JPH11249239A - Instant printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten recording time by efficiently performing successive recording of three color faces. SOLUTION: An electronic still camera is composed of an image pickup part 20 and a printer part 39. The printer part 39 is composed of expansion rollers 36, head moving mechanism 38 and a scan head 44. Out of three primary color lights, red exposure takes place in a going path of the reciprocating motion of the scan head 44 to record a red image, and green exposure takes place in a return path to record a green image. The scan head 44 is fixed to discharge an instant film 25 by a claw and the expansion rollers 36. During this discharge, blue exposure takes place to record a blue image. The discharge speed of the instant film 25 is detected by a speed sensor 60. According to this discharge speed, the light emission time of a liquid crystal array is controlled to suppress density fluctuation caused by feeding unevenness.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an instant printer for printing using an instant film.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is known an instant film pack which is used by being loaded into an instant camera. Also,
By using this instant film pack, the scan head is moved in the direction in which the instant film is unfolded,
A full-color image is also printed by three-color surface sequential recording.

[0003]

In the instant printer using such an instant film, when a full-color image is recorded by three-color surface sequential recording, it is necessary to move the scan head at least three times. For this reason, there is a problem that the recording time of a full-color image is lengthened.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an instant printer capable of shortening a recording time of a full-color image.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an instant film comprising a plurality of light emitting elements arranged in a main scanning direction, the scanning head being relatively moved in a sub scanning direction. In the instant printer, the exposed surface of the three-color surface is sequentially exposed, and the exposed instant film is developed and transferred through a developing roller to obtain a positive image. After moving in the sub-scanning direction, the remaining one color is exposed while fixing the scan head and sending the instant film in the developing direction.

The scan head is provided so as to be reciprocally movable in the sub-scanning direction, and after setting the scan head near the developing roller, the first color is exposed on the outward path and the second color is exposed on the return path. Is preferred. It is preferable that an image sensor that captures a subject image and outputs an imaging signal and an electronic imaging unit having a memory that stores image data obtained by digitally converting the imaging signal be provided integrally or separably. At the time of exposure performed with the scan head fixed, controlling the light emission amount or light emission time of the light emitting portion of the scan head according to the feed speed of the instant film to suppress the occurrence of density unevenness and color unevenness due to uneven feed speed. Is preferred.

It is preferable that the scan head includes a light source, a color filter, and a liquid crystal dot array, and that the liquid crystal dot array is formed by arranging dots on a line in a direction orthogonal to a transport direction of the instant film. In addition, one liquid crystal dot array is provided, three color filter members are arranged in the direction of transport of the instant film to constitute the color filter, and the color filter is provided with a filter shift mechanism. It is preferable to move the instant film in the transport direction to selectively face the three color filter members to the liquid crystal dot array.

[0008]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the front side of an electronic still camera incorporating an instant printer according to the present invention. The electronic still camera 10 is formed in a thin box shape, and an image pickup unit and a printer unit are arranged in a camera body 11. The camera body 11 is provided with a grip section 12 which also serves as a battery chamber. The grip portion 12 is disposed on the left side when viewed from the front, and contains a battery inside. A shutter button 13 is provided near and above the grip portion 12, and when the shutter button 13 is pressed, one image is taken through the photographing lens 14.

A photographing lens 14 is provided at the upper front of the camera body 11, and a strobe light emission window 15 is provided at the upper right of the front. A light projecting window 16 and a light receiving window 17 for an autofocus device are provided above the photographing lens 14. When the shutter button 13 is pressed, the subject distance is measured by a triangulation method. Thereby, the focusing of the photographing lens 14 is automatically performed before the image is captured. Further, an AE light receiving unit 18 is provided next to the light receiving window 17. The subject luminance signal from the AE light receiving unit 18 is sent to an AE adjusting unit (not shown), where automatic exposure adjustment is performed as is well known at the time of photographing. Further, an imaging unit 20 (see FIG. 3) including a CCD image sensor is provided so as to be located behind the photographing lens 14.

As shown in FIG. 2, a liquid crystal display panel (LCD panel) 21 and an operation panel 22 are arranged on the back of the camera body 11. The LCD panel 21 displays a subject image taken through the photographing lens 14 in real time, and constitutes a so-called electronic viewfinder. The operation panel 22 is provided with an imaging / playback mode switching key, a frame selection key, a print start key, an image data deletion button, and a switching key for inputting and outputting image data to and from an external device. I have.

As shown in FIG. 3, an electronic still camera 10
A well-known mono-sheet type instant film 25 is used to obtain a hard copy of an image. Mono-sheet type instant film 25
Has been commercialized by the present applicant and has been widely spread, and includes a photosensitive sheet, an image receiving sheet, and a pod containing a developing solution as basic components. And
After forming a latent image photochemically by exposing the photosensitive sheet, the photosensitive sheet and the image receiving sheet are superimposed, and both sheets are pressed while a developing solution is spread between the two to form the image on the image receiving sheet. A positive image is transferred. For example, ten such instant films 25 are stacked and stored in a plastic case 26 called a film pack. Therefore, the film pack 27 is mounted on the body 11 of the electronic still camera 10.

A pack loading lid 30 is attached to the back of the body 11 via a hinge 31 so as to be freely opened and closed.
The pack loading lid 30 is normally locked in the closed position, and is opened by operating the slide knob 32 when loading or unloading the film pack 27. The counter film 33 has an instant film 2
5 is displayed.

A slit-shaped outlet 35 is formed on the upper surface of the camera body 11, and when a printing operation is performed,
The exposed instant film 2 is exposed through the outlet 35.
5 is transported between a pair of developing rollers 36. Then, during this transport, the developing solution is developed, and the
A positive image is obtained on the instant film 25 in about several minutes.

FIG. 4 shows a layout of each mechanism incorporated in the camera body 11 as viewed from the front side. A developing roller 36, a driving mechanism 37 for the developing roller 36, and a head moving mechanism 38 are incorporated so as to surround the loading chamber of the film pack 27. The developing roller 36
The image pickup unit 20 and the strobe light emitting unit 39 are disposed above the camera. Reference numeral 40 denotes a deployment motor serving as a power source of the drive mechanism 37, and reference numeral 41 denotes a power supply battery such as a lithium ion battery that can be repeatedly used by charging.

Among the above mechanisms, the developing roller 36 and its driving mechanism 37 may be the same as those used in a conventional instant camera, as described in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-194832. The functions are exactly the same. That is, they are used for sending out the exposed instant film 25 from the film pack 27 and for developing the developing solution while sending it out.

As is well known, the driving mechanism 37 includes a claw claw and its moving mechanism. The claw is operated by the drive of the developing motor 40 to operate the exposed instant film 2.
5. Push out the lower end of the film 5 upward and use the instant film 25.
Is fed between the pair of developing rollers 36. Since the developing roller 36 is rotating at this time, the instant film 25 is transported upward by the developing roller 36 thereafter. A pod 25a containing a developing solution is provided at the upper end portion of the instant film 25, and the pair of developing rollers 36 are urged by springs in a direction approaching each other, so that the developing film 36 conveys the instant film 25. In the meantime, the pod 25a is broken and the developing solution is spread between the photosensitive sheet and the image receiving sheet.

FIG. 5 shows a developing roller 36, a head moving mechanism 38, and a scan head 44 constituting a printer section 39.
The appearance of is shown. The scan head 44 has a longitudinal direction (main scanning direction) indicated by an arrow M orthogonal to the transport direction of the instant film 25, and the length is equal to or greater than the width of the instant film 25. The head driving mechanism 38 as a scanning mechanism drives the scan motor 38a to move the scan head 44 in the direction of arrow S (sub-scanning direction) parallel to the transport direction of the instant film 25. Guide pins are provided at both ends of the scan head 44 to prevent the scan head 44 from tilting while moving, and each of the guide pins is engaged with a guide groove. Reference numeral 27a in FIG. 5 indicates that the exposed instant film 25 is a film pack 2
7 shows a notch into which the claw enters when being sent out of FIG.

FIG. 6 shows a cross section of the scan head 44. A luminous body array unit 46 is provided in the head case 45.
Are arranged long in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface. The luminous body array unit 46 includes a fluorescent lamp 47 and the liquid crystal array 4.
8 and a light-shielding case 49. The illumination light from the fluorescent lamp 47 includes red (R), green (G), and blue (B) colors. Note that other types of light sources may be used as long as these colors are included.

The liquid crystal array 48 is formed by arranging minute liquid crystal segments in a line.
It is located inside. One liquid crystal segment of the liquid crystal array 48 corresponds to one pixel when printing is performed. The density of the liquid crystal array 48 is controlled for each liquid crystal segment, and controls and blocks the amount of transmitted print light.

A color filter 50 is provided in the illumination light path from the light emitter array unit 46. The color filter 50 is configured by arranging an R transmission filter member 50a, a G transmission filter member 50b, and a B transmission filter member 50c in a strip shape, and each of the three color filter members 50a to 50c.
Any one of “c” is located in the illumination light path of the luminous body array unit 46. Then, the color filter 50 is moved in the direction of the arrow Y by the filter shift unit 51 in response to the input of the filter switching signal, and the filter members 50a to 50c are switched.

By passing through the color filter 50, the illumination light from the luminous body array unit 46 is R, G,
B becomes one color printing light. The printing light is transmitted through a mirror 52, a selfoc lens array 53, and a mirror 54.
Through the opening 45a through the instant film 2
Reaches 5. The selfoc lens array 53 prevents the print light for each pixel from spreading to other pixel positions.

In order to efficiently perform three-color surface sequential printing, red exposure and green exposure among the three primary colors are performed during reciprocation of the scan head 44. That is, red exposure is performed on the outward path, and green exposure is performed on the return path. In the blue exposure, the movement of the scan head 44 is stopped and fixed, and in this state, the scan head 44 is driven in synchronization with the discharge of the instant film 25. In this manner, two of the three primary colors are exposed in a reciprocating motion, and then the remaining one color is exposed by discharging the instant film 25, so that the three-color surface sequential recording can be efficiently performed, and the recording time is reduced. can do.

The exposure of the remaining one color is instant film 2
Since the scanning is performed in the sub-scanning direction by the discharge feeding of No. 5, if the discharge feeding speed fluctuates, the exposure amount and the exposure density fluctuate, and density unevenness and color unevenness occur. In actual printing, the film feed speed changes due to various factors from the start to the end of the film feed. For example, mechanical factors such as passing through a light-shielding flap arranged at a film outlet of a film pack, bursting a developer pod, developing a developer, and climbing over a trap portion that absorbs excess developer. Also, the film feed speed varies depending on the degree of battery consumption and the like. A speed sensor 60 (see FIG. 3) and a speed correction calculator 61 (see FIG. 7) are provided to eliminate density unevenness caused by these speed fluctuations.

The speed sensor 60 includes a roller that comes into rolling contact with the instant film 25, a pulse encoder provided on the roller, and a signal processing circuit. The signal processing circuit measures the detection interval of the pulse based on the reference clock, so that the instant film 2
5 is detected. This feed speed signal is sent to the speed correction calculator 61 via the system controller 34, as shown in FIG.

The speed correction calculating section 61 first creates data for controlling the light emission timing based on the feed speed of the instant film 25 from the speed sensor 60, and obtains a desired density corresponding to the image data regardless of the speed fluctuation. To be. Specifically, data for controlling the light emission timing is created and sent to the head driver 93.

For example, as shown in FIG. 8A, when the feed speed Va of the instant film 25 decreases as shown in FIG. 8B (Vb <Va), 1
The time PT for recording a line (one print cycle time) becomes longer as PTa <PTb. Therefore, in accordance with this, the light emission time as the exposure amount corresponding to the pixel density is dispersed in one print cycle.

One print cycle time PT is a total light emitting time T1 for causing the light emitting diode to emit light according to the density of the pixel.
(= Σt1) and the total pause time T2 without emitting light
(= Σt2). The total light emission time T1 is 1
In order not to be biased in the print cycle, the light is divided into substantially the same divided light emission times t1, which are divided into the divided pause times t2
Are distributed. The total light emission time T1 changes between the maximum density and the minimum density of the pixel to be recorded.

When the pause interval t2 changes with a change in the film feed speed, and the film feed speed decreases,
As shown in (B), the divided pause time t2b (> t2a) increases. Conversely, when the film feed speed increases, the divided pause time t2a decreases as shown in FIG. Accordingly, since each light emitting element emits light at the above-described control timing via the head driver 93, the length and density of the recorded pixel do not change regardless of the speed change.

FIG. 7 schematically shows the electrical configuration of the electronic still camera 10. A CCD image sensor 75 is located behind the photographing lens 14, and a subject image is formed on the photoelectric surface of the CCD image sensor 75 by focusing the photographing lens 14. By driving the CCD driver 80, the CCD image sensor 75 converts an optical subject image into an electric image signal and outputs the signal. Micro color filters of R, G, and B are arranged in a matrix on the photoelectric surface of the CCD image sensor 75, and an imaging signal serially output for each color is amplified by an amplifier 81 to an appropriate level. The digital signal is converted by the A / D converter 82. As is well known, the CCD driver 80
And the sampling timing of the A / D converter 82 is synchronized.

The A / D converter 82 converts the imaging signal into a digital signal to generate image data, and sequentially inputs the image data to an image data processing circuit 83. Image data processing circuit 83
Performs signal processing such as white balance adjustment and gamma correction on input image data. The image data processing circuit 83 further performs processing based on the processed image data.
A video signal corresponding to the NTSC composite signal is generated, and is output to a video signal output terminal 86 via a D / A converter 84 and an amplifier 85.

Therefore, if a home television is connected to the output terminal 86, a continuous image picked up by the CCD image sensor 75 can be observed. The video signal from the amplifier 85 is also input to the LCD driver 87. Since the LCD driver 87 drives the LCD panel 21, the subject image is continuously displayed on the LCD panel 21, and the LCD panel 21 is used as an electronic viewfinder.

The system controller 34, including the image data processing circuit 83, generally manages the electric operation of the electronic still camera. The system controller 34 monitors signals from the key operation input unit 89 of the operation panel 22 and the external connection terminal group 90 through the I / O port 88, and performs signal processing according to the input signals.

The flash memory 91 is composed of a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) which can be accessed at a high speed, and stores the image data obtained from the image data processing circuit 83 for each screen. With a storage capacity that can store Decoration data memory 92
Is written in advance with decoration data for changing the shape and pattern of the screen frame surrounding the subject image into various forms. It should be noted that the decoration data memory 92 may be prepared with data such that characters, marks, characters, messages, and the like can be combined with a part of the subject image. In the reproduction mode, by transferring data read from the flash memory 91 and the decoration data memory 92 to the image data processing circuit 83, these images can be combined and displayed on the LCD panel 21.

The head driver 93 drives the liquid crystal array 48 of the scan head 44 according to a command from the system controller 34. Image data is further sent from the line memory 94 to the scan head 44, and the image data is used to control the individual transmittances and light emission times (open times) of the liquid crystal segments constituting the liquid crystal array 48. Used for In the EEPROM 95, various adjustment data referred to by the system controller 34 when the electronic still camera 10 is operated according to a predetermined sequence is stored in advance.

These adjustment data are adjusted one by one in an inspection process after the assembly of the electronic still camera is completed.
Such adjustment data includes, for example, data relating to focusing of the photographing lens 14 and correction data for each color at the time of printing. The motor driver 96 controls the driving of the expansion motor 40 and the scan motor 38a under the control of the system controller 34.

Next, the operation of the electronic still camera 10 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the main switch provided on the operation panel 22 is turned on, the power switch is turned on. A mode check is performed, and the mode branches to one of an imaging mode and a reproduction mode depending on a set position of a mode switching key in the operation panel 22. In the imaging mode, the CCD image sensor 75 continuously captures an image of a subject, as in the conventional electronic still camera, and the image is displayed on the LCD panel 21 functioning as an electronic viewfinder.

After framing, the shutter button 13
Is released, the image data of the subject image displayed on the LCD panel 21 at that time is written to the flash memory 91. By repeating use in the imaging mode, the flash memory 91 can store image data relating to still images of up to 50 screens. Note that the number of storable screens can be increased or decreased according to the storage capacity of the flash memory 91. In addition, during nighttime or indoor shooting, the flash emission unit is driven during shooting, and flash shooting is performed.

Even after the imaging of the number of screens that can be stored in the flash memory 91 has been performed, the image data of a new frame can be stored by erasing the image data of an appropriate frame. These processes can be performed by key input from the operation panel 22. If another storage medium is connected to the output terminal of the external connection terminal group 90, the image obtained by the new imaging on the external storage medium is obtained. Data can be stored, and image data read from the flash memory 91 can be transferred and stored.

In the reproduction mode, if any image data is selected from the flash memory 91 by key input from the operation panel 22, the image data is transferred to the image data processing circuit 83, the D / A converter 84, and the amplifier 85. Is supplied to the LCD driver 87 via the LCD panel 21 and an image is displayed on the LCD panel 21. When a decoration frame selection operation is performed by a key input from the operation panel 22, the decoration frame data read from the decoration data memory 92 in addition to the image data read from the flash memory 91. The image data is transferred to the image data processing circuit 83, and the LCD panel 21 synthesizes and displays the decorative frame in addition to the subject image.

When the print key is operated after selecting a subject image and, if necessary, a decorative frame, the system controller 34 causes the flash memory 91 to operate.
And sequentially reads out image data corresponding to red in the first one line of the image data related to the image currently displayed on the LCD panel 21 at that time, and transfers this to the line memory 94. . When a decoration frame is selected, the decoration data memory 9
Similarly, the image data corresponding to one line of red is transferred to the line memory 94 from the flash memory 91.
The image data from the decoration data memory 92 is preferentially used in a portion overlapping with the image data from. As a result, image data corresponding to the red density of one line is written to the line memory 94. Then, the system controller 34 confirms that the R transmission filter member 50a of the color filter 50 is inserted in the print optical path, and that each liquid crystal segment of the liquid crystal array 48 is in a light shielding state, and then controls the fluorescent lamp 47. Turn on.

The scan head 44 is at an initial position facing the uppermost end of the image recording area of the instant film 25 indicated by a solid line in FIG. 5, and this position is the recording position for the first line. When the system controller 34 confirms that the scan head 44 is at the first recording position by a photo sensor or the like (not shown), one line of image data stored in the line memory 94 is sequentially sent to the liquid crystal array 48. The transmission density of each liquid crystal segment is sequentially switched from the light shielding state to the transmission density according to the image data, and returns to the light shielding state again after a certain time.

The print light from the luminous body array unit 47 is applied to the R transmission filter member 50a of the color filter 50.
Is transmitted to make R print light. The R print light has a light amount corresponding to the transmission density of the liquid crystal segment and gives the instant film 25 a red exposure. The image data stored in the line memory 94 is transferred to the liquid crystal array 48.
If the liquid crystal segments that compose the image data can be simultaneously transferred to each other, and all of them are simultaneously switched from the light-shielded state to the transmission density according to the image data, the printing time for one line can be shortened. be able to.

When the exposure with one line of R print light is completed, the scan motor 38a, which is a stepping motor, is rotated by a predetermined angle to rotate the scan head 44.
To the next line position. Subsequently, image data corresponding to the red density of the second line is transferred from the flash memory 91 to the line memory 94, and exposure is similarly performed using the R print light of the second line. Subsequently, the exposure by the R print light is performed for each line while the scan head 44 is stepped in a direction away from the developing roller 36, and the exposure by the R print light ends when the printing of the last line is completed. Thus, the scan head 4
Red exposure is performed on the outward path of No. 4.

Next, the system controller 34 sends a filter switching signal to the head driver 93, whereby the color filters 50 are pitch-fed in the direction of arrow Y.
The G transmission filter member 50b is positioned in the print optical path. The system controller 34 accesses the flash memory 91 and sequentially reads out the image data corresponding to green in the last line from the image data relating to the image to be printed, and transfers the image data to the line memory 94. Thereafter, similarly, the exposure by the G print light is performed from the last line position to the first one line position. Thus, green exposure is performed on the return path of the scan head 44.

After the exposure with the G print light is completed,
The B transmission filter member 50c is inserted into the print optical path, and image data corresponding to blue is read from the flash memory 91 line by line. The exposure by the B print light is performed by fixing the scan head 44 at the initial position and then using the developing roller 36 to rotate the instant film 25.
The driving is performed by driving the liquid crystal array 48 in synchronization with the discharging and feeding of the liquid crystal.

First, the expansion motor 40 starts to be driven by a signal from the system controller 34. Drive mechanism 5
2 starts to operate, and the claw enters through the notch 50a of the film pack 50 to scrape the exposed instant film 25 by the optical printer from the film pack 50.

The upper end of the instant film 25 extruded by the claw enters between the pair of developing rollers 36,
Thereafter, the instant film 25 is conveyed by the rotation of the developing roller 36, and at the same time, the pod 25a is broken and the developing solution is developed. When the claw moves to the end of its movement stroke, it returns to its original position and stops.

As described above, the instant film 25
Is first discharged to the developing roller 36 by the claw claws, and then discharged by the rotation of the developing roller 36 after the feeding, and is discharged from the discharge port 35. Then, the liquid crystal array 48 is driven in synchronization with the sending by the discharge.

The speed sensor 60 detects the feed speed of the instant film 25. Based on the feed speed signal, the speed correction calculation unit 61 obtains the light emission time control data of the liquid crystal array 48 according to the speed change, and obtains the data. Send to driver 93. The head driver 93 drives the liquid crystal array 48 based on the corrected emission time control data.

For example, when the speed is reduced, the divided pause time t2b, which is the interval of the divided light emission time t1, is lengthened as shown in FIG. 8B. Further, as the speed increases, the divided pause time t2a is correspondingly shortened as shown in FIG. Therefore, even if a speed fluctuation occurs, the exposure amount and the exposure density per line are almost always constant, and the occurrence of uneven density and uneven color can be suppressed. Hereinafter, in the same manner, the blue image data of each line is read out in synchronization with the feeding of the instant film 25, and the blue image is exposed by sending the instant film 25.

The instant film 25 transported by the developing roller 36 is discharged from a discharge port 35 on the upper surface of the camera body. After one to several minutes, the subject image is fixed on the image receiving sheet as a positive image, and the subject image displayed on the LCD panel 21 at the time when the print key is operated can be obtained as a hard copy. Of course, when a decorative frame is selected, the subject image is printed inside the frame surrounded by the decorative frame.

As described above, the instant film 25
Is used as a recording medium, and a hard copy of an image can be created by an optical printer, so that color printing can be performed with low power without requiring heat energy, and the camera can be accommodated in the portable camera body 11. Power batteries can be used practically. Therefore, a hard copy of an image can be easily obtained on the spot where the image is taken. Further, since image data can be input from an external connection terminal and printed, it can be used as a portable printer at the same time.

In the above embodiment, the opening time of the liquid crystal array is changed in accordance with the discharge speed of the instant film, so that the density fluctuation due to the uneven discharge speed is suppressed. However, the open time of the liquid crystal array is controlled. Alternatively, density fluctuation due to uneven discharge speed may be suppressed using transmitted light amount control data. Further, density fluctuation due to uneven discharge speed may be prevented by using the open time control data and the transmitted light amount control data.

Also, a light source that contains each color light of R, G, and B and whose light amount can be controlled, for example, a fluorescent light in which minute light emitting elements utilizing the light emitting principle of a fluorescent display tube are arranged in a line for each pixel. If a light source array is used, the liquid crystal array 48 can be omitted by controlling the amount of light emitted for each pixel by image data, and color printing can be performed in the same manner by sequential exposure on three color planes. Also in this case, according to the fluctuation of the discharge speed of the instant film 25, the light emission time or the light emission amount or a combination thereof is used to suppress the density unevenness due to the fluctuation of the discharge speed.

In the above embodiment, the detection of the discharge speed of the instant film 25 is detected by using the transfer roller, but the discharge speed may be detected by using another speed detection method. For example, a barcode arranged at a minute constant pitch may be recorded on an instant film, and the ejection speed may be obtained from the detection time of the barcode. In this case, since the speed can be detected by the optical sensor, the configuration of the speed sensor can be simplified.

In the above embodiment, the remaining one color is recorded when the instant film 25 is discharged by the claw and the developing roller 36. However, the remaining one color may be recorded only by discharging by the developing roller 36. . In this case, after being held by the developing roller 36, the scan head 44 is driven to record the remaining one color. For this reason, the scan head 44 is moved to the vicinity of the developing roller 36, and the recording is not started at the time of discharging by the claw claws, but is started at the time of discharging by the developing roller 36.

In the above embodiment, each dot is recorded at a halftone density by controlling the opening time and its transmission density in accordance with image data using the array 48 composed of liquid crystal segments. Alternatively, the halftone density may be recorded by controlling only the opening time of the liquid crystal segment. In this case, instead of the liquid crystal segment that controls the amount of transmitted light, the exposure amount may be adjusted simply by using a liquid crystal segment that is controlled to open and close. Furthermore, a halftone image may be recorded by adjusting the exposure amount by combining the control of the transmitted light amount and the control of the opening time.

In the above embodiment, the exposure of the first color is performed on the outward path of the scan head, and the exposure of the second color is performed on the return path. However, the exposure of each color is performed only on the outward path or only on the return path. You may.

In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to an electronic still camera for capturing a still image. However, the present invention may be applied to a digital video camera for capturing a moving image. In this case, an image to be printed may be selected from the moving images and hard-copyed.

In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to an electronic still camera having a built-in instant printer. However, the present invention may be applied to an instant printer alone. Three-color surface sequential printing can be performed well.

[0061]

According to the present invention, after scanning of any two of the three primary colors is completed, for the remaining one color, the scan head is fixed and the photosensitive surface is exposed while the instant film is developed. Therefore, scanning performed by moving the scan head can be performed twice. Moreover, since the remaining one color is recorded by discharging the instant film, the recording time can be reduced.

By providing an image sensor for capturing a subject image and outputting an imaging signal and an electronic camera unit having a memory for storing image data obtained by digitally converting the imaging signal, printing can be performed immediately after imaging. In addition, during the exposure performed with the scan head fixed, the light emission amount or light emission time of the light emitting portion of the scan head was controlled according to the transport speed of the instant film.
It is possible to suppress the occurrence of density unevenness, color unevenness, and color shift caused by uneven transfer speed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which an electronic still camera incorporating an instant printer of the present invention is viewed from the front side.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the electronic still camera as viewed from the rear side.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing the electronic still camera.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a layout of each mechanism in the camera body.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a scan head and its moving mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the scan head.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an electric configuration of the electronic still camera.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing light emission timing of a light emitting array due to speed fluctuation of an instant film.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing of the electronic still camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Electronic still camera 11 Camera body 13 Shutter button 14 Photographing lens 20 Imaging part 25 Instant film 35 Film discharge port 36 Development roller 38 Head moving mechanism 39 Printer part 44 Scan head 60 Speed sensor 61 Speed correction calculation part

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A scanning head in which a large number of light emitting elements are arranged in a main scanning direction is relatively moved in a sub scanning direction to sequentially expose a photosensitive surface of an instant film to three color planes. In an instant printer that obtains a positive image by developing and transferring between the three primary colors, exposure of any two of the three primary colors is performed by moving the scan head in the sub-scanning direction, and thereafter, for the remaining one color, An instant printer, wherein a scan head is fixed and an exposure is performed while sending an instant film in a developing direction. 2. The scanning head is reciprocally movable in the sub-scanning direction. After setting the scanning head near the developing roller, a first color is exposed on the outward path and a second color is exposed on the returning path. 2. The instant printer according to claim 1, wherein the printer is exposed. 3. An image sensor for capturing an image of a subject and outputting an image signal, and an electronic image pickup unit having a memory for storing image data obtained by digitally converting the image signal are integrally or separably provided. The instant printer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein 4. An exposure which is performed while fixing the scan head, and controls light emission amount or light emission time of a light emitting portion of the scan head in accordance with a feed speed of the instant film, thereby causing density unevenness and color unevenness due to feed speed unevenness. The instant printer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the occurrence of an image is suppressed.