JP2003111016A - Digital camera, printer, video display device, and video transmitter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital camera capable of freely being used by a user even during execution of print, display and communication of a photographed video image and a print system capable of printing video images in a way of unifying longitudinal directions of the video images in executing multiple image printing and easily realizing sorting after printing in executing printing of extra copies. SOLUTION: The digital still camera creates a management file to control print processing, display processing and communication processing into a flash memory card 103 together with video information.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital camera using a digital still camera, a printing device, a video display device, and a video transmission device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 12 shows the configuration of a conventional digital camera and video printer. When printing images taken with a digital camera without going through a computer, first connect the digital camera to a video printer with a video cable, and then display the video signal of the image you want to print on the video output of the digital camera. To operate. When output, press the capture key on the video printer side to capture the video signal. When the capture of the video signals for two sheets is completed by repeating this process, pressing the two-screen multi-print key prints two videos on one sheet.

FIG. 13 shows a configuration of a conventional digital camera and a home television. The digital camera and video printer are connected by a video cable. By operating the display feed key of the digital camera, the image displayed on the home TV can be switched.

FIG. 14 shows the configuration of a conventional digital camera, mobile phone and modem. RS for digital cameras and mobile phones
Connected by 232C interface. AT is a digital camera
After the communication is established by the modem operation using the command, the selected video is transmitted.

[0005]

The configuration shown in FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 has a problem that the digital camera cannot be used during operation.

Further, when the two-screen multi-printing is performed with the configuration of FIG. 12, a very troublesome work is required to print the image taken with the camera held horizontally and the image taken vertically without being mixed. was.

Further, when a plurality of people request printing, as in the case of performing a reprinting work with the configuration of FIG. 12, after the required number of prints, the sorting work for each orderer becomes difficult. was there.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to allow a digital camera to be used freely even while printing, displaying, and communicating a photographed image.

It is another object of the present invention to print so that the vertical direction of an image is unified when multi-screen printing is performed.

It is another object of the present invention to facilitate sorting work after printing when performing additional printing.

[0011]

The invention according to the first aspect of the present invention is a removable non-volatile storage means, a shooting means for storing video information taken on the non-volatile storage means, and a printing method. Print image selection means for selecting an image to be displayed,
It is a digital camera characterized by comprising print management information storage means for storing information relating to an image to be printed on the non-volatile storage means.

In a second aspect of the present invention, the removable non-volatile storage means, the imaging means for storing the video information captured on the non-volatile storage means, and the video to be displayed are selected. It is a digital camera characterized by comprising display image selection means and display management information storage means for storing information on an image to be displayed on the non-volatile storage means.

The invention according to the third aspect of the present invention is such that a removable non-volatile storage means, a shooting means for storing video information taken on the non-volatile storage means, and a video to be transmitted are selected. A digital camera comprising a transmission image selection means and a communication management information storage means for storing information on an image to be transmitted on the non-volatile storage means.

The invention according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is a removable non-volatile storage means, a shooting means for storing video information taken on the non-volatile storage means, and a video selection means for selecting a video. And a processing management information storage means for storing a processing instruction sequence for the selected video in the non-volatile storage means.

In the invention of the fifth aspect of the present invention, the print image selecting means can select an image symbolizing the orderer himself from the images stored in advance, and the print management information storing means makes an order. It is a digital camera characterized in that it also stores information about images that symbolize the person himself.

The invention according to a sixth aspect of the invention is a digital camera characterized in that the print management information storage means also stores information relating to a rotation angle of an image.

An invention according to a seventh aspect of the invention is a digital camera characterized in that the display management information storage means also stores information relating to a rotation angle of an image.

An invention according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is a digital camera characterized in that the communication management information storage means also stores information regarding a rotation angle of an image.

In a ninth aspect of the present invention, the invention provides a multi-printing means for printing a plurality of video information to be printed on one sheet of paper, and print management information relating to the video to be printed and the rotation angle of the video. The print management information acquisition unit to be acquired and the image information having the same rotation angle are set to the same group, and the print order is adjusted so that a plurality of images printed on one sheet belong to the same group. A printing apparatus having an order adjusting unit and a printing control unit for designating a printing order for the multi-printing unit.

The invention according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is a print means for printing video information, a print management information acquisition means for acquiring print management information about a video to be printed and a print orderer, and print management. Printing order adjusting means for determining the printing order according to the printing order specified by the information, and when the orderer prints different images, a frame line of different colors, shapes, or thicknesses is put in the printing result. A printing apparatus comprising: a frame designating unit for designating a print control unit; and a print control unit for designating a printing order and a frame color for the printing unit.

The invention according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention obtains print means for printing video information, and print management information relating to the video to be printed, the print orderer, and a video symbolizing the orderer himself. Print management information acquisition means, print order adjustment means for determining the print order according to the print order specified by the print management information, and when the orderer prints different images, different colors, shapes, or A frame designating means for designating the print control means to insert a thickness frame line; and an orderer list composing means for instructing printing using a frame line designated by the frame designating means for a video symbolizing the orderer himself, The printing apparatus includes a printing control unit that specifies a printing order and a frame color for the printing unit.

The invention according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention is a printing means for printing video information, a print management information acquisition means for acquiring print management information about a video to be printed and a print orderer, and print management. A print order adjusting unit that determines the print order according to the print order specified by the information, and a marking specifying unit that specifies the print control unit to put different marks in the print result when the orderer prints different images. And a printing control means for designating a printing order and marks for the printing means.

The invention according to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention obtains print means for printing video information, and print management information relating to the video to be printed, the print orderer, and the video symbolizing the orderer himself. A print management information acquisition unit, a print order adjustment unit that determines the print order according to the print order specified by the print management information, and when the orderer prints different images, a different mark is added to the print result. Marking designating means for designating the print control means, orderer list composing means for instructing printing by using the mark designated by the marking designating means for the image symbolizing the orderer himself, and the printing order and marks for the printing means. A printing apparatus having a print control unit for designating.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the print management information acquisition means acquires print management information relating to an image to be printed and a rotation angle of the image, and the printing order adjustment means includes a rotation angle. Is the same image information as the same group, and the image printing order is adjusted and determined so that the image information of different groups is not mixedly printed on one sheet of paper.

The invention of a fifteenth aspect of the present invention is a display means for displaying video information, a removable non-volatile storage means, and display management information relating to a video to be displayed from the removable non-volatile storage means. The image display device is characterized by having display management information acquisition means for acquiring the display order and display control means for designating a display order for the display means.

A sixteenth aspect of the present invention is a communication means for transmitting video information, a removable non-volatile storage means, and transmission management information regarding a video to be transmitted from the removable non-volatile storage means. The video transmitting apparatus is characterized by having communication management information acquisition means for acquiring the transmission information and communication control means for designating the transmission order for the transmission means.

In the printing system, the display system, or the communication system according to the present invention, the digital camera can be freely used even while printing, displaying, and communicating the captured images.

Further, in the print system according to the present invention, when the multi-screen printing is performed, the image is printed so that the vertical direction is unified.

Further, in the print system according to the present invention, the sorting work after printing can be easily realized when performing the additional printing.

[0030]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is print management information including video information and rotation information relating to rotation of the video information set by a user after the video information is stored and a printing method. Connection means for connecting a removable memory for storing the print management information, analyzing means for analyzing the print management information from the memory, and printing the video information from the memory according to the print management information analyzed by the analyzing means. And a control device for controlling the printing device.
By inserting the removable memory into the printing device, the digital camera can be used freely independent of the printing operation.

Further, by the print management information storing means, when the multi-screen printing is performed, the images are printed so that the vertical direction is unified, and when the reprint printing is performed, the sorting work after the printing is easily realized. it can.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital camera according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1
Is an objective lens, 2 is a CCD (charge coupled device), 3 is A /
D converter, 4 is a video compression means, 5 is a video writing means for writing the compressed video to a memory card in the form of a file that can be uniquely identified by a file name, switch S1 is a shutter, and the photographing means 100 is configured. To do.

Reference numeral 9 is a video reading means for reading a video file by designating a file name, 10 is a video expanding means, and 11 is a video expanding means.
Is a D / A converter, S2 is a reproduction switch, 12 is a liquid crystal, and 13
Is a display feed key, 14 is a display rotation key, 15 is a video information acquisition means for acquiring information on a video displayed on the liquid crystal,
Reference numeral 17 is an orderer designation key, and 18 is a print designation key, which constitutes the image selection means 101.

Reference numeral 16 constitutes print management information storage means 102 for generating print management information and creating a print management information file in the memory card.

A flash memory card 103 is a non-volatile memory that can be removed from the digital camera. This flash memory card constitutes a removable non-volatile storage means. A video file 7 and a print management information file 8 are stored in the flash memory card in the DOS format.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the printing apparatus according to the present invention. A print management information acquisition unit 51 acquires the print management information file 8 on the memory card 103. Reference numeral 52 denotes a print order adjusting unit that divides the images to be printed for each rotation angle of the image into groups for each rotation angle and adjusts the printing order so that images of different rotation angles are not mixed as much as possible. Reference numeral 53 is a print control means for controlling the two-screen multi-printing means 56 so as to perform printing in the designated printing order and frame color. Further, the print control means prints the orderer list in accordance with the instruction from the orderer list composing means 55 after the printing of all the images is completed. 54
Is a frame designating unit that gives an instruction to the print control unit so that the color of the frame line changes for each orderer. Reference numeral 55 is an orderer list composing means for instructing to print the video information indicating the orderer using the frame of the color used by the frame designating means.

The operation will be described below. Now, assume that the shutter button S1 is pressed. Then, the video signal taken in from the CCD 2 is stored in the flash memory card 10 as a file that can be uniquely specified in the memory card by the A / D converter 3, the video compression means 4, and the video writing means 5.
Written in 3. Now, 6 files "A.JPG", "B.JPB", "C.JPG", "D.JPG""M.JPG","N.JP
It is assumed that G ”is stored in the flash memory card. Among them,“ M.JPG ”and“ N.JPG ”are images of users M and N themselves.

The user can view the photographed image on the liquid crystal by turning on the reproduction switch S2. That is, the image reading means 9 reads one file, and the image is displayed on the liquid crystal through the image expanding means 10 and the D / A converter 11. When the user presses the display advancing key 13, the image reading means reads a file different from the image currently displayed and starts displaying.

Further, when the user holds the camera vertically while displaying the image and the image is displayed as shown in FIG. 3A, when the display rotation key 14 is pressed, the image reading means 9 causes the image being displayed. Recall the same image as, and rotation switch S3
Is switched to the rotating means 6 side. Then, the expanded image is rotated 90 degrees to the right by the rotation key 14 and is displayed on the liquid crystal 1.
It is displayed vertically in 2 and is displayed as shown in FIG. When the next feed key is pressed, the display rotation switch S3 returns to the opposite side.

To register an image to be printed by user M, first, the image taken by Mr. M is displayed.
Is displayed, and the orderer designation key 17 is pressed. Then, the video information acquisition means 15 causes the video read means 9 to
Get the file name of the video being displayed. The print management information storage unit 102 adds the character string "ORDER" to the front of the file name and stores it in the flash memory card 103 as the first line of the print management information file "PRINT".

Next, it is assumed that Mr. M first uses the display forward key 13 to display "A.JPG" as the image to be printed.
At this time, when the print designation key 18 is pressed, the image information acquisition means 1
Reference numeral 5 acquires from the video reading means 9 the name of the video file being displayed and the state of the rotary key. If the rotary key is not used, the print management information storage unit 102 stores the character string "A.JPG 0" in the flash memory card 103 as the second line of the print management information file "PRINT". The last "0" indicates the state of the rotary key. If the rotation key is pressed, set "90". Similarly, after rotating "B.JPG", press the print order key 18, display "C.JPG", then press the print order key 18, display "D.JPG", rotate, and then press the print order key. When 18 is pressed, up to the 5th line in FIG. 4 is created.

Similarly, Mr. N selects an image to be printed and a print management information file of lines 6 to 8 in FIG. 4 is created.

The user mounts a flash memory card on the printing apparatus 300 to print the selected image. Then, the print management information acquisition unit 51 searches for a file "PRINT", and notifies the contents of the file to the print order adjustment unit 52, the frame designation unit 54, and the orderer list configuration unit 55. The printing order adjusting unit 52 divides the images having the same rotation angle into groups, and adjusts the printing order so that the images of different groups are not mixed in one sheet. As a result, the printing order of FIG. 6 is determined.

Upon receiving the contents of the print management information file "PRINT", the frame specifying means 54 specifies the color of the print frame for each orderer. Since the orderer changes with the fifth sheet, the print control unit is instructed to change the frame color from gray to blue. Also,
The orderer list composing means 55 is notified that the gray frame is used for the first orderer and the blue frame is used for the next orderer.

The orderer list construction means 55 extracts the video file name of the line beginning with "ORDER" of the print management information file "PRINT" and prints the video file using the frame color received from the frame designating means 54. Print control means 53
Specify in.

The print control means 53 first executes the instruction received from the print order adjusting means 52.

As a result, the two-screen multi-printing means 5
6 prints three sheets as shown in FIGS. 7 (a), (b) and (c).
Next, by the designation from the orderer list composing means 55, FIG.
Print one sheet as shown in (d).

Although the rotation angle can be selected only from 0 ° and 90 °, any angle may be selected.
In addition, 90 ° and 270 ° images can be printed on the same paper by rotating either one by 180 °.

In the present embodiment, the color of the print frame is changed to identify the orderer, but the thickness and shape of the print frame line may be changed. Further, a mark having a specific shape (for example, a red square or a blue square) may be used as an identification method.
Further, the specific mark may be printed on the back surface of the paper.

In this embodiment, the rotation angle can be confirmed by the user's operation, but the rotation angle may be automatically obtained by the attitude detecting means.

In the present embodiment, the information about the orderer is used for the purpose of facilitating the sorting work, but the additional charge may be calculated and printed or displayed.

In this embodiment, the image symbolizing the orderer is selected, but a character string for identifying the orderer may be input and included in the print management information. Then, the character string may be printed.

As a result, after inserting the memory card into the printing apparatus, it is possible to automatically print an image without a digital camera.

Further, even if images having different rotation angles are printed in various orders, it is possible to easily print the images so that the vertical direction of the images is unified.

Further, at the time of executing the reprint printing, the sorting work after the printing can be easily realized by the print frame or mark distinguished for each orderer and the list printing of the orderer.

(Second Embodiment) FIGS. 8 and 9 are block diagrams of a display system using a digital camera. Similar to the print system, the file name of the image selected by the user on the digital camera is created on the memory card as the display management information file. The display control means of the display device of FIG. 9 obtains the file name of the video to be displayed from the memory card from the display management information, and sequentially displays the file name on the display means 212.

At this time, the name of the display management file is "DISPLA
Set to Y ", etc. This allows you to display images automatically after inserting a memory card into the display device, even without a digital camera.

(Third Embodiment) FIGS. 10 and 11 are block diagrams of a display system using a digital camera.
Similar to the print system, the file name of the image selected by the user on the digital camera is created on the memory card as a communication management information file. The communication control means of the communication device of FIG. 11 obtains the file name of the video to be transmitted from the memory card from the communication management information file, and instructs the communication means 312 to transmit in order.

At this time, the name of the display management file is set to "SEND" or the like. Thus, after inserting the memory card into a communication device such as a mobile phone or a modem, it is possible to automatically transmit an image without a digital camera.

[0060]

As described above, in the print system, display system, or communication system according to the present invention, printing, display, and
The digital camera can be used freely even during communication.

Further, in the print system according to the present invention, when multi-screen printing is performed, the image is printed so that the vertical direction thereof is unified.

Further, in the print system according to the present invention, the sorting work after printing can be easily realized when performing the additional printing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital camera that constitutes a digital camera print system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a printing apparatus that constitutes a digital camera printing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an operation explanatory view of a rotary key of the display selection means according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the contents of a print management information file according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the operation of the print order adjustment unit 52 according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the contents of instructions given to the print control unit 53 by the print order adjusting unit 52 according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an output result of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a digital camera that constitutes a display system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a display device included in a display system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a digital camera that constitutes a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a communication device forming a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a print system using a conventional digital camera.

FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram of a display system using a conventional digital camera.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a communication system using a conventional digital camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Objective lens 2 CCD (charge coupled device) 3 A / D converter 4 Video compression means 5 Video writing means 6 rotation means 7 video files 8 Print management information file 9 Video reading means 10 Image expansion means 11 D / A converter 12 LCD 13 Display feed key 14 rotary key 15 Video information acquisition means 17 Orderer specified key 18 Print designation key 51 Print management information acquisition means 52 print order adjusting means 53 Print control means 54 frame designation means 55 Orderer list configuration means 56 Two-screen multi-printing means 60 Multi-printing means 100 shooting means 101 video selection means 102 print management information storage means 103 Flash memory card 200 Display management information file 201 Display management information storage means 202 display image selection means 210 Display Management Information Acquisition Means 211 Display control means 212 display means 300 Communication management information file 301 Communication management information storage means 302 transmission image selection means 310 Communication management information acquisition means 311 communication control means 312 Communication means

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Michiharu Uematsu             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric             Sangyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Haruo Yamashita             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric             Sangyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Fukushima             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric             Sangyo Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 5C052 AA12 AA17 AB02 DD02 EE02                       EE03 EE08                 5C053 FA04 FA06 FA08 FA09 FA27                       KA01 KA24 LA02 LA03

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A connection means for connecting a removable memory for storing video information and rotation management information about rotation of the video information set by a user after the video information is stored and print management information including a printing method. A printing apparatus comprising: an analysis unit that reads the print management information from the memory and analyzes the print management information; and a control unit that prints the video information stored in the memory according to the print management information analyzed by the analysis unit. 2. A removable memory is connected for storing a plurality of video information and rotation management information regarding rotation of the plurality of video information set by a user after the video information is stored and print management information including a printing method. A print unit including a connecting unit for performing the print management information, an analyzing unit for reading the print management information from the memory and analyzing the print management information, and a control unit for printing the video information stored in the memory according to the print management information analyzed by the analyzing unit. apparatus. 3. Connection means for connecting a removable memory for storing video information and print management information indicating a printing method of the video information set by the user after the video information is stored, and connecting means for connecting the removable memory to the memory. A printing apparatus comprising: an analysis unit that reads out and analyzes print management information; and a print control unit that adds a frame to the video information and prints the image information according to the print management information analyzed by the analysis unit. 4. A connection means for connecting a removable memory for storing image information, and an analysis means for analyzing print management information stored in the memory, which indicates a print orderer.
A printing apparatus including: a print control unit that divides the video information into different pages for each print orderer according to the print management information analyzed by the analysis unit, adds a frame, and prints. 5. The printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the print control unit prints a list of the print orderers.