JP2004148695A - Printer performing automatic printing according to print information file - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve such a problem of a printer that print operation stops temporarily during reading operation because reading of an image file from a memory card takes a long time. <P>SOLUTION: The printer is arranged to be fed with print information file having information of an image being printed and to print the image being printed according to the print information file. The printer comprises an image processing section for reading out the file of an image being printed externally according to the image information included in the print information file and creating print data by performing a specified image processing on the image file thus read out, and a section being fed with print data from the image processing section and printing an image. In parallel with image processing of first image information in the print information file or print processing at the print section, the image processing section reads out an image file corresponding to second image information different from the first image information in the print file externally and stores it in an incorporated storage means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printer, and more particularly, to a printer that prints an image file stored in a memory card at high speed.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the market for digital cameras and digital videos has expanded, and stand-alone printers that directly connect to the devices, capture image files captured by these devices, and print the images have been receiving attention. A stand-alone type printer is highly convenient because it can print an image acquired by a digital camera or the like without activating a host computer.
[0003]
In a device such as a digital camera, a memory card is generally used to store a captured image file. There are many types of memory cards, and for example, there are memory cards such as CF (compact flash) memory, memory stick, smart media, SD card, and multimedia card.
[0004]
Recently, an automatic print format for automatically printing an image captured by a digital camera, for example, a DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) has been proposed. Under the DPOF support, an image to be printed is specified, and a print information file (DPOF file) for printing the number of images is recorded in a memory card for storing an image captured by a digital camera or the like. I have. Then, by simply inserting the memory card storing the print information file and the image file into the card slot of the printer, the printer automatically reads the print information file from the memory card and reads the image specified in the print information. Printing is performed for the specified number of sheets (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0005]
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a print information file and an image file recorded on a memory card. A message "AUTPRINT.MRK" always exists at the head of the print information file recorded on the memory card. When the memory card is inserted, the printer detects that the DPOF file and the corresponding image file are stored in the memory card by detecting “AUTPRINT.MRK” at the head of the stored file. I do.
[0006]
Next, the printer that detects that the DPOF file is stored reads out each job information. For example, as shown in the print information file of FIG. 1, “PRT QTY” specifies the number of prints, and “IMG SRC” specifies the path where the image file exists and the name of the image file. . These pieces of job information exist for the number of images to be printed. The image file is stored in the memory card with a name given to the file separate from the print information file at the time of photographing or the like. Then, the printer analyzes the print information file and executes the designated jobs one by one. When the image file A specified in the job is read from the memory card and the image processing and printing are executed, the image file B specified in the next job has to be read from the memory card again. As described above, the step of reading the image file specified by the print information file from the memory card and the step of executing image processing and printing on the image file have been sequentially repeated.
[0007]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a processing flow of a conventional printer after a memory card in which a DPOF file is actually stored is inserted into a card slot. When a memory card is inserted into the card slot (S101), the printer first reads "AUTPRINT.MRK" to detect that a DPOF file is contained in the memory card. Next, the printer analyzes the print information in the DPOF file (S102). By this analysis, the printer detects the image file to be printed stored in the memory card and the number of prints. Then, the printer accesses the memory card and reads out the image file specified by the print information file (S103).
[0008]
Next, the read image file is subjected to a decoding process in a JPEG decoding unit (S104). The image file read from the memory card is a JPEG format file, and is decoded from the JPEG format into RGB gradation data. Further, the generated RGB gradation data is subjected to color conversion and halftone processing (S105), and the RGB gradation data is first color-converted into ink colors, for example, cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (CMYK) data. The color-converted data is binarized by a dither method, an error diffusion method, or the like. Thereafter, by interlacing processing, pixel data constituting the image is thinned out and read (S106), and nozzle data for one pass of the print head is generated. The generated nozzle data is transmitted to the print engine of the printer, and the printer performs a printing operation (S107). These series of operations are repeated for the number of sheets specified by the print information and the print job specified by the DPOF file is repeated, and printing is completed (S108). In this way, the printer prints the specified number of image files, and then reads a new image file from the memory card each time.
[0009]
[Patent Document 1] JP-A-2000-289301 (pages 2-7, FIG. 8)
[0010]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the processing flow shown in FIG. 2, the printer reads the image file specified by the print information file from the memory card each time. That is, the printer sequentially repeats a process of reading the designated image file from the memory card, a process of performing a series of image processing on the read image file, and a process of executing the printing after that, until the printing process is completed. I was However, since reading an image file from a memory card takes time, there is a problem that the printing operation of the printer is temporarily stopped during the automatic printing operation.
[0011]
Assuming that the image file read from the memory card is stored in the memory inside the printer, it is not necessary to repeat the reading of the image file from the memory card when the same image is repeatedly printed for a specified number of sheets. However, in order to print a plurality of different image files, it is still necessary to read the image files from the memory card, so that there is a problem that the printing operation is temporarily stopped or a delay occurs during that time.
[0012]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-289301 also discloses that print information is read from a memory card, and an image file designated each time is read from the memory card in accordance with the job information described therein.
[0013]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a high-throughput printer in which a printer reads out an image file in a memory card in which a DPOF file is stored at a high speed and does not cause a delay in a printing operation.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, one aspect of the present invention performs an operation of reading an image file to be printed next from the outside in parallel with the image processing unit and the print processing unit performing processing, It is to write the read image file into the built-in memory.
[0015]
For example, in a printer which is supplied with a print information file having image information to be printed and prints an image to be printed according to the print information file, the image file to be printed is externally copied according to the image information included in the print information file. Read, an image processing unit that performs predetermined image processing on the read image file to generate print data, and a print unit that is supplied with print data from the image processing unit and prints an image, the image processing unit includes: The image file corresponding to the second image information different from the first image information in the print file is read out from the outside in parallel with the image processing for the first image information in the print information file or the print processing of the printing unit. And storing the data in a built-in storage means.
[0016]
Since the image processing and printing processing of the printer and the reading of the image file are performed in parallel, the image data can be received from the cache memory at high speed when printing is performed, and the throughput is improved. .
[0017]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, such embodiments do not limit the technical scope of the present invention, but extend to the inventions described in the claims and their equivalents.
[0018]
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining functional blocks of the printer according to the present embodiment. The printer is roughly composed of an image processing unit 100 and a printing unit 200. First, the image processing unit 100 of the printer is controlled by the CPU 1, the ROM 2, and the RAM 3. The image processing is mainly performed by the image processing specialized IC 4. The printing unit 200 controls the print engine control unit 40 with the CPU 10, the ROM 20, and the RAM 30, and causes the print engine 50 to execute printing.
[0019]
First, each function of the image processing unit 100 will be described. When the memory card 60 is inserted into the card slot 5, the memory card interface 6 reads a file in the memory card. When the message "AUTPRINT.MRK" is confirmed in the read file, it is detected that the DPOF file is stored in the memory card. Then, the DPOF file is stored in the cache memory. Then, the first job is analyzed by the CPU 1. The image file specified in the first job is read from the memory card 60 and undergoes image processing by the image processing specialized IC 4.
[0020]
First, the JPEG decoding unit 7 receives a command from the CPU 1 and performs a JPEG decoding process on the read image file. Since the read image file is in the JPEG format, the JPEG decoding unit 7 decodes the read image file and converts it into RGB gradation data of each pixel.
[0021]
Next, in the color conversion and halftone processing unit 8, the converted RGB gradation data is color-converted from the RGB gradation data to ink data such as cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (CMYK). The color-converted data is binarized by dither processing, error diffusion, or the like. Thus, the color conversion and the halftone processing are completed. Next, the binarized data is subjected to interlace processing by the interlace processing unit 9. The other unit 11 is provided with, for example, an LCD 12 and a control button 13, so that the printing process can be controlled by an operator. The data binarized by the interlace processing is transmitted to the print engine control unit 40 as nozzle data for one pass of the print head of the printer.
[0022]
Subsequently, each function of the printing unit 200 will be briefly described. In the printing unit 200, a printing operation is controlled by the CPU 10, the ROM 20, and the RAM 30. The print engine control unit 40 is connected to the image processing specialized IC 4 of the image processing unit 100 by a parallel I / F. The print engine control unit 40 receives the nozzle data for one pass of the print head from the image processing specialized IC 4, sequentially transmits the nozzle data to the print engine 50, and causes the print engine 50 to execute printing.
[0023]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, for the sake of simplicity, the flow shown on the left is called a main flow, and the flow shown on the right is called a subflow.
[0024]
First, in the main flow, a memory card is inserted into a card slot (S10). In response to the insertion of the memory card, the print information file in the card is read (S20), and the information stored in the memory card is read. When the printer finds the message “AUTPRINT.MRK” in the memory card, the printer detects that the DPOF file is stored in the memory card. This DPOF file is stored in the internal RAM 3 of the image processing unit 100.
[0025]
Next, the CPU 1 analyzes print information in the DPOF file (print information file) (S30), and analyzes the first job recorded in the print information file. The analysis is to analyze the print information file and obtain information such as the path where the image file to be printed by the printer exists, its file name, and the number of prints. The first job is analyzed according to the description of the print information file.
[0026]
The printer executes the jobs in the order specified by the print information file. For example, if the job 2 and the job 3 are executed sequentially after the execution of the job 1, the job 2 and the job 3 are not executed while the main flow is executing the job 1.
[0027]
For the job 1 analyzed in the main flow, the image file specified by the job is requested to the cache memory as the built-in RAM 3. Therefore, if the specified image file exists in the cache memory, the image file can be read out immediately and execution of a series of image processing can be started. However, if the specified image file is not in the cache memory, it is read from the external memory card 60.
[0028]
The image file read from the memory card is first written into the cache memory 3. Then, JPEG decoding is performed (S90). Since the read image file is in the JPEG format, it is converted into RGB gradation data of each decoded pixel. The RGB gradation data is subjected to color conversion and halftone processing (S100). First, the RGB gradation data is color-converted into ink data of cyan, magenta, yellow, black (CMYK) or the like by color conversion. Next, the data subjected to the color conversion by the halftone process is binarized by a dither process, an error diffusion method or the like. In the binarized data, dot on / off is set according to the gradation value of each pixel (S100). Next, the binarized data is read out by thinning out pixel data by interlace processing (S110), and printing is executed as nozzle data for one pass of the print head (S120).
[0029]
Next, the subflow will be described with reference to FIG. First, basically, the main flow and the sub flow operate in parallel. After the main flow executes the first job, reads the image file of the job from the external memory card, and performs a series of image processing and prints, the sub flow analyzes the second and subsequent jobs Then, the designated image file is requested (S51), the image file is read by accessing the memory card, and written to the cache memory (S52).
[0030]
As described above, while the main flow performs the above-described series of image processing and printing operations, the CPU 1 (not shown) instructs reading of a new image file without wasting resources. The sub-flow receives a read command of an image file and issues a request for image data (S51).
[0031]
The sub-flow reads the requested image data from the memory card 60 and writes it to the cache memory 3 (S52). When the image files of all the jobs have been read out and written into the cache memory, the process ends (S53).
[0032]
Returning to the main flow, the explanation of the cache memory will be supplemented. In the image file request (S50), it is confirmed whether the requested image file has been written to the cache memory (S60). Here, if the requested image file exists in the cache memory, it can be read from the cache memory at high speed, but the image file may not exist. In this case, the printer must read the image file from the memory card. While the main flow performs the above-described series of image processing and printing operations, the sub-flow is executed, the image file is read in advance, and the read image file is written in the cache memory 3.
[0033]
Therefore, in the main flow, when the print processing for the first image file is completed, and when a read request for the image file of the next job is issued, if the image file has already been stored in the cache memory, The data can be read from the cache memory without performing a low-speed reading process to the external memory card 60. That is, since the step of reading the image file from the external memory card S70 can be skipped, the throughput of the entire automatic print operation can be increased.
[0034]
Needless to say, the print information file and the image file may be stored in separate storage units. Particularly, the image file may not be able to be stored in a normal memory card due to its large capacity. In such a case, the print information file and the image file may be stored in a large-capacity external storage means such as a card-type hard disk.
[0035]
As described above in detail, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the job in the DPOF file stored in the memory card is sequentially subjected to image processing and printing processing, and, in parallel with this, the preceding job of the DPOF file is performed. Analysis is performed, and when an external memory card can be accessed, the image file is pre-read from the memory card and written into the built-in cache memory. For this reason, the former can first access the cache memory for an image file for which a print request has been made, and when there is a desired image file, can read the image file at high speed. Therefore, the time required to execute the printing of the designated image file can be greatly reduced, and the throughput is improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a print information file and an image file recorded on a memory card.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a processing flow of a conventional printer after a memory card actually storing a DPOF file is inserted into a card slot.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating functional blocks of a printer according to the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 CPU 2 ROM 3 RAM 4 Image processing specialized IC
7 JPEG decoding unit 8 Color conversion and halftone processing unit 9 Interlace processing unit

Claims (4)

In a printer that is supplied with a print information file having image information to be printed and prints the image to be printed according to the print information file,
According to the image information included in the print information file, an image processing unit that reads the image file to be printed from the outside, performs predetermined image processing on the read image file, and generates print data,
A print unit supplied with print data from the image processing unit and printing the image,
The image processing unit is configured to execute a second image processing different from the first image information in the print file in parallel with the image processing on the first image information in the print information file or the print processing by the printing unit. A printer wherein an image file corresponding to image information is read from the outside and stored in a built-in storage means. In claim 1,
The printer, wherein the print information file includes a plurality of print jobs each having the image information, and the image information includes at least address information of an image file to be printed and the number of prints. In claim 1,
The image processing unit, after the printing process for the first image information is completed, when the next image file to be printed is stored in the internal storage unit, reads the image file from the internal storage unit, If the image file is not stored, the image file is read from the outside and the image processing is performed. In claim 1,
The image processing unit reads an image file corresponding to the second image information from outside as long as the image file can be stored in the internal storage unit, and stores the image file in the internal storage unit.

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