JP3092208B2 - Printing system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing system for printing digital images and analog images.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 9, a video print system 1 capable of printing out an image pickup signal from a video camera 10 by a video printer 11 has been known.

A printout by the system 1 shown in FIG. 1 is performed as follows. First, an imaging signal from the video camera 10 is supplied to the video printer 11 as an analog signal. The supplied imaging signal, that is, the moving image is monitored on the display 12. On the other hand, the above-mentioned analog signal is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 110 in the video printer 11, and a desired one screen is stored as a still image in the field memory 111 at a timing designated by the operation keys 116. I do. The storage screen can be arbitrarily confirmed by displaying it on the display 12 by the switching operation of the switch 115 based on the operation of the key 116. Next, the information stored in the field memory 111 is supplied to the printing unit 114, and the printing unit 114 performs a printout process.

[0004]

However, the conventional video print system 1 requires about one minute for printing per page of the video printer 11, and the field memory 111 has only one screen. Therefore, in order to print a plurality of screens, it is necessary to wait until the printing of one screen is completed and then search for the next screen from the tape by a search operation. There was a problem that the restraining time was long.

In order to connect a video tape recorder (VTR) for outputting a video signal in the form of a digital signal to the above-mentioned video printer, it is necessary to provide a buffer memory for digital signal processing in addition to the above-mentioned field memory. For this reason, there are problems that the cost increases, and that the circuit configuration becomes complicated and the whole system cannot be made compact.

That is, simply, as in the conventional case, an analog signal is digitized and stored in the field memory 111,
On the other hand, when the digital signal is temporarily stored in the buffer memory and then stored in the field memory 111, and the information stored in the field memory 111 is supplied to the printing unit 114, the image of the analog signal is continuously printed. During this time, the image of the digital signal cannot be transferred from the buffer memory to the field memory 111, and it cannot be said that the buffer memory is used efficiently during this time. Further, if the printing of the previous analog image is not completed, the next analog image cannot be stored, so that the printing process is likely to be delayed. To solve this, a field memory having a large storage capacity may be added. However, in this case, a field memory is additionally provided in addition to the buffer memory, so that the cost increases. SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide a printer system capable of inputting a digital image and an analog image, in which a memory is efficiently used and the cost is reduced. The purpose is to:

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a printing system according to the present invention comprises: first input means for inputting a compressed digital image signal; and the compressed digital image signal input by the first input means. And a second input means for inputting an analog image signal;
Digitizing means for digitizing an analog image signal input by the second input means and storing the same in the buffer memory; expanding means for reading and expanding the compressed digital image signal stored in the buffer memory; The compressed digital image signal expanded by the expansion means,
Reading the analog image signal digitized by the digitizing means, which is stored in the first storage control means and the buffer memory to be stored in a print buffer,
Second storage control means for storing the data in the print buffer.

[0008]

The operation of the printing system thus configured will be described.

The digitalized analog image signal is stored in a buffer memory for storing a compressed digital image signal, and the signal stored in the buffer memory is printed. This eliminates the need to add a buffer memory and a field memory in order to improve the efficiency of digital image and analog image print processing as in the related art, and thus realizes cost reduction. . Furthermore, since the compressed digital image signal is input to the buffer memory, the number of images that can be stored in the buffer memory can be further increased, and the processing efficiency can be improved.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a video print system 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The system 100 includes a VTR unit 90, an analog image signal input terminal 20a to which an analog image signal from the video camera 20 or the like can be input, and a digital signal or video camera 20 from the VTR unit 90 via the data bus 26. The video printer section 14 fetches the analog signal output from the printer and prints out the data, and a data compression / decompression section 80 (not shown).

Under the control of the printer controller 67, the buffer memory 65 serves as a data bus buffer memory when digitally inputting a signal. The buffer memory 65 stores a still image at the timing indicated by the key input switch 76 from an analog moving image signal. In the case of extraction, a so-called frame memory is shared by appropriately switching and using.

The video camera 20 quantizes the output analog signal into a digital signal by the A / D converter 61 and outputs the digital signal to the other end of the data selector 77.
The printer 91 inputs the output (image information) of the selector 77 via the buffer memory 65.

The VTR unit 90 includes a VTR main body 90a.
And a key input switch 46 as an input unit, a camcorder controller 42 as a search unit, and the like. When recording image information on an 8 mm video tape 41, an image to be printed by an input operation on the key input switch 46 And prints out the digital signal of the image to be printed to one end of the data selector 77 via the interfaces 27 and 64 and the data bus 26.

Here, taking an 8 mm video tape 41 as an example, how the VTR main body 90a records various kinds of information on the tape 41 will be described with reference to FIG. It is explained along. This figure shows a recording track pattern on the tape 41. The information recorded on the tape 41 includes a PCM area E1, an INDEX area E2, and a VIDEO area, as shown in FIG.
There is an O region E3.

The PCM area E1 is 0.5M to 1.5M.
An area where digital data is recorded at a data rate of bps. In this area E1, 8-bit to 16-bit quantized stereo sound or field / frame digital still image information, and ID words (for example, sound quality, image quality, shooting date, etc.) of subcode information related to these information, and A sync and address for data reconstruction, a PQ parity for error detection, a CRCC for error correction, and the like are recorded.

Next, the INDEX area E2 is basically composed of a search signal as print search information for search and a data signal for recording various types of information described below, using the same technology as the PCM recording described above. ing. The search signal is
All “0” means a normal state, and all “1” means a cue signal is inputted. The data signal is S (start
Block) and END (end block)
Five blocks of data blocks BL0 to BL4 are arranged, and each block includes data words “WD0” to “WD”.
4 "and" CRCC ". Since each word WD can be recorded by 8-bit data, the number of printouts and the like can be set by after recording in the INDEX area E2.

In the VIDEO area E3, the analog video signal is a luminance FM and a low-frequency conversion color signal, and the analog audio signal is a monaural FM or a sum-difference stereo signal (L +
R, LR) and audio multiplexing (main, sub) FM, a frequency spectrum arrangement in which a four-frequency pilot signal (4f) for tape tracking during reproduction is allocated to the lowest frequency band.

Each of the above information areas E1 to E3 can be independently recorded / reproduced. For example, a digital still image can be additionally recorded on the tape 41 on which only analog information is recorded, or PCM audio can be dubbed. It is also possible to later specify a cue signal for designating a screen for printout, a print size, the number of prints, and the like with respect to the tape 41 that has been photographed or edited.

Next, the schematic structure of each part of the system 100 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram in the information reproduction process of the system 100.

The data compression / expansion unit 80 includes an A / D converter 21, a D / A converter 60, a frame memory 22 for storing digital video signals, and a first compression / expansion for compressing and expanding digital image signals. Circuit 23a, second compression / expansion circuit 23b, and mode selection circuit switch (SW1)
24, a switch (SW5) 49, a switch (SW2) 48 capable of selecting an image signal or still image information, and interfaces (I / F) 25 and 44.

The VTR main body 90a of the VTR unit 90 includes:
An audio processing circuit 33 that performs predetermined signal processing on an input audio signal, an analog signal processing circuit 34 that performs predetermined signal processing on an input video signal, and a tracking servo circuit that outputs a four-frequency pilot signal (4f) 38, an adder / distributor 36, a rate conversion circuit 28 for converting image data into a predetermined data rate, a subcode data generation circuit 30 for generating mode information, date information and the like as ID words of PCM data. PCM for writing mode information and the like from the subcode data generation circuit 30 together with still image data (SV data) to the PCM area E1
The processing circuit 29 sequentially supplies each information to the recording heads 40a and 40b provided on the recording rotary drum 39 at the time of recording, and forms a track pattern as shown in FIG. A time-division signal distributor (SW3) 37 for performing time-division distribution, an index information generation circuit (INDEX) 35, and an A / D converter 75.

The video printer 14 receives an image signal input from an analog image signal input terminal 20a via an A / D converter 61 and a data selector (SW6) 77 or an image signal input via an interface (I / F) 64. A buffer memory 65 for storing the obtained image signal as a still image, and first and second decompressors 68 and 69 for performing a reverse data decompression process on the still image data stored in the buffer memory 65 as compared with the recording. A frame memory 71 for storing the image data subjected to the data decompression processing as reproduction still image information via a selector (SW6) 70;
1 and a printing unit 72 for generating a video print image using the reproduced still image information stored in
F) A printer controller 67 for controlling each part of the video printer 14 on the basis of the control data sent via 66 and an input signal from the key input switch 76 for selectively operating the selector (SW6) 70, etc. It is configured. The first and second decompressors 68 and 69, the selector (SW6) 70, the frame memory 71 and the printing unit 72
The printer 91 is constituted by the above. The buffer memory 65 sends information on the free space of the buffer memory 65 to the printer controller 67. The printer controller 67, based on the information on the free space from the buffer memory 65,
It is possible to manage the memory occupation state by storing data.

The operation of the video printing system 100 according to the embodiment having the above configuration will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, the processing at the time of recording information will be described with reference to FIG. The image signal captured by the video camera 20 is subjected to well-known signal processing for 8 mm video in the analog signal processing circuit 34 of the VTR unit 90. The audio signal collected by the microphone 31 is amplified by an amplifier 32 and subjected to a well-known signal processing for 8-mm video by an audio processing circuit 33. The image signal and the audio signal that have been subjected to the predetermined signal processing by the circuits 33 and 34 are added by an adder 36 to a 4-frequency pilot signal (4f) from a well-known 8-mm video tracking servo circuit 38. , Generated as a signal to be recorded in the above-described VIDEO area E3, and supplied to the time-division signal distributor (SW3) 37. When information such as a calendar and a clock used for the so-called auto date function of the video camera 20 is set by the key input switch 46, the information is input to the camcorder controller 42. The INDEX 35 controls the INDEX area E2 under the control of the controller 42.
Generates information to be recorded in a time-division signal distributor (SW3)
Supply to 37. When the audio signal is recorded in the PCM area E1, the output of the amplifier 32 is selected by a selection circuit (not shown).
Based on the operation on the key input switch 46, the camcorder controller 42 may appropriately switch and select the input signal to the PCM processing circuit 29 with still image information described later.

Since the PCM processing of 8-mm video is a well-known technique, it is omitted in this embodiment for the purpose of simplicity.

An image signal picked up by the video camera 20 is converted into a digital image signal by an A / D converter 21. This digital image signal is sent to the key input switch 4
Timing specified by 6 (Shutter release)
Alternatively, the automatically generated interval pulse is transmitted to the frame memory 22 by the cam code controller 42, and when the writing of the target screen is completed, the writing to the memory 22 is prohibited, and the still image (SV) Perform capture. The captured screen can be monitored by an electronic view finder (EVF) 45 displaying a normal moving image by appropriately selecting a switch (SW2) 48 as needed.

The still image data is supplied to a first image data compression circuit 23a and a second image data compression circuit 23b, and is converted into three types of still image data of uncompressed and raw data (compressed 1, compressed 2). Selection circuit switch (SW
1) It is supplied to 24, and is switched by the camcorder controller 42 based on the operation of the key input switch 46. The image data selected here is sent to the I / F 25 for sending to the data bus 26. On the other hand, the camcorder controller 42 sends the previously selected mode information (the difference between uncompressed, compressed 1, and compressed 2) to the subcode data generation circuit 30. The PCM processing circuit 29 performs processing so as to be written in the PCM area E1 together with the still image data as an ID word of the PCM data together with the date information such as the above-mentioned auto date.

The above-mentioned image data via the data bus 26 and the I / F 27 is converted into a data rate of 0.5 to 1.5 Mbps equivalent to PCM voice by the rate conversion circuit 28 and supplied to the PCM circuit 29. The PCM signal processing is performed together with the subcode described above, and the time-division signal distributor (SW)
3) Supply to 37.

The time-division signal distributor (SW3) 37 is provided in FIG.
The PCM area E1, the INDEX area E2, and the VIDE
The PCM information, the INDEX information, and the VIDEO information are sequentially selected corresponding to the O area E3, and the recording rotary drum 39 is selected.
The track pattern is supplied to the heads 40a and 40b provided thereon to form a track pattern on the tape 41 as shown in FIG.

Next, processing at the time of information reproduction will be described with reference to FIG.

It is assumed that an information track is formed on the tape 41 as shown in FIG. While tracking the track by controlling the capstan 19 and the rotating drum 39 by the servo circuit 38, information signals recorded by the heads 40a and 40b provided on the rotating drum 39 are detected. The detected signal is supplied to a time-division signal distributor (SW).
3) The information in the PCM area E1, the INDEX area E2, and the VIDEO area E3 are distributed in a time-sharing manner according to the information content by 37.

The information (analog signal) in the VIDEO area E3 is frequency-divided by the adder / distributor 36, and the pilot signal 4f is supplied to the servo circuit 3 from the lower one.
8, the color information c is supplied to the analog signal processing circuit 34, the audio information (AFM) is supplied to the audio processing circuit 33, and the luminance information Y is supplied to the analog signal processing circuit 34 in the same manner as the color information c.
Each of them is subjected to well-known 8-mm video signal processing. As a result, images and sounds with good tracking are output to the output terminals 73 and 74, respectively. Note that the image signal can be selectively displayed by the switch (SW2) 48 by the camcorder controller 42 as appropriate, similarly to the still image information described later. As another embodiment, a well-known small screen composition (Pictuer
Of course, image processing such as “in Picture” may be performed.

The information of the INDEX area E2 is INDEX
A data group as shown in FIG. 4 is reproduced by 35 and supplied to the camcorder controller 42. The cueing operation for printing out is performed in the INDEX area E2.
Until the search signal (ex. Data of all “1”) written in the capstan is detected, the above-mentioned servo circuit 38 performs high-speed driving of the capstan and the like, and executes the same. Servo circuit 3
When 8 detects all "1" in this search signal, it then reads the print information (number and size) set in the VIDEO area E3 and transfers it to the camcorder controller 42. These data are sent to the data bus 26 via the I / F 43 and are taken into the video printer unit 14 as needed.

For information on the PCM area E1, the PCM
The processing circuit 29 reproduces the still image data of the main data and the ID word as the subcode data. The still image data is subjected to a data rate conversion process reverse to that at the time of recording by the rate conversion circuit 28 so that the audio rate (0.5 m to 1.5 Mbps) matches the data rate of the data bus 26. The data is sent out onto the data bus 26 via F27. At this time, the still image information is transferred to the video printer 14 via the data bus 26 in a state of being compressed together with the compression mode information (excluding the non-compression mode).

The camcorder controller 42 uses the I / F 25 for the still image information and the I / F 25 for the control information for the image monitor.
/ F44 via the first and second compression / decompression circuits 23
a, 23b.

Switch (SW5) 49 according to the compression mode
Selects the non-compressed information and each information substantially expanded and restored to the original image information by the first or second expansion processing. The selection output signal of the switch (SW5) 49 is stored as a single still screen in the frame memory 22, read out at a video rate by the D / A converter 60, and converted as analog image information into the switch 48 as described above.
Supplied to The image is displayed on an image monitor such as an EVF 45 as necessary.

Also, the analog image signal can be converted into digital data by the A / D converter 75 by specifying a still image by inputting a cue signal or the like to an arbitrary image in the moving image signal. Printout is possible as the same treatment as uncompressed data.

The operation of the video printer 14 will be described below.

When an analog image signal is used as an input source, the above-described digital image information and accompanying control data and a general image signal input from a conventional analog image signal input terminal 20a are converted by an A / D converter. The data is digitized at 61 and input to the buffer memory 65 via the data selector (SW6) 77 and stored as a still image.

When the aforementioned digital image signal is used as an input source, the transmitted image signal is output to the video printer unit 14.
On the data bus 26 on the side, the video printer unit 14 sends the image data of the information to the I / F 64
, And the control data is transmitted to the printer 14 via the I / F 66.
Buffer memory 65 and printer controller 6
7 respectively.

The output of the I / F 64 is sent to the buffer memory 65 via the data selector (SW6) 77. The buffer memory 65 stores information on the free space of the buffer memory 65 from the buffer memory 65 so that the memory occupation state due to data storage can be managed by the printer controller 67.
To 7 First expander 68 and second expander 6
9 performs the data expansion process reverse to that at the time of recording on the image data once stored under the control of the printer controller 67. The selector (SW6) 70 stores the image data subjected to the data expansion processing together with the uncompressed data on the frame memory 71 as reproduction still image information. The printing section 72 is controlled by the printer controller 67, and generates a video print image using the still image information.

The data selector (SW6) 70 described above
In response to the switching of the input signal by the key input switch 76 or the like, selection control is appropriately performed by the printer controller 67.

The automatic printing operation centering on data exchange between the VTR unit 90 and the video printer unit 14 will be described with reference to the operation flowchart of FIG.

When the operation starts, the servo circuit 38
Performs a search for the video tape 41 under the control of the camcorder controller 42 (S1). The camcorder controller 42 checks whether a cue signal has been detected from the INDEX area E2 (S2), and causes the servo circuit 38 to continue the search operation until all "1" s are detected from the cue signal. If it is capstan 19
Is stopped, and the process proceeds to step S3 on the YES side. here,
The printer controller 67 checks the printer status "PT / ST" to confirm the operation state of the printer 14 side.
Request. The printer controller 67 of the printer 14 that has received the request sent via the data bus 26 via the I / F 66 checks the buffer memory 65 (S4). The printer controller 67 includes:
The free space information is received from the buffer memory 65, and it is confirmed whether or not the memory is saturated (S5). If the memory is saturated, the process proceeds to step S6, and "PT / ST" is set to "Busy". If there is still room, "PT / ST" is set to "Free" (S7), and then "Free / Capa" is set according to the memory occupation state (S8). The printer controller 67 is the printer unit 14 thus set.
"PT / ST" information indicating the state of the
"Free Capa (FC)" information indicating the free space of the VTR unit 90 is transmitted to the data bus 26 and transmitted to the VTR unit 90 (S9).

The camcorder controller 42 of the VTR section 90 receives "PT ST" and "FC" (S1).
0). If "PT / ST" is "Busy" (S1
1) Return to step S3 and wait until the printer unit 14 is free.

The printer controller 67 has a “PT
If “ST” = “Free] and there is a free space in the buffer memory 65, it is checked how much still image data corresponding to the cue signal found at the step S 2 has a data amount. Set as C (data capacity) (S12) The printer controller 67 may read out information on the imaging format and compression mode from the subcode and specify it as shown in FIG. May be described as the capacity.

Next, the printer controller 67
A comparison is made between C and FC, that is, whether the free space in the buffer memory 65 on the printer unit 14 side or the amount of image data to be transmitted from the VTR unit 90 side is larger (S13). If the memory margin on the printer 14 side is not enough, the process returns to step S3 and waits until an extra buffer memory 65 becomes available. On the other hand, in the case of YES, the image data confirmed in step S12 is reproduced (S14), and the image data is sequentially transmitted onto the data bus 26 (S15).

The printer controller 67 has an I / F 6
Then, the image data is fetched through the memory 4 (S16), and the image data is written into the buffer memory 65 (S17). Next, the printer controller 67 checks the data transfer (S18), and when completed, notifies the VTR unit 90 of the end of the memory write operation via the bus line 26 (S19). When the camcorder controller 42 determines that the data transfer is completed (S20), the camcorder controller 42 confirms whether or not there is a search instruction for the next cue signal. Returning to S1, the processing is continued in the same manner, and "EN
If “DofJOB”, the process proceeds to the YES side and ends.

The operation of the video printer unit 14 will be described.
A description will be given according to the operation flowchart shown in FIG.

The printer controller 67 appropriately decompresses the still image data from the buffer memory 65,
The data is loaded in a form developed on the frame memory 71 (S6
0). The printer-side controller 67 takes in data (print size, number of sheets, etc.) of printout condition settings via the I / F 66 (S61). Print number counter N
Is reset to "0" (S62). Step S6
The number of prints taken in step 1 is set in P (S6
3). The printing process is started, one sheet is printed, and the process proceeds to the next step (S64). The counter N is incremented by "+1" (S65). It is determined whether the printed number N has reached the required number P (S66).
64, and further continues the printout processing, YES
If so, the process proceeds to step S66. The original data (compressed data) of the still image data for which printout has been completed is deleted from the buffer memory 65 (S67).

After the deletion in step S67, it is determined whether still image data to be printed still remains (S6).
8) If unprocessed data remains, step S60
Then, when the buffer memory 65 becomes empty, a series of processing ends.

FIG. 7 shows some examples of modes that can be set by a combination of the image data companding method and the imaging format. As an image pickup format, a field and a frame of a so-called high-definition TV in which field shooting and frame shooting of NTSC (or PAL) and the number of scanning lines are approximately doubled are set. As compression methods, subsamples for spatial decimation, DPCM for quantization operation, DCT for block coded orthogonal transform,
JPEG or the like can be used. FIG. 6 illustrates the above combination as a mode that can be expressed by 4 bits of mode 1 to mode 16.

Assuming a buffer memory capable of storing only one screen, based on the non-compressed information of the HD frame image, the data amount corresponding to the above-described modes 1 to 16 and the number of storages in the memory are roughly calculated. Figure 8
Shown in

As described above, depending on the mode, it can be seen that several to several tens of still image data can be stored in the same buffer memory 65.

In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the buffer memory 65 is shared as a buffer memory for digital signal processing and a frame memory for analog signal processing.
It is also possible to use it as a field memory instead of a frame memory.

According to the above-described embodiment, when transferring image data from the VTR unit 90 to the printer unit 14, the operation state of the printer unit 14 is checked, and the VTR unit 90 is operated in accordance with the printer state. If the print search information is recorded on the video tape 41 in advance by controlling the search operation, the plurality of screens are sequentially searched (as soon as the print operation is completed) and the print processing is automatically performed. A video printer system is feasible.

As described above, the complicated and time-consuming printing operation can be automated, and the spread of the video printing culture in the home can be promoted.

Further, even in the development of the present photo DPE system to an external print lab, it is convenient to automate the printing. There is a great effect that it is possible to create an electrophotographic DPE culture to bring in.

Since the data transfer to the buffer memory 65 of the printer unit 14 is performed in a compressed state, the data transfer speed is high, the number of screens that can be stored in the buffer memory 65 is increased, and this occurs during the operation of the printer unit 14 side. This has the effect of shortening the entire processing time in that the work is less likely to stagnate due to the busy state.

Having two video sources, an analog input and a digital input, makes it possible to support various input signals.

In this embodiment, the memory indispensable for each input stage in this case is constituted by the same memory, and the circuit is switched between the buffer memory and the frame or field memory in response to the selection of the input signal. The scale can be reduced to a compact size. Further, it is possible to extend the memory capacity of the analog side to the digital side in terms of expansion of the degree of freedom in design, and the buffer memory called the printer busy described above is fully operated, so that the VTR unit 90 side is operated. There is also an advantage that a time loss such as a search operation stagnation is less likely to occur, and the print processing time as a whole can be shortened.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment,
Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

In the above-described embodiment, the medium is in the form of a tape. However, the medium is not limited to this and may be in the form of a disk, or may be in another form such as a solid-state memory. In this embodiment, a television signal is used as an example of a video signal. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a still image such as an electronic file may be used.

[0066]

As described above, according to the printer system of the present invention, a signal obtained by digitizing an analog image signal is stored in a buffer memory for storing a compressed digital image signal, and the signal stored in the buffer memory is stored in the buffer memory. Is configured to be printed. This eliminates the need to add a buffer memory and a field memory in order to improve the efficiency of digital image and analog image print processing as in the related art, and thus realizes cost reduction. . Furthermore, since the compressed digital image signal is input to the buffer memory, the number of images that can be stored in the buffer memory can be further increased,
Processing efficiency can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a video print system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the video print system according to the embodiment of the present invention when information is reproduced.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram at the time of recording information in the video print system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a recording track pattern on an 8 mm video tape.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the video print system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the video print system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a mode that can be set by a combination of a companding method of image data and an imaging format.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a compression mode and a data amount.

FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional video print system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 14 Video Printer 20a Analog Image Signal Input Terminal 26 Data Bus 41 Video Tape 42 Camcorder Controller (Search Unit) 46 Key Input Switch (Input Unit) 61 A / D Converter 65 Buffer Memory 66 Interface 67 Printer Controller 90 VTR Unit ( Image recording and retrieval device) 100 Video print system

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A first input means for inputting a compressed digital image signal, the compressed digital image signal of the first input means inputs
De a buffer memory, a second input means for inputting an analog image signal, an analog image signal input by said second input means for storing the No.
Digitized and stored in the buffer memory
And a compressed digital image stored in the buffer memory.
Expansion means for reading and expanding a signal; and the compressed digital image signal expanded by the expansion means
Storage control means for storing in a print buffer
The digitizing means stored in the buffer memory
Read out the analog image signal digitized by
A second storage control for storing the data in the print buffer.
Printing system characterized by a means.