial displays as well as for hobbyist human–machine interfaces. It consists of a 2-D matrix of LEDs with their cathodes joined in rows and their anodes joined in columns (or vice versa). By controlling the flow of electricity through each row and column pair it is possible to control each LED individually. By scanning across rows, quickly flashing the LEDs on and off, it is possible to create characters or pictures to display information to the user.^[1] The refresh rate is typically fast enough to prevent the human eye from detecting the flicker.

In popular culture

Dot Matrix is the name of a character on the acclaimed CGI show ReBoot.

Dot Matrix is also the name of a character in the 1987 Mel Brooks film Spaceballs.

See also

• Dot matrix display
• Dot matrix printer

References

1. ^ Claus Kühnel (2001). BASCOM Programming of Microcontrollers with Ease: An Introduction by Program Examples. Universal Publishers. pp. 114–119. ISBN 9781581126716. http://books.google.com/books?id=LHHfeHZXvc0C&pg=PA114. 

External links

• Flatbed Dot Matrix Printer Technology

This computer hardware article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.v · Categories: Digital imaging Computer hardware stubs Wikimedia Foundation. 2010. Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную? Not Invented Here Rasterisation Look at other dictionaries: dot-matrix — [dät′mā′triks] adj. of or pertaining to a system of printing, as by certain computer printers, in which characters are formed of individual dots printed close together by means of columns of small hammers that are moved across the page * * * …   Universalium Dot Matrix —   [engl.], Punktmatrix …   Universal-Lexikon dot-matrix — [dät′mā′triks] adj. of or pertaining to a system of printing, as by certain computer printers, in which characters are formed of individual dots printed close together by means of columns of small hammers that are moved across the page …   English World dictionary dot matrix — noun a rectangular matrix of dots from which written characters can be formed • Hypernyms: ↑matrix * * * noun, pl ⋯ matrices or ⋯ matrixes [count] : a pattern of dots that form letters, numbers, etc., on a computer screen or on something printed… …   Useful english dictionary dot matrix — Computers. a method of forming characters and graphics, used by CRTs and other screens, some printers (dot matrix printers), and some plotters, by creating the desired pattern using dots from a dense matrix. [1960 65] * * * …   Universalium dot matrix — noun Date: 1963 a pattern of dots in a grid from which alphanumeric characters can be formed < a dot matrix printer > …   New Collegiate Dictionary dot-matrix — adjective That functions by use of a dot matrix …   Wiktionary dot matrix printer — UK US (also dot matrix printer) noun [C] ► IT an old type of computer printer that forms and prints each letter using dots: »There are still many dot matrix printers in use …   Financial and business terms dot-matrix printer — ➔ printer …   Financial and business terms dot matrix printer — dot matrix printers N COUNT A dot matrix printer is a computer printer using a device with a series of dots or pins stamped onto it to produce words and numbers …   English dictionary 18+ © Academic, 2000-2024 Contact us: Technical Support, Advertising Dictionaries export, created on PHP, Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, MODx. Mark and share Search through all dictionaries Translate… Search Internet Share the article and excerpts Direct link … Do a right-click on the link above and select “Copy Link”