JP2004088550A - Printer controller - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer controller for freely selecting the size of logo data according to the size of sheets enlarging/reducing the logo data by image processing. <P>SOLUTION: A print controller for inserting predetermined data different from image data to print the image data is provided with a storage means for storing a plurality of predetermined data according to the sizes of sheets for print, a recognizing means for recognizing the size of sheets to be used, a selecting means for automatically selecting the predetermined data to be inserted into the image data from the storage means according to the size of sheets recognized by the recognizing means, and an image generating means for generating print image data by inserting the predetermined data selected by the selecting means into the image data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printer control device for printing out electronic data captured by a digital still camera, a digital video camera, or the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Means for printing images taken by digital cameras and the like include ink jet printers that print by landing small droplets ejected from nozzles on paper, and sublimation of ink by the heat of a head consisting of multiple heating elements. A thermal sublimation printer or the like attached to a special paper is exemplified.
[0003]
In recent years, such a printer apparatus has a system called a photo direct printer, which has a slot for inserting a memory medium storing data taken by a digital camera and prints digital photo data in a memory.
[0004]
On the other hand, a photographing device such as a digital camera or a digital video camera is directly connected to the printer or integrally formed, and the photographed image information is transmitted through a device such as a computer which processes the image information. A system that prints without printing has also appeared.
[0005]
Such a system for printing an image captured by a digital camera without using a personal computer enables a photographic image to be printed out by a simple procedure.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in such a printing system, when an attempt is made to insert print content such as logo data, marks, illustrations, and advertisement images into a photographic image to be printed, an optimal method for inserting and printing them is still not adopted. Not been.
[0007]
That is, although several methods have already been put into practical use as a method of inserting and printing additional data such as a logo in a photographic image, a method of printing by inserting a logo in a photographic image in a photo direct printer or the like. Is a method that prints the same logo data even if the paper size is changed, so if you select a logo of the right size for printing on a certain paper size, if you change the paper size, the logo will be too large It was too small or too small, and did not provide sufficient satisfaction to the users.
[0008]
In addition, a method of enlarging or reducing the logo data according to the paper size may be considered, but it is necessary to have a mechanism for performing image processing for the printer system, which increases the cost. There is.
[0009]
Furthermore, if the logo data is enlarged or reduced by image processing according to the paper size, the image quality may be degraded or the ratio of the number of dots in the vertical and horizontal directions may be slightly changed compared to the original logo image. Also, there was a problem that the logo would lose its value as a trademark.
[0010]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a method capable of automatically selecting the size of a logo in accordance with a paper size at a low cost and without causing the above-described problem of the image processing. .
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve such a problem, according to the invention described in claim 1 of the present application, when printing image data, a print control device for inserting predetermined data different from the image data and printing the data is provided. Storage means for storing a plurality of predetermined data in accordance with the size of paper to be printed; recognition means for recognizing a paper size to be used; and insertion of the predetermined data into the image data in accordance with the paper size recognized by the recognition means. A printer control device comprising: a selection unit that automatically selects predetermined data from the storage unit; and an image generation unit that generates print image data by inserting the predetermined data selected by the selection unit into the image data. Features.
[0012]
According to the invention described in claim 2 of the present application, when printing image data, in a printer control device for inserting and printing predetermined data different from the image data, the predetermined data is printed on a sheet of paper to be printed. Storage means for storing a plurality of pieces of paper in accordance with the size; recognition means for recognizing a paper size to be used; and the predetermined data to be inserted into the image data automatically from the storage means in accordance with the paper size recognized by the recognition means. Selecting means for selecting, image generating means for inserting the predetermined data selected by the selecting means into the image to generate print image data, and printing means for printing the image data generated by the generating means A printer control device provided with:
[0013]
According to the invention described in claim 1 or 2 of the present application, the predetermined data is a printer control device that is accompanying image data such as a logo and a mark.
[0014]
According to the invention described in claim 4 of the present application, in the invention described in claim 3, the printer control device is characterized in that the predetermined data is stored in the storage unit together with information on an insertion position for the image data. And
[0015]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the invention, the predetermined data is characterized by a printer control device including an advertisement image, a trademark image, and the like.
[0016]
According to the invention described in claim 6 of the present application, in the invention described in claim 2, the printing unit is a printer with a photographing device that has a digital camera and a printer device connected via a USB interface or the like, or is integrated therewith. And a printer control device.
[0017]
According to the invention described in claim 7 of the present application, in the invention described in claim 2, the printing unit is an ink jet printer that discharges a liquid onto paper and records characters or images by dots. A control device is characterized.
[0018]
According to the invention described in claim 8 of the present application, in the invention described in claim 1 or 2, the paper size recognized by the recognizing unit includes information about the length and width of the paper, and the selecting unit is configured by the recognizing unit. The printer control device automatically selects the predetermined data in accordance with the recognized length and width information of the paper.
[0019]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0020]
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a photo direct printer (hereinafter, printer) 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printer 1000 functions as a normal PC printer that receives and prints data from a host computer (PC), and directly reads and prints image data stored in a storage medium such as a memory card. It has a function to receive and print image data from the camera.
[0021]
In FIG. 1, the main body forming the outer shell of the printer 1000 according to the present embodiment has a case M1001, an upper case 1002, an access cover 1003, and a discharge tray 1004 as exterior members. The lower case 1001 forms a substantially lower half of the printer 1000, and the upper case 1002 forms a substantially upper half of the main body. It has a hollow body structure, and an opening is formed in each of an upper surface portion and a front surface portion thereof. Further, one end of the discharge tray 1004 is rotatably held by the lower case 1001 so that the opening formed on the front surface of the lower case 1001 can be opened and closed by the rotation. Therefore, when the recording operation is performed, the recording sheet can be discharged from here by rotating the discharge tray 1004 to the front side to open the opening, and the discharged recording sheets are sequentially stacked. It is possible to do. The paper discharge tray 1004 accommodates two auxiliary trays 1004a and 1004b. By pulling out each tray as needed, the sheet support area can be expanded or reduced in three stages. It has become.
[0022]
One end of the access cover 1003 is rotatably held by the upper case 1002 so that an opening formed on the upper surface can be opened and closed. When the access cover 1003 is opened, the access cover 1003 is housed inside the main body. It is possible to replace a recording head cartridge (not shown) or an ink tank (not shown). Although not particularly shown here, when the access cover 1003 is opened and closed, a projection formed on the back surface rotates the cover opening / closing lever, and the rotation position of the lever is detected by a micro switch or the like. Thus, the open / closed state of the access cover can be detected.
[0023]
A power key 1005 is provided on the upper surface of the upper case 1002 so as to be able to be pressed. On the right side of the upper case 1002, an operation panel 1010 including a liquid crystal display portion 1006, various key switches, and the like is provided. The structure of the operation panel 1010 will be described later in detail with reference to FIG. An automatic feeding unit 1007 automatically feeds a recording sheet into the apparatus main body. Reference numeral 1008 denotes a paper interval selection lever for adjusting the interval between the print head and the recording sheet. Reference numeral 1009 denotes a card slot into which an adapter into which a memory card can be inserted is inserted, through which image data stored in the memory card can be directly read and printed. Examples of the memory card (PC) include a compact flash (registered trademark) memory, a smart media, a memory stick, and the like. Reference numeral 1011 denotes a viewer (liquid crystal display unit), which is detachable from the main body of the printer 1000 and is used for retrieving an image to be printed from images stored in a PC card. Used to display etc. Reference numeral 1012 denotes a USB terminal for connecting a digital camera described later. A USB connector for connecting a personal computer (PC) is provided on the rear surface of the PD device 1000.
[0024]
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of operation panel 1010 of printer 1000 according to the present embodiment.
[0025]
In the figure, a liquid crystal display unit 1006 displays menu items for variously setting data on items printed on the left and right sides. The items displayed here include, for example, the first photo number of the range to be printed, the designated frame number (start frame designation / print frame designation), the last photograph number of the range where printing has been completed (end), the number of copies (number of copies) ), Type of paper (recording sheet) used for printing (paper type), setting of number of photos to be printed on one sheet (layout), designation of print quality (quality), whether to print the date of shooting (Print date), whether to correct and print a photo (image correction), display the number of sheets required for printing (number of sheets), and the like. Each of these items is selected or designated using the cursor key 2001. Reference numeral 2002 denotes a mode key. Each time this key is pressed, the type of printing (index printing, full-frame printing, 1-frame printing, etc.) can be switched, and the corresponding LED of the LED 2003 is turned on accordingly. Reference numeral 2004 denotes a maintenance key for performing printer maintenance such as cleaning of a print head. A print start key 2005 is pressed when instructing the start of printing or when establishing maintenance settings. Reference numeral 2006 denotes a print stop key which is pressed when printing is stopped or when maintenance stop is instructed.
[0026]
Next, with reference to FIG. 3, a configuration of a main part related to control of the printer 1000 according to the present embodiment will be described. Note that, in FIG. 3, the same parts as those in the above-described drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.
[0027]
In FIG. 3, reference numeral 3000 denotes a control unit (control board). Reference numeral 3001 denotes an ASIC (dedicated custom LSI), the configuration of which will be described later in detail with reference to the block diagram of FIG. Reference numeral 3002 denotes a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) which has a CPU therein and performs various control processing to be described later and conversion of a luminance signal (RGB) to a density signal (CMYK), scaling, gamma conversion, error diffusion, and the like. I am in charge of processing. Reference numeral 3003 denotes a memory having a program memory 3003a for storing a control program of the CPU of the DSP 3002, a RAM area for storing a program at the time of execution, and a memory area functioning as a work memory for storing image data and the like. Reference numeral 3004 denotes a printer engine, in which a printer engine of an inkjet printer that prints a color image using a plurality of color inks is mounted.
[0028]
Reference numeral 3005 denotes a USB connector as a port for connecting the digital camera 3012. Reference numeral 3006 denotes a connector for connecting the viewer 1011. Reference numeral 3008 denotes a USB hub (USB HUB). When the printer 1000 performs printing based on image data from the PC 3010, the printer 1000 passes data from the PC 3010 as it is and outputs the data to the printer engine 3004 via the USB 3021. Thus, the connected PC 3010 can perform printing by directly exchanging data and signals with the printer engine 3004 (functioning as a general PC printer). A power supply connector 3009 receives a DC voltage converted from a commercial AC by a power supply 3011. The PC 3010 is a general personal computer, 3011 is the above-mentioned memory card (PC card), and 3012 is a digital camera. Note that signals are exchanged between the control unit 3000 and the printer engine 3004 via the USB 3021 or the IEEE1284 bus 3022 described above.
[0029]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the ASIC 3001. Also in FIG. 4, the same reference numerals are given to parts common to the above-described drawings, and the description thereof will be omitted.
[0030]
Reference numeral 4001 denotes a PC card interface unit that reads image data stored in the attached PC card 3011 or writes data to the PC card 3011. Reference numeral 4002 denotes an IEEE1284 interface for exchanging data with the printer engine 3004. The IEEE 1284 interface unit 4002 is a bus used when printing image data stored in the digital camera 3012 or the PC card 3011. A USB interface unit 4003 exchanges data with the PC 3010. A USB host interface unit 4004 exchanges data with the digital camera 3012. An operation panel interface unit 4005 inputs various operation signals from the operation panel 1010 and outputs display data to the display unit 1006. Reference numeral 4006 denotes a viewer interface unit, which controls display of image data on the viewer 1011. Reference numeral 4007 denotes an interface unit that controls an interface between various switches, an LED 4009, and the like. Reference numeral 4008 denotes a CPU interface unit which controls data exchange with the DSP 3002. Reference numeral 4010 denotes an internal bus (ASIC bus) for connecting these units.
[0031]
The above is the description of the configuration of the direct printer according to the present embodiment, and the operation based on this configuration will be described below.
[0032]
<Normal PC printer mode>
This is a print mode for printing an image based on print data sent from the PC 3010.
[0033]
In this mode, when data from the PC 3010 is input via the USB connector 1013 (FIG. 3), the data is sent directly to the printer engine 3004 via the USB hub 3008 and USB 3021, and printing is performed based on the data from the PC 3010. Is
[0034]
<Direct print mode from PC card>
When the PC card 3011 is inserted into or removed from the card slot 1009, an interrupt occurs, whereby the DSP 3002 can detect whether the PC card 3011 has been inserted or removed (removed). When the PC card 3011 is inserted, the compressed (eg, JPEG-compressed) image data stored in the PC card 3011 is read and stored in the memory 3003. After that, the compressed image data is decompressed and stored in the memory 3003 again. Next, when printing of the stored image data is instructed using the operation panel 101, conversion from RGB signals to YMCK signals, gamma correction, error diffusion, and the like are executed, and printing can be performed by the printer engine 3004. Printing is performed by converting the data into print data and outputting the print data to the printer engine 3004 via the IEEE1284 interface unit 4002.
[0035]
<Direct print mode from camera>
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state where the printer 1000 and the digital camera 3012 according to the present embodiment are connected.
[0036]
In the figure, a cable 5000 includes a connector 5001 connected to a connector 1012 of a printer 1000 and a connector 5002 for connecting to a connector 5003 of a digital camera 3012. The digital camera 3012 has an internal The image data stored in the memory can be output via the connection connector 5003.
[0037]
Note that the digital camera 3012 can have various configurations, such as a configuration having a memory as a storage unit therein and a configuration having a slot for mounting a removable memory. In this manner, by connecting the printer 1000 and the digital camera 3012 via the cable 5000 shown in FIG. 5, image data from the digital camera 3012 can be printed directly by the printer 1000.
[0038]
Here, as shown in FIG. 5, when the digital camera 3012 is connected to the printer 1000 and the mode is shifted to the direct print mode as a result of the negotiation, only the camera mark is displayed on the display unit 1006 of the operation panel 1010, and the operation panel The display and operation at 1010 are invalidated, and the display on the viewer 1011 is also invalidated. Therefore, only the key operation on the digital camera 3012 and the display of an image on the display unit (not shown) of the digital camera 3012 are valid thereafter, so that the user can use the digital camera 3012 to specify printing. it can. Further, it is possible to prevent an error caused by operating the digital camera 3012 and the operation unit of the printer at the same time.
[0039]
Now, the contents relating to the present invention will be described in more detail. The present invention automatically prints not only the content to be printed, but also, for example, a maker's logo, a desired mark, an accompanying data such as an illustration, etc., on the printed printing paper, and the size thereof is printed on the printing paper. The automatic setting is also performed.
[0040]
As an example, a case where an image is actually printed will be described by taking an example of a direct print mode from a PC card, that is, a direct print in which a memory medium is inserted into a printer.
[0041]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a memory and a CPU. 6-1 is an area for storing ancillary images such as logo data, and 6-2 is an area for storing photographed image data such as a photograph taken by a digital camera or the like. Reference numeral 6-3 denotes a CPU for performing image calculation, and reference numeral 6-4 denotes a work memory for performing various data processing such as image calculation.
[0042]
FIG. 7 shows an actual method of storing the logo data in the memory medium. In the memory medium, in addition to the area 6-2 in which the photographed image data is stored, accompanying data such as logo data and insertion position data indicating the insertion position are stored in the form of a storage table for each printable paper size. Have. Here, the insertion position means coordinates at which a logo is arranged on a photographic image as shown in FIG. The table of the logo data stored in the memory medium corresponds to a storage unit in the present invention.
[0043]
Here, for convenience of explanation, the medium storing the logo data and the medium storing the photograph are the same, but they may be separate memories in the print system.
[0044]
Next, a process of automatically selecting and printing logo data when actually printing captured image data will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0045]
In the figure, when performing direct printing, first, when a print instruction is given (step 1), the CPU 6-3 receives information on the paper size attached to the printer from the printer (step 2). This processing corresponds to the paper size recognizing means of the present invention. This recognizing means recognizes not only the size of the paper itself but also the paper orientation, that is, the difference in the paper size depending on the length and width, similarly to the paper size. It shall be.
[0046]
Next, the CPU 6-3 develops the photographic image data to be printed on the work memory 6-4 while performing resizing processing for the selected paper size mounted on the printer (step 3).
[0047]
Next, according to the paper size detected in step 2, the paper size of the print paper to be actually used is determined (step 4), and the logo data and the insertion position data corresponding to the paper size are read from the table of 6-1. The data is developed on a part of the work memory 6-4 (step 5, step 6). These processes correspond to a selection unit for selecting logo data suitable for the paper size according to the present invention. Not only the size of the paper itself, but also the logo data according to the length and width of the paper, and the insertion direction and insertion position thereof are determined. Choose and decide what fits.
[0048]
Then, along with the information of the coordinates (X, Y) of the data insertion location, the vertical and horizontal size information of the logo is also passed to the printer from the logo data itself.
[0049]
After collecting the above information, data for each pixel to be printed is created according to the following procedure (step 7).
[0050]
On the paper, it is determined whether or not the logo is to be printed on the basis of the coordinates (X, Y) of the insertion position and the vertical and horizontal size information of the logo (step 8). If it is inside, the logo data is passed to the printer (step 9), and if it is outside the logo area, the photographic data is passed to the printer (step 10). By performing this for all the pixels in the photograph, an image in which the logo is inserted is printed (step 11). This processing corresponds to the processing of the image generating means for printing and the printing means in the present invention.
[0051]
As the logo data on the memory, as long as the format can be interpreted by a printer, the file can be applied in a wide variety of forms such as JPEG image files and bitmaps.
[0052]
Further, in the above method, when a memory having no logo file data is inserted into a printer, the printer operates as a normal direct printer, and thus has an advantage that it can be easily incorporated into a current printer system.
[0053]
The present invention can be applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), but also to an apparatus including one device (for example, a copying machine, a facsimile machine, etc.). May be.
[0054]
Further, in the present embodiment, the example in the direct print mode from the PC card has been described, but the present invention is also applicable to a case where the digital camera and the printer directly communicate. In addition to the direct connection using a USB cable as the connection means, direct communication is possible by wireless communication such as Blue-tooth, and the present invention is not limited to the above example.
[0055]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, in a system for printing image data stored in a memory or image data read directly from a digital camera, the size of accompanying data such as a logo is adjusted according to the paper size of a photograph. It can be automatically selected and printed at the right position and in the right size.
[0056]
Also, when changing the size of the logo data according to the paper size, there is no need to perform image processing such as enlargement or reduction on the image itself, so the image quality of the logo image is degraded and the ratio of the number of dots in the vertical and horizontal directions is delicate. The quality of the logo image and other data to be printed on the paper, regardless of the content of the print, does not change depending on the paper size. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an operation panel of the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part related to control of the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an ASIC of the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which the printer and the digital camera according to the embodiment of the present invention are connected.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram relating to a memory and a CPU according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing how logo data is held in a memory according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing logo insertion position coordinates for a photograph according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart for selecting logo data according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
6-1 Logo data to be inserted into a photograph 6-2 Photographed photograph image data 6-3 CPU for performing image calculation processing
6-4 Work memory 6-5 Memory media

Claims (8)

When printing image data, a print control device for inserting and printing predetermined data different from the image data,
Storage means for storing a plurality of the predetermined data according to the size of the paper to be printed,
Recognition means for recognizing the paper size to be used;
Selecting means for automatically selecting the predetermined data to be inserted into the image data from the storage means, according to the paper size recognized by the recognition means;
Image generation means for generating the print image data by inserting the predetermined data selected by the selection means into the image data,
A printer control device comprising: When printing image data, in a printer control device for inserting and printing predetermined data different from the image data,
Storage means for storing a plurality of the predetermined data according to the size of the paper to be printed,
Recognition means for recognizing the paper size to be used;
Selecting means for automatically selecting the predetermined data to be inserted into the image data from the storage means, according to the paper size recognized by the recognition means;
Image generation means for generating the print image data by inserting the predetermined data selected by the selection means into the image,
A printing unit for printing the image data generated by the generating unit. In claim 1 or 2,
The printer control device, wherein the predetermined data is accompanying image data such as a logo and a mark. In claim 3,
The printer control device, wherein the predetermined data is stored in the storage unit together with information on an insertion position for the image data. In claim 3,
The printer control device, wherein the predetermined data includes an advertisement image, a trademark image, and the like. In claim 2,
The printer control device according to claim 1, wherein the printing unit is a printer with a photographing device that has a digital camera and a printer device connected via a USB interface or the like or is integrated therewith. In claim 2,
The printer control device is characterized in that the printing means is an ink jet printer that discharges a liquid onto a sheet and records characters or images by dots. In claim 1 or 2,
A printer control device, wherein the paper size recognized by the recognizing means includes vertical and horizontal information of the paper, and the selecting means automatically selects the predetermined data according to the vertical and horizontal information of the paper recognized by the recognizing means. .

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