JP2004164511A - Digital camera, and printing control method by digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital camera, and a printing control method by the digital camera preventing double printing of a photographing time even when a printing job is set so as to print the photographing time and it is defined by layout definition data to print the photographing time. <P>SOLUTION: Printing setting means (S120 and S125) are provided for setting whether or not to synthetically print the photographing time with an object image per each printing job. Printing control means (S130-S155) are provided for discriminating whether or not printing of the photographing time is defined in regard to the layout definition data, printing the photographing time by a printer on the basis of only the layout definition data when the layout definition data is defined so as to print the photographing time, and printing the photographing time by the printer on the basis of the printing job when the printing job is set so as to print the photographing time and the layout definition data is not defined so as to print the photographing time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a digital camera and a printing control method using the digital camera.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art There is known a digital camera in which a digital camera and a printer are directly connected by Bluetooth, USB (Universal Serial Bus), or the like, and a subject image output from the digital camera can be directly printed by the printer. In such digital cameras, generally, print setting information can be designated so as to print the image of the subject at the time of shooting. Here, the time of photographing specifically refers to, for example, the date on which the subject image is output, or the date and time. The digital camera generates a print job based on a subject image specified by a user and print setting information, and outputs the print job to a printer for printing.
[0003]
Among the digital cameras described above, there is known a digital camera in which layout definition data defining the layout of an image is stored in advance and an image is printed in a layout defined by the layout definition data (for example, Patent Document 1). reference.). The electronic camera disclosed in Patent Document 1 allows a user to select a resume frame, a passport frame, or the like as an image, and combines the compressed data obtained by compressing the image signal acquired by the photographing unit with an image indicating the selected frame. Have the printer print. The electronic camera disclosed in Patent Document 1 stores a layout such as a frame size and a frame position on a screen as frame information (layout definition data) in order to synthesize and print an image indicating a selected frame. An image representing the frame is printed at a position specified by the frame information.
[0004]
According to such layout definition data, if information for printing the shooting time is defined, the shooting time and the subject image can be combined and printed in the same manner as the composite printing of the frame image and the subject image. .
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2000-358206 A
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, as described above, the conventional digital camera can perform composite printing at the time of shooting without using layout definition data. Therefore, if the information for printing the shooting time is defined in the layout definition data, the time of shooting can be reduced. There is a problem of double printing.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a result 57 of double printing during shooting. “2002.1.1” in the figure is a photographing time when the composite print is performed based on the layout defined by the layout definition data, and “January 1, 2002” is based on the print setting information of the print job. At the time of shooting when the composite print is performed in a predetermined layout.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and a print job is set so as to print the shooting time, and the shooting time is defined even if the printing time is defined in the layout definition data. It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital camera capable of preventing double printing and a printing control method using the digital camera.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a digital camera according to the present invention includes: an optical system that forms an optical image of a subject; a subject image obtained by converting the formed optical image of the subject; Recording means for storing in a non-volatile memory the image and the layout definition data which can define a layout for printing at the time of shooting in association with each other, and a print job for causing a printer to continuously print a plurality of subject images stored in the non-volatile memory Print setting means for setting whether to perform composite printing with a subject image at the time of shooting for each print job, and printing a plurality of subject images stored in a non-volatile memory A print control unit for causing a printer to perform continuous printing based on a job, the layout defining a layout of a subject image printed by the print job It is determined whether or not the definition data is defined to be printed at the time of shooting, and when the layout definition data is defined to be printed at the time of shooting, the shooting time is determined by the printer based on only the layout definition data. Print control means for causing the printer to print based on the print job when shooting when the print job is set to print and when shooting and the layout definition data is not defined to print when shooting. It is characterized by having.
[0009]
In this digital camera, when layout definition data is defined so as to print a shooting time, a print job is set to print a shooting time because the printer prints based on only the layout definition data. Also, at the time of shooting, only one is printed based on only the layout definition data. Therefore, according to this digital camera, even if a print job is set to print the shooting time and the layout definition data is defined to print the shooting time, double printing of the shooting time can be prevented. .
[0010]
Each function of the plurality of means provided in the present invention is realized by a hardware resource whose function is specified by the configuration itself, a hardware resource whose function is specified by a program, or a combination thereof. The functions of the plurality of means are not limited to those realized by hardware resources which are physically independent of each other.
[0011]
Further, the present invention can be specified not only as a digital camera invention but also as a method invention.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a digital still camera 1 as a digital camera according to one embodiment of the present invention is connected to a printer 2.
The printer 2 is configured to print a subject image based on the print job when a print job described later is output from the digital still camera 1. Specifically, when the print job is set to print the image capturing time based on the layout definition data, the printer 2 determines the subject image specified in the print job and the image capturing time associated with the subject image as the subject. Print data is generated by synthesizing with a layout defined by layout definition data associated with the image, and an image is formed on printing paper by, for example, an inkjet method, a laser method, a sublimation thermal transfer method, or a dot impact method. Further, when the print job is set to print at the time of image capture based on the print job, the print data generated at the time of image capture is added to the print data of the subject image generated by the layout defined by the layout definition data. Is configured to be combined and printed with the layout of FIG.
[0013]
In the present embodiment, the printer 2 generates the print data, but the digital still camera 1 may generate the print data.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the digital still camera 1. FIGS. 4A and 4B are a rear view and a front view, respectively, showing the appearance of the digital still camera 1.
[0014]
The lens driving unit 23 drives the zoom lens 11 so that an optical image of the subject is formed on the light receiving unit of the image sensor 13 at a magnification according to a signal input from the CPU 25. The aperture driving unit 22 drives the optical aperture 12 so that the amount of incident light on the image sensor 13 becomes the amount of incident light according to the signal input from the CPU 25.
The image sensor 13 is an area image sensor in which a color filter array formed of four complementary colors of C (Cyan), M (Magenta), Y (Yellow), and G (Green) is formed on-chip, and receives light. The electric charge obtained by photoelectrically converting the obtained light is accumulated for a certain period of time, and an electric signal corresponding to the amount of light received for each photoelectric conversion element is output. Note that the color filter array may be configured by three complementary color filters of CMY, or may be configured by primary color filters of R (Red), G (Green), and B (Blue).
[0015]
The CDS circuit 14 performs a process for reducing noise included in the analog electric signal. The AGC circuit 15 adjusts the level of the analog electric signal by adjusting the gain. The A / D converter 16 quantizes the analog electric signal subjected to each of the above processes into a digital signal of a predetermined gradation. The scanning control unit 21 outputs a shift pulse, a vertical transfer pulse, a horizontal transfer pulse, and the like to the image sensor 13 and operates the CDS circuit 14, the AGC circuit 15 and the A / D converter 16 in synchronization with the image sensor 13. A driving pulse is output to cause the driving pulse.
[0016]
The digital image processing unit 17 includes, for example, a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), and performs image generation processing, white balance correction, γ correction, color space conversion, and the like based on the image signal output from the A / D converter 16. Then, subject data representing, for example, R, G, and B gradation values, and Y, Cb, and Cr gradation values for each pixel is created and stored in the RAM 26. Here, the image generation processing mainly includes four CMYG gradation values for each pixel by an interpolation process using digital data representing one of CMYG gradation values corresponding to the output of each photoelectric conversion element. This is a process of generating image data having.
[0017]
The compression / expansion processing unit 18 compresses the image data output from the digital image processing unit 17 in the photographing mode to create compressed image data conforming to, for example, the JPEG format. The compressed image data read out of the removable memory 20 is expanded and output to the RAM 26. A removable memory 20 composed of a nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory is detachably attached to the reader / writer 19, and the reader / writer 19 writes the compressed image data as a subject image in the removable memory 20 in association with the time of shooting, and The data stored in the removable memory 20 is read.
[0018]
In the removable memory 20 as a non-volatile memory, one or more layout definition data and thumbnail image data representing the layout of the layout definition data are stored in advance in association with each other. Further, as described above, the subject image and the shooting time are stored in association with each other. Specifically, the association between the subject image and the shooting time stores, for example, an identification name for uniquely identifying the subject image and the shooting time in an association table including an identification name field, an imaging time field, and a layout definition data field. Do it by doing. Here, the layout definition data field is a field for storing an identification name for uniquely identifying the layout definition data, and is a field for associating the subject image with the shooting time and the layout definition data. The storage of the identification name in the layout definition data field will be described later.
[0019]
The operation unit 27 includes a power button for turning on / off the power, a dial switch for setting modes such as a shooting mode, a reproduction mode, and a direct print mode, a shutter button 35 for inputting a shutter instruction, and a selection button. 36, various buttons such as a menu button 37, a print button 38, an A button 40, and a B button 41, and a circuit for detecting the depression of the button and the rotation angle of the dial switch. The ON / OFF of the upper switch, the lower switch, the right switch, and the left switch as a push button switch can be operated with a single button. ON / OFF. The upper switch, the lower switch, the right switch, and the left switch are switches used for selecting an item from a menu, and the like, and the A button 40 and the B button 41 are buttons used for instructing a transition of a screen.
[0020]
The display control unit 29 performs a process of thinning out the subject image stored in the RAM 26 at a fixed magnification according to the display area of the display, a color space conversion process, and the like, and as a display based on display data created by performing these processes. LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 30 is driven.
The interface unit 28 is configured in conformity with the USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard. When transmitting data, the digital still camera 1 and the printer 2 can communicate by inserting one connector of the USB cable into the USB port of the interface unit 28 and inserting the other connector into the USB port of the printer 2. Connected to.
[0021]
The CPU 25 controls the entire digital still camera 1 by executing a computer program stored in the ROM 26. The ROM 26 is a memory for storing a computer program for the CPU 25 to execute various controls and various data. The RAM 26 is a memory for temporarily storing various programs and data.
[0022]
Next, the layout definition data will be described.
FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the layout 51 defined by the layout definition data. The layout definition data is data for designating a print position when printing the subject image and the time of imaging on a print medium, and is described as a script that can be interpreted by the printer 2. In the figure, a print area 52 indicates a print position of a subject image, and a print area 53 indicates a print position at the time of imaging.
[0023]
FIG. 5B shows a script 54 of the layout definition data shown in FIG. In the script of the layout definition data, each print area is specified by upper left coordinates and lower right coordinates. The line starting from DrawPicture is a line that defines the print area of the subject image. The print area of the subject image is described in the following format.
[0024]
DrawPicture (GroupID, "FileName", "PhotoID", FrameX1, FrameY1, FrameX2, FrameY2, Direction, Fitting, Alignment, Shape)
Here, FrameX1 and FrameY1 are fields for specifying upper left coordinates of the print area, FrameX2 and FrameY2 are fields for specifying lower right coordinates of the print area, and the subject image is printed in the rectangular print area. You. Description of other fields is omitted.
[0025]
In the script 54, a line starting from DrawStrings is a line that defines a print area at the time of imaging. The print area at the time of imaging is described in the following format.
DrawStrings ("FileName", PhotoID, "Strings", FrameX1, FrameX2, FrameY2, StrDirection, "FonName", FontSize, FFColorR, FFColorG, FFColor)
Here, Strings is a field for specifying a character string to be printed. At the time of imaging, this is performed by specifying a macro variable in the Strings field. For example, if the user wants to print a character string “13:10 on August 8, 2000” at the time of imaging, the user writes “% Y.% L.% D.% H.% M”. Further, for example, when only the date is to be printed at the time of imaging, it is described as “% Y.% L.% D”. FrameX1 and FrameY1 are fields for specifying the upper left coordinates of the print area, and FrameX2 and FrameY2 are fields for specifying the lower right coordinates of the print area, and are printed in this rectangular print area at the time of imaging. Description of other fields is omitted.
[0026]
Next, a description will be given of a print job for causing the printer to continuously print a plurality of subject images stored in the removable memory 20 and a setting of the print job.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining a print job. The print job is information including print setting information, subject image information, and identification information. In the print setting information, information such as presence / absence of printing at the time of shooting, paper size, presence / absence of margin processing, and print mode are specified. In the subject image information, information such as an identification name for uniquely identifying a subject image to be printed in the print job and information on the number of printed subject images specified by the identification name are specified. In the identification information, identification information for the printer 2 to identify which of the print job and the layout definition data should be used for printing at the time of shooting is specified. Details of specifying the identification information will be described later.
[0027]
FIG. 7 is a screen transition diagram of a screen used for setting a print job. Hereinafter, the flow of processing for setting a print job will be described with reference to FIG.
The image display screen 42 is a screen for displaying a subject image. The image display screen 42 is displayed by performing a predetermined operation. When the user presses down or up with the selection button 36 (see FIG. 4), the subject images stored in the removable memory 20 are sequentially displayed. When the print button 38 is pressed, the screen transitions to a print target setting screen 43.
[0028]
The print target setting screen 43 is a screen for specifying selection items for specifying a print target. On the print target setting screen 43, three selection items of “print this image”, “print all images” and “select and print” are displayed as selection items for designating a print target. Select one of them. When “print all images” is selected, all the plurality of subject images stored in the removable memory 20 are to be printed. When "print this image" is selected, the subject image displayed when the printer button 38 is pressed on the image display screen 42 is to be printed. When "select and print" is selected, one or more subject images selected on the print instruction screen 44 are to be printed. When setting a print job for causing the printer to continuously print a plurality of subject images stored in the removable memory 20, "print all images" or "select and print" is selected. When "print all images" or "select and print" is selected and the print button 38 is pressed, the screen transits to a print instruction screen 44.
[0029]
The print instruction screen 44 is a screen for instructing printing. The print count display area 47 is an area for displaying the print count set for the subject image. When “print all images” is selected and the screen changes to the print instruction screen 44, the number of prints is set to 1 for all the subject images stored in the removable memory 20. Is displayed for the subject image of. The number of prints can be arbitrarily changed by the selection button 36. When “select and print” is selected and the screen transitions to the print instruction screen 44, the number of prints is set to 0 for all the subject images stored in the removable memory 20, and the user sets the number of prints of the subject image to be printed. By setting it to one or more, a subject image to be printed is selected. When the menu button 37 is pressed on the print instruction screen 44, the screen transits to a menu screen 45 for setting print setting information such as presence / absence of printing at the time of shooting. When the B button 41 is pressed, the screen transits to a layout definition data editing screen 46 for selecting layout definition data. When the print button 38 is pressed, the subject image information is set so that all or selected images are to be printed, and the process of printing by the printer is started.
[0030]
The menu screen 45 is a screen for setting print setting information. The print setting information is information that is uniformly applied to a subject image to be printed. On the menu screen 45, a selection item "at the time of imaging" for selecting whether to print at the time of shooting is displayed. The user moves the cursor to “at the time of imaging” with the selection button 36 and presses the right or left of the selection button 36 to select either “present” or “absent”. When "Yes" is selected, the digital still camera 1 sets "Yes" at the time of "imaging" in the print setting information. When "None" is selected, "None" is set. When the A button 40 is pressed on the menu screen 45, “return” is selected, and the screen returns to the print instruction screen 44.
[0031]
The layout definition data editing screen 46 is a screen for selecting layout definition data. On the layout definition data editing screen 46, thumbnail images stored in the removable memory 20 in advance in association with the layout definition data are displayed, and the user presses the upper or lower part of the selection button 36 to display the thumbnail images in order. You can select layout definition data while viewing the screen. When the B button 41 is pressed on the layout definition data editing screen 46, the identification name of the layout definition data displayed on the screen at that time is stored, and the identification name of the subject image displayed on the print instruction screen 44 in the association table is stored. It is stored in the layout definition data field of the row that is running. As a result, the subject image, the time of imaging, and the layout definition data are associated with each other.
[0032]
In this embodiment, the subject image, the image capture time, and the layout definition data are stored in the removable memory 20 in association with each other when the print setting information is set. However, when the optical image of the subject is converted into the subject image, they are associated with each other. May be stored. Specifically, the layout definition data may be pre-selected before conversion to the subject image, and stored in association with the previously selected layout definition data when converted to the subject image.
[0033]
FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing of the digital still camera 1.
In S105, the user of the digital still camera 1 presses the shutter button 35 to input an instruction to convert an optical image of a subject into a subject image.
In S110, the digital still camera 1 detects that the shutter button 35 has been pressed, and converts the optical image of the subject into a subject image. Specifically, the CPU 25 inputs a predetermined control signal to the scanning control unit 21, scans the image sensor 13 for electric charges accumulated for a predetermined time, and controls the CDS circuit 14, the AGC circuit 15, and the A / D converter 16 to perform predetermined scanning. After the processing, the digital image processing unit 17 converts the image into a subject image. Next, the converted subject image is compressed by the compression / decompression processing unit 18 to output the subject image, and the CPU 25 stores the subject image and the image capturing time in the removable memory 20 by the reader / writer 19 in association with each other.
[0034]
In S115, the user wire-connects the digital still camera 1 to the printer 2 by, for example, a USB cable.
In S120, the user sets the subject image information to be printed and the print setting information, and presses the print button 38 to instruct the digital still camera 1 to perform printing.
In S125, the CPU 25 generates a print job from the print setting information and the subject image information. At this point, nothing is set in the print job identification information. In the present embodiment, a print job that has been processed in steps S130 to S150 described later is referred to as a print command.
[0035]
In S130, one identification name is obtained from the set subject image information, and it is determined whether or not the layout definition data associated with the subject image specified by the identification name is defined to print the shooting time. Determine. Specifically, the determination is made based on whether or not a macro variable is defined in Strings in the DrawStrings line of the script of the layout definition data. When it is defined, the process proceeds to S135, and when it is not defined, the process proceeds to S140.
[0036]
In S135, the CPU 25 makes settings so that the subject image is printed at the time of imaging based on the layout definition data. Specifically, “layout definition data” is specified as the identification information of the line specified by the identification name in the print job.
In S140, the CPU 25 determines whether or not “present” is set for printing at the time of shooting of the print setting information. When it is set, the process proceeds to S145, and when it is not set, the process proceeds to S150.
[0037]
In S145, the CPU 25 sets the subject image to be printed based on the print job at the time of imaging. Specifically, "print job" is specified in the identification information field of the line specified by the identification name in the print job.
In S150, the CPU 25 determines whether or not the determination of the layout definition data has been completed for all the identification names. If the processing has been completed, the process proceeds to S155.
[0038]
In S155, the CPU 25 outputs a print command to the printer via the interface unit.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the print command. The print command in the illustrated example is a command when “Yes” is specified at the time of imaging in the print setting information. As illustrated, “Layout definition data”, “Print job”, etc. are specified in the identification information. I have.
Thus, the print command is output to the printer 2. When the print command is output, the printer 2 obtains one identification name of the subject image specified by the print command, and obtains the subject image specified by the identification name and the layout definition associated with the subject image. Data is obtained from the digital still camera 1. If “layout definition data” is specified in the identification information of the print job, the acquired subject image and the time of imaging are combined and printed based on the layout defined by the layout definition data. At this time, the printer 2 prints the photographing time based only on the layout definition data, and ignores the setting even if “YES” is set in the printing at the time of imaging of the print command. If “print job” is specified in the print job identification information, the print data at the time of imaging is set in advance in the digital still camera 1 in the print data of the subject image generated in the layout defined by the layout definition data. And prints the image in a predetermined layout. When nothing is specified in the identification information of the print command, the printer 2 does not print the image pickup time. The printer 2 repeats the process until printing of all the subject images specified in the print job is completed.
[0039]
Hereinafter, effects of the embodiment will be described.
FIG. 9A is a diagram showing a print result 55 by the digital still camera 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. In the digital still camera 1, when a print job is set to print the shooting time and the layout definition data is defined to print the shooting time, “layout definition data” is designated as the identification information of the print command. By doing so, the shooting time is printed based only on the layout definition data. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9A, only one image is printed at the time of shooting. Therefore, according to the digital still camera 1, a print job is set to print the shooting time, and even if the printing time is defined in the layout definition data, the printing time is prevented from being double printed. it can.
[0040]
FIG. 9B is a diagram illustrating a print result 56 by the digital still camera 1. According to the digital still camera 1, when the print job is set to print the shooting time and the layout definition data is not defined to print the shooting time, "print job" is designated as the identification information of the print command. Then, the shooting time is printed based on the print job. For this reason, even when the layout definition data does not define printing of the shooting time, the shooting time can be printed as shown in FIG. 9B.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing of a digital camera.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a digital camera and a printer.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a digital camera.
FIG. 4A is a rear view showing the appearance of the digital camera, and FIG. 4B is a front view.
FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram illustrating layout definition data, and FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating a script of the layout definition data.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a print job generated by a digital camera.
FIG. 7 is a screen transition diagram of the digital camera.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a print command output by the digital camera.
FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams showing a printing result by a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a printing result by a conventional digital camera.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 1 digital still camera (digital camera), 2 printer, 11 zoom lens (optical system), 12 optical aperture (optical system), 19 reader / writer (recording means), 20 removable memory (non-volatile memory), 25 CPU (recording means) , Print setting means, print control means), 27 operation section (print setting means), 29 display control section (print setting means), 30 LCD (print setting means)

Claims (2)

An optical system that forms an optical image of the subject,
The subject image output by converting the formed optical image of the subject is stored in the nonvolatile memory in association with the shooting time and the layout definition data capable of defining the layout for combining and printing the subject image and the shooting time in the nonvolatile memory. Recording means;
A print setting unit for setting a print job for causing a printer to continuously print a plurality of subject images stored in the non-volatile memory. Possible print setting means,
A print control unit that causes a printer to continuously print a plurality of subject images stored in the nonvolatile memory based on a print job. It is determined whether or not it is defined to be printed, and when the layout definition data is defined to be printed at the time of shooting, at the time of shooting, the printer is caused to print based on only the layout definition data. Print control means for causing the printer to print based on the print job when shooting when a print job is set to print and the layout definition data is not defined to print when shooting;
A digital camera comprising: An optical system that forms an optical image of the subject,
The subject image output by converting the formed optical image of the subject is stored in the nonvolatile memory in association with the shooting time and the layout definition data capable of defining the layout for combining and printing the subject image and the shooting time in the nonvolatile memory. Recording means;
A print setting unit for setting a print job for causing a printer to continuously print a plurality of subject images stored in the non-volatile memory. Possible print setting means,
By a digital camera comprising, a plurality of subject images stored in the non-volatile memory, a print control method of continuously printing the printer based on a print job,
It is determined whether or not the layout definition data defining the layout of the subject image to be printed by the print job is defined to print at the time of shooting, and the layout definition data is defined to print at the time of shooting. When shooting, the printer is made to print based only on the layout definition data, a print job is set to print the shooting time, and when the layout definition data is not defined to print the shooting time, A printing control method using a digital camera, wherein the printing is performed by the printer based on a print job.

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