JP2005169650A - Information inputting/printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To more quickly obtain printing results by precedently starting a formation start of transfer/printing data to a printing apparatus at a digital camera by a display or selection timing of images prior to a printing command. <P>SOLUTION: The image inputting/printing apparatus has a digital image input means, a means for selecting or displaying a precedent image, a means for starting pre-processing of printing by a timing of a precedent display, a means for printing the precedent image by the printing command, and a means for invalidating precedent printing data if the display is switched before the printing command comes. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an information input / printing apparatus as an information processing apparatus connected by an interface such as IEEE1394, and more particularly to data exchange between electronic devices that do not require the intervention of a host computer.

  Some devices connected to the communication control bus can be attached / detached with additional devices to improve basic performance, expand functions, or change device configurations, or change device configurations with a modular structure. There are also such devices. On the other hand, with an interface such as IEEE 1394, unlike a one-to-one connection form between a host computer and a device, data can be directly exchanged between apparatuses without using a host computer. For example, a network system connecting a digital camera, a scanner, a printer, and the like is considered.

As an example of the application, Patent Document 1 below proposes an electronic device, a control method thereof, and a multifunction system. This relates to a cooperative operation between devices connected to the IEEE 1498 network. In other words, the printer connected to the IEEE 1394 bus is connected to the scanner via an interface different from that of the IEEE 1394, and performs a composite function such as copying in cooperation with the scanner.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-282464

  As is clear from the above description, when a digital camera and a printer are combined, the image selected by the operator of the digital camera is displayed, and if printing of the image is desired, the data is transferred to the printer and the printing process is started. The In this case, since the image data is generally large in size, it takes a long time to obtain the result because a lot of time is required for transfer and conversion to print data.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above-mentioned problems. In a digital camera, the transfer to the printing device and the start of creation of print data are preceded by the timing of image display / selection prior to the print command. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information input / printing apparatus that can obtain a printing result earlier by starting.

  In order to solve the above problems, an electronic device according to the present invention is an electronic device in a system in which a plurality of electronic devices are connected by a communication control bus and a control signal and an information signal are communicated between the electronic devices. The device includes means for selectively displaying a plurality of pieces of information stored therein, means for transmitting the previous information to the printing apparatus when the previous information is selected, means for waiting for the start of printing, and the transmission. , Means for instructing printing of information held in the printing device, means for printing based on the print command, means for invalidating the previous print data if the display is switched before the print command is issued, In the information input / printing device characterized in that the means for waiting for the start of printing suspends transfer of the last packet until there is a printing instruction at the time of information transfer Location.

  According to the present invention, when a digital camera and a printer are used in combination, when the operator of the digital camera selects and displays an image, data transfer to the printer is started in advance, so that the operator actually Preparation for printing is completed by the time until printing is instructed. Therefore, the printing result can be obtained more quickly. This is particularly effective for large-size image data.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a printer / scanner according to the ink jet system of this embodiment.

  First, the operation as a printer will be described. This apparatus is equipped with an auto sheet feeder that can automatically feed a plurality of sheets. When the paper currently being printed, that is, the paper on the platen is about to be discharged, the auto sheet feeder guides the next paper to the paper feed insertion port of the printer. After the paper is discharged, when the paper is detected by the paper sensor at the paper feed slot, the printer feeds the next paper on the platen. A paper remaining amount sensor is mounted on the paper tray of the auto sheet feeder, and the sensor reacts when the amount of paper set in the sheet feeder decreases below a predetermined amount. The Power / Suspend Button is turned on when the power is turned off. On the other hand, if it is pressed in the On state, the print job is once suspended (Suspend), and the process continues with Start / Resume Button. If the button is further pressed in the Suspend state, the power is turned off.

  Next, the operation as a scanner will be described. In this apparatus, in the above description, the operation sequence that appears outside is the same when the print medium is replaced with a read original and the print head is replaced with a read sensor. Note that “Start Button” is an instruction to start reading a document. As is clear from the above description, either the printer function or the scanner function is selected and used exclusively.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the carriage unit.

  The carriage unit of this apparatus includes a print head (Nozzle Array), an image sensor (Censer), and an exposure lamp (Lamp), and this apparatus can be used as a printer or a scanner. If two machines are connected and one is a scanner, the other functions as a printer.

[Supplementary explanation]
In addition to reading a document, the image sensor unit performs a. Monitoring the printing status, b. The paper type is automatically recognized and the appropriate print mode (color conversion constant, binarization method, multi-pass printing) can be set automatically. And c. The size and shape of the printing paper can be detected before printing, and printing can be performed while laying out the printing data on the paper. This is particularly effective when deformed paper (other than a rectangle) is used for printing. Furthermore, such an “automatic function” is particularly effective in the direct printing system in which it is difficult to directly obtain instructions from the host computer or the user.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a system in which a plurality of electronic devices are connected by a communication control bus.

  Specifically, two scanners / printers and a digital camera are connected by an IEEE 1394 bus.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the system configuration of the printer of this embodiment.

  In the figure, 4001 is an interface unit for inputting a recording signal from an external device, and 4002 is an MPU. A ROM 4003 stores a control program executed by the MPU 4002 and print information. Reference numeral 4004 denotes a RAM for storing various data (such as the recording signal and recording data supplied to the head). Reference numeral 4005 denotes a gate array that generates and controls output data for the print head 4006, and also performs data transfer control between the interface unit 4001, the MPU 4002, and the RAM 4004. A carriage motor 4007 conveys the recording head 4006. Reference numeral 4008 denotes a conveyance motor for conveying the recording paper, 4009 denotes a head driver for driving the recording head, 4010 denotes a motor driver for driving the carriage motor 4007, and 4011 denotes a motor driver for driving the conveyance motor 4008. This printer is connected between devices using an IEEE 1394 serial bus.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an outline of processing in the printer of this embodiment.

  An outline of processing in the printer will be described below. First, a data block is temporarily stored together with coordinate data for at least one page. Next, the data for one page is divided at a plurality of band boundaries, and the data is arranged on the storage medium in an intermediate state (DL) close to the final print data. Next, these are taken out for each band and converted into a final printable data format, and finally the print head is driven via a shipper which is an interface with the head driver.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an outline of color image processing inside the printer of this embodiment.

  The JPEG data is decompressed into RGB multi-value data and passed to the next input device correction block. In this block, an input device, for example, a digital camera image is corrected in accordance with predetermined conditions such as 1) contrast, 2) white balance, 3) exposure, 4) gradation, 5) saturation, etc. It includes processing for converting to a color space, and enlargement / reduction processing for making an image suitable for the output device. After that, it is converted to an output device-dependent color space. Here, processing such as masking, GCR, luminance / density conversion, etc. for converting to a color matching the ink characteristics of the printer (output device) is included. Next, it is converted into YMCK multilevel data which is the color space of ink. Ink jets that express gradation in terms of dot density require further binarization. In the present embodiment, the above series of processing has a configuration independent of the host computer that is pipelined by the action of the ASIC and firmware.

  FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are diagrams for explaining the representation format of the data block.

  Hereinafter, the format and procedure of data transferred between the input device and the output device in this embodiment will be described. First, the data from the input device side consists of additional information and content. The additional information includes the vertical and horizontal sizes (W, H), resolution (dpi), color or monochrome identifier, gradation depth (1-bit, 8-bit), and image position coordinates P (X, Y). including. Furthermore, the content is a set of image data blocks, and includes a format of (1) JPEG (2) RLE (3) Bitmap.

  On the other hand, information returned from the output device to the input device relates to the requested image size (W, H), resolution (dpi), processing capability of the printer engine, response to various options given from the input device, and data transfer. Contains sequence control information.

  When the input device is a document scanner, the content of the data content may be a bitmap of one block as a whole or a combination of a plurality of compressed files depending on the processing capability of the scanner. On the other hand, when the input device is a digital camera, a plurality of small JPEG files arranged in a process such as a JPEG file of one block or thumbnail as a whole are common. There may be text data indicating the photo number and the shooting date.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state in which image data blocks belonging to each band are stored. An image data block for one page is in a data (DL) format converted into an optimal level of abstraction, and data blocks (DL) belonging to each band are sequentially linked to a table having a list structure. In actual printing, the DL belonging to each band is arranged in the band buffer memory while being converted into the final printing format, sequentially read by DMA transfer in synchronization with the movement of the carriage, and supplied to the ink discharge drive heater circuit.

  FIG. 10 shows the contents of the DLT in FIG.

  The DLT is a table including a DL type identifier, a link to the next DLT, and DL contents. The abstraction and format of the DL type are optimized depending on factors such as the printing speed and resolution of the printer, and the ability of hardware (Graphic Engine Unit) to generate final print data. Generally, it is determined by the balance of data format complexity, data size, and deployment speed.

  FIG. 11 shows the back and appearance of the digital camera of this embodiment. An image obtained through a lens (not shown) is taken out as an analog electric signal by the internal image sensor. Further, it passes through a signal processing circuit and finally becomes digital data compressed into JPEG and is stored in the internal flash memory. Once the data is stored, the contents can be confirmed on the display screen by operating the menu button, selection cursor, and enter button. In this case, if the selected screen is connected to the printer of the present embodiment via IEEE1394, the selected screen can be designated for printing. In addition, it is possible to designate a plurality of images to be placed on a single sheet. The arrangement pattern can be selected from predetermined ones, but can be arbitrarily designated.

The figure which showed the structure of the inkjet printer scanner of a present Example Diagram showing the configuration of the carriage unit A diagram showing a system configuration in which multiple electronic devices are connected via a communication control bus The figure which showed the system configuration | structure of the inkjet printer of a present Example. The figure which showed the process outline of the inkjet printer of a present Example The figure which showed the outline | summary of the color image process in the printer of a present Example Diagram explaining the data block representation format Diagram showing the relationship between bands and objects in the page The figure which showed the state by which DLT is memorize | stored in the band table A diagram showing the contents of the DLT in FIG. Diagram showing the digital camera of this embodiment

Explanation of symbols

4001 Interface unit 4002 MPU
4003 ROM
4004 RAM
4005 Gate array 4006 Recording head 4007 Carriage motor 4008 Conveyance motor 4009 Head drivers 4010 and 4011 Motor driver

Claims (2)

An information input / printing apparatus that is an electronic device in a system that connects a plurality of electronic devices via a communication control bus and communicates control signals and information signals between the electronic devices,
The electronic device is
Means for selectively displaying from a plurality of pieces of information stored therein in advance;
Means for transmitting the previous information to the printing device when the previous information is selected;
Means to wait for printing to start,
Means for instructing printing of the information transmitted and held in the printing device;
Means for printing based on the print command;
Means to invalidate the previous print data if the display is switched before the print command is issued,
An information input / printing apparatus characterized by having the above.   2. The information input / printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for waiting for the start of printing suspends the transfer of the final packet until there is a print instruction when transferring the information.

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