JP2000261748A - Electronic camera and printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent production of defective prints in advance by limiting execution of print of a photosensitive printer in response to the operating environment. SOLUTION: The electronic camera 1 incorporates a photosensitive printer section 23 that exposes photosensitive paper in response to an image signal to form a picture on the photosensitive paper. A system controller 115 measures the ambient temperature and humidity with a temperature sensor 210 and a humidity sensor 211, and controls the printer section 23 so that execution of print is automatically inhibited in the case that the measured ambient temperature is at the outside of a prescribed printable temperature range where the picture is formed onto the photosensitive paper or condensation takes place. Occurrence of defective prints can be prevented in advance by limiting the execution of print in response to the operating environment in this way.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an electronic camera device and a printer device, and more particularly to an electronic camera device and a printer device having a built-in printer mechanism.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various digital video printers for printing out images taken by an electronic camera or the like have been developed. In this type of printer, printing can be easily performed only by inputting an image to be printed to the printer via a memory card or the like.

As a printing method, a sublimation type in which three colors of YMC are superposed, an ink jet type,
Furthermore, a photosensitive type that forms an image by exposing a photosensitive paper is used, and its print resolution is set very high. For this reason, although a relatively long time is required for the printing process, a high-quality print similar to a silver halide photograph can be easily realized at home.

[0004] Recently, the development of an electronic camera incorporating the above-described printer mechanism and a portable video printer which can be used outdoors have been demanded. This is because the photographed image can be printed out on the spot where the photographing is performed.

[0005] In this case, the above-described photosensitive printer is suitable as a printer incorporated in an electronic camera or a portable video printer. This is because a photosensitive printer consumes less power than a sublimation type or an inkjet type, and it is easy to reduce the size.

[0006]

However, in a photosensitive printing method in which an image is formed by exposing a photosensitive paper, an image is formed by a chemical reaction of the photosensitive paper that gradually proceeds after the exposure. Therefore, after exposure, the image quality of the printed image may be reduced depending on the ambient temperature where the photosensitive paper is placed. There is not much problem with stationary video printers that are intended for indoor use, but electronic cameras and portable printers are often used outdoors, so they are easily affected by temperature. . Therefore, for example, when used outdoors in cold areas,
A problem arises in that the image formation after exposure does not proceed sufficiently, resulting in defective printing.

Further, even if there is no problem in the ambient temperature, if moisture adheres to the photosensitive paper or if the photosensitive paper absorbs moisture, uneven reaction may occur to cause defective printing. For example, when an electronic camera is used by suddenly bringing it from a cold outdoor to a warm indoor, or when an electronic camera cooled at night is taken out to a humid place during the day when the temperature rises, the electronic camera is used. However, if printing is performed in such a state where condensation has occurred, there is a risk that defective printing will occur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an electronic camera device capable of restricting the execution of printing in accordance with a use environment and preventing occurrence of defective printing. It is an object to provide a printer device.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an electronic camera apparatus having electronic image pickup means for generating image information by photoelectrically converting a subject image formed by a photographing optical system. The photosensitive paper loaded in the electronic camera device, the image information obtained by the electronic imaging means, or image information of a print target read from a recording medium that can be mounted on the electronic camera device Exposure in accordance with, printing means for forming a predetermined image on the photosensitive paper, temperature measuring means for measuring the ambient temperature of the electronic camera device, if the measured ambient temperature is outside a predetermined temperature range, Control means for prohibiting execution of printing by the printing means.

This electronic camera device is provided with a temperature measuring means for measuring an ambient temperature. If the measured ambient temperature is outside a predetermined temperature range in which an image can be formed on a photosensitive paper, an automatic temperature measuring means is provided. Execution of printing is prohibited.
In this way, by enabling the execution of printing to be restricted according to the usage environment, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of defective printing.

[0011] Further, since defective printing may be caused by dew condensation, it is preferable to provide a dew condensation detecting means, and to control the execution of printing when the occurrence of dew condensation is detected. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of defective printing due to the adhesion of dew condensation. Further, by using such printing control based on the presence or absence of dew condensation in combination with the above-described printing control based on the ambient temperature, it is possible to more reliably prevent the occurrence of defective printing.

The dew condensation detecting means can be realized by a humidity sensor. Alternatively, a configuration may be used in which the ambient temperature of the electronic camera is measured, and the degree of the temperature change is determined by a predetermined calculation to predict the occurrence of dew condensation. This eliminates the need to provide a dedicated sensor for detecting dew condensation, such as a humidity sensor, and enables dew condensation detection using only inexpensive components such as a temperature sensor. In addition, when both the dew condensation and the ambient temperature range are used as print control conditions, the temperature measuring means provided for measuring the ambient temperature can be used for dew condensation detection. Can be reduced.

Further, when the measured ambient temperature is out of the predetermined temperature range or when the occurrence of dew condensation is detected, it is notified that a good image may not be formed on the photosensitive paper. It is preferable to further include a warning unit that issues a predetermined warning. As a result, even when printing is automatically prohibited, it is possible to prevent the user from erroneously recognizing that the printer has failed.

When the above-mentioned warning means is provided,
It is preferable to further provide a means for allowing the user to select whether or not to execute printing by the printing means. This allows the user to make a final decision on whether to print or not, so that it is possible to flexibly respond to the user's intention.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, a basic structure of an electronic camera according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

The electronic camera 11 is a digital still camera having a built-in photosensitive printer. The electronic camera 11 not only captures a subject image using a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD and records it on a recording medium, but also prints out the captured image. Or
It is possible to print out, for example, photographed image data recorded on a recording medium.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing the appearance of the electronic camera 11 as viewed from the rear side. As shown, a release switch (shutter button) 12, a mode changeover switch 13, an optical finder 14, an image display LCD 15, a mode display LCD 16,
A strobe 17, a speaker 18, a paper discharge port 19, a temperature sensor window 20, and the like are provided.

Release switch (shutter button) 1
Reference numeral 2 denotes an operation button for instructing execution of photographing, and a mode switch 13 is an operation button for setting and changing an operation mode of the electronic camera 11. The following operation modes are prepared for the electronic camera 11, and the mode to be used can be switched by operating the mode switch 13.

1) Normal shooting mode A subject image is shot using a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD.
The image data obtained by this is recorded on a recording medium. 2) Playback mode. Image data photographed from the recording medium (including image data photographed by another electronic camera, image data created by a computer, etc.). Read and display image 15
3) Playback print mode Reads captured image data (including image data captured by another electronic camera and image data created by a computer) from the recording medium and prints it using the built-in printer. Output 4) Photograph print mode (instant print mode) A subject image is photographed using a solid-state image sensor such as a CCD.
The built-in photosensitive printer that prints out the image data obtained by the built-in printer uses the photosensitive paper as the print paper as described above, and exposes the photosensitive paper based on the image data to be printed. And
The exposure causes a chemical reaction of the photosensitive paper to form an image on the photosensitive paper. The photosensitive paper has an appropriate temperature range (printable temperature range) in which printing can be performed normally. If printing is performed in a temperature environment outside the printable temperature range, defective printing may occur. become.

In order to prevent such defective printing from occurring, the electronic camera 11 of this embodiment has a built-in temperature sensor for measuring the ambient temperature. If you decide, give a warning,
Control such as automatically prohibiting printing is performed. The temperature sensor window 20 of the main body of the electronic camera 11 is provided so that the ambient temperature of the electronic camera 11, that is, the outside air temperature can be correctly measured by a built-in temperature sensor. The warning is performed by issuing a warning sound from the speaker 18 or displaying a warning message on the image display LCD 15 or the mode display LCD 16.

FIG. 1B shows an electronic camera 1 viewed from the top side.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1, in which only essential parts are extracted and shown.

That is, a photographing lens section 21 is attached to the main body of the electronic camera 11 as shown in the figure, and a printed board 22 on which various electronic parts are mounted, and a printer The part 23 is accommodated. The printer unit 23 functions as the above-described photosensitive built-in printer, and includes a print cartridge, an optical head unit, and the like as illustrated. The print cartridge contains a plurality of photosensitive papers (photosensitive films) used as print paper.
The print cartridge is a detachable type that can be detachably mounted on the main body of the electronic camera 11, and the supply of the print paper 200 (photosensitive paper) is performed in print cartridge units. At the time of printing, the print paper 200 (photosensitive paper) is taken out one by one from the print cartridge by a transport mechanism provided in the printer unit 23, and is sequentially exposed by the optical head unit while being transported toward the paper outlet 19.

The paper outlet 19 is provided with a paper outlet shutter 24. By closing the paper discharge shutter 24 except during printing, dust and dirt can be prevented from entering from outside.

As shown in the figure, the main body of the electronic camera 11 has a card slot 25 for mounting a removable memory 100 composed of a removable recording medium such as a memory card, and a mounted removable memory 100. A card cover 26 for protection, a battery box for accommodating a plurality of dry batteries 27 used as a power supply of the electronic camera 11, and the like are provided.

(System Configuration) Next, referring to FIG.
A specific system configuration of the electronic camera 11 will be described.

The electronic camera 11 includes an operation unit including various operation switches such as the release switch 12 and the mode changeover switch 13 described above, an image display LCD 15, a mode display LCD 16, a strobe 17, a speaker 18, and the like. , Photographing lens system 111, image sensor 11
2. imaging circuit 113, A / D conversion circuit 114, system controller 115, memory card interface (I / F) 116, recording buffer memory 117, image processing unit 119, external interface (I / F) 12
0, a compression / decompression processing unit 121, a power supply unit 122, and the like.

The taking lens system 111 is an optical system constituting the taking lens unit 21 described with reference to FIG. The image sensor 112 is a solid-state image sensor that photoelectrically converts a subject image formed by the photographing optical system 111 into an electric image signal, and includes a CCD area sensor in which a color filter is disposed.

The image pickup circuit 113 controls the operation of the image pickup device 112 under the control of the system controller 115 to take in image information from the image pickup device 112 and to control the operation of the image pickup device 1.
The control of the speed of an element shutter (electronic shutter) by 12 and the gain adjustment of the image signal output from the image sensor 112 are performed. The image signal output from the imaging circuit 113 is sent to an A / D conversion circuit 114, where it is converted into a digital image signal.

When the electronic camera 11 is set to the "normal photographing mode" or the "photographing print mode", image information is taken in from the image pickup device 112 by the image pickup circuit 113 at any time, and a finder image to be displayed on the image display LCD 15 is displayed. Image information to be obtained or used as a reference for AE / AF control for photometry / distance measurement can be obtained. Further, when the release switch 12 is pressed in the “normal shooting mode” or the “shooting print mode”, the image information is newly taken in from the image sensor 112 by the imaging circuit 113, and after predetermined image processing is performed, Removable memory 10
0 is recorded or printed out.

A system controller 115 is a CPU for controlling each unit in the electronic camera 11, and
It consists of a chip microcomputer. In the present embodiment, the system controller 115 measures the ambient temperature and the humidity of the electronic camera 11 by using a temperature sensor 210 and a humidity sensor 211 described later, and the measured ambient temperature is a predetermined value at which an image can be formed on photosensitive paper. If it is determined that the temperature is out of the printable temperature range, or if it is determined that dew condensation has occurred, control for automatically prohibiting the execution of printing is performed.

Memory card interface (I / F)
Reference numeral 116 denotes a detachable memory 10 which is constituted by a recording medium such as a memory card which can be detachably attached to the electronic camera 11.
0 is for read / write access, and writing of image information to the removable memory 100 and fetching of image information from the removable memory 100 are performed via the memory card interface (I / F) 116.

The recording buffer memory 117 is a buffer area used for temporarily storing image information to be recorded, and this buffer area is also used as a work area for image processing. Image processing such as color correction by the image processing unit 119 and compression / expansion processing by the compression / expansion processing unit 121 are performed by the recording buffer memory 117.
Run on

The external interface 120 is, for example, R
This is for communicating with an external personal computer or other electronic devices via a communication interface such as S232C or IEEE1394, and is used for transmitting and receiving various control information and image information.

The compression / decompression processing unit 121 converts the image information of the photographed image to be recorded into JPEG (Joint Photographic Coding).
Experts Group) or for expanding compressed image information to be reproduced or printed, which is fetched from the removable memory 110.

The power supply section 122 is a power supply for supplying operating power to each unit of the electronic camera 11 from the above-described dry battery 27 and a later-described cartridge battery 208 housed in the electronic camera 11 and an external AC power supply. Circuit.

The electronic camera 11 includes a print image processing circuit 20 as a constituent unit of the printer unit 23 described above.
1. Printing buffer memory 202, head drive circuit 2
03, an optical head unit 204, a drive control circuit 205, a drive unit 206, a print cartridge 207, and a battery 20 in the cartridge built in the print cartridge 207.
8, cartridge detection sensor 209, temperature sensor 21
0, a humidity sensor 211, and the like.

The print image processing circuit 201 performs various image processes such as gamma correction for obtaining image data suitable for printing on image data to be printed stored in the recording buffer memory 117, The print image data is rasterized and expanded in the print buffer memory 202 in units of one line. The image data developed in the print buffer memory 202 is sent to the optical head unit 204 via the head drive circuit 203.
The optical head unit 204 exposes the photosensitive paper while scanning in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the photosensitive paper transport direction (main scanning direction) by the drive control circuit 205 and the driving unit 206.
The optical head unit 204 includes three optical heads corresponding to R, G, and B lights, respectively. The R optical head is driven by R data, the G optical head is driven by G data, and the B optical head is driven by B data.
As a result, the photosensitive paper is exposed by R, G, and B light corresponding to R, G, and B of the image data, and a color image is formed on the photosensitive paper. As an image forming method by exposure, a well-known diffusion transfer or the like can be used.

A cartridge detection sensor 209 is a sensor for detecting whether or not the print cartridge 207 is mounted. When the print cartridge 207 is mounted, a detection signal indicating the mounting is output to the system controller 115.
Send to

The temperature sensor 210 measures the ambient temperature of the electronic camera 11 by measuring the outside air temperature through the temperature sensor window 20 described above. As the temperature sensor, a thermistor, a radiation temperature sensor using infrared rays, or the like is used.

The humidity sensor 211 is used to measure the humidity on or around the humidity sensor 211. Based on the value of the humidity measured by the humidity sensor 211, it is determined whether or not condensation has occurred in the electronic camera 11. Can be detected. The humidity sensor 211 is arranged on the photosensitive paper transport path or at a position where it comes into contact with the outside air. Note that, even without providing such a humidity sensor 211, it is possible to predict the occurrence of dew condensation in the electronic camera 11 by calculating and calculating the degree of temperature change from the output of the temperature sensor 210.

(Mounting Structure of Temperature Sensor) Next, FIG.
The specific mounting structure of the temperature sensor 210 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3A shows that a temperature sensor window 20 having a slit-shaped opening is provided on the exterior 300 of the electronic camera 11 so that the temperature sensor 210 is located at a position facing the temperature sensor window 20. This is an example in which a temperature sensor 210 is provided on a printed circuit board 301. Printed circuit board 301
A printed circuit board on which the components shown in FIG. 2 are mounted can be used.

The mounting structure of FIG. 3B is the same as that of FIG. 3A in that the temperature sensor window 20 having a slit-shaped opening is provided on the exterior 300 of the electronic camera 11, but the heat conducting member 302 is provided. The temperature sensor 210 is attached in such a state that the opening under the temperature sensor window 20 is closed and the lower surface of the heat conductive member 302 is in direct contact therewith. Temperature sensor 2
The transmission and reception of signals between the control unit 10 and the control unit 10 are performed by a flexible printed circuit (FPC). With this structure, it is possible to prevent dust and dirt from entering from outside.

FIG. 3C shows that a transparent plate 304 made of glass, acrylic, or the like is disposed on the exterior 300 as the temperature sensor window 20 instead of the slit-shaped opening.
Temperature sensor 210A using infrared light
This is to be measured by: Also in this structure, it is possible to prevent dust and dirt from entering from outside.

(Flow of Processing) Next, a flow of a series of processing executed by the system controller 115 will be described for each mode with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, a mode setting process for determining the operation mode of the electronic camera 11 is executed in response to the operation of the mode changeover switch 13 (step S11). The print mode is set to one of “print mode”, “normal shooting mode”, and “playback mode”.

(1) Reproduction print mode When the "reproduction print mode" is selected by operating the mode changeover switch 13, the system controller 115
Checks the ambient temperature and the presence or absence of dew condensation using the temperature sensor 210 and the humidity sensor 211 to determine whether or not the printing conditions are satisfied (steps S12 and S13). It is determined that the printing conditions are satisfied on condition that the ambient temperature measured by the temperature sensor 210 is within the printable temperature range (YES in step S12) and no dew condensation has occurred (YES in step S13). And step S17
To S20 are started.

On the other hand, when the ambient temperature measured by the temperature sensor 210 is outside the printable temperature range (NO in step S12), or when dew condensation occurs even when the ambient temperature is within the printable temperature range. (N in step S13
O), the system controller 115 determines that the printing condition is not satisfied. In this case, the system controller 115 displays a warning message or an icon indicating that the environment cannot be printed normally on the LCD (displayed on the image display LCD 15 or the mode display LCD 16), and determines whether or not to perform forced printing. An inquiry is made to the user (step S14), and a warning sound is generated from the speaker 18 (step S15). Then, the system controller 115 determines the intention of the user by operating the predetermined operation button by the user (step S16). If execution of forced printing is not instructed by the user (NO in step S16), the system controller 11
No. 5 prohibits the execution of the print processing in steps S17 to S20, and ends the processing in the “reproduction print mode”. If execution of forced printing is instructed by the user (YES in step S16), the system controller 115 proceeds to steps S17 to S17 similarly to the case where the printing conditions are satisfied.
The printing process in S20 is started.

In the printing process, the system controller 11
5 is a memory card interface (I / F) 116
The image data to be printed is read from the detachable memory 100 via the CPU (step S17), and is read out by the compression / decompression processing unit 1.
21 (step S18), and then write the data into the recording buffer memory 117 (step S1).
9). Thereafter, the system controller 115 controls the built-in printer to execute printing by exposure (step S20).

The image data to be printed is selected by displaying the image data recorded in the detachable memory 100 on the image display L.
This can be performed while reproducing and displaying using the CD 15.

(2) Photographing print mode When the “photographing print mode” is selected by operating the mode changeover switch 13, the system controller 115 sets the temperature sensor 210 and the humidity in the same manner as in the “reproduction print mode”. The sensor 211 is used to check the ambient temperature and the occurrence of dew condensation to determine whether the printing conditions are satisfied (steps S21 and S22). Temperature sensor 2
It is determined that the printing conditions are satisfied on condition that the ambient temperature measured by step 10 is within the printable temperature range (YES in step S21) and that no dew condensation has occurred (YES in step S22). Steps S26 to S2
8 is started.

On the other hand, when the ambient temperature measured by the temperature sensor 210 is outside the printable temperature range (NO in step S21), or when dew condensation occurs even when the ambient temperature is within the printable temperature range. (N in step S22
O), the system controller 115 determines that the printing condition is not satisfied. In this case, the system controller 115 displays a warning message or an icon indicating that the environment cannot be printed normally on the LCD (displayed on the image display LCD 15 or the mode display LCD 16), and determines whether or not to perform forced printing. An inquiry is made to the user (step S23), and a warning sound is generated from the speaker 18 (step S24). Then, the system controller 115 determines the intention of the user by operating the predetermined operation button by the user (step S25). If the execution of forced printing has not been instructed by the user (NO in step S25), the system controller 11
Step 5 prohibits execution of the photographing / printing processing in steps S26 to S28, and ends the processing in the "photographing print mode".
If execution of forced printing is instructed by the user (YES in step S25), system controller 115
Is the same as when the printing conditions are satisfied.
The photographing / printing process from 26 to S28 is started.

In the photographing / printing process, when the release switch 12 is pressed, the system controller 115 controls the image pickup circuit 113 in response to the depression of the release switch 12 to start the photographing process by the image pickup device 112 (step S26).
The image data obtained by this photographing process is written into the recording buffer memory 117 (step S27). Thereafter, the system controller 115 controls the built-in printer to execute printing by exposure (step S2).
8).

(3) Normal shooting mode When the "normal shooting mode" is selected by operating the mode changeover switch 13, the system controller 11
When the release switch 12 is pressed, the imaging circuit 113 is controlled in response to the depression of the release switch 12 to start a photographing process by the image pickup device 112 (step S29). Memory 1
17 (step S30). Thereafter, the system controller 115 transmits the image data to the compression / decompression processing unit 1.
21 (step S31), the compressed image data is transferred to a memory card interface (I /
F) The data is recorded in the removable memory 100 via the memory 116 (step S32).

(4) Reproduction mode The "reproduction mode" is operated by operating the mode changeover switch 13.
Is selected, the system controller 115
Reads the image data to be reproduced from the removable memory 100 via the memory card interface (I / F) 116 (step S33), and reads it out from the compression / decompression processing unit 12
1 (step S34), and is displayed on the image display LCD 15 (step S35).

As described above, in the present embodiment,
"Playback print mode" and "Shoot print mode"
In, by restricting the execution of printing based on the results of the detection of the ambient temperature and the detection of dew condensation, it is possible to prevent inadvertently performing defective printing.

Although the printing execution is limited by using both the detection of the ambient temperature and the detection of the dew condensation, a sufficient effect can be obtained by either the detection of the ambient temperature or the detection of the dew condensation. it can. Alternatively, the process may be immediately terminated without inquiring of the user whether or not to perform forced printing.

Hereinafter, specific examples of various print controls applicable to the “reproduction print mode” and the “photographing print mode” will be individually described using the “reproduction print mode” as an example.

(Reproduction Print Mode: 2) First, referring to the flowchart of FIG. 5, a case where only the ambient temperature is used as a printing condition and the process is terminated without final confirmation with the user will be described. I do.

When the "reproduction print mode" is selected by operating the mode changeover switch 13, the system controller 115 measures the ambient temperature by using the temperature sensor 210 (step S101). It is determined whether the temperature is within a predetermined printable temperature range (step S102).

If it is within the printable temperature range (step S
(YES in 102), the image data is read, decompressed, written to the buffer memory, and printed in the same procedure as in steps S17 to S20 in FIG. 4 (step S).
103 to S106).

On the other hand, if the temperature is outside the printable temperature range (YES in step S102), steps S14 and S1 in FIG.
After performing the process of displaying a warning and generating a warning sound in the same procedure as in step 5 (steps S107 and S108), the process ends.

(Reproduction Print Mode: No. 3) Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG. 6, only the presence or absence of dew condensation is used as a printing condition. A description will be given of a processing procedure in a case where the user selects whether or not to perform the processing.

When the "reproduction print mode" is selected by operating the mode changeover switch 13, the system controller 115 detects the humidity by using the humidity sensor 211 (step S111), and determines whether or not dew condensation has occurred. (Step S112).

If no condensation has occurred (NO in step S112), image data reading, decompression, writing to the buffer memory, and printing are executed in the same procedure as in steps S17 to S20 in FIG. Step S
116-S119).

On the other hand, if condensation has occurred (NO in step S112), steps S14 to S16 in FIG.
In the same procedure as that described above, a process of selecting whether to display a warning, generate a warning sound, and perform forced printing is performed (steps S113 to S1).
15) In a case where the forced printing has not been instructed (NO in step S115), the processing ends without executing the processing in steps S116 to S119. When the forced printing is instructed (YES in step S115), the processing in steps S116 to S119 is executed.

(Reproduction Print Mode: Part 4) Next, with reference to the flow chart of FIG. 7, a case where dew condensation is detected using the temperature sensor 210 instead of the humidity sensor 211 will be described.

That is, in FIG. 7, step S1 in FIG.
Steps S121 to S12 instead of S11 and S112
3 are provided. The system controller 115
The ambient temperature is continuously detected using the temperature sensor 210 for a certain period of time (step S121), and a predetermined calculation for checking the degree of temperature change is performed to predict the presence or absence of dew condensation (step S122, step S122). S123). In general, dew condensation occurs on electronic cameras 1 cooled outdoors where the temperature is low.
This occurs when the device 1 is suddenly brought into a warm room and used. Therefore, by measuring the temperature change in this way, it is possible to correctly detect the presence or absence of dew condensation. Alternatively, the electronic camera 11 may continuously detect the temperature during the power-on period, and may detect the presence or absence of dew condensation using the history of the detection result.

(Reproduction Print Mode: No. 5) Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG. 8, if only the ambient temperature is used as the printing condition and the printing condition is not satisfied, whether to finally print is performed. A processing procedure for allowing the user to select whether or not to perform the determination will be described.

When the "reproduction print mode" is selected by operating the mode changeover switch 13, the system controller 115 measures the ambient temperature by using the temperature sensor 210 (step S131), and the measured ambient temperature is It is determined whether the temperature is within a predetermined printable temperature range (step S132).

If the temperature is within the printable temperature range (YES in step S132), steps S17 to S2 in FIG.
The readout, decompression, writing into the buffer memory, and printing of the image data are executed in the same procedure as in step S136 (steps S136 to S139).

On the other hand, if the temperature is outside the printable temperature range (NO in step S132), steps S14 to S14 in FIG.
In the same procedure as in S16, a process of selecting whether to display a warning, generate a warning sound, or perform forced printing is performed (step S133).
To S135), when the forced printing is not instructed (NO in step S135), steps S136 to S1
The processing is terminated without executing the processing of 39. When forced printing is instructed (YE in step S135)
S), the processes of steps S136 to S139 are executed.

(Portable Printer) Next, a configuration of a portable printer to which the print control of the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIG.

The portable printer 51 is a photosensitive printer similar to the printer unit 23 of the electronic camera 11 described above, reads image data to be printed from a detachable memory, and exposes photosensitive paper according to the image data. In this case, a print function corresponding to the above-mentioned “reproduction print mode” is provided, in which print output is performed.

The portable printer 51 has a configuration in which the imaging function is removed from the configuration of the electronic camera 11 shown in FIG. 2, and as shown in FIG.
Operation unit 502, display LCD 503, speaker 504, power supply unit 505, memory card interface (I / F)
506, a buffer memory 507, a decompression processing unit 508,
Print image processing circuit 509, head drive circuit 510, optical head unit 511, drive control circuit 512, drive unit 513, print cartridge 514, cartridge sensor 51
5, a temperature sensor 516, and a humidity sensor 517.

The system controller 501 is a CPU for controlling each unit in the portable printer 51, and executes the same print control processing as the system controller 115 in FIG. An operation unit 502 is an operation button for instructing execution of printing and the like. Display LCD 50
2, a speaker 504, a power supply unit 505, a memory card interface (I / F) 506, and a buffer memory 507 are respectively a mode display LCD 16, a speaker 18, a power supply unit 122, a memory card interface (I / F) 116, And a recording buffer memory 117.

The decompression processing unit 508 is used for decompressing the image data to be printed read from the detachable memory. Also, a print image processing circuit 509, a head drive circuit 510, an optical head unit 511, a drive control circuit 512, a drive unit 513, a print cartridge 514, a cartridge sensor 515, a temperature sensor 516, and a humidity sensor 5
Reference numeral 17 denotes a print image processing circuit 201, a head drive circuit 203, an optical head unit 204, and a drive control circuit 2 in FIG.
05, a drive unit 206, a print cartridge 207, a cartridge detection sensor 209, a temperature sensor 210, and a humidity sensor 211.

Also in this portable printer 51, the system controller 501 performs the same print control as the print control in the "reproduction print mode" described in the flowcharts of FIGS. This makes it possible to prevent defective printing due to condensation or defective printing outside the printable temperature range.

[0079]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By taking into account the characteristics of the photosensitive printer and restricting the execution of printing in accordance with the usage environment, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of defective printing. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the photosensitive paper is wastefully used or a waste of time is spent for the print processing of an image having a low image quality.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a basic structure of an electronic camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary block diagram showing the system configuration of the electronic camera of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary view showing a specific mounting structure of a temperature sensor provided in the electronic camera of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary flowchart showing a series of processing procedures executed by the electronic camera of the embodiment for each mode.

FIG. 5 shows a second example of the print control process in the “reproduction print mode” executed by the electronic camera of the embodiment.
The flowchart which shows the procedure of.

FIG. 6 shows a third example of the print control process in the “reproduction print mode” executed by the electronic camera of the embodiment.
The flowchart which shows the procedure of.

FIG. 7 is a fourth flowchart of the print control process in the “reproduction print mode” executed by the electronic camera of the embodiment.
The flowchart which shows the procedure of.

FIG. 8 is a fifth flowchart of the print control process in the “reproduction print mode” executed by the electronic camera of the embodiment.
The flowchart which shows the procedure of.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a portable printer according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Electronic camera, 12 ... Release switch, 13 ... Mode changeover switch, 15 ... Image display LCD, 16 ... Mode display LCD, 19 ... Paper discharge port, 20 ... Temperature sensor window, 23 ... Printer part, 100 ... Detachable memory, 112 ...
Image sensor 113 Image sensor 114 A / D converter 115 System controller 116 Memory card interface 204 Optical head 207
Print cartridge, 210 ... temperature sensor, 211 ...
Humidity sensor.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An electronic camera device having electronic imaging means for generating image information by photoelectrically converting a subject image formed by a photographing optical system, wherein a photosensitive paper loaded in the electronic camera device is Printing that forms an image on the photosensitive paper by exposing according to image information obtained by the electronic imaging unit or image information of a print target read from a recording medium mountable on the electronic camera device. Means, a temperature measuring means for measuring an ambient temperature of the electronic camera device, and when the measured ambient temperature is outside a predetermined temperature range,
An electronic camera device comprising: a control unit that prohibits execution of printing by the printing unit. 2. An electronic camera device having electronic image pickup means for generating image information by photoelectrically converting a subject image formed by a photographing optical system, wherein a photosensitive paper loaded in the electronic camera device is Printing that forms an image on the photosensitive paper by exposing according to image information obtained by the electronic imaging unit or image information of a print target read from a recording medium mountable on the electronic camera device. Means for detecting whether or not condensation has occurred in the electronic camera device; and control means for inhibiting execution of printing by the printing means when the occurrence of condensation has been detected. An electronic camera device, characterized in that: 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the dew detecting means measures the ambient temperature of the electronic camera, and obtains the degree of the temperature change by a predetermined calculation to predict the presence or absence of dew condensation. The electronic camera device according to claim 2. 4. A warning means for giving a predetermined warning for notifying that there is a possibility that a good image may not be formed on the photosensitive paper, wherein the warning means is configured to determine whether the measured ambient temperature is a predetermined value. When the temperature is out of the temperature range or when the dew condensation is detected,
The electronic camera device according to claim 1, wherein the warning is issued. 5. The electronic apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: means for allowing a user to select whether or not to force printing by said printing means when a warning is issued by said warning means. Camera device. 6. A printer device capable of printing and outputting image data, comprising exposing a photosensitive paper loaded in the printer device in accordance with image information to be printed, and forming a predetermined image on the photosensitive paper. Means, a temperature measuring means for measuring the ambient temperature of the printer device, if the measured ambient temperature is outside a predetermined temperature range,
A control unit for prohibiting execution of printing by the printing unit. 7. A printer device capable of printing out image data, wherein a photosensitive paper loaded in the printer device is exposed in accordance with image information to be printed, and a predetermined image is formed on the photosensitive paper. Means, a temperature measuring means for measuring an ambient temperature of the printer device, and, when the measured ambient temperature is outside a predetermined temperature range, for notifying that a good image may not be formed on photosensitive paper. And a warning means for issuing a predetermined warning.