JP2000307843A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer capable of performing relatively free layout with a relatively simple operation and also performing layout of much a large amount of information that is beautiful while effectively utilizing a maximum print range. SOLUTION: This printer performs index display of plural read images (step 100), performs full-screen display of an index image selected by an operator (step 106 and step 116), subsequently divides the image undergoing full-screen display into plural areas so as to become an aspect ratio which is the same as that of the index image and erases an image within an area, where unneeded images are displayed (step 112). After that, another image is included in a division area, in which the unneeded images are erased and which becomes empty by incorporating other processings (steps 114 and 118).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer device, and more particularly to a printer device for printing an image photographed by a digital still camera, a post card with a photograph, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As one of simple methods for laying out a plurality of images such as a photograph of a travel in a single print and printing the divided images, a divided area set in advance by a printer device or the like is used. It has been proposed that each image be individually enlarged or reduced so as to fit in the image and printed with its size adjusted.

In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for random multi-printing in which a user can easily and freely lay out and print, and various printers have been proposed.

[0004] One of them is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-2632.
No. 77 gazette. This video printer device stores a video signal corresponding to a plurality of screens in a memory provided for each screen, and based on a pattern signal indicating a boundary for dividing a display screen into a plurality of display areas, a memory for storing the video signal. Display means for performing multi-screen display by sequentially reading and displaying video signals corresponding to a plurality of screens stored in the memory, print means for printing a multi-screen display by the display means, and a plurality of display areas There is provided setting means for selectively setting a video signal to be read from the memory each time.

In other words, this video printer apparatus has a relatively simple structure in which the setting means sets the memory corresponding to the selected area to be read, and the display area of each image can be arbitrarily moved. The arrangement of each image at the time of printing can be set arbitrarily, which is convenient for the user.

As another method, before an image or the like photographed by a digital still camera is printed by a printer, the image is taken into a computer, laid out freely by a computer application, and output to the printer for printing. Methods have also been proposed.

[0007]

However, in the conventional layout method, the aspect ratio changes at the time of enlargement / reduction, resulting in an unnatural image, an image being reduced more than necessary, or an image not required by the user. There are drawbacks such as printing without removing the part.

Further, the method of laying out freely with a computer application or the like and then outputting the data to a printer for printing is complicated and time-consuming, and the workability is also affected by the application used and the performance of the computer. In some cases, it takes a very long time to perform the layout for one sheet, which is troublesome.

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a printer device which is relatively easy to operate and which allows a relatively free layout. It is another object of the present invention to provide a printer capable of laying out a large amount of information in a beautiful manner while effectively utilizing the maximum print range.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, a printer according to the present invention divides a display screen into a plurality of divided screens and displays one type of index image for each of the divided screens. Index display means, image selection means for selecting at least one index image from the displayed plurality of index images, display switching means for switching the selected index image to full-screen display, and at least one full-screen display image An image extracting unit that divides an index image into a plurality of divided regions and deletes an image of another divided region while leaving a desired image region selected in units of divided regions; And an image incorporation means for incorporating the image.

The index display means reduces or enlarges a plurality of types of images input to the printer to a divided index image size obtained by dividing the display screen into a plurality of images, and displays the images as index images.

The image selecting means is configured to select at least one index image from the plurality of index images. The selection of the index image can be, for example, a configuration in which the index image is selected simply by designating a desired index image, or a configuration in which an unnecessary index image is designated and an index image that is not designated is selected.

The display switching means switches the selected index image to full screen display. The display is switched by the display switching means when the number of selected index images is one, and the selected index image may be displayed on a full screen. However, when there are a plurality of selected index images, for example, for each index image, To be displayed in full screen size, and to perform the processing described below for each individual image, or to enlarge all selected images to a size that can be displayed on full screen at once, It is possible to adopt a configuration in which a process to be displayed and described later is performed on a plurality of images at once.

[0014] The image extracting means divides at least one index image displayed on the full screen into a plurality of divided areas and deletes unnecessary images in units of divided areas.
Extract a desired image. Deletion of an unnecessary image in units of divided regions is performed by, for example, designating a divided region including a desired image and deleting an image in the divided region that has not been designated, or conversely, deleting a desired image. A configuration is possible in which a divided area that is not included is designated, and an image in the designated divided area is erased.

The image incorporating means incorporates another image into the empty divided area by the image extracting means. The “other image” described here is, for example, an image newly read from a medium such as a video still camera, or the image selection from an index image displayed by the index display means as described in claim 2. Another type of index image selected by the means can be used.

The index image selected at this time is one selected from a plurality of images index-displayed by the index display means or a plurality of new images from a medium such as a video still camera. An image selected from a plurality of index images taken and index-displayed by the index display means can be used.

Further, another one selected by the image incorporation means.
The type of index image may be incorporated as it is in the area where the image of the original screen has been deleted, or as described in claim 3, after the full screen is displayed once by the display switching means, a plurality of divided areas are displayed. Each image can be divided, and an image of at least one divided area can be extracted by the image extracting means and incorporated into the area where the original screen image has been deleted.

Further, the image embedding means, when embedding another image in the empty divided area, as described in claim 4, separates another image in a unit divided by the image extracting means by the area selecting means. It can be configured to select whether to incorporate the image or to incorporate another image in a unit of a composite divided area which is a single screen by combining a plurality of divided areas. Accordingly, a relatively free layout setting can be made, and a multiprint-like layout can be made by a relatively simple operation of applying an image to a predetermined divided area.

Further, according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, by further providing a moving means for moving the image extracted by the image extracting means, a more flexible layout can be realized.

Further, the invention according to claim 6 further comprises an output unit for outputting the index image in a state of being index-displayed, wherein the image extracting means converts the index image displayed on the full screen to the index image output by the output unit. It is configured to be divided into a plurality of divided areas so as to have the same or similar size. With such a configuration, the image difference between the actually printed image and the edited image can be eliminated, thereby facilitating editing.

Preferably, when enlargement processing or reduction processing is performed during layout editing, if the size of the processed image is always similar to the size of the index image output from the output unit, it is preferable that the size of the edited image be adjusted. It is preferable that the image difference between the image and the actually printed image does not increase.

As described above, the printer apparatus of the present invention
Since a plurality of types of images are index-displayed each time, the user can efficiently and easily select a desired image. In addition, since the selected index image is applied to a predetermined divided region by the image extracting means, and the region can be partially selected in divided region units, it is only necessary to select only a necessary image region in divided region units. Easy to operate and efficient.

Further, when incorporating another image into an empty divided area from which an image has been deleted by the image extracting means, the divided area may be set as a plurality of units, or the image in the selected divided area may be divided into other divided areas. , The layout can be relatively freely laid out in spite of editing in units of areas set on the printer side, and editing according to the image of the user can be realized.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a multicolor thermal printer for recording an image on a multicolor thermal recording sheet will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, a printer 10 is a device for thermally recording a color image on a substantially rectangular multicolor thermal recording sheet 12 and fixing the recorded image with light to form an image. It is stored in the casing 14.

On one side surface of the casing 14, an insertion port 18 for a multicolor thermosensitive recording sheet to which a mounting table 16 is attached is provided.
Is provided, and on the other side of the casing 14,
A multicolor thermal recording sheet discharge port 22 to which the mounting table 20 is attached is provided. The multicolor thermal recording sheet 12 is inserted between the insertion port 18 and the discharge port 22.
A transport device for transporting the paper to the outlet 22 is disposed.

The transport device includes a pair of first transport rollers 24 provided near the insertion port 18 and a pair of second transport rollers 32 provided near the discharge port 22. A first guide plate 26 is provided downstream of the first transport roller 24 in the transport direction, and a second guide plate 38 is provided upstream of the second transport roller 32 in the transport direction.

Between the first guide plate 26 and the second guide plate 38, a thermal head 28 as a thermal recording means and a platen roller 30 are provided to face each other. A sensor 27 for detecting the front and back of the multicolor thermal recording sheet 12 and a first light source 34 are disposed on the first transport roller 24 side near the thermal head 28. As the first light source 34, LE
D can be used, and is 300 nm to 450 nm, preferably 42 nm, for the conveyed multicolor thermal recording sheet 12.
It is used for detecting the multicolor heat-sensitive recording sheet 12 by irradiating light having a wavelength of 0 nm, and is also used as a fixing light source for fixing each color-forming layer.

On the side of the second transport roller 32 near the thermal head 28, a second light source 36 for fixing is provided at a position separated from the second guide plate 38 by a predetermined distance while facing the second guide plate 38. Are located.

A control circuit 50 shown in FIG. 2 is housed in the casing 14. The control circuit 50 includes a main controller 52 which is configured by a microcomputer and to which a signal processing unit 54 is connected. The signal processing unit 54 includes a signal converter 60 having a function of converting image data including a luminance signal Y and color difference signals Cb and Cr into RGB (red, green, blue) color signals, and a signal converter 60. A RAM 62 for temporarily storing the image data output from is provided.

A digital still camera 56 or a computer 58 is selectively connected to the signal processing section 54. The digital still camera 56 outputs a digital image data of a natural image composed of a luminance signal Y and color difference signals Cb and Cr. Is input from the computer 58, and the computer graphics (CG) created by the computer 58
An image, a composite image in which a CG image and a natural image are combined, a text image, a composite image in which a text image and a natural image are combined, and a composite image in which a template image and a natural image are combined are input.

The signal processing unit 54 converts the image data composed of the luminance signal Y and the color difference signals Cb and Cr input from the digital still camera 56 into RGB color signals,
It is stored in M62. In addition, RG from the computer 58
Since the B color signal is input, it is stored in the RAM 62 without conversion.

The luminance signals Y and R stored in the RAM 62
The GB color signal is input to the main controller 52.
The main controller 52 stores a program for calculating respective color data of Y (yellow), M (magenta) and C (cyan) corresponding to the RGB color signals, and a ROM 64 storing a program for performing a layout process described later. And the image frame memory 66 are connected.

On the output side of the main controller 52, monitors 55, Y, M,
A thermal head driving driver 72 for driving the thermal head 28 via a switch 68 and a line buffer 70 for selecting any one of the C color data;
The sensor 27 that receives the reflected light of the light emitted from the first light source 34, the driver 76 that drives a rotation drive source 74 for rotating the platen roller 30, the first light source 34, and the second light source 36 for fixing Driver 78 is connected.

The thermal head 28 is provided with a heating element 80 connected to a power source 82 in the vicinity of the platen roller 30. The heating element 80 is driven based on an instruction from a driver 72 for driving the thermal head and passes through Thermal recording sheet 1
2 is colored.

Next, the operation of the multicolor thermal printer of the present embodiment will be described. First, when a plurality of images are input from the digital camera, the signals are converted into RGB color signals for each image in the signal processing unit 54 and are temporarily stored in the RAM 62. Thereafter, the main controller 52 controls the RAM
62 are called from the image frame memory 66, respectively.
Is stored in

When several types of images are selected from a plurality of images stored in the image frame memory 66 to be laid out and printed as one image, the main controller 5
A program for performing a layout process is called from the ROM 64 connected to the CPU 2.

Here, the image processing by the program for performing the layout processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. First, in step 100, a plurality of images stored in the image frame memory 66 are read, and index display processing is performed. In the index display process, the monitor screen is divided into a plurality of parts, the read image is applied to each divided screen, and as shown in FIG.
Processing is performed so that a plurality of (in this embodiment, nine) images (index images) are simultaneously displayed (index display) on the monitor screen.

When a desired image is selected from a plurality of index images index-displayed by the operator in the next step 102, the process proceeds to step 104, where one or more index images are selected. Judge.

If it is determined in step 104 that the number of selected index images is one, step 106
Then, the index image is enlarged and displayed on the entire screen as shown in FIG.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 104 that there are a plurality of index images, the process proceeds to step 116, in which all selected images are combined and enlarged so that the entire screen is displayed, and then the process proceeds to step 108. If the selected index image is an odd number, enlargement processing is performed so that a blank image is added to make the number even and then displayed on the full screen.

In step 108, the selected index image displayed on the full screen is divided into a plurality of areas so as to have the same aspect ratio as that of the index image displayed as an index, as shown in FIG. 5C. In the present embodiment, as an example, one is set to the same size as the size of the index image.
The image is divided into six parts, and the edited image and the printed image are matched to facilitate editing. In FIG. 5C, one index image is displayed. However, when a plurality of index images are selected, the image is similarly divided for each index image.

Thereafter, in step 110, when an area for displaying a necessary image is selected by the operator from the divided areas, in step 112, as shown in FIG. Delete the image of.
In FIG. 5D, since all the divided regions in the second example and the third column are selected as necessary images, the images (row-column: 1-1, 1- 1) in all the divided regions in the first column are selected. 2, 1-3, 1-
4) and images in all divided regions in the fourth column (row-column: 4-
1, 4-2, 4-3, 4-4).

The image in the divided area for displaying the necessary image selected in step 110 is, for example, as shown in FIG.
As shown in (2), a process of moving the whole image so that a necessary image is displayed in a different decomposition area may be performed. FIG.
5 shows a state where the images of the divided areas in the second and third columns have been translated in the third and fourth columns.

In the subsequent step 114, the divided area which has been erased and becomes an empty area (the first row and the fourth row in the embodiment).
It is determined whether or not another image is to be incorporated in the column divided area).
If you want to print without embedding other images,
The present image processing routine is ended, and the processing shifts to print processing. If another image is to be incorporated, the process proceeds to step 118 to perform an image incorporation process, and then ends the image processing routine and proceeds to a print process.

Here, the image embedding process of step 118 in FIG. 3 for embedding another image in the empty area of FIG. 5D will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4 and FIG. First, in step 200, it is determined whether an image to be incorporated is selected from the index images created first.

When an image to be incorporated is selected from the index images created first, the process proceeds to step 202, where the entire index image created first (see FIG. 5A) is displayed on the screen, and step 204 is performed. When a desired image is selected by the operator at step, the process proceeds to step 206.

If an image to be incorporated is not selected from the index image created first, the process proceeds to step 224 to display a new image. That is, a new image is fetched again from the digital camera and displayed as it is, or an image selected from index images as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed as a new image, An image, an image read from the Internet, a text image, or the like is displayed as a new image. When an image specified by the operator is selected in step 221, the process proceeds to step 206.

In step 206, it is determined whether or not use of a part of the image selected by the operator has been instructed. If it is determined in step 206 that a part of the selected image is not used, the process proceeds to step 214. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 206 that a part of the selected image is to be used, the process proceeds to step 208, where the selected image is displayed on the entire screen, and in step 210, the image is divided into a plurality of regions (for example, 16 regions). After that, when a desired area is selected by the operator in step 212, the process proceeds to step 214.

The size of the divided region is not particularly limited. However, if the divided region is divided so as to have the same size as the divided region in step 108 in FIG. This is preferable because the enlargement processing or the reduction processing does not need to be performed. Of course, the area may be divided into a plurality of areas so as to have the same aspect ratio as the aspect ratio of the dimension of the divided area in step 108 in FIG.

In step 214, a vacant area where a new image is to be incorporated is selected automatically or by an operator's instruction from the vacant divided areas formed in step 112 in FIG.

In the next step 216, the selected image is incorporated so as to match the size of the selected empty area.
As a method of embedding an image, for example, one empty area is associated with each image, and each image is automatically embedded in each empty area, or each image is inserted into each position selected by the operator. Can be configured to be incorporated. In this case, the layout image finally obtained is as shown in FIG.

A plurality of free areas are made to correspond to one image, and one
The selected image may be enlarged and incorporated so that one image is displayed.

When the image has been incorporated, step 21 is executed.
In step 8, it is determined whether or not an instruction to incorporate an image has been issued. If an image is to be incorporated, the process returns to step 200 to repeat the above processing. If there is no further instruction to incorporate an image, this routine ends.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show another layout example. Also in this case, as in the above, step 10
0, index display processing of a plurality of types of images (FIG. 9
(See (A)), a desired image is selected in step 100, and the full screen is displayed in step 106.

Further, in the next step 108, the area is divided, and the images of the unnecessary six areas designated by the operator are erased. Then, in step 214, the four divided areas 300a to 300d designated by the operator are combined. As one divided area (composite divided area) 300
(See FIG. 9 (B)). In step 216, another one type of image is selected, enlarged to the size of the composite divided area 300, and incorporated. Then, the remaining two free areas 302, 3
04, the layout processing is terminated. As a result, an image having a layout structure as shown in FIG. 9C is obtained.

In this layout example, as shown in FIG. 10A, the four divided areas 300a to 300d designated by the operator in step 214 are set as shown in FIG.
When used individually, another one type of image is automatically or selected by the operator and incorporated into each of the four divided areas 300a to 300d specified by the operator. Are automatically or individually selected by the operator to incorporate the image, and the layout processing ends. As a result, FIG.
An image having a layout structure as shown in FIG.

The driver 72 for driving the thermal head is driven based on the image data obtained after performing such layout processing, and the multicolor heat-sensitive recording sheet 12 passed by the driven thermal head 28 is subjected to the layout processing. The color is developed based on the subsequent image data, and is fixed by the second light source 36 for fixing.

The main controller 52 also controls the transfer device at the same time, but a detailed description is omitted here. The description of other various correction processes in the main controller 52 is omitted here.

In this embodiment, a plurality of index pages are set with one screen of index image as one page. However, the index screen can be scrolled so that all index images can be browsed by scrolling. It may be configured to be set to.

Further, in the present embodiment, the configuration in which the printer is connected to the monitor and various layouts are performed by using the monitor screen has been described. However, the monitor is provided in the printer itself and the monitor screen is used. To lay out various images.

In this embodiment, the number of screen divisions at the time of index display and the number of divisions at the time of applying an index image to a plurality of divided areas are different, but the same number of divisions may be used. In this case, since it is not necessary to perform enlargement or reduction processing for applying the selected image to each division size, workability is improved and processing time is shortened, which is preferable.

[0063]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In spite of the simple operation of fitting into a frame set in advance on the printer side, there is an effect that a printer device capable of relatively free layout can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printer device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a control circuit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a layout process performed in the control circuit of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a process at a flag 1 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a layout process performed in the control circuit of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a layout process performed in the control circuit of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an image obtained after a layout process.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a movement process in the layout process.

FIG. 9 is another layout example using another image;
This is an example of a case where four empty areas are combined into one and incorporated after the image is incorporated into the empty area.

FIG. 10 is another layout example using the same image as in FIG. 9 in a case where four free areas are individually selected to incorporate an image into a free area when the image is incorporated into the free area. This is an example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 printer 12 multicolor thermal recording sheet 14 casing 16 mounting table 18 insertion port 20 mounting table 22 discharge port 24 first transport roller 26 first guide plate 27 sensor 28 thermal head 30 platen roller 32 second transport roller 34 first light source 36 Second light source for fixing 38 Second guide plate 50 Control circuit 52 Main controller 54 Signal processing unit 55 Monitor 56 Digital still camera 58 Computer 60 Signal converter 62 RAM 64 ROM 66 Image frame memory 68 Switch 70 Line buffer 72 Thermal head drive Driver 74 Rotary drive source 76 Driver for rotating drive source 78 Driver for driving first light source and second light source 80 Heating element

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C061 AP06 AQ04 CQ03 CQ34 2C087 AA04 AB01 BB01 BB10 BC04 BC05 BC06 BD06 CA03 CB13 CB20 5B021 AA19 AA27 DD09 LD12 5B057 CC03 CE09 CE10 5C076 AA01 AA02 CAA

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An index display means for dividing a display screen into a plurality of divided screens and displaying one type of index image for each of the divided screens, and selecting at least one index image from the plurality of displayed index images. Image selection means, display switching means for switching the selected index image to full screen display, at least one index image displayed on the full screen is divided into a plurality of divided areas, and a desired image selected in divided area units A printer device, comprising: an image extracting unit that deletes an image of another divided area while leaving an area; and an image embedding unit that incorporates another image into an empty divided area from which an image has been deleted. 2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the image incorporation unit incorporates another type of index image selected by the image selection unit from the index images displayed by the index display unit. 3. The image incorporation means, after displaying the other one type of index image on the full screen by the display switching means, displays the image of at least one divided area extracted by the image extraction means in the empty space. 3. The printer device according to claim 2, wherein the printer device is incorporated in a divided area. 4. The image incorporation means incorporates an image into the empty divided area in units of divided areas divided by the image extracting means, or combines multiple divided areas into one screen. 4. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising an area selecting unit that selects whether to incorporate an image in units of areas. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising moving means for moving the image extracted by said image extracting means.
The printer device according to any one of the above items. 6. An output unit for outputting an index image in a state where the index image is displayed as an index, wherein the image extracting unit converts the full-screen displayed index image to a size the same as or similar to the size of the index image output by the output unit. The printer device according to claim 1, wherein the printer device is divided into a plurality of divided regions so that