JP3367954B2 - Print control device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to recording of a plurality of images.
Image information is read from the storage medium and printed
The present invention relates to a print control device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the spread of video tape recorders (hereinafter referred to as VTRs) such as camera body type video tape recorders and stationary type video tape recorders, these VTRs have become popular.
There is a demand to obtain a color print from a video signal reproduced from the.

Generally, when a screen corresponding to a video signal reproduced from a VTR is printed by a printer, a desired screen in the reproduced signal from the VTR is taken into a memory in the printer, and the video data is read from this memory at a predetermined speed. Is read out and printed out.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing a conventional system of this type. 81 is a VTR, 82 is a monitor, and 83 is a video printer. The operation of printing a desired screen among the many screens recorded on the tape will be briefly described below.

First, the VTR 81 is set in the reproduction mode, and the reproduction video signal from the VTR 81 is supplied to the monitor 82 and the printer 83. While confirming the screen displayed on the monitor 82, the operator operates the operation unit of the printer 83 at the timing when the desired screen is displayed. In response to this operation, the control unit 85 controls the memory unit 84 for one frame or one field (hereinafter, simply referred to as 1
Control is performed so as to record a video signal (referred to as a screen portion). After the memory section 84 fetches the video signal for one screen, the control section 85 controls the memory section 84 to read the video signal at a predetermined speed corresponding to the printing speed of the printing section 86. As a result, the printing unit 86 realizes printing of a desired screen. Incidentally, in the past, the video signal supplied from the VTR 81 to the printer 83 is generally an analog video signal. In addition, it is often the case that additional information such as date and time is superimposed on this video signal in advance and information such as shooting date and time is displayed during reproduction.

[0006]

[0007]

[0008]

The object of the invention is to be Solved However, the above-mentioned slave
Conventional video printer devices have the following problems.
It was That is, the user prints on the video printer device.
The print control information is
I could not know the contents of the report, so I printed which image
I couldn't easily get information such as what I did. Special
Is a recording medium on which print control information is recorded together with the image.
Knowing the contents of print control information
It wasn't easy. Therefore, the present invention provides a recording medium
View printed images even when you're not physically present
It is an object of the present invention to provide a print control device capable of confirming print control information with a key .

[0009]

[0010]

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a plurality of images and a pre-image from the plurality of images.
Print that includes image specification information that specifies the image to be printed
From the storage medium in which the control information and the
Print control information including constant information and the image designation information
Reading means for reading an image corresponding to the information, and the reading means
The print control information read by
When an instruction means for instructing whether to print with the read image and an instruction for printing the print control information by the instruction means are given, the image is printed together with the image designated by the image designation information. Regarding the image to be,
The print control information read by the reading means is printed.
And a print control means for controlling so as to perform printing. In further, it you <br/> characterized having printing means for printing according to the control of the print control means. Also, the print control information indicates the number of prints.
It is characterized in that it includes information about the information. Also, the storage medium
The print control information stored in the body is
Stored as non-code information, the print control means has a conversion means for converting the code information into an image signal, and the print control information converted into the image signal,
Characterized by printing together with the image to be printed
To do. Further, the image and the print control information are printed by different printing means. Also, additional information printed with the image
It is characterized by a bar code format.

[0012]

[0013]

According to the present invention, a plurality of images are read by the reading means.
Image finger that specifies the image to be printed from multiple images
Memory in which print control information including fixed information is recorded
Print control information including the image designation information from a medium;
And reading the image corresponding to the image specifying information, before
The print control information read by the recording / reading means is instructed.
Means for instructing whether or not to print with the image read by the reading means , and the instructing means for the print
When an instruction to print control information is performed, image and designated by the image designation information by the print control means preparative
Most of the time, the reading means is used to read the image to be printed.
Controls to print the print control information that is found.
Control.

[0014]

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

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a recording pattern on a tape which is a recording medium used in an 8 mm VTR to which the present invention is applied.

The video signal 18 is sent to the rotary drum 206 of the VTR.
A digital signal of an analog signal section (video area VA) of 0 degree and a scan end section of 5 degrees in total of 185 degrees, PCM (pulse code modulation) data (audio area AA), and additional data of this end portion (area PA). The tape T is loaded over a total of 228 degrees, which is 43 degrees in total in the section. That is, the still image (SV) information converted into PCM data is recorded at about 35 degrees in the central portion of the area AA.

Additional information such as a time coded shooting date and time is recorded in 40 bits of the word (WD) WD0 to WD4 each of which is composed of 8 bits in the rear data area of the area PA.

With the combination of these, it becomes possible to retrieve a desired specific screen from a large number of screens for high-quality digital still image information.

First, the general flow of the operation of the video print system will be described with reference to FIG.

Video information and additional data such as control signals and date / time information transferred from the VTR 1 to the video printer 3 via a data bus for digital I / F (interface) are stored in the memory section 31 and the control section 32, respectively. Is entered. The control unit 32 controls data selection and operation.

The date / time information and the comment information input from the character generator of the video camera 11 are converted into a video signal by the composite signal generation unit 38 for visualization as a video signal, and by the combiner 37 when the switch 391 is closed. It is combined with the still image information output from the memory unit 31 and printed on the print paper 4 by the printing unit 33.

On the other hand, the equivalent information is supplied to the printing unit 34 when the switch 392 is closed, and is normally recorded by the printing head in a region other than the printing area of the printing unit 33 on the print paper 4. Of course, it prints in the printing area,
It is also possible to perform composite printing on the print paper 4.

Further, the additional data of WD0 to WD1 may be directly processed as digital binary information by the bar code signal generator 341 and recorded on the print paper 4 by the printing unit 34. When recording, the switch 393 is controlled to be closed.

As described above, the above three types of recording are performed on the same paper 4, but the control of the paper feeding and positioning is performed by the control unit 32.
This is executed by the paper feeding mechanism 334 under the control of.

Further, a calendar & clock 36 is built in for performing processing relating to time such as date and time at the time of printing out, timer control of the whole, and this processing is performed by the additional information processing circuit 35 by the above-mentioned WD0 to WD.
It is processed together with data such as 4.

The switches 39 (391 to 393) have their operation contents detected by an operation unit 321 which is in charge of a manual operation button such as the mode changeover switch 30 provided in the printer 3 and processed by the control unit 32 to select (SELECT). ) Selected as a signal. The sensor unit 322 is a detection processor that is in charge of reading the barcode information shown in the lower left portion of the print example (composite mode) in FIG. The above operations and actions are performed by the VTR
It is performed while confirming by the video and audio (AV) monitor 2 connected to 1.

Next, an outline of a digital still image recording system called PCM-SV will be described with reference to FIG.

The video signal photographed and output by the video camera 41 is converted into three kinds of signals of Y (luminance), RY (red color difference) and BY (blue color difference) by the signal processing circuit 42. After being converted, each is A / D converter 431 to 4
It is converted into a digital signal by 33. Subsequently, the three kinds of signals are processed by the time division multiplex processing circuit 43 to be serial data, and stored in the memory 44, for example, "MAP".
It is stored as shown in. Writing to the memory 44 is performed at a high video rate, while reading is performed at a low bit rate according to the audio rate of the PCM circuit 45 in the subsequent stage.

Writing / reading (R /
W) and address control are executed by the system control circuit 49 and the memory control circuit 441 which receives the control. The still image data that has undergone such data rate conversion is
Recording is performed on the magnetic tape 48 by the VTR recording (REC) amplifier 46 and the rotary head 47. This PCM-SV
The data corresponds to 43 degrees near the start end in the scanning direction on the recording pattern of FIG.

Next, a specific example of executing printout will be described.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a VTR as an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the entire system including the VTR of FIG. In FIG. 1, 1 is V
TR, and the input video signal is, for example, VTR
A video signal from the integrated video camera 11 and a video signal from the stationary VTR 12 are assumed. In this example, the VTR 1 shown in FIG. 2 corresponds to the recorder portion of the stationary VTR 12, for example. The configuration shown in FIG. 2 can also be used as a recorder in the VTR-integrated video camera 11.

The video signal reproduced by the VTR 1 is supplied to the monitor 2 as an analog signal. The operator operates the VTR 12 while watching the image displayed on the monitor 2.
That is, when the desired screen to be printed approaches, the pause (pause) button 120 or the well-known joc shuttle dial 121 that freely changes the reproduction speed is operated to reproduce the desired screen by fast forward, rewind or slow reproduction. The tape is fed until it is stopped, and the tape is stopped when the desired screen is displayed. In this embodiment, the print designation button 122 is operated while the desired screen is displayed,
Record the processed data for printing on tape.

Hereinafter, such operation will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

First, the VTR 12 is set to the reproduction mode by operating the key operation unit 200 of FIG. At this time, the system controller 201 controls each part of the device according to the control signal from the key operation part 200. For example, the system controller 201 controls the capstan motor 203 and the drum motor 204 via the servo circuit 202, and the switches 209, 210, 212 via the selection signal generator 225.
a, 212b, 214, 215, 220 are controlled. Of course, in this playback mode, the dial 121,
The playback speed is appropriately changed by operating the pause button 120 or the like. This change can be realized by changing the rotation speed of the capstan motor 203, and further, the relative speed between the heads Ha and Hb and the tape T can be kept constant by changing the rotation speed of the drum motor 204. It should be noted that it is assumed that the head moving mechanisms Ma and Mb always compensate the difference between the head trace locus and the track inclination. In such a reproduction mode, reproduced video signals from the recording / reproducing heads Ha and Hb provided on the drum 206 are made continuous signals through the PB side terminals of the switches 212a and 212b, the amplifiers 213a and 213b, and further the switch 214. And is input to the video reproduction signal processing circuit 218. The video signal from the video reproduction signal processing circuit 218 is output to the monitor 2 via the PB side of the switch 220 and the N side of the switch 229.

On the other hand, the digital data reproduced from the audio area AA and the data area PA in FIG. 3 is passed through the switch 214, the normally closed switch 215 and the code data decoder 219, and in the case of an audio signal, D / A. It is converted into an analog signal by the converter 230 and output, and in the case of still image data, it is temporarily stored in the image memory 217 via the SV side terminal of the switch 251.

While checking the output image of the monitor 2, the operator operates the dial 121 or the like to search for a desired screen. Then, when the desired screen is displayed, the pause button 120 is operated to set the VTR 12 to the still image reproduction mode. In this state, the cue signal driving button 122
When is operated, this information is sent from the key operation unit 200 to the system controller 201. The above operation is related to the selection of the screen.

By rewriting the header portion of the track corresponding to the screen selected in this way to the indexed INDEX state, the screen-designated recording on the tape can be executed. This corresponds to the head 1.26H in the PA section of FIG. By detecting this cueing signal, even if it is desired to print the same screen again, the search can be easily performed.

In addition, printer control data such as the number of prints (hereinafter referred to as print data) is generated by the print data generator 224, sent to the code data encoder 208, and similarly sent to the display signal generator 222. . Here, the reproduction video signal output through the switch 220 and the output signal of the display signal generator 222 corresponding to the print data are mixed by the adder 226, and a character indicating the print data is displayed on the image to be printed. A video signal corresponding to the multiplexed screen is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 227. The output of the A / D converter 227 is supplied to the image memory 217. At this time, the print data generator 224 causes the memory control circuit 21 to operate.
According to the instruction of 6, the video signal for one frame is fetched from the A / D converter 227, and this is repeatedly read. As a result, the video signal from the image memory 217 is converted into an analog signal by the A / D converter 223 and output to the monitor 2 via the S side of the switch 229.

Normally, when the VTR of FIG. 2 is set to the recording mode, the video signal input to the video recording signal processing circuit 207 is supplied to the switch 210 in a signal form suitable for recording. On the other hand, the audio signal digitized by the A / D converter 230D or the digitized still image data is also read out from the image memory 217 at a data rate equivalent to that of the audio signal and read out by the switch 2
According to 50, the AUD terminal is selected for voice and the SV terminal is selected for still image. The selected signal or data is coded by the code data encoder 208 and supplied to the switch 210 via the normally closed switch 209. The switch 210 connects the video recording signal processing circuit 207 to the amplifiers 211a and 211b during the period in which the heads Ha and Hb trace the video area VA in FIG. 3, and during the period in which the heads Ha and Hb trace the audio area AA in FIG. The code data encoder 208 and the amplifier 21
Connect to 1a and 211b.

When recording is performed, the switch 209 is controlled by the signal C3 from the selection signal generator 225, and the head H is placed on the data area PA corresponding to a part of the postamble part and the guard section of the audio area AA.
It is turned on only during a trace of a and Hb. In addition, the switches 212a, 212 can be operated only during this period by the signal C1.
b is connected to the REC side. As a result, the data encoded by the code data encoder 208, the cue signal, the time code such as date and time information, etc. can be recorded in the data area PA on the tape T.

The data area PA is 1.5H of the video signal.
(For horizontal scanning period). That is, the aforementioned switch 209 is turned on only during the period corresponding to this 1.5H.
The area for 1.5H is divided into a header portion for 1.26H and a data portion for 0.24H as shown in FIG. A cueing signal, which will be described later, is recorded in the header section, and the above data is recorded in the data section. As shown in FIG. 3, the data section includes five words WD0 to WD4, start identification data S, end identification data E, and CRC for error correction.
C is recorded. Each word WD0 to WD4 consists of 8 bits, and the content of each word is as shown in FIG.

5a shows the shooting date and day of the week and the error correction code in the date mode, FIG. 5b shows the shooting hour / minute / second, the frame number and the error correction code in the time mode, and FIG. 5c shows the elapsed time. In the mode, the hour, minute, second from the tape start end, the frame number, and the error correction are each represented by 8 bits. Note that each mode in FIG. 5 may be appropriately selected, or a plurality (for example, a and c in FIG. 5) may be alternately recorded on the track.

A cue signal indicating the print position is recorded in the INDEX area. At this time, the system controller 201 drives the capstan motor 203 at the same speed as in normal recording, and records the cue signal for 10 seconds in the header section. For example, the header section is usually 2.9MHz
The carrier signal of 5.8 MHz is recorded in the portion corresponding to the above 10 seconds.

Next, the operation of printing the print designation screen from the tape for which the print designation screen is set in this way will be described.

First, when a tape on which a print designation screen is set is loaded in the VTR 12 and a print command is issued by the key operation unit 200, the system controller 201 drives the capstan motor 203 and the drum motor 204 via the servo circuit 202. Then, the signal from the print data area PA is reproduced while the tape T is being conveyed at a high speed. At this time, the switches 212a and 212b are connected to the PB side, and the switch 214 is connected to the amplifiers 213a and 213b on the code data decoder side. The switch 215 is turned on when the heads Ha and Hb trace the print data area PA, and the code data decoder 21
When the reproduction signal of the header section is 5.8 MHz, 9 outputs "1" as a cue signal. In response to the fact that this cue signal becomes "1", the system controller 2
01 stops the transport of the tape T. After the tape T is stopped, the reproduction screen is printed as follows.

When the tape T is stopped, the heads Ma and Mb on the head moving mechanism trace the recorded tracks of the designated screen, and the reproduced video signal at this time is the video reproduction signal processing circuit 218 and the adder 226. , A /
It is taken into the image memory 217 via the D converter 227. In addition, the print data is the code data decoder 21.
Via the printer control signal generator 221 functioning as an interface. When the acquisition of these is completed, the data stored in the image memory 217 and the print control data output from the printer control signal generator 221 are transferred to the printer data bus 228.

The printer 3 prints the video data from the printer data bus 228 in accordance with the control data, and when the printing is completed, sends the data indicating the completion of printing to the data bus 228. Then, the print end data from the printer 3 is sent to the system controller 201 via the printer control signal generator 221, and along with this, the VTR 12
Starts high-speed transport of the tape to search for the next designated screen.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show print application examples output from the system according to such an embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows an example of printing when the image composition mode is selected by the mode changeover switch 30. In FIG. 1, digital video signals are supplied from the VTR unit 1 to the memory unit 31 and control data to the control unit 32 via the data bus. When printing the date and time in the video composition mode, the switch 391 is connected to the terminal MIX side. The date and time information output from the control unit 32 is converted into a video signal by the composite signal generation unit 38, and superimposed on the video signal output from the memory unit 31 by the combiner 37. In the combined state, the printing unit 33 prints out the image area.

In FIG. 6, the print data of WD0 to WD4 described above is recorded as a bar code in the lower left part. If the printer 3 is provided with the bar code recording / reproducing function, it is possible to retrieve the original video signal on the tape T from this print.

FIG. 7 shows a print example when the character separation mode is selected by the mode changeover switch 30. To execute this print mode, the switch 392 is connected to the terminal SEPA side. The additional information processed by the control unit 32 is printed by the printing unit 34 in areas other than the video area. In this example, the shooting date is extracted from the time code recorded in the sub code area (PA period in FIG. 3) by the video camera 11, and the time information of the calendar & clock unit 36 in the printer 3 is used. The shooting date and the printing date shown in the lower part of FIG. 7 can be printed out separately from the image.

The time code in the print data WD0 to WD4 can record the frame number from the beginning of the tape in addition to the shooting date. By using these information, the video signal on the tape T and the PCM can be recorded. -The SV recording portion can be easily searched. When the additional information such as the date is unnecessary, it can be easily realized by turning off the switch 39.

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

[0054]

As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of
Image and the images to be printed from the multiple images.
Print control information including image specifying information to be recorded is recorded.
If the information on the stored storage medium is read and printed,
Print control information along with the image
Prints even when there is no recording medium originally
Check print control information just by looking at what was done
be able to. For example, as print control information, an image
You can print which image by printing the specified information.
Can be recognized, and the number information can be printed
To recognize how many other prints have been made
You can In addition, the print control information can be
You can select whether or not to print the print control information.
If you do not need to know the contents or do not want to know
It is especially effective.

[0055]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a system of a video printer device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of a VTR as an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a recording pattern on a tape of a VTR implemented in the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a PCM-SV used in the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a time code recording example implemented in the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a print example of a composite mode implemented in the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a print example of a separation mode implemented in the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a conventional system for performing video printing.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 VTR (video tape recorder) 2 monitors 3 video printer 4 print paper 11,41 video camera 31 memory 32 control unit 33 Printing department 34 Printing section 200 key operation part 201 system controller

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-64-50680 (JP, A) JP-A-56-5775 (JP, A) JP-A-64-11471 (JP, A) JP-A-64- 72674 (JP, A) Actual development 3-468 (JP, U) Actual development 1-86551 (JP, U) Actual development 63-81449 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 5/76 -5/956 B41J 5/30

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of images and a pre-printed image from the plurality of images.
Print that includes image specification information that specifies the image to be printed
From the storage medium in which the control information and the
Print control information including constant information and the image designation information
The read control means for reading the image corresponding to the information and the print control information read by the read means.
And instruction means for instructing whether or not to print with the image whose serial reading unit has read, when an instruction to print the print control information is made in the instruction unit, said designated by image designation information image
Also, the reading means for the image to be printed
To print the print control information read by
Print control apparatus characterized by having a print control means for controlling the. 2. A further, the printing control apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a printing means for printing according to the control of the print control means. 3. The print control information is the number of prints.
The information according to claim 1 or 2 , including information about
The print control device described. 4. A print stored in the storage medium.
The control information is stored as code information that is not an image signal.
The print control means has a conversion means for converting the code information into an image signal, which is converted into an image signal.
Print control information with the image to be printed
Print control apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that to print. 5. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image and the print control information are printed by different printing means. 6. An additional information printed together with the image.
Distribution is claim 1, characterized in that the bar code format
6. The print control device according to any one of 5 to 5.