JP3132476B2 - Printing apparatus and printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable optimal image printing by automatically printing an image by judging an optimal ratio ought to print the image from the number of scanning lines of a video input signal and a horizontal scanning frequency. SOLUTION: The horizontal scanning frequency of a video input signal to be measured by a first CPU1 18 is received and a sampling clock frequency is calculated by a second CPU2 24. When the frequency is judged to be larger than 40 MHz by the second CPU2 24, it is set to 40 MHz and horizontal size is calculated for the vide input signal based on the frequency. Then, vertical size whose a vertical effective ratio is considered to be most appropriate for the number of scanning lines is calculated. Thus, when the calculation of an auto-scan value is completed and a mode is judged to be in an auto-scan mode by the second CPU2 24, a feed pitch is calculated. Then, an image is printed by calculating the feed pitch based on the previous image data stored in an image printing set value memory.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a printing method suitable for use in a multi-scan video printer for printing different types of video input signals.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, different types, for example, NTSC
A multi-scan video printer is known in which a video signal of a personal computer and a video signal of a personal computer are input to one printing apparatus, and an image corresponding to the video input signal can be printed on a recording paper using a thermal head or the like. Have been.

In the multi-scan video printer as described above, in particular, the number of scanning lines and horizontal scanning frequency of an input signal when printing various medical images and the like are determined by the number of scanning lines and horizontal frequency of a video signal for television. It was significantly different from the aspect ratio and the like.

[0004]

As described above, when the number of scanning lines and the horizontal scanning frequency of the video input signal input to the multi-scan video printer change, the conventional multi-scan video printer uses various items as described below. Had to be set manually.

(A) Setting of a horizontal print area value of a memory in a multi-scan video printer. (B) Setting of the vertical print area value of the memory in the multi-scan video printer. (C) Setting the number of sampling dots in one horizontal period, that is, setting of the sampling frequency. (D) Setting of horizontal print size value (print horizontal dimension) to be printed. (E) Setting of the vertical print size value (print vertical dimension) to be printed.

There is a problem that such various values cannot be input unless a person who fully understands the properties of the video signal input to the multi-scan video printer.

Further, even if the image area is automatically set, there is a problem that if a slight shift occurs, it is not possible to immediately correct the image area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the problem to be solved by the invention is that even if the number of scanning lines and the horizontal scanning frequency of an input signal to a printing apparatus are different, An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus and a printing method in which an optimum printing can be automatically performed according to a video input signal in a printing apparatus, and a setting state of an automatically set image can be corrected by a manual operation. is there.

[0009]

A printing apparatus according to the present invention has a setting means for automatically setting a printing area based on information on a horizontal component and a vertical component for forming an image, and a setting means for automatically setting the printing area. Manual adjustment means for manually adjusting the printing area. According to the printing method of the present invention, a first step of automatically setting a printing area based on information on a horizontal component and a vertical component forming an input image, and the printing area automatically set in the first step is used. A second step of adjusting manually,
Consisting of:

According to the printing apparatus and the printing method of the present invention, the printing apparatus enters a multi-scan state simply by selecting an operation button for auto scanning, and the video apparatus responds to a plurality of different video input signals input to the printing apparatus. Since an optimum ratio to be printed is determined based on the number of scanning lines of the input signal and the horizontal scanning frequency and printing is automatically performed, optimum printing can be performed. In addition, even when the automatic printing is set to be slightly shifted, it is possible to easily make a correction.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the printing apparatus and printing method of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG.
FIG. 1 is a system diagram of the printing apparatus of the present invention. Prior to the description of FIG. 1, the overall panel configuration will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the panel of this embodiment.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a panel of a housing of a printing apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as a multi-scan video printer). Reference numeral 2 denotes a lid for inserting unrecorded photographic paper. The lid 2 is opened by pressing a push button 3. Reference numeral 4 denotes a control panel, which will be described later with reference to FIG. 6 indicates a power button,
The power is turned on and off by pressing. Reference numeral 7 denotes a discharge port from which the printed photographic paper is discharged.

The various operation buttons on the control panel 4 are shown in FIG.
This will be described with an enlarged view of FIG. The operation state is displayed on the LCD 5, and a menu of various items is displayed by pressing the print adjustment button group 9 and the preset button 10.

The printer operation button group 8 includes a print button 8
a, a copy button 8b, a feed button 8c, a cut button 8d, and a skip button 8e. When the print button 8a is pressed,
In the single picture mode (a mode in which one image is printed on one photographic paper), a video input signal image is stored in a memory, and a printed video input signal image is obtained. In a multi-picture mode (a mode in which a plurality of images are printed on one photographic paper), a video input signal is stored in a memory.

When the copy button 8b is pressed, the same printed photographic paper can be obtained in the single picture mode. In the multi-picture mode, a plurality of video input signals stored in the memory are printed out.

When the feed button 8c is pressed, printing is stopped, the photographic paper is discharged from the discharge port 7, and the cut button 8d
The printing paper is cut by pressing. Incidentally, when the skip button 8e is pressed, one of the memory positions can be moved.

The print adjustment button group 9 is used for adjusting or setting predetermined items of various print modes displayed on the LCD 5. The print adjustment button group 9 includes a scan adjust button 9a and a picture mode button. 9
b, and the function of each of these buttons having the format button 9c will be described later.

When the preset button 10 is pressed, the values selected in the picture mode (the mode in which the picture mode button 9b is pressed) and the scan mode (the mode in which the scan adjust button 9a is pressed) are saved, and the saved values are loaded.

The cursor button 11 is used to select the value of an item indicated by operating the print adjustment button group 9 and the preset button 10.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a mode selection button group. The mode selection button group 12 includes an input select button 12a, a multi-picture button 12b, an auto cut button 12c, and an auto scan button 12d. Press to composite video or R (red), G
Input signals such as (green) and B (blue) video are selected.

Pressing the multi-picture 12d turns the multi-picture mode "on" or "off". When the auto cut button 12c is pressed, the auto cut mode is turned “on” or “off”. When the auto scan button 12d is pressed, the auto scan mode is turned "on" or "off".

Reference numeral 13 denotes a group of mode indicators, and various LEDs blink. Press the input select button 12a,
When the composite video signal is selected, the input video LED 13a is turned on, and when the R, G, B video signal is selected, the input R, G, B LED 13b is turned on.

Similarly, when the multi-picture button 12b is pressed, the multi-picture LED 13c is turned on. When an error is detected in the printer, the alarm LED 13d is turned on. When the auto-cut button 12c is selected, the auto-cut LED 13e is turned on. The LED is turned on, and the auto scan LED is turned on when the auto scan button 12d is selected.

In order to print or print out with the above-described configuration, basically, first, the power is turned on by pressing the power button 6 and then the input select button 12a is pressed, so that the composite video or R, G, Select the B video signal.

Next, it is confirmed that the auto scan LED 13f in the mode indicator 13 is lit, and if it is off, the auto scan button 12d is pressed, and then the multi-picture button 13b is pressed to print in the single picture mode or the multi-picture mode. Select whether to print with.

When the single picture mode is selected, an appropriate image is printed out by pressing the print button 8a, and when the multi picture mode is selected, data is stored in the memory by pressing the print button 8a. Is done.

Further, by pressing the copy button 8b, a multi-picture in which four images are printed on an appropriate recording sheet, for example, is printed out.

Next, a system diagram in the multi-scan video printer as described above will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 1, the input terminal 14 is, for example, NTS
A C composite video signal or R, G, B video signals and the like are input.

These selected video signals are supplied to a video signal processing circuit 15 via an input terminal 14, and the video signal processing circuit 15 performs various video processing of, for example, a composite video signal supplied to the input terminal 14. And at the same time separate the video signal 15b and the synchronization signal 15a,
The synchronization signal 15a is supplied to a clock generation circuit 17 and a first computer (hereinafter, referred to as CPU ₁ ) 18.

The video signal 15b separated by the video signal processing circuit 15 is supplied to an analog / digital conversion circuit (hereinafter referred to as A / D) 16, converted into a digital signal, and stored in the memory 22.

The clock generation circuit 17 is a PLL configuration, based on the synchronizing signal 15a from the video signal processing circuit 15 in the first CPU ₁ 18, the number of scanning lines of the video input signal, the horizontal scanning frequency or the like is measured, Based on this measurement result, the sampling frequency is set in the clock generation circuit 17 and the clock generation circuit 17 outputs a sampling clock synchronized with the horizontal synchronization signal (H sync).

The A / D 16 performs sampling at the timing of the sampling clock, and the video signal 15b is written into the memory 22.

The video input signal written in the memory 22 in this manner is transmitted to the first CPU ₁ via the memory control circuit 23.
18 reads the data of the video signal 15b in the memory,
It is supplied to the print control circuit 19. The print control circuit 19 develops print or print data to be printed on the printing paper 21 by the thermal head 20, and transfers the print or print data to the thermal head 20.

[0035] (hereinafter referred to as CPU ₂₎ the second computer 24 is connected by a first CPU ₁ 18 and the data bus,
The second CPU ₂ 24 performs such operation of the host computer.

That is, the second CPU ₂ 24 controls the memory control circuit 23, the print control circuit 19, the motor control circuit 25, etc. to display various items on the LCD 5 and to perform various scans from the control panel 4. Generates a corresponding signal. In particular, the CPU ₂ 24 is configured to control the speed of the photographic paper feeding motor 26 so that the determined aspect ratio is obtained.

The operation of this embodiment of the multi-scan video printer constructed as described above will be described with reference to FIGS.

In this embodiment, optimum printing can be automatically performed for video input signals having different numbers of scanning lines and horizontal scanning frequencies supplied to the input terminal 14, and the printing area automatically printed can be modified. It was made.

[0039] First, the power supply by pressing the power button 6 shown in a first step ST ₁ in FIG. 1 as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 is "on".

In the next second step ST ₂ , the CPU ₂ 24
Sets the last set value as the set value, and returns to the third step S
To determine whether no input or not at T _3. If there is no input, a no input is displayed on the LCD ₅ as shown in a fourth step ST4, and the process proceeds to later.

[0041] selecting the aspect ratio manually fifth step ST ₅ If the video signal at the third step ST ₃ is inputted. This aspect ratio is determined by the picture mode button 9b.
Press, the aspect ratio on the LCD 5 is 1: 1,
Since 4: 3 and 16: 9 are displayed, the aspect ratio is selected by designating the aspect ratio to be selected using the cursor button 11.

After such aspect ratio selection, the second CPU ₂ 24 enters a sixth step ST ₆ for calculating an auto scan value. In the sixth step, the calculation of the auto scan value is performed based on the flowchart of FIG.

That is, the first step STP6-1 in FIG.
In the horizontal scanning frequency of the video input signal a first CPU ₁ 18 is measured (hereinafter referred to as fH) second CPU ₂
The sampling clock frequency fs is calculated by calculating a value obtained by multiplying this fH by, for example, a value of 1482.

The value of 1482 is to be printed, for example, in the horizontal direction of the thermal head 20 which determines a horizontal size 28 indicated by a portion c other than the portion b excluding at least the horizontal synchronization signal in the printing area 27 shown in FIG. It is obtained from the number of elements.

Although the number of elements in the horizontal direction of a normal thermal head 20 is about 1280 dots, the number of effective dots is one.
If 216 dots are taken and the horizontal effective ratio of this value is 0.82, then 1216/1482 ≒ 0.82, and 1482
Is obtained.

Thus, the sampling clock frequency fs
It has been obtained a second CPU ₂ 24 In the second step STP6-2 in Figure 5, the sampling frequency fs
Is greater than 40 MHz.

The value of 40 MHz is the value of A /
It is determined by the limit value of D16 and the drive frequency of the memory 22. If the sampling frequency fs is not higher than 40 MHz in the second step STP6-2, the horizontal size 28 is determined to be 1216 in the next fourth step STP6-4.

If the sampling frequency fs is larger than 40 MHz in the second step STP6-2, the second CPU
₂ After 24 determines, in a third step STP6-3 set the sampling frequency fs = 40 MHz, on the basis of the sampling frequency fs, the next fifth step STP
The horizontal size 28 is obtained in 6-5.

In the fifth step STP6-5, calculation of horizontal size = 40 MHz / fH × 0.82 is performed, that is, a value of 82% of the number of dots in one horizontal line is calculated. In this way, the horizontal size 28 is calculated corresponding to the video input signal.

In the next sixth step STP6-6, the vertical size is calculated. The vertical vertical size 29 of the number of lines d of scanning lines of the current 1V measured by the first CPU ₁ 18 as shown in FIG. 6, except the e-line at least as blanking, the f line period For printing, the number of scanning lines is multiplied by the most appropriate vertical effective ratio, for example, 0.92 to obtain the vertical size.

When the calculation of the auto scan value in the sixth step ST ₆ shown in FIG. 4 is completed, the second CPU ₂
24 performs an auto scan mode determines whether the seventh step ST _7.

[0052] proceed to the eighth step ST ₈ if it is not auto-scan mode. This At eighth step ST ₈ auto scan button 12d is made to "OFF" state, in this case, the drive frequency sampling frequency and the like of the video input signal has the multiscan video printer when extremely high such limit May be exceeded.
Further, when the number of lines is smaller than the set value or the like, even if the auto scan button 12d is turned off, the printed image is indeterminate and has no meaning.

[0053] Accordingly, an eighth step in ST ₈ limit comparison setting values with the current setting and the video input signal is made, "NG" state in the case when the ninth auto scan button to LCD5 proceeds to step ST ₉ An instruction to press 12d is issued.

After the completion of the ninth step ST ₉ and the eighth step ST ₉
In the case of OK state in the step ST ₈ proceed together. Further advances in the tenth step ST ₁₀ if the printer is made to auto-scan mode state in the seventh step ST _7. Changing the auto scan value calculated in the tenth step ST sixth step ST ₆ in _10. That is, the setting value for taking in the memory 22 is rewritten. The tenth step ST ₁₀ after the end goes to. Proceeds to the eleventh step ST ₁₁ from are shown in the upper left of the flow chart of FIG. 4, a video input signal in the eleventh step ST ₁₁ it is determined whether the change.

[0055] when the video input signal is changed back to the third step ST _3, it will be performed again calculates the auto scan values. If there is no change, whether the print button 8a In a 12 step ST ₁₂ is pressed a second CPU ₂ 24 determines.

In this print operation, a print-in setting memory-in and a print operation are performed. If the print button 8a is pressed, the operation will be described later. Print button 8a
The second CPU determines whether or not the copy button 8b has been pressed but proceeds to the thirteenth step ST ₁₃ if it is not pressed
₂ 24 Similarly performed, leading to later if "YES".

[0057] and the flow proceeds to the fourteenth step ST _14, if "NO" in the first 13 step ST _13.

A twelfth step S determines whether or not printing is to be performed.
If performed in T ₁₂ "YES" the flow proceeds to a twentieth step ST ₂₀ of color in the flowchart shown in upper right of FIG. 4, the second CPU ₂ 24 determines whether an error.

This error exists in the fourth step ST ₄
When no input is displayed on the LCD5 like a, and is when the instruction is given to press the auto scan button to LCD5 like the ninth step ST _9, the process returns to any errors, if there is no error 21st step ST ₂₁
Performs a change of print settings as of, takes in the set value memory change in the first 22 step ST ₂₂ of the next, the next of the 23
Feed in step ST ₂₃ the calculation of the pitch is performed.

This feed pitch is calculated as follows.

[0061] printing as shown in 24 step ST ₂₄ in the pitch feed in this manner is required is performed. If the copy button 8b is pressed, the process goes to the 23rd step ST
_{In step 23} , the feed pitch is calculated and printed based on the previous image data stored in the print setting value memory.

[0062] Again, a description of the fourteenth step ST ₁₄ shown on the left side of FIG. 1. In a 14 step ST ₁₄ is auto-scan mode is judged whether it is "on" to "off".

If the state changes from “off” to “on”, the first
Setting 0 Step ST ₁₀ to change the auto scan values,
If "NO" in the first 15 step ST ₁₅ Auto Scan Mode it is determined whether "on" is returned to the 11 step ST ₁₁ if "YES", if "NO",
Set proceed to the 16th step ST ₁₆ determines whether Edetto state.

That is, in this case, it is possible to set the data value to be printed by the multiple operation. Although returned to the 11 step ST _11, if "NO" is at the 16 step ST _16, "YES" change setting by the manual operation in the 17 step ST _17, if it is performed.

This state will be described with reference to FIGS. Operation buttons for performing a manual operation in this setting edit include a format button 9c, a picture mode button 9b, and a scan adjust button 9a.

Of these operation buttons, the format button 9
c designates post feed, page size, caption, baud rate, parity, etc., and picture mode button 9b designates contrast, brightness, the above-mentioned aspect ratio, high, medium, low filter, negative, positive state, etc. However, since these are not directly related to the present example, detailed description is omitted.

When the scan adjust button 9a is pressed, various items are displayed on the LCD 5 as shown in FIG.

In the display 5a, the frame or field signal is input to the memory for printout by selecting the frame or the field by using the cursor button 11 for the video input signal.

The display 5b indicates the horizontal shift amount in dot units, and adjusts the horizontal shift amount 30 in FIG. 6. The 0 dot indicates a position that has not been shifted in the horizontal direction from the position set in the auto scan mode. .

That is, to set 0 dots based on the auto scan mode and, for example, to shift 20 dots to the left, press the <button of the cursor button 11 until the display of "20 dots left" appears. Then, as shown by the broken line in FIG. 6, the print area 27 is horizontally shifted leftward by 20 dots.

The next display 5c is used when manually setting the horizontal size 28 in units of dots, and the length in the horizontal direction, that is, the horizontal size, is C = 1216 as calculated earlier.
Dot, for example, the length in the total horizontal direction is a (1H)
= 1482 dots.

The display 5d shows the vertical shift amount 3 in line units.
In adjusting 1, the 0 line represents a position that is not shifted vertically from the position set in the auto scan mode.

That is, when the line is set to 0 based on the auto scan mode, for example, to shift down 10 lines, the user presses the ∨ button of the cursor button 11 to display “10
It is sufficient to press until the display "under the line" is displayed.

In this way, the vertical shift of the print area 27 by 10 lines is performed in the range indicated by the vertical shift 31 in FIG.

The display 5e is used when the vertical size 29 in units of lines is manually set. The measured number of lines in the vertical direction 2d = 2V is 52 in the NTSC system.
There are five, but at least 2f = 478 excluding at least the blanking section 2e.

The display 5f is used for adjusting the aspect. When changing the aspect, pressing the> button of the cursor buttons 11 enlarges the image in the horizontal direction, and pressing the <button displays the image in the horizontal direction. Is reduced.

[0077] When the scan adjustment by manual operation of such various items finish, the second CPU ₂ 24 proceeds to the eighteenth step ST _18, the limit comparison setting values with the current setting and the video input signal a 8 steps S
Carried out in the same manner as the T _8.

[0078] This is because those through the ninth step ST ₉ to instruct the pressing of the auto scan button 12c passes through the first 11 steps ST ₁₁ ~ 17 step ST _17, the if the comparison output is "NG" but back to the 11 step ST _11,
"OK" is long press-Auto scan message by a 19 step ST _19, namely a first erase an instruction to press the auto scan button displayed on the LCD5
It has been made as return to one step ST _11.

As described above, this embodiment is provided with an auto scan mode in which optimal printing is automatically performed for video input signals having different numbers of scanning lines and different horizontal frequencies. In the auto scan mode, measurement is always performed. Based on the number of scanning lines of the video input signal and the horizontal scanning frequency, print areas in the horizontal and vertical directions are determined based on the ratio of the standard video signal.

That is, in the vertical direction, the e-line is omitted and the f-line is printed as the blanking as shown in FIG. It is determined by multiplying by a fixed ratio.

Further, the horizontal direction is determined in dot units, and when printing is performed as in the printing area 27 in FIG. 6, the optimum size is obtained from the number of elements of the thermal head 20 so that the optimum image size is obtained. If it is composed of g dot elements, the length c dot of the horizontal size 28 in FIG. 6 may be equal to g dot, and the number of dots and one horizontal period (1
Obtains the total number of dots of 1H from the reference proportion of printing area 27 in H), the sampling frequency fs is obtained from the horizontal scanning frequency and the total number of dots that is measured by the first CPU ₁ 18.

In practice, the sampling frequency fs is set to an upper limit of 40 MHz due to the limitation of the driving frequency of the A / D 16 and the memory 22 in the printer, and the number of dots is inversely calculated from the maximum operable sampling frequency fs to perform printing. To obtain a normal image.

Further, in the vertical direction, the printing pitch per line is calculated so that the printing range has a predetermined aspect ratio, the speed of the paper feed motor 26 is controlled, and printing is performed at this printing pitch. Thus, even if a plurality of different video input signals are input, printing with a predetermined aspect ratio can be performed in an optimum size and in an optimum range.

Further, with respect to a video input signal which is not optimal at a standard printing ratio, if an image is missing when printed, the video input signal does not greatly deviate from the setting of the auto scan mode. Manually adjusted with the adjust button, and these finely adjusted items are made to vary with the relative value to the auto scan value, so it is easy to adjust even if you do not understand the signal specification of the video input signal correctly as before Can be performed.

It is apparent that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but can be variously modified without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0086]

According to the conventional printing apparatus, each time the video input signal changes, it is necessary to correctly understand the specifications of the video input signal and manually input various items.
According to the present invention, the video input signal is always measured, and the optimum printing is performed based on the information of the video input signal, so that the printing can be automatically performed in the optimum size and the optimum range is determined, and the auto scan is performed. Even if the image is slightly shifted in the mode, an effect that can be easily adjusted manually can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a panel of the printing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of a button operation unit of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of calculating an auto scan value illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for setting a print area.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an operation function of a scan adjustment button.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ‥‥ panel, 2 ‥‥ lid, 4 ‥‥ control panel, 5 ‥
{LCD, 8} Printer operation button group, 9} Print adjustment button group, 10} Preset button, 11} Cursor button group, 12} Mode select button group, 13} Mode indicator, 18 # 1 CPU ₁ , 22 ‥‥ memory,
24 ‥‥ second CPU ₂

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-62-187928 (JP, A) JP-A-61-260331 (JP, A) JP-A-61-267469 (JP, A) (58) Field (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 5/76-5/937 B41J 21/00-21/18

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] 1. A setting means for automatically setting a printing area based on information on a horizontal component and a vertical component forming an image, and means for manually adjusting the printing area automatically set by the setting means. A printing apparatus, comprising: an adjusting unit. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the manual adjustment means shifts the printing area in a horizontal direction or a vertical direction. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the manual adjustment means changes an aspect ratio of the printing area. 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying an adjustment state, wherein a result of the adjustment by said manual adjustment means is displayed on said display means. 5. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying a print area, wherein the set print area is displayed on the display means. 6. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said setting means provides a predetermined non-printing area. 7. A step of automatically setting a printing area based on information on a horizontal component and a vertical component forming an input image; and b) removing the printing area automatically set in the step a). Manually adjusting the printing method.