JP2005343007A - Recorder and recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently print (record) image data in a memory card even if complicated setting with the use of an external display device and an operation panel is not carried out. <P>SOLUTION: There are provided a reading means for reading out the image data from a storage medium which stores the image data; a recording indication receiving means for receiving a recording indication of printing the image data read by the reading means, by a predetermined order; and a recording means for recording the image data by the predetermined order when the recording indication is received. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a recording method.

  Generally, since a printing apparatus (recording apparatus) is connected to a host computer and operated, settings of the printing apparatus (paper size, paper type, recording quality, etc.) are set by the user on the host computer. By executing the printing start, the command is sent to the printing apparatus from the host computer as a command, and the printing apparatus side interprets the command and selects the designated mode. For this reason, a printing apparatus mainly connected to a host computer does not require a panel operation for setting a paper size, a paper type, a printing mode, and the like, and recently, there is a printing apparatus having only a power switch key.

  On the other hand, in a printing apparatus that is not connected to a host computer and is not used, that is, a printing apparatus capable of printing directly from a digital camera or a digital camera memory card without using a host computer, a desired image can be selected from the memory card or Since settings (paper size, paper type, print quality, etc.) are required, various setting keys are provided on the operation panel of the printing apparatus, or as a display device for the settings so that the setting can be easily performed. A liquid crystal screen is mounted on a printing apparatus, or a video output is provided so that display can be performed using an external monitor such as a TV receiver (see Patent Document 1).

However, when the printing apparatus is not a host computer and tries to print an image in a memory card connected to the printing apparatus, the image data does not contain information such as paper to be printed. In order to obtain a printing result, an operation panel and a display device for selecting a sheet, which was not necessary for connection with a host computer, are necessary, and the operation is complicated and cannot be fully used by beginners. Even when an external monitor is required as a display device for print settings of a printing apparatus, such a monitor is not always connected to the printing apparatus and used. The desired printing process could not be executed.
Japanese Patent No. 3161427

  As described above, when it is assumed that the setting is performed using the external display device, it is difficult to obtain a desired print result when the display device is not connected.

  Therefore, the present invention makes it possible to efficiently print (record) image data in a memory card without performing complicated settings using an external display device and an operation panel.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a reading means for reading the image data from a storage medium storing the image data, and a recording instruction for recording the image data read by the reading means in a predetermined order. Recording instruction receiving means for receiving, and recording means for recording the image data in the predetermined order when the recording instruction is received.

  According to the present invention, image data in a memory card can be efficiently printed without performing complicated settings using a display device and an operation panel.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a printing (recording) apparatus 100 according to the present invention. Note that the printing apparatus 100 may be any of an inkjet method, a thermal sublimation method, or other methods. 131 is a microprocessor unit, 132 is a ROM that stores the control of the printing apparatus 100 and a program of the present invention to be described later, 133 is a RAM that is used as a work area when the program is executed, and stores file data and the like It is. The microprocessor 131 checks the presence / absence of recording paper, the position of the carriage, and the state of the recovery system unit with the paper end sensor 140, the carriage home sensor 143, and the recovery system sensor 137, while checking the conveyance motor driver 138 and the carriage motor driver 141. Then, a drive pulse is given to the recovery system motor driver 137 to control the transport motor 139, the carriage motor 142, and the recovery system motor 137.

  A command for printing (recording operation) and print data (recording data) are sent to the microprocessor 131 via the interface 104 from a host computer (not shown). Reference numeral 152 denotes a memory card control unit that is connected to a memory card and functions as reading / writing means, to which a memory card 154 as a storage medium storing an image photographed by a digital camera or the like is connected. The memory card control unit 152 is configured so that data in the memory card 154 can be read and written according to instructions from the microprocessor 131. As the memory card 154, a plurality of types such as a standardized CF (compact flash (registered trademark)) card and SM (smart media) card can be used. The image read from the memory card 154 is subjected to predetermined processing by the microprocessor 131 and then sent to the video output control unit 151. The image is converted into a video output signal at 151 and connected to the video output control unit 151. It can also be displayed on the device 153.

  The video output control unit 151 also includes image data for operation guide (stored in the ROM 132) so that print settings (setting for recording operation) such as paper size, paper type, and print quality can be easily performed. It is transmitted from the processor 131. An operation panel unit 150 includes a cursor key 401, a determination key 402, and a cancel key 403 as shown in FIG. 4. By operating the keys while viewing an image displayed on the external display device 153, an image in the memory card 154 is displayed. Can be selected. Reference numeral 160 denotes a dedicated key. By this operation, a print instruction (record instruction) for printing the image data in the memory card 154 in a predetermined order can be performed. Reference numeral 144 denotes a recording head, which controls print data by the printer microcomputer 131 and performs recording operation of image data and text data on paper or the like according to set printing (recording) conditions.

  Next, processing when printing from the memory card 154 inserted into the printing apparatus 100 using the external display device 153 and the operation panel 150 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart corresponding to an example of the processing, and the processing is performed by the MPU 131 executing the corresponding processing program stored in the ROM 132.

  First, when the printing apparatus 100 is turned on in step S201, it is determined in step S202 whether or not the external display device 153 is connected. As a result of the determination, if the external display device 153 is connected, the process proceeds to step S203, and if not, the process proceeds to the process of FIG.

  In step S203, the image in the memory card 154 is displayed on the external display device 153. The user operates the image in the memory card 154 using the left and right keys of the cursor key 401 on the operation panel 150 until a desired image is obtained. When the desired image is found, the user presses the decision key 402 on the operation panel 150. The state is read in steps S204 and S205 until the enter key 402 is pressed, and the image in the memory card 154 is read out in conjunction with the user's operation of the cursor key 401 and displayed on the external display device 153. Is accepted, the process proceeds to step S206.

  In step S206, a screen as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the external display device 153 so that the user can select the paper size and print quality desired by the up / down / left / right cursor keys 401.

  In FIG. 3, 300 indicates the entire screen, and 301 indicates the paper size setting. The paper size can be selected, for example, by selecting one of A4 and A6 by operating the cursor key 401, but the paper size is not limited to these.

  Reference numeral 302 denotes a print quality setting. The print quality can be selected from high and low by operating the cursor key 401, but the type of quality is not limited to these two. Further, reference numeral 303 denotes a print start (record start) button. When the cursor key 401 is operated, the cursor is moved to this position, and the enter key 402 is operated, the print start instruction is regarded as a print start instruction. Is done.

  In steps S207 and S208, setting of printing conditions including the paper size 301 and the print quality 302 is received from the user until an instruction to start printing is received. When printing is instructed, printing is performed in step S209 under printing conditions such as the paper size and printing quality set by the user.

  The above operations are based on the premise that the external display device 153 is connected to the printing apparatus 100. On the other hand, a case where the external display device 153 is not connected is also conceivable. In such a case, it is difficult to select a print instruction (steps S203 to S205) and set a print mode (steps S206 and S207).

  Therefore, a process when printing is simply performed without performing an image selection operation or print mode setting after confirming the display contents will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart corresponding to an example of the processing, and the processing is performed by the MPU 131 executing the corresponding processing program stored in the ROM 132.

  As described above, if the external display device 153 is not connected as a result of the determination as to whether or not the external display device 153 is connected in step S202, it is determined whether or not the dedicated key 160 is pressed in step S501. To do. When the pressing of the dedicated key 160 is detected, the process proceeds to step S502, and the print mode is set to the contents of a predetermined condition (default). Here, the default is the setting content of the paper size and print quality set in the ROM 132 in advance.

  In step S503, the image data in the memory card 154 are printed in order from the newest date. In step S504, it is determined whether or not a cancel instruction for instructing to stop the print process is accepted during the print process. If a cancel instruction is accepted, the printing is terminated at that point.

  On the other hand, if the cancel instruction is not accepted, it is determined in step S505 whether or not all printing has been completed. If not, the process returns to step S503 to store the remaining image data in the memory card 154. Of these, the printing process is continued for those that are not printed.

  The printing operation according to the default setting by the operation of the dedicated key 160 is not performed only when the external display device 153 is not connected to the printing apparatus 100, but when the external display device 153 is connected. However, if the operation of the dedicated key 160 is accepted during the image selection process or the print mode setting, the default setting is used for printing regardless of the image selection process and the print mode setting performed so far. Processing can be performed.

  In the above description, the case where the paper size conforms to the default setting is described. However, the paper width is calculated by scanning the paper with a reflective sensor provided in the carriage of the printing apparatus 100, and A4, A6, etc. are calculated from the paper width. The paper size may be set by determining the standard size.

  Similarly, in the case of the printing apparatus 100 having a front feed type front discharge type switchback type paper feed mechanism, a standard size such as A4 or A6 is determined from the paper length obtained at the time of paper feed, and the paper size is set. You may do it.

  In this way, it is possible to determine the size of the paper set by the user, create print data according to the paper size, and perform printing.

  Further, as described above, according to the present embodiment, the printing order of all the images in the memory card 154 is printed in order from the newest date information attached to the image file, and the printing process is terminated upon reception of a cancel instruction. Even if an image to be printed is not selected, a recently taken image can be printed easily.

  Further, printing using default settings is limited to the print setting contents such as the paper size and print quality set at the time of shipment from the factory if the ROM 132 is an electrically writable nonvolatile ROM. Alternatively, printing may be performed with the default settings set by the user using the external display device 153 and the operation panel 150 as default settings.

  In FIG. 2, it is not necessary to provide S202 for determining whether or not the external display device 153 is connected. The user may be configured to perform image recording with default settings by operating the dedicated key 160.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when an external display device is connected to the printing apparatus, it is possible to select a print image and perform print settings with reference to the display content of the external display apparatus. In addition, when an external display device is not connected, an instruction to execute image selection and print settings based on predetermined settings can be performed by button operation, so that print processing is performed very easily. be able to.

[Other Embodiments]
Note that the present invention can be applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, and a printer), and a device (for example, a copying machine and a facsimile device) including a single device. You may apply to.

  Another object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or recording medium) in which a program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded to a system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or CPU) of the system or apparatus. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by the MPU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.

  Furthermore, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function is determined based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU or the like provided in the expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a printing apparatus 100 corresponding to an embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart of a printing process when an external display device 153 is connected to the printing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen at the time of performing the print setting corresponding to embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the operation panel corresponding to embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart of a printing process when an external display device 153 is connected to the printing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (8)

Reading means for reading the image data from a storage medium storing the image data;
Recording instruction receiving means for receiving a recording instruction for recording the image data read by the reading means in a predetermined order;
A recording apparatus comprising: recording means for recording the image data in the predetermined order when the recording instruction is received.   The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined order is an order of newest date on which the image data is acquired. It further comprises recording condition setting means for setting recording conditions in the recording means,
When the recording instruction accepting unit accepts the recording instruction, the recording condition setting unit sets the recording condition to a predetermined condition, and the recording unit performs recording according to the set recording condition. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The recording means includes medium size detection means for detecting the size of the paper on which recording is performed,
4. The recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the recording condition setting unit sets the size of the paper among the recording conditions to the size of the paper detected by the medium size detecting unit. A stop instruction receiving means for receiving a stop instruction for stopping the recording of the image data by the recording means;
The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording unit stops recording when a stop instruction is received by the stop instruction receiving unit. Connection means for connecting an external display device;
Determination means for determining whether or not an external display device is connected to the connection means;
6. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording instruction receiving unit receives the recording instruction when the determination unit determines that the external display device is not connected. An image selection receiving means for displaying image data on the external display device and receiving selection of image data to be recorded by the recording means when the determining means determines that the external display device is connected;
Recording condition setting accepting means for accepting setting of the recording condition of the selected image data,
The recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the recording unit records the selected image data based on the recording condition for which setting has been received. A reading step of reading the image data from the storage medium storing the image data;
A recording instruction receiving step for receiving a recording instruction for recording the image data read in the reading step in a predetermined order;
And a recording step of recording the image data in the predetermined order when receiving the recording instruction.

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