JPH03243988A - Video printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To scroll the content of an image, which is printed out, on the screen of a monitor and to simplify the constitution of a video printer by supplying image data within a display area to the monitor of prescribed vertical and horizontal scanning frequencies and displaying it. CONSTITUTION:A means 19 which specifies the display areas AR0 and AR1 for an image memory 8, read-out means 17 and 18 which read out the image data within the areas AR0 and AR1 from the memory 8 and the means 17 which supplies the read-out image data to the monitor 26 of the prescribed vertical and horizontal scanning frequencies are provided. Therefore, the image data within the specified display areas AR0 and AR1 is displayed on the monitor 26. By incrementing the address of the starting points PS1 and PS2 of the areas AR0 and AR1, the image data in the memory 8 can be scrolled and displayed on the screen of the monitor 26. Thus, the constitution of the video printer is simplified and the cost thereof is made low.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a video printer, and particularly to a multi-scan type video printer that can print out image data supplied from various computers.

[Summary of the invention]

In a video printer, the present invention includes means for specifying a display area in an image memory, means for reading out image data within the display area from the image memory, and a means for scanning sequentially outputted image data in predetermined vertical and horizontal scans. By providing means for supplying frequency to a monitor, the contents of the image to be printed out can be scrolled on the monitor screen, the configuration of the video printer can be simplified, the video printer can be made inexpensive, and the monitor This also allows the use of an inexpensive monitor instead of a multi-scan monitor.

[Conventional technology]

There are video printers that can obtain hard copies of images from image sources such as tuners, VTRs, video disc playback devices, computers, and the like. 2. Description of the Related Art A so-called multi-scan printer is known as a video printer that can print images in accordance with different vertical scanning frequencies and horizontal scanning frequencies supplied to each image source.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

Generally, video printers allow users to check captured images in advance before printing them out.

The configuration of monitoring when the image source is a computer is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

As shown in FIG. 4, when image data, a vertical synchronization signal, a horizontal synchronization signal, etc. are supplied from the computer 35 to the video printer 36, the video printer 36 captures the image data into the image memory, and also outputs the image data to the computer 35. Image data, a vertical synchronization signal, a horizontal synchronization signal, etc. are supplied to a monitor 37 for use in the computer.

The image captured by the video printer 36 can be confirmed in advance through the monitor 37. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a monitor 38 may be provided on the side of the video printer 36 so that images captured by the video printer 36 can be confirmed in advance. This monitor 37.3 is a so-called multi-scan monitor that is configured so that even if the supplied vertical scanning frequency and horizontal scanning frequency are changed by the computer 35, images can be displayed accordingly.

In the configuration shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, if the computer 35 is powered off, the computer 35
Since vertical synchronization signals, horizontal synchronization signals, etc. are no longer supplied from the video printer 36 side, the video printer 36 itself must form vertical synchronization signals, horizontal synchronization signals, etc., and supply them to the monitor 36.

- When the image source for boat fishing is a computer, the frequency of the dot black ivy is high and diverse, so if this configuration is actually used, the video printer 3
The vertical synchronizing signals and horizontal synchronizing signals supplied from the video printer 36 side must also be designed to be able to supply various vertical synchronizing signals and horizontal synchronizing signals based on various standards, making the configuration of the video printer 36 complicated and extremely costly. It is likely to be expensive.

Furthermore, such a configuration may not be able to support signals that will be set in the future.

Then, as shown in FIG.
It was less desirable from the point of view of cost.

Therefore, as a monitor installed on the video printer side,
It is contemplated to use monitors with a single vertical and horizontal scanning frequency, such as NTSC color television receivers.

However, when a multi-scan type video printer is combined with an NTSC color television receiver, there is a problem in that the image supplied from the video printer cannot be viewed as a whole.

For example, if one frame of image supplied from a video printer is
000 dots and 1000 lines in the vertical scanning direction (hereinafter referred to as the ■ direction), N
Color television receivers using the TSC system had a problem in that they could not display images all at once on the screen.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a video printer that can scroll and display image contents on a monitor screen whose vertical and horizontal scanning frequencies are set to predetermined values.

[Means to solve the problem]

The present invention provides a video printer that includes an image memory and prints image data held in the image memory, and includes means for specifying a display area for the image memory, and reading image data within the display area from the image memory. and means for supplying the read image data to a monitor at predetermined vertical and horizontal scanning frequencies.

[Operation] When a display area is designated to the image memory, the image data within the display area is read from the image memory. The above-mentioned image data is then supplied to a monitor having a predetermined vertical and horizontal scanning frequency.

Therefore, the image data within the designated display area is displayed on the monitor.

By incrementing the address of the start point of the display area, the image data in the image memory can be scrolled and displayed on the monitor screen.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a color video printer using a sublimation type thermal transfer method according to the present invention.

In the configuration shown in Figure 1, IA, IB, and IC are input terminals,
2 is an input changeover switch, 3 is a mode changeover switch, and 4A, 4B, and 4C are output terminals.

The input terminal IA is a terminal to which an RGB signal is supplied, the input terminal IB is a terminal to which a luminance signal Y and a color signal C are separately supplied, and the input terminal LC is a terminal to which a composite color video signal is supplied. be.

A computer 25 as an image source is connected to any one of these input terminals IA, IB, and IC, as shown in the monitoring configuration of FIG. Conversion circuits 5B and 5C for converting input signals into RGB signals are connected to input terminals IB and 1C.

One of the three input signals as RGB signals is selected by the input changeover switch 2.

The mode changeover switch 3 is provided to switch between a mode in which the above-mentioned input signals are directly led to the output terminals 4A, 4B, and 4C, and a mode in which signals processed by the printer are led to the output terminals 4A, 4B, and 4C. .

The signal processed by the printer is image data output from the display area ARO in the image memory 8, which will be described later, with arbitrary signals, characters, symbols, etc. added thereto. As shown in FIG. 3, a monitor 26 is connected to one of the output terminals 4A, 4B, or 4C, and the output signal is displayed on the monitor 26. In addition, in Figure 3, 27
is a monitor for the computer 25, and 28 is a video printer.

The signal from the input changeover switch 2 is converted into a digital signal by the A/D converter 6, and this digital signal is supplied to one input terminal of the switch circuit 7 and the image memory 8.

Image memory 8 stores one frame of image data to be printed. The print image is not limited to one frame, but can be one field, or several areas obtained by dividing one screen. Incidentally, if the source of the image supplied to the image memory 8 is the computer 25 as described above, the size of one frame image is, for example, 1 in the direction of arrow H in FIG.
000 dots and 1000 lines in the direction of arrow V.

The image data read from the image memory 8 is supplied to the other input terminal of the switch circuit 7 and is also supplied to the line memory 13.

This line memory 13 receives 16 minutes of RGB data within a vertical blanking period of every l vertical period. The output of the line memory 13 is supplied to a thermal head 15 of a printing mechanism section 14 surrounded by a broken line.

The output data of the switch circuit 7 is supplied to the D/A converter 9 and converted back into an analog signal, and this analog signal is supplied to the mixer 10.

On the other hand, a character display signal from a character display circuit 11 is supplied to the mixer 10, and the character display signal is superimposed on the output signal. The output signal of the mixer 10 is supplied to the mode changeover switch 3, the Y/C conversion circuit 12B, and the video conversion circuit 12c.

The Y/C conversion circuit 12B forms a luminance signal Y and a color signal C from the ROB signal, and the video conversion circuit 12C forms an RGB signal.
Forming a video signal from the signal.

The printing mechanism section 14, like a conventional color video printer, includes a platen for feeding printing paper, a mechanism for feeding the printing paper to the platen and ejecting the printing paper after printing, and a heat sublimation yellow , cyan, and magenta color inks are sequentially deposited thereon, a thermal head 15 that performs dot printing, a motor 16 that rotates a platen, and the like. The thermal head 15 and the ink ribbon print the image data stored in the image memory 8 in color on the printing paper wound around the platen.

The CPU 17 is a CPU for controlling write operations and read operations of the image memory 8 and line memory 13, and is also a CPU for head control. This CPU 17 supplies the image memory 8 with a read command or a write command, a read address or a write address, and the like.

Further, the CPU 17 supplies the line memory 13 with caption data PD, which is additional character information that constitutes headings, explanatory text, and the like.

The CPU 18 is a CPU for the system controller,
A key switch 19 for data input is connected to this CPU 18 . Further, the CPU 18 is provided with a terminal 20 for remote control signals and a terminal 21 (for example, R3232-C) for connection with the outside. Furthermore, for the CPU 18, the motor 1 of the printing mechanism section 14
An output signal of a rotation detector and an output signal of a sensor provided in connection with 6 are supplied.

The data generated by the operation of the key switch 19 is sent to the CPU 1.
8, this data is taken into the memory of CPolB, and the CPU 18 inputs the input changeover switch 2,
Switch circuit 7, character display circuit 11, motor 16
, the mode changeover switch 3 is controlled. Also, C.P.
Control signals, pointer address data, caption data, etc. are supplied from U18 to the CPU 17, and the CPU
At step 17, predetermined control or data is supplied.

The scrolling display of images will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 2, the I memory area 2 of the image memory 8
9, the display area ARO1A that can be displayed on the monitor 26
Since RI is small, the contents of the entire memory area can be displayed on the screen of the monitor 26 by appropriately selecting and scrolling the display area AROSARI using the key switch 19.

By operating the key switch 19, for example, in FIG.
If you specify the starting point indicated by as a pointer, CPU1
8, address data corresponding to the starting point PS1 is determined and taken into the memory of the CPU 18.

The CPU 18 sends the address data of the starting point PS1 as a pointer and the control signal for scrolling to the CPU.
17.

The CPU 17 controls the monitor 2 based on the above-mentioned control signal.
Control is performed to scroll and display the contents of the image memory 8 on the screen of 6.

The control operation of the CPU 17 will be explained below.

The display area ARO is set in the memory in the CPU 17 as the number N of dots and the number M of lines for each line of the monitor 26, and the CPU 17 sends a read command to the image memo I78 and a pointer from the starting point PS1. Address data within the display area ARO is sequentially supplied. still,
The size of this display area ARO may be changed within the size of the screen of the monitor 26.

Read command and display area Al2 starting from starting point PS1
When the address data in O is supplied to the image memory 8,
From the image memory 8, image data of a display area ARO extending from the above-mentioned starting point PS1 to N dots in the H direction and M lines in the ■ direction is read out in accordance with the normal scanning order. C
In the PU, it is determined whether the address of the end point PH1 of the display area ARO is within the memory area 29 in the H direction and the ■ direction.

When the address of the end point PH1 is within the memory area 29, the image data in the display area ARO is displayed on the screen of the monitor 26 by performing the signal processing described above on the read image data. Is displayed.

Next, the column address data of the starting point PS1 is incremented by (+1), and a new display area starting from PS2 is created.
R1 is set. The CPU 17 performs the same control operation as described above, and the image data in the display area ARI is read out. Then, by performing signal processing similar to that described above, the image data of the new display area ARI is displayed on the screen of the monitor 26, that is, scrolled. Then, the starting points Psi, PS2, . When the CPU
The supply of read commands and read address address data from l7 to the image memory 8 is stopped, and scrolling is stopped.

Then, by operating the key switch 19 again, the pointer is moved in the direction of arrow V, and by performing the same operation as described above, scrolling in the direction of arrow H becomes possible.

By repeating this key switch 19 operation,
It becomes possible to scroll the display area ARO in the directions of arrows H and ■, and all the image data held in the memory area 29 of the image memory 8 is scrolled and displayed on the screen of the monitor 26. , all contents of the image memory 8 can be confirmed. In addition, the starting point Psi, PS2
The position is set to the upper left end position Psi of the memory area every time the system is reset, and the display area at the starting point Psi is ARO.

If only image data confirmation and color tone are considered, inexpensive A/D converters 6 and D/A converters 9 of the video printer 28 (low frequency) can be used.

20- According to the embodiment, the contents of the image to be printed out can be scrolled and displayed on the screen of the monitor 26.

The monitor 26 has a predetermined vertical and horizontal scanning frequency, and the video printer 28 outputs a plurality of vertical synchronizing signals,
Since there is no need to supply a horizontal synchronization signal and it is sufficient to supply a single vertical and horizontal scanning frequency, the configuration of the video printer 28 can be simplified;
can be made cheaper. Further, the monitor 26 can be an inexpensive monitor instead of a multi-scan monitor. Further, by operating the key switch 19, it is possible to perform processes such as color adjustment, and by having the above-mentioned scroll function, trimming is also possible, and a simple editing function is provided.

In this embodiment, an example is explained in which scrolling is performed by incrementing the address data of the starting point PS1, but the invention is not limited to this, and for example,
The number may be incremented every time a plurality of dots are formed at a predetermined interval.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the video printer according to the present invention, image data within a designated display area is supplied to a monitor with a predetermined vertical and horizontal scanning frequency and displayed, and the display area is expanded by incrementing the address of the start point of the display area. Since the image can be moved sequentially, the contents of the image to be printed out can be scrolled on the monitor screen. Therefore, even if a multi-scan printer is combined with an NTSC color television receiver, the image supplied from the video printer can be This has the effect of allowing you to see it as a whole.

Since the monitor has a predetermined vertical and horizontal scanning frequency, there is no need to supply multiple vertical and horizontal synchronization signals from the video printer.As a result, the configuration of the video printer can be simplified, and the video This has the effect of making the printer cheaper.

And the monitor is also a multi-scan monitor (it has the effect of being able to use a cheap one).

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a color video printer according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the scroll function, and FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the monitoring configuration in this embodiment. , FIG. 4, and FIG. 5 are diagrams showing the configuration of conventional monitoring, respectively. Explanation of major symbols in the drawings 8: Image memory, 17.18: CPU, 19:
Key switch, 26.27.37.38: Monitor, 28, 36: Video printer, ^RO. RI: Display area.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A video printer that includes an image memory and prints image data held in the image memory, comprising: means for specifying a display area for the image memory; and the image data within the display area. A video printer comprising: means for reading the image data from the image memory; and means for supplying the read image data to a monitor having a predetermined vertical and horizontal scanning frequency.