JP2002273952A - Printer, memory means and method of printing - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer and a method of printing wherein a specific image data can be readily retrieved from image data stored in a separable memory means. SOLUTION: In the case where sound data is stored corresponding to image data stored in a memory card (S103), when the selected image data is changed by a user, the sound data corresponding to the image data is replayed (S107). As the sound corresponding to the image data is replayed, the user can readily know the content of the image data even using a stand-alone type printer which is not connected to a personal computer. As a result, it is possible to readily retrieve the desired image data from image data stored in the memory card.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a printing device, a storage device, and a printing method, and more particularly to a printing device and a printing method capable of printing an image based on image data stored in a storage device separable from a main body of the printing device. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, when electronic data such as image data is printed by a printing apparatus, it is necessary to use a processing device such as a personal computer (hereinafter, a personal computer is referred to as a "personal computer") to control the printing apparatus. There is. For example, when an image photographed by a digital still camera (hereinafter, a digital still camera is referred to as a “digital camera”) is printed by a printing apparatus, image data stored in a storage unit provided in the digital camera is temporarily transferred to a personal computer. Have downloaded. The personal computer creates print data to be printed by the printing device from the downloaded image data, and outputs the print data to the printing device. In the personal computer, the downloaded image data can be corrected or subjected to image processing.

[0003]

As described above, a personal computer is required to print an image photographed by a digital camera with a printing apparatus, for example, so that a user who is not accustomed to handling a personal computer can take an image photographed by a digital camera. Printing is difficult. Therefore, a stand-alone printing apparatus capable of printing an image without using a personal computer is known. In the case of this stand-alone printing apparatus, for example, image data is read directly from a memory card or the like as storage means in which image data captured by a digital camera is stored, and an image based on the image data is printed.

[0004] However, a stand-alone type printing apparatus is, for example, a CRT for displaying an image based on image data.
And no image display unit. When a user uses a personal computer to search for specific image data desired to be printed from a plurality of images, the user can select the specific image data while viewing the image displayed on the image display unit of the personal computer. On the other hand, since the stand-alone printing apparatus does not include the image display unit as described above, it is necessary to select specific image data by referring to a file name or the like attached to the image data. Since this file name is generally created with a simple name such as “001.JPG” or “002.jpg”, the operation of searching for specific image data is complicated for the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus, a storage unit, and a printing method that can easily search for specific image data from image data without using a personal computer.

[0006]

According to a printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, a printing method according to claim 5, or a computer-readable storage medium according to claim 6, specific image data is converted from image data. Is selected, if the specific audio data corresponding to the specific image data is included, the specific audio data is reproduced. By reproducing the specific audio data, the user can easily know the information of the image data. Therefore, for example, even if there are a plurality of image data stored in the storage means, it is possible to easily search for any specific image data from the image data stored in the storage means without using a personal computer or the like.

[0007] According to the printing apparatus of the second aspect of the present invention, the data acquisition section can be connected to a storage means in which image data and audio data are stored. The image data and audio data stored in the storage unit are acquired from the data acquisition unit to the printing device. Therefore, the printing apparatus can acquire image data of an image captured by a digital camera without using, for example, a personal computer.

According to the printing apparatus of the third aspect of the present invention, the storage means contains image data photographed by a digital camera. For example, when an image is shot by a digital camera, a shooting date or a shooting location is added as sound data to image data of the shot image. By reproducing the audio data, the user can easily search for a desired image from a plurality of image data.

According to the storage means of the present invention, the storage means can be separated from the main body of the printing apparatus. The storage unit stores image data or audio data to be input to the printing device. Therefore, since the specific audio data corresponding to the specific image data is included, when selecting an image based on the image data stored in the printing apparatus, the user can easily know the information of the image data.

[0010]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention; 2 and 3 show a printing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the printing apparatus 1 includes a printing unit 20, a control unit 30, a display unit 40, an input unit 50, a sound reproduction unit 60, and a data acquisition unit 70. Printing unit 20, control unit 30, display unit 4
0, input unit 50, audio reproduction unit 60, and data acquisition unit 7
0 is provided in a box-shaped housing 2 as shown in FIG. The printing device 1 prints an image based on the image data acquired from the data acquisition unit 70 by the printing unit 20 driven by the control unit 30.

The printing section 20 includes a print head section 21 for executing printing, and a transport section 22 for feeding paper as a print medium to the print head section 21. Also,
The data acquisition unit 70 includes the first data acquisition unit 71 and the second
It comprises a data acquisition unit 72. As shown in FIG. 3, a display unit 40 and an input unit 50 are arranged on an upper surface of the housing 2. Also, a first data acquisition unit 71, a power switch 11, and a sound reproduction unit 60 are arranged on the front part, and a second data acquisition unit 72 is arranged on the back part. Further, the display unit 40 and the input unit 50 are arranged integrally on the panel 14.

A printing unit 20 and a control unit 30 are arranged inside the housing 2. A paper supply port 12 is formed above the rear part of the housing 2, and a paper discharge port 13 is formed below the front part. A paper tray 121 is detachably locked to the paper supply port 12, and a paper tray 131 is detachably locked to the paper discharge port 13.

The print head unit 21 is disposed adjacent to the transport unit 22. The print head unit 21 has a carriage on which an ink tank and a nozzle head (not shown) are mounted, a step motor for driving the carriage, and a rail for movably supporting the carriage in a direction perpendicular to the paper transport direction. The print head unit 21 performs printing by a known inkjet method. Print head unit 21
The method is not limited to the ink jet method, and a dot impact method or a thermal sublimation method can be used.

The transport section 22 is disposed inside the housing 2 between the paper supply port 12 and the paper discharge port 13. The transport unit 22 includes a transport roller driven by a motor (not shown), and a driven roller that contacts the transport roller and transports the sheet by friction. The transport roller and the driven roller are formed of a non-slip high friction material such as rubber. The transport unit 22 transports the paper from the paper supply port 12 to the paper discharge port 13 by rotating the transport roller and the driven roller.

The control unit 30 includes a CPU (not shown) and a ROM (not shown).
And a RAM. In the ROM, a program for controlling processing of each unit in the printing apparatus 1 and an allocation frame described later are recorded. The RAM temporarily stores electronic data for performing printing and the like. The control unit 30 provides a user interface by driving the display unit 40 or the audio reproduction unit 60 based on information extracted from the electronic data acquired by the first data acquisition unit 71 or the second data acquisition unit 72. . Further, the control unit 30 controls the entire printing apparatus 1 such as determination of an input from the input unit 50 and control of printing executed by the printing unit 20. Further, the control unit 30 also functions as an allocating unit for allocating the specific image data to the allocated frame.

The input unit 50 is arranged on the upper surface of the housing 2, and a plurality of buttons are arranged on the panel 14 as shown in FIG. The print start button 51 as the input unit 50 is arranged on the front side of the panel 14, that is, on the front side, and has a button stand on the panel 14 which is most noticeable. The print start button 51 is made of a translucent material,
An LED (Light Emitting Device) not shown is arranged inside. This LED is controlled so as to blink when the printing becomes possible.

When the print start button 51 is pressed,
A print setting signal corresponding to the print setting displayed on the display unit 40 is transmitted to the control unit 30. Further, when the print start button 51 is pressed in a state in which the execution of the printing in which the LED is blinking is possible, the printing is started in the printing unit 20.

The upper button 52 and the lower button 53 on the panel 14 are arranged vertically to move the prompt P displayed on the display unit 40. The section in which the prompt P is blinking is the active section.
The right button 54 and the left button 55 change details of printing conditions in each section of the display unit 40.

The display section 40 is disposed on the panel 14 on the upper surface of the housing 2. The display unit 40 is a segment type liquid crystal panel, and includes a selection section 41, a paper type section 42 for displaying details of printing conditions,
Paper size section 43, layout section 4
4. Number section 45 and photo number section 46
Is divided into The print conditions corresponding to the display contents selected on the display unit 40 are linked with the print settings of the control unit 30 when the print start button 51 is pressed.

In the selection section 41, the display of the prompt P selectively indicating the active section is moved by the upper button 52 and the lower button 53 of the input section 50. In the case shown in FIG. 4, the active section is the photo number section 46. In the active section, the right button 54 and the left button 55 can switch the display of options in the details of the printing condition.

The paper type section 42 is a section in which a display for selecting a paper type, which is one of the options of the printing condition, is displayed. The paper size section 43 is
This is a section in which a display for selecting a paper size, which is one of the print condition options, is displayed. The layout section 44 is a section on which a display for selecting a print position, which is one of the print condition options, is displayed. The photograph number section 46 is a section in which a display for selecting an image which is one of the options of the printing condition is displayed.
For example, a number from 0 to 199, which is the file name included in the header of the image data, is displayed.

As shown in FIG. 3, the audio reproducing section 60 is disposed on the front surface of the housing 2. The audio reproduction unit 60 has a speaker (not shown) driven by the control unit 30, and outputs audio data read from the ROM as audio.

The first data acquisition section 71 is disposed on the front surface of the housing 2 as shown in FIG. The first data acquisition unit 71 has a card slot 711 and a reader (not shown) that reads out image data or audio data stored in the memory card 80 as storage means and transmits the data to the control unit 30. In the card slot 711, a memory means such as a PCMCIA standard memory card or a compact flash (registered trademark) card generally used for a digital camera (not shown) is inserted together with an adapter as the memory card 80. Memory card 8
By inserting “0” into the card slot 711, the memory card 80 is mechanically and electrically connected to the first data acquisition unit 71.

The second data acquisition section 72 has a plurality of connectors (not shown) provided on the back of the housing 2. The second data acquisition unit 72 is an interface for connecting to a digital camera (not shown) or the like, and transmits to the control unit 30 electronic data such as image data extracted from an externally connected device such as a digital camera.

Next, the operation of the printing apparatus 1 according to this embodiment will be described. 1. The user sets the power switch 11 of the printing apparatus 1 to “O”
N "to make the printing device 1 ready for printing (S
101). At this time, the printing device 1 does not need to be connected to a processing device such as a personal computer.

2. When the power switch 11 is turned “ON”, a control program recorded in the ROM of the control unit 30 starts. Then, the control unit 30 controls the power switch 1
1 is continued to be monitored to determine whether it has been turned OFF (S1).
02).

3. When the power switch 11 is “ON”, the control unit 30 monitors whether the memory card 80 is inserted into the card slot 711 (S103).
If the memory card 80 is not inserted into the card slot 711, the control unit 30 calls up the voice data recorded in the ROM and outputs a voice prompting insertion of the memory card 80 such as "Please insert a card." Reproduction unit 60
To play. The control unit 30 continues the reproduction of the sound until the memory card 80 is inserted, and waits for the memory card 80 to be inserted.

4. When the memory card 80 is inserted into the card slot 711, the control unit 30 accepts the setting of the printing condition input by the user. The printing conditions are input by operating the upper button 52, the lower button 53, the right button 54, and the left button 55 of the input unit 50 based on the display displayed on the display unit 40. At this time, the control unit 30 monitors whether or not the photograph number section 46 is active (S104).

5. When the photo number section 46 is active, the control unit 30 accepts the selection of image data. The selection of the image data is performed by the user operating the right button 54 or the left button 55. Each time the user presses the right button 54, the control unit 30 increases the picture number N displayed in the picture number section 46 by one, and every time the left button 55 is pressed, the control unit 30 increases the picture number N.
Is reduced by one. The image data is selected by the user setting the photograph number N as the number of the desired image data. The image data on which the displayed photograph number N is based is the specific image data.

The photograph number N displayed in the photograph number section 46 is displayed based on the file name given to the image data stored in the image storage area 81 of the memory card 80 as shown in FIG. For example, when the file name of the image data shown in FIG. 5 is “008.JPG”, the photograph number N is displayed as “8” in the photograph number section 46 of the display unit 40 as shown in FIG. In the image storage area 81 shown in FIG. 5, the shaded portion means that image data is stored.

6. Each time the photo number N displayed in the photo number section 46 is changed, that is, every time the user operates the right button 54 or the left button 55 to change the image data to be selected, the control unit 30 controls the header of the image data. The part H is accessed to check whether there is audio data corresponding to the image data on which the displayed photograph number N is based (S106).

As shown in FIG. 4, the header portion H of the image data is provided with a code F indicating whether or not there is audio data corresponding to the image data. For example, FIG.
In the header portion H of the image data whose file name is “008.JPG”, a symbol F indicating that there is corresponding audio data is attached.

[7] When there is audio data in the image data that is the basis of the photograph number N displayed in the photograph number section 46, that is, when the code F is added to the header portion H, the control unit 30 transmits the image data, for example, the file name “0”.
08. JPG ”to the memory card 8
0 is read from the voice storage area 82. And the control unit 3
0 denotes a sound based on the read sound data,
0 is reproduced (S107). This audio data is, for example, “2” stored when the user shoots with a digital camera.
An arbitrary sound such as "January 1, 2000, shooting location: Yamagami Park".

8. When the sound is reproduced by the sound reproduction unit 60, the control unit 30 monitors whether the print execution button 51 is pressed by the user (S108). If the user determines that the selected image data corresponds to the image desired to be printed based on the reproduced sound, the user presses the print execution button 51, and if not, presses the print execution button 51. do not do.

9. When the print execution button 51 is pressed by the user, the control unit 30 reads the image data from the image storage area 81 of the memory card 80, creates print data from the read image data, and sends it to the printing unit 20. For example, in the case of a color image, the print data is bitmap data corresponding to each color of Y (yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan). The printing unit 30 executes printing on the paper based on the print data (S109).

As described above, according to the printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment, when there is audio data corresponding to the image data stored in the memory card 80, every time the image data to be selected is changed by the user, The audio data corresponding to the image data is reproduced. Therefore, the user can easily know the contents of the image data by reproducing the sound corresponding to the image data, even in the case of the stand-alone printing apparatus 1 not connected to a personal computer or the like. Therefore, it is possible to easily search for any image data from the image data stored in the memory card 80.

As described above, in this embodiment, A4
Although an example using paper such as T-shirt has been described, cloth such as a T-shirt or resin such as an OHP sheet can be used. In the present embodiment, the area of the memory card where the image data is stored is different from the area where the audio data corresponding to the image data is stored. For example, the audio data is attached to the header of the image data. It is good also as a form which does.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a flow of a process of executing printing by a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a printing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a panel of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a structure of data stored in a memory card separable to a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Description of Signs] 1 Printing apparatus 2 Main body housing 20 Printing unit 30 Control unit 40 Display unit (selection unit) 50 Input unit (selection unit) 60 Audio playback unit 70 Data acquisition unit 80 Memory card (storage unit)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 5/76 G10L 3/00 Q 5D045 (72) Inventor Tadashi Tanizaki ▲ Toku ▼ Yamato 3-chome, Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture No. 3-5 F term in Seiko Epson Corporation (reference) 2C061 AP10 AQ01 AQ05 CQ05 CQ22 CQ24 CQ30 CQ32 CQ36 CQ38 CQ44 2C087 AB01 AC05 AC07 AC12 BB16 BC18 BD49 CB17 2C187 AC05 AC08 AC09 AE01 CD15 AQA A5A A DD A AB04 AC08 DD02 EE02 EE03 EE08 FA03 FA04 FA09 FB01 FB08 FC01 FC06 FC08 GA02 GA03 GA05 GA06 GB01 GB07 GE08 5D045 AB16

Claims (6)

[Claims] A data acquisition unit capable of acquiring image data or audio data; a selection unit capable of selecting specific image data to be acquired by the data acquisition unit from the image data; and a selection unit selected by the selection unit. When there is specific audio data corresponding to the specific image data, an audio reproducing unit that reproduces audio based on the specific audio data, and a printing unit that prints an image based on the specific image data are provided. Printing device. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data acquisition unit is connectable to a storage unit that stores the image data and the audio data. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the storage unit includes image data captured by a digital still camera. 4. A storage unit capable of storing image data or audio data that can be input to the printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit is separable from a main body of the printing apparatus and the data acquisition. A memory that is mechanically connectable to a unit and that can store image data that can be obtained by the data obtaining unit and audio data that can be obtained by the data obtaining unit in correspondence with the image data. means. 5. A printing method for printing an image based on image data stored in a storage unit separable from a printing apparatus, wherein a specific image data is selected from the image data stored in the storage unit. A specific image data inputting step to be accepted; a matching step for checking whether or not specific sound data corresponding to the specific image data selected in the specific image data inputting step is stored in the storage unit; As a result, when the specific audio data is stored in the storage unit, the audio reproduction step of reading the specific audio data from the storage unit and reproducing an audio based on the specific audio data; and A print execution input step of receiving a selection as to whether or not to print the specific image data corresponding to the specific audio data; A step of reading the specific image data from the storage unit and printing an image based on the specific image data on a print medium when the execution of printing of the image based on the image data is selected and accepted. Method. 6. A computer-readable recording medium recording a program for causing a control unit of a printing apparatus to execute printing of an image based on image data stored in storage means separable from the printing apparatus, A specific image data input procedure for receiving selection of specific image data from the image data stored in the storage means, and specific audio data corresponding to the specific image data selected in the specific image data input procedure are stored in the storage means. A collation procedure for collating whether or not the specific audio data is stored in the specific audio data is read from the storage means when the specific audio data is stored in the storage means; A sound reproduction procedure for reproducing a sound based on the specific sound data reproduced in the sound reproduction procedure. A print execution input procedure for receiving a selection as to whether or not to execute printing of an image based on the image data, and when selectively accepting execution of printing of an image based on the specific image data, reading the specific image data from the storage unit; A printing procedure for printing an image based on the specific image data on a printing medium; and a control unit of a printing apparatus, the computer-readable storage medium storing a program.