JP2003244586A - Image processing equipment, its control method, image processing system and control program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable printing image data by taking into consideration the size of printing paper and properly trimming the image data. <P>SOLUTION: When the image data photographed with a digital camera is printed, the aspect ratio of printing area of the image data is decided according to the aspect ratio of the printing paper. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a digital camera,
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus such as a printer, and more particularly to a technique for setting a print range from image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a thermal paper has been used as a printing paper, and by selectively driving a plurality of heating elements arranged in the main scanning direction to convey the printing paper in the sub-scanning direction, There is known a line thermal transfer printer that prints in a dot line shape.

In recent years, a thermal transfer type printer has been attracting attention as an image printing means with the progress of devices that can be used as image input devices such as digital cameras, digital video cameras, and scanners.

The main reason for this is that the ink jet printer has only a binary selection as to whether or not droplets are to be ejected. Therefore, a small droplet is landed on the paper and an apparent resolution and floor are obtained by a method such as error diffusion. On the other hand, in the case of a thermal transfer printer, the amount of heat can be easily controlled on a pixel-by-pixel basis, while it is possible to obtain a large tonality for one pixel. This is because a smoother and higher quality image can be obtained as compared with a printer.

Further, since the thermal transfer type printer has improved the performance of the thermal head and the performance of the paper material, it has become possible to obtain an image print with a finished quality which is not inferior to silver salt photographs. It has attracted attention as a printer for natural images so as to keep pace with the progress of digital cameras.

On the other hand, with regard to ink jet printers, techniques such as making liquid droplets into small dots have advanced, and printers with higher image quality have also appeared.

Therefore, such a printer and a photographing device such as a digital camera or a digital video camera are directly connected to each other or integrally formed, and the photographed image information is used as an image information processing device such as a computer. A system has also been realized for printing without going through.

In such a printing system, image information from a digital camera or a digital video can be easily printed out with high image quality such as a photograph, which is very convenient.

An example of a conventional print system is an image input system disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-243327. The image input system is an image input / output system in which an image output device and an image input device are connected, and the image output device receives and outputs an image signal from the image input device, and The image output apparatus has a power supply unit for supplying power to the image input apparatus, the image output apparatus transmits the image data to the image output apparatus, and the image is supplied by a connection cable for receiving power supply from the image output apparatus. The image output device is connected to the output device and has a determining unit that determines whether power can be supplied from the image output device and a power supply unit, and the determination unit determines that the image output device can receive power supply. In this case, the electric power from the image output device is used, and when it is determined that the electric power cannot be supplied, the electric power from the power supply unit is used.

According to this image input system, since power is supplied from the image output device, it is possible to print out without worrying about the remaining power of the image input device such as a digital camera.

Further, in the compound camera disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-65182, power saving during printing is described. This compound camera is a compound camera in which a photographing means having an electronic viewfinder and recording image information on a recording medium and a printer means for printing out image information on recording paper are integrated. A control means is provided to control the supply of electric power to the electronic viewfinder while the image information is printed out on the recording paper.

According to this compound camera, electric power is not supplied to the electronic viewfinder during printing, which is useful for power saving.

[0013]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, when the image forming system is constituted by the image input device such as a digital camera and the printer, the following improvements have been demanded.

For example, in a general printer, since the size of the image to be printed and the size of the printing paper are designated independently, there is a problem that the image cannot be printed in a size that matches the printing paper.

On the other hand, as shown in the above-mentioned conventional example, when an image forming system is constituted by a printer and an image input device such as a digital camera, the printer can handle a plurality of print paper sizes. If,
Depending on the size of the printing paper, it is more convenient to resize the image signal from the digital camera to a size corresponding to the size of the printing paper (enlargement or reduction processing of the image).

Further, in the case of having a trimming function for cutting out and printing a part of the image stored in the digital camera, the image is cut out with the same aspect ratio as the original image,
If you can cut out an image with an arbitrary aspect ratio, you can print more intentionally, which is very convenient.

Further, depending on the image trimming method,
When the printed area is displayed in a frame on the electronic viewfinder, the printed area can be visually recognized, which is very convenient.

The present invention has been made under such a background, and an object thereof is to enable the image data to be appropriately trimmed and printed in consideration of the size of the printing paper.

[0019]

In order to solve the above problems, the image processing apparatus according to the present invention has a control means for controlling the print range of the image data according to the print mode for printing the image data. .

Further, the control method of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention has a control step of controlling the print range of the image data according to the print mode for printing the image data.

Further, the present invention is an image processing system for printing image data picked up by an image pickup device by a printing device, wherein an aspect ratio of a printing range of the image data is determined at least in accordance with an aspect ratio of the printing paper. It has a decision means to do.

Further, the present invention is a control program executed by an image pickup device, wherein the image data picked up by the image pickup device is printed by the printing device according to at least the aspect ratio of the printing paper. It has the contents to determine the aspect ratio of the print range.

Further, the present invention is a control program executed by a printing device having a function of printing image data picked up by an image pickup device, wherein the printing range of the image data is at least according to the aspect ratio of the printing paper. It has the contents to determine the aspect ratio of.

[0024]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a system configuration diagram of a print system according to the exemplary embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, in this embodiment, the digital camera DC and the printer 1 are connected by the USB cable 27, and the image data photographed by the digital camera DC is downloaded to the printer 1 for printing. I have to.

The digital camera DC stores photographed image data in a memory (recording medium). In the present embodiment, the recording medium is a removable CompactFlash (registered trademark) card. Or using smart media.

Further, the digital camera DC displays the image data stored in the memory on the liquid crystal display unit in the reproduction mode, selects desired image data and operates a predetermined print execution button (not shown). Printer 1
It is configured for download to.

At this time, the image data is trimmed to an appropriate size in consideration of the size of the printing paper and the printer 1
A frame indicating the trimming range is displayed on the electronic viewfinder of the digital camera DC.

Next, the structure of the printer 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The printer 1 employs a sublimation type thermal transfer recording system as a printer engine and can print out an arbitrary number of electronic image data.

In FIG. 2, the recording paper P stored in the paper cassette 2 is in contact with the paper feed roller 3 by the push-up plate 21 biased by the spring 19, and the paper feed rollers 3 one by one. Separately fed. Then, the recording paper P fed by the paper feed roller 3 is nipped by the conveying roller pair 4 and conveyed to the recording unit.

The conveying roller pair 4 is composed of a pinch roller 42 and a grip roller 41. In the recording unit, the platen roller 5 and the thermal head 6 are opposed to each other across the conveyance path of the recording paper P, and the ink sheet 8 is pressed against the recording paper P by the thermal head 6. In this state, a plurality of heating elements of the thermal head 6 are selectively heated based on the image data, so that a predetermined image is transferred and recorded on the recording paper P.

The ink sheet 8 covers the print area of the recording paper P and has a size substantially equal to that of the print area, and the ink layers of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) and the overcoat layer. Are arranged in the length direction of the sheet.

Then, each time one color ink is thermally transferred, the recording paper P is returned to the recording start position, the next color ink is thermally transferred, and finally the overcoat layer is thermally transferred.
Printing is performed so that the above three colors and the overcoat layer are laminated.

In this way, the recording paper P is reciprocated four times by the conveying roller pair 4 in the recording section. At this time, the recording paper P on which a certain color or an overcoat layer is printed is reversed in front of the printer 1 (on the left side in FIG. 2), and the printer 1 is guided through the front and lower guides 25 of the paper cassette 2.
To the rear (right side of FIG. 2).

In this way, the recording paper P is reversed in front of the printer 1 and does not go outside during printing.
It is possible to prevent unintentional contact with the printing recording paper P during printing, and it is possible to save space. Further, since the lower portion of the paper cassette 2 is directly used as a paper guide, the thickness of the printer 1 can be reduced, and the recording paper P is passed through the space between the ink cassette 7 and the paper cassette 2. As a result, the overall height of the printer 1 can be minimized, and the printer 1 can be downsized also in these points.

Reference numeral 25 is a paper transport guide portion of the paper cassette 2. The paper transport guide unit 25 is a guide unit that reverses the recording paper P, which has been inverted from the front of the printer 1, to the rear of the printer 1. By providing the paper transport guide unit 25 in the paper cassette 2, the printer 1. It greatly contributes to downsizing of the whole.

The upper surface of the paper cassette 2 is also used as a tray portion 26 for the recording paper P that has been printed and ejected.
This also contributes to downsizing of the printer 1.

The recording paper P, after the last color is printed,
The paper is guided to the paper discharge rollers 9a and 9b, discharged from the rear of the printer 1 toward the front, and the recording operation is completed. The discharge roller 9a is configured to come into pressure contact only during the discharge operation of the recording paper P, so that stress is not applied during printing. A conveyance path switching sheet 16 is configured to guide the recording paper P to the discharge side path after the recording paper P is once fed.

Further, the thermal head 6 for printing is integrally mounted on the head arm 22. When the ink cassette 7 is replaced, the paper cassette 2 is pulled out to prevent the ink cassette 7 from being inserted or removed. Retreat to a non-existent position. That is, the head arm 2 is pressed by the cam portion of the paper cassette 2 when the paper cassette 2 is mounted, but when the paper cassette 2 is detached, the head arm 2 is released from the pressing force of the gum portion and moves upward ( By retreating), the ink cassette 7 can be attached and detached.

In a normal thermal transfer recording apparatus, YMC three colors and an overcoat layer are layer-sequentially stacked and recorded.
It is necessary to exactly match the recording front end position of each color and the overcoat layer. For this alignment, it is necessary to firmly hold the recording paper P with the pair of conveying rollers 4 shown in FIG. Further, an unrecordable margin is required at the end of the recording paper P in the feeding direction. However, if the margin (edge) is left as it is, it is unpleasant, and as shown in FIG.
The recording paper P is provided with perforations 12 so that the margin portion can be easily cut off later by hand.

In the present embodiment, such perforations 12 are formed.
The recording paper P on which is formed is used.
Similarly to the print area 17, the overcoat layer of the ink sheet 8 is also transferred to the area where 2 is formed.

Next, the operation of the printer 1 will be described in detail. In the printer 1 shown in FIG. 2, a pair of transport rollers 4
Consists of a pinch roller 42 and a grip roller 41,
The grip roller 41 is directly connected to an output shaft of a stepping motor (not shown) via a speed reduction mechanism, and is rotatively driven forward and backward by the rotation control of the stepping motor to convey the recording paper P back and forth.

At this time, needless to say, the recording paper P is accurately position-controlled by the rotation control of the stepping motor. For example, if the recording pitch for one line by the thermal head 6 is 85 μm and the number of steps of the stepping motor for transporting the recording paper P for one line is four, the recording paper P has four stepping motors.
By controlling the rotation in steps, one line (that is, 85 μm) can be conveyed. Assuming that the printing area 17 shown in FIG. 3 is 144 mm in the transport direction, 1694 line printing is possible, and in order to transport the recording paper P by this amount, the stepping motor may be rotated by 6776 steps.

In the printer 1 shown in FIG. 2, a front end detection sensor 10 for detecting the front end of the recording paper P is provided at a position near the paper feed roller pair 4 when the paper feed roller 3 is seen from the paper feed roller 3. When the leading edge of the recording paper P is detected by the leading edge detection sensor 10, the control unit 18 feeds the recording paper P within a range that can be sandwiched by the pair of transport rollers 4 and then stops. This stop position becomes the above-mentioned recording start position.

From this recording start position, each heating element of the thermal head 6 is driven to generate heat in accordance with the first Y (yellow) image signal to perform Y-color printing and transfer the overcoat layer. When the printing of the Y color is completed, the recording paper P is conveyed in the reverse direction from the end position, the conveyance is stopped at the predetermined position, and the recording paper P is conveyed in the reverse direction again,
The next M (magenta) printing is performed by the recording paper conveyance control similar to that for the Y color. Printing of C (cyan) color and transfer of the overcoat layer are also performed by similar recording paper conveyance control.

In this embodiment, the tip detecting sensor 1
The distance between the position of 0 and the position where the platen roller 5 and the thermal head 6 press the recording paper P is set to 20 mm on the recording paper P in consideration of the arrangement of parts in the apparatus, but it is not limited to this. Not a thing.

The various operations as described above are controlled by the control unit 18, and the control unit 18
Is a ROM that is configured by a microcomputer and that stores a control program for performing various processes including processes specific to the present invention; and a CP that executes this control program.
It goes without saying that it has a RAM used as U, a work area, and the like.

Next, the printing process by the control unit 18 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Note that S1 to S10 shown in FIG. 4 indicate step numbers of the printing process.

S1: The user gives an instruction for the print operation by operating a print button (not shown) or by giving a print instruction from a digital camera or a digital video camera.

S2: The control unit 18 of the printer 1 starts communication with the device that has issued the print instruction, confirms various conditions necessary for printing with this device, and if necessary, the device. The image data downloaded from is converted into data for printing.

S3: When the preparation for printing is completed in this way, the control unit 18 drives the motor connected to the paper feed roller 3 to start feeding the recording paper P.

S4: When the leading edge of the recording paper P is detected, the controller 18 rotates the stepping motor by a predetermined number of steps to start printing. At this time, the printing start position was 12.465 mm with the leading edge of the recording paper P as a reference.

S5: Subsequently, the stepping motor is switched to 4
While rotating for a step, the thermal head 6 is driven to generate heat in accordance with the image signal to print one line. The stepping motor is rotated for a total of 6776 steps (for 1694 lines), and the printing is completed. The printing end position at this time is 156.455 mm with respect to the leading edge of the recording paper P.
Becomes

S6: Next, as deceleration control until the conveyance of the recording paper P is stopped, the stepping motor is rotated for about 10 lines (for 40 steps) and then stopped.

S7: From this state, the stepping motor is reversely driven to convey the recording paper P in the direction opposite to that at the time of printing, return by a predetermined number of steps (6776 steps-deceleration), and further decelerate for a predetermined number. The number of lines is rotated by 10 lines (40 steps) and stopped.

S8: The above is repeated three times for three colors of YMC, and the desired printed image is transferred and recorded on the recording paper P.

S9: After that, the overcoat layer is transferred once more to protect the printing screen.

S10: After that, the stepping motor is reversely driven to guide the recording paper P to the discharge rollers 9a and 9b as it is, and the recording paper P is discharged to the outside by the discharge rollers 9a and 9b to complete a series of printing operations.

Next, the trimming processing peculiar to the present invention will be described. In the following description, the term "trimming" sets a printing range (cutout area of an image) from the image data, and the term "resize" refers to the original image data printed on a printing sheet. It is meant to scale up / down to the size printed above.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a printing process involving trimming. Note that S51 to S shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 60 indicates the step number of the trimming process.

When the execute button is pressed in S51 of FIG. 5, the type of printing paper loaded in the printer device 1 is detected and transmitted to the digital camera DC in S52. In response to the print sheet information, the digital camera DC resizes the print sheet to a size commensurate with the print sheet size.
54 and S55, the resizing process for each printing paper size is S5.
6, S57, S58.

If a printing paper size not supported by the digital camera DC is designated by the printer device 1, it is processed as an error in S59 and printing is not performed.
The image data resized in S56, S57, and S58 is processed as print data in S60, and is transmitted to the printer device 1 for printing.

Here, the resizing process performed in S56, S57 and S58 will be described in detail. Digital camera D
When the image data stored in C is resized to the size of the printing paper loaded in the printer device 1, the resizing target value is determined by printing with margins that leave a margin in the printing paper or without margins that perform full-scale printing. It will change. The designation of borderless printing or bordered printing as a print mode is set by the user operating the camera in advance as a print style before printing.

Next, the difference in the resize target value between the printing with borders and the printing without borders will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 6A shows printing paper sizes Xpaper and Ypaper at the time of borderless printing and a resize target value X.
The relationship between “target” and “Ytarget” is illustrated. In this case, since the borderless printing is performed, the image shown in FIG.
As shown in, the resize target values Xtarget, Yt
print, print paper size Xpaper,
By setting the value larger than Ypaper, no margin is left at the time of printing.

FIG. 6B shows the printing paper sizes Xpaper and Ypaper and the resize target value Xt when printing with edges.
The relationship between the target and the Ytarget is illustrated. In this case, since the border printing is performed, as shown in FIG. 6B, the resize target values Xtarget and Ytar are set.
Get the print paper sizes Xpaper and Yp, respectively.
A margin is left at the time of printing by setting the size smaller than aper.

It has been described above that the resize target value changes depending on the print style (print mode).
Since the resize target value changes depending on the print paper size, the resize target values corresponding to all print paper sizes and print styles handled by the printer 1 are set in advance in the digital camera DC.
I remember.

In the present embodiment, SIZE1 and SIZE
Although it is configured to be able to handle 3 sizes of 2 and SIZE 3, there is no limit to the number of types of printing paper as long as it has a resize target value according to the number of types of printing paper sizes that can be handled. .

Next, referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, a resizing method for printing with borders and printing without borders will be described. Figure 7
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a resizing method at the time of marginless printing in which no margin is left on the printing paper, and FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a resizing method at the time of marginal printing for leaving a margin on the printing paper.

The symbols shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 are as follows. Ximg: Image size before horizontal resizing Yimg: Image size before vertical resizing Xpaper: Horizontal printing paper size Ypaper: Vertical printing paper size Xtarget: Horizontal resizing target value Ytarget: Vertical resizing target value [for borderless printing ] In the case of borderless printing, no margin is created in the printing paper, so Ypaper <Ytarget,
Xpaper <Xtarget, and Yimg / Yt
The enlargement or reduction ratio (resizing ratio) is selected with reference to the smaller direction of the target and Ximg / Xtarget.

FIG. 7A shows the aspect ratio Yimg / Xim of the image data stored in the digital camera DC.
g is the aspect ratio of the resize target value Ytarget / X
The case where it is larger than the target is shown. Yimg / Ximg> Ytarget / Xtarget Yimg / Ytarget> Ximg / Xtarget Ytarget <Yimg × Xtarget / Ximg, and the resize is performed by the lateral standard (X standard). If you resize with the X standard, the resize target value Y is set in the vertical direction (Y direction).
Since it becomes larger than the target, the image data in the vertical direction is cut to match the Y target.
Image data is generated as shown in (b).

FIG. 7C shows the aspect ratio Yimg / Xim of the image data stored in the digital camera DC.
g is the aspect ratio of the resize target value Ytarget / X
The case where it is smaller than the target is shown. Yimg / Ximg <Ytarget / Xtarget Yimg / Ytarget <Ximg / Xtarget Xtarget <Ximg × Ytarget / Yimg, and resize on the vertical direction (Y standard). When resizing on the Y basis, the horizontal (X direction) resize target value X
Since it becomes larger than the target, the image data in the horizontal direction will be cut and adjusted to the Xtarget.
Image data is generated as shown in (d).

[Bordered Printing] In the case of bordered printing, all areas of the image data stored in the digital camera DC are printed paper sizes Ypaper, Xpaper.
Since the resize target value is a value that falls within r, Y
paper> Ytarget, Xpaper> Xta
It becomes rget Yimg / Ytarget, Ximg
/ Xtarget, whichever is larger,
Select a resizing rate.

FIG. 8A shows the aspect ratio Yimg / Ximg of the image data stored in the digital camera DC.
Is the target resizing aspect ratio Ytarget / Xt
The case where it is larger than the target is shown. Yimg / Ximg> Ytarget / Xtarget Yimg / Ytarget> Ximg / Xtarget, so if you resize with the vertical reference (Y reference),
Image data is generated as shown in FIG.

FIG. 8C shows the aspect ratio Yimg / Xim of the image data stored in the digital camera DC.
g is the aspect ratio of the resize target value Ytarget / X
The case where it is smaller than the target is shown. Yimg / Ximg <Ytarget / Xtarget Yimg / Ytarget <Ximg / Xtarget, so if you resize with the lateral reference (X reference),
Image data is generated as shown in FIG.

The resizing process has been described above. Next, the trimming process for cutting out and printing a part of the image data stored in the digital camera DC will be described.

In the present embodiment, in the image trimming process as the print mode, the fixed setting of resizing the aspect ratio of the image cutout frame to match the aspect ratio of the printing paper and the image cutout frame are arbitrarily set. It is configured so that you can select any setting.

A method of resizing the image data according to the aspect ratio of the printing paper will be described below with reference to FIG.

Reference numeral a shown in FIG. 9 indicates a digital camera D.
The image data stored in C is shown. The code b shown in FIG. 9 is a part of the image data shown by the code a.
Cut out in the frame of imgwindow1 and Yimgwindow1 and resize target values Xtarget and Ytarget
The resized image data is shown in t.

The code c shown in FIG. 9 is a part of the image data shown by the code a, Ximgwindow2, Yimg.
The image data cut out in the window2 frame and resized to the same resize target values Xtarget and Ytarget as the symbol b is shown. The aspect ratios of the image cutout frames denoted by reference numerals b and c are equal, and have the following relationships. Yimgwindow1 / Ximgwindow1 = Y
imgwindow2 / Ximgwindow2 That is, the symbols b and c change the size of the image cutout frame while maintaining the aspect ratio of the image cutout frame.
The magnification of the image to be resized to X target and Y target changes, and it can be set arbitrarily.

In the case of trimming processing, the resizing target value is uniquely determined from the type of printing paper (paper size type) loaded in the printer 1 and the set print mode, so the image cropping frame size is set to Ximgwindow.
If w and Yimgwindow are set, the aspect ratio of the image cutout frame is set to the aspect ratio Yimgwi of the resize target value.
If it is set so that it becomes the same as the window / Ximgwindow, the condition judgment as described in FIGS. 7 and 8 becomes unnecessary, and the resizing rate is Xtarget / Ximgw.
window = Ytarget / Yimgwindow.

If this image cutout frame is displayed on the electronic viewfinder of the digital camera DC during the trimming process, the user can visually check the trimming area, which is very convenient. Note that the trimming designation is performed by the user before the printing is performed, together with the selection of the bordered printing and the borderless printing described above.

Next, the free setting for setting the image cutout frame to an arbitrary aspect ratio will be described. The trimming process when the free setting is selected is composed of three steps: selecting a part to be trimmed from the original image, determining the size for resizing the partial image, and determining the print position.

FIG. 10 shows a reproduced image on the electronic viewfinder of the digital camera DC, and FIG. 11 shows a printed image. The image reproduction process on the electronic viewfinder will be described below with reference to FIG.

FIG. 10A shows a process of selecting a portion to be trimmed by the image cutout frame Window A from the original image.

An image cutout frame WindowA is displayed on the electronic viewfinder of the digital camera DC. The image cutout frame Window A can be set to an arbitrary size, and the size of the image cutout frame Window A can be changed by an operator (not shown) of the digital camera DC.
It is possible to operate independently in the vertical and horizontal directions,
After setting the size of the image cutout frame Window A and setting the position of the image cutout frame Window A, the image cutout range, that is, the image to be printed is confirmed by the enter button (not shown) of the digital camera DC. To be done.

FIG. 10B shows a resized image frame W based on the image cutout frame Window A determined in FIG. 10A.
The process which determines the magnitude | size of window B is shown.
That is, on the electronic viewfinder, the resize frame Window B is displayed so as to be superimposed on the image cutout frame Window A determined in FIG. 10A, and the resize is performed by the operator in the same manner as the image cutout frame Window A. Set the size of the frame, but the resize frame Window B
In order to maintain the same aspect ratio as the image cropping frame Window A, when the size in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction is changed, the aspect ratio of the image cropping frame Window A is maintained according to the change, and the vertical direction or The horizontal size is automatically changed, and it is prohibited to operate the horizontal size and the vertical size independently.

FIG. 10C shows a process of moving the resize frame WindowB determined as shown in FIG. 10B vertically and horizontally to determine the print start position on the printing paper. FIG. 11 shows the image cutout frame WindowA and the resize frame Window determined as described above.
The state in which printing is actually performed on the printing paper based on B is shown.

The relationship between the original image reproduced on the electronic viewfinder of the digital camera DC and the image size printed by the printer 1 is as follows. Corresponds to the image size printed on the entire surface by specifying.

That is, the entire image reproduced on the electronic viewfinder of the digital camera DC is selected in the image cutout frame Window A, and the resize frame Window is selected.
When the entire surface of the image is similarly selected in B, the printed image is the same as the entire surface printing in the print mode with borders.

As described above, the size of the printing paper,
By changing the resize target value for each print mode,
It is possible to generate print data of an optimum size for the printing paper.

Further, at the time of trimming processing, the print data corresponding to the size of the printing paper is obtained by the fixed setting of setting the image cutting frame to the size of the printing paper and the same aspect ratio as the resizing target value for each printing mode. Can be generated.

In the free setting of arbitrarily setting the trimming area, it is possible to specify the trimming area, the image size after resizing, and the printing position of the trimming image, which is more in line with the user's intention. It becomes possible to print.

Further, by displaying a trimming area having the same aspect ratio as the resize target value for each printing sheet and printing style in a frame on the electronic viewfinder, the trimming area can be easily visually recognized.

Second Embodiment The first embodiment is an example in which the present invention is applied to an image forming system in which a separate digital camera DC and printer 1 are connected by a cable 27. The embodiment is an example in which the present invention is applied to a digital camera with a printer in which a printer is integrally mounted.

This digital camera employs an ink jet recording type printer engine as a printer engine, stores electronic image data taken in a memory, and prints out the image data stored in the memory for an arbitrary number of prints. Is what you can do.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the electrical construction of the present digital camera, FIGS. 13 and 14 are flow charts showing the operations relating to the photographing process and print process of the present digital camera, and FIG. 15 is the present digital camera. FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a mechanical structure in a partially cut state, and FIG. 16 is a central sectional view showing a schematic structure of the present digital camera. Note that FIG.
S2001 to S2017 shown in 3 and 14 indicate step numbers of the above processing.

First, the photographing process and print process of this digital camera will be described.

When the photographer inputs the power switch 2000 (S2001), the control means 5001 determines whether or not 3 days (72 hours or more) have passed since the digital camera was last used and turned off. Judge (S2
002). As a result, if 3 days or more have passed,
The control unit 5001 instructs the printer control unit 5005, which controls the printer engine unit 5004, to perform recovery pumping, and drives the printer engine unit 5004 (S2003).

Here, the recovery pumping is to make recording more effective in the ink jet recording type printer described later, and is to clean the recording head by a suction pump or the like before recording on paper. . In this embodiment, this cleaning is performed when the power is input when there is an unused period of 3 days or more.

When the photographer performs photographing, the photographer sets the photographing mode using the photographing mode setting means 5007 (S2004). In the present embodiment, there are several kinds of modes such as a normal photographing mode and a portrait mode. The photographing mode setting means 5007 is specifically performed by the mode changeover switch 2015, and this switch changeover signal is given by the control means. It is transmitted to 5001. When the photographer presses the shutter button 2012 to the first stroke after adjusting the angle of view with the zoom lever 2016 at the time of shooting, the SW
One signal 5010 is input (S2005).

The control means 5001 controls the SW1 signal 5010.
Is input, the image pickup unit 5 is sent via the image pickup control unit 5003.
002 is driven to determine various conditions necessary for the exposure operation, such as the exposure control value, the distance measurement information, and the presence or absence of stroboscopic light emission (S2006). When the photographer pushes the shutter button 2012 to the second stroke to actually execute the photographing, the SW2 signal 50 is sent to the control means 5001.
11 is input (S2007).

The control means 5001 uses the SW2 signal 5011.
Is input, the image pickup unit 5 is sent via the image pickup control unit 5003.
002 is driven to perform a lens driving for focusing, a shutter speed control, an aperture opening amount control, and a series of exposure operations such as stroboscopic light emission if necessary (S200
8) The image data output from the solid-state image sensor 1040 is stored in the memory means 5013 (S2009). After that, the control unit 5001 drives the display unit 5008 (specifically, the liquid crystal display panel 2014) to display the image data just captured (S2010).

During trimming processing for cutting out and printing a part of the image data stored in the memory means 5013, the control means 5001 displays the trimming area on the liquid crystal display panel 2014. This trimming area is
The area to be actually printed is displayed by displaying the aspect ratio that is the same as the aspect ratio of the resize target value that is determined by the type of printing paper that is installed and the selected print mode. As the shooting operation, the above processing is repeated.

When the photographer desires print output, the mode setting of print output is performed by the mode setting means 500.
6 (S2011). Next, the memory means 50
Image feed button 11 for image data saved in 13
0, the liquid crystal display panel 20 by the image return button 109
Image data desired to be printed is searched for while being sequentially displayed on 14.

The desired image data is displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 201.
4 is pressed, the print button 2013 is pressed to input the print signal PR5012, and the control means 5
001 starts the printing operation (S2012). At this time, the control means 5001 detects the size of the printing paper loaded in the main body via a printing paper size detection unit (not shown) before starting printing (S2013).

The control means 5001 sets a resize target value determined in advance for each print paper size in order to generate print data corresponding to the detected print paper size from the image data stored in the memory means 5013. Resize (S2014). The contents of this resizing process are the same as in the first embodiment.

The printer controller 5005 controls the recording head 4
In order to make the printing operation more effective at the home position of 00, first, preliminary ejection is performed, and the recording head 40
The zero clogging is eliminated, the evaporated nozzles are recovered (S2015).

Next, the printer control section 5005 performs image processing for printer output on the image data stored in the memory means 5013, and then the printer engine section 500.
The print operation is executed by supplying the data to No. 4 (S2016).

In this case, in the printer engine unit 5004, the printed printer paper 1024a is automatically fed to a position where it is separated from the roll-shaped print paper 1024, and is separated and discharged at that position. Done (S
2017).

Here, the carriage HC is the drive motor 1
Driving force transmission gear 101 in conjunction with forward / reverse rotation of 013
It has a pin (not shown) that engages with the spiral groove 1005 of the lead screw 1004 that rotates via 1, 1010, and 1009, and is reciprocated in the directions of arrows a and b.

The ink jet head cartridge 400 is mounted on the carriage HC. 1003 is a guide rod. Reference numeral 1002 denotes a paper pressing plate, which is a carriage HC.
The paper is pressed against the platen 1000 in the moving direction of. Reference numerals 1007 and 1008 denote photocouplers, which function as home position detecting means for confirming the presence of the lever 1006 of the carriage HC in the corresponding area and switching the rotation direction of the motor 1013.

Reference numeral 1016 is a member that supports a cap member 1022 that caps the front surface of the recording head 400. Reference numeral 1015 denotes a suction means for sucking the inside of the cap, and the recording head 40 is provided through the opening 1023 in the cap.
Perform suction recovery of 0.

Reference numeral 1017 is a cleaning blade. Reference numeral 1019 denotes a member that allows the cleaning blade 1017 to move in the front-rear direction, and is supported by the main body support plate 1018 together with the cleaning blade 1017. It goes without saying that the blade is not limited to this form, and other known cleaning methods can be applied.

Reference numeral 1021 denotes a lever for starting suction for suction recovery, which is in contact with the surface 1014 of the suction means. The lever 1021 moves along with the movement of the cam 1020 that engages with the carriage HC, and the driving force from the driving motor is movement-controlled by a known transmission means such as clutch switching.

The capping, cleaning, and suction recovery are configured so that the desired processing can be performed at their corresponding positions by the action of the lead screw 1004 when the carriage HC is positioned in the area on the home position side. Any desired operation can be applied to this example as long as a desired operation is performed at a known timing.

In the camera section of this digital camera (digital camera with printer), as shown in FIG. 16, lens units 1028a and 1028b of the photographic optical system are arranged in retractable two-stage lens barrels 1029 and 1030, respectively. Has been done. Reference numeral 1031 shown in FIG. 16 denotes a diaphragm shutter unit that controls the photographing light flux and also controls the exposure amount. This diaphragm shutter unit 1031 is
It is arranged in the lens barrel 1029.

Reference numeral 1032 is a helicoid member for rotating the lens barrel 1030, and a cam convex portion 1030 of the lens barrel 1030.
engaged with a. The helicoid member 1032 is driven by a helicoid drive motor (not shown). The light flux that has passed through the photographing optical systems 1028a and 1028b and the diaphragm shutter unit 1031 is the solid-state imaging device 10
Image on 40.

1037a, 1037b, 1037c, 1
Reference numerals 038d and 1039e are lenses constituting an optical finder. Of these lenses, lens 10
37b, 1037c, and 1038d move with the adjustment of the angle of view (zoom operation) of the photographing optical system, and the angle of view substantially the same as that of the photographing optical system can be confirmed. By using a liquid crystal display panel 2014 for image display as the optical finder, power consumption can be reduced.

The aperture shutter unit 1031 is driven so that the exposure amount of the solid-state image pickup device (CCD) 1040 is properly maintained by feedback control.

The image data picked up by the CCD 1040 is processed by the image processing circuit on the image processing board 0126, sent to the printer control circuit on the printer control board 1027, and used as a position control signal for the ink jet head cartridge 400. The data is synchronously transmitted to a drive motor or the like required for the printing operation.

The print operation is performed by the print button 2013.
Rolled printing paper 102 initiated by
4 through the platen 1000 to print paper 1024
a is extracted and printed. As the printing paper 1024, it is possible to mount at least two kinds of sizes.

Reference numeral 1041 denotes a paper cutter portion formed by an exterior cover, which is used to separate the print paper 1024a after printing. 1025 is a power supply.

This printer section is provided with means (for example, an electrothermal converter or a laser beam) for generating heat energy as energy used for ejecting ink, particularly in the ink jet recording system, and ink is generated by heat energy. The present invention brings about an excellent effect in the recording head of the type which causes the change of state.

Regarding its typical structure and principle, see, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 47407.
It is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 96.

This system, especially in the case of the on-demand type, corresponds to the recorded information with respect to the electrothermal converter arranged on the sheet holding the liquid (ink) or the liquid path. By applying at least one drive signal that causes a rapid temperature rise over the boiling point of the ink, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal converter, causing film boiling on the heat-acting surface of the recording head, resulting in this This is effective because bubbles can be formed in the liquid (ink) in a one-to-one correspondence with the drive signal. Due to the growth and contraction of the bubbles, the liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection opening to cause at least 1
Forming two drops.

It is more preferable to make this driving signal into a pulse shape, because bubbles are appropriately grown / contracted immediately and liquid (ink) ejection having excellent responsiveness can be realized. As this pulse-shaped drive signal, US Pat.
Those described in Japanese Patent No. 463359 and Japanese Patent No. 4345262 are suitable. It should be noted that US Pat. No. 4,313,121, which discloses an invention relating to the rate of temperature rise of the heat acting surface,
If the conditions described in Japanese Patent No. 4 are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the constitution of the recording head, in addition to the combination constitution of the ejection port, the liquid passage, and the electrothermal converter (the linear liquid passage or the right-angled liquid passage) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective publications,
U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,459 which disclose a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.
The configuration using Japanese Patent Publication No. 600 can also be applied to the present invention.

Further, the present invention discloses a structure in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of an electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 123670/1984.
It is also possible to apply a configuration based on JP-A-59-138461, which discloses a configuration in which an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy corresponds to a discharge portion.

Further, as a full line type recording head having a length corresponding to the width of the maximum size recording medium which can be recorded by the recording section, a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above-mentioned publication are combined. Either a structure that satisfies the recording width or a structure in which a plurality of recording heads as described above are integrally mounted may be adopted.

Also, when mounted on the apparatus main body, ink can be attached to the replaceable chip tank type recording head or the recording head itself, which enables electrical connection with the apparatus main body and supply of ink from the apparatus main body. It is also possible to use a cartridge type recording head in which a cartridge is integrally provided. Further, it is also effective to perform stable recording by performing a preliminary heating mode for the recording head and a preliminary ejection mode in which ejection is performed separately from recording.

In the above-described embodiment, the aspect ratio of the cutout frame for cutting out the print range is controlled on the digital camera side. However, if the printer has a display unit for displaying image data, the It is also possible to control the above with a printer.

If the printer has a slot for mounting a removable storage medium such as a compact flash, an operator for setting an arbitrary aspect ratio, a display panel with a relatively large screen, etc. By connecting the storage medium directly to the printer without connecting the camera and the printer with a cable or integrating the digital camera and the printer, the image data stored in the storage medium is the same as the embodiment. It is also possible to trim and print by the method.

[0135]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The image data can be appropriately trimmed and printed in consideration of the size of the printing paper, and convenience is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a print system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a mechanical configuration of a printer.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of recording paper.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a printing process.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a printing process involving trimming.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a paper size and a resize target value.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a resizing method in a borderless print mode.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a resizing method in a bordered print mode.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a method of resizing image data according to an aspect ratio of a print sheet.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining an image reproduction process (especially an image cutout frame) on the electronic viewfinder.

11 is a diagram showing a state in which printing is actually performed based on the image cutout frame and the like in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a digital camera with a printer according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an operation relating to a photographing process and a printing process of the digital camera with a printer.

FIG. 14 is a continuation of the flowchart of FIG.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a mechanical configuration of the digital camera with a printer in a partially cut state.

FIG. 16 is a central sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the digital camera with a printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Printer 18 ... Control unit 27 ... Cable DC ... Digital camera 1026 ... Image processing board 1027 ... Printer control board 1040 ... Solid-state image sensor 2014 ... Liquid crystal display panel 5001 ... Control means 5002 ... Imaging unit 5003 ... Imaging control unit 5004 ... Printer engine section 5005 ... Printer control unit 5006 ... Print mode setting means 5007 ... Shooting mode setting means 5008 ... Display means IJRA ... Inkjet recording device section

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Claims (31)

[Claims] 1. An image processing apparatus comprising a control means for controlling a print range of image data in accordance with a print mode for printing the image data. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print mode is a mode relating to an aspect ratio of a print sheet on which image data is printed. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print modes include a print mode for printing with a margin and a print mode for printing without a margin. 4. The image processing apparatus includes display control means for displaying a frame for determining a print range on the display means by superimposing the image data on the image data. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an aspect ratio of the printing paper and an aspect ratio of the frame are displayed so as to match each other. 5. The fixed mode in which the control unit matches the aspect ratio of the frame with the aspect ratio of the printing paper,
The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a free setting mode in which an arbitrary aspect ratio can be set regardless of an aspect ratio of printing paper is selectively operated. 6. The control means has a function of setting a printing position of image data on a printing paper by designating a position of the frame when the free setting mode is selected. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1. 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus has a detection unit that detects a size of a print sheet on which image data is printed. 8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is a digital camera. 9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is a printer. 10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus has a system configuration in which a printer and a digital camera are separately provided. 11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is a digital camera with a printer in which a printer is integrated with a digital camera. 12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, 10 or 11, wherein the printer is a thermal transfer printer. 13. The printer according to claim 9, wherein the printer is an ink jet printer.
1. The image processing device according to 1. 14. A method of controlling an image processing apparatus, comprising a control step of controlling a print range of image data according to a print mode for printing image data. 15. The control method of the image processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the print mode is a mode relating to an aspect ratio of a print sheet on which image data is printed. 16. The method of controlling an image processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the print modes include a print mode for printing with a margin and a print mode for printing without a margin. . 17. The image processing apparatus has a display control step of displaying a frame for determining a print range on the display means so as to be superimposed on the image data, and the image data is printed in the display control step. The method for controlling an image processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the aspect ratio of the printing paper and the aspect ratio of the frame are displayed so as to match each other. 18. The control step selectively includes a fixed mode in which the aspect ratio of the frame matches the aspect ratio of the printing paper and a free setting mode in which an arbitrary aspect ratio can be set regardless of the aspect ratio of the printing paper. The method for controlling an image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 14 to 17, characterized by: 19. The control step has a function of setting a print position of image data on a print sheet by designating a position of the frame when the free setting mode is selected. A control method for an image processing apparatus according to claim 14. 20. The method of controlling an image processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the image processing apparatus includes a detection step of detecting a size of a print sheet on which image data is printed. 21. The method for controlling an image processing device according to claim 14, wherein the image processing device is a digital camera. 22. The method of controlling an image processing device according to claim 14, wherein the image processing device is a printer. 23. The control of the image processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the image processing apparatus is a digital camera with a printer in which a printer is integrated with a digital camera. Method. 24. The method of controlling an image processing apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the printer is a thermal transfer printer. 25. The method of controlling an image processing apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the printer is an inkjet printer. 26. An image processing system for printing image data imaged by an imaging device by a printing device,
An image processing system comprising: a determining unit that determines an aspect ratio of a print range of the image data according to at least an aspect ratio of a printing sheet. 27. The image according to claim 26, wherein the image processing system has a setting unit that arbitrarily sets an aspect ratio of a print range of the image data regardless of an aspect ratio of a print sheet. Processing system. 28. The image processing system comprises an enlarging / reducing unit for enlarging / reducing the image data in the printing range according to the aspect ratio determined by the determining unit according to the size of the printing paper. The image processing system according to claim 27 or 28. 29. The enlarging / reducing means performs enlarging / reducing based on the vertical direction or enlarging based on the horizontal direction, at least when printing with a margin and when printing without a margin. 29. The image processing system according to claim 28, wherein whether to reduce / reduce is changed. 30. A control program executed by an imaging device, comprising: when printing image data imaged by the imaging device by a printing device, a printing range of the image data according to at least an aspect ratio of a printing paper. A control program having contents for determining an aspect ratio. 31. A control program executed by a printing device having a function of printing image data picked up by an image pickup device, the aspect ratio of a print range of the image data being at least according to an aspect ratio of a print sheet. A control program having contents to be determined.