JP2005101932A - Imaging apparatus and printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus and a printer which is easily operable when an external apparatus is connected thereto, and reduces the power consumption. <P>SOLUTION: The imaging apparatus decides which apparatus is already first operated, based on an operation applied to its own and a signal from a connected external apparatus. When the external apparatus is already first operated, the imaging apparatus disables its own operating means and display means. When its own operating means is already first operated, the imaging apparatus requests the external apparatus to disable the operating means and the display means. The printer is the same as above. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention belongs to the technical field of an imaging apparatus and a printing apparatus, and particularly to the technical field of an imaging apparatus and a printing apparatus that perform printing by directly connecting the imaging apparatus and the printing apparatus.

  When printing an image taken with a digital camera, it is necessary to use a card reader or connect the digital camera to a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC), and send the image from the PC to a printer for printing. In addition, printers are known in which a card slot for reading an image of a card on which an image of a digital camera is recorded is provided so that printing can be performed.

  To print using these devices, it is necessary to remove the card from the digital camera and insert the card into a card reader of a PC or a card slot of a printer. Such an operation is troublesome for beginners unfamiliar with the handling of PCs and cards, and there is also a risk of damaging the cards.

  In order to improve such a point, a product that enables printing by directly connecting a digital camera and a printer is known. Since most digital cameras are equipped with a liquid crystal display monitor, an image to be printed is selected using an operation / display member on the camera side (for example, Patent Documents 1 to 5). reference).

  There is also known a printer that includes a display monitor and switches the light source of the display monitor in accordance with the processing format selection state (see, for example, Patent Document 6).

There is also known a printer that disables an operation in an operation unit when a digital camera is connected (see, for example, Patent Document 7).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-139876 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-108005 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-191215 JP-A-10-191226 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-250047 JP 2000-69401 A JP 2003-103883 A

  The printer may have operation keys and a display monitor. In this case, if the operation members and display members of both the digital camera and the printer are operating, the user should determine which operation member should be used. It's hard to understand. As described in Patent Document 7 described above, some printers invalidate operations when a digital camera is connected. However, if operations are uniformly invalidated in this way, operation members on the printer side are used. Even if the display member is easy or the display member is large, the digital camera cannot be used, and even if the operation member of the digital camera is difficult to use or the display member is small, the user is forced to operate the digital camera, which is inconvenient.

  Furthermore, if both the digital camera and the printer are displaying simultaneously, the liquid crystal display power is wasted accordingly.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an imaging apparatus and a printing apparatus that can be easily operated when an external device is connected and reduce power consumption.

  In order to achieve the above object, an imaging apparatus according to claim 1 includes an imaging unit that outputs image data of a photographed image obtained by photographing a subject, a recording unit that records the image data, and an operator that records the data. A first operation means for performing an instruction input including image display and image output based on image data; a display means for displaying an image based on the recorded image data in accordance with an instruction input via the operation means; The recorded image data is transmitted to the external device in response to an instruction input through the first operation unit or a request from an external device having the second operation unit, and an operation to the second operation unit A communication means for receiving a signal indicating that a signal has been made from the external device, and an operation on the first operation means and a connection to the second operation means after connection with the external device. A determination means for determining which one of the operations is performed first, and based on the determination result, when the second operation means is operated first, the first operation means and the display means are invalidated, Control means for transmitting, via the communication line, a signal requesting the external device to invalidate the second operation means when the first operation means is operated first.

  In the imaging device according to claim 1, when the imaging device is operated first, the operation unit of the external device is invalidated, and when the external device is operated first, the operation unit and the display unit of the imaging device are invalidated. Is done. That is, the one operated first becomes effective, and even if the operation is performed on the other side after that, it is not accepted. For this reason, the user may perform an operation with either the imaging apparatus or the external device. Since either operation can be performed, the user may select a device that is easy to operate and easy to see. Also, if one device is operated, the operation for the other device is invalidated, so there is no confusion as to which operation should be performed. Furthermore, when the external device is operated first, the display device of the imaging device is invalidated, so that power consumption can be reduced.

  Thus, the imaging apparatus according to claim 1 can be easily operated when an external device is connected, and can reduce power consumption.

  When the external device includes a display unit, when the imaging apparatus is operated first, the display unit invalidation of the external device may be requested in the same manner as the operation unit.

  The external device connected to the imaging apparatus according to claim 1 may be a printing apparatus, a data recording apparatus, or the like.

  In order to achieve the above object, an imaging apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention includes an imaging unit that outputs image data of a photographed image obtained by photographing a subject, a recording unit that records the image data, and an operator that has recorded the data. From an external device, an operation means for inputting instructions including image display and image output based on image data, a display means for displaying an image based on the recorded image data in accordance with the instruction input via the operation means, A communication unit that transmits the recorded image data to the external device in response to a request or an instruction input via the operation unit, and determines whether or not a cradle device is connected And a control means for invalidating the operation means and the display means when the cradle device is connected based on the determination result. Wherein the communication means, based on the determination result, the when the cradle device is connected has and transmits the image data the recording by a request from the external device with respect to the external device.

  The imaging device may be connected to an external device via the cradle device. At this time, the operation key may be difficult to operate or the display monitor may be hidden by the cradle device. In the imaging apparatus according to the second aspect, in such a case, the operation unit and the display unit are invalidated so that the operation can be performed on the external device side. Therefore, the operation is easy and the power consumption is reduced.

  Note that the cradle device in the imaging device according to claim 2 includes a device for supplying power when connected to the imaging device and for exchanging data and commands between the imaging device and an external device.

  Further, when the imaging apparatus according to claim 2 is connected to an external device without going through the cradle device, like the imaging apparatus according to claim 1, the one operated first is prioritized and the other is invalidated. You may do it.

  An imaging apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is the imaging apparatus according to the first or second aspect, further comprising detection means for detecting the occurrence of abnormality, wherein the control means detects the occurrence of abnormality. Sometimes information indicating the occurrence of an abnormality is displayed on the display means and information indicating the occurrence of an abnormality is transmitted to the external device via the communication means, and the communication means has an abnormality in the external device. When the information indicating is received, the received information is displayed on the display means.

  In the imaging apparatus according to the third aspect, an abnormality occurring in either the imaging apparatus or the external device can be confirmed by both devices, and the user only needs to pay attention to the device being operated.

  In order to achieve the above object, a printing apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention provides an image based on image data recorded by an operator on an external device having first operation means and first display means. Second operation means for inputting instructions including display and printing, second display means for displaying an image based on image data received from the external device, and instructions via the second operation means A communication unit that receives the recorded image data in accordance with an input or a request from the external device and receives a signal indicating that an operation on the first operation unit has been performed from the external device; and After the connection, the determination means for determining which of the operation for the first operation means and the operation for the second operation means was performed first, and based on the determination result, When the first operating means is operated first, the second operating means and the second display means are invalidated, and when the second operating means is operated first, the second device is operated with respect to the external device. A control means for transmitting a signal requesting to invalidate one operation means and the first display means via the communication line; an instruction input via the second operation means; or a request from the external device And printing means for printing an image indicating the received image data.

  In the printing apparatus according to claim 4, when the printing apparatus is operated first, the operation means and display means of the external device are invalidated, and when the external apparatus is operated first, the operation means and display means of the printing apparatus. Is invalidated. That is, the one operated first becomes effective, and even if the operation is performed on the other side after that, it is not accepted. For this reason, the user may perform an operation with either the printing apparatus or the external device. Since either operation can be performed, the user may select a device that is easy to operate and easy to see. Also, if one device is operated, the operation for the other device is invalidated, so there is no confusion as to which operation should be performed. Furthermore, when the external device is operated first, the display device of the printing apparatus is invalidated, so that power consumption can be reduced.

  Thus, the printing apparatus according to claim 4 can be easily operated when an external device is connected and can reduce power consumption.

  The external device connected to the imaging apparatus according to claim 4 may be an imaging apparatus, a data recording apparatus, or the like.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the printing apparatus further includes detection means for detecting occurrence of an abnormality, and the control means generates an abnormality when the detection means detects the occurrence of the abnormality. Information indicating that an abnormality has occurred is transmitted to the external device via the communication means, and the communication means indicates that an abnormality has occurred in the external device. When the information shown is received, the received information is displayed on the second display means.

  In the printing apparatus according to the fifth aspect, an abnormality occurring in either the imaging apparatus or the external device can be confirmed by both devices, and the user only needs to pay attention to the device being operated.

  The imaging apparatus and the printing apparatus according to the present invention can be easily operated when an external device is connected and can reduce power consumption.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of an imaging apparatus and a printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a digital camera 10 according to the imaging apparatus of the present invention and a printer 60 according to the printing apparatus of the present invention. The digital camera 10 can be connected to the cradle 40 and is connected to the printer 60 via the cable 50.

  The digital camera 10 includes an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) 12. The MPU 12 controls each component shown below according to a program and data stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 14, and performs imaging processing and image data output. In addition to processing such as transmission / reception of control signals, the occurrence of abnormality in each component is detected (described later). During processing, an SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM) 16 is used as an area for temporary storage and processing of image data and the like.

  The imaging control block 22 controls the lens 18 and the CCD 20 and outputs image data of a captured image. The image data is displayed as an image on the LCD 26 via the LCD drive circuit 24 and is recorded on the memory card 30 via the memory card control block 28.

  The LCD 26 also displays information indicating an abnormality that has occurred in the digital camera 10 and the printer 60 (described later).

  The key 32 includes a release button and a cross key (not shown) so that a user can perform operations such as a shooting instruction, an image display, and an image print instruction.

  The LCD 26 and the key 32 are effective when operated before the LCD and key on the printer 60 side. When the printer 60 side is operated first, it is invalidated. That is, the operation of the key 32 is not accepted and the LCD 26 is not displayed (described later).

  The cradle detection circuit 42 detects that the digital camera 10 is connected to the cradle 40. When the connection is detected, the MPU 12 invalidates the key 32 and the LCD 26 and notifies the printer 60 of the operation right (described later).

  Note that power is supplied to the components of the digital camera 10 from the battery 36 via the power control block 38. When the digital camera 10 is connected to the cradle 40, power is supplied via the cradle 40.

  A printer 60 is connected to the digital camera 10 via a cable 50. The image data recorded in the digital camera 10 is output to the printer 60 via the communication circuit 34 and can be printed as an image.

  The communication circuit 34 transmits image data to the printer 60 in response to an operator instruction input via the key 32 or a request from the printer 60, and transmits / receives control signals and abnormality occurrence signals to / from the printer 60 (described later). . When the digital camera 10 is connected to the cradle 40, communication with the printer 60 is performed via the cradle 40.

  For example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable can be used as the cable 50. In this case, bidirectional communication between the digital camera 10 and the printer 60, including output of image data and transmission / reception of control signals, is performed. It can be performed based on the so-called DPS standard. In DPS Version 1.0, USB is used as the physical communication layer, and PTP (Picture Transfer Protocol for Digital Still Photography Devices) is used as the communication protocol of the transport layer above it.

  The printer 60 includes an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) 62. The MPU 62 controls each of the following constituent elements according to a program and data stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 64, and acquires image data and control signals. Transmission / reception, print processing, etc. are performed, and the occurrence of abnormality in each component is detected. During processing, an SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM) 66 is used as an area for temporary storage and processing of image data and the like.

  The printer 60 includes a communication circuit 82, receives image data from the digital camera 10 in response to an operator's instruction input via the key 76 or a request from the digital camera 10, and a control signal, Anomaly occurrence signal is transmitted and received (described later). When the digital camera 10 is connected to the cradle 40, communication with the digital camera 10 is performed via the cradle 40.

  In addition, a memory card 74 can be inserted into and removed from the printer 60, and image data can be read via the memory card 74.

  The LCD 70 displays an image based on the image data received from the digital camera 10 and the image data read via the memory card 74 under the control of the LCD drive circuit 68. Also, information indicating an abnormality that has occurred in the digital camera 10 and the printer 60 is displayed (described later).

  The image data is printed as an image on a print sheet (not shown) by a mechanism 80 controlled by a mechanism control circuit 78 based on an instruction input via the key 76 or an instruction input via the key 32 of the digital camera 10. . Printing can be performed by inkjet, thermal transfer, laser, or the like.

  The key 76 is configured to include a cross key and a button (not shown) so that the user can perform operations such as image display and print instruction based on image data recorded in the digital camera 10.

  The LCD 70 and the key 76 are effective when operated before the LCD 26 and the key 32 on the digital camera 10 side. When the digital camera 10 side is operated first, it is invalidated. That is, the operation of the key 76 is not accepted and the LCD 70 is not displayed (described later).

  Note that power is supplied to the components of the printer 60 via a power control block 82.

  Next, operations and display processing when the digital camera 10 and the printer 60 are connected will be described. FIG. 2 shows the flow of processing. Since the digital camera 10 and the printer 60 perform the same process, the process will be described here focusing on the digital camera 10 side. Further, only major items are shown for processing on the printer 60 side.

  First, in step 100, connection confirmation is performed. Step 200 is performed on the printer 60 side. Here, communication is performed between the digital camera 10 and the printer 60 to check whether the counterpart device has an operation member or a display member, and the function, performance, interface, and the like.

  Next, in step 102, it is determined whether or not the digital camera 10 can be operated. When the digital camera 10 is mounted on the cradle 40, the operation and display are invalidated, so that the operation becomes impossible, the determination is affirmed, and the routine proceeds to step 104.

  In step 104, the printer 60 is notified that the digital camera 10 cannot be operated and the operation right is in the printer 60. This notification is made via the cradle 40. When this notification is made, the printer 60 turns on the display of the LCD 70 in step 202 and validates the operation on the key 76.

  Although the case where the printer 60 has the operation member (key 76) and the display member (LCD 70) is described here, if the printer 60 does not have a display member, it is determined that the priority is low after the connection is confirmed. (Corresponding to step 102), the operation right is notified to the digital camera 10 side (corresponding to step 104), and the operation member is invalidated.

  If the digital camera 10 is not connected to the cradle 40 in step 102, the determination is denied, and the process proceeds to step 106 to determine whether or not the key 32 has been operated. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 108 and the operation right is claimed to the printer 60. As a result, the printer 60 turns off the display on the LCD 70 in step 206 and invalidates the operation on the key 76.

  After the operation right is claimed in step 108, the state in which the operation and display on the digital camera 10 side are valid continues.

  On the other hand, if the determination in step 106 is negative, the process proceeds to step 110 to determine whether the other party, that is, the printer 60 has been operated. When operated, the printer 60 notifies the digital camera 10 of the operation in step 204. The determination in step 110 can be made based on whether or not this notification has been received.

  If the determination is affirmative, the routine proceeds to step 112 where the operation right is set to the other party, that is, the printer 60, and the routine proceeds to the next step 114 where the display on the LCD 26 is turned off and the operation on the key 32 is invalidated.

  After the process of step 114, the state in which the operation and display on the printer 60 side is valid continues.

  When the determination in step 110 is negative, since both the digital camera 10 and the printer 60 are not operated, the processing from step 106 is repeated until either one is operated.

  With the above processing, the operation and display of one of the digital camera 10 and the printer 60 become valid. Thereafter, processing such as image display and printing is performed based on operations performed on the effective side.

  As described above, since the digital camera 10 and the printer 60 according to the present embodiment can be operated by either device, the user may select a device that is easy to operate and easy to see. In addition, if one of the digital camera 10 and the printer 60 is operated first, the operation for the other is invalidated, so there is no confusion as to which operation should be performed. Furthermore, since the display (LCD) that has not been operated is invalidated, power consumption can be reduced.

  Thus, the digital camera 10 and the printer 60 according to the present embodiment can be easily operated when an external device is connected and can reduce power consumption.

  Furthermore, in the digital camera 10 according to the present embodiment, when the cradle 40 is connected, the key 32 and the LCD 26 are disabled so that the operation can be performed on the printer 60 side. Reduced.

  Next, processing when an abnormality occurs in the digital camera 10 or the printer 60 when the digital camera 10 and the printer 60 are connected will be described. FIG. 3 shows the flow of processing. As in the case of FIG. 2, since the digital camera 10 and the printer 60 perform the same processing, the processing will be described here focusing on the digital camera 10 side. Further, only major items are shown for processing on the printer 60 side.

  First, in step 300, it is determined whether or not an abnormality has occurred in each component of the digital camera 10. If the determination is affirmed, the process proceeds to step 302 to notify the printer 60 that an abnormality has occurred. Upon receiving this notification, the printer 60 displays on the LCD 70 that an abnormality has occurred in the digital camera 10 in step 400.

  The digital camera 10 also displays on the LCD 26 that an abnormality has occurred in step 304.

  Similarly, when an abnormality occurs in the printer 60, the printer 60 notifies the digital camera 10 of the occurrence of the abnormality in step 402 and displays the occurrence of the abnormality on the LCD 70 in step 404. When the digital camera 10 receives this notification, in step 304, it is displayed on the LCD 26 that an abnormality has occurred in the printer 60.

  When displaying the abnormality information, if the display of the digital camera 10 or the printer 60 is invalidated, the information may be displayed after being validated.

  As described above, in the digital camera 10 and the printer 60 according to the present embodiment, an abnormality occurring in the digital camera 10 or the printer 60 can be confirmed by both devices, and the user is paying attention to the device being operated. Good.

  In this embodiment, the printer 60 has an operation member and a display member. However, as a printing apparatus connected to the imaging apparatus according to the present invention, there is no display member, but operation keys are large and easy to use. The thing of the form is considered. In such a case, the display member may be valid on the imaging device side, and the operation member may be valid on the printing device side. In this case, as in the above description, when the imaging device and the printing device are connected, the configuration of both devices is confirmed, and on the basis of the result, enabling / disabling is set for each device. Good.

1 is a block diagram of a digital camera and a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows a process when the digital camera and printer which concern on one Embodiment of this invention are connected. It is a figure which shows the process at the time of abnormality occurrence when the digital camera and printer which concern on one Embodiment of this invention are connected.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Digital camera, 26, 70 ... LCD, 32, 76 ... Key, 40 ... Cradle, 42 ... Cradle detection, 50 ... Cable, 60 ... Printer

Claims (5)

Imaging means for outputting image data of a photographed image obtained by photographing a subject;
Recording means for recording the image data;
First operating means for an operator to input instructions including image display and image output based on the recorded image data;
Display means for displaying an image based on the recorded image data in accordance with an instruction input via the operation means;
The recorded image data is transmitted to the external device in response to an instruction input via the first operation unit or a request from an external device having the second operation unit, and an operation to the second operation unit Communication means for receiving from the external device a signal indicating that
A determination means for determining which of the operation for the first operation means and the operation for the second operation means has been performed first after connection with the external device;
Based on the determination result, when the second operation unit is operated first, the first operation unit and the display unit are invalidated, and when the first operation unit is operated first, the external device is connected. A control means for transmitting a signal for requesting the second operation means to be invalidated via the communication line;
An imaging apparatus comprising: Imaging means for outputting image data of a photographed image obtained by photographing a subject;
Recording means for recording the image data;
Operating means for an operator to input instructions including image display and image output based on the recorded image data;
Display means for displaying an image based on the recorded image data in accordance with an instruction input via the operation means;
A communication unit configured to transmit the recorded image data to the external device in response to a request from an external device or an instruction input via the operation unit,
Determining means for determining whether or not the cradle device is connected;
Control means for invalidating the operation means and the display means when the cradle device is connected based on the determination result,
The communication device transmits the recorded image data to the external device in response to a request from the external device when the cradle device is connected based on the determination result.   Detection means for detecting occurrence of an abnormality is further provided, and the control means displays information indicating the occurrence of an abnormality on the display means when the detection means detects the occurrence of an abnormality and Information indicating occurrence is transmitted through the communication means, and when the communication means receives information indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the external device, the received information is displayed on the display means. The imaging device according to claim 1 or 2. Second operation means for an operator to input an instruction including display and printing of an image based on image data recorded in the external device to an external device having the first operation means and the first display means When,
Second display means for displaying an image based on image data received from the external device;
The recorded image data is received in accordance with an instruction input via the second operation unit or a request from the external device, and a signal indicating that an operation is performed on the first operation unit is received from the external device. A communication means for receiving;
A determination means for determining which of the operation for the first operation means and the operation for the second operation means is performed first after connection with the external device;
Based on the determination result, the second operation means and the second display means are invalidated when the first operation means is operated first, and the second operation means is operated when the second operation means is operated first. Control means for transmitting a signal for requesting the external device to invalidate the first operation means and the first display means via the communication line;
Print means for printing an image indicating the received image data in response to an instruction input via the second operation means or a request from the external device;
A printing apparatus comprising: Detection means for detecting the occurrence of an abnormality is further provided, and the control means displays information indicating the occurrence of the abnormality on the second display means when the detection means detects the occurrence of the abnormality and Information indicating the occurrence of an abnormality is transmitted via the communication means, and when the communication means receives information indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the external device, the received information is sent to the second display means. The printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the printing apparatus is displayed.

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