JP2002094847A - Camera with printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera with a printer, which can improve usability. SOLUTION: The camera with a printer 1 is provided with a display screen 2, a drive power control part 6 controlling the drive power of the display screen 2, a camera microcomputer 5 controlling respective constitution elements arranged in the camera 1 and the printer 8 printing a photographed picture. When an instruction to display the photographed picture on the display screen 2 is given after a photographing person performs a printing start operation, the photographed picture is displayed on the display screen 2. The drive power control part 6 darkens the display screen 2 and a system is switched to a power saving mode.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera with a printer provided with a printer for printing a captured image on a camera for capturing an image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been a request from a user to view a photographic print on the spot where a photograph was taken. On the other hand, an apparatus has been invented in which a print can be viewed in a short time after photographing using a so-called instant camera and instant film (US Pat. Nos. 3,709,122 and 3,72).
7,529, 4,000,500, 4,24
Nos. 9,811 and 4,212,524, and 3,707,116 film cartridges, etc.).

[0003] However, the above-mentioned conventional apparatus has the following problems. That is: 1) All the captured images are only recorded on the instant film. Particularly, even if it is intended to obtain a plurality of prints, the image formed on the instant film must be copied, and The storage method is inconvenient as compared with the silver halide film.

[0004] 2) It is not always necessary to print out all scenes on the spot, and it is not possible to collectively print out instant photos without printing them out on the spot.

As a method of compensating for such a shortcoming of instant photography, there is a camera with a printer in which image information taken by electronic image pickup means such as a solid-state image pickup device is taken into a memory and printed out arbitrarily. It is considered.

In general, printer devices used for printing out color image information generally include 1) a fusion type thermal transfer printer, 2) a sublimation type thermal transfer printer, and 3) an ink jet type printer. Of these, inkjet printers have low running costs, are compact,
It is excellent in power saving, output speed, etc., and is a very effective printer for a camera with a printer that requires portability.

As examples of the above-mentioned camera with a printer, US Pat. No. 4,074,324 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 54-136325.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-200181 discloses a camera with a printer that prints out information that is electrically imaged by a solid-state imaging device. A camera with a printer is disclosed.

[0008]

However, the above-mentioned camera with a printer has a problem that a large amount of power is consumed for displaying a photographed image and the operation of the printer, the battery is quickly consumed, and the usability is poor. Further, once printing is started, it is necessary to wait until printing is completed in order to turn off the power, which is inconvenient and inconvenient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a camera with a printer capable of improving usability.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera with a printer, comprising: a printer for printing a captured image; a liquid crystal display for displaying the captured image;
A driving power control unit for reducing the driving power of the liquid crystal display unit during operation of the printer.

A camera with a printer according to a second aspect of the present invention is a camera with a printer having a printer for printing a photographed image, wherein the state detection means detects whether the camera is in an operation state or a non-operation state. Power control means for controlling a main power supply of the camera based on a detection result by the detection means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera with a printer.
In the camera with a printer described above, the state detecting means includes time measuring means for measuring an elapsed time after printing of the printer is completed, and the state detecting means includes a first time measuring means.
The power control means turns off the main power of the camera when it is detected that the camera is not operated until a predetermined time is counted.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera with a printer.
The printer-equipped camera according to claim 1, further comprising another time-measuring means for measuring a time in which the camera is not operated, wherein the camera is not in a mode for operating the printer, and the state detecting means is the other time-measuring means. When the means detects that the camera is not operated until the second predetermined time longer than the first predetermined time is counted, the power control means turns off a main power supply of the camera with the printer. I do.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera with a printer.
5. The camera with a printer according to claim 1, wherein after printing by the printer, the state detection unit detects that the camera is in a non-operation state based on a vibration state of the camera. The power control means turns off a main power supply of the camera with a printer.

[0015]

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

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a camera with a printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a camera 1 with a printer has an ink jet printer (not shown) built in the back side of the main body, and has a display screen 2 composed of a liquid crystal display element,
A photographing lens barrel 4;

The camera 1 takes in a subject image from the photographing lens barrel 4, forms the subject image on an image pickup device (not shown) built in the camera body, and displays it on the display screen 2 as a photographed image. At the same time, it is stored in a storage medium (not shown) made of magnetism or the like.

Then, the stored image information is printed on the print paper 3 by the print instruction operation of the photographer,
The printing paper 3 is discharged from the opening 1a of the camera 1 as printing progresses.

Generally, a photographer holds the camera 1 and gives a print instruction while holding the camera 1 as it is. Then, the photographer observes the progress until the printing is completed in that state.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the camera 1 of FIG.

In FIG. 1, a camera 1 has a display screen 2
And a drive power control unit 6 for controlling the drive power of the display screen 2
And a camera microcomputer 5 for controlling each component provided in the camera 1 and a printer 8 for printing a captured image.

The photographer confirms the photographed image on the display screen 2 and, if he wants to print the image as it is, operates the operation unit (not shown) provided in the camera 1 to send a print instruction signal to the camera microcomputer 5. Is sent to the camera microcomputer 5
Transmits the print instruction signal and the image data displayed on the display screen 2 to the printer 8. The printer 8 prints the received image data on the print paper 3.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a printing process in the camera 1 of FIG. 1. This process starts when an image printing mode is set after the main power of the camera 1 is turned on.

First, the camera microcomputer 5 determines whether or not the printing start operation has been performed by the photographer (step S).
101). If the print start operation has not been performed, the determination is repeated. If the print start operation has been performed, the camera microcomputer 5 determines whether or not an instruction to display the captured image on the display screen 2 has been given. (Step S10
2).

When an instruction to display a photographed image on the display screen 2 is given, the photographed image is displayed on the display screen 2 and the drive power control unit 6 makes the display screen 2 dark, that is, the liquid crystal display on the display screen 2 The driving power of the element is reduced, and the mode is switched to the power saving mode (step S103).

Thereafter, the printer 8 starts printing the image (step S104), and determines whether or not the printing is completed (step S105). If the printing is not completed, the determination is repeated. When printing is completed,
The drive power control unit 6 brightens the display screen 2, that is, increases the drive power of the liquid crystal display element of the display screen 2, switches to the normal power mode (step S106), and ends this processing.

In step S102, if there is no instruction to display the photographed image on the display screen 2, the printer 8 starts printing the image without displaying the photographed image on the display screen 2 (step S111). It is determined whether or not printing has been completed (step S112). If printing has not been completed, the determination is repeated, while if printing has been completed, this processing ends.

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
After the print start operation is performed by the photographer, when an instruction to display the photographed image on the display screen 2 is given, the photographed image is displayed on the display screen 2, and the drive power control unit 6 displays the display screen 2.
Is darkened and the mode is switched to the power saving mode, so that power consumption can be suppressed, battery consumption can be prevented, and usability can be improved.

(Second Embodiment) The configuration of a camera with a printer according to the present embodiment is partially different from that of the camera with a printer 1 according to the above-described first embodiment. Less than,
This different configuration will be mainly described, and the same configuration will be denoted by the same reference numeral as in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a camera with printer 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Camera 1 with printer according to the present embodiment
Is a state detection unit 10 for detecting a non-operation state or an operation state of the camera 1, and a power control unit 9 for automatically turning on and off the main power supply of the camera 1 based on the detection result of the state detection unit 10. , A camera microcomputer 5 and a printer 8. The state detection unit 10 has a 30-second timer for turning off the main power supply in a short time at the end of printing.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a printing process in the camera 1 shown in FIG. 4. This process starts when an image printing mode is set after the main power of the camera 1 is turned on.

First, the camera microcomputer 5 determines whether or not the printing start operation has been performed by the photographer (step S).
201). If the print start operation has not been performed, the determination is repeated. If the print start operation has been performed, the printer 8 starts printing an image (step S20).
2) It is determined whether the printing is completed (step S20).
3) If the printing is not completed, the determination is repeated, while if the printing is completed, the timer is started (step S204).

Next, it is determined whether or not the non-operating state of the camera 1 has been detected by the state detecting section 10 after the end of printing, for example, until 30 seconds have elapsed (step S205).
If 0 second has not elapsed, or if the operation state of the camera 1 has been detected, the process returns to step S201. On the other hand, if the non-operation state of the camera 1 has been detected until 30 seconds have elapsed since the end of printing, the power control The unit 9 automatically turns off the main power supply (step S206), and ends this processing. Thereby, even if the camera 1 is left after the printing is completed, the main power is automatically turned off, and the consumption of the battery can be prevented. Further, when it is desired to leave the camera 1 after starting printing, it is possible to eliminate the trouble of having to wait until printing is completed in order to manually turn off the main power supply.

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
If a non-operation state of the camera 1 is detected until 30 seconds have elapsed after printing, the power supply control unit 9 automatically turns off the main power supply. The main power supply is automatically turned off, the consumption of the battery can be prevented, and the usability can be improved.

The camera 1 is further provided with a timer for measuring the time during which the printer 1 is not operated in order to turn off the main power supply when the printer 8 is not in the operation mode.
When the timer measures three minutes, for example, and detects a non-operation state of the camera 1 instead of the mode in which the printer 8 is operated, the power supply control unit 9 automatically turns off the main power supply. This also can prevent battery consumption.

(Third Embodiment) In the camera with a printer according to the present embodiment, compared with the camera with a printer 1 according to the above-described second embodiment, the elapsed time detecting unit 10 applies vibration to the camera 1. State detection unit 11 that detects that
The only difference is that the other configuration is the same, and the other configuration is the same.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a camera with a printer 1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a camera 1 with a printer has a state detecting section 11 for detecting that vibration has been applied to the camera 1.
And a power control unit 9 for automatically turning on and off the main power of the camera 1 based on the detection result of the state detection unit 11.
, A camera microcomputer 5 and a printer 8.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a printing process in the camera 1 shown in FIG. 6. This process starts when an image printing mode is set after the main power of the camera 1 is turned on.

First, the camera microcomputer 5 determines whether or not the printing start operation has been performed by the photographer (step S).
301). If the print start operation has not been performed, the determination is repeated. If the print start operation has been performed, the printer 8 starts printing an image (step S30).
2) It is determined whether the printing is completed (step S30).
3) If the printing has not been completed, this determination is repeated, while if the printing has been completed, it is determined whether or not the state detection unit 11 has detected that the camera 1 has been subjected to vibration ( Step S304). If it is detected that vibration has been applied, the camera microcomputer 5 determines that the camera 1 is being held by hand, and returns to step S301 while the main power is on to detect that vibration has been applied. If not, the camera microcomputer 5 determines that the camera 1 is not held by hand, but is left on a desk or the like, and the power control unit 9 automatically turns off the main power (step S305). ), End this processing.

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
When it is not detected that vibration has been applied to the camera 1 after printing is completed, the power supply control unit 9 automatically turns off the main power supply. Is turned off, battery consumption can be prevented, and usability can be improved. Also,
When the user wants to leave the camera 1 after starting printing, the trouble of having to wait until the end of printing to manually turn off the main power supply can be eliminated.

[0044]

As described in detail above, according to the camera with the printer according to the first aspect, the driving power of the liquid crystal display means is reduced while the printer is in operation, so that the power consumption of the camera with the printer is suppressed and the battery power is reduced. Can be prevented, and usability can be improved.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the power control means controls the main power supply of the camera based on the detection result of detecting whether the camera is in the operation state or the non-operation state. In addition, when the camera is not operated, the power control unit turns off the main power of the camera, thereby suppressing power consumption of the camera, preventing consumption of a battery, and improving usability.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the state detecting means detects that the camera is not operated until the time measuring means measures the first predetermined time, the power control means switches the main power supply of the camera. Since the power is turned off, power consumption of the camera can be suppressed, battery consumption can be prevented, and usability can be improved. Further, when it is desired to leave the camera after starting printing, it is possible to eliminate the inconvenience of having to wait until printing is completed in order to turn off the main power by manual input.

According to the fourth aspect of the camera with the printer, the camera is not in the mode for operating the printer, and the state detecting means does not operate the camera until another timer measures the second predetermined time longer than the first predetermined time. When the state is detected, the power control unit turns off the main power supply of the camera, so that the power consumption of the camera can be suppressed, the consumption of the battery can be prevented, and the usability can be improved.

According to the camera with the printer according to the fifth aspect, after the printer prints, when the state detecting means detects that the camera is in the non-operation state based on the vibration state of the camera, the power control means sets the camera in the camera. Since the main power supply is turned off, power consumption of the camera can be suppressed, battery consumption can be prevented, and usability can be improved. Further, when it is desired to leave the camera after starting printing, it is possible to eliminate the inconvenience of having to wait until printing is completed in order to turn off the main power by manual input.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a camera with a printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the camera 1 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a printing process in the camera 1 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a camera with a printer 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a printing process in the camera 1 of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a camera with a printer 1 according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a printing process in the camera 1 of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 camera with printer 2 display screen 4 shooting barrel 5 camera microcomputer 6 drive power control unit 8 printer 9 power supply control unit 10 state detection unit

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) H04N 5/76 H04N 5/76 E // H04N 101: 00 101: 00

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A printer for printing a photographed image, liquid crystal display means for displaying the photographed image, and drive power control means for reducing the drive power of the liquid crystal display means during operation of the printer. Camera with printer. 2. A camera with a printer having a printer for printing a captured image, a state detecting means for detecting whether the camera is in an operation state or a non-operation state,
A camera with a printer, comprising: a power control unit that controls a main power supply of the camera based on a detection result by the state detection unit. 3. The state detecting means includes time measuring means for measuring an elapsed time after printing of the printer is completed, and the state detecting means keeps the camera in a non-operating state until the time measuring means measures a first predetermined time. 3. The camera with a printer according to claim 2, wherein said power control means turns off a main power supply of said camera when it is detected that said camera is in a state. 4. The camera according to claim 1, further comprising another time measuring means for measuring a time in a non-operation state of the camera, wherein the camera is not in a mode in which the printer is operated, and the state detecting means is not operated by the other time measuring means. A second longer than the first predetermined time
4. The camera with a printer according to claim 3, wherein the power control means turns off the main power of the camera when it is detected that the camera is not operated until a predetermined time is counted. 5. After printing by the printer, when the state detecting means detects that the camera is in a non-operating state based on the vibration state of the camera, the power control means controls the main power supply of the camera. 5. The camera with a printer according to claim 2, wherein the camera is turned off.