US Patent 7502042 Laser diode thermal transfer printhead

A thermal transfer printhead is disclosed. The printhead includes a backplane having one or more one connector receptacles. The printhead also includes one or more modules each of which includes a connector adapted to interface with the connector receptacles. The modules also include a laser diode array having laser diodes. The module interfaces with the backplane at a predetermined angle with respect to a printing direction and pitch to achieve a desired printhead density.